Gates at Hojo Manor

“Asuhara’s 4”:

While the men of the Asuhara family were rather heavy handed in their thieving styles, the women usually had a more… delicate touch. Aside from Riku, who was a mixture of both. And tonight, Miyuki, Minako, Risa, and by proxy Kuriko were out to prove that sometimes a more delicate approach was preferable.

The target was Nobuyuki Hojo. A con artist in his own right of Miyuki’s favorite thing: artwork and anything of high artistic value. Renowned and coveted masterpieces of painting, drawing, calligraphy, sculpting, and even music. He swindled his clients out of their pieces and sometimes sold the pieces to his partners or for display; Displaying artwork people had been scammed out of knowing that the original owners could do nothing legally to regain their property. It was the ultimate disgrace. And this evening, Miyuki, Minako, Risa, and Kuriko with her brilliant planning would give him a taste of his own medicine.

Most of the hard work had already been done by this point. Miyuki had contacted him under the alias of Sakura Kobayashi, a very wealthy noble who loved art and was willing to obtain it at any means necessary. Even theft and swindling. Nobuyuki Hojo had a collection of priceless Nanna Amano artwork ranging from calligraphy to drawings to paintings with a variety of mediums and themes. She was a highly accomplished artist and one of Miyuki’s favorites. How fitting it was that her work would be freed of Hojo’s hands and delivered into hers where they could be safe and appreciated. Miyuki, as Sakura Kobayashi, had offered to buy the collection from Hojo. However there was just one problem.

The collection was unfinished. There were four very important pieces that were missing. Four hand painted kimonos that were a collaboration with Saya Tori. Both ladies had worked on the four kimonos, putting their own personal touches on them. The kimonos were appropriately called The Shiki Quartet. One kimono for each season. And a close partner of Hojo’s, the owner of an art gallery, had possession of the kimonos. They were not on display currently, due to the owner finding the perfect time to be able to display them without arousing suspicion of how he came to possess them. And so they sat in the gallery’s holding area, ripe for the taking.

Miyuki had told Hojo that if he stole The Shiki Quartet from his business partner that she would buy the kimonos and his entire Nanna Amano collection for a handsome price. The man’s tongue nearly rolled out of his mouth when she named her price. He agreed wholeheartedly.

That was last week and yesterday Sakura Kobayashi had received word that the job was done. The Shiki Quartet was in his possession and his partner was none the wiser. And so Miyuki planned a trip to the Hojo manor.

Minako was her trusted assistant and appraiser, Tanaka, who went with her everywhere. Miyuki dressed in one of her finest kimonos and her mother had done her hair up nicely with pins and combs and enough makeup to alter her most recognizable features. Minako was dressed formally, as an assistant would, with some contour makeup to make her look older, and her hair dyed salt and pepper.

Risa stuck to the shadows, prepared to make use of the distraction to enter the Hojo manor unseen and undetected.

Miyuki kept her expression muted, despite wanting to smile from ear to ear in excitement.

Heist days always got the blood pumping.