Chapter 4: The Sinner

1st person pov: Airu Akihiko

It's been one year since that fateful beach holiday and frankly speaking, the result I want was rather mixed. It's not the best nor the worst, even if the event of the manga stay the same, I'm sure those words will one way or the other affect them.

Today is my birthday, well, was my birthday since it's already night. Kazuha and Heiji both came to celebrate and to my surprise, even Heizo and Shizuka, both parents of Heiji came as well. Heizo came to thank me for all the helps I provided in the cases while Shizuka showed her gratitude for being friend with Heiji for a long time. But they all knew that this is also the last time my family stay in Osaka so the celebrating was also served as a farewell party. And that's how my birthday turned from happy to sorrowful, Kazuha was crying and didn't want to let me go while Heiji tried to hold back his tear. Damn how I wished I got my phone at that time.

I also gave a notice about moving away to Masumi through letter a few months back, and it's seem she devastated by it, I don't know how but considering it took longer for her to reply my letter, I can say it wasn't easy for her. It's night now and the whole house looked empty after we sold all of it's furniture. Father said we depart soon at dawn tomorrow and here I am, still waking up late night, maybe it's because I'm excited? Sad? Really how soft have I become….

At first I thought I only make friend with Heiji and Kazuha because they're relevant to the plot and my entry to it but now, I want to punch myself for thinking like that. I grew accustomed to their presence, all the case we go together.

And not only that, I also made a close friend an unexpected person, being Sera Masumi. We exchanged letter from time to time, told me about her life and so on, she even proudly present that she made Shuichi smiled before he returned back to the States to join FBI.

'I guess she isn't an apprentice Wizard anymore. That's… somehow quite sad though, she's one of the few true friends I had.'

"Still staying up, son?"

I greeted father with only a simple nodded without turning back, runmaging through the file once again. Father has been keeping tight contract with ICA for a past few months, he managed to gather numberous of small contracts for me to started working the moment I put my foot on England. 'He's serious when it come to ICA bussiness huh?'

Most of the jobs I got are small like retrieve package or spying, nothing on the assassination part, maybe because it's still too early for me to get to the dark past of being an Agent.

"You're worrying for the job? Or missing your friend?"

"Maybe both, or I'm just feeling… guilty for lying to them about who's the real me…" True, even though I only have like three true friend being Heiji, Kazuha and Masumi but they're all I can truly talk with my normal self, I still lying to them about the fact who I truly am.

"Once we walk on this road of ICA Agent, it's no wonder you feel that way when you possess two different personna."

"Perhaps, but at least I know I do this… for the greater good." The words left my mouth bitterly. 'Greater good', such word for a hypocrite.

"The road to hell is paved with good intention. Remember that Airu, we're the neutral party in this and never let that fool you."

"I know father, but being an ICA agent, does that mean I will live with fail identity for the rest of your life?"

Father looks at me quizzically a few seconds, he's seem to be in pensive for my strange question. In hitman universe, 47 never truly has a real name, people just called him 47, that's it. A number, a code, nothing more, nothing less, a static number on the page.

Father finally breaks the ice "Look at me Airu, do you suspect our name Akihiko is just alias? Is that why you worry about it?"

"I once questioned it but brushed off afterward, but now that I have these friends, I wonder what will be their reaction if they know that I'm not who I am after all those years of knowing me…"

"I'm not gonna to sugarcoat it Airu, most of my friends in ICA? Dead… but at least right now I have a loving family, your mother is caring and you're a prodigy, I can't ask for more. We got blood on our hand so we initially came to an agreement, mother and I want you to live a normal life instead of joining ICA, and for the record, Akihiko isn't an alias, remember that."

"Yeah, I think I've been paranoid too much recently." I said with a small smile, thinking too much right now won't do me any good. Father chuckled a bit but he suddenly seem like thinking something until a rather mischievous smile appeared on his face.

