Author's Note: I'm feeling the writer's flow, excited to move on to next chapter! So, I guess for this chapter, Yukia Kajiura's "Ordinary Sunset" seemed to fit watch?v=yDFdSVOequA .

Chapter 29

Identity

Sh-lap! Sh-lap! Sh-lap! Cla-lick.

Riki shot at the wall.

Sh-lap! Sh-lap! Sh-lap! Cla-lick.

The sound of a suppressed gun. That's what it sounded like when Hasegawa died, too. At that time, it was more like someone whipping a belt in a tiled hallway. An echo in Riki's memories, already distant. Down here in El Fabulista, the sound exploded in Riki's head and all around.

Now it was Audriane's turn. She lifted her gun and shot at a sporadic group of circles along the walls. Her gunshots echoed throughout the tunnels.

"We finally got some target practice down here yet the atmosphere's so somber," said Mireille. To the lack of response, she frowned, observing the circles. "Too bad we weren't the first ones down here."

She glanced at Sakuya, who sat on a barrel, watching. Mireille wondered how the Third traveled. The last time they saw her was only a few days ago back at Etxarren, before departing for Laguardia.

"You think Thirds only use knives, don't you?" said Sakuya, with a flat expression. "What kind of Thirds would we be without versatility?"

It wasn't just Sakuya who put Mireille on edge: the tour guide who accompanied them. The man favored the traditional trench-coat to hide his marred face—which nearly got him shot when the party tried to sneak down here after hours. If Sakuya hadn't come along to vouch for him, they would've killed what they thought was a monster.

"Didn't anyone teach you staring is rude?" said Sakuya, bulging her eyes at Mireille.

"I was curious as to why he's been making all that noise since we got down here?" said Mireille, watching the stranger hammering at the metal hoops of wine barrels with a chisel. It almost overpowered Riki's target practice.

"I asked him to loosen the lids to barrels," said Sakuya. "In case anyone hears us, we'd be able to hide in them. They're marked throughout El Fabulista."

"Smart," said Audriane, nodding at the idea.

"I doubt it would come to it," said Sakuya. "After all, you'd be here after tour hours."

In his condition, he must be on medical leave from work—do his co-workers know he's down here helping us? thought Mireille. His disfigurement was terrifying yet mysterious altogether that, aside from working here, she wondered what his role was in all of this.

The blast of bullets and crackling in the walls brought Mireille back to reality. She continued to comment on Riki's shooting accuracy. It'd only been a few hours since their first commission. Upon return, Riki had been quiet, taking the criticism without the usual comebacks.

Mireille looked sideways at Kirika. "You say she reminds you of me," she said, "but honestly, I think she's more like you."

"I can hear you," murmured Riki, reloading.

Their words cut through Riki like a bullet, like the phantom sound it leaves behind. She thought back to how she watched Hasegawa fall in front of her, slamming into the ground chin-first. The gunshot took him from behind, making him fly a foot ahead of himself, his feet still kicking from running. Riki was grateful to have not seen the light leave his eyes. She felt guilty for thinking just that. No, for not feeling guilty—only a pinch of sorrow; there was a difference. After all, she'd only talked with Hasegawa for a few minutes before Audriane sniped him.

There were bigger concerns at hand anyway: Hasegawa hadn't been alone. A squad of Knights had been in hiding, among the rooftops. The Third Faction. Who else. They shot at Riki, making it easy for her to forget about someone else's life when hers was in danger. Forcing her to add Hasegawa to the body count.

"Riki . . .?" whispered Audriane.

Riki didn't know what to feel until Audriane put a hand on her shoulder. A different kind of horrible dwelled inside: incompetence, failure, loathing. She shouldn't have felt horrible that Audriane, of all people, successfully pinned down their first target. It was a good thing that Audriane could finally shoot that damn thing—so what felt wrong here?

"Why'd you shoot him?" muttered Riki. She continued to fire, venting with the same object she told herself never to lift against another human being.

"I told you, Riki," said Audriane softly. "I thought he take you away, or worse, shoot you. I not want that to happen. We would lost you."

Riki remembered feeling numb when it had happened. The only thing that had run through her head was, Hurry! She had felt Hasegawa's neck for a pulse. At the same time, checked his pockets, apologizing. Meanwhile, Audriane's silencer only did so much to prevent all of Laguardia from hearing the gunfire. It was supposed to have been one gunshot—but then the Knights retaliated. And there'd been witnesses. The pedestrians strolling or reading in the park . . . they ran, only to fall by Audriane's bullets. At least, in the crossfire. Still, it was the last thing Riki ever expected.

The second thing she least expected was Shirihime's disappearance, followed by Sakuya's appearance. When Riki and Audriane stopped to catch their breath in an alley, Sakuya helped them sneak away dodging police, Knights, and witnesses altogether.

