Velvet Underworld: Part Five: Hunters of The Night

Another note: We come back to present time. The last chapter was a flashback. I'm panning back to the present when they're going after the targets. Don't get confused. The next installment is part two of the flashback. Kay?

Hiroshi again put on his palm gloves and tied his hair back in a ponytail. He looked at himself in the mirror as he had a seious expression on his face. His eyes seemed a little darker that moment, and the way he frowned would seem very threatening to most people. He hadn't said anything for the past hour – after yesterday when they finally found out about Masato Hajime's whereabouts. Pandora had granted them their ''last mission''. And that was to find Masato Hajime and put an end to him.

Again, he looked at himself as he dusted off his leather jacket and took a deep breath. Last Mission. He recalled to himself again how freeing that really sounded. For years, after Shuuichi's death – his only mission was to find the person who killed Shuuichi, his best friend. And because of that, he went through so many people. So many people who deserved to die. Because of all the lives, dreams and hopes they've ruined to get things going their way. It was a trait that made Hiroshi sick to his stomach.

He found himself in this business because of his own reasons. He wanted revenge – but in the long run. Is that all he really wanted? He couldn't help but ask himself.

What was he really doing this for?

''Are you going to stare at yourself all day, or are we going to get a move on?''

He shook his head as he snapped himself back to reality and turned around him. Eiri stood a few steps away from him, looking at him as he scowled slightly. He had the revolver in his hand as he kept it in his trenchcoat. Hiroshi looked at him and paused for a moment.

''Yuki-san...''

''Come on, we're wasting enough time just standing around here. '' he said again as he turned away and walked off. ''I'll be waiting in the car...''

Hiroshi paused and was about to grab his automatic from the side of his table. When he paused and froze, just looking at the black gun by his side for a moment. Again, his thoughts started to wander off.

''Yuki-san?'' he found himself calling.

Eiri stopped walking and paused as he didn't look at Hiroshi, but he did give him a glance.

''Nanda?'' he asked.

Hiroshi paused for a while, as he kept his eyes glued to his gun. ''After all of this... It's finally over... Isn't it?''

Yuki paused, very surprised at Hiroshi's tone. He kept calm and turned around, facing him – his expression remained as it always did. But his voice was a little softer than usual.

''I guess for us – it will be.'' He paused. ''But then again, who's to say that the only rotten bastard out there is Masato Hajime. There's more in hell where he came from.''

Hiroshi looked up. ''Then – after all of this – where do we go from there?'' he asked again. ''In a way – aren't we – '' he paused and took a deep breath. '' Aren't we – just the same as they are? – They kill people and so do we. How are we any different?''

''Hiro-kun? –''

''What if after this mission – I don't want to leave. What if someone else comes along besides Masato?''

There was another moment of silence between them before Eiri scowled again and sighed as he looked up.

''Hiro-kun, if there's anything you should learn from this job. It's that you can't stop everyone and everything from happening. We do all these things, it's true – but the thing is – we can only do so much. Someone is bound do to do these things and there's not a thing we can do about it. We can't stop the way people think...'' he said as he turned away. ''So stop trying to save the world.''

With that he started to walk off. Hiroshi's eyes widened slightly before he then turned around as he called him again.

''Yuki-san?''

Eiri paused again, not even looking at him or glancing at him.

''What is all of it for?'' he asked. ''Why are we doing this?''

Again, Eiri didn't talk for a few moments, before he finally looked up and started to walk off.

''We're here because of our own choice, Hiro-kun.'' He said calmly and patiently. ''We became who we are because we chose to be this way.''

Hiroshi paused as he then looked down at his hands. Eiri's words echoed through his mind – so that's how it was. He chose to become a murderer. But he had a good reason, didn't he? After all, the people he killed – they were the ones doing something wrong. They've killed hundreds of people before he even stepped into the picture. That's what made them different.

''But what we're doing is right, isn't it?'' Hiroshi asked again, the tone of his voice – hoping that he would get the answer that he wanted to hear.

Eiri again sighed, shaking his head as he glanced back at Hiroshi. He pulled out his gun from his jacket and stared at it, his golden eyes moving back from the gun to his teammate. Hiroshi, however had become a little cautious, thinking that maybe Eiri had different ways to prove a point. His dark blue eyes, looked towards the blonde as he asked again.

''Yuki-san, answer me.'' he said, almost roughly. ''We're doing the right thing, aren't we?''

''Hiroshi-kun, I thought you were smarter than this.''

''Eh?''