"Oh I wonder why you're so conscious about the whole identity crisis thing when you were so determined to convince me and Suzura to train you? Is it because you have some doubts now?" He said with a grin, something telling me this is a landmine I'm walking right into but I decided to humour him.

"No, not doubt, just want to protect those who are close to me, but I'm afraid of what I'll become."

"Does it include that girl?"

Wait what the hell? Who's that girl he's talking about? "Who?!"

"Aww, c'mon son, that toothy girl you talked to back at the beach vacation on the rooftop bar! Heiji-kun even said you and her had a private talk where you share her your drink!"

What the hell did Heiji tell him?! And that's just a normal talk between me with Masumi, we're just friend, 'Cursed you! You Kansai detective freak!'

I wave my hand in X formation, while desperately trying to deny that claim "Don't listen to Heiji. She… she… Masumi and I are just friend and yeah pen pal! That's it!" I blurt out. But it seem like it's does not only fix the misunderstand but exacerbate it as Father's grin showed sign of growing even wider. 'This is bad…'

"Fine fine, I won't pressed it further since forced love won't bloom." He smirked which makes my eyes role. "But hey at least that explain why you're so excited to write those letters and today further reinforced my claim when you got that letter from that toothy girl."

"Really? Toothy girl? Can you come up with anything more original?" I deadpanned.

"Hey that's hurtful! Then again love always come at most unexpected way"

'Un…expected way… no way in hell, literally every pairing in this universe is stem from being childhood friend, there's no way it come unexpected way… right?' I tried to reason, of course there's exceptions in those rule but that can be right?

"Anyway, enough of youth now come into bussiness stuff." Father's demeanor changed instantly and I know he mean ICA so I got back into serious mode.

"Suzura want to start training you in the art of espionage so she suggest letting you live not only alone but also under different name, or alias like you said." I gawked at father's statement. What the hell? you're letting me, a seven year old taking care of myself without parents's supervision? I know the whole spy thingy but aren't we moving a bit too fast? Wasn't she the one who was the against me joining ICA because she care for my wellbeing?

"Look, it's not like I'm fly on board with that idea but she was adamant and I had no chocie but to conceded. Hey! On the positive side, you complete freedom of choice right?" He said with the most apologetic smile he could muster while I give father the most 'Seriously?' face.

He sighed and then rubbing his temple, I guess he did try his best to dissuade mother but saw no success. "Right, that's why I want to ask you this now too, entering ICA require a codename and they let us choose for ourselves, so I want to ask you if you have any preference? And for your new alias as well."

Codename huh? Just like Black Organization who named themselves after famous brand of wine, it seem like ICA too use codename than our true name to avoid leaking idenity, but they let us have a freedom of choice so their agent's codename don't follow a pattern. Anyway what would be cool, badass and ooze manliness codename should I choose, and since I'll live alone so I have to be careful on my alias too.

I smirked, as I join the ICA and he doesn't exist here, why not create one.

"47, Agent 47 and for my alias…"

I return all the file and rest of contents on the table, this includes all of our collection letter of Masumi, souvenirs from Kazuha and Heiji into my duffle bag.

"…Tobias, Tobias Rieper"


3rd person pov:

Tobias Rieper is a man of wealthy corporate involved in numerous crimes pertain to underworld, he profitted through these illicit activies including, identity theft, information leaking, intelligent stealing and maybe even assassination, he's a man of focus, commitment and sheer will, he won't stop until he got what he want. That's who Tobias Rieper is.

At least that' who he was in Hitman universe. Eliminate the wealthy corporate as well as the assassination part and you get yourself Airu Akihiko, who's living under the name Tobias Rieper. For 3 months after he moved to England and lived alone, Tobias always does the small job like attending party of upperclass for information stealing, retrieving important package, simple hacking and stealing, he's in dire need a true hitman job, not this kind of errand boy mission for a novice like this.

At least school in England wasn't plagued with tedious stuff and bullies though, but Tobias really start feeling the sense of going nowhere, he need to do something to climb the rank of ICA and further training, because these three months, outside of phonecalls, his parents didn't even visit him! And the award Parents of the year go to Suzuha and Hisashi! For leaving their son, a seven year old living in an apartment alone for the forseeable future to come.

