II. Old flames

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All it took was an ice bag and a couple of beers to nurse Caine's black eye and ego back to how they were before he met Hei.

Or should he now refer to him as Li Sheng Shun?

"Could you please stop laughing? I know it takes more than five of those to make you drunk and more than ten to make you pass out," Yoni reprimanded, glancing up from the fashion magazine she was reading.

Caine threw his head back and let the empty can roll on the wooden floor beside the sofa bed. "I just can't believe that sonofa-"

"His name is Hei," Yoni said.

"Fine," Caine raised his hands in defeat, "Hei, then. I just can't believe how he does it, you know? That dead look in his eyes? How come it gets the ladies whereas my dashing good looks have to play second fiddle?"

Yoni sighed and got up from her armchair to clean up the remnants of their pizza dinner and Caine's cans. "You're just jealous," she said, blushing slightly, "or do you want old ladies chasing after you, too?"

A couple of hours ago…

"Tempura? I'll have an order," Caine slipped onto a bar stool and drummed his fingertips on the counter. With a sideways glance, he called to the lone waiter. "To go. And I'll pick up this guy's tab, too. There are what? Seven beef bowls?"

That got the customer's attention. From behind the white and blue ceramic, a scruffy head peeked out.

The guy's acting skills were good, Caine had to give him that; but he caught the slight frown, the sudden widening of the eyes and the heightened tension in the air that seasoned assassins naturally feel. It was the feeling of being near a kill.

"You don't have to do that, I barely know you," the guy replied sheepishly, a slightly idiotic smile plastered on his face.

Caine pouted and said, "what? It's me, Seph." He had given him a name to refer to; he would see how it played out. Everyone in the store was now looking at them. "I can't believe you've forgotten me after what we've been through," he clucked his tongue. "What are you doing in town? I haven't heard from you in years."

"I'm sorry, but you've mistaken me for someone else," Hei stood up and began digging in his pockets.

"I told you," Caine stood face to face with Hei, emphasizing his words "you don't have to pay."

Hei looked darkly at him but concealed it by acting stupid. "Um, that's-" he paused, "thank you." Then he turned to leave.

"She missed you more than she missed me, you know." Caine called after him, grabbing the brown bag on the counter and plopping down several bills and coins.

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Then Hei was out the door, walking as fast as he could towards an alley.

Caine intercepted him at a crowded street near the flea markets.

"I told you, you must have mistaken me for-"

The red-head took in a deep drag and blew the smoke into the air. "Li Sheng Shun, right?" he shrugged and flicked the cigarette into a nearby trash bin. "I know who you are."

The guy froze and narrowed his eyes. The next thing Caine knew, he was running for it away from the crowds since that tactic didn't work. He sighed. This was taking too long. He had a gig to attend tonight.

He hated asking for favors outside of official business, especially if it was from Spyder and not some cute girl, but this was important. He had to disconcert the Black Reaper somewhat or else it was another thing left unchecked in his bucket list.

A phone call and an hour later, Caine found himself knocking on the door of a small apartment.

Hei had the sense not to open it all the way.

"I'm sorry but I really don't know you."

Caine brushed the hair out of his eyes. "Ah, I see." The he came in closer. "If that's how it's going to be, Li, I'll just say this once: maybe you've forgotten or you're just acting stupid, but I haven't." Caine stepped back. "We don't have ordinary contracts, I'll give you that. Keep it in mind."

Suddenly, an old woman with a broom came up from behind.

"What's this? Are you harassing my tenants?"

"I'm sorry, but this guy," Hei peeked out, eyes wide with innocence, "followed me. I don't know him."

"What? You're a stalker, aren't you? Disturbing the peace, eh? And picking on such a nice boy like Li, shame on you!" She raised her broom high, "Take this, you stalker!"

Caine raised his hands up, "ah, Li and I- we go waaay back. Right, Li?"

But Hei had closed the door.

Oh crap.

"A woman that age shouldn't really be chasing people down eight blocks, you know," Caine said, finally getting up and throwing the ice bag into the sink.

Yoni perched herself on the table. "So, what are you gonna do now?"

Caine grinned. "Nothing. Yet," he started towards the stairs to dress up for the bar. "But, you know what? I can't wait to fill out the order with the Black Reaper's name on it and I'm betting it's going to be soon."

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