THOUGHTLESS

"Look, if you want to conjure up some demon spawn from the great beyond, that's all fine and dandy. Just wait for me to leave before you start."

"Oh come now Oni-chan, this will bring good luck."

"Butchering a tuna sandwich, horizontally down the middle and scribbling Yokohama on it with ketchup, is absolutely diabolical."

"No, horizontally cut sandwiches with cute ketchup texts bring good luck. Who doesn't know that?"

"Literally no one, Sanzu."

The perpetrator simply shrugged his broad shoulders and took a huge bite out of his sandwich doused in ketchup. Tonight was a big night, Mikey was going to make history, and he was damn well going to do everything in his power to help Mikey make that history.

Ran, however, was a lot less determined than Sanzu. Rindou, Kokonoi and Takeomi had done most of the heavy lifting. They had laid out all the groundwork in advance. Now all Ran, Mochi and Kakucho had to do was follow through. Sanzu was not even coming along with them tonight. So where he got all that enthusiasm from was beyond Ran.

As far as he knew, according to Mikey's orders, Sanzu still had to "take care" of Annie. In all honesty, he was a little concerned about what Mikey meant when he asked Sanzu to take care of her. All good things he hoped. Contrary to popular belief, he liked Annie. She could tear Rindou to shreds if she wanted to. Anyone capable of that was good enough for Ran.

He could not, however, stand Takeomi's secretary. That woman had a knack for getting under his skin. She was always looking to monopolize Mikey's time and energy. As if he had nothing better to do. As if he didn't already have a wife waiting for him back at home. He wasn't sure why Mikey allowed it in the first place. The last time Sanzu tried to do something similar, Mikey threatened to fling him out his office window.

The favouritism was blatant. He was going to have to take it up with Takeomi one of these days; which begs the question,

"Why is Takeomi's secretary here when he's in Yokohama?"

Presenting Sanzu with a loaded question while he gorged on a mutilated sandwich might have been a little too much. Evidently, the pinkette didn't know, nor did he care. Unfortunately for Ran, Sanzu never really bothered with such semantics.

Mikey was late. Ten minutes so. Either Kakucho was doing a terrible job of escorting him to his own office, or Mikey pulled another all-nighter. Would be the fourth one this week and it was only Thursday.

Ran was right. The bags under Mikey's eyes appeared to be a burden only he could bear. On entering his office, both Ran and Sanzu stood up from their respective seats on the sofa to greet their leader,

"Looks like you've seen better days Mikey."

"What are you talking about Oni-chan? Bossman's never looked better."

Annie had officially joined the ranks of swords-master at the tender age of sixteen. Barely an adult, she had graduated from wielding a wooden blade to a metal one; fully mastering the Tatsugami sword technique in its entire mighty prowess.

Everyone knew she was not to be messed with, yet this tiresome woman had the gall to question her. At five feet seven inches, Annie still stood taller than most women; her heeled combat boots, only aided her to tower over other insignificant creatures, such as the woman before her.

"I wish to speak with Mikey."

Annie hoped she had made her business clear, that she would be able to avoid unnecessary bloodshed. However, the creature along with her six lackeys wished to make her task more difficult than it already was. Weapons at ready on their master's order, they aimed their guns at her in a warning. The creature strutted forward crossing her arms across her chest.

"Mikey is unavailable. Leave while you still can."

Annie had no recollection of how she got here to the lounge. Everything after that phone call from Sanzu was a big blur. She didn't remember putting on her clothes or taking her katana. She didn't even remember making the drive from her home to here. But now that she was here, she was more determined than ever. Heaving a heavy sigh, she made her move.

It happened within a flash. Annie expertly manoeuvred her sheathed katana, so that the kojiri rests heavy in the creature's pitiful mouth. Her lackeys were only able to stand there slack-jawed, wondering if it was truly wise to push her buttons.

"You shouldn't stand in the way of someone with nothing left to lose."

Kakucho did not like the sound of the commotion echoing through the front lounge. He had a sneaking suspicion that he would, in one way or another, find Takeomi's secretary in the midst of it, and he was right. He was, however, incredibly surprised to also find Annie amid all that chaos.

Mikey had taken uncompromising precautions (some even borderline extreme) to make sure Annie never had to set foot on Bonten soil. So the fact that she was here was no coincidence, that too in full gear. The last time Kakucho saw Annie in full gear, someone ended up comatose. She was a terrifying opponent in battle; he even had a scar or two to back that up.

There was something distinctly different about her today. Her usual crimson hair held a fiery glint and her piercing silver eyes seemed to hold a storm within. Though her face was expressionless, she almost gave off an air of distraught.

Perhaps that is why she did not even flinch while faced with six long-ranged rifles. Or perhaps it was because she was finally in her element that, something Mikey had robbed from her for years. Either way, her opponent had grossly underestimated her.

"How dare you point your weapons at her. Izumi, call off your men."

Kakucho's interruption spared the lives of Izumi and her men. Annie was not to be taken lightly, especially while she carried a sword. She let out another sigh, though this one seemed to be one of relief, and she pulled her katana out of Izumi's gaping mouth. Her men, weapons withdrawn stood awkwardly around their master. Izumi however, flew straight to Kakucho's side almost latching herself onto his arm.

