(Two Years Later)

A figure ran unseen in the night. Shadows obscuring his every movement. His feet lightly pounded on the ground, making little to no sound at all. Soon, he arrived at his destination. He narrowed his eyes at a large towering mansion above, currently housing his current target. Stopping in the shadow of a tree, he pulled out a pale beige folder. He pulled out a picture and matched it up with the house, confirming that he was at the right house. Even though he knew that his memory was almost infallible and that he was always right in the locations of his target's house, he doesn't want a mess-up on his part. It would reflect bad on him.

Staying in the shadows of the tree he was hiding behind, he stealthily climbed up the tree with practiced ease, his fee and his callused hands knowing where they are going. He used his upper body strength to push up and scale up the tree. Standing on top of a branch underneath the highest one, the top branch stood hanging a little bit higher that how tall he was. He stretched up and his fingertips tried to grab onto the taunting branch. With a small jump, his hands locked onto the branch and pulled himself onto the branch, getting a clear view of the window to his target's dining room where he currently sat eating a large meal. Foods of all different cultures were spread out elegantly along the long table. Drinks such as wine and beer were being poured into goblets by servants. The obese man waved his hand and the servants bowed and quickly left the large dining room in a rush. The man quickly started to gorge on the vast display of food and drinks. The spy looking on in from the trees grimaced in disgust at the pure gall of the man. The reason why this man was targeted was because of his false advertising and of course his enemies. He had put on a show to the public that he was a caring man that did nothing more than help children in need, but in truth, he didn't donate a single penny to any orphanage and the owners of the orphanages couldn't say anything about it because he threatens them with threats varying from harsh to even harsher. What a despicable man. Of course, there were another reason.

The man was wiping his mouth on a seemingly expensive napkin. The spy's eyes surveyed the food on the table and was not disappointed. The man barely made a small dent on the amount of food on the table and the mountain of food piled upon the man's plate was not even close to finishing. The spy looked slightly envious of the amount of extravagant food and drinks laid out on the table, but quickly banished the emotion. Shifting his weight, he moved to get a closer look at the man and focused. He focused on the stream of blood and water flowing through the man's body. He focused on how much he hated the man. He focused on how good it would feel to rid the man of their world. His eyes snapped open as the man released a startled cry and collapsed on the ground, writhing in pain. Soon, his cries ceased and was silent. The rise and fall of his chest was nonexistent.

His job was done.

That was his last target.

He is finally at rest.

The black clad boy strides swiftly down the street, walking into a small, but homey apartment. Right as he entered his home, he slumped down onto the sofa, not caring to turn on the lights. He laid there, as still as the dead, staring up at the ceiling. He shakes his head, fighting the lull of sleep, to get up to his bed room. Right as he arrives at his bed, he sat crisscross on his bed, in a somewhat meditative position. Closing his eyes, he tries to find the barrier. What barrier? The barrier that separates himself with the other part of him, dividing him in half. Being disowned, the demigod is separated from, basically, himself/herself. By being separated from himself/herself, it is what makes a demigod surviving, have such a short lifetime.

Searching for his other half, he finally encounters the wall. Examining the wall, the cracks in the wall was desperately trying to heal itself, but he won't let it. Using a strong mental force, he tried to create more cracks without completely knocking over the strong wall. It would be extremely bad if the wall completely collapses because if it does, he would be just like a demigod. Though that wouldn't be such a bad thing, he had read all about the monster that torment demigods all over the world, just because of their scent. And he would not like to experience it first hand. There is also the fact that he has no weapons that would work against the monsters of Greek mythology. That would have been an severe disadvantage for him.

He pulled himself away from the wall that now has multiple cracks within it. A small smile graced his face as he extended his hand and small droplets of water danced across his palm, slightly straining himself. He tried to hold the water droplets as long as he can, but he quickly dispelled the water droplets as sweat was starting to pour down his face. His eyelids were starting to droop, but he pulled them open, forcing himself to stay awake. He wondered what he should do now. He had just finished his last target and all of trusted contacts have given him all of their tasks for him. He though back at his last task. Oh, how he hated that man. This was not his regular hate at all of the disgusting people in the world, oh no, it was a personal vendetta. That man could have loaned Alex some money to help with her orphanage. She was even the closest orphanage to his house! Fury coursed through his veins to his heart and brain. The fury died down by the time it reached his brain because logic beat out the fury. It was fact that he was dead. It is also a fact that he killed him. It would do him no good to hate him after he is dead. 'If's would not help Alex.

Shaking his head he laid, tired, across the bed, giving into the lull, descending into a fitful sleep.

