Thank you so much for the reviews and advice and everything else. This chapter is a little slower, but please enjoy it all the same.

I own nothing...except for Arashi. He's mine.

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Mission 3

The first thing I decided was that I needed a well deserved break. I had achieved my goal of drawing him out. Weeks of killing people could take a lot out of a person. As I was thinking about that I came to the conclusion that I did not miss regret. That was one emotion I was better off without. It wasn't as if I couldn't feel it at all. I was simply able to react accordingly to it.

One emotion I was feeling however was satisfaction. I had faced off against the one person I had wanted more than anything to meet. I had won, but I took no pride in that. Looking back I could tell that something had been off with The Reaper. He hadn't been fighting to his normal standards. Was it that he didn't take me seriously? No. He knew better than to underestimate an opponent at first glance. Well whatever the reason, I was sure that next time I faced him would be soon and with much less provoking.

It's difficult to be a contractor and not always be lost in thought. A dark look will cross your eyes regularly and unless you're really emotionally skilled, it is hard to not be glaring all the time. That's why when I glanced up to see Li Shen Shung walking towards me with his head down I felt a small shock before I was able to put on a smile and raise my arm to wave.

"Li-san. Hello there." When he looked up his face was, for a split second, a mask of almost pure, raw, frustration. I blinked and suddenly he was smiling, his eyes closed and his mouth turned up in a hesitant, but friendly way. I wondered to myself if I had really seen what I had imagined.

"Good morning Arashi-san." He stopped before me and raised his hand in front of him in greeting.

"Headed back home are we," I questioned. "I noticed you weren't there this morning. So what was it? A party? A daaate," I teased. I was almost satisfied when his eyes widened and he began to wave his arms in front of him.

"No, no. Nothing like that."

"I see." I gave him a sly look. "It's alright Li-san. You don't have to say a word." Li only sighed, a small smile on his face.

"Well then," he began and I knew he was about to leave again. It seemed to me that Li Shen Shung wasn't one for prolonged conversations. I was just about to let him go when a voice startled us both.

"Li-kun! Li-kun, how are you?" Li turned around to regard a slim woman with long brown hair and sharp glasses. She was in a blue suit and her face was decorated with a bright smile.

"Ah, hello," Li said, rubbing the back of his head in an awkward way.

"I, um…was just wondering…If you're not busy, maybe…" The woman was struggling to say something. It didn't take a genius to figure out she was interested in Li Shen Shung. She seemed to notice me staring, because her voice suddenly became clipped and professional. "Would you like to go out for breakfast with me Li-kun? If you're free that is. It's my treat." Her straight face dissolved into a warm smile as Li "erm'ed" and "well'ed".

Finally he gave a little nod and said: "Sure Kirihara-san. I would like that."

"Good. So, who's you're friend?" Li turned back to look at me. His expression told me I had been momentarily forgotten.

"Oh, this is Arashi-san. He moved in next door a little while ago."

"Arashi Futame," I said, extending my hand.

"Kirihara Misaki," the woman replied with a small smile. "Pleased to meet you."

"Yeah," I replied. Li stood between us, an ever present smile in place.

"Well, I guess we should get going then, Li-kun," Kirihara said curtly.

"Ah," Li replied simply. "See you later Arashi-san," he said.

"Bye. Nice meeting your girlfriend." Both of their faces became as red as beets and Kirihara grabbed Li's arm and dragged him away with a somewhat strangled: "Bye!"

Once they had disappeared from my sight I was left with nothing to do, but wander at my own leisure. For some reason my feet ended up taking me back to that same park. A small girl in a black and purple dress sat idly at the top of the slide. Her face held no expression, so it was impossible to read her emotions. She turned her head as I entered the park, but only regarded me for a moment.

A bigger man, reeking of smoke, a cigarette sticking out of his mouth and a newspaper curled under his arm moved past me without making eye contact. The girl's eyes followed him until he left the park. I sat down on a bench that wrapped around a tree and stared up at the sky. There was barely a whisper of wind today.