He sighed, another mission of retrieving some important files for ICA came to him this morning and now he's sneaking in this run down warehouse for it, in the middle of the night no less. Apparently one of the assossicate of local branch working in this part of city cut off their line of work with ICA, fearing for information leaking, ICA asked him to get back all the files contained in an USB and the betrayer's last contract is around here somewhere.

"*Sigh* Let get this over this."

Tobias put the silencer on his .45 USP, the gun mostly for worst case scenario since Tobias prefer keep his trace clean. He silently followed through the outer perimeter of the warehouse and looked for any clue to the assossicate's whereabouts. Just as he walked to the backside though show a parking car, the car still in working condition signalling there's a someone snooping around here this hour.

'Gotcha!'

Now that Tobias confirmed his target here, he started infiltrating the warehouse, inside looked deserted, a perfect place to hide something shady or illegal trading for many pettie criminal and large syndicate.

"You have to do something quick, they're onto me."

The voice sound Europe enough came from the dimlit room on the second floor of the warehouse. Tobias made his way to it by sneaking up, not wanting to reveal his presence here or have to resort to violence method.

"We know Volkov! It's just that the Organization hand in England are all tied, their manpower is so limited that we have to come here, as a scientist to do this trade without bodyguard!" The voice came from a woman.

At the word of Organization, Tobias's ear perked up. 'Organization? Don't tell me those crows are crawling around here…'

Now that the subject of betrayal is colluding with the Black Organization, decided to stay around a little longer so he can fish out any extra juicy information from Volkov, another thing he got out is that the dealer today are scientists. 'Weird, the Organization isn't this negligent, or because ICA and MI6 really tighten their security around England…'

"Those ICA operatives are closing up on me fast, and I need a ticket out of Europe soon. I got what your requested, now I need that ticket!"

"Calm down Volkov, we're only scientists, we're here on the higher up's order to retrieve the package, we can't do anything about the ticket part."

"You're trying to swindle me?! They promised me this is the last job! And I'll be on my way to the States now and now they tried to screw with me?!"

Volkov pissed off at the the scientists duo, he was promised a chance to obtain a life free from the underworld bussiness so he on with idea right away. Right now his entire life is being threaten by being on the list of hunted by the ICA but also the one that guaranteed his way out, the Black Organization is also trying to swindle him. Having two big shark after you, the small fish's life is certainly sealed.

"Tell you what… Both of you comeback here tomorrow with that ticket and I'll give you the USB or none of us will get anything out of this deal! If trying to screw me again, I'll turn both of you and that place in for the ICA, at least they will lessen the punishment."

Both of the scientist grumbled and left the place reluctantly, Tobias took noticed of their appereance. The woman has light hair with green eyes and procelain skin, she wore white labcoat and has an appearance of a European, in contrast with the woman, the man himself has an Asian appearance with brown skin, black hair and beard with blue eyes. Both of them walked out the back of the warehouse and got on the previous car Tobias saw.

As for the man Volkov, he was cursing inside himself and get ready to leave until he heard a voice. "That is not the right way out of here …"

His entire body sweatted, he mentally prepared himself and turned around only to meet a peculiar sign that made him in disbelief. In front of Volkov is none other than a child who looked around 6-7 year old standing at the doorway. At first, Volkov wanted to laugh and thought Tobias is just another wandering child got lost in here until he remember what the kid said.

He decided to play fool and see if he could get out of this pickle, surely a child like that can't be an ICA operative, and even worse, he could only be a newbie who don't know anything.

"Hey uh, kid you know that it's dangerous to play in this area during night right?..." Volkov tried his best to sound friendly but the gaze Tobias give him didn't falter.

"The USB, give it to me and we can be both on our merry way." Tobias said as he brought out his USP aim toward Volkov. He now realized the kid in front of him is an ICA Agent and he's here for the information, Volkov gitted his teeth, no longer has that façade friendly face.