In the dark gloomy night of the next day, a man stood anxiously waiting next to an abandoned warehouse off to the side. He constantly checked his watch and looked over his shoulder. He shivered slightly as the wind brushed up against him and pulled his jacket a little tighter to his body.

He muttered, "Damn him. Where the hell is that guy?"

An amused voice sounded from behind him, "I'm right here."

He jumped slightly and turned around, facing the shadows, "Good. I thought you were never going to come."

"Well, you did say that we were supposed to meet at 10 o'clock sharp and it is 10 o'clock."

He pursed his lips and held out the money, "Here."

The man in the shadows took the money, "Thank you."

He sighed, "You know you could come out of the shadows and let down your hood. I know who you are, Shadow."

The man identified as Shadow stepped out of the shadows, but did not let down his hood, "No, you don't know who I am, Matt."

Matt scowled, "Everybody knows you as Shadow."

"It seems that way."

A small, still silence enveloped the two, before it was broken.

"So, do you have any other contracts for me?" inquired Shadow.

Matt hesitated, "No, I don't, but I have an proposition for you."

"What is it?"

"Well, it has nothing to do with killing..."

"Ok, so what is it?"

Matt looked around him, looking anywhere but Shadow, "Well, I have this wealthy friend and he's looking for someone to protect his girl and boy, and I mentioned you."

Shadow was deathly silent before speaking in a strained voice, "You did what?"

Matt twiddled his thumbs, "Well-"

Shadow interrupted Matt, "Stop. Stop saying 'well'."

Matt nodded, "Ok. We-I mean. So, since I know that you don't have any other stuff on your list, that you are in need of a job and you are perfect for this job. You know, to protect that girl and boy."

Shadow showed no inclination that he was going to refuse the offer and was about to refuse the offer when Matt interrupted him, "Just give it a shot, okay?"

Shadow shot his a withering glare, but relented nonetheless, "Fine." He was only relenting because Matt was his oldest acquaintance.

Matt plastered a relived smile on his face and expressed his gratitude, "Thanks, Shadow. I knew I could count on you."

"You don't know anything about me."

Shadow, donning a blue cloak with the hood over his head, obscuring his face, he headed to the cafe Matt directed him to, to meet with Matt's mysterious and wealthy friend.

Entering the small cafe, he noticed a man hiding his face in the very far edge of the cafe, away from the general crowd, and quickly glanced at the picture of the man that Matt provided for him, matching up the face of the picture's face with the man's face. He strode towards the table the man was currently sitting at and sat himself down.

Shadow stated, "I assume you are an acquaintance of a man named Matt."

The man nodded and asked, "And I also assume you are the man that Matt suggested. Am I correct?"

"Yes."

The man leaned forward and asked, "What is your name, young man?"

Shadow contradicted and said, "First. Your name."

The man nodded, "Yes, of course, my name is Damien."

Shadow, in return, told Damien his name, "My name is Shadow."

Damien frowned, "That is not your real name."

Shadow let a small smirk creep onto his face, "And Damien is not yours."

While the man's face remained impassive, his eyes, for a second, showed shock before backing to their impassive state.

Damien stated, "I have changed my name to Damien because of the ties my past name holds."

Shadow narrowed his eyes, "Will your past name interfere with this job?"

"No," Damien replied simply, "I assure you. It will not."

Shadow nodded, "That is all I need to know."

Damien pressed, "Now, your name. You have not told me your true name."

"Yes. I have not."

"Will you tell me?" inquired Damien.

"First. The contract," Shadow reminded him.

"Ah, yes." Damien slid a roll of paper across the table top.

Shadow picked up the paper and unrolled it, scanning the contract. As his eyes reached the end of the description of the job and to the amount of money offered to pay each week, his eyes widened, "You are willing to pay this much money for the safety of two children." This was not a question. It was a statement.

Damien nodded determined, "Yes, I am willing to go very far for the safety for these two children."

Shadow nodded, "Now, what is the importance of these two children to you?" He rolled the contract back up and placed the roll on the table in front of him.

Damien closed his eyes, deep in thought, as the man that Matt recommended him to stared intensely at him. Damien opened his eyes with an answer at the tip of his tongue and replied, "I trust you are able to keep a secret, I am their father and I am concerned for their safety."

Shadow raised an eyebrow, "Why should the fact that you are the children's father stay secret as many children from all over the world have fathers?"

Damien drummed his fingers on the table, "I am a very wealthy person and have many political enemies, all I want is to know that my children is safe."

"And you trust me to take care of your children and keep them safe?"

