Thank you for reading! Thanks and good work for making it all the way to the end. :D
Their next lessons are still held in the abandoned warehouse, because no ninja assassin obeys the measly Shinsengumi. Compared to the previous lessons, these go surprisingly without a hitch.
She teaches Natsume the proper ways to kill, whether to stab or slice, and he quickly picks up the art of throwing knives. The boy has natural agility, and Ayame is proud to say he finally deserves his title of Black Cat.
In their last lesson, Ayame tests the child's skills in another mission to assassinate a Jouishishi. It's a different hideout, and the security is tighter; but they go through it easily. When they reach the target, Natsume opts for the quick kunai throw.
As they exit, they run into the white duck, Elizabeth, and Gin-san's long-haired comrade, the infamous Joui leader, Kotaro Katsura. Natsume swiftly creates a wall of fire between them, and Ayame blows the duck a kiss before escaping.
They reach the warehouse without anyone trailing them, and their journey ends in front of the parked limousine, right where it started.
"You're ready, Black Cat," she says. When the boy nods, Ayame curtsies and flees.
She's sure, however, that they won't be her last words to him.