How do I say this... I'm so sorry for the tardiness your guys. I take forever to update this story because, well, I'm having trouble sorting out what I want to do with it exactly. I have a general idea, but the details are a pain in my... yeah. So again, sorry. I hope I can pick up the pace more regularly from now on.

In the meantime, I hope you enjoy the new chapter!

The first thing Nagisa felt was her aching back. Like when you stay slumped for too long while sitting on the ground. Slowly, she opened her eyes only to discover that she couldn't see anything. A blindfold made sure of that. Her brain felt like jello. What had happened? Oh, right. She'd been attacked by a monster. Wherever she was, it was dark, she could tell. Call it the sixth sense of the assassin. Her clothes were dry now, but the goosebumps told her that it was too cold to be wearing a skirt and short sleeves. Judging from her position, she was in a chair. And apparently handcuffed to it. Instinctively, the short girl tried to wiggle to reach her bracelets.

"If you're looking for your hooks, don't bother," said a familiar voice, making her jump. "Everything was taken from you. Well, I took everything from you."

She didn't reply, bitting her lips together. She knew it was him.

"Giving me the silent treatment?" He laughed. It was impossible to tell if it was amusement or faking. "Are you mad at me, Shorty?"

"..."

"Nothing, huh? Are you trying to challenge me, Nagisa? Cause I'm game, really."

She heard him stand up and footsteps getting closer. She flinched when she felt his fingers touch her face, and he chuckled again. But instead of saying anything, he grabbed the blindfold and pulled it off her face. But even after having her eyes open, she looked down, not wanting to look him in the eyes. Looking at his feet was hard enough.

"What's wrong? Something on my feet? Or are you scared of looking me in the eye?"

She gulped, not sure she could speak. "Are you... are you still that thing?"

"Of course. Just because I shift back, it doesn't make me any less of a monster, you know?"

Shifting back? So she had her answer. Slowly, she looked up and met eyes with the red devil. No fangs, no claws. But his eyes seemed as bright as ever in the dark. Looking around, she saw that she was in some sort of office. The blinds of the giant windows were closed. There was a desk, on one side, a couple of book shelves and on the other, couches and a low table. Everything was perfectly in place, like someone with OCD had cleaned the place and set everything. It reminded her of that place. The one where he taught her. Just the thought of it made her start shaking again.

"What's the matter, Nagisa?" said Karma, as a sneaky smirk made it's way to his face. "You look so nervous. Are you scared of me?"

She didn't want to talk to him, but anything was better than thinking about that. "Why didn't you kill me?"

He chuckled, just like before. "Do you want to die that badly?" Since she didn't reply, he continued. "I didn't do it cause I didn't want to. I like you, remember. Better warn you though, if the boss orders me to explicitly, I won't have a choice. Don't look at me like that, it won't be anything personal."

"What are you?"

"A monster, what else?"

"Were you always a monster?"

He laughed. A clear laugh that resonated in the room, but that screamed anything but amusement. "D'you think I'm crazy? Are you wondering what could've happened to me to make me like this? Sorry to disappoint, but I've always been like this. The experiments didn't change a thing about who I was on the inside. Even before that, my parents thought I had a couple of screw loose too. Gotta admit, I wasn't the easiest of kids. Oh well. Now they're rid of me, good for them."

His parents were still alive? How the hell did a fifteen year old with parents get involved in something like this? She was an exception, being born into a clan of assassins. Then, she realized what else he'd said.

"You said experiments?"

"Yep," he said, sitting on the desk and facing her. "I thought that since I'm already a freak on the inside, why not become one on the outside? Makes it easier for people to understand."

She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "You... chose to become like this?"

"Let's just say I knew that I was being conned when I signed up. But hey, that's what you do when you decide to take a risk. So I gave my body to science. Extremely illegal and experimental science."

She stared at him, eyes wide with pure shock. "What were you thinking?"

"That's the thing, Shorty. I was tired of thinking."

Tired of thinking? Didn't that sound familiar? A swarm of images invaded Nagisa's mind without warning. Those memories of her as a child that she never thought about. Back when she didn't really understand why her mother was angry at her and she whacked her brain trying to make the Head of the clan smile. Somewhere along the way, she realized that she just wasn't good enough at this game. And she'd stopped trying and just did whatever she was told. But that still, never was good enough. Maybe it was also then that she'd stopped thinking about what her own feelings and thoughts were. She bit her lip, chasing the images from her mind with new thoughts.

"Where are we?" she asked.

"No can say," immediately replied the red head. "The boss might blow my head off if I tell you."

"I didn't take you as the type to just do whatever he's told..." she said.

"Yeah well, shit happens to everyone," he replied, shrugging. "For you, it came in the form of being born in the Shiota clan and being the worst assassin ever. For me, it was meeting the wrong people and letting them put that thing on me."

He pointed to his chocker. "What is it?" she asked, though she was pretty certain of the answer.

