Translator's note: this is a fanfic that was translated from Japanese. The real author's account name is Shiduki/ . His/her account is on Pixiv and has other fics related to Black Cat as well. Please express appreciation directly to him/her there if you liked this story.

I only own this translation and some added editions in it. The plot/ideas credit all goes to him/her.


Watching his reflection in the mirror, Xiao Li could see the pale skin from the opening chest of the dark-colored costume. Beneath his feet, the cool tatami mats pervaded a gentle scent of rush, tickling the young Number's nose.

The room he was now presented at was designed in Japanese style. Light invaded in from between the slided Shojis, warmly illuminating the two figures. Soft rays danced on the captain's hands as Sephiria lifted the green belt to the level of his waist, attentively wrapping the smooth material around his back from behind. He could feel the occasional press of her fingers through the layer of fabric. Xiao Li tensed up slightly at the sensation, trying to keep his breathing calm. He did not want his composure to drop in front of Number I.

As the head of the Numbers, Sephiria was always occupied with all kinds of matters. Having to travel from nations to nations as missions required also took up the majority of her time, resulting in her deprivation of self-indulgence. However, it was visible that the captain still managed to study into the culture that fascinated her. This traditional costume demanded no simple practice if one wished to attire properly, yet her movements as she processed each step were not without confidence and grace.

After a few moments more, the captain gave the sash one last pull, adorning it with a butterfly-shaped knot. "It's done" She spoke softly, contentment laced in her voice.

Upon her words, Xiao Lee turned his body around to take a glance of her work. "Wow," he exclaimed, audibly impressed by the neat and elegant knot, "Thank you, Ms. Sephiria. I certainly couldn't have done it this well on my own."

Her eyes brightened at his compliment. The spark of genuine joy he caught as he gazed into their oceanic shade gently flicked the strings of his heart, drawing him further in. He almost let his forehead touch hers, but ration was quick to remind him about the boundary between them, a superior and her subordinate.

Years had passed since his initiation into the Guardians and he was no longer below her height. To look directly into her eyes now, he even had to bow down a little bit. Just a little, but it was enough to allow him immense pride. At the moment, facing her in his disguise, it brought him glee knowing she could still easily recognize him as Xiao Li, one of her men. He was wearing the mask of a young woman, all girlish lines and make-up where masculine traits of his needed covering, but Sephiria's small smile was the same as that of hers every time they greeted and bantered. Although his body was carrying some modifications to fit the physical features of the imposture, he could find no awkwardness in the blond's observation, only unhidden tints of amusement.

"Your ebony hair actually suits this masquerade very much." She remarked with one hand on her chin, blue eyes flashing charmingly. Number X chuckled, enjoying how entertained she appeared. Most of the time, Sephiria would just be impassive or diplomatic, and though he understood it was not without reasons, he would rather she had more freedom to express what she felt. He, as someone who must often act in the skin of another to gather vital intelligence, knew the exhaustion of always being high-alerted and reserved. Suffocating was sometimes not enough to describe what was bottled up.

And, most importantly, Sephiria was very beautiful when she looked like this, with the honesty of her heart revealed.

"It was my first time wearing a Yukata, so I guess Ms. Sephiria's just become my knight in shining armor." She grinned and the faint light was embracing her, making her enchanting countenance more prominent than ever. Xiao Li kept his eyes locked into hers, the endearment he wished to give was beyond words. However, pleasant moments did not last as the warmth in her gaze faded, leaving room for concern to take root in.

"Is something wrong, captain?" He asked her, his voice regaining its seriousness but not at all pressurizing.

"... No, it's nothing." Her reply was evenly toned, yet his ears did not miss the slight uneasiness she carelessly let slip.

She was worried.

The knowledge used to surprise him long ago, when he was still new to being a Number, being in her team. He had never seen people among the higher-ups bothering themselves with the well-being of their underlings. Him and many more were promoted and rewarded to die for those of her rank. It was the way things worked in Chronos.

However, while death itself did not scare her in the least, his demise or that of anyone in the Number kept her up at night. Sephiria was not one to talk openly about her distress, but her eyes sure turned traitorous whenever a mission was informed. Xiao li had never met one so powerful, yet at the time, so full of compassion.

For the first time since forever, Xiao Li could grasp the meaning behind the incredible courage and strength to fling oneself into danger and then return with a chest still breathing. Having a cause to die for was one thing, having a love to survive hell-bending hazards was another, much greater and more precious.

He would not be reluctant to sacrifice if it were for her sake. Nevertheless, above all else, he wished to live for her. With her.

His target this time was a serial killer whose main victims were reported to be young females. The Japanese clothes he wore was intentionally exposing in order to lure the perverted criminal out to the selected spot, ensuring a smooth, secretive assassination. It was unconventional for a Guardian to be assigned for regular security disturbance as this. However, considering the city government was negotiating further cooperation with Chronos, the success of the mission would likely benefit them in the near future, and as if to add to the convenience, Xiao Li was operating in the area also.

