xv. Family

I'm new here. (Purposefully inserted myself into the circles he likes to float around in, to be precise.) Gorgeous, that one is. I wonder if he's taken? Not that it matters.

"May I treat you to something to drink?" he asks. I smile. Apparently he's free, or he wouldn't ask. (Or he might be a cheater, would make my task so much easier.) He sounds sure of himself, like he knows I'll say yes. Better not to give in too fast. "No." I decline. "Sorry. I'm not thirsty."

He walked right into my trap. I'd thought he'd be cleverer. I'm not complaining.

I get up. Give him a small smile. "Maybe another time?" he propositions. I play with my hair. "Maybe."

There he is again. Two cups in his hands. One's for me, I can tell. I approach him and take the proffered beverage. "Thanks. A real gentleman, are we?"

He smirks. "Naturally."

"So, what do you do? I mean, besides being busy buying impressionable young girls their favorite beverages?" I inquire conversationally.

The thought of poisoning his drink has crossed my mind, since no one would suspect me anyway. But that's not the way I conduct my business. So death by gun it is.

He shrugs elegantly. He must come from money; since I do myself, it's always easy to spot the signs. Takes one to know one and all that. But then again, I knew about his finances already, since it's the reason I'm here to begin with. Money, especially a lot of it, always causes quarrels, especially in families involved in the mob. "Taking impressionable girls like yourself out on dates." He replies, and I must admit he's charming.

But surprisingly dense for a member of a family involved with mine. Maybe they've kept him out of business. He's not like Luna, born for a life in high-society crime.

"Is that so?" It's my turn to smirk. "How's that working out for you?"

"You tell me." he retorts. I pretend to ponder this. "Not very well, I'm afraid." Taking the drink with me, I leave him standing there.

He's really swallowed it now; hook, line and sinker.

Boys always want what they can't have.

Elusiveness is irresistible.

"Just tell me if you'll go out with me." He sounds confident, hopeful, but I can see a glimmer of insecurity in his eyes. "Maybe you'll have to beg." I tease. He looks outraged for a moment. It's quickly replaced by annoyance. "I'm not going to beg, you know? There are other girls who are more willing to..."

"More willing to what? Indulge you? I like a little challenge, don't you?" He sighs in frustration. "Fine." he huffs then. "I'll think of something to impress you." I grant him my first genuine smile. "Surprise me."

He has taken me somewhere by car, not telling me where. I'm not asking him for hints, I know that's what he wants. I feel the familiar steel of my gun against my chest, hidden inside my blazer. It feels reassuring.

I don't think he's become suspicious yet. It's such a shame I'll have to off him. He's such a pretty boy. Him taking me to a deserted part of the town, he's playing right into my hands. I'm on edge, unsettled my target is so trusting and gullible. He thinks he's clever, but I know better.

Having been a part of the mob my whole life, I know how to play them. The pretty ones, the self-assured one, the old ones, the young ones. The eager ones.

It's too bad his cousin has paid such a generous amount of money to have him be disposed off. Luna Koizumi, a trusted informant for my family. We can't really refuse this return of a favor. Besides, she pays well.

Getting him interested was so easy. I almost wish I wouldn't have to kill him, but such thoughts won't do. I learned that lesson years ago. A job is a job. He's just another victim, and I've been long past the phase of both pity and moral.

He slows the car down, cuts the engine, instructs me to close my eyes and leads me somewhere. "Now." he says.

He's taken me to a remote air port. A private one, I can spot only a small plane. His, presumably. "Are you a pilot?" I ask him. He grins. Such pretty eyes.

They will be dead eyes soon.

I want to kiss him, suddenly. I take a step towards him. "Kiss me." I instruct him. He looks taken aback, then he smirks again. "It always works." he brags. "Girls love that I'm a pilot. Want to join the Mile High Club?" He's so cocky.

How tragic.

He's going to die soon. Pride comes before the fall. "Do you want to kiss me, or not?" I sigh exasperatedly.

Smugly, he bends forward, pressing his lips to mine. He's a good kisser. What a waste. I shove him backward, until his back hits a near wall. He seems to enjoy my initiative. Pinning his arms to the wall, I return his kiss with violent gusto. It really is a waste.

Ending the kiss, I whisper in his ear. "It's too bad your enemies are so powerful. I could have liked you." His eyes grow large, before they turn cold.

"You played me." he states, all traces of amusement gone from his face. "Well done, Sherlock." I mock him. He doesn't even try to fight me.

"I take it your an assassin?"

"Right again."

"You're real pretty for someone assassinating people."

I'm flattered. "So I've been told."

He grins. "Too bad. I could have liked you as well." With a swift motion, he grabs me and changes our position. Now I'm the one being pinned to the wall. I don't feel particularly threatened.

"You're the Sakura Clan's infamous deadly daughter, aren't you? The mob world's prettiest, cleverest, savviest killer."

I laugh. "Please don't stop. I like the sound of that." To my astonishment, he kisses me again. Roughly, pressing his whole body to mine, biting down hard on my lip.

"Wow.", I say, his forehead leaning against mine. "That was erotic. I've always thought there was something erotic about killing a person. The interplay of sex and violence; attraction and death. That's why I like my job so much, and why I excel at it." I lick my lips. "So what now? I kill you? You flee? What?"

"Humility is a virtue." he reminds me, his smirk back on his lips. "Don't think I'll be all that easy to kill." Reaching with one hand into his jacket, he pulls out a gun. But he acted reckless, only holding my arms with one hand.

I pull free, and in one sweep, I pull out mine as well and put it too his head. "I was too sloppy." I muse. "Me, as well." he agrees. "I let my guard down. Should have known Luna had something up her sleeve." His gun is pointed at me, and now we stand motionless, both facing a gun.

"How about that." I suggest, surprising myself. "You get on that plane, fly away, and never come back. I won't kill you, and you get to live a while longer. How's that sound? I've never spared anyone. Yo may considere yourself special."

"Oh my, I'm flattered." But he does ponder my offer. "Frankly, I don't see any way around it. I guess that's it for us then, huh?"

He walks backwards a few steps, his gun never wavering. "I guess.," I reply.

"See you around, Natsume Hyuuga."

A/N: Written some time in December 2013. It' more of a drabble, really. Less is more; I like it. It's kinda weird, admittedly. Thanks for all the amazing reviews, you guys, they make me so happy, and a special thanks to Haruhi-chan131 for steadfastly reviewing my one shots.