Hadji has been ordered to stay at Ryozanpaku since Master says Yami plans to move soon. Now Hadji has to make sure to follow their rules if he is going to complete his mission.

Also. This will be in third person from here on out.

Chapter 12

The masters of Ryozanpaku sat at the dinner table in the main building discussing Hadji's membership in Ryozanpaku. Hadji sat alone, meditating in the dojo waiting for them to return.

"So this kid is a part of some super special order." Sakaki said, "So what. How could you guys trust him?"

"They helped me once before." The Elder said, "And I believe they've helped you too, Shigure?"

Shigure nodded though she didn't know much about the order except that they sent Hadji to help her twice.

"They've been around since ancient times fighting corruption and murder." Kensei said, "They exist all around the world just like Yami does."

"Yes only the brotherhood kills people like Yami." Akisame added, "Rather that Yami who kills innocent people for fun."

"So what?" Sakaki replied, "They're like, good satsujinken?"

"Precisely." Kensei replied.

"That person." Shigure said, "Was Hadji's master... I wonder who he is for Hadji to be able to block my attacks with such a small weapon."

"He certainly seemed familiar." Akisame replied, "Although I don't recall ever meeting a person in a suit and a mask like that."

"What about Kenichi?" Sakaki asked, "If these assassins are getting involved, don't you think it may be too dangerous for the kid?"

"Yes." The Elder replied, "But we can't just stop teaching him. He still has his fight with Ragnarok. And we have help now, so Hadji should be able to protect him fairly well, since he's clearly a master level fighter."

"What the hell kind of style does he practice?" Sakaki asked, "Wasn't anything I've ever seen."

"Apa! He looked like a ninja!" Apachai shouted.

"So it's agreed then." Akisame said, "We'll allow Hadji to join us for now?"

Everyone nodded and Shigure stood up.

"Where you going?" Sakaki asked.

"To... talk to him." She replied leaving."

Hadji breathed in and out calmly waiting for someone to give him news. After thinking for a while he got embarrassed that he accidentally kissed Shigure. And it got worse once she opened the door and walked inside.

"Hey." He said standing up, "About earlier. Sorry."

"What?" She replied blankly.

"You know." He said, "Accidentally kissing you. I swear it was an accident."

She ignored him blushing in the darkness of the building.

"So what did they say?" he asked.

"You can... stay." She replied, "As long as you... hold back on... killing people."

Hadji chuckled, "I don't kill just because."

"I know." she replied, "You kill to protect people. Anyway... I will show you... to your room."

She gestured him to follow her and he did so quickly. He saw Kenichi sparring with Miu in the distance. Once they saw him they ran up to his side smiling. Hadji could tell they didn't know the truth about him yet.

"Hey, Hadji." Kenichi said, "What are you doing here?"

"I"ll be staying here from now on." He replied, "Gotta protect you."

"You don't have to." Miu said, "We'll both be fine."

"I was ordered to." He replied.

"Ordered?" Kenichi raised an eyebrow, "By who?"

"My master. Anyway, I've gotta go get settled in." he replied, "Don't turn your back on your enemy."

Kenichi gasped then was thrown to the ground by Miu. He kept walking with Shigure toward the dorm building.

"So do you remember my master now?" He asked her, "After seeing him again?"

"I've never seen him before." She said blankly jumping up to the second floor. Hadji jumped up with her and stared surprised.

"Then why did he?"

She slid open a door with a sign above it that read second disciple. He looked at the room beside it which had a sign that said Shigure's room.

"This is... your room." She said as he walked in. "Dinner will be... at ten."

Hadji nodded and she closed the door. He looked around and saw the bed at the back of the room. Beside it was a wardrobe and on the left wall was an empty sword rack. On the right wall was an empty bookshelf. He threw off his bag and opened the wardrobe. He placed his belts and mask inside then went to the bookshelf. He placed all of his Shuriken on the middle shelf and laid his bag down on the floor next to it.

That night at dinner was very awkward for Hadji. He felt very unwelcome there as an assassin, so he felt it would be a good idea to try and get friendly. All of the masters' auras were pounding down on him, stressing him out until finally he calmly stood up and left. Shigure followed him quickly while the others just watched.

He climbed up the wall and lied down on the roof pulling his emo black hair out of his eyes. She sat down right next to him wondering what was wrong, but not wanting to say anything.

"What do you want?" He finally asked her in an irritated voice.

"What's... wrong?"

"What do you think?" He asked, "They all hate me. I don't belong here. And I don't need to be stuck with this mission."

"Why did you... go?" She asked him.

He sighed, "Because he told me to... He's taken care of me since I was eight. I quickly learned to obey him without question."

"Why?"

He sat up glaring at her, "Why do you care anyway!? You just think I'm a murderous scum!"

She waved her finger at him, "You are part of the... weapons world. Sometimes you have to kill... to survive."

