−4−
The Kunai

He was never one to follow 'orders' to the letter. He always made his own rules. 'Who cares how it's done as long as it is' is his general philosophy. He had managed to get away with all sorts of missions with this idea in mind. And he was always met with the highest praise. Even with his time with that man, he had always succeeded. However, it was always his then-best friend that received the most attention.

It was amazing how events seemed to build and then only to come together in the very end. Although, he knew that there was no such thing as "endings." He can only contemplate on what was going to happen next.

Like when is the sleeping girl in his hotel room going to wake up?

He could only be patient as he imagined that she had been working none stop since her kidnapping.

Another amazing thing, she has been kidnapped twice now. At this rate, things can only get worse for her before they can get better.

It was easy to get her out of her previous hotel room. He knew that Sora would collapse from fatigue sooner or later. That's another benefit from knowing him for so long: he can predict Sora's actions.

He was always keeping his eyes outside the window and never towards the door. Day and night, he would look out. It was only a matter of time before those tiny yawns turn to snores. He should really say the same thing about the girl. He found it funny that he had found one thing that they both had in common, even if they hadn't realized it themselves.

They were both dedicated.

"Hmm..." He heard her starting to stir. The effects from the chloroform must be wearing off. He had only applied a small amount to her nasal passage, making sure not to kill her. "Huh?" She started sitting up and rubbing her eyes. He could imagine that she must be feeling dizzy as her fingers delicately touched her forehead. He waited until she blinked a few times before he made his presence known.

"Good, you're awake." Her eyes then shot open as she lowered her hand and looked for the source of the new voice. She finally found him sitting on the room's lone desk chair. His silver hair, which grew past his shoulders, framed his long face and partially covered his aquamarine eyes. Yellow and blue seemed to be his particular favorite color scheme as he wore a pale yellow vest covering a baby blue t-shirt underneath, as well as dark blue cargos adorning his legs and black gloves covered his hands with black and orange track shoes to complete his outfit. She had seen him before. He was heading in the same direction as her grandfather's apartment while she covered Sora's face with... She'd prefer to forget about that. But now remembering Sora's frantic state of seeing this man, she felt unease roll in her stomach as well as her face. Seeing this, he raised his gloved hands.

"Relax. Nothing's out of place."

He had created a very peaceful atmosphere around him. She didn't know how he did it. It was probably from the gentle smile, or the sense of protection from his very broad shoulders. Either way, she felt safe with him.
"That's not the first time I heard that," she said, finding it comfortable to talk normally with him. "You're Sora's rival, aren't you?" she thought to ask. Just to confirm her suspicion.

He 'tch'ed in response, "Is that what he calls me now? Suppose that fits, huh?" He gave her a winning smile and she fought down a blush.

"Who are you anyway?" She couldn't recall Sora ever saying it.

"He never told you?" She shrugged her shoulders and he let out a sigh, mostly from Sora's idiocy at times. "My name's Riku Estheim."

"Dr. Kairi Farron," she introduced herself in fair exchange. But he gave her a knowing glance.

"I already know who you are. You're pretty famous." She looked down at the mattress she was sitting on with a flattered look.

"So what am I doing here?" she thought to ask. Mostly on the fact that she wasn't in the same room she went to bed in last night and that Sora wasn't there when she woke up. Not to mention that he and this man were rivals. Many questions would come out of this and she would make sure she'd remember all of them.

"Believe it or not, I'm taking you out of the danger," he replied as he stood up from his chair with a serious look. She was taken aback by the answer, confused on what he had meant. "I don't know what Sora has told you, but those Organizers are bad news. Most of the members are either assassins, murderers, and a whole bunch of other things that'll make your head spin." A sinking feeling settled in the pit of her stomach and fear etched in to her features.

"So is this your way of saving me?" she asked with an accusing tone.

"You could call it that." Her unsettling feeling didn't lift.

"Sora's going to search for me," she said with near dread in her voice.

"Yeah, he will," he muttered, almost amusingly. He knew his former friend too well. He looked seriously at her again, adding, "But when he does, are you going back to him?" The question nearly shocked her. What was he implying? "I could take you back to the States, so you'll forget this whole thing and continue to work at the museum."

That was it, her way out! The one thing she had been wanting since the day she was kidnapped. She can take it all back. Back to the way things were: her work, her friends, her life, her freedom. And leave behind everything that she had worked hard for. The work she was forced to do and she'll be able to accomplish her goals her own way. However...

"Home does sound good about now..." she started. Remembering the critical detail that set everything back to where she is now. "But Sora would just drag me in all over again."