Sephiria bore no doubt about her man's capability. Number X was amiable, but flexible and ruthless when needed. Had she had to pick a candidate to deal with unexpected situations, he would inevitably be her best choice. As things stood, the upcoming affair would come off effortlessly.

However, as she studied his benign, youthful look, Sephiria could not prevent fear from drilling deeper in. At the bottom of her gut resided an unsettling hunch, similar to all those times prior, when she sent Jenos to confront their foes, seeing off Berze as he departed to resolve foreign riots under the Elders' designation, and many other occasions on which her eyes silently followed the distancing backs of her men, following their footsteps walking straight into the uncompromising jeopardy.

Death was always near, hanging.

Ironically, Sephiria had come to realize that her apprehension towards it would never cease.

It was almost natural for a Time Guardian to die young, yet Xiao Li was too young, even younger than Heartnet on his initiation.

The black-haired man blinked at her, his lips a sympathetic smile. He thanked his experience in reading others, for because of it he could always know what to do when she was in melancholy. His confidence overlaid his care for her as he put on an unfazed expression, a lot more proper as a Guardian. He would succeed with the awaiting assassination, a belief which was not enforced by arrogance. He was capable, and he would persuade her to trust in that as strongly as he did.

"Shall I guess what is crossing your mind, Sephiria?" Bringing his face close to her temple, he whispered weightlessly. The eyes which were avoiding him returned to his sight once more as she lifted her head up, snapping out of her musing when she heard him directly call her name. The transparent green of his irises harbored adoration that she knew was far from acceptable for a man to have for his boss, and her words knotted in her throat.

Sephiria held the look longer than she intended to. When she realized, she took a step back to extend the distance between them then straightened her back, exhaling. Xiao Li found her attempt to restore the professional attitude innocently captivating. Without stating his mind, he cast her a mischievous glance, casually dropping an irrelevant remark.

"Ahh," He feigned a disappointing sigh, "It's a waste that I can't go to the summer festival this year."

Sephiria was a little taken aback by the sudden change of subject. Nevertheless, a comforting feeling had begun seeping into her heart as she thought about what he said, about the summer festival. It would often be held in the late hour of the afternoon, when day was edging near to its end. Normally, the regal color of the reigning dusk painting across the horizon should be the sign for a break from the industrious laboring time. People would be coming back home, gathering around the dining table and shaking off the stress burdening their mind with the warmth of family or a refreshing shower. However, with the celebration of the festival, the routine would change, welcoming jovial memories that perhaps, would only last for one night only.

The Japanese were driven, work-enthusiastic, and it intrigued Sephiria to see what else could capture the fervor of their hearts. She remembered pictures in which there were lines of lanterns netting above the walking path, the ruddy light intertwined with colder shades of leafy crowns. In some document she had read, it was written that stalls for traditional snacks and games would be put up along both sides as people strode past. Their roofs were often decorated with fabric-made signs in vibrant colors attached to the rim. They flipped when breezes flew by, waving at the passer-by as if to invite.

Sephiria had been to nearly anywhere across the globe, but she had never had the chance to actually discover the outside world, experiencing the servitude, the life that was meant for a regular person. She had all the knowledge at her fingertips, yet the shape and taste of the reality for those ordinary would forever remain an imagination for her.

Hence, Sephiria reckoned, it would be harmless if she imagined some more.

She supposed she would be able to catch the stomach-rumbling smell from various stalls, hearing the cheerful peals of laughter and twittering chats everywhere around. People would be in their Hakama, and so would he. His would have black and white stripes as its pattern. The choice was simple, but it praised his lean physique and the tenderness of his character. She hoped she would get the chance to see his hair fall free, though it might cause him some discomfort. The thought lifted the corners of her lips lightly.

He would stand waiting for her in the orangish illumination. As the captain approached him, the maturity on his face became more apparent to her eyes. She had noticed this for a while, how he gradually grew out of his boyish appearance into a fine, young man, who was now taller than hers. Nonetheless, she would not be able to fend off a sudden sense of realization, knowing how much time had flown by since his first seconds receiving the title of Number X, since he first stepped into her life.

He would see her coming towards him, and before he could smile with his mouth, the happiness that bloomed in the clever irises of his would already have snatched some beats of her heart away.

He would give out his hand for her, and she would take it.

She would have the freedom to.

"I see." Sephiria finally answered. The blissful scene refused to leave her mind, and Number I could feel a familiar yearn in the pit of her stomach emerging, reminding her of how human she still was and perhaps, would always be.

" "I see", huh?" She giggled at the unimpressed mimic, and he returned the same.