"Have you ever killed?" He asked getting a nod no from her, "Exactly so what do you know!?"

"I have never taken a life... because I know how to use a weapon without killing." She replied. "You may be a master weapon user, but that is only... satsujinken... maybe it would help... to practice Katsujinken."

He rolled his eyes.

"Tell me about... your master." She replied.

Hadji sighed and sat down shaking his head. Finally he spoke, "I don't know... It's not like I never asked him. He's very secretive. He's an assassin after all."

Shigure nodded.

"Anyway. When I was little..." He looked down with his frustration growing.

"What is... it?" She asked.

"My parents were killed!" He shot up and stormed to the peak of the roof pacing angrily. "My sister was kidnapped and now I'm stuck doing these menial chores! When all I want to do is go looking for her!"

Shigure got up and followed him. "Can't you take a... break?"

"There are no breaks anymore." He replied, "All I do is work."

She stared at him blankly.

"Stop staring at me!" He shouted looking away, "All my life... I've done what I was told without question. Didn't speak unless spoken to. And now I... I'm so angry!"

"At your master?" She asked.

"No." he replied.

"Us?"

"No no!"

"Who are you mad at?" She asked.

Finally he dropped to his knees and punched through the roof tiles, "I'm angry at myself!"

She sat next to him and kept staring.

"I just sat there and watched as they killed my parents." He said, "I should have stopped them."

"That is very... stupid." She flicked his nose and he looked at her as she waved her finger at him, "If you tried to help you would have been killed too. And you can't afford to die."

She extended the blades in her sleeve, "Because you still have to... earn these back."

She retracted the blade and held out her hand. He looked up calming down then took her hand.

"I'll learn your ways." He said, "But don't think I'm going this doesn't make me an assassin!"

She nodded her head and the two jumped off the roof. The next day they met out in the yard. She held an extra sword and threw it to him.

"We fighting again?" He asked.

She shook her head then stepped to the side pointing at a stone statue.

"I want you to disable that statue... without injuring it." She replied.

He nodded and took the sword out of it's scabbard. He then stood in his ninjutsu stance with the sword behind his body. He then took a deep breath and swung the sword cutting it across the feet. However, when the cut showed it was through the statue and it fell in half.

"Damn it." He grunted.

"That is your weakness." She said, "You are skilled... but you only know how to kill... you have no self control."

Suddenly Kenichi brushed past him carrying another statue, "Ugh. Sensei! Couldn't you have carried this!?"

"Yes." Akisame replied, "But then it wouldn't have been training would it? Now shut your mouth and keep going delivery boy!"

Kenichi set the statue down with a thud and rushed away panting.

"Again." Shigure said, "And this time... Aim only to hit it lightly." She tapped the statue's foot with a stick. "A human body is a lot less dense... than stone... so you don't need much force... to disable them."

Hadji nodded then got back in his stance. Then he exhaled and swung the sword again. A flash showed and a cut appeared on the statue's foot. He looked at it hopefully, but then it fell apart again.

He threw the sword to the ground, "Why can't I do it!? It seems so easy!"

She walked up to his side then put her hand on her hilt. Then in a flash she drew her sword and cut the statue. A slit appeared on the statue's foot and it fell to the ground, but it was still intact.

"What!?" He shouted, "How did you do that!?"

"Keep trying." She said.

He rolled his eyes then picked up the sword and got back in his stance. Eyeballed the statue hard and took a deep breath. Then he took a step forward and swung the sword. A slit appeared on the statue then it fell apart. For hours Hadji cut the statue with failure and frustration. It seemed like the more he practiced the more damage he did with the sword.

Finally to his relief she held up her hand and told him to stop. "Let's try something else."

He sighed in relief. Suddenly she hopped up into a tree. He looked up wondering what she was doing.

"Peel the leaf." She said cutting a leaf and peeling it into two pieces, "Without cutting it in half."

"What?" He said, "How is that possible?"

She plucked a leaf from the tree and he watched it gently float down. Then in one motion he swung his sword as fast as he could cutting it. A slit appeared then the leaf fell in two pieces.

"Damn it!"

"Keep trying." Shigure said plucking another leaf, "Don't think of your weapon as a... tool."

Hadji kept at it for hours destroying the leaf every time, rather than hitting it with precision. He found this extra hard which is exactly what she planned. Since Hadji was a master assassin she knew he wouldn't be good at using non lethal attacks, which was why Hadji's master sent him there in the first place.

Sakaki got a kick out of watching the boy fail. He leaned up against the wood poles of the dojo and chuckled while chugging down a beer.

"What's so funny?" Akisame asked.

"That kid's getting pissed off because he can't do Shigure's training." He laughed, "Pretty funny."

"The boy is too used to lethal attacks." He replied, "So non lethal attacks are extra difficult for him. Especially with a weapon."

