Dark Waters

Chapter Twenty Two: Family History

Chapter Twenty Two: Family History

The past. Nine years ago.

Leopard nervously crouched in the shadows of the hotel's men's' restroom. He had been keeping an eye on his mark since he and a few others (businessmen if he'd go by their attires) stepped inside the hotel's restaurant.

If this was a simple assassination, he could he just slipped poison into his mark's food or drink. But no, the Master ordered him to retrieve the ring as well.

Now if he estimated the amount of laxative he put in the man's drink correctly, his mark should be arriving anytime soon...

Show time. The sound of the door being opened followed by the sound of familiar footsteps clicking onto the tiled floor.

He took a deep breath and readied the kasuri-kama he held in his small hands.

He didn't move as Leopard brought it toward his throat. That threw him off. Leopard had expected him to flinch away, all his Master's associates must have at least some form of self defense learnt, or barring that, a bodyguard nearby at all times. Instead of cleanly severing his jugular, he only carved a deep gash on the right shoulder. Sloppy.

The man staggered back, his hand on the bleeding wound. "What do you want?" he cried out and Leopard was grateful he remembered to lock the door earlier. He'd be totally screwed if his mark managed to escape and cause a scene. "I have little, but if you want to steal something take it! Just don't kill me. I have a wife and child!"

A gangster would have reached for a gun, a knife, anything that could be used as a weapon, but he merely stared at Leopard when he threw the blade forward and sinking it between his fourth and fifth ribs, angled up.

"Why...?" The man didn't seem to realize that his heart had stopped, until suddenly his legs bent like reeds. He slid down, and the blade withdrew from his chest cavity with a wet, sucking sound.

Leopard stood there as he blankly watched the  man die. He raised his hands still holding the bloody kasuri-kama. He just did it. He succeeded in killing his mark.

He expected to feel something, the first time he assassinated a man. Kara had even given him a long and strange talk a week before regarding all the 'screw ups' that could happen on the first mission. He even expected to feel guilt later...

He felt nothing. Nothing at all.

Strange... he mused. It was... interesting.

Leopard frown as he got down to get the ring from the man's finger and thought of a way to hide the body somewhere.

Later, he ignored the still pouring rain as he reached the rendezvous on the rooftop of Kuraihi Towers where he was to meet his master.

"Master?" Leopard timidly questioned the brooding apparition in front of him as he kneeled down before the Dark Flame Grandmaster.

Kuraihi Natsu gave no sign that surprised at appearance of the still bloody child in front of him. "Report, Leopard."

"It is done." Leopard whispered, trying to pay no attention to the cold. "I offer you the man's ring as proof."

Natsu narrowed his eyes as he eyed the young agent. He made no move to take the ring. "Keep it. You may have it as a trophy."

Blue eyes blinked in surprise. "But you said..."

The Dark Flame Grandmaster silenced him with a wave of a hand. "Do you honestly think I will be put down by a mere fry, however ambitious? Never mind, in any case, his demise will serve as an example to those who dare go against me."