Chapter One: Bright Lights
Waking up, the dark-haired girl, confusedly and sporadically, looks around at her surroundings. Wriggling, the girl grunts, trying to talk but not being able to muster any words. It is then that she realizes that there is a mouthpiece in her mouth. Seeing bubbles brewing from each of her movements, she realizes that she is inside some sort of tube. Now seeing the silhouette of a person, she calms down, breathing deeply but rapidly as the figure looms closer.
Tapping on the glass, the figure stops when the girl begins wriggling once more.
Shutting her eyes, the girl avoids the white, blinding light.
Tapping the glass again, the figure causes the girl to open her eyes once more. Pointing the bright light at dazzling emerald eyes, the figure analyzes the dark-haired girl before turning off the flashlight.
Tensing, the girl feels the tube move, raising to stand vertically. Seeing a kaleidoscope of colors behind the glass surface, the raven-haired girl feels and hears the water that she was encased in, draining. Shivering, the girl breathes shallowly as the glass cover slides away. Now feeling the sting of fresh air, the girl moves her eyes rabidly trying to figure out where she was. Biting the mouthpiece, she tries to jerk free.
"Seven," a man says, as the girl settles her green orbs on his golden irises. "Number seven," the handsome, young man corrects, sipping coffee. "Lucky number seven."
Trying to break free, the young girl pulls and wriggles at the straps bound to her wrist, waist, shins, and feet.
"It's okay," the young doctor eases, nearing her and showcasing his credentials. "I'm a doctor."
Relaxing, the girl called seven furrows her brows, trying to remember. The young man looked familiar; he felt familiar. She didn't feel compelled to hurt him. The room, too, felt homely. Scoping the area, her eyes land on a fire-extinguisher. If she escaped from the bindings holding her captive, she could take out the doctor. He was bigger, but she knew the human anatomy and could pinpoint weak-points. The young man had credentials. Guessing she was in a laboratory of some sort, she assumes the young man's credentials opened doors. She had to take the credentials from him. Then, she'd make a run for the fire-extinguisher and go up the stairs. From that height, she could use the fire-extinguisher to smokescreen the room. Out in the lab, she would be lost, but if there was a way in, there had to be a way out. Just then, her thinking stops when she hears the clicking of heels.
"Doctor," a woman in a lab-coat greets, emerging from a hallway. "How are you feeling?" the brunette asks, smiling encouragingly at the startled and confused younger girl.
Trying to talk, the emerald-eyed girl's speech is muffled. Stopping, the girl gestures at the mouthpiece that was still in her mouth.
"Ah yes," the young man starts, smiling thinly. "Sagisawa," he calls out, gesturing the woman to remove the mouthpiece.
Obeying, the young woman removes it, running her thumb along the younger girl's lips. "Better?"
"State your name," the young man demands, setting his cup of coffee down, arms crossed against his chest.
Opening her mouth, the young girl is halted by water pouring out. Coughing, she spits out more water as the older woman fetches a towel to help the dark-haired girl dry her face. "Thank you," the young girl starts before pausing, furrowing her brows.
Brow raised, the young man leans closer to the girl. "State your name."
Looking between the two people in lab-coats, Natsuki tenses, trying to remember.
"You do know your name, right?" the woman asks, as she peeks to look at the obsidian-haired boy.
"Seven," the emerald-eyed girl repeats, as the man holds his breath. "I'm seven."
"Your real name," the young man corrects, quickly glancing at the brunette.
"Don't think. Feel," the woman encourages, as the raven-haired girl relaxes.
"Your real identification, seven," the young doctor presses, breathing slowly.
"Kuga," the young girl answers, growing eerily confident. "My name is Natsuki Kuga. Assassin number seven. Code-name: Lucky number seven. I specialize in close-range combat. My weapon of choice is a rapier, although I am good with a sniper or any gun whatsoever. Currently, I have orders to graduate from Garderobe Academy. That is my mission, and it is a mission I intend to fulfill."
"Good," the young doctor answers, relaxing and leaning against the counter. "So who am I, seven?"