"Anyway," Sephiria spoke again; her words were no longer playful this time. "The disguise looks really convincing. I have to admit I didn't think you would be able to pull off such femininity at first."

"Haha, thank you, captain." He crackled innocently, earning an indulgent gaze from her.

"If I might add, an apron dress on the outer would also be a fine touch."

Sephiria tapped her finger on the lower lip while inspecting him up and down. The fantasized image of Xiao Li in his Hakama, dignified and affable, prideful but placid, glued itself on the page of her memories book. She could sense the thought of another life resurfacing, at which she only swallowed.

Had this been another life, she would have had the chance to attire herself in a Yukata as well, to walk side by side with him, hand in hand and enjoy the cheerful atmosphere of the festival night.

No killing, no worrying over the sight of the enemies' gunpoints…

An ordinary, peaceful life. A dream.

It was all because of him.

Sephiria had never experienced the yearning to relinquish her duties. She had not once been against the idea of her imprisoned fate or regretted trading her own selfishness and humanity for power to serve a greater good.

Never before, until he came. Suddenly, within her bloomed a wish to be adored, to be vulnerable, growing through days.

"Sephiria?"

Xiao Li reached out to her face; his fingertips reluctantly graced her smooth jaw line. Warmth sparked beneath her skin at the grazing contact, pulling her back to present. Disoriented, she lifted her face from his touch, quietly swallowing down the stray thoughts in her mind. When she finally came up with something else to distract him from the topic of her diverted state, Sephiria clumsily dug her hand in the pocket, eyes lowered to the ground.

Watching the usual stoic captain searching her uniform coat with such unnatural haste, Number X just gave an exhilarating smile.

When she pulled out her hand, a compact was lying on her palm. It confused him at first, for he could not tell what it was. However, the realization did come quickly as she opened it; several shades of red and pink were now in sight.

Number I pressed one finger on the color pad. The wax easily clung onto the fingertip. She looked at him, a little abashed but still holding her composure. Her voice was soft as she asked.

"Xiao, can I?"

"Y-Yes…"

Just a few short moments and he had become the one who got all flustered.

His cheeks heated as if being steamed when she closed the distance, their skin touching once more. Sephiria's expression had fully regained its normal tranquility, making it hard to believe that she just bounced back from her melancholy. Her delicate hand gliding left and right on his lips, etching the color on. The redden fingertip felt rough at contact, perhaps because of the callus resulting from sword use. Nonetheless, Xiao Li could hear his traitorous heart beating like drums in his chest, speaking prayers for the sensation to last on, never ending.

Putting on lipstick or interacting with females was no unaccustomed experience for him, one who was beyond skillful at masquerading and collecting intelligence. However, the young man could not help but feel his earlobes burning, his spit thickening in his mouth. His years of practice and operating were being proven useless at the very moment, and Xiao Li could determine the cause of it with certainty.

At the thought, he stole a glance at Sephiria's focused countenance; his breath hitched and he shuddered as she caught him, gently smiling back.

Sephiria was right. The rogue highlighted the curviness of his lips, complimenting the feminine undercover even more. Xiao Li was half-heartedly expecting to see satisfaction on her features as his eyes returned to gaze directly at hers. To his surprise, there lied only a sentiment so heavy and engrossing it rendered him speechless, lost.

Their time had run to its end and Sephiria could feel it slipping between her fingers. Just in this expiring moment, she wanted to memorize anything of him that she could, be it the sounds of his breath, or simply the faint light emitting from his eyes when they embraced her in…

Oh, how much she repelled this predicament. How ironic it was to sacrifice her dearest ones for those she barely knew and perhaps would never know.

"Please be careful." She muttered at last, quietly, like a gust of wind in the last days of Spring. Her voice and words embedded themselves in the depth of his chest, and the world seemed to disappear around him for a transience. Bowing her head, Sephiria then slowly retrieved the finger from his face.

Xiao Li thought he heard his heart screaming her name, fiercely and desperately. Unknowingly, his hand had recaptured hers, squeezing tight and he brought his face closer, until the air between them mingled.

His stare, ardent and doting, sent her all the affection that only silence could convey. His heart no longer made his ears buzzed, for it had fallen back into the right track.

There was nothing to be ashamed of if each beat borne within his ribcage were meant for this person, who was standing before him.

She did not jump as he lifted the back of her hand to his lips, stamping on it a precious covenant. A life-dedicating vow.

He did not bother to leave the warmth of her skin when the red sign marking his commitment had been clearly printed. From over her wrist, he sought her beautiful irises. In the endless blue he jumped in, there was her unfiltered impotence, the fragments of powerlessness she often concealed from showing, and he welcomed them all into his soul, sheltering them without judgment.

"I promise." He pledged with his forehead against hers, and Sephiria closed her eyes.