"You don't know what you're getting into, kid, ICA bussiness isn't for a child!" Volkov balked, he still trying to reason the kid so he could get away without bloodshed.

"We both know it yet you still wanted to try your luck by snooping under us. Either way, thing won't change, now the USB and maybe you'll live long enough for that ticket of your." Tobias made clear that he's not back down, he hope Volkov will complied and both of them don't have to fight to death for the USB.

"FINE! Fine… Here…" Volkov took out his pocket the black USB for Tobias to see. He breathed the sigh of relief but still holding the pistol to Volkov and walked closer to retrieve it. It was not until that moment Tobias realized his mistake of dropping his guard down but it was too late, Volkov managed to slap his gun away and tried to choke on him.

"Damn you! Damn all of you! I just want to be free you brat! "

Volkov's hand tighten with full intent to kill even if the person in front of him is just a kid, he want to live and no one gonna to stop him from getting to it!

Tobias quickly struggle for breath, he knew the lack of air will weaken his strenght so he immediately scramble his pocket for his second plan. From it he pulled out a butterfly knife, without hesitation Tobias drove knife right into Volkov's right external oblique. The knife thought not long but was serrated, making the stab that much more painful.

"AAAHHHH" Volkov released Tobias, who's now desperately gapping for air from being choked for long. But years of working for ICA have made Volkov more tolerated to pain. He saw the gun in the far in front of him and making the run for it. Fortunately, Tobias gained back his consciousness and knew what Volkov aim for, he mustered enough strenght and kicked the table near the gun, due to the extra training he gained from early year and unexpected incoming projectile. Volkov was hit hard by the table.

Both party was quickly exhausted by the fight, Tobias for lack of hair and his head is in dizzy state while Volkov for the knife stuck in to his right. Volkov managed to pull out the butterfly knife with excruciating pain and ready to finish one and for all, Tobias sweep up the gun in his hand until he realized Volkov is running at him with the knife in hand and ready to kill him.

In the heat of the moment, Tobias raised his gun and pulled the trigger, the muffled sound accompany with a speeding bullet cut through air, the result was a clean shot in between Volkov's eyes and the guy drop dead.

Tobias, after seeing the horrifying scene in front of him, dropped down to the floor on his knee, too mortified by what has just unfold under small window of time, everything was moving too fast for him to register. Not until the the smell of blood from Volkov's dead body hit Tobias's nostril, Tobias felt like he want to puke but prevented himself from doing it.

A new terrifying revelation popped inside his mind, up until now Tobias has done job without anything related to assassinate someone, basically he hasn't killed anyone up until now. Even back at Japan as Airu Akihiko, the first time he's pulled the trigger to save Kazuha and the second time during beach vacation to scare off the robber, he shot with only intention to be a warning shot than to kill the target. This, however, is the first he killed someone with the gun.

'No-no… right the USB… gotta take it and leave this place fast.'

Everything looks dizzy in Tobias eyes, he wouldn't or couldn't look straight. The darkness of room felt like an endless void trying devour him as a whole. The moment he got back to his apartment, he immediately sent a message to his father to notify him of the retrieval but didn't even bother waiting for an answer as Tobias head straight for the bed. He wanted to sleep and nothing more, it's still hard for him to register the fact that he had killed someone today for the first time in his new life, hell not even back at the old world, he wouldn't have that much courage to hold even a gun, let alone taking lifes.

His eyes wearily gave in and his body relaxed, yet his mind still racing back at that scene when he shot Volkov, the blood, the horrified face of him. His breath became ragged but soon enough, a sound of wave in far distant he heard, the sea breeze, the night on that rooftop bar, a small toothy girl standing in front of him with her brilliant smile. "You're the wizard, you can do anything!"

Tobias's breath went back to normal, a small smile adorned his peaceful sleeping face as he slowly dozed off. Perhaps he's taking his first big turn better than he expected.


