Hello everyone, glad to say I'm back once again! How are you all? Its time for chapter 9! C:

Feedback is ALWAYS welcome!

I hope you enjoy and thanks for reading~!

"You...you brought a kid in here?!"

The short man with scars everywhere on his face stands behind his desk. His hands clenched into angry fists, his face red with rage. Brian and I face the man. Its...its hard hiding my fear, I try my best but fail. I'm very clearly scared.

"What the hell are you thinking?! Do you realize what you've done? You've brought a child with you!" He yells at Brian, his entire body shaking.

I turn and look up at Brian, unlike me his face is completely calm. He watches with a chilled face as his boss rants on and on about his errors. His cool, uncaring expression...it might be cold but it's effective. The boss' voice slowly decreases as he stares at Brian's relaxed face, though the boss is still very mad.

"You're probably wondering why I've done this." Brian speaks in a causal tone.

"You're damn right! This is our hideout for crying out loud! What suddenly makes you think you just casually stroll in here with a kid?!" He shrieks.

"Calm down, boss. Let me explain." Brian replies reassuringly.

The boss smacks his fist onto his desk, making a really loud, terrifying sound.

"Just how exactly can you explain something like this?! How old is kid you've brought anyway? Seven? Eight?!" He shouts before Brian can speak further.

"He's nine." Brian corrects him.

"That was a rhetorical question, you dumbass! I'm saying you've brought a child into a place he most definitely shouldn't be in!"

Brian steps back a bit and lets out a large sigh. He plays with his beard and looks at the boss again.

"The kid's parents are dead." He tells the boss sharply.

The boss doesn't react or even blink.

"Is that supposed to make me feel sympathy, Brian?" He hisses.

"What I mean to say is; the poor kid's got no place to go to. Can I really leave a helpless, hungry, cold and weak child out on those streets we fought to get away from?"

The boss' expression softens slightly, he turns his head to me. I look back at him and give my best 'sad-face' like Brian had instructed me to earlier. His face shows that he's still annoyed though.

"So we keep him in one of our dorms? Give him a free, warm bed and food? We're not running a charity, Brian. We need to save up our profits, we're just barely getting by with our funds. We can't afford him." He informs Brian.

"I'm not saying he's staying here for free..." Brian whispers.

The boss looks utterly confused...for about three seconds. His face becomes red again, he shakes his head in disbelief.

"Damn it, Brian...don't tell me you're planning on making him a..." He groans.

"Yup. I'll turn him into an assassin. It'll take a while, of course. What with his skinny figure and shy personality...but give me one year, just one, and I'll make him one of the best assassin's out there." Brian smiles.

"You're insane..." The boss whispers.

"Please, boss. Just one year. If I can't make an assassin out of him by then...by all rights you can take my life. No questions asked." Brian begs.

"Why? Why go so far for this random kid off the streets?"

Brian lowers his head and tips his white hat in front of his face.

"He...reminds me of someone. An old friend. I can't just leave him out there by himself." He says softly.

Brian...

The boss lets out an exaggerated sigh. He glares at both of us and makes his decision.

"Fine. One year. No more."

"Thanks, boss." Brian says, relieved.

"But...on one condition." The boss continues.

"And what would that be, boss?"

"He'll be no exception to our rule." The boss finishes.

"That's your condition? Done deal, boss."

What? What rule? What are they talking about...? I stare at Brian, dumbfounded. He notices and grins.

"The rule is...if you fail at eliminating a given target...the rest of the assassins shall be sent at some point to kill you. We don't except slip-ups here."

The boss shoots a glare at me.

"Do you agree to this rule?" He asks.

I take in a deep breath.

"Yes."

I see...so Raven has already gotten used to using the weapon I've given him. Good. Just look at him now...he's handling the weapon like a natural pro. That's right, Raven. Keep getting stronger. We can't have a weak, unworthy fighter take down the Master's chosen one...

"I'm tired..." Lu groans.

We walk through the village's streets, greeted by the sweet smell of baked goods. The weather is absolutely perfect; not too hot and not too cool. The kid's run around, playing 'Tag'. Laughing, giggling with excitement as they run around having fun. What amazing childhood memories they'll all make...I wonder what something like that would be like.

"Stop moaning, Lu. We've still got half of the village to go. There is no time to rest." I tell her as she sulks.

She continues to sulk as we keep moving forward. Her head quickly turns to a nearby food stand. I sigh...she's clearly drooling. That's just disturbing.

"Stay focused, Lu." I say as I pat her little, cute head.