''You can't seriously be thinking that this is all plainly right. Getting rid of the scum of the land? That's the coating on this whole thing, isn't it? Whatever you do, a sin can't wash away another sin. Killing is considered one of those, isn't it?''

There was a long pause between them. Hiroshi looked down, his bangs hiding his eyes – and maybe the tears that might have been forming in them. Taking a deep breath, he turned his glance back at Eiri, who was still looking at him. His expression – still the same. Stern and at the same time almost indifferent.

''But if it makes you feel any different... this isn't exactly all out wrong either.''

He started to walk away, glancing behind back at him once.

''This is the last mission.'' Eiri whispered, but loud enough for Hiroshi to hear. ''After this, I've killed my last person. I've done my last sin.''

But as he walked away, they both knew that it wasn't true.

My last mission... Takatori Reiji.

The words echoed in Aya's mind as he sheathed his sword and looked at himself in the mirror. Dressed in his black trenchcoat as he always did when he went out for a mission, the sword in his hands. He remained quiet, with only that name now branded on his mind. It was only a few years ago when that ''dark beast'' came in and ruined the life he had. Killed his parents, and his sister – the young girl, the real Aya, the one he cared for so much.

It was finally time to put this to an end. Although, what was to happen during this mission or after this mission, remained unknown to him – or anyone else for that matter. Now that they had finally the chance to pull the plug on Takatori, it wouldn't be much of a mystery that even Takatori had counterplans in case someone tried to waltz in and stop this operation. And it wasn't much of a surprise was the risk of him or any of his teammates dying in the process.

But the question remained, somehow at the back of his mind. Though he tried his best not to let it bother him. It still wouldn't leave him alone.

After Weiss, what else was there? What would happen then?

He had been doing this since his family was killed. Bearing the cross of the sins that he committed, there were times that he found it tiring. But he knew that he had to keep going. He was bound to something, to what it was, he was never sure. Was it the cross? The cross that the four of them always seemed to return to, was stained with blood, heavy and painful.

But it was strange, that they still lived.

''Aya!'' Burmese called. ''What are you doing? Let's keep moving!'' she still sounded bright and impatient as ever. But still there was a tone of worry in her voice. As if she herself sensed something a little more dangerous in this mission.

Aya clutched onto the sheath where his katana was kept, again – he looked at himself at the mirror. And for a while, just stayed quiet, thinking about all those questions that entered his own mind.

Not the devil...Nor Death...Just a murderer.

And he turned to the door and walked out his room.

They arrived at the place. Eiri decided that it was better to have taken that place by foot. It wouldn't be safe to leave his vehicle anywhere near the crime scene. He and Hiroshi separated and decided to meet inside the building where Hanagata would be waiting already, they would get to her first before they would go to Masato.

Pandora said that she would be waiting somewhere in the city for a report after they had finished the mission. She seemed stern with them. Very stern actually, but still – there was a trace of worry in her voice. Eiri recalled all her words before they parted ways.

I'll give you a two-hour limit... If the two hours pass and I don't hear from you... That'll be signal that I'm waiting for no one anymore. Masato and Hanagata are not stupid, they'll be ready for you. So, please be careful.

In those two hours, he knew that a lot could happen.

He looked ahead as he was on his own. A gun in his hand and a sword by the side of his belt. He used these two weapons, knowing that it would be better if he came prepared. These people weren'y as easy as they seemed. He was stern and he almost looked cold as he hid behind one of the posts. He heard talking not from a far, taking a short peek. They were in front of the wire gates.

He gripped his gun and aimed it towards one of them. Immediately, he pulled the trigger – the bullet darted out and shot the man on the forehead before he knew what was coming. His other companion, looked puzzled – he looked ahead and saw Eiri, he frowned and aimed his own gun – but Eiri was faster than he was. He shot the companion as well, before he could even pull the trigger.

Eiri stepped out of his hiding place and walked to the wire gate. He immediately picked at the lock and even scowled at the stupidity of the people running the place. Did they actually think that two boneheaded guards would be enough for this sort of thing? If they were so state of the art, they could have at least gotten wired and electric wired gates.

Picking the lock was easy for him, he pushed the door open and gripped his gun tighter as he walked slowly inside, his golden eyes looking left and right in case anyone decided to attack him. The place was quiet for a few more moments before he heard someone heading his direction. He readied his gun and aimed already just as the two men came.