"Kanzaki. Dr. Reito Kanzaki," Natsuki answers, eyeing his credentials.
Hiding his credentials, the young man smirks at the younger girl. "You know this."
Nodding, Natsuki closes her eyes, thinking. "You are my guardian and my employer," she adds, as she starts remembering.
"And this woman?" Dr. Kanzaki interrogates, gesturing at the brunette. "Who is she?"
"Sagisawa, Youko. Your employee and my assigned caretaker."
"So why were you in stasis, seven?" Reito probes as Natsuki tenses.
"My last mission," Natsuki recalls, remembering the explosion.
"What happened?" Reito pressures, looking hardly at the younger girl.
"I hesitated," Natsuki starts, clenching her jaw and balling up her fists. "There was a girl. A child. She distracted me and-" Natsuki pauses, furrowing her brows.
"-And what?" the young doctor presses, observing the stern-faced girl.
"And he pulled the gun at me. He fired it. But it was a misfire. He shot the gas on the stove. And the gas caused an explosion."
"And you almost died," the young doctor finishes, beginning to unstrap the young girl. "Why did you hesitate?"
Clenching her jaw, Natsuki lightly shakes her head.
"You've never had a problem like this before, Seven," the obsidian-haired boy discloses, as the newly freed girl flexes her muscles and bones. "One, two, and three, remember? Your mission. Your target. And your completion."
"One, two, and three," Natsuki repeats, remembering her basic training.
"Precisely," Dr. Kanzaki agrees, sighing. "So what happened? The truth."
"The girl. She wasn't supposed to be there-"
"-I know. It's your job to do a clean sweep."
"There must have been an interference," Natsuki concludes, remembering that she had carefully crafted a well-thought out plan to terminate Mr. Sears.
"It rained," Dr. Kanzaki discloses, as Natsuki scoffs. "Tennis practice was cancelled. That is why the girl was home," he explains as Natsuki stiffens. "The interference wasn't the girl. It was you, Natsuki. Something made you overlook that small but significant detail."
Biting her tongue, Natsuki glances at Youko who hands her another towel to dry her body with.
"It can't happen again," the young doctor demands, sighing.
"It won't," Natsuki assures, as the young man softens his glare.
"You're not just Lucky Number Seven," the doctor confesses, removing his glasses. "You know you're more than an asset to me, Natsuki."
Unzipping the scuba suit, Natsuki, in undergarments, nods her head as the tall, dark-haired boy turns around as she dries herself off.
Coming back with black, athletic shorts and white t-shirt, Youko hands them to the newly awakened and conscious dark-haired girl. "We were worried, seven. You gave us quite a scare," the woman admits, winking at the younger girl.
Drifting her gaze over to the back of the young man, Natsuki changes into her clothes. "My mission," she begins, putting on the pair of shorts. "When do I leave?" Natsuki asks, now putting on the t-shirt
Facing the young beauty once more, Reito picks up his cup of coffee. "Tomorrow. But first, meet me in my office. I have to brief you."
Nodding, Natsuki intuitively walks to her chambers. Entering her bedroom, Natsuki relaxes, feeling at home with her dim-lighting, dark decor, and armoire full of weapons. Analyzing her large chambers, Natsuki stops, finding an already-packed large suitcase by her walk-in closet. Picking it up, she lays the large suitcase on her bed and opens it. Inside, she finds a school uniform, school documentation papers, textbooks, knifes, guns, and a rapier. Brow raised, Natsuki pulls out the sword, expertly twirling it.
Halting her sword-play, the emerald-eyed girl analyzes the sword's fine craftsmanship, as well as the sword-belt's attention to detail. Closing the suitcase, she slides it under bed. One more thing was on her agenda: Going to Reito's office. After she would take a shower and get ready for bed. Because come tomorrow, her new mission commenced.
Waking up, Natsuki changes into snug, black leather pants, black combat boots, and black tank top. Pulling out the suitcase, she ventures downstairs.
"Mornin'," Youko chirps, pouring a cup of coffee for the green-eyed girl.
