"Nezumi! Hello!" I grinned at the rat as he stared. "Okay," he said finally, "I'm just gonna ask you straight up." Leaning over me where I lay on the couch, he smiled. "Why is there a man tied up in your living room?" I smiled back, but with considerably less irritation. "Because he tried to kill me," I replied cheerfully.

Nezumi kept smiling, but I knew he was... Actually, I wasn't really sure how he felt. But probably not happy. "How are you planning to deal with him?" he asked finally. I hesitated. "I was planning to interrogate him," I admitted, "but I wasn't sure how to go about that... so I figured I could let it go?"

"Then why is he tied up in your living room?" Because a corpse puts a downer on things, I wanted to say. Instead I replied, "I was worried about the others." Nezumi smirked. "Thinking ahead?" His tone was patronizing. I worked to keep the impatience out of my voice. "Yes. Most people who intend to kill me don't try to do so alone. Plus, his blade was poisoned. I planned to have the substance examined."

He looked worried. "Did the blade wound you at all? Did you treat it?" I blinked. Wouldn't it be funny to see how he reacted if I said 'I knew I forgot something'? Ah, no, this isn't the time for that. Smiling as reassuringly as I could, I began, "No, it's nothing fatal-" Nezumi narrowed his eyes.

"You're lying." His tone was flat. Darn. Dismissively I said, "There aren't any symptoms yet, aside from unnatural fatigue. Everything else is normal. As soon as I receive the results I will know." The gears seemed to turn in Nezumi's head.

He understood very quickly, as I thought he would - as I knew he would. Before he could say anything I added, "Just to make sure the results are accurate, I had everyone I trust examine this poison." He nodded, and then I saw his gaze catch onto the cabinet. I prayed he wouldn't ask why.

Please don't ask, please don't ask, please don't - "Why is there a lock on your cabinet?" - ...crap. "They don't mix well with the painkiller I am currently taking for the minor injuries I received." Too flat, too formal, but that was the best I could come up with. "Unfortunately, my cravings required such a deterrent."

"Oh," was all he said. I had the feeling he would come back to it later, but I ignored it for now. t least he wasn't pursuing it for now. I switched topics, "Nezumi, it will be swift and doesn't really require much attention. Really, don't worry. Besides, I have a day off today. Would you like to do something today?"

He blinked. "The leader of No. 6 has a day off?" he said skeptically. "I'm injured," I said with a shrug. "Disguises are simple, so as long as we don't do anything to draw attention, we can catch up with each other. You know what I've been doing, but I'm curious about you." He looked hesitant.

Oh man, now I really wanted to know what he's been up to.

Okay, I did my best, but I hate writing this kind of plot. Even though I wrote it. Just now. About the 'assassination investigation,' I don't really want to concentrate on it, so figure it out yourself. Ciao!