Riku half expected that answer. Mainly that he had already mused with the idea. He was trained to see all the possibilities. Every dark tunnel, half hoping for a glimmer of light. But who the Hell was he kidding? He knew things can never be that simple.

"Sora and the Organization," he thought to correct her. It was true after all. She has proven to be a valuable asset. With that, he reached behind him and took the hotel's stationary along with a pen and started writing on it. "Tell you what, when you do go back to Sora, add this to your phone.'" He ripped the piece of paper and handed it to Kairi. She took it nimbly from him. "Call if anything happens."

She looked at the piece of paper to see a cell phone number as well as a name she didn't recognize.

"Locke?" She looked up at him with a questioning look.

"They'll be tapping the phones," he answered and then glanced outside the window. "All right, no doubt Sora's on his way as we speak so I suggest you get outta here now."

A question still nagged at her though as she pocketed the paper into her robe. She saw he had picked it up from the room when she assumed he took her from Sora. She also saw that dawn has barely broken so it wouldn't matter if she walked outside with only a bathrobe.

"Why are you helping me?" she asked him and she saw him smirk into the window's reflection.

"Lets just say I'm doing someone a favor."

She cautiously looked around her as soon as she stepped out of the hotel, bathrobe covering up most of the parts that needed covering. She couldn't help the blush as she noticed a man walking his dog and is looking at her oddly. Until she saw his expression change and she was very close to punching his lights out.

However, she didn't even come close to doing so when she felt herself being pulled forcefully into a nearby alleyway.

"Hey!" she yelled, hoping a 'polizia' was around to hear her scream but her mouth was quickly covered and her entire body being pressed by another against the brick wall. She finally met her assailant as his stormy blue eyes glared a thousand daggers down at her.

"You really have a lot of nerve," Sora whispered dangerously down at her, making sure that she felt how incredibly angry he was with her. She gave him a look that just screamed that she didn't give a rat's ass on what he had to say. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you on the spot," he spat down at her and she lowered an eyebrow, saying that she can't answer with his hand over her mouth. He begrudgingly took it away as she stared up at him, looking really annoyed.

"You need me." He grunted and pushed himself off her, keeping in at least an infinity amount of insults and curses to himself.

"Well, in that case I guess I should just chain you up and force the information out of you!" he yelled as he faced her only to see that she had already crossed her arms over her chest, giving a very provocative look at her legs and chest, but he quickly reminded himself with how angry he was with her. "Just what the hell were you thinking?"

"Well gee... I don't know. I was a little busy getting kidnapped. Again," she added quickly, as her words were laced with sarcasm. He did a double take on her as the words left her and curiosity entered his thoughts. Of course the thought of her lying entered his mind, but the look she was giving him told him otherwise.

"Who kidnapped you? Wait. Don't answer that." Sora already knew the answer as he rubbed his eyes with his forefinger and thumb. "What did he want?" he thought to ask, now growing impatient with the predicament.

She merely shrugged as she decided to give him one third of the details Riku gave her.

"Nothing happened. Just warned me of the situation I'm in. But if you ask me, it feels like I'm being reminded." He looked at her oddly.

"Reminded of what?"

"Why don't you tell me?" Her anger and curiosity now directed to him. "The Organization... who are they, really?" He merely stared mockingly at her.

"Did you forget in that pretty little head of yours?" he told her while he approached her and pointed his index finger at her. But she quickly swatted it away. "I told you, I don't know. I never heard of them until they contacted me. Wait-" His eyes widened as he slammed both of his hands on both sides of Kairi's head on the wall behind her. "What did he tell you?" he demanded and she averted her gaze to the ground.

"I don't know what you're talking about," she lied through her teeth and he saw her 'tell.'

"I've been trained to tell when someone is lying. Tell me what he said. Exactly," he said slowly and every bit threatening.

"And if I don't?" she challenged as she reverted her gaze to him. His nose a mere centimeter away from hers.

"Why don't you let me worry about that," he smirked as he practically growled at her. But her resolve didn't waver.

"You can't intimidate me."

"Tell me."

"No." He let out a frustrated sigh and bobbed his head back. He really hated his job sometimes.

"What was that friend of yours name again? Na- Nami-" Her eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "Oh yeah... Naminé," he continued as he looked at her again, her gaze now horror stricken and every bit angry. "Pretty unique name... French, right? You said she's your colleague so it wouldn't be hard to find her in that museum." She glowered at him, hating him more with every second. "Now, are you going to tell me what he told you?"

"You are a sick bastard," she practically spat in his face. He looked unfazed by her words.

