Once Upon An Assassination Attempt || Kamisato Ayato

Chapter 2 | A deal

UNEDITED

It was quiet. Almost too quiet in the hours most of the local population was asleep. The Kamisato estate stood in all its glory in the dark night, the only brightness as faint as the fading moonlight.

I couldn't sense any of Shuumatsuban near the estate, the only ninja close enough being a girl who was sleeping yet again.

From the tree branch I sat on, I could clearly see Kamisato commissioner's room, and the futon upon which he lay carelessly.

This had to be a trap. It was so clearly a trap for me. So I did what anyone would do. I jumped right into it.

The commissioner's elegance didn't waver even when he was pretending to be asleep. His skin seemed to glow under the moonlight as the clouds dispersed. His hair was sprawled around him, and one shoulder was visible from the yukata he wore.

Dammit. It was unfair.

No. Don't be fooled by how hot he looks and do your damn job, Sora.

I sighed, and directed my kunai at his neck, being above him. In a moment, our positions were reversed, and he was staring down at me, the kunai now at my neck.

"Who are you?" His hair hung like icicles between us, his face just inches away from mine.

This view isn't so bad. Shit. Concentrate. Concentrate, Sora.

"I don't have an obligation to answer that, Yashiro commissioner."

"Hm?" He tilted his head, and a smirk appeared on his handsome face. "Considering how you have a knife to your throat, I'd say otherwise."

"Who are you?" He took off the mask I wore, and looked momentarily stunned. "a girl?"

I took advantage of that moment to jump away.

"Yes, what about it?"

"Why don't you tell me what your name is first, dear assassin?" He folded his arms.

"I don't think we're in the kind of relationship where I introduce myself to you."

"Oh? Considering all we've been through I'd say it's high time we get to know names." He put a hand near his heart, and I rolled my eyes.

"I tried to kill you."

"Exactly."

"Why would you want to know the name of the person who tried to kill you?"

"Who wouldn't?" He asked instead as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"I wouldn't. I'd just kill them."

"Let's not resort to violence yet. I do have a preposition for you."

So this was why he lured me in.

"What makes you think I'd be interested?" I threw a kunai at him and he dodged.

"Oh you will be. Besides, you came in here knowing well that it was a trap."

As I was about to ask, I heard voices outside.

"Waka? What happend?"

"Is everything alright, commissioner?"

"That's my cue to leave." I put the mask back on.

"In chinjuku forest. Midnight tommorow. Don't be late, dear assassin."

I narrowed my eyes suspiciously.

What could he be up to now?

"Don't assume I'll be there."

"Until we meet again," he smiled as I disappeared into the dark.

What a strange guy.

~~~~~~

Chinjuku forest, 0:00

He came alone. There was no sign of anyone even near the place, save for a few racoons.

Kamisato Ayato was sitting near a small lake, staring into the reflection of the starry sky. The scene was surreal; like something out of a story book.

"Ah, you've come," he greeted enthusiastically as a leaf fell on the lake, creating ripples on the water.

I walked over and sat down on the tree trunk next to him.

"So what is your preposition?"

"So direct. You should relax more, you know."

"My job doesn't involve that," I replied with a scoff. He continued to stare at the water as if an assassin who tried to kill him wasn't sitting right next to him.

Water?

"I don't think there was a pond here before."

"Excellent observation." He smiled. "It wasn't."

"Did you seriously make a pond..and for what?"

"To question one of the moral ethics of water is highly irrelevant right now, wouldn't you agree?" He smiled easily.

I sighed. It hadn't been even ten minutes but I could feel a headache arising already.

"What is your preposition?"

"Work for me, dear assassin."

"You want me..to be your double agent?"

"That's right." He smiled mischievously, his amethyst eyes glinting in the soft moonlight. "I'm sure we can work out a deal. Besides, I think it'll be much to work together."

"I literally tried to kill you last night."

"See, we've been through so much together already. We can work just fine."

"How are you so sure that I'll accept your offer and not kill you right here? What if I stab you in the back later, literally and figuratively? For a commissioner to risk his own neck like this.. what's your purpose?"

"I'll answer your questions. All in due time." He stared at the small pond he made. The reflection of the trees looming over us was eerie in the dark, yet mesmerising at the same time. "But first, don't you want to know what the deal I'm offering is?"

"I have doubts, but I came to hear you out anyway, so go ahead, commissioner."

"I have information. Information you've been looking for."

"About what?"

"The heart of seihkria'h. I believe you'd be interested..right?"

His sly smile was still there, but looking into those amethyst eyes, I could tell that he, at the very least, wasn't lying.

But how?

Even if he's the head of Kamisato clan..to have information regarding something like that..

"What do you know?"

"Work together and you'll find out. As long as this contract is in effect, I cannot harm you and you cannot harm me , or anyone around me. You'll have to comply with my plans for a while, at least until we have more information. After the enemy has been eliminated, you can have the information and we can go our separate ways."

"And you're sure you'll be giving me useful information?"

"It appears that you will cooperate with me afterall. To an interesting contract, miss assassin," he said, extending his hand. "We may as well introduce ourselves as our first meeting wasn't under circumstances that allowed that. Kamisato Ayato, head of Kamisato clan. Pleased to make your acquaintance."

"Kurimiya Sora."

It may lead to a dead end as always. But even so, I had to try. I shook his hand, which was so much warmer than I thought.

"You have a deal."

"See, I told you we can work together just fine."

There it was again. That unsettling feeling of something ominous.

What have I gotten myself into?