My lover, my assassin

Chapter 17

I had been worried about following a stranger but there was something calming and trusting about the young man before me. He knew Sensei and Karma. He knew who I was and was looking for me. I looked up into his eyes, biting the inside of my lip with doubt. What if it was all a trap? What if this guy was one of Karma's enemies.

"Here."

He dug around in his pocket and pulled out his phone, dialling a number and handing it over. I put it to my ear and my heart stopped when I heard Karma's voice.

"Did you find him?"

"K-karma."

I heard an intake of breath and I could picture him, his eyes closed with relief.

"Isogai found you. Are you okay Nagisa?"

"More or less. I didn't mean to be gone this long I just needed to get my things, stuff that my father left me. I didn't want to worry you, I'm sorry. I saw my mother, and she, and"-

I couldn't make the words come out and again I heard him sigh, this time it was in defeat.

"She hurt you again, didn't she?"

I felt tears streaming down my face and couldn't answer him. The phone was gently pried out of my hands and I felt a warmth envelop my shoulders as Isogai draped his jacket over me. he turned his back and started to talk into the phone.

"He is okay. No medical intervention needed. Where do we meet you? Okay we are on our way. I will get him back to you safely."

He hung up the phone and turned back to me, smiling and handing me a handkerchief. I dried my face and thanked him as he put an arm around my waist and lead me out of the alleyway.

"She has had a bit much to drink so I will take her home."

"She's fine, just had a fight with her friends."

"No thank you, I am her boyfriend, we are going home."

I kept my head bowed, shrinking inside of his warm jacket as he deflected the onlookers and those that were worried for me. I caught my reflection in one of the shop windows and wasn't surprised by the looks. My dress was filthy with blood and dust and my face was puffy and streaked with tears and dirt not to mention my bandaged feet.

We stopped beside a large black car and if I needed any more proof that Isogai was in the same business it was this. The car looked exactly the same as the one Karma had driven on our first date, even the numberplate was almost the same. He helped me up and I scrambled inside while he effortlessly jumped in his side and started up the car, turning the heat up and indicating for me to warm my hands. I hadn't noticed that I was shivering from the cold and how icy my hands were.

"So, you work with Karma. Do you, do the same things."

"I've never killed anyone, if that is what you are trying to ask."

I met his gaze, afraid I had angered him but he had a broad smile.

"I am what they call a collector. I just go and collect money that is owed to certain organisations and if they refuse to pay I might rough them up a bit but I am no assassin. I am not as talented as Karma."

I bit my lip and looked out the window. Was it really a talent, to kill people?

I felt his eyes on my again and when I turned back he had a thoughtful expression.

"You know, Kurosensei only takes certain contracts. He only accepts those that he deems righteous."

"It's still murder."