"Tell me something I don't know," he said quickly as he pushed himself away and looked expectantly at her. "What did he say to you?" She looked begrudgingly at him. Feeling frustrated that he could threaten her like it was nothing while she stands in turmoil for her best friend's safety.

"He said that the Organizers are made up of assassins, murderers, and a whole bunch of other things that I'd rather not know about," she finally answered him. He was expecting her to continue, but when she didn't, he looked at her with a slanted eyebrow.

"That's all?"

"Yes," she answered while he lowered his eyebrows and gained a thoughtful look. She looked at him with confusion. "What?"

He stepped further away from her and placed a couple fingers on his chin, starting a line of thinking. But she really questioned him when he started talking to himself.

"... That's something I didn't think they are. Just old dusty collectors, I said to myself. Then again, the guy I keep speaking to sounded like someone in their late thirties to early forties. And that Roxas guy, he looked just as old as I am. And where do you think you're going?"

Suffice to say, she had enough of him for the morning and the only thing she wanted to do was to get back to her research. She had started walking halfway through his thinking process. He had heard her light bare feet hitting the pavement.

"To the hotel. I do have a tablet to translate y'know," she pointed out without stopping her pace.

"Glad to hear that he didn't mess with you," he muttered as he followed her footsteps.

"And how do you know he wouldn't?" He held in a curse, never did he think that her hearing was that good. "Didn't you say that you were friends at one point?" Or her memory for that matter.

"How many times do I have to tell you, I'm not opening up to you," he said in near frustration. She glared at him as he walked passed her and onto the street.

"Why am I stuck with you again?"

"You have no choice."

"Okay. Half way through," Kairi announced. The two were back in their hotel suite and she went straight to work without even changing out of her robe and night gown. Working steadfastly and not even looking up for anything. Sora, on the other hand, was sitting on his bed while cleaning his gun. Removing any sort of residue that may prove to be a hindrance later on.

"So what's it say so far?" he asked offhandedly. Not removing his eyes from the task at hand.

"From the looks of it, it's a riddle." Upon hearing that, he let out a low groan. He hated riddles and never understood the need of them. "I know, it's annoying, but this is how some of the ancients keep the curious at bay. Until someone who's clever enough to figure it out comes along."

"You saying it's all about you now?" he smirked and she turned to glare at him.

"I never said that, nor would I imply such a thing." He felt her glare as well as her heated words.

"Take it easy, we all have our greedy moments," he said with ease as he was piecing his 9mm back together.

"Now we're talking about you," she retorted as she watched him cock his gun into place and stare at her with a crooked eyebrow.

"You're calling me greedy?"

"Greedy, selfish, stubborn, horrendous, inconsiderate, fast, need I go on?" She listed off the top of her head with a smile playing on her lips. He responded with an irritated glare.

"Y'know, you're not little miss perfect either," he retorted back and she looked unaffected.

"I told you, I know I'm not perfect."

"I didn't mean you being an orphan." She gave him a quizzical look.

"Oh?"

"Yeah. You're also stubborn, fast, know-it-all, egotistical, easily angry, stop me when you've heard enough." A smile played on his lips as he listed off her traits. Her glare resuming its place as she let out a 'hmph' and went back to her work.

"It's been, what, three weeks? And I still can't stand being around you," she muttered and he didn't hear a single word of it. Mainly because as soon he glanced out the window he saw a black figure standing on the roof of the building across the street from their hotel. He kept his eyes on the figure and couldn't help but find them somewhat familiar. He watched as the figure slowly raised their arm and an alarm immediately entered his mind.

"Get down!" He sprang from his perch and raced to Kairi. He grabbed her by her shoulders and forced her down to the ground. By then, they both heard the window shatter and an object striking down and embedding itself into the floor.

Her back flat on the floor, with Sora on top of her, put them both in an awkward position. With her still in her mid-thigh length nightgown and robe and him in a black tank top, showing off his glistening arm muscles and practically caging around her body. She liked how he has her in a protective embrace. As soon as she thought of that, she quickly squashed the tiny flutter in her stomach and trying to keep in mind of what had just happened.

"W-What was that?" she stammered as she felt his hot breath brush her ear.

"Stay down, I'll take a look," he whispered as he slowly got up, glass shards falling from his body, and surveyed the damage around them. The glass from the window sprayed all the way up to his bed and littered her papers. He saw the object that created the damage and got up on all fours to crawl to where her head would have been in line with it. He saw it was a dual sided knife and at the end of the handle was a ring. He gripped the handle and pulled it out of the floor. It didn't go at first but a stronger tug set it free.

A kunai, he thought as his eyebrows lifted in realization. "Stay here," he said as he got onto his feet and stowed the weapon into his deep pocket. Keeping it out of Kairi's sight.