She turns to me, wipes off her drool and stares at me with her huge, adorable eyes.

"Please, Ciel. Lets rest...just a little bit. My knees hurt..." She whispers.

D-damn it...how can I say no to that face? Her deep, blue eyes are staring right through me. We're supposed to be looking for her family or anyone that recognizes her...yet, we've only gone through around half of this place. I should press further, tell her she's being silly...but I can't. I can't say no to someone like her. I look at one of the nearest taverns and point to it.

"Fine. See that old, wooden building over there? There's a couple of seats there that you can rest on. I'll talk to the owner of the place and see if anyone's been looking for a lost child. He usually knows everything that goes on in this village." I tell her.

She smiles and nods.

"Got it!" She says adorably.

This...this energy! I've felt this type of energy before...it can't be...can it? Yes, this energy. Its definitely hers. No doubt about it. Yes...so you've finally reappeared...Luciela R. Sourcream!

"People looking for a lost kid? Sorry, mate. Haven't heard anything like that. Then again, most people in this place have gone out for a few days on business trips." The bartender says to me.

"Ah, I see. So you're saying I should wait a couple of days?" I ask him while leaning across tavern's serving-table.

"That would be a smart idea." He nods.

"Right..." I whisper in deep thought.

"So...you gonna order anything, mate?" The bartender asks while wiping clean one of the used glasses.

"Y-yeah...give me a cup of the usual." I reply.

I look across the place. Lu sits quietly on one of the wooden chairs at the back of the tavern, staring innocently at the strange people around her. One of the men on another table gets up and wanders over to Lu's table. A dangerous look in his eyes. Shit, I was hoping this wouldn't happen.

"Here's your drink." The bartender says.

"Not now." I hiss back at him.

The man leans over Lu's table and gives a suggestive grin.

"Hey there, cutie. You come here alone?" He laughs.

"Err..." Lu hesitates, confused over what was happening.

I grab my drink and walk over to the man, I put on hand on his shoulder and force him the other way around. He faces me.

"No, she didn't. She came with me." I tell him.

The man smiles.

"Eh...with a weakling like you?" He says smugly.

He turns back to Lu.

"How about sticking around with a real man?" He asks Lu.

"I'm warning you. Piss off." I whisper to him, sharply.

The man laughs and doesn't turn back around to me. He keeps staring at the completely confused Lu with his disgusting, lustful eyes. He leans even closer over the table, his breath filled with the disturbing smell of alcohol. Don't do it. Just don't do it. I'm not in the mood for this. Don't touch her. We don't have to do this.

He reaches his arm out and strokes Lu's cheek. That's that. I'm ending it here. I clench his shoulder, hard. I spin him around, rougher this time.

"Eh...still going at it? This girl is mine now, so go somewhere el-" He begins to ramble.

I swing my hand with the glass in it and smash it into his eye. Everyone sitting down suddenly stand up, slowly backing away. The perverted man screams in pain as he tries to get the glass shards out of his eyes. Lu doesn't do anything, she just watches everything unfold wordlessly.

"You...you little piece of shit! I'll kill you!" He shrieks as he jumps forward, throwing a flimsy punch my way.

I dodge it effortlessly, pathetic. Just what kind of sad excuse of a punch was that...? I leap towards him, grab the back of his head, lift my knee and shoot it forward into his disgusting face. Blood spurts out of his nose as my leg connects with it. He flies back, crashes onto the floor and doesn't get back up. Filthy people like you, no one needs them.

The crowd of people witnessing what just happened begin whispering among each other. Glaring at me like I'm a monster. Doesn't bother me, do what you want. Just keep your hands off Lu. I walk over to one of the tables with a tissue box on it, pull out one and clean up the blood stain on my trousers. I make my way to the door. Lu hops off the chair, walks around the perverted man as he lays on the ground and smiles calmly at me.

"Time to go?" She asks me cheerfully.

I nod as I open the door.

"W-wait! What about the drink? Y-you didn't pay..." The bartender wails.

I look at him.

"Put it on my tab." I tell him as I slam the door closed behind me.

"So that's where you are! What are you doing in a tiny, useless place like that? And who is this man accompanying you...? Nah, I don't need to over think it. The man will be no problem to kill...as for you Luciela R. Sourcream. I'll kill you too, but I'll make it a slow death. I'll enjoy every second of it. Hehe...I hope you're ready. I'm coming over to finish what I started!" The Succubus giggles happily in delight as she stares at the vision of the little girl wandering aimlessly with her new friend.