"Again," Blanca said.
Eiji scowled and then took a deep breath and lunged.
Blanca parried his dagger and took a step back as Eiji flicked the knife through his hand and slashed at Blanca.
Eiji gasped as Blanca rammed the hilt of his dagger into Eiji's stomach, knocking the boy to the floor. Eiji winced and curled around the bruise.
Blanca's eyes lit with a flame and Eiji yelped and rolled aside as Blanca stomped down hard.
"You will not be given time to recover," Blanca snarled, lunging again as Eiji rolled away desperately.
Eiji scrambled to his feet as Blanca lunged again.
"Your enemy will not take pity on you."
Blanca circled the boy, his height and strength intimidating. "They will be stronger than you. You have to be faster." He lunged and Eiji deflected his knife. "Smarter."
He slashed again and Eiji deflected his attack, taking a step back quickly to move out of Blanca's reach.
"They will see you as weak," Blanca snarled. "Use that to your advantage."
Blanca took a step back. Eiji fell for the bait and switched to the offensive.
He moved to attack, but he was overstretched, his feet in the wrong position. Blanca sighed and swiped his legs out from under him, knocking Eiji to the ground, pinning his knife against the boy's throat.
Blanca froze.
Eiji glared up at him, breathing hard, the tip of his dagger pressing into the soft spot beneath Blanca's ribcage.
"We'd have joined each other in death," Eiji growled.
Blanca smiled and stood. He offered a hand and pulled Eiji to his feet.
"I can see you read the book I gave you," Blanca said, sheathing his dagger.
"I haven't finished it," Eiji said. He didn't relax so quickly and still eyed Blanca warily.
Good. He was learning.
Blanca smiled. "I think you'll like it."
"Why? Because it's a story about a boy who's destined to become a killer?"
Blanca paused and looked at Eiji.
"I'm not like that," Eiij said, his eyes cold and fierce. "I won't become a killer."
Blanca shrugged. "He said the same thing."
He shifted his arm and revealed the thin stain of blood from where Eiji had cut him.
They both turned at the sound of slow clapping. Eiji scowled and looked away as Dino stepped forward.
"Even my best men haven't been able to draw blood on the White Wolf," Dino said, smiling. "You are doing well, Eiji."
Blanca held out his hand and Eiji handed over the knife reluctantly. Was it his imagination or was there a slight trembling in the boy's body?
Dino smiled and put his arm around his adopted son's shoulders and led him out of the room. Eiji's body was rigid beneath the man's touch, as if bracing for the next attack.
Blanca turned away.
—
"Hello, Eiji," Blanca said.
Ash glanced between Blanca and the gun Eiji held in his hand. Eiji's eyes were cold and still.
"Eiji…" Ash said.
"Do you know him?" Eiji said, not taking his eyes off of Blanca.
"Yes," Ash answered, and found that he felt a little afraid. He had never seen that look in Eiji's eyes before. "He works for the Lees. He trained me."
Eiji's eyes shot towards Ash and Ash nearly took a step back under the glare in his eyes.
"You know he used to work for Dino?" Eiji said.
Ash's eyes flicked between Eiji and Blanca, trying to make the connection. He knew that Blanca had worked for Dino in the past, but how was that connected to Eiji?
"Y-yes. I knew," Ash answered.
"You know he can't be trusted," Eiji said coldly.
"In this line of business, no one can be trusted."
Eiji nodded and then lowered the gun. He handed Ash back his weapon, but his glare never left Blanca. Eiji's body was tense and poised like a fighter in the ring. It didn't escape Ash that Eiji had moved to stand between him and Blanca, almost as if he was prepared to protect him if the wolf attacked.
Blanca stood slowly, his hands raised, and Ash could have sworn there was remorse etched on the assassin's face.
"Eiji, I'm sorry. I-" Blanca started.
"Don't mention it," Eiji growled. It was a command.
Ash took a slow step forward, not yet releasing his grip on his gun. "What are you doing here, Blanca?"
Blanca's eyes moved away from Eiji and flicked to Ash.
"My boss knows you're coming. He wants to meet with you."