"A low amplitude bomb. Still plenty enough to blow my head off." He placed his hands behind his head and laid down on the desk, letting his legs hang.

Just how can someone be this relaxed with death literally at their neck? She had a hard time believing that Karma would just leave it alone. "Can't you..."

"It's equipped with highly sensitive motion sensors," he explained interrupting. "If I try removing it, bang. But thanks for worrying 'bout me. It warms my stone heart."

He was mocking her again, like nothing had happened. But it had happened. She'd seen what he turned into. That thing that looked like it jumped out of a horror movie. Yet she still had so much trouble believing it. The fangs, the claws, the scale like pattern on his arms and neck, the blood dripping from his hands... blood. Her heart skipped a beat when she remembered and her mouth hung open. Sensing her silence, the red devil sat up and threw her a curious look. It tok everything she had to ask.

"W-why did you attack Mr Karasuma and Miss Irina?"

He raised an eyebrow, before his smile came back. "Because I was ordered to. Why else? Considering I was helping you snoop in my own bosses business, it's a miracle I'm still kicking."

"Did you... really kill them?"

His eyes narrowed on her, and though he still wore that smile, he spoke with that low voice, hiding something dangerous behind it. "Why do you care? Karasuma was your old lady's business partner, and Miss Bitch was nothing to you. Why does it matter that they're gone? Why to you, an assassin?"

On this point at least, she had always agreed with her clan; unnecessary kill was both wasteful and disgraceful. But the way he looked at her made her feel like a tone of cement had been dumped on her shoulders, and she averted her eyes, not wanting to meet his glare. But shivers travelled down her spine even before he spoke.

"You know, you really piss me off."

"What?"

She looked up and saw that he wasn't smiling anymore and her insides froze when he got off the desk and approached. "Whenever it comes to you, you go mute. Are you really just an empty shell?"

"I... I..."

The next thing she knew, a clawed hand cupped her face and made her wince in pain as it dug in her skin. Karma brought her fear struck face up to look at his now bright eyes. Cold sweat smeared her neck and that sadistic smile was back. "You know, if you bore me, I might have no use for you anymore," he said, almost whispering. "Come on, Shorty. I thought we had a good thing going."

Suddenly, the door slammed open. The figure in the dark was indistinguishable, but the instant he spoke, Nagisa's eyes widened in shock.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Akabane?"

Karma sighed and muttered something about a killjoy before releasing her and turning to his both and flashing him with his fake smile. "Nothing boss. Me and the Shorty were getting to know each other a bit better. Right, Miss Shiota?"

"Don't touch her," ordered the young man before turning on the lights.

Her ears hadn't betrayed her. Without warning her entire body started trembling. What did that mean for her? Had he been the one orchestrating all of this? Worst, had he known that she would be there as well? Had this all gone hand in hand with her mother's plan? Had the Head made another deal with him? By the time he was in front of her, the young assassin had stopped breathing. But unlike Karma, anger showed clearly on his face.

"G-Gakushu..."

"Hello, Nagisa," he replied politely, without showing the slightest hint of relaxing. "It's been a while."

"No," said Karma, in disbelief. "You two know each other? HAHAHA! This is too good! Who knew the heirs of the Shiota Clan and the Asano Faction had met? Can you say coincidence or what?"

"Shut up, Akabane!" Ordered the strawberry blond, before turning back to the frozen girl. "What were you doing on the island Nagisa?"

How in the world was she supposed to answer that? Spilling to Karma was one thing, but to Gakushu, the consequences would be disastrous. The Asano Faction and Shiota Clan had worked together in the past, but generally speaking they hated each other and if they remained polite up-front, they never missed a chance to sucker punch if they were competing on the same business. Which was it this time? She suddenly felt the urge to slap herself. She just had to meddle in a business that wasn't her own. If only she could go back and undo everything! In any case, whatever she told him, he would hear it as well. If she talked, her mother would kill her. But if she didn't, that guy would make her.

Her silence annoyed her interrogator who grabbed her by the collar, pulling her towards him. "Don't make me ask again. Answer me, what do you know?"

"Relax boss," said Karma. "She was here for an info exchange, not spy on your little business."

"That's what she told you?"

"Yep. And I'm pretty sure I would've been able to tell if she was lying."

Gakushu released her and looked back and forth at the two. "Exactly when did she tell you that?"

"Just now before you entered the room," he lied.

"Why tell you and not me?"

"Must be my godly charisma," Said Karma shrugging. "Anyone can tell I'm handsomer than you. Or I'm just better at persuading."

The young Asano clenched his teeth before turning back to his prisoner. "Who was your contact?"

"The government snoop you asked me to off," replied Karma again. "Don't worry, I took care of that. She can vouch. She saw the whole thing."

Never taking his eyes off of her, Gakushu asked again. "What does the Head know?"

"N-Nothing."

He narrowed his eyes, and more shivers traveled up her spine. "If you're lying to me..."

"I'm not!" she shouted. "I didn't tell her anything! Just that... there were people on the island jamming the communications... I didn't know it was you until now, I swear!"

