Author's Note: I am sorry to say that I will be the only one writing this story from now on. It was great working with Kaitlyn,but we had a clash in how we wanted the story to end, and it took too long with us waiting for each other to finish chapters. (We actually started writing this about a year ago) I may end up working with her again in the future, and I really hope I do. Thank you for all your hard work, Kaitlyn! I'd also like to point out that Tatiana is her OC, while Stella is mine. Also, for anyone who is an Avatar: the Last Airbender fan, I put a reference into this chapter. Let me know if you find it!

It wasn't an apartment, really.

It was more like…a dojo with a bed and a kitchenette.

I mean, most girls' apartments wouldn't have swords on the walls, a gun closet, or be underground. But hey, I'm not most girls.

You gotta do what you gotta do.

I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when Sector Security showed up. I had seen the look officer, Trudge, I think, had on his face when I shot Mr. Fudo. He may have seen me, I bolted as soon as it seemed they were distracted enough, but I may have left a little too soon.

I expected him to throw me against the wall and ask me who I was working for, rage and fury in his eyes. I expected me to keep my mouth shut. Even though I'm not on particularly good terms with Ms. Ross right now, she still hasn't paid me, and if I ratted her out I would not be getting my money.

I expected him to handcuff me and throw me in the back of the cruiser parked outside. I expected long hours of interrogation until I finally broke, or they gave up. I expected them to know that it was me who shot the person everybody can thank for saving the city multiple times.

I did not expect to hear him ask for a cup of coffee, sit down at my table, and have this conversation with me.

"I understand that you're an…assassin? " he glanced around my dojo/apartment thing, whatever it was, glancing at the broadswords I had on the walls.

I immediately put up my verbal wall, something I never really got out of the habit of doing. "They're, um, antiques."

He sighed and looked at me. "I know, okay? I can tell by that tattoo you so thoughtfully left uncovered." I cursed myself silently. How could I have been so stupid, to leave my raven mark uncovered?

I'll really have to get rid of these stupid tank tops.

"Fine. I am an assassin. So what? What do you want from me?"

"I'd like to talk to you about the recent attempted murder of Yusei Fudo."

My heart slid into my throat. Was this cop just playing mind games with me, wanting me to lower down my guard with the misconception of harmlessness? Well, buddy, asking for extra sugar in your coffee doesn't make me think you're sweet.

"What about it?" I asked him, amazingly keeping the bitter edge out of my voice. It surely would have given me away.

"I think…you can help up with the investigation. You have some knowledge and…skills that Sector Security simply does not have."

Oh, shit.

"I think you can help us…keep him safe. Whoever tried to kill him will strike again. I can feel it. We need somebody with good aim to stay with him until this whole mess is over."

Well I certainly didn't see that coming.

"But..why me?" I was still suspicious, there was something this guy wasn't telling me.

But he simply laughed and said, "You're the only assassin, that, one, hasn't been caught yet," he gestured to the smooth, marker-free skin on my face, "and the only one who has never had a run-in with the law."

Come to think of it, I never have been arrested. Mainly because I've never been caught, I was particularly careful of that.

"I know it isn't really your style, but he needs to stay safe. He's done…too much for everyone else to not be able to enjoy the friendships he has forged.

I can pay you too, even if it's out of my own pocket if the government doesn't approve. What do you say, will you take the job, er…?"

They had no clue. They didn't know it was me who had shot him, me who almost took away the person that meant so much to them.

Maybe Bruno was right- maybe, this time, I can redeem myself.

"Yes," I told him, and his eyes lit up. We shook hands. "Call me Tati."