I heard a small sound and looked to see the girl standing up from where she had slid down to. Once again I was intrigued by the lack of expression on her face. As she made to leave a thought struck me. Maybe the girl was a doll. It was a long shot. She could just be a silent, unhappy kid, but then again…

Once I was sure she was a fair way down the street I stood and began to follow her. I stayed quite distance behind her at all times and never made myself conspicuous. She led me all the way to a small tobacco shop. When she entered I took up position nearby and observed the shop. I stayed there until dark. When I finally figured I could learn nothing at the present time by being there I decided to leave.

As I turned to go I heard a deep voice speaking quietly. I stopped and listened, not moving a muscle. I recognized the voice. I let my eyes slowly slide over towards the shop, leaning ever so slightly from behind the post that had been concealing me. Sitting on the counter in front of the shop was a black cat, with a bell around its neck. Its mouth moved with the sound of the words and its big, purple eyes were fixed on the girl within the shop.

I watched intently. The cat was definitely the voice that had spoken to me the previous night. That only led me to believe that the girl inside was the doll that had spotted me on the rooftop. I had to be certain though.

"-so with that in mind, be on the lookout for-MEOW," the cat cried loudly as I stepped up to the shop. He hopped down from his spot and slunk away. I pretended I hadn't just seen a talking cat and leaned in over the counter.

"Hello there," I said with a friendly grin. "What kinds do you have here Miss?" The girl regarded me with her apathetic eyes and quickly began to list off the brands of tobacco. As she droned on in her monotone voice I glanced behind her and was pleased to see a large pail of water sitting on the floor. "Uh, never mind. I don't need anything after all. Sorry." I pulled back and started to walk away. As I passed a nearby alley a pair of cat eyes watched me pass.

***

The dawn was grey. I liked grey dawns. No bright oranges or pinks, yellows or purples to welcome you into a new morning. Grey was calm. I liked calm. I was lying on my back on top of the same building I had rested on before. Maybe it wasn't a good idea returning, but I didn't really care. I liked the view. At least I had sense enough to be wearing my mask.

When I felt as if I were being watched I almost expected to turn to find The Black Reaper standing over me, but instead I looked back at a black cat, with a bell around his neck.

He stood in that elegant way that cats do, his eyes fixed on me. I sat up and stared at him.

The silence became almost annoying.

"Here kitty kitty," I said, rubbing my fingers together as if to beckon him. His fur bristled and he stepped forward with a sharp: "Hurumph."

"Oh," I acted surprised. "It speaks."

"Just what the hell kind of contractor comes back to the scene of his first appearance," the cat questioned me. "There's no rational reason what-so-ever to do so." I put my hands behind my head and resumed my former position.

"I like it up here," I answered. The cat scoffed. "What are you doing here Kitty-chan?"

The cat went rigid and made an annoyed sound in the back of his throat.

"I was merely taking another look at the scene. It's what you do during an investigation. It's not like I knew you were going to be here."

"Well then you should go to the warehouse. I picked it out myself." The cat moved to stand over my head.

"Just what are you after," he asked.

"I suppose if anything…" I left my sentence trailing. Sure, I was going to release all of my confusion onto a cat, even if he was a contractor. I stood suddenly, causing him to jump back in surprise. "Well, bye Kitty-chan."

"Eh!?"

I moved over to the edge of the building, my hands in the pockets of my sweater.

"W-Wait!" With a small wave behind me I jumped lightly off the ledge, like one jumping into a puddle and let gravity carry me down to the street below.

When I reached the apartment building the old landlord was doing some early morning sweeping. She looked up and gave a nod.

"Morning! Not up to any trouble were you?"

"Not me," I said with a shake of my head.

"Aw, sure! I know your type boy. You better not be trying to pull the wool over my sharp eyes!" I shook my head again with a little smile. "Well then," she broke into a friendly grin. ", don't let me keep you all day. Go on. Shoo." She made gestures with her broom and I gladly obliged.

Entering my small living space was like entering my memories. It was as if the door clicking shut behind me was a cue to commence the reminiscing. I didn't enjoy memories. In fact I rather hated them.

As I moved towards the window where a small picture frame was resting something white caught my eye. A small piece of paper was folded under the frame. I removed it and flipped it open. My eyes widened as I read its contents.

VI-714

SKYSCRAPER

12:00 AM

Somehow someone had found me. They knew where I lived. They knew my code. They even knew my most frequented spot. Whoever they were…I couldn't wait to meet them.