Taking the coffee, Natsuki jumps atop the counter as Youko lingers her gaze on her. "What?"
Resting her hand Natsuki's knee, Youko sighs as Natsuki raises a brow.
"What?"
"Four is going," Youko discloses, as Natsuki growls. Chuckling, the older woman pats Natsuki's knee.
"You're kidding."
"Nope."
"Why?!" Natsuki demands, gritting her teeth, and shattering the cup of coffee. Wincing, she sets the broken mug down and raises her hand to analyze the shards piercing her skin.
"S'okay. I got it," Youko comforts, pulling out a roll of bandaging cloth from her coat pocket. "I figured you'd throw a fit," Youko explains, as Natsuki scoffs. "Natsuki . . . You and Four are not expected to work together," Youko continues, pulling ceramic pieces out of Natsuki's hand. "So I figured I'd give you a heads up before you, well, you know, pull a Natsuki and pick a fight with her," Youko remarks, fighting a smile as she bandages Natsuki's hand.
"I'm not the one who picks the fights," Natsuki mutters, wincing as Youko tightens the wrapping.
"I know," Youko agrees, kissing the bandaged area. "Just don't let Four get under your skin. Remember your mission."
"I will," Natsuki answers, rolling her eyes. "I just don't . . . You guys shouldn't have let us take the same mission."
"A mission is a mission, Natsuki. Four has every right just as much as you. Plus, it's a big mission."
"I can handle it."
"I know. Just don't work together with Four."
"Not planning to."
"No matter what happens, Natsuki. You're on your own. Don't trust anyone but yourself."
"I never do," Natsuki admits as the woman flinches.
"Four has been instructed to stay away from you as well," Youko discloses, stepping away from the younger girl. "And now, you've been instructed the same."
Nodding, Natsuki analyzes her bandaged hand.
Entering the kitchen, the driver tips off his hat to both the females, ready to drive Natsuki to her destination. "Ready whenever you are," the driver states, stealing a doughnut and munching on it.
Instinctively, Natsuki, upon seeing the driver, stiffens. Her mission had officially begun.
"Call me if you need anything," Youko says, as Natsuki nods.
Wiping his hands, the plump driver smiles at the girl gesturing at her luggage. Nodding, the man in small circular glasses picks it up.
"And so it begins," Youko remarks, sighing. "You're in mission-mode, shutting everyone out."
"Can't blame the kid for taking her job seriously," the driver inputs, as Youko turns to glare at him. "It's admirable."
Jumping off the table, Natsuki stares once more into the woman's blue eyes before smiling thinly and walking away.
Garderobe Academy was a special school. There, they trained the best assassins who were offered high-bidding, top-notch assassination contracts upon graduation, along with a mysterious gift. Its only catch was: The students had to survive its trials. With each graduating class, the game changed.
Natsuki, being trained in mixed martial arts, weaponry, tactics, survival, and several languages, was ready. Unlike Reito, Natsuki liked being an assassin. When she was six, Reito's father adopted her. Senior Kanzaki trained her, and other orphans that he picked off the streets, in the art of killing. When the Senior Kanzaki passed, Reito quit being an assassin and focused on medical school, while his "siblings" pursued the only talent they had: Killing. Ultimately, Reito took over his father's business to look after and clean up after his clan. Now, he oversaw contracts, missions, clients, and enemies of his mob family, while hiding under the guise of the respectable and noted Dr. Reito Kanzaki.
Exiting the estate, Natsuki walks to the limousine with the estate's driver.
"Nervous, kid?" the plump driver asks, carrying Natsuki's luggage and opening the limo door for her.
Shrugging, Natsuki gets into the limo as the man chuckles at the silent-prone girl.
After closing the door, the driver gets in the limousine and drives the raven-haired girl to the port of the town where a private plane was going to take her to the island of Fuka, which was where Garderobe Academy was located.
Landing, Natsuki takes in the bright lights radiating off of the famous academy, which was known for murder, slaughter, death, betrayal, and wealth. After all, Garderobe Academy birthed the top assassins in the world, and Natsuki could not be more at home.