"YAH!"

I was startled awake at the sound of shouting. The peaks of the morning sun peeked in through the cracks on the walls.

As I started to wake, I realized Pori was not asleep beside me. I sat up instantly fearing the worst was going on outside.

I pushed open the door and shielded my eyes from the early morning sun.

"YAH! AAAAAAHHHH! Oww!"

I saw Pori sending fast kicks into the air bringing up sand as he sparred with nothing onward. He let out a mighty high kick when I heard his shoulder snap and he stood there in pain.

"Pori! Wha-"

I froze as I watched him breathe and then slowly bring his arms back up to a fighting stance. I couldn't help but gawk at his muscles flexing with sun shining on them.

He spun backwards and did a series of complicated flips before bringing down his foot in a mighty kick on the sand.

As the sand slowly flowed away I gasped at how strong and heroic he looked in those moments. I just didn't expect that from someone as shady as him.

The same person who made me meals taught me basic self defense.

The same person who killed people for the rewards asked me if I was alright.

The same person who was now sparring on the beach bringing up sand and ocean as he goes, looks absolutely stunning to watch.

He's amazing.

I looked back at him to see he suddenly paused and turned in my direction. My cheeks burned as I realized I might have seen something I wasn't suppossed to see.

He does sparring alone and gets lost in his movements that he wasn't expecting me to be standing there. Like a male bird's dance it's only for his intended, not someone he barely knows.

I started turning around when he shouted my name.

"Paty! Wait!"

I reluctantly turned to face him standing there like a war god at the edge of the ocean waves.

He waved me over and I just sighed and approached him.

"Join?"

"For what?"

"Sparring. Just copy me."

He stood still with one hand in front and the other on his back. He bent his knees really far apart from each other. I nervously tried my best to copy his stance.

"Relax muscles. Too stiff."

"I'm trying..."

"Breathe in and out."

I sucked a deep breath and I suddenly felt more relaxed.

"Good."

He moved up his left leg slowly and stood on one foot to move his leg up high.

"Try do this faster."

I sucked a breath before bringing my left foot out only to kick Pori in his hip. Pori didn't even flinch or stumble he merely shook his head.

"Twist hip next time."

I did as he said and this kick was more powerful than the first one.

"Again."

Pori said as he stood aside like he wanted to observe me.

I tried it again and nearly stumbled this time. Pori caught my leg and hip and held me steady.

"Good. Not too high yet."

I blushed as he moved his hands down to my lower thigh, gently guiding my leg and hip, repeating the proper position several times before he let go.

"Keep practice and you do good."

I looked up at him wondering if the guy ever smiles. Because even after how close he's been to me he never smiled once.

"It's 'keep practicing and you'll do good'."

"Keep practi-ing and youu do good."

"Practicing."

"Keep practicing and you do good."

"And You'll do good."

"You'll? Is that one word or two words?"

"Two words. It's short for you will.""Keep practicing and you will do good."

"Good. Good."

I said before I let out a kick and felt the force all through my leg.

"You will do good."

"Thanks Pori."

Pori's phone suddenly rang and he pulled it out to answer.

"Moshi moshi.

Hello?"I leaned a bit closer to listen and I could hear his sister angry voice cursing from the other end.

I couldn't understand a word of their conversation but it didn't sound good.

After looking at the waves to pass the time I heard Pori hang up and sigh.

"What did Misaki say?"

"We go back to hideout and report on why bounty escape."

"She already knows about it?"

"She watch news and saw him talking. Misaki furious."

"Well let's head back then and explain that you were hurt."

Pori sighed as he headed back to the shack me following him.

"What did I say?"

"Misaki want results not excuses."

"Well her little brother being hurt should be a big concern to her!! I thought she cared about you!"

"Misaki she- Nothing."

He stepped inside and quickly packed up our things, slipping on his hoodie as he went.

"We hurry and go explain. Okay?"

"Fine."

I said as I put back on my vest and knife belt before following after Pori.

~ At Silent Headquarters

We reached the hall and found Chino sitting on a bench sharpening some kind of double ninja sword and up to seven dead bodies splayed out at her feet. And at the table was Trey with the mayor's daughter all tied up beside him.

"Don't want to let her loose?"

"Not yet. Besides she'll run if I do."

I shook my head at him not amused before a loud familiar shout rang out across the building.

"PATRICIA AND PORI GET YOUR ASSES IN HERE RIGHT NOW!"

"Ooh, the boss does not sound happy. It was nice knowing you while it lasted sweetheart."

Reluctantly, me and Pori walked across the room to Misaki's office.

"Close the door."

I pushed the door closed and we both looked straight at Misaki. Her face was nearly all red and any sarcasm or remorse was gone from her face.

"The assignment was to kill Mr Hudson of Hudson Automobiles correct?"

"Yes ma'am, correct"

"If that is correct...THEN WHAT IS THAT SHIT?!"

She pointed at her flat screen that was displaying the morning news with Mr Hudson giving a statement on his recent 'assasination attempt.' The footage from the manor was blurry but in them we looked like dumb ameteurs.

