ALL-CHAPTER DISCLAIMER: Prince of Tennis and its characters are created by Takeshi Konomi-sensei.

In 72 hours, Fuji Syusuke will put a bullet in someone's head. And he doesn't have any idea who.

In his job, there is no such thing as getting fired. It's either you quit. Or you die in service.

Like the police force of the government, they're the good guys who work for the public's welfare - protecting the interests of the masses and ensuring that justice is well served. Unlike the police force, they don't work for the government.

Like the prosecutors and district attorneys, they gather facts and evidence to pin down the bad guys. Unlike them, they don't use due process of law.

"Name and weapon," came the familiar rough and commanding voice of the GUILD's head security.

Fuji stepped forward and stood face to face with the man he only knew by the name Akutsu. The man was at least 5 inches taller than he is and more muscular compared to Fuji's leaner figure. A striking figure who stood guard at the steel, electronic entrance to the white room - a visible warning to anyone who attempts to enter the area without proper authorization.

"April," Fuji responded, handing Akutsu his Beretta Brigadier .40 with a silver '4' embellishment on its grip.

Akutsu eyed him, but didn't linger. He motioned Fuji towards a rectangular metal detector for the final inspection. Over his years in service, he has learned not to ask any questions. He didn't need to. He was in charge of the most important room in their underground headquarters - a room that's only accessible to 12 people. Akutsu only knew 3 of them and this new visitor was certainly not among those.

After personally disassembling and assembling the gun, he gave it back to Fuji.

"I believe this is our first meeting," Fuji said with a smile, keeping the gun safely tucked on his waistband.

"It is."

"Well, it's nice to finally put a face on the name," he said with a wink before turning on his heels and heading straight to another metal door leading to the main room.

Akutsu followed his retreating figure, studying the way Fuji carried himself. To him, the man looks too ordinary to be a part of the 12, much more the GUILD. But he couldn't be wrong. He heard it loud and clear: APRIL - the GUILD's no.4.

Keigo Atobe will be dead in 3 days.

"So what?"

Sanada Genichirou, an ex-marine turned hired assassin-slash-Atobe's personal bodyguard frowned at the once again laid-back way on how his boss reacts to death threats.

"Ore-sama's presence is too stunning for some people to bear. Of course they want me dead. Tell me something I do not know." Atobe said annoyed. He was comfortably seated on a purple, leather cushion while his personal nail stylist add glittering diamonds on his fingernails.

"Atobe-san, we have enough reason to believe that this is more than just a random threat by a competitor. I have a reliable source who confirmed that the GUILD is planning an attack within three days,"

It was Inui, the head data specialist of NIRVANA, a notorious ammunition syndicate owned by Atobe. Within the organization, he only had few people he truly trusts. Inui's one of them. Truth be told, Atobe never felt comfortable around him. If he can, he would have ordered Sanada to eliminate Inui for good. IF he can. But he knew better. The specialist's brain is too valuable to lose. He has a lot of brains at his disposal, but nothing like Sadaharu Inui.

"Reliable source?" Atobe asked, arching a brow, "And since when did we rely on an outside reliable source?"

Sanada remained silent and glued on his position behind his boss, but the latter could feel the other's growing interest on the subject.

"Inui..."Atobe started, curious eyes now turning to a glare. "Are you trying to tell me that you employed someone outside NIRVANA without my permission?"

The data specialist adjusted his glasses. "I did."

"Leave," Atobe muttered in a cold voice, ordering his nail stylist to stop what he's doing. The aid immediately did, knowing without asking what the other meant. "Sanada,"

In less than five seconds, the ex-marine has managed to handcuff the data specialist and put the barrel of his Glock 17 9mm on his head.

"You can't kill me."

Atobe smirked. "I know. That's why we have torture." He gave a nod and in a snap of a second, Inui fell unconscious on the floor after Sanada's hard chop behind his neck.

"Torture?" the stoic bodyguard asked. As far as he's concerned, Inui didn't do anything that could merit such rough treatment.

The syndicate head wave a hand in dismissal. "It's a bluff."

Sanada blinked once, stared at the specialist's unconscious figure on the floor and then looked back at Atobe.

A knowing smile formed on Atobe's lips. "It's a random test of your allegiance."

Fuji released a long sigh the moment he stepped into the White Room. The place was literally all white. The concrete walls, round table, swivel chairs, and the rest of what you can consider as a piece of furniture in the plain-looking room.

But of course, the bland monotone of the surroundings wasn't the reason behind Fuji's slight distress.

"Tired?" greeted an orange-hair guy who stood up from his position and gestured Fuji to take a seat.

Fuji smiled and slammed himself down on a particular spot three seats from the guy's position. "You said it was urgent."

Senggoku nodded. He was the official GUILD liaison, the only person who actually gets in touch with the Director of their organization and the one responsible for delegating missions to their agents across the globe. You could say he's the big boss's right hand. But even at that, everyone knew that even Senggoku hasn't personally met their Director yet. Nobody has.

"So who am I going to kill?"

The orange-haired guy slightly grimaced. While he appreciates Fuji's no nonsense attitude, he still would've wanted him to choose his words well. Especially considering the fact that he hasn't really killed a single soul in his line of service. He shot a lot of big names, dragged them in jail. BUT their GUILD's No.4 agent, APRIL never shot anyone to death. Yet.

The huge, wide projector screen at the far end of the room lit up, revealing the face of his next target.

Fuji did a double-take when he saw the familiar image.

"Atobe Keigo," Senggoku said, handing Fuji a sheet of paper containing the basic profile of the man.

"What did he do?"

A frown crept at Senggoku's face. He has long been dealing with their agents to know when something's wrong. And just now, he could swear that he heard a tinge of concern from Fuji's voice.

"We've recently verified March and May's reports," Senggoku started, referring to the GUILD's no.3 and no.5 agents. "Apparently, the Atobe whom we know as a hotel business tycoon isn't really who he says he is."

Fuji frowned, tearing his gaze away from the screen and looking at the liaison. "Drugs?"

"Ammunition. February's trying to find out if Atobe's involved with nuclear weapons as well."

"And that's why you want him in jail?"

Senggoku thought for a second. "He's too powerful for the government to handle. This time you'll have to go for the kill."

The GUILD's no. 4 tore his stare away from Senggoku and studied the contents of his target's profile from the sheet of paper he was holding. "And if I fail to kill him in three days?"

Senggoku darted a look at his subordinate. "You won't."

Fuji smirked, folded the paper and placed it on his vest pocket. "How much?"

"Three million."

"US dollars?"

"Euros."

Fuji whistled, stood up and faced Senggoku. "Wire it on my Swiss account."

The liaison nodded. "Done."

SY: Currently experimenting on the art of building up suspense...so, how was it?