"What?" she asked, almost accusingly.

"I said, stay here."

"I heard you, but why?"

"Got a meeting to go to." With that, he walked towards the door. She heard the lock click and she knew she was locked in, again. To that, she glared at the door he just left through and let out a huff.

How annoying.

It didn't take him long to reach the roof where the kunai came from. It was a business building and he marched into the lobby without even glancing at the receptionist. He had received stares and mumbles but he ignored every single one of them. His stature even frightened the security as he looked he could kill with a stare. He had taken the elevator up to the last floor and found the stairs to the roof. Opening the door and immediately spotting the figure that nearly killed him or Kairi. Even though her back was facing him, his suspicions were correct.

"I see you got my message," he heard her sinister voice. Her slick back blond hair looking like daggers falling from her head and her curves and muscles on sight would make the bravest of men twitch in fear. Curves he's very familiar with.

"Long time no see, Rae," he responded as he approached her. She slowly turned to him where he could now see her venom green eyes and two antenna like strands of her hair sticking up and flowing back to her crown.

"The name's Larxene now," her sly voice replied with a devilish smile.

"Larxene? Fitting," he smirked as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Could say the same about you."

She turned back to the scenery and looked almost thoughtful. Almost, since he knew her very well, that she must be thinking of creative ways to use her cleverly hidden knives. Which reminded him, "So what brings you all the way to Italy?" she asked him, now with a bored tone as he reached into his pocket.

"I should be asking you the same thing. Or rather, who sent you here?" he asked her back as he held her kunai in front of her. She took it back and didn't even mutter a 'thank you.'

"Looks like we still ask the same questions," still with a bored tone as her eyes reflected that emotion. "Just checking up on you; you haven't called after all."

"And I should call you because..." She gave him a knowing look and he immediately understood. "I see. High up in the shark tank, huh?"

"Yup; among the ranks as they say."

"Glad to see you're moving up in the world," he smirked as she shot him a glare while dropping her hands to her sides.

"Is that sarcasm?"

"Depends." He shrugged.

"Well, I suppose you've forgotten how much I hate sarcasm!" In one quick move, she removed another kunai from her belt and pointed the tip to his throat. All the while, he didn't even flinch.

"And I think you've forgotten that I'm not afraid of you anymore." Amusement danced in her eyes and played on her lips. She withdrew her signature knife and squared her shoulders.

"Right, I totally forgot! You were such a baby when you first started. But then he whipped you into shape-"

"Don't talk about him," he interrupted in a deadly tone and she could see his face darken. She was entirely surprised by this. He's always been too soft for his own good. Instead, she averted her attention to the hotel window she shattered not too long ago.

"So, that your new girlfriend?" she asked, completely disinterested.

"Like I told the other guy, she can make heads and tails with the clues. Right now, she's in the process of solving another one."

"I see. Must be pretty tough, huh?"

"She can do it." By this, she shot a surprised look at him. She never expected him to say something like that, so unwavering and full of confidence. Another smirk played on her features.

"Mighty high expectations, Sora. If I didn't know any better-"

"Tell your boss to quit checking up on me. It's getting kind of annoying," he interrupted her again, only sounding more annoyed while turning his back to her and started for the roof entrance.

"Like I enjoy seeing you again," sarcasm played her tongue. "Why don't you pick up the phone for a change?"

"Sora? Did you find them?" Kairi asked as soon as the room door opened and he stepped in.

"Yeah. I found them," he responded, sounding as stoical as possible. When she didn't get an answer, she look irritated at him.

"So?" she probed and he merely waved a hand.

"Another Organization flunky saying that I should call in," again he said offhandedly as he walked over to his bed (seeing as his mattress was still covered in glass shards) and started putting his gun cleaning supplies away.

"I understand you don't like being treated like a dog, but honestly, if you just called they wouldn't be throwing kunai at our heads." His head shot up and looked at her with surprise.

"You saw that it was a kunai?" he asked. Wondering if she saw the actual weapon he stored in his pocket earlier.

"Uh yeah, I studied Japanese weaponry for a little while. I can tell the difference between a real katana and one sold from the black market." He let a breath of air he didn't even know he was holding and merely shook his head.

"Y'know, that's not really impressive," he stated (seeing as he could recognize a weapon on sight as well.) She shot him another irritated glare and stomped towards the desk, mindful of the glass and her bare feet.

"Ugh. Why do I even..." she huffed as she put together her work. All the while, he lifted an eyebrow as a new thought dawned on him.

Is she trying to impress me?