They looked up and saw him, immediately – they aimed their guns as well. Eiri didn't even say a word as he pulled the trigger, shooting the guns off their hands. They were taken a back, one of them took out a knife and immediately attacked him. The blonde didn't even flinch, instead he took out his sword and moved it right across the man's body. A pool of blood splattered and fell over the ground as the decapitated body fell.

The remaining one picked up his gun and aimed it – but before anything. His eyes widen as there was a shot of a pistol heard. He dropped to the ground, Eiri looked up to see Hiroshi on one of the rooftop. Holding his Smith and Wesson and aiming the thing at the dead body which had been alive only moments ago. Eiri nodded to him and gestured him to come down.

Hiroshi jumped off the rooftop and onto the ground, he ran to Eiri's side who was whisking the blood off the blade of his sword. They nodded to each other before proceeding to the left direction where the entrance to the warehouse should've been.

They looked up and heard footsteps coming towards them, both of them readied their weapons.

Omi jumped down the brick walls and aimed his crossbow as he looked around. There didn't seem to be anyone around, he nodded and looked behind him.

''Coast is clear.'' He whispered.

Ken, Aya and Youji jumped down where he was. The four of them were geared and readied.

''Let's rock.'' Ken said with a nod as he readied the bugnuks. ''Where is this guy hiding again?''

''She should be in the warehouse. They've got a few minutes before they meet up with Takatori.'' Youji recalled what he had picked up from his undercover mission.

''Then that's where we're going.'' Aya said clearly with a nod. As usual, he lead the way again. The other three walked right up beside him.

Just as they made a left turn, they heard a few crashing noises from a far, Youji pulled out a bit of the wire from his watch, Aya sheathed his katana – Omi was the one who peered out.

His blue eyes widened as he heard gunshots and he saw a body fall to the ground. It was shot through the head, he moved back with the other three.

''Someone else is out there!'' he told them.

The three seemed surprised. Youji looked up.

''No way, there's someone else after our targets?'' he asked. ''Is this another trick by Kritiker?''

Omi shook his head. ''If there was something like this, Manx would've known about this. Besides, they've never done a backup call on our previews missions, why would they do it now?''

Ken frowned and looked up. ''Maybe they found out that someone else saw me during the breakin mission to get Masato's schedule.''

''Manx still would've said something about it.'' Omi said thoughtfully.

''This isn't a time to argue.'' Aya snapped calmly at them. ''The target could get away as we speak. Besides, the people who are killing the henchmen right now might not even be on our side.''

''It could be another assassin group...'' Youji thought.

''Sou da na...''

''Let's stop talking and get out there!'' Ken finally said.

They heard men walking their direction, they looked up and saw that they'd been spotted.

''There they are!''

''Kill them!''

The Weiss assassins stood out of their hiding place and began to fight.

Eiri's eyes widened as he looked up. He saw that the men heading towards them had been stopped for some apparent reason. He looked over as he stabbed the last one – he turned to Hiroshi.

''Hiro-kun!'' he called.

Hiroshi looked up and saw the commotion from a far. His eyes widened as he suddenly recognized Ken. He saw them move, killing all the men who attacked them in an instant. Aya moved swiftly as he killed off attackers with one sway of his katana across their bodies. Youji hung bodies and strangled them with great ease, kicking some back as they tried to come near him. Omi's aim was direct and accurate as he moved quickly, pulling the crossbow – arrows flying towards his offenders. Ken impressed him, he was moving, stabbing one on the jaw and killing on by running the bugnuks through his neck. They moved fast.

But who exactly were they?

''Hiro-kun!'' Eiri called. ''Let's move it! To the warehouse!''

Ken who saw them, immediately frowned and ran towards Hiroshi. Omi looked up in surprise, his eyes widened.

''Ken-kun!'' he called.

Ken didn't listen to him. Hiroshi watched as he darted towards him, the redhead immediately intercepted his bugnuks with his gun.

''Hiro-kun!'' Eiri called again.

''It's you again!'' Ken said, frowning as he tried to push through. ''Who the hell are you guys anyway?!''

''I thought I said for you to forget that day ever happened?'' Hiroshi said, almost coldly as he frowned back and was able to push Ken back.

''Teme! I'll get you back for that punch!'' Ken said as he again attacked.

Eiri got his sword ready and was about to help out, when a wire suddenly wrapped around his neck. He froze and glared at the corner of his eye – Youji, aiming at him.

''If you wanna live, o-san, you'll stay right where you are.'' Youji said with a playful smirk.

Eiri kept quiet and immediately cut the wire, freeing himself, he turned to Youji, Omi and Aya. He aimed his gun and pulled the trigger as he aimed at Aya.

