I actually became Chifuyu Matsuno's girlfriend. Days had passed since Valentine's and with the great number of couples made during that special day, Matsuno and I barely became a rumor on campus. Nevertheless, there were still eyes focused on us when we were spotted together. There was not much to talk about us, though, because the only things they observed about us were us talking and sometimes walking home together.
But, later, Matsuno and I would go on a date, an official date for a real official couple. I wonder where we would go and what we would do. Matsuno said he'd plan everything. By the way, what do young couples do these days?
I mentally shook my head. I shouldn't be thinking about my love life now, during work time. I breathed out and focused on my target. Peeking into the scope of my sniper rifle, I watched as filthy rich men and women entered the ancient mansion before me. I was hiding in one of the windows of a dark, dilapidated building, positioned a few meters away from the mansion. From where I was, I had a clear view of its entrance.
The time was the middle of the night, a few minutes after twelve. An underground auction featuring high-priced and very valuable stolen objects would commence in the ancient structure before me. My target was one of the contributors.
"Come on, come on," I willed my target to appear. I needed to finish my job, sleep, and rise early in the morning. Matsuno and I promised to see each other in the park by eight a.m.
"I didn't know Death has so little patience." I knew that voice. Whirling, I saw a male in a ninja outfit, the same as mine, behind my back. He was skilled. Considering that I didn't notice his presence. Or maybe I was just too distracted with my thoughts.
Tsk.
Even though only his eyes were exposed I was sure that the boy was Karasu.
"Karasu," I said his alias with certainty. "Came here to watch over me? Or take my job away from me again?"
I cringed when he winked at me. The other assassin placed himself beside me. "Death reaper Karasu reporting for duty, ma'am. And, no, I'm not here for you or your target. My target will be attending the same auction. Don't worry, I'm not here to take away your prey or to babysit you... Wait, babysit." He laughed at his own dark joke and I remembered how he easily unalived the infant that was my target just a few days ago.
I ignored him and looked into my scope once more. I didn't know who Karasu was, what he looked like, and how he usually lived. But that was how it should be. No one but Taiju and a few big people he was acquainted with knew our real identities. If Karasu or the other Black Dragon members knew about my life as Sakura Minamikawa and my relationship with Matsuno- No, I shouldn't even think about that.
Besides, there was also a good and very logical reason why I agreed to date Matsuno, yes. That was: to become more normal. A normal middle school girl normally falls in love and dates normal boys. I was being singled out and treated as a weirdo because I was always so alone and quiet. Dating Matsuno would make me less conspicuous and I would blend better into the background.
Yes.
Of course.
I felt Karasu suddenly shift beside me. He adjusted his rifle and his eyes smiled.
His target was in his sight.
I looked into my scope, too, and saw a family of four step out of a gray limousine. A father, a mother, and their two daughters who looked younger than seven. They were dressed in formal clothing, like they were about to attend a fucking ball. Was the target nuts? Who the hell brings their children in a shady auction?
"Really. What's with you and children?" I heard Karasu ask jokingly. "Are you a kid-magnet, or something?" He held his rifle tighter and the thought of those two children witnessing the death of their father gnawed at me.
Fuck.
There it was again: the nasty feeling deep inside me.
Before, I had no qualms about killing anyone. I didn't care about how they felt or how their loved one would feel. But now...
"Got you." Karasu fired his gun and quick seconds later, the wail of the target's wife echoed across the shady streets. The two kids were crying, confused and scared. Karasu was unmoved. He just looked at me and asked, "Seen yours?" He was pertaining to my own target.
I looked into my scope, saw how the crowd panicked, and answered, "Not yet." Then my phone vibrated and I read Taiju's message. "My target's not coming tonight."
"Lucky you, then," Karasu's words seemed to mock me. Like he felt my current uneasiness in our job.
I stood up and leaned my rifle on my shoulder. "Sucks. But I have to go."
"Yeah, I'm leaving, too. Job's done." He winked at me again. "See you when I see you."
We both left the area. The truth was, yes, I agreed to Karasu. I was lucky tonight. After witnessing the grief of Karasu's target's family, images of my own family appeared in my mind, along with my happy memories with Matsuno. Normally, people would grieve the loss of their loved ones and then forge relationships with other people. By being Death, those normal things were taken away from me, making me live not only in the shadows but as a shadow, myself. Since I signed my pact with Taiju, I swore to live only with death.
And now...
Tsk.
I didn't know.
It was my own decision, being an assassin. And this was my life now. Besides, I was pretty good at it. Without my skills at killing, I was below average. I sucked at life. But still, the infant Karasu killed and the family who grieved Karasu's target's death tonight made me feel uneasy... filthy.
As soon as I entered my apartment, I walked straight into my bathroom, shed my clothes, and hopped into the shower. I cleaned myself and put on a large shirt and baggy shorts. I lay on my bed and willed myself to sleep, but I couldn't. I stayed awake and as soon as the clock struck six, I stood up and changed my clothes again.
I was going to my date with Matsuno.
Wanting to push aside all unwanted thoughts about my work, I immediately went to the park where Matsuno and I would meet. I would just wait for him there as I listen to one of Sweetie Cuties' albums on my MP3. I needed to clear my mind.
It was only a few minutes after seven when I reached our meeting place, but I saw Matsuno already waiting there. He wore jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. Dressed simply, but he looked stunning. I wondered if my plain long-sleeved dress was all right for a date. I suddenly realized that I seemed like I'd be going to a funeral. Chifuyu would certainly look better with a prettier and more stylish girlfriend.
No.
I was his girlfriend now and I was glad I was. He finally saw me and he blushed. I walked toward him. "You're early," I said.
"I wanted to see you soon," he replied with his charming boyish smile.
"We see each other every day at school."
"Not every day. There's Saturday and Sunday. Come on, let's grab breakfast at Burger Prince." He took my hand and, again, warmth traveled inside me.
We've held hands a couple of times before but I'd always be surprised at the comfort of it.
Realizing that I'd frozen and was staring at our clasped hands, he dropped mine "Sorry! I thought it was okay. Maybe you didn't actually like holdi-"
"It's alright," I said, and then, this time, I was the one who held his hand. It was sweaty and trembling but fit well into mine. "To Burger Prince, we go."