He couldn't sleep that night. Not that he actually tried to; rather, questions were both entering and leaving his mind.

Like the message Kairi inadvertently delivered to him from Riku. How much did Riku really know about the Organization that he, Sora, didn't? And Rae's- Larxene's involvement with them. Well, that one is probably just a coincidence, but he could hardly say that everything else is.

Another example would be the red head that was sleeping on the other bed of the room.

For some odd reason, he finds his paranoia to triple its capacity when he thought she ran off. Was it the fear that she might have went to the police? That she wasn't in the same proximity as him? Or that he has grown protective of her? He scoffed at the last one, knowing full well that whatever he has for her is mere physical attraction; he finds her pretty, and nothing more. Never mind that she's intelligent, can hold her own in a fight, and that her left eye twitches when she's angry.

Wait. Why am I thinking like this? The thought dawned on him, now noticing that he took note of her features down to the very freckle. Was it still his paranoia telling him that he needed to pay attention to this girl, just in case she may do something to him? That could be it. Or maybe it was something that he hasn't felt in a really long time.

No, he thought. Banishing all notions of the full well it could never happen.

Not now. Not ever.

Dawn broke too soon in his opinion. As he still found that he was still looking out a new window. The two were 'conveniently' placed in another room after what had happened. The manager even went to tell them that it was taken care of. Now Sora was only watching the early bird's walking the streets to go to work or walking their dogs, as well as the sun peeking over the horizon. His thoughts still plagued him and refuse to simply vanish. His main questions did nothing but expand: What was Riku doing here in the first place? Was his client after the same things as Sora? There's one way to know, and Sora won't even consider talking to his former friend again.

Before he knew it, the sun had risen to it's eight o'clock position and shined right into his blue irises. He had to shield them with his right hand. Additionally, he heard blankets rustling and came to the conclusion that his red headed companion was starting to stir. He confirmed this as he heard her stifle a yawn and in the window's reflection, he could see her morning daze embracing her features. He couldn't help but find that look almost... He didn't know how to describe it. Cute? Endearing? Neither one of those actually. He quickly dismissed it, not wanting to take that same road again.

"Morning," she said in a half asleep tone. Her eyes itching from the sun's rays as she tried to rub them away. She was met with silence and she blearily opened her eyes to see his sole concentration was outside the window. She got annoyed and he saw that in her face on the reflection. "Silly me. Of course you wouldn't respond," she sarcastically added and he still ignored her. She got even more annoyed and she let it show by placing of her hands on hips. "Is this a whole new degree of ignoring me or something?"

"Don't you have translating to do?" he asked, deciding to humor her. She let out a frustrated groan.

"Sora, I've been up for days. Don't I warrant a break every now and then?" she asked him, her hand starting cramp up as her back felt stiff.

"What do you think?" She shook her head, half expecting that answer. She blamed her grogginess for her assuming otherwise.

"Right, why do I even bother," she muttered as she removed the blankets and stood to stretch, his eyes not off her body for a second. She grabbed her robe and tied the knot around her waist. "Of course, my lack of anticipation can contribute to why this is going slowly," she said very casually.

"If that's the case, then I should shoot you dead right now." She let out a sigh.

"Why is it your threats don't bother me anymore?"

"Mercenary. Not a shrink."

"Right, okay, I'm on top of it." He pushed that sentence out of his mind, attributing that she's still waking up. "What about breakfast?"

"I still have granola bars lying around." She groaned.

"I mean real food. Like pancakes, chocolate chip waffles, cereal-"

"Cereal's not real food," he pointed out.

"I know, but it's great on the go. Besides, they're a lot healthier now than they use to be." She sat down at the desk and picked up her pencil.

"And you must've realized by now of the situation you're in? You can't step outside this room."

"I know. I know. Can't you just order room service or something?"

"Too risky." She slammed her pencil and turned to glare at his back.

"You're just saying that."

"You're a spoiled brat."

"And you're an over-suspicious jackass. Now quit complaining and order us some real food."

"And why can't you do that?" He finally turned to her to stare at the back of her head. She had already picked up her pencil again and appearing to focus on her work.

"Busy translating a dead language. Needs all my attention."

"You just made that up." He finally got up from his perch and went towards the room's only phone.

"Says the person now holding the room phone."

"Only to make you shut up."

"Not likely."

"So I've noticed."

Not too long after, the room boy came to their room with the cart that held two cereal bowls as Sora gave the kid a couple of Euros. Kairi had already grabbed her bowl but she saw his gesture. Sure it was nice of him and it was totally not necessary, but that he did it regardless really spoke of his character. Giving her an idea of what he once was. It was a simple gesture that spoke volumes. However, as soon as the kid left the room, all of her thoughts of him were thrown out the window at the mere sight of his face.