He redhead assassin moved towards him, raising his sword. Eiri stopped it with his own, they stood their duelling. Their blades clashing against each other as both of them tried to push each other back or at least knock each other down. Aya glanced over to Youji and Omi.

''Youji! Omi!'' he called sternly. ''Go to the warehouse, now!''

''Demo, Aya-kun!'' Omi trailed off reluctantly, he didn't want to leave anyone behind.

''Come on, Omi!'' Youji said pulling Omi towards the warehouse which was only a few steps ahead. ''Can't let them get to the target! No matter who they are!''

Hiroshi, who had still been fighting Ken looked up. ''Yuki-san!'' he called.

Eiri nodded and pushed Aya back, Aya attacked again and Eiri used the sheath of his sword to stop the blade, he then kicked Aya back and turned away as he started to run.

''Damn you!'' Ken cursed as he tried to strike Hiroshi down, but failed as he avoided every single blow. ''Who the hell are you guys anyway?!''

''I thought I said that was none of your business?'' Hiroshi answered, he was finally able to kick Ken down, with that he turned and followed Eiri.

Aya glared silently as he got up. ''Youji! Omi!'' he called.

Youji turned around and again aimed his wire, it went speeding towards Yuki, who avoided it and leapt up in the air. Youji gasped as he landed right behind where Omi and Youji were and he continued to run towards the warehouse.

''Kisama! – '' Youji trailed off as he felt a gun to the back of his head.

''Youji-kun!'' Omi immediately aimed his crossbow at Hiroshi. ''Step back!'' he said slightly angrily.

''I wouldn't move if I were you.'' Hiroshi said as he remained serious. ''A single arrow from you and blondie here gets it. You hear me? I'm not bluffing. I will pull this trigger.''

Ken looked up and frowned angrily. ''Youji! – ''

Aya remained quiet as he tried to move.

''I said no one move!'' Hiroshi repeated.

Youji laughed sarcastically and sighed. ''Looks like I'm gonna cause a whole lot of trouble for us if we let that target die just because of this.'' He smirked again.

Hiroshi's eyes then widened as he was kicked, Youji had moved his leg backwards and kicked him back though he had been facing the opposite direction. He fell to the ground – his gun flung from his hand. The wire wrapped around his neck before he could move.

Youji looked up. ''Aya!''

Aya nodded and followed Eiri.

Eiri kicked the door open as soon as he got there. His eyes suddenly widened as he paused and looked ahead.

''What the hell? ---'' he trailed off.

Aya wondered why Eiri didn't come in straight on. And as he stepped up beside Eiri, he found out. His eyes also slightly widened as he saw the scene before them.

Masato and Hanagata were dead. On the ground, they had been swimming in their own puddle of blood as their eyes were wide. It looked like there had been a struggle since there were empty guns on the ground and bullets with it. Bulletholes on the wall as well.

Eiri stepped back, he was staring at Masato's dead body. And the thing was, he wasn't the one responsible for it. There was a sickening twist of pain that was left within him. He felt that tears could've clouded his eyes if he weren't thinking straight. He wanted to be the one to kill Masato – he said that to himself the moment he found out. And the only reason why he was doing this, was now gone. Taken away from him – like everything else.

It made him sick...

Aya looked up as he heard a soft beeping sound. His eyes widened as he turned the other direction.

''Move out!'' he said.

Eiri sensed it as well and he and Aya jumped out of the way at the same time.

The warehouse exploded, a gigantic explosion – fires, debris and other things suddenly in flames. The Weiss and Strafe assassins tried to duck from the explosions, avoiding anything that could've hurt them.

Hiroshi's eyes widened as he himself went for cover. The building exploded – he knew only one thing was possible. Why would've Eiri stopped at something like that?

Masato was dead before they even got there.

It was all...useless.

The explosion soon subsided and there was nothing left but smoke and cackling fires. Everyone soon, sat up from the rubble. Some of them wincing as the explosion did not leave them unscathed. Omi winced as he was cut all over, Youji seemed to have stayed safe and same with Aya. Ken was injured as well, but he managed to get up.

Eiri winced as blood trickled down his temple. He looked up, his vision doubling. Hiroshi was a few steps away from him, unconscious and bleeding as well. He tried to get up and he stumbled as he did – walking towards Hiroshi.

But before he could, he scowled and looked up – sensing something on top of the rooftop, his vision cleared and he saw it. A young man in a green button coat and gray slacks, with orange hair – blue green eyes directed towards him.