Her eyes were pleading, but Karma could tell. What she was truly afraid of wasn't this guy. No, it was something related to him in some way. And she was begging to be spared from whatever it was. Gakushu seemed unconvinced and stared at her suspiciously.

"I don't know anything about your business," she said. "Please, let me go. I won't say anything, I promise."

"You saw him, didn't you?" replied the young man, pointing at Karma with a sign of the head. "That means you saw something. You're staying here until I decide what to do with you. And if you know what's good for you, you won't do anything stupid." He turned to the red devil. "Akabane, the lab is waiting for you in an hour. Don't be late."

"Whatever you say, Boss."

The strawberry blond made his way to the door, and grabbed the handle. But just before exiting, he paused and spoke without turning around. "My father isn't here. So, don't do anything stupid."

With that he walked out, and the sound of the door closing resonated in Nagisa's head. With that, her tightened chest finally relaxed and she sighed loudly. Gakushu wasn't a friend, not even close. But he was no liar. She could trust his words.

"Oh I see now," said Karma, who she'd almost forgotten was here. "So it's Asano senior that scares the crap out of you. It all makes sense now."

"..."

"I know the man is anal about 'educating right'. If the Head was getting nowhere with you, I'm not saying that she was desperate, but I wouldn't put it pass her to ask someone to take over and try a different method with your worthless assassin butt."

"Stop..."

"And so she went to the Asano Faction for help? That's why you know junior. That's almost disgraceful for the Clan, isn't it? But you didn't make any progress with them either. That's why you have those marks on your legs."

"SHUT UP!" She shut her eyes to prevent the tears that his words had provoked to stay inside. "Please, just stop..." she begged.

Surprisingly, he got quiet, and Nagisa was at least thankful for that. But it seemed that it was too much to hold in. His words had summoned images of the past. Her life had never been an easy one, but those were the worst things she'd ever had to endure. She'd done her best to burry them deep in her heart. And all it took was a couple words from the sharp tongued devil to break the seal and bring them out. Another thing her life with the Clan had taught her, was too always keep quiet, no matter what was choking her on the inside. So though she didn't make a sound, she wasn't able to stop the stream of warm tears that leaked out of her eyes and down her face. But she didn't expect what happened next. A hand landed on her head and rubbed it gently.

"Sorry."

Just one word. One word that aloud her, for the first time in years to openly sob. She expected him to mock her after that, but he stayed quiet and kept gently messing with her hair.

The lab stank. It always did, but this time was particularly foul. Usually, Gakushu would just suck it up and ignore the stench of chemicals, but now he couldn't help but bring his hand to his nose. Even the scientists all had masks on. It wall all hands on deck as all the man in white lab vests were testing out the products that had just been brought to them. Asano junior quickly found the head of the lab and made his way to him. Unlike everyone else, he was in a full body protective white vest covering even his head and mouth.

"Yanagisawa, how are things going?" asked the young man.

"Exceedingly well. I couldn't be more pleased. This formula is incredible! Who knew someone would one day be able to crack the secret of shaping human DNA like this. It's the discovery of the century, I assure you."

"When can the tests be done?"

"We'll try them on the animals, as you've requested but I'm afraid we'll need more... fitting subjects."

"Can't you use Akabane?"

"The problem is that he's already compromised," replied the scientist. "As the only survivor of the first project, he is of course a gold mine of information. But as a test subject, he's useless."

Gakushu frowned some more. Yanagisawa was a crazy nut with a knack for human experimentation. He was wanted in a dozen countries for using people as guinea pigs. Offering him shelter was the best way to get him to work for the Faction. There was no denying that he was a genius, but he was still closely watched.

"Do what you can with the animals," ordered the teen. "We'll see after."

The scientist fake sighed. "Perhaps I could have a word with the Commander. Maybe he'd see fit to get me what I nee... ugh!"

Yanagisawa's back suddenly hit the wall, as a tight grip held his neck and limited the air supply to his lung. The young man, though several inches shorter, seemed to pack the strength of a gorilla. He threw the scientist a murderous glare. "I'm in charge here, Yanagisawa. Don't forget it. Do anything out of line, and I assure you, your lab rats will have a feast. Are we clear?"

"Crystal..." responded the slowly choking man.

Gakushu released him and he coughed violently to regain his breath, and exited the laboratory. Making his way throughout the hallway of the private facility, thoughts of his other problems annoyed him. This was his work, and there was no way in hell he was letting anyone, especially not his father, meddle in it. The heiress of the Shiota Clan came to mind. How the hell was he going to deal with that? The words that had been repeated to him all throughout his upbringing came to haunt him.

"When faced with a problem, fighting the symptom is pointless. Eliminating the source is the only sure way."

Clenching his teeth, he raged punched the wall before muttering. "Shut the hell up, old man! I don't need your goddamn philosophy!"

He'd walk his own path. He wouldn't be him. Not ever.

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