"It's about time someone taught you how to trek across all sorts of terrain," said Sakuya. "Especially rooftops. You've got the upper-body strength to climb over walls, and you can definitely jump. You should've taken Hasegawa in an alley. You could have slipped out easy without anyone noticing—."

"We chose somewhere public, not crowded, where he not eliminate us, but we eliminate him," said Audriane.

"We're not like you," blurted Riki. "Not sneaky, swift, controlled, or heartless."

Sakuya's face wrinkled with emotion. She sucked in air. "Heartless, huh?" Without dropping Riki's gaze, she unsheathed the knives strapped to her back under her tunic-like attire, and pointed one right at one of the bullet holes.

"This could've been you," she said. She flung her knife. It sounded off a heart-jolting thud, which rang upon impact. Grabbing Riki's gun, Sakuya fired at the same knife. It flicked out of the hole, in which she then shot three consecutive bullets.

"Looks like they could've used someone's help out there," said Mireille.

"That also could've been you," continued Sakuya. She lowered Rik's gun. Stepping forward, she put two hands on Riki's shoulders then slowly came in for a hug. Riki felt a prickle of tears at the corners of her eyes.

Sakuya squeezed. "There are times to let the feelings out, and times to let them in. You gotta' be careful."

Riki's body shuddered as her face sank into Sakuya's shoulder. "Don't do that," she whispered. "Don't tell me to feel nothing in all of this. You, of all people—."

"I've felt it too, ok?" whispered Sakuya. "Plenty of times—it just . . . takes time."

"Of course," whispered Riki. She withdrew, with blaming eyes, trying so hard to figure Sakuya out. What had happened to her that hardened her so fast . . .?

Hands on her hips, Riki stood there. Sniffling, she looked away from everyone. Sakuya slumped, looking to Noir pleadingly.

"Riki, it's over, ok?" coaxed Audriane. "No more of it, we're done—."

"No we're not," snapped Riki. "You should've let me talk to him. I was trying to chat the answers out of him—."

"It was your divide-and-conquer plan!" gasped Audriane. "To confuse him! To make him believe he only need worry about one of us. In case he hurt you, I surprise him!"

Riki began tapping her thigh as if shaking a handful of dice. "You, who don't have the skills to be an assassin, yet capable of taking innocent lives . . .!"

Audriane's heard this for the last time, about lacking marksmanship. She always knew this, and didn't need Riki to remind her. Riki's refusal to look anyone in the eyes, especially hers, was a slap in the face, an accusation—that Audriane liked this. No. She was not like Sakuya. Back then, in her hazy mind, were two words: wait or shoot? Choices and consequences, which she'd gladly face because it meant Riki would live.

Riki blaming her was not one of those consequences she expected, though.

She glared, while Riki continued to tap her fist on her own thigh.

Kirika frowned at the enmity. Being so far away detached Audriane from an experience Riki felt up-close. And they were starting to show camaraderie.

"Because you shot too soon, police are gonna notice his absence—no, find his body!" said Riki. "They'll know it was us. And now we're in deep shit—."

"Do NOT!" cried Audriane, streaming her fingers through her bangs. "Don't blame me! You could have died! You, the capable one—!"

Riki leveled her gun at the wall. Her shots became faster, lighting up the walls. Each one hit the middle of a circle, until the gun clicked, empty.

Mireille spoke gently, but to the point. "Now that you've steamed off, do you know if anyone else was helping Hasegawa? We can't have loose ends."

Riki's face went blank, but she finally caved in and spoke. "Some 'guys' at the police station. He didn't say who, though."

"Probably to protect his comrades," cursed Mireille.

"Riki, why didn't you say something sooner?" said Kirika. "This is bad—."

"He offered to bring us back home, to see our families," blurted Riki.

To this, Audriane's face lit for a second.

"That's a strange thing to say," said Kirika.

"He could have been lying," said Mireille. "After all, it's the Third Faction."

"I know," said Riki.

Audriane felt hopeful and stupid for believing anything like that, not just because Riki would glare at her for it.

She turned to their trainers. "We know nothing about Third Faction. Are they really dangerous? Hasegawa said he take us home. You didn't. You took us—."

"To save you," insisted Kirika, annoyed.

"You forget something, Audriane," said Sakuya. "Whoever started all of this was there at our school. They're the reason why our classmates died. They tried to kill us. You, me, and Riki. Not to mention they tried to kidnap me, but luckily, my people saved me."

"Her people," chuckled Mireille. "I wish I could put a face to these 'people'—."

"That's the other thing," blurted Riki. "Hasegawa said I'd be able to meet them."

"Who?" exclaimed Kirika and Sakuya.

"Whoever's behind the Third Faction. That was all he said."

"Trap," declared Mireille. "You almost believed him."

Before they could argue, Sakuya said, "I guess that leaves us to one last resort. Riki, did you manage to grab anything from the scene? Any other hints?"

