Chapter 28: Assassins

"Who is Ichinose Tatsusuke?"

Yamanami-san let out a small sigh and turned to Akesato-san who had stopped playing the shamisan. "Would you mind leaving for a bit," he asked softly. She nodded and got up and out the room. He then turned back to HIjiata-san, "Tatsu-kun is…"

"Oh, you two are back already?" Akesato-san asked as she enters the kitchen. Tatsu was putting the supplies they bought away while Tetsu drinks his glass of orange juice. The two boys nodded in unison and went right back to what they were doing. She giggles slightly and sat down across from Tetsu.

"Tatsu-kun? Will you give Tetsu-kun and I a moment?" she asked, turning towards the other boy. Tatsu nodded and left while Tetsu stare at her with a confused look. She simply smiles and began once Tatsu was out of ear shot, "Tetsu-kun, do you know Saya?"

Tetsu's eyes widen a bit, "How did you-" "I know," she interrupted, "You remember your past don't you?"

"Huh?" he asked dumbfounded.

She giggles at his expression; "You can't hide it from me. As soon as I lay eyes on you, I know you knew your past. Maybe not all, but some."

He was speechless. He didn't know what to say. How could he be so easy to read, that for her to just took a glance and know already. He clench his hand tightly that it was turning pure white. He kept hi gaze on the floor. She turns away and continued, "Tetsu-kun. I had said back then, that the future has nothing to do with the past. Many things had happens that can't be change, but what the future holds can be change. Don't let the past block away the happiness you felt now." She genuinely smiles, "You are not the Tetsu-kun in the past, but rather the Tetsu-kun in the future. You don't have to go through what you've been through in the past. Don't let the past drag you down. Live your life to the fullest. Take me for example, I couldn't be with Yamanami-han in the past, but now I was able to because I didn't care about him hating me if I were to tell him the truth. Have you even talks to Saya?"

He shook his head no. She sighed and reaches across the table to gently stroke his right cheek, "It's ok. I'm sure Saya will be happy when you do." She pulled back her hand, "Tetsu-kun, Do you want to know a little secret Yamanami-san told me?"

"What secret?" Tetsu asked, looking up. She giggles and reach closer to whispered something in his ear.

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"Hikagami, do you think we should pay the flower shop a visit?" Suzu asked with a bored tone. Hikagami remain silent. He continued, "We should make a little surprised visit, oh!" he thought of something, "How about we do this?" and he whispered something to Hikagami.

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"You're heading off to bed already?" Kondou-san asked just as Okita-san got up from the kitchen table.

Okita-san let out a yawn, "Yup! Lately I've been getting sleepy more often then I did before. Where Yamazaki-kun?"

"Out on a mission," he replied.

"Oh," he gave a knowing nod and began to head out of the kitchen.

Clash! All movement instantly stops. They slowly looked at each other and gave a nod. In a second, they soundlessly reach for the swords they kept up in the cardboard. Once the sword was in hand, Okita-san leans against the wall near the door and turn off the light. Kondou-san stood closely behind.

Outside the door, they could hear faint foot steps scatter across the floor. Okita-san grips the sword handle tighter, ready to strike any seconds. Kondou-san looked a little nervous. He hadn't fight in real combat in 3 years.

The foot steps suddenly stops. Okita-san pressed his left ear against the wall and tried to listen for any movement. "Die," whispered someone through the other end.

"Kondou-san!" Okita-san shouted and they quickly duck under as sword blades thrust through the wall. The kitchen door burst open in a flash letting the assassins through. Okita-san dodge the first strike and swing in a flash causing the assassins to split in half.

He dash towards the next one cutting every assassins he could see. Clash! A few more jump into the room through the big kitchen window. Kondou-san took a deep breath and strike one approaching assassins. "Damn!" Okita-san cursed as his back touches that of Kondou-san. They were completely surrounded and possibly can't ill them before getting themselves kill.

Swoosh! The speed was far to fast to see. In seconds, only three assassins were left in confusion and fright. Who could possibly had killed them all. Okita-san smirked as he caught a glimpse of black. "Kondou-san," he whispered. He nodded and they strike the remaining assassins in half.

"Took you long enough, Yamamzaki-kun," Okita-san said with a genuine smile. Susumu steps into the open moonlight through the window revealing his bloody suit. He turns towards the dead assassins, "Who sent them?"

All expression turned absolutely serious. "Someone we all know," Kondou-san answered.