The morning come faster than Tobias anticipated, maybe because last night strange dream in the end lulled him to a peaceful sleep so he forgot the sense of time. Nonetheless for his first true kill, he has a rather calm night for his sleep.

"Hey, finally awake huh."

Tobias scratch his head in annoyance, just a morning after a good dream yesterday and the first thing greets him in the morning is a Skyrim reference. And it came from his father no less! What a way to start a morning London, maybe a a cup of tea will do the trick to rejuvenate his entire rigid body.

"You looked battered, something went wrong with yesterday?"

At the mention of yesterday, Tobias's entire body stiffen, the scene where his first kill taking place plays again inside. He shook his head. 'Remember the beach, remember that night, remember… her…', as if his entire brain shutdown, so did the entire body, an action unnoticed by Hisashi.

"You… killed Volkov yesterday… right?"

"I-I… I didn't have a choice, it was him… or me…" His voice was croaked, trying his best to justify his action.

Hisashi looks at his son in a bored way, there's no accusation in his father eyes which make Tobias seem completely confused, what's more that his father's attitude is like nothing to care about it as he twirled around the Black Rose, the same butterfly knife Tobias used to stab Volkov's stomach last night.

"Then that's a pay bonus for you. Nothing to worry about." Hisashi said as he continuing playing the serrated knife in his hand, an act that blows Tobias away at his such calmness.

"You seem to forgot who you are Tobias Rieper, you should have expected one day you'll do the thing that every normal person struggle to even think about it, taking other's life. Volkov was already dead the moment he colluded with those crows, the mission I gave to you was actually included assassinate him but I left that part out since you're not ready to make your first kill but… well seem like you're taking it far better than most Agent when they first entered ICA."

"Yeah… yeah… but still it's horrible to even think about it." Tobias weakly said, though he expected to involve killing part sooner or later, he didn't know it was this hard to cope with after the killing part, he simultanously pondered how did the Black Organization could kill with such ease and doesn't even seem to feel guilty to think about it.

"In all the sense, you'll get used to it soon enough. I'm not gonna to congratulate you, because congratulate about taking a person life doesn't sound much ethical to me anyway. I've already got the USB and checked the content, the paycheck will be transferred to your account…"

Tobias kept on making tea while listening to his father, but in reality his mind was elsewhere. 'What did Hisashi meant he's taking this whole bussiness of killing better? And why did my mind almost seem… normal when I thought about that night again…? Dammit!'

"I know your brain is not listening to what I said Airu…" His father voice broke him out of his train of thought, he could only chuckle and apology for his lapse of attention. Until Tobias noticed something on the table next to his father, a metal case to be exact with ICA logo engraved on it.

Hisashi noticed his son staring at the case next to him, he smirked. He has been waiting to deliever this exclusive weapon his son has wanted when his family in on plane to London.

"Well well well, since last night mission was your first job related to assassinate someone, I think it's better for you to armed with a more 'personal' weapon. Go ahead, it's your." Hisashi said as he pushed the case to his son, who put down his cup of tea and unlocked the metal package with widen eyes.

Inside contain the dual AMT Silverballers, the very same weapon used by the original 47, upon the holding the twin pistols, Tobias could feel they were made by pure silver, it also come with a rubber grip, giving it better handling for Tobias and silencers in case for a stealth mission.

Tobias's eyes sparked, it's like Christmas morning comes early to him, it even made him completely forgot about the horrible event yesterday when right now, in his two hand are the dream gun of his idol.

Hisahi saw his son's expression light up instantly the moment he got himself the twin pistols, his action is like a child got himself the perfect gift on Christmans day, perhaps it's not bad to stick around the extra teacup and watch his son grows up like a normal father during these rare moment, well minus the part his son's gift is a weapon that is.


Tobias couldn't wait until the school end sooner so he could race to the shooting range and test out his new gun. Too bad for him, his father deliever the gun only this morning so he didn't have time to play with his new gun.