Of course he's not considerate. It was just an act.

She had already sat down on her bed and eating her raisin branded treat, taking in the bland taste like she hadn't tasted it in years. It was pure bliss. Granola had certainly taken its toll and she can feel it in her physique. And it seemed to her that Sora was very much the same. When was the last time he had a real meal? She couldn't fathom a guess.

"Okay. Not the best cereal around, but definitely better than granola," she said in between bites. He was standing by the window, taking in his bites as his eyes skimmed the area around them.

"Are you used to getting everything you want?" he asked as he turned his head to her to see her shaking her head.

"Not everything."

"Really? What, did grandpa Ansem say 'no' to getting you a pony?" he smirked and she found this change in attitude almost alarming. Why the sudden interest?

"He did always say I wasn't responsible enough then. Couldn't argue with him, really. I was six," she answered him.

"But everything else?"

"Why so intrigued, Sora?" she thought to ask. She watched his eyebrows lift as he now realized his line of questions.

"F-Forget it, I don't give a rat's ass. Really," he stumbled with his words. She could almost laugh at his sudden embarrassment. She found it kind of cute. By that she was describing how he looked at the moment. Nothing more. But his hard glare on her returned in full force. "Aren't you finished eating yet?"

She glared at him as she took another bite from her cereal.

"Does it look like I'm finished?"

"Hurry it up so that you can finish your job." He took his last bite and placed the empty bowl beside the room's TV.

"My job now, huh? I have to say, this is the first job where I don't get paid," she said thoughtfully.

"You're just saying that."

"Yeah, that's dirty money, nothing honest about it." He shot her a look. Not missing an implication.

"Are you talking about me now?"

"Weren't you the one that said that I have the big ego?" she shot back at him. He let out a groan.

"Are we seriously going to argue this again?"

"Unless another kunai sails through the window..." He wiped his hands over his face. Noting it was too early to even talk like this.

"I really don't get you sometimes."

"Likewise."

The day had gone both fast and slow. She didn't need to go out and grab more materials so she had to be stuck in the same room as him for the day. Her main concentration on her work and not his constant TV channel flipping. She had little done and she can feel the fatigue almost eating her away. Even her motivation was starting to dwindle. That has never happened. But here she finds her interest on some unrelated topics.

Wondering how her grandfather is doing despite that she's not allow to call him and let him know how she is doing. He must be worried about her.

Even Riku's words were playing around in her head. With the truth behind the Organization as well as him giving off vague clues that he had known Sora for a long time. She even replayed the conversation she had with him when Sora was out talking to the person that nearly impaled her with a Japanese knife.

"Kairi? Did something happen?" she heard Riku ask. Her hand holding the hotel room's only phone while she sat on her bed. Still a little shaken on what had happened.

"Y-Yeah. I was having another argument with Sora and all of a sudden, a kunai missed my head." She was met with silence and she worried he might have hung up. "Ri-"

"Don't say my name. You sure it was a kunai?" She was taken aback by his sudden answer.

"Yeah, I examined the mark left on the floor. And I studied Japanese weaponry so I can conclude that it was a kunai."

"And where's Sora?"

"Out investigating where it came from."

"He already knows." She was surprised when she heard him.

"What do you mean?" she asked. Her eyes now focused on the two figures that were standing on the roof of the building across the street from where she was.

"One of the Organization's members specializes in dagger-like weapons. Unfortunately, Sora and I know her." Now she was confused.

"Her?"

"Yeah. It's exactly what you think." She flushed as she thought of the last thing she wanted to hear: that it was a woman, that Sora and Riku knew her, and what Riku suggested in that there was something more about this woman. Maybe even along the lines of... intimate relations.

"O-Oh... Um... Th-They're not together anymore, right?" She was actually hoping that it weren't. Why she thought that, she'll never figure it out.

"Nah and you shouldn't worry about it." She let out a breath of air that she didn't even know she held as relief swelled in her mind. "Anyhow, you know why she threw a kunai at you?" Her mindset now coming back to her conversation with Riku.

"Apparently, Sora's being a flake with them," she answered honestly. "He's not calling them to tell them our progress."

"Really? Do you know why?" He sounded surprised.

"He says that he doesn't want to be treated like a dog," she answered, repeating Sora's words. She was met with silence again and she can only fathom what he was thinking. "Yeah, I don't believe him either."

"Well, whatever Sora's doing, it's hindering their plans." She lifted an eyebrow. Suddenly curious on what he meant.