"Kaku-san! This woman assaulted me out of nowhere! She's dangerous. She must not be allowed to see Mikey."

"She wouldn't have assaulted you if you didn't give her a reason to. And this woman is Vanya Sano, Mikey's wife. She doesn't need your permission to see him."

Izumi's face instantly flushed deep red out of embarrassment. She let out an audible gasp and looked back at Annie like she was some mythical creature.

"B-but…she's not allowed here!"

That was true. Annie was never to set foot in Bonten. That was something she promised Mikey the day they decided to tie the knot. Something about him claiming that he'd sleep better knowing that his wife was at a safe distance from his terrible workplace. But that was then, this is now.

"You're not allowed to point your guns at the boss's wife, but here we are. Looks like we all do things we shouldn't." Kakucho said, peeling the burdensome woman off his arm. He wanted to shift his attention to Annie, she was far more important at the moment. However, she beat him to it.

"Hitto-kun, I wish to speak with Mikey."

Kakucho was kind enough to personally escort Annie to Mikey's office, even after all the opposition put in by Izumi. Currently, in an elevator, both of them stood in silence. The elevator ride was not awkward, not for Annie. Not when she was too busy being numb.

"Everything alright Annie?"

"No."

"Is…is it because we're moving to Yokohama?"

"…perhaps."

Sanzu knew he screwed up when he saw his beloved Red waltz into Mikey's office, sword in hand and Kaku-chan in tow. He should've never had that conversation with her, should've never explained things further than he was ordered to, he should've never called her in the first place. Damn it all, why must women be so difficult?

One look at Annie, and Ran slowly backed away, till he stood at Kakucho's side. Kakucho was one of the very few people who had faced Annie's blade and survived, if anywhere was safe it was by his side. No offence, but Mikey was going to have to deal with this on his own, he brought it upon himself anyway.

If Mikey was surprised, he didn't show it. However, he got up from his seat and stood in front of his desk, keeping Annie at an arm's length. His static eyes flickered between his wife and her sheathed blade.

"You're not supposed to be here Ann."

"I'm well aware of the vow I made. Hearing it from other people is very annoying."

"You should go home."

"Why didn't you tell me about it?"

The years had changed them both. She was no longer taller than the boy she met in an old abandoned parking lot. Mikey had grown taller and a lot stronger, so had she, but in terms of physical prowess, Mikey had long surpassed even the most seasoned of veterans. She was well aware, that if a full-on fight broke out between them, it would only end with the other's death. That's probably why her hands gave in to the slightest tremble.

In all these years Annie had never raised her katana against him, not even once. That's probably why she did not want to raise her blade against Mikey now; she was not ready for that yet. She silently hoped Mikey would just answer her question for once in his life. But no, fate seemed to have other things in store for her.

"I want you to go home Ann.", he sighed.

"And I want you to answer my question, Mikey."

Annie refused to back down. She had been compromising for far too long and it got her nowhere. Today she will have it her way. Mikey noticed it too, the silent storm brewing in her eyes. He sighed again. This time he spoke to Sanzu instead.

"Sanzu, escort Annie home."

Then the unthinkable happened. Finally pushed and poked into a corner, Annie snapped. In a matter of seconds, she had managed to push down Mikey onto his desk, putting all her weight on one leg and pinning down his hips, she used her sheath to pin down both his hands above his head; her katana drawn and pressed hard against his neck, even made a little scratch and blood oozed out, dripping down to his desk.

Ran and Kakucho were too slow to stop her. Annie was out of their reach in seconds. Sanzu however, was just quick enough to press his gun against the back of her head. His hands shook too, weapons were strictly forbidden in Annie's presence, Mikey always made sure of it. But what was he supposed to do? She looked like she was going to spilt Mikey's carotid arteries any minute. If Mikey died, Annie was dying right along with him.

"Am I invisible to you? Or are you just blind?"

Hunched over his bigger form, Mikey saw Annie cry for the very first time. How long had he known her? Nine years? Ten years? He had seen various sides of her but he had never seen her cry, not in front of him at least. So why was she crying now? Her hot, salty tears dripped down to his face and streamed down his cheeks like her tears also were his.

"Sanzu, lower your gun."

"Bu-"

"Now!"

Begrudgingly, Sanzu lowered his gun. However, he hovered around close, in case the situation got worse. Ran and Kakucho couldn't do much other than stand there with bated breath; afraid that even breathing too loud would set Annie off.

"Annie, calm down. If you let me-"

"I'm perfectly calm Mikey. Just because you've never seen me cry, doesn't mean I never have."

So it had finally come down to this. Ten years' worth of memories and emotions were finally coming to an end. Maybe the grass is greener on the other side; maybe the other side would be a tranquil meadow with a warm summer breeze, lulling her into a gentle slumber, something she had never experienced on this side. Maybe she will finally be free; or maybe not. She won't know till she tries.

"Annie, just listen-"

"No Mikey. I'm done listening. I want a divorce."