Dead By Midnight [Job/Solo]

ingyi came to a stop outside the doors of the compound, her hand resting on Windcutter's hilt. The woman took a deep breath before raising her fist and knocking on the oaken wood. Once, twice, thrice, she could hear the echoes that her hand made against the fine door. Barely a moment passed before a girl dressed in the garbs of a servant answered the call, heaving the heavy door open by a crack. Distrustful brown eyes looked up at Jingyi, the maid's brows lowering into the faintest beginnings of a frown.

"May I help you?" She inquired sourly, appearing as if she was preparing to slam the door closed right in Jingyi's face. But the redhead was used to much worse behavior and simply presented a polite smile, her head nodding at the question.

"Actually, you can!" Jingyi replied in a cheery voice, her head cocking to the side as she looked down at the shorter girl. "The head of your clan called for protection, and here I am~!" She added chipperly, her hands moving to clasp behind her back as Jingyi proudly presented herself. She had worn her military uniform with her hair done up in a braided bun seeing how she wasn't only acting under her own name, but the name of her squadron and military.

The maid scrutinized her for a moment before sighing and nodding. The door opened open, just a crack, but it was enough for Jingyi to get inside without having to squeeze through.

he girl whipped on her heels and briskly headed down to the main building once Jingyi got inside, the redhead right behind her. The girl couldn't help but glance about the compound she had entered as she followed her guide, her eyes scanning whatever layout she could see. If she had remembered her assignment better, her task was to guard something, and that meant she needed to know any entry points and any weak points in the noble family's "territory".

The pair made their way through the estate before the maid finally stopped in front of a door that presumably led to some sort of sitting area or office. The brown-headed cast a distrustful look at Jingyi before rapping her fist smartly on the door. With alacrity, a voice from within called for them to "Enter!"

ingyi opened the door before the maid did, flashing a sorry-not-sorry smile before slipping inside. There was a look of anger on the girl's face, but that was quickly forgotten once the door fell close. Turning her attention to the speaker, the redhead was right about the room being an office. Bookshelves lined the walls, and there was a painting of some sort of figure on the back wall. There was also some cabinets and a large desk, with a young man sitting behind it.

What she presumed was the head of the noble house had a confused look to his face, but it was quickly replaced by a polite smile. "Ah, so you're the leader of the team who's going to complete the job?" He quietly questioned while gesturing with a hand to a nearby chair. Jingyi walked over to it but did not sit down. Instead, she held herself in the military stance, her hands clasped behind her back as she shook her head.

"Only me, sir." Jingyi answered with a short smile, all too aware of the reception she was to receive. The man, who she later learned was named Sengetsu, just curtly nodded his head as he intertwined his fingers together.

"They only sent you? ...I'm not going to question their decision, but understand that if you fail this mission, it's all on you. Understood?" Sengetsu warned, his blue eyes narrowing as he watched Jingyi carefully. He waited till he received a nod from her, a slight smile spreading across his lips. Though, it was obviously fake; a formality that he was taught to use during important and delicate situations. "Good! Now, let me remind you of why you're here. My clan has been on the receiving end of threats, and recently one of our older council members was found dead. We have cause to believe that the apprehenders are going to strike next- another man who holds a similar position. You're here to protect him, defeat any assassins who come in and try to kill him, and send a message that they will not accomplish any of their tasks. Understood?"

fter Jingyi confirmed that she understood what was needed of her to do and that she was capable of the job, the girl was once more led away. The girl from before was once more her guide, and from the glare she wore on her face, the maid wasn’t too pleased with Jingyi. But it mattered none, the redhead reasoned as the pair headed towards another building of the compound. It was slightly smaller than the previous one, and it had a warmer feeling as if it was more lived in. Eventually, they both ended up in front of a doorway that the brown-haired girl opened and held it as such for Jingyi.

This time she offered a smile to the maid as she passed through, but the other girl didn’t care much for it. She instead just turned her head and directed her gaze at the floor. Jingyi just shrugged to herself before setting her gaze upon the occupants of the room.

