The Assassin Within

Part 39~Names

"We've got to help her!"

"But how?!"

"Wait a second... Don't tell me they roped you into doing all this," Isogai gasped as he looked up at Terasaka.

"That's right. Shortsighted guys like me with no vision and no goals are doomed to be played by smart guys like them. But you know... At least lemme pick who gets to pull my strings. I've had it up to here with those jokers, and I sure don't like the idea of 'em walkin' off with the prize. So, Karma... why don't you try controlling' me? Gimme a strategy, fresh outta that shrewd noggin of yours! I'll pull it off perfectly and save all of them!"

Karma smirked as he turned to Terasaka. "Fine by me, but can you even handle one of my plans? It might be the death of you." Karma swiftly pulled apart Terasaka's shirt, making Okabe growl slightly.

"Oh, I'll do it, all right. I'm the perpetrator who gets results."

"All right. Time for the killing blow, Itona," Shiro ordered. Koro-sensei was not in any good shape. His tentacles were swollen up and red.

Terasaka jumped down, an angry expression on his face. "Hey!"

"Terasaka-kun?"

"You tricked me good!"

"Don't get so upset. All you did was get your classmates in trouble. Perfect for a fellow who didn't fit into the E class like you."

"Shut up! I ain't gonna forgive you for what you did!" Terasaka swiftly removed his shirt as he ran forward. "Itona! You and me, one on one!"

"Stop that, Teraska-kun," Koro-sensei ordered as Itona turned around. "He's not someone you can win against."

"Stay outta this, octopuff!"

"What a hero," Shiro laughed. "Shut him up, Itona."

"You sure this is a good idea," Nagisa whispered, eyeing up the situation.

"It's alright. Shiro's not out to kill us students. And it's precisely because we're alive that Koro-sensei's attention is divided. Even Hara-san might look like she's in trouble, but Itona's attacks won't be aimed at her. It's like I told Terasaka: he'll hit you with a tentacle hard enough to knock you out, but that's as fast and as powerful as it'll get, so hold on for dear life." As Karma explained this, Itona swung at Terasaka.

Terasaka wrapped his shirt around Itona's tentacle as he let out short breaths.

"You held up well," Shiro congratulated. "All right, Itona, give him another."

Itona pulled back his tentacle as Terasaka dropped to the ground. As Itona's tentacle came back he let out a small sneeze.

"Terasaka's still wearing his shirt from yesterday. This means it got a direct hit at point-blank range from whatever was in that weird spray. That's sure to have an effect on Itona. So, with that opening in his defences, our octopus has a chance to reduce Hara-san," Karma explained as Koro-sensei brought Hara back to the ground.

Itona looked confused as he watched Terasaka shout up to the other students. "Yoshida! Muramatsu! Gimme a real big one!" Terasaka splashed the water as Yoshida let out an awkward laugh.

"His weak points are the same as Koro-sensei's, right? So all we have to do is give him a taste of his own medicine," Karma ordered as the class jumped off the cliff. They jumped around in the water, covering Itona.

"You've absorbed a lot, I see. Your advantage is dwindling." Karma jumped down onto the nearby rock, Okabe standing behind him. "So what now? We don't want you to claim the prize money, for one. Plus, your plans almost got us all killed, and Terasaka got all beat up in the process. If you want to keep going, we're gonna have a hardcore splash party."

"Well, you got us. We withdraw," Shiro announced, turning around. "If we were to slaughter all these children, who knows how his antimatter organs would run amok. Let's go, Itona."

Itona did not look like he wanted to go.

"Well? Didn't you have fun with everyone? Why not join us for real this time?" Koro-sensei smirked even if it was a long shot.

"Itona."

Itona jumped after his guardian, walking away from the class.

"We managed to drive 'em off," Sugino stated, throwing the bucket to the side.

"Good thing we saved your life, eh, Koro-sensei," Okano teased with a laugh.

"Oh, I certainly appreciate it. I still had some tricks up my sleeve though."

Okabe hugged Karma as he watched Terasaka getting cornered by Hara. "You know, I forget how good you are sometimes."

"Oh, you know it Oka." Karma hugged Okabe bagged when he felt someone grab his foot, dragging him and Okabe into the water. "Hey! Not cool!"

Nagisa swung his knife in his hand. Zen was standing beside him, getting his snipe ready for the mission. The metal door banged open as Karma and Okabe walked in. Karma's eyes widened as he spotted Nagisa. In all the years Karma had known him, he hadn't seen Nagisa with his hair down. It was intimidating, to say the least.

Nagisa pushed himself off the wall as he glared at Karma. "Listen, this is how it goes. You don't make eye contact and you stay behind me at all times. You only talk to him when he asks you a question and you never- never- mention the eye. Got it?"

"Yeah, I got it."

"Good. Zen and Okabe are going out on a mission that means Bones and Digit are still here. If something goes wrong, you don't run. You stay still. You don't want to find out what happens to the rejects. Ready?"

Karma nodded as Okabe gripped onto his hand. "Don't worry, I'm sure you'll be fine."

"Yeah, if Nagi and I can pass this, you can! Just follow the orders and let Nagi do most of the talking," Zen cheered on as he grabbed Okabe. "Come on Bleachy, we have a loan shark to kill!"

Karma heard the door slam behind them as Nagisa turned to the only other door in the room.

"Come on, we should go." Nagisa led Karma to the door, knocking on it to announce their presence.

"You may enter," a deep and silky voice answered from the other side as Nagisa pushed open the door.

"I brought the newbie, sir." Nagisa walked forward, stopping at the yellow and black line in front of the desk. Karma stopped behind him, looking at the figure.

The large figure had a bulky stature that showed off his muscles. His hair was slick back with a stubble of a beard. Karma couldn't help look into the man's eyes. He knew Nagisa told him not to but the one grey eye and one robotic green brought his attention up. Nagisa elbowed him, clearly reminding him of the rules.

"Oh come now, Viper. Are you forgetting my request?" The figure smiled as Nagisa lowered his head.

"Of course not, but I assumed we should remain professional in the face of a newbie."

"I don't think there is a need for that. If you believe the young one can become one of the family, we have no need to be formal."

Nagisa glanced at Karma before sighing. "Very well father." Karma's eyes widened as he looked between Nagisa and the figure. That was not Nagisa's biological dad! "I assume you want my opinion on the new recruit? Well, he's smart, that much is obvious. He is a good tactician and he is strong but he is untrained. Other than basic training from class, Karma hasn't had proper training. But I don't think it will take long to train him up."

The figure hummed as he looked at Karma. "What's your name?"

Karma looked startled as he looked at Nagisa. "Karma... sir."

"No, no, no. I don't care about your real name. Viper. Saw Bone. Digit. Zen. Red Steel. These are the names we use. These are the names of the family. These are the names we chose. These are the names that show who we are! So tell me, newbie, what's your name?"