"Hindering their plans?" she repeated his last sentence more to herself. But she had to stop herself from thinking further as she watched one of the figures disappear and she can only guess that it was Sora, making his way back. "Gotta go, Ri-"

"Call me 'Locke' on the phone."

Of course what stuck out the most was this mystery woman that Sora went to see. She could barely call it coincidence when the kunai that sailed through the window belonged to Sora's ex... nearly impaling the side of her head if Sora hadn't moved fast enough... the thought bringing a flutter to her chest.

He had been surprising her a lot in the last couple of days. So much that she had to do a double take on his character. He was this selfish, no nonsense, piece of scum that she would never in her life associate with. But as she opened up to him did she find something in him. Courtesy that he listened to her, the kindness he showed the room boy, and finally saving Kairi's life.

The last one shocking her the most.

She could dismiss it as his way of saving the person with the most valuable information. However, deep down, she knew there was something else to it.

"Why are you looking at me?" She shook her head, now realizing that she was staring at him. He was lying down on his back on the bed with the TV remote in his hand. All of her previous thoughts were shattered as he looked at her rather expectantly. His eyes having that shade of annoyance and she merely rolled her own eyes.

Forget it. It could never work anyway, she thought, frustratingly, while she went back to her work. She also figured she may as well ask the question that has really been plaguing her. "Is there a reason why you won't call the Organization?"

"I already told you." She let out a frustrated sigh.

"And you do realize by now that I don't buy your story?" He looked at her oddly. She knew he would. "Don't underestimate me, Sora."

"Smart women think too much," he dismissed and went back to channel flipping. Making her turn back to him with a questioning look.

"What's the matter with you? I mean how did a smart guy like you fall for this sort of life style?"

"Like I'm going to tell you." He made sure to let her know how annoyed he was by the tone of his voice. She held in a sigh.

"Can you at least answer one question?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"None of your business." She wasn't going to take that.

"How many have you killed?" He finally ripped his eyes from the TV and stared directly at her. Her curious look had a determined light in it.

"Why are you asking me that?" he asked her and she only shrugged her shoulders.

"Just curious." He still looked at her. Trying to read her but everything he got was a question. "I mean, I get that you're a mercenary and that killing is a prerequisite, I guess I'm mostly curious with how many lives you've taken."

She must've been reading his mind. How else could she be this direct? Was this another one of her characteristics that he had yet to see?

"Lost count," he finally answered, hoping that this would end the discussion.

"I don't believe you." He lifted an eyebrow at her. Could she see through him now?

"Why not?"

"You look like the type that doesn't forget the faces you've killed." How could she get him that quick? Regardless, he'd never answer.

"What have I told you about romanticizing me?" He gave an irritated glare, reminding her of what he said when they first met. She shrugged her shoulders.

"Fine. Don't answer my question." She turned back to work like the conversation never took. He continued to stare curiously at her. What peeked this line of questions? It annoyed him that she was asking all this and giving no reason behind them. But what really annoyed him was how she can just dig in and plant thoughts that he would never think of. In his experience, women were always this manipulative. Making men tell the truth and go shopping with them against their will. He had the idea that this was what she was trying to do.

However, he could sense how tired she was in her voice. When his eyes raked her body, he could see that it was a lot stiffer than when they first met. He could tell that she use to exercise frequently until a few weeks ago. Her body was aching for a run and he wasn't that far behind on that thought either. His muscles were stiff from lying around and his legs were tired from sitting for so long.

Suffice to say, exhaustion was catching up to the both of them. That was the excuse for what he was going to tell her next.

"Forty-two." She turned back to him after he said it, her eyebrows lowered to study him as his blank stare told her everything about that alarming number... almost telling her place and that she might become number forty-three. She would've believed that if it weren't for the recent events.

"You really are a professional. You don't feel a thing, do you?" He didn't answer her, his expression still as blank as a sheet of paper. She put on a gentle smile in response. "I wish I could say that I hate you for it, but... you saved me." Now it was his turn to be surprised.

"Huh?" he asked. Wondering what on Earth she was talking about.

"That kunai... it would've killed me if you hadn't floored me. So, thank you... for saving my life." He looked at her strangely. A completely foreign feeling rising in his chest. He had no idea how to respond. A small laugh escaped her as she watched his face twist and contort in confusion. "Feels weird doesn't it?"

His original stature finally returning to him, but her words simply refused to leave his mind.

"I'm going to bed," he said as he turned off the TV and took his shirt off. Lifting the bed covers over his body and lying down on his side. She gave him an amused look. He almost looked like a child as he said that.

Maybe... No. Not in this life.