Riki shook her head. Even with Audriane stalling, she still wouldn't have had the time before the police or more witnesses rushed to the scene.

Sakuya nodded in understanding. "In that case, this is a dire situation. I'll rush back over, see if I can swipe anything off his possession."

"I doubt you'd make it to Hasegawa's body before the police," retorted Mireille.

Sakuya ignored her. "All of you relax. Audriane, Riki . . . you did ok."

She took Riki's hand and gave it a quick squeeze—the kind that wanted to linger. She almost lifted her hand to Riki's cheek, but brushed strands of hair from Riki's face. When she passed Audriane and gave her a nod, she patted her shoulder. It was subtle and awkward, but held meaning.

"Here's the map for your way out," said Sakuya, handing it to Kirika. "It's a copy of the original that's hanging in the front office."

Sakuya rejoined their tour guide, who had been standing guard at the end of the tunnel. He escorted her away, having memorized the cellars. It was a shame: Mireille had been planning on asking him questions. But she knew better than to prod a man with a broken jaw, nor Sakuya, the one who never answered anything, who only helped at the strangest moments.

Speaking of which . . . thought Mireille, as she watched the way Riki's eyes followed Sakuya.

"What was that?" asked Mireille, cocking an eyebrow.

Riki looked away.

"Well," said Audriane slowly, "at least Sakuya is a caring Third. Better than a psycho?"

Riki didn't answer, reaching behind her head and unwrapping something from her ponytail. It wasn't a hair-tie.

"What's that?" asked Mireille. She grabbed the gray object dangling from Riki's fist.

"A key fob," said Riki. "It was around Hasegawa's neck, under his shirt. So I tied it around my ponytail. And that's not it." She struggled for something fat and leathery from her jeans. It was soaked dark with blood.

"His wallet?" gasped Audriane, picking through its contents.

"When did you . . .?" said Mireille, awing at Riki.

"That why you not flee?" exclaimed Audriane. "I kept yelling that you run!"

"And why didn't you show us sooner?" asked Mireille.

Riki kept her eyes on the wallet. "Because I didn't want Sakuya to hear." Before anyone could tackle her with questions, she added, "Hasegawa said something weird just before he died. He found out that Sakuya was here. When he heard about her 'kidnap', he acted strange, as if it. . . wasn't true. But here's the thing—I don't even know if that's what he meant. He never got to finish what he was going to say."

"I knew something was up with that Third—," began Mireille.

"Sakuya," growled Riki.

"So he was referring to the identity of the Second Faction?" gasped Kirika. "Did he say anything else about his faction—the Third Faction?"

"I'm telling you, I got nothing out of all our efforts," said Riki, defeated. "I thought I could do this without anyone dying. I thought I could do this my way, the right way . . ."

"You made something good out of a bad situation," said Kirika, taking the wallet from Mireille after it's been passed around. "For instance, instead of fleeing, you took the time to scavenge. It may seem little—but if we connect what Hasegawa said to your evidence here . . . then maybe it's enough."

….

Back at Villa de Laguardia Sercotel Hotel, the party inspected Hasegawa's wallet. They dumped out cash, a notepad, photos, and cards. When it came to his driver's license, Riki claimed it and tucked it into her back pocket. No one questioned her.

"There are so many things that bother me," said Mireille, leaning forward on her knees. "One being, that damn woman. Where did Shirihime go?"

"We split up to confuse not just Hasegawa but her," said Riki. "Bringing Shady along was pointless. She did nothing—just drifted around Laguardia like a ghost. She never had any intentions on helping us."

"Maybe she didn't think you needed it," said Kirika, shrugging.

"You're too good for your own good, ya know that Kirika?" said Mireille. She looked back at the teenagers. "Shirihime was only there to ensure you stuck to the contract through-and-through. She's technically our contractor—your contractor. I think after what happened today, you know that this is no longer training. This is the real world. Real contracts."

"So . . . we're being paid our first check for killing Hasegawa?" whispered Riki. "Well, I don't want the money—."

"What happens after our 'five days' are up?" asked Audriane.

Her question was like someone turned on a switch. Everyone forgot about the mysterious deadline Shirihime mentioned upon arrival in Laguardia.

"I guess we'll see," said Mireille. "But let's focus at our current puzzle. One target at a time; we're still on Hasegawa. So. How did he find us in Laguardia? Who or what brought him to the library? According to Shirihime, he was there shortly after we were. That can only mean that he was led there somehow."

"Hopefully we find answers to that in his wallet and this fob," said Kirika, twirling the teardrop-shaped object between her fingers.

"With that said," announced Mireille, scanning their items, "we've got a photo of his daughter. Then a ticket to the parking garage he uses at work; his business card; a notepad full of a lot vague notes; a photo of his pit-bull . . ."