It was a living room of sorts, with a couch and a small coffee-like table. The room was rather spacious, with its windows opened to allow a friendly breeze. It wasn’t furnished much save for some exquisite looking antiques. Sitting at on the couch was an elderly man, a game of sorts set up on the coffee table in front of him. A younger boy, probably the elder’s grandson, sat on an expensive looking pillow on the other side of the coffee table. The youngster was staring pretty intensely at the board, trying to discern his next move against the man.

he elder sent out his grandson to allow Jingyi and him to have a brief talk about what she was to do. Stay in the room, watch him, and remain quiet. She was allowed to occasionally leave the room to scout out the building, and one of the other servants even gotten her a map of the compound.

And so, that’s how Jingyi spent the hours, sitting down in the corner of the room. She had to watch the man play some board game with the little boy, and whenever he nodded his head at her, she was allowed out of the room. It was slightly annoying, but rules were rules and Jingyi knew better than to disrespect them.

By evening, the grandson left to return to his parents and probably get ready for his bedtime. At that point, Jingyi followed the man to his personal quarters, but upon the man’s request, she stayed in the living room part of his space. Most of the dusk was spent without any event of interest, the elderly man sitting in his bedroom and reading a book. His window was closed for once, knowing that it was just asking for trouble if he left it cracked for a breeze. His door was also opened for once so his guard could better hear any cries for help.

Sitting by the entry door to the elder’s room, Jingyi stretched her arms over her head and sighed softly. She could hear the man’s heavy breathing, the redhead thought to herself as she rested her palm on Windcutter’s hilt. The blade was sheathed away, ready to be drawn on a moment’s notice in case trouble came knocking. Which it did late into the night, an hour before midnight was to strike on every clock in the compound.

There was a quiet creaking as if the wood of the building was swaying. The noise perked Jingyi’s attention, the woman looking up at the ceiling. She closed her eyes and held her breath, concentrating on listening to the silence.

Creak…. Creak… creak...

Jingyi’s ruby eyes opened, narrowing as she sat up against the wall. Peeking into the room, she saw that the man was safe. The soldier shrugged her shoulders when the sound of a panel being slid open caught her attention. Immediately she looked up, her eyes widening as she saw something being tossed in.

A bang went off in the living room, the sound quickly followed by an explosion of smoke that quickly filled the room. Jingyi coughed harshly from the results of the smoke bomb, one hand covering her mouth as the other groped for her sword.

Out from the darkness, the glint of metal swung. The blade caught Jingyi by the shoulder, tearing into her armor. The girl hissed through her teeth before lunging forwards. Just as another attack from the attacker’s Sword Slashes was about to be delivered, Jingyi swung her own blade blindly. Windcutter slashed through the air, the weapon connecting and hitting her attacker’s wrist. Feeling that she had hit the man, Jingyi pushed down, forcing the man to drop his sword.

The ninja bit back a yelp, his fingers losing their grip on his weapon as the redhead retaliated. Jingyi lunged forwards, driving her sword in front of her. The tip of her weapon drove into the ninja, breaking through his defenses and knocking the man to the floor. With a grunt he hit the hardwood, his hands clutching his stomach where Jingyi had punctured through. Still blinded by the smoke screen, Jingyi lifted her leg and swung it forwards, her kick slamming into the man’s side. The ninja yelped in pain and scrambled away, pulling himself onto all fours and began to crawl away.

scream that broke pitch caught Jingyi’s attention, her ruby eyes widening in horror as she realized that the first attacker was just a distraction. Whirling on her heel, the redhead lays a hand upon the wall to steady herself as she ran into the bedroom. Only a few wisps of smoke had entered through the doorway, giving her clear view of a man dressed in ninja-like armor lunging towards the elder.

Jingyi dug her heels into the ground, the muscles in her legs tensing as her knuckles turned white around the grip of her sword. With a Power Step, Jingyi launched herself at the attacker, tackling him to the ground. The two landed on the ground, the man’s breath getting knocked out of his lungs. Jingyi dropped Windcutter and drew back a fist, punching the man in the nose. He let loose a grunt of pain and grabbed for Jingyi, his hands grabbing at her throat. The ninja turned them over and squeezed on Jingyi, leaving bruises. The redhead gasped for breath and struggled against the man, her knee punching forwards and kneeing the ninja. She knocked the man off her, rolling them over and punching the man in the jaw, knocking him out.

Jingyi scrambled off the foe, her breaths coming in heavy as she rubbed her injured throat. Her ruby gaze flickered over to the elderly man who hid behind the bed, his eyes peeking at her. Words tried to form in his throat before he dumbly asked, “Are you okay?”