"So Shigure thinks she can make this guy a saving fist user?" sakaki asked, "That's a laugh."

"No. It would be pointless to try and change him now." He replied, "But she certainly does act differently toward him. My best guess is that she wants him to at least know Katsujinken techniques so that he doesn't become completely evil."

"Why would she give a shit about him anyway?" He asked, "He just got here yesterday."

"Yes. But this boy had quite an impact on her as a child." Akisame added, "He saved her when they were both little. And even though he brutally killed all those men, Shigure felt like they were meant to meet. Like he was a guardian angel."

Sakaki broke out laughing, "Bhahaha! Are you serious!? An assassin is not a guardian angel. In fact they are probably polar opposites."

"In most cases, yes." Akisame said, "However, assassin's who chose a non selfish path can be considered saints even though their actions are devilish."

"So what this kid is some sort of good slash bad guy?"

"An anti hero to be exact." Akisame added, "Think of it this way. A hero is someone like kenichi who wishes to only do good things and stick to their moral beliefs while doing so. A villain is someone who wishes to get what they want and stop at nothing to do so out of greed or hatred. But an anti hero is sort of a neutral. A person who has great intentions and stops at nothing to accomplish it. Even throwing away their own moral beliefs. Get it?"

"Huh. So we got us a badass don't we?" Sakaki asked, "Sounds like someone I'd like to rumble with."

"Now now, sakaki." he replied waving his finger, "He may be skilled but against you it would still be quite unfair."

The rest of that day was filled with frustration and failure for the assassin. Every single exercise he was given was aimed to help him learn non lethal ways of using the sword. However, no matter how much he focused he always ended up destroying the target object in the end. The next day he did the exact same thing failure and frustration then the same process over again. Shigure kept telling him to keep trying, and occasionally she would demonstrate the correct way. But no matter how close to her he got he still ended up doing massive amounts of damage that would kill a human being.

One day Kenichi didn't come to Ryozanpaku. Hadji made nothing of it at first, but got worried when days turned into weeks without kenichi. Hadji feared the worst and went straight to his wardrobe to contact the team for information.

"Hey Hadji." Akiko answered, "Master's out on some hit. What's up?"

"I need to know what Kenichi Shirihama's recent activities have been." He replied in his low flat voice. "He's been gone for over a week and Miu hasn't seen him at school."

"Hm. Let me see." She replied typing into the computer, "It says here he's been spending all his time at home. No fights no danger nothing."

"Thanks." He said, "Keep me posted."

He set down his mask and closed the door when suddenly he looked over his shoulder and saw Akisame standing there with Sakaki.

"We're going out to get some groceries for Miu." Akisame said, "Wanna come?"

"I have training to do with Shigure." He replied walking towards the door and brushing past them.

"Listen kid. Shigure's a natural with a weapon." Sakaki said, "So you might as well take your time cause you're not gonna be beating her any time soon."

"We'll see about that." He replied in his irritable voice.

"You deserve a break." Akisame replied, "You've been at work your whole life you said it yourself."

He glared back at them then looked way flipping his hair in front of his right eye, "Fine."

Hadji walked with the other masters to the store and each got a bag full of groceries. As they were walking home the two masters stopped and looked over the side of the bridge. Hadji looked as well and saw Takeda, Ukita, Miu, and Nijima all following Kenichi at a quick run.

"Looks like they are in quite a hurry." Akisame said, "We should follow them."

"Hold my bag." Hadji replied handing Sakaki his bag and jumping over the side. "I'm gonna go help!"

He caught up to them quickly and ran at Miu's side.

"What's going on!?" He shouted.

"Kenichi's sister has been kidnapped by Ragnarok." She replied.

"What by who!?" He shouted hoping she wouldn't say Shi no Kage.

"Loki and Hermit." She said getting a sigh of relief.

After a while of running they came to a hault when they saw Loki standing in their way. Takeda and Ukita got into a stance as did Miu. However, Hadji knew this wasn't the real Loki since this was something he would try himself.

"Nice try." He shouted, "But I know Loki isn't some roadblock!"

"Heh." Loki smiled, "What's wrong don't you want to play my game?"

"Just get out of our way!" He shouted, "Before I hurt you!"

Five more Loki clones walked up to his side armed with tazers and pipes.

"Go on ahead guys!" Hadji said, "Catch up with Kenichi. I'll take care of them!"

The others nodded and ran on ahead. Hadji pulled up his hood and put his hands up. One hand was by his ear in a fist while the other was extended facing the sky.

"Last warning." He said, "Give up now!"

All six Lokis charged in to stun him but only hit air as he jumped right up and kicked off the front one to the back. He then jumped to his hands and pushed up from the ground while kicking two in the chest knocking them to the ground. He turned around and stepped to the left of a tazer then grabbed the owner's arm and pinned him on the ground. He quickly broke it then knocked him out with a chop to the back of the neck. Another baton came his way which he kicked out of his hand and broke that owner's arm as well then threw him into another enemy.

