Basically this chapter tells about what Makoto thinks about Soujiro, and the other way around. Remember that they don't fall in love quickly. They will hate each other in the first few chapters, so please expect a slow-progressing relationship! Be aware that this story may have a bit of dark atmosphere in the few first chapters.

Review responses

hotaryu: Thanks a lot for the advices! About the name thing, I have added an explanation about in Chapter 1. I hope you will continue to review and follow this story :)!

Disclaimer: I don't own RK.

Makoto walked down the path of the small town. Shishio had asked Soujiro and her to buy some food, before they arrive to his mansion by the next day. Makoto looked back and glanced at Soujiro.

Soujiro caught Makoto's look. A smile was still on his face, and now he looked at her in the eyes. Makoto narrowed her eyes in return. How deceiving... His smile is as bright as ever, but the ways he looks at me is different than the way he looks at another. His eyes are... somehow... filled with hate.

Makoto turned to face the road again. A deadly assassin with a cheerful behaviour. Rare...

Makoto balled her fist, as her heart shook with anger. She closed her eyes and remembered when Soujiro killed her village's people. So heartless... So merciless...

Her mind was still swirling with so many thoughts. Shaking her head, she groaned and held her head. All of this is happening too fast... She continued to walk as her head continued to spin.

"Takahashi-san?"

Makoto turned and looked at Soujiro. "What is it, Seta-san?"

Soujiro's eyes widened by the name she called him. He doesn't like her doing that. "I think we should stop by that shop," Soujiro pointed at a shop nearby.

"Eh? Alright," nodded Makoto, still in daze. She walked towards the right shop.

Soujiro looked at her with a strange look on his face. He doesn't get her. His mind flashed into the past, where she always prevented him to kill in the village. Protecting the weak. Back in the village, she was protecting the little girl. That was wrong. After all, no one protected him back then, right?

Then there's one more thing he's worried about.

He looked at Makoto, who catched his glance. She looked at him with sharp eyes.

"Even so, no matter how cheerful your smile is, your eyes, it's hiding something…" Soujiro remembered her words back in the village. Her eyes narrowed. "Something bad happened to you, didn't you?" she whispered.

She could read him very well. But she doesn't have to bring up his past. She doesn't know him. Soujiro shook his head. No. She doesn't understand what I've been through. He watched Makoto ordered some rice and beef. Protecting the weak. It is wrong.

He approached her.

"Here," Makoto held the box of food and placed it in his arms. After paying, they started to walk back to Shishio through the forest near the town. Suddenly a terrible scream was heard.

"Somebody! Please help me!"

Makoto's eyes widened. She quickly turned around and ran to the source of the voice at full speed.

"Takahashi-san!" She could hear Soujiro's shout. Makoto didn't care, as she continued to run through the bushes. Removing leaves and twigs from her hair, she found the source.

"Help me, please!" A young woman was surrounded by a gang of about six men. "Don't run away, beautiful!"

"Hey!" Makoto shouted. She quickly grabbed a rock from the ground and threw it to the men. "Leave her alone!"

"Who the hell are you?!" One of them took a good look at her. He grinned. "Looks like we have another prey, guys!" He said. The other men nodded. Half of them stayed, surrounding the woman, while another half approached Makoto. "Come to us, sweetheart!"

I'm so stupid, Makoto face-palmed herself. Her hand flew to her sword, but by then, she just realised that her hand is still injured. Looks like I have to fight with my own hands.

Makoto ran and stood in front of the poor woman who was cornered in front of a big tree. Makoto can take care of herself, but she is worried about this young woman.

Makoto's fist flew to one of the bastard's face, landing a powerful punch on him. It's been a while since I did this. She was used with swords.

Not paying attention, one of them kicked her feet. Makoto raised her head to find herself on the ground. Before they made any more moves, she unsheathed her sword and slashed it at their legs. This will stop them. She thought.

Turning at the poor woman, Makoto said, "Run."

"T-thank you!" She rushed out of the forest.

"Hey! Don't let her get away!" The leader of the men yelled. One of the remaining men started to strode after her. Makoto still on the ground, swung her sword and made it hit his knees.

"Aaah!" He hissed, falling on the ground.

Now, there are only two men left. "Y-you bitch!" The two of them charged at the same time. Makoto did not have time to react. However, before they reached her, their bodies was cut into two. Blood splattered all over the place. Behind them stood the forever-smiling assasin, Soujiro.

"S-seta-san?!" Makoto's eyes widened, stammering. "Why did you kill them?!"

"Just like I said, at the end, only the strongest survive," Soujiro smiled. "I am sure that you can defeat them."

"However, I am sure that you wouldn't kill them, just like you did with the others." He gestured towards the other men. "Protecting the weak is wrong, Takahashi-san. And so is having mercy. Have mercy on them, and they'll keep coming back."

Saying that, Soujiro disappeared and used his Shukuchi to finish the rest of the men. Makoto's eyes widened as her body shook with horror. She felt that she was frozen.

"How could you...?"

Ignoring her, Soujiro flew his blade in front of Makoto's neck, threathening her. He closed his eyes in a cheerful way. "Don't you ever try to run away like that again, Takahashi-san." He opened his eyes and looked at her with sharp eyes, his smile still cheerful. "Sh`ishio-san doesn't like trouble."

Makoto narrowed her eyes and grunted. Pushing his hands away, she stood up. "No, you are wrong."

She turned away without another wordand returned to Shishio and Yumi, Soujiro following close behind.

For a moment, they glanced at each other, each with an unfriendly face.

Heehe... Their relationship had became worse :P...

Anyway, as always, review and review! Share your opinions or give some advice/corrections! I appreciate it :)! The more reviews/follows/favorites I get for this story, the faster I will update. The daily schedule is updating once a week, but you can make it faster!

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AGreatFriend (a.k.a. Luna)