He was walking in the campus to his designated classroom in gloomy manner mostly because he's only met his new baby gun in such short notice and has to leave them at home. The students around avoided him due to his strange murderous gaze and the peculiar strange eye color of their foreigner student, despite changing his name to Tobias Rieper, he still has his Asian features making him stood out in the school.

'Now I know how Akai Shuichi felt when I stared at him rudely like a rare animal back at the beach vacation… because right now I feel like a rare speciment too…'

Not like he will hold that title mascot of the class soon though, he briefly remembered their teacher said today they will also have another exchange student so they're to come to class soon and prepare a small party for that person. Tobias makes a mental note to perhaps make friend with this person, after all it's better for exchange student like him to stick together in this forgein environment.

'And they said apes together strong… yeah it applied for this situation, let's hope that person also come from Japan.'

Little did Tobias know, his wish was granted instantly when in front of him, a male student in front of him was also walking on the same lane with him. There was nothing paticular to this boy though, until a tennis ball was speeding toward said boy from the tennis court. Tobias, upon seeing it, instantly perked up and ran to the boy while shouting, startled everyone around. "OI! Watch out!"

The blonde hair boy turned back with confused face to Tobias but he realized the ball was close to him now, the revelation suddenly came made his entire body freeze while looking at the tennis ball, he closed his eyes and braced for impact nothing came, expect a rapid breathing of someone. He opened his eyes and the first thing he saw was a jet black hair boy with crimson eyes holding the tennis ball in his hand.

Tobias breath a sigh of relief, fortunately for him, he ran fast just barely enough to prevent the ball from hitting the boy next him. He turned back only to meet another surprise for this morning. The boy has a brown-yellow hair with brown eyes, his facial feature screamed Asian to him enough. Tobias thought this person seem awfully familiar for some reason but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.

He extended to the blonde-brown hair boy to help him.

"You okay lad? Any injury?" He said in English to avoid language confusion.

"Ah nothing! Thanks for your assisstance by the way. Arigato" The boy accidentally slip his tongue at last word saying Japanese word which taken Tobias aback.

"Why a fellow from Japan! Nice to meet you." Said Tobias with full joy, finally he won't be alone to endure those stare like a trophy.

The boy's expression turned from confusion to laughing, maybe because this accident did indeed granted both Tobias and the boy's wish of having a friend someone from the same nation.

"Sure, nice to meet you too, the name−" He was about to introduce his name to Tobias until another voice called out.

"Hey! Both of you okay?" came the voice from a girl in tennis clothes running to their position. She has blonde hair tied into pony tail with blue eyes, in her hand is a red racquet. She seem to be much older compare to both of the boys.

"No problem! This person right here managed to catch the ball in time for me."

The tennis girl eyes surprised and looked at Tobias in admiration "Woah, you must really have good reflex and reaction time! But does your hand hurt, you need bandage or anything?" Said the girl in nervousness which made both Tobias and the boys looked at one another and then laughed.

"Don't worry sis, no one's hurt, just next time tried not to homerun so hard." Tobias commented then threw the tennis girl the ball. She thanked him again and suddenly an idea popped in her head.

"Hey that uniform mean you studying nearby right? How about I treat something for both of you? After school of course!" the girl exclaimed with enthusiasm, Tobias glanced at the blonde boy, silently asking should they accept the invitation, to which said boy shrugged his shoulder. Tobias turned back to the tennis girl and nodded with a bright smile, she returned the gesture with a thumb up.

"Cool! Oh and I haven't caught both of your name yet? My name's Minerva Glass." Said Minerva. Upon hearing the name, Tobias immediately freeze his entire body, the name this older girl is the same that professional tennis player in Holmes's Revelation in manga and right now Tobias's meeting with the same Minerva!

As if one surprise wasn't enough, the blonde now introduce himself which only make Tobias's mouth dropped to bottom.

"My name's Saguru, Saguru Hakuba."

'The what now?!'

Tobias screamed inside his head, he felt like once again he's being tricked by none other than your local favorite annoying neighborhood name fate.

The End.