He jumped up and landed on the fallen Loki with a powerful downward knee. He then turned around to face the final Loki who was a little different, the fat one. He shook in fear of Hadji, but still held up his baton trying to act brave. Hadji just glared at him then side jumped and kicked him in the throat making him choke. He then grabbed his head and pulled him to the ground knocking him out cold.

Once he saw that all of the Lokis had been dealt with he ran on ahead to meet up with the others and finally caught them at the gates of an old abandoned church. Kenichi was currently locked in battle with Hermit while Loki and one of his agents held Kenichi's little sister on the roof. No Shi no Kage though which relieved him. No one else noticed that Akisame and Sakaki were sitting in a tree above. Hadji nodded at them then stepped forward.

Miu stopped him, "This is Kenichi's fight."

Hadji glared at her then at the intense fight in front of him, "I'm going to get the girl."

He flipped up his hood then jumped into a nearbye bush not wanting to be seen and risk the girl getting hurt since he saw a knife in the agent's hand. He jumped from bush to bush with Loki not noticing him at all until he finally came to the side of the church. He didn't stop to think and jumped up and grabbed a the bottom of a stain glass window. He then climbed to the top of the window and up to the next. He then jumped up to the top of that one until finally he hung on the edge of the roof. Loki stood next to his agent on the edge of the building overlooking the battle but paying no attention to Hadji's position right behind him.

Hadji took no hesitation and pulled himself up and stood there. He looked at their position. Loki was unarmed on the right holding no railing and not holding the girl. The other held a dagger to the girl's throat. Her footing was sloppy and her grip was poor. Knowing Loki he wasn't worth killing just yet and neither was his subordinate. The best bet for Hadji would be to disarm the girl agent, kick Loki off the edge, then throw the agent off the edge as well. Both of them would be alive, but injured enough for Hadji to get information out of him.

Hadji nodded at the plan and crept up behind them and grabbed the girl agent by the arm and covered her mouth. Miu and the others gasped below at the scene. Hadji twisted the girl's wrist hearing a snap and the knife cling against the room. He pushed the girl hostage to the side then roundhoused Loki in the side of the head. He fell sideways and hung on the edge of the roof. Hadji punched the agent in the back of the neck then dropped her unconscious on the dangling Loki. They both fell from the heights of the roof and landed hard of the ground. Hadji could hear the snapping of bones in their arms and legs as they landed signifying the success in the plan. He turned around and knelt down.

"Are you alright?" Hadji asked with his hands on the girl's shoulders.

She nodded, "Thank you."

Hadji turned around and she climbed onto his back. He then jumped from the roof and let her down when he landed.

"Go to Miu." He said approaching Loki who panted and sobbed in pain.

With a loud shink he pulled out his Karambit and pulled Loki to his broken feet. He held the fist by the shirt collar and held the blade hard against his throat. An intense fury filled the air around Hadji as he looked at Loki and thought of the mercenaries who kidnapped his sister, Himika. He gritted his teeth and restrained himself with all his might not to kill Loki.

"I stay my blade today only because you're so weak." Hadji said through his teeth, "But mark my words if I ever see your face again. I won't hesitate but to cut off your head myself. Am I clear?"

Loki nodded and Hadji let him down. The other's looked in the distance and he looked as well to see a familiar Odin standing there.

"Well that certainly was entertaining." He said, "You saved me some work of punishing him. I thank you."

Hadji saw Odin from a different angle now. What he was doing wasn't right. They were willing to kidnap a little girl. That much made Hadji suddenly hate Odin and glare at him with hatred.

"What are you doing here!?" He shouted.

"I'm sorry I don't believe we've met." He replied. "I'm the first fist, Odin."

He looked to Odin's right and saw Wraith dressed as Shi no Kage. He then remembered that Odin had not met his real self before.

"I've simply come to collect Loki." He said waving Loki to his side. Loki limped over then he turned to Hermit, "Hermit. You don't have to leave."

"Forget it!" He shouted. "I'm done with this stupid gang."

Odin sighed, "Very well."

He made to walk away then turned around to face Kenichi, "Kenichi. It's been a long time... I hope you haven't forgotten our agreement. Farewell."

Then Hadji saw Odin jump away holding Loki's agent in one arm.


Hadji has begun to further find himself since he never really knew himself other than being an assassin. He also has found something he isn't very good at which is non lethal fighting.

A/N: I hope this chapter was better in third person. If so I will continue to write it this way.

Hadji: When are you gonna give me some action with Shigure? You said you would! What's taking so long!?

Author: It has to progress to it first. Remember you two still aren't very close and won't get much closer until the sequel.

Hadji: Sequel!?

Shigure: Sounds... exciting.