"That appears to be it," said Kirika, flipping the dog photo over. "Other than the sentimental caption, 'In loving memory of Snarls'. That's sad."

"Should've grabbed his phone," said Mireille, sighing. "We'd know who he's been talking to."

"We couldn't stick around," said Riki. The way she said it had moved beyond sorrow and guilt. It was becoming grief. Hasegawa was a reminder of how this all started, and a reminder that this was what her future beheld. Men whose faces were covered by masks were easy to kill. But Hasegawa had a face, and a family . . .

"Riki . . ." said Audriane. "You prefer I kill Hasegawa . . . or you?"

"I prefer that no one died," said Riki firmly.

"People die, Riki . . ." murmured Audriane. She thought of Professor Tokiha from school—never had stopped thinking about him.

"If it means any consolation," said Kirika, "you can keep his driver's license, Riki. I still keep my school ID from long ago, to remind myself who I am."

"Yeah," said Riki. She gave a thoughtful pause, then rose to her feet. "I think I'm done for the night."

"Uh, we have a problem here—?" began Audriane, but Mireille shook her head at her.

Riki nodded gratefully at Mireille and walked away from the table. She didn't go to bed, though. She opened the window to their crescent-shaped porch, and stood out there. They saw her pull out Hasegawa's ID.

"Killing someone is sad," said Audriane. "But . . . Riki is being unreasonable!" She wiped her tears with her arm, her face red.

"Your first target can change you," said Kirika softly.

"It's just a matter of whether or not you let that be a good thing or a bad thing," said Mireille.

Audriane was sick of all the sentimental silence. Even though their mentors guided them this whole time, their words held little meaning compared to their silence. So much has not been said. So when they just sat there waiting for Audriane to say or do something, she couldn't help but feel the same thing, waiting and wondering.

Mireille nodded toward the porch. "Go. She's your partner."

…..

The sky bled its last crimson before the inky wash of night took over. The pool and restaurant lights became part of a still-life painting as Riki and Audriane stared out toward the dark mountains. The sound of a single gun-shot drained out the night-life noise, repeating itself over and over in their minds.

It was only a few minutes after Audriane came out that she decided to break the silence.

"If you not talk to me, find someone else," she said. "You need someone to talk to, even if it cannot be me. Maybe Mireille—?"

"I'm not mad at you, Audriane," said Riki in the quietest tone Audriane ever heard coming from her.

"Riki," blurted Audriane. "I didn't want you to die! Sure, maybe, if I let Hasegawa speak longer, I would know he not a bad Soldat—."

"I told you, I'm not mad at you," repeated Riki, her voice still fragile.

The air was hot and thick. Riki felt it press into her skin, making her thoughts burn with misery. She felt a crumbling wall in the space between her and Audriane, both of them snugged onto that small porch that barely fit two people.

"We were told this was the real contract," said Riki. "We were so used to being trained, we thought that included our emotions. But that was never Mireille and Kirika's jobs—not even yours, as my partner. It had to be me. And yet I couldn't do it, I couldn't pull the trigger. I let him talk, I let him mention to me he had a family. I let him get to me, even though he barely said anything. Because of that, I still took his wallet and his ID and his life. Even though you did it, I felt like it was my fault, and I don't know why."

Riki pushed herself back and forth from the rail. "Dammit," she hissed, "Dammit, dammit, dammit! I'm sorry! I'm sorry that I'm weak—I'm sorry Audriane."

Audriane said nothing, half her face snuggled into her arms on the rail.

"At least one of us gets things done." Riki half-chuckled. "That's who you are: Audripedia, determined, hard-working, studying abroad to get away from whatever it was back at home."

Audriane slowly looked up, shocked. She felt tense but light-headed with emotion altogether.

"Well, whatever it was," muttered Riki, "it made you a stronger person than I ever will be."

She handed Audriane the ID.

"I bet everyone remembers a good man like Hasegawa," said Riki. "Do you think anyone will remember Riki Araki and Audriane Dupont? All they'll have is our school ID's to remember us by . . ."

Riki saw Audriane's tears collecting between her arms and upper lip. But neither of them knew what to say, and kept it that way.

Another minute passed. They heard the TV back inside. They tried to take in the laughter, the world; they never realized how noisy it all got.

"For some crazy reason," said Riki, "I'd like to believe Hasegawa was a good man. So the best I can do is honor him. Be like him, doing whatever it takes, even if it costs the life of another or my own."

"Don't be an idiot," whispered Audriane. "No one is asking you to be a cold-hearted killer. There not a killer in your bones. Just because you learn the skills, it not define you."

"It's okay, Audriane. Next time . . . I won't hesitate."

For some reason, hearing Riki say that, it broke Audriane's heart. All that annoying, intense energy, that resistance to the reality of this world had kept Riki going. But those last words broke a spirit Audriane finally realized and understood.