Damien narrowed his eyes at the simple question, feeling that the question is much more than it is, "Yes," he replied firmly.

"Then I will take the contract."

Shadow strode down the street, dressed in casual clothes, with his hood still obscuring his face. There were small bulges in his clothes as he moved from the hidden weapons that he carried. A lethal man walking. Each house he passed was a mansion. Large metal fences closed in the mansions as some leaves from beautiful plant life, peeked over the top.

Shadow stared up at a grand gate with beautiful signs, a shiny black color. The color of obsidian. He stood there for a while before the gate opened by itself. He walked in without a second glance. On the road to the front door, it was a path through the garden. His walked down the path, keeping his eyes straight ahead, but observant of his surroundings. Surrounding him was a vast variety of flowers. Lilies, roses, and other flowers he does not know the name of grew in the beautiful garden. It was unorthodox by how perfect each flower grew.

He finally reached the front door. Without having to ring the door bell, the elegant door swung open, revealing Damien.

Damien stared at Shadow before stepping aside, "Hello, Shadow."

Shadow inclined his head politely and stepped inside, "Hello, Damien."

Damien closed the door behind him, "Thank you. Again."

Ever since Shadow had accepted to protect the kids for the next two or three years, Damien had been thanking him profusely with a relieved glint in his eyes.

Damien seriously stared at Shadow, "Remember who you are. Their big brother."

Shadow nodded, no expression showing on his face, not that Damien could see, "I know."

Damien stared at Shadow even more, before turning on his heel and walking down a narrow hallway, "Follow me. I will show you to them."

Damien continued to walk without looking back to see if Shadow was following.

Shadow continued to scan the areas around him. No one could be not too paranoid. The walls were a pale beige color. A stray piece of furniture here and there. Nothing that would be able to be used as a weapon. At least not by any common people. He could turn anything into a weapon. The fork was the most dangerous one. He could break apart the small shelf into a stick and stab someone with it. Of course, that was only one of the ways.

After many twists and turns, Damien stopped in front of a simple door. Turning around, he sternly reminded Shadow once more, "Remember."

He swung open the door and seated on the elaborate carpet on the ground was two children playing. Maybe eleven or twelve years old.

Shadow examined the room around him, unable to look at the innocent children on the ground. A warm fireplace burned at the side of the room. A warm feeling emanated from the entire room.

A young childish voice attracted his attention, "Mister? Who are you?" Though the question could be thought as rude, this young girl inquired in a small, polite way, not intending to be rude. Everything is about intent.

"Remember, you are the kids' big brother. It's apart of the protection deal. Also, try your best to not let them know I hired you to keep them safe."

Shadow sighed and knelt on the ground, taking in the kid's appearance. She had big brown innocent eyes. Eyes with curiously that took in the whole world. Though underneath that curiosity was suspicion. She stood up and stood in front of her brother.

Her brother also stood up and insisted, "You don't have to protect me, Bianca. I'm old enough to protect myself."

She narrowed her eyes at her brother once again, before straightening her back so she could stand up to her full height, "No, you are not."

Feeling a sibling spat coming on, Shadow intervened, "Hey, guys, guys. No need to fight."

Bianca then turned on Shadow. She pointed an accusing finger at Shadow's face, "You still haven't told me who you are yet." The polite tone is now gone and a hostile one replaced it.

Shadow held out his hands in a surrendering manner, forcing himself to play to the young girl's needs to see that he is friendly. All this time, he was staring at the two children with an expressionless face.

Slowly, he reached up to the edge of his hood and pulled it down, showing his face to the world. He slid on a kind mask.

He smiled at the young kids, his eyes glittering kindly at them, "Hi guys. I'm your big brother. Kenji."

Their eyes turned hopeful for a second before turning doubtful.

Bianca's younger brother stepped out from behind Bianca and took a hesitant step towards Kenji.

"Get them to trust you."

Her younger brother asked, "You are not my brother. I don't have a brother. Are you my brother?"

He smiled and stared the the younger sibling in the eye, giving no signs of lying, "Yes. I am your brother."

A huge smile spread across his face, "Brother!" He ran forward and threw his arms around his neck. Kenji stiffened at the contact, but relaxed and hugged the younger boy back. Old habits die hard.

From behind the young boy, Bianca stepped closer to the hug and asked in the same manner as the young boy did, "Brother?"

He nodded, a bright smile, similar to the one the younger brother wore, "Brother."

A few stray tears escaped her eyes as she jumped forward. She repeated over and over again as she joined the hug, "Brother. Brother. Oh my gods. I have a brother. I have a brother."

The two siblings hugged him as tightly as they could, "Brother."