"Sorry ma'am. We failed because-"

BOOM!

I flinched as she pulled out a shotgun and fired it at the tv practically blowing it to pieces.

"DID I ASK YOU TO SPEAK?!"

"N-No."

"THEN KEEP YOUR FUCKING MOUTH SHUT OR I WILL BLOW OUT YOUR FUCKING BRAIN AND LEAVE YOUR BODY THERE TO ROT!"

I bit my lip feeling very afraid at Misaki's unexpected wrath. I looked at Pori for guidance and he didn't look too much surprised at his sisters antics.

"Big sister?"

"What Pori?!"

"We didn't suceed because I had been shot."

Tense silence quickly filled the room.

"Where were you shot?"

He pulled down his sleeve enough to show the bandages around his shoulder and neck.

"Who bandaged you up?"

"I did."

Misaki turned to look at me with venom in her eyes. As if daring me to say another word.

"Pori."

"Yes?"

"One more chance to get the job done right this time. With or without your partner."

"Yes Misaki."

"And if you fail, she dies."

I gulped as Pori gave her a tense nod of understanding.

"You. Get out. I have some other words to say to my brother privately."I said nothing as I quickly opened the door and stepped out.

~I will be honest my sister terrifies me.

But I couldn't help but not say anything to defend Paty because I know how cold she can be. And she clearly despises her, she made that much clear.

This was either going to be a long lecture or cold hearted advice.

"There was a reason I said 'With or without her', Pori."

"Soshite, sore wa dono yona riyudesa ka?

And what reason is that?"

"Riyu wa, anata no patona wa sekinindesu. Soshite, anata wa kanojo no umi ni kakawarazu, ninmu o susumeru, koto a kettei shinakereba narimasen.

Reason being, your partner is a liabililty. And you have to decide to proceed with the mission, either with or without her."

"WATASHI WA NANI MO KIMETE IMASEN!

I'M NOT DECIDING ANYTHING!"

"Sore wa kanojo jishin no burei matawa anata ga kanojo ni taishite motte iru arushuno awarena aichaku no tame ni kanojo no atama ka anata no dochira kadesu. Sore wa anata no botsuraku ni narimasu.

It's either her head or yours because of her own impudence. Or some kind of pathetic attachment you have for her. That will be your downfall."

"Kono muimina detarame no subete ga futatabide wa arimasen! Watashi wa daremino aichaku ga arimasen 'shimai'! Subete no hito no anata wa sore o shitte irubekidesu!

Not all this pointless bullshit again! I have no attachments to anyone 'sister'. You of all people should know that!"

I started heading out not wanting anymore part of this conversation.

"Pori."

My hand was on the door knob but I paused for her to say one last thing.

"Watashi wa sono on'nanoko ni tsuite itta koto o kangaete mite kudasai. Kanojo ga anata ni rebarejji o kakete iru no ka, nanika yakunitasu monona no ka. Sentaku wa anata shidadesu.

Think about what I said about the girl. Whether she's leverage to you or something useful. The choice is yours."

I said nothing as I took in those words and stepped out. Who knew speaking in our own language can be so frustrating? I turned to see Paty approaching from the bench.

"What did she say?"

"She expects better."

"Naturally. I don't think she's a woman that gives more than second chances."

"No. She does not."

"Anything else?"

"No."

"Wow sweetheart, you actually managed to get silent wolf over there to talk. What an achievement."

"Speaking of talking would it do us any harm for us to let the mayor's daughter speak?"

At Paty's word Trey removed the gag on girls mouth and she instantly started screaming.

"HELP! SOMEONE PLEASE HELP ME!"

"Keep it down sugar. No one can hear you..."

"Trey knock it off."

"What if I don't want to?"

"Then I'll kill the girl."

"Really Chino?"

"Don't try me."

"Alright only because you said please baby."

Trey said as he pulled out a cloth covered in knockout gas and put it against the girls mouth. She passed out in a matter of seconds.

"So you guys wanna get some of that really nice steak I mentioned yesterday?"

"No."

"Aww why not Pori?"

"I said no."

"Come on just this once."

"No."

"Not even if I beg or offer you something?"

"No."

Paty followed me with a sigh as we exited the building together.

~Times Circle

After walking through the sidewalk and seeing nothing but noisy traffic for about half an hour I spotted a Wcdonalds and remembered that Paty had mentioned she wanted take-out a short while back.

Assuming she was hungry I told her to wait and went to go buy some food. When I returned with the bags of food a few minutes later, Paty looked at them with a surprised smile.

"Aww did you get those for me?"

"Not for you. For me."

"Oh well excuse me."

"Yes it for you."

"Oh well... thank you."

"Welcome."

"Can we stop and eat it somewhere? Or at home?"

I turned to look at her.

"Fine at home."

She walked at my pace walking right beside me.

"Should we have to worry about being seen?"

"No big crowd. Hard to find us."

"Okay."