''Omae wa...'' he trailed off roughly.

Aya looked up and so did Youji. They were in shock as they saw him.

''Schuldich!'' Youji called.

''Nandato?'' Ken asked as he again, readied his weapon. ''You did this, didn't you?! You killed our targets!''

Schuldich smirked and snickered as he crossed his arms and stood there looking at him. ''I didn't kill them. The bullets did, the explosion did.'' He answered sarcastically. ''Isn't this interesting?'' he looked at them. ''A reunion of both sides.''

Crawford, suddenly made his appearance right beside him. Eiri readied his sword and looked at him, glaring at them.

''Takatori made you do this, didn't he?'' he asked. ''He sold Masato and Hanagata out.''

Crawford, smiled sardonically. ''Hm. We don't have to answer any questions, Weiss. We came here to see if everything came to plan.'' He looked at them again. ''We don't come to provoke anything...''

''Maybe you'd like to come down and we'll settle this.'' Youji said pulling out a bit of the wire.

Schuldich smirked. And suddenly disappeared.

There was utter silence, until he suddenly appeared before Eiri. Eiri reacted immediately and tried to slash him with his sword. But the Schwartz assasin was fast. He kicked his sword away from him and kicked Eiri back as well. The blonde fell to the ground and again winced as he got up.

''Che!'' Ken attacked him, the blades of the bugnuks glimmering as they tried to strike him down. Schuldich snickered again and avoided every single one, kicking him across the face and then moving backwards. He made a quick turn as another blade of the katana tried to cut him through. He moved back and leapt up – landing a few steps away from the four of them, also avoiding the wire.

''Remember what I said...'' he said in a low, chilling voice. ''I've seen your faces. I have your lives.''

Before he could move away, there was suddenly an explosion behind him. He was blown back a bit, but he was able to stagger. A cloud of smoke appeared as the impact of the explosions were heavy. Eiri shielded the unconscious Hiroshi as he looked up.

Schuldich paused and then looked ahead. ''So, a new friend of Strafe has arrived.''

Eiri's eyes widened as he looked up. ''Nani? – ''

By the dark corners, there emerged soft footsteps. They all waited as a shadow and a figure took form of a young man with not much of a tall-stature. Dark brown hair and violet colored eyes as he looked up and smirked slightly – Dressed in a black leather vest top and black leather pants, he held a gun in his left hand and there were small circular hand grenades between the fingers of his right hand.

Eiri recognized the young man standing before a few steps away from them.

''Masaka...'' he trailed off. ''Sakuma – Ryuuichi? –''

Ryuuichi smirked as he looked up. ''Gomen na no da.'' He said lightly and yet sternly at the same time. ''I was late. They just called me in, today. You guys seemed to have been doing a fine job.''

''Sakuma Ryuuichi?!'' Youji asked in surprise. ''Nittle Grasper's lead?! –''

Schuldich snickered again and shook his head. ''You think that's enough? I've got you hanging by a thread, too.'' He disappeared again.

Ryuuichi then frowned and looked up, he suddenly shot towards his left side, Schuldich appeared as he was suddenly injured, the bullet grazing through his shoulder. He frowned and glared slightly at Ryuuichi.

''I can play games, too. Schwartz.'' Ryuuichi said in an almost chilling and yet childlike voice. ''They're fun after all.''

Schuldich was about to attack when he heard a voice.

''Schuldich!'' Crawford called calmly. ''That's enough for today.''

''No it isn't!'' Ryuuichi said as he threw more grenades at him, Schuldich laughed and jumped up. He appeared again at the rooftop beside Crawford.

''We'll look forward to another reunion, Weiss, Strafe. Until then, keep trying.'' Crawford said as he smirked.

Both Schwartz assassins were suddenly gone.

There was a moment of silence between everyone. When suddenly, Ken frowned and looked up as he moved. He ran towards Hiroshi as quick as he could. Eiri saw and tried to shoot at him, Ken avoided the bullets – he jumped out of the way as Ryuuichi tried to throw the grenades at him.

Ken was able to grab Hiroshi and he slung him over his shoulder.

''Ken!'' Youji called. ''What are you doing?!''

''Warui na... He could've answered my questions and saved us a lot of time! But he didn't!'' he looked at his teammates. ''Let's go!''

''Stop!'' Ryuuichi cried as he tried to shoot at them again, Eiri joined him now – but the four assasins leapt up over the wall, taking Hiroshi with them.

And there was silence yet again...

TSUZUKU