Yet again she couldn't find herself to go to sleep. She honestly tried and found it to be utterly hopeless. Her critical mind couldn't stop thinking.

...thinking of the message that was left behind by the ancient Greeks or Romans...

...thinking of how disturbed she truly was that she was nearly killed today...

...and most importantly, Riku's call.

She kept on replaying her conversation like a skipping record. Going over every detail and making sure she didn't miss a thing. Earlier, she was only thinking about the mysterious woman that he had mentioned, now it was on another important fact that he brought up.

On Sora's refusal to cooperate with his employers; Riku had told her that the reason behind it was that he was up to something. What? She never had the opportunity to ask. Could she ask Sora? Not likely, for she knew his answer: either another way of saying shut up or just staying silent.

"What are you planning?" she asked aloud. Thinking he had fallen asleep along time ago. She was sitting up on her bed, the only illumination coming from the street lamp that was precariously placed outside their window.

"None of your business." She was startled when she heard him respond. She let out a breath of air and mentally cursed at him for surprising her.

"How long have you been awake?" she finally asked as she watched him starting to sit up on his own bed.

"Never really went to sleep." She would be amused by what he said, but she held it in.

"You always have trouble sleeping?"

"The night is a perfect chance to kill me."

"Ugh, you're so paranoid," she groaned.

"Says the girl that hit me with a coat rack a few weeks ago." She looked sheepishly down at the floor. Nearly forgetting how they first met. "Where'd you learn to do that anyway?"

She looked back up to him as he was looking curiously at her.

"Why? You don't care," she stated and he merely shrugged.

"So sue me for being curious." Irritation started to grow within her. He has never shown curiosity when it came to her, so why start now?

"Curious? Now you're curious?" He arched an eyebrow at her.

"You got a problem?"

"My problem is that I shared with you a piece of my past and you just completely disregarded it. You don't share anything with me. Treat me like I'm nothing more than a valuable resource for information." Her accusing tone made his anger double over. "I'm grateful that you've saved my life, but you did it because of that reason. So why should I treat you any differently than the way you've treated me."

"Shut up!" He yelled as he sprung out of his bed and landed on hers. His legs swung over her waist, straddling her. His hands on her's and his face a mere inch from her nose. "Nobody treats me like shit and that should go especially for you," he hissed at her and she didn't even flinch. Holding her ground and not wavering from his ice cold stare.

"Then don't treat me like shit," she hissed back.

"Not. Gonna. Happen," he said slowly, tilting his head with each word.

"Then I'm gonna act this way until you stop." He let out a frustrated growl as he released her hands. Wiping them over his frustrated face.

"For a smart woman, you sure are acting stupid," he let out a defeated sigh.

"I call it self defense." He lowered his hands while opening his eyes. The first thing they landed on was her own eyes. He never took the time to see that they were actually violet in color. He merely thought that they were a deep blue, but a closer inspection proved otherwise.

Then he had noticed that she was staring at him as well. A foreign look embraced her face and he found that he couldn't stay away from it. Trying to figure out why she was looking at him like that.

"What?" he asked, almost breathlessly. It was then that he remembered his position: straddling over her waist, shirtless, and his nose only a few centimeters from hers. That odd feeling that he felt earlier was returning to his chest and her face... That look was almost... inviting. Following all his instincts, he leaned forward, almost hoping he could have another taste of her lips. He could feel her breath overlapping his, driving him forward even more. His lips almost touched hers.

Then he felt a sudden shift and cool air splashed his face.

He opened his eyes, which he had no idea that they were shut, and found that Kairi had turned her face in the last second, her face very red and almost looking shameful. He had realized what he tried to do as he pulled back and leaned on his feet. His hand covering his face, also filled with shame and couldn't believe how low he has gotten.

"Sorry," he heard her mumble as he took his hand away from his face.

"No... Uh... Sorry," he stumbled and very slowly, he swung his leg back and completely got off her bed. He was now only standing with his back to her. "Get some sleep, you're gonna need it," he added as he walked to his bed and proceeded to lie down. He covered his body with the cover and he heard her shift and he guessed that her back was facing towards him. He couldn't blame her. He felt the need to do the same as well.

Got a little steamy at the end, huh?

Thanks to: ash-nobody and Mr. Eclipse for leaving reviews for chapter 3 as well as everyone else who took the time to read and story alerting. But the biggest thanks goes to Dmajorboss of DA for editing this chapter. He's a very good friend of mine and have been friends for over six years now.

Thanks for reading this and now you know what to do. Click on the review button and give me your thoughts/opinions/criticism/flames (the flames will be used to make my dinner tomorrow.)