Cold Blade

Wind whipped calmly through Abyssinian's hair as he stood on a building top in downtown Tokyo. He took in a careful breath of it, awaiting his chance to pounce his victim... The building he was on must've been at least fifty stories high... not a big deal, he'd dealt with more dangerous things.

Gripping the hilt of his katana in his hand, his violet eyes peered down at the bustling streets below. What he'd give for a normal life, like the people down there, driving home to their families after a long day at work. No... he had to do this... but it was for Aya. All for Aya. Nothing else kept him alive but her.

Tightening the top straps on his unique trenchcoat, the red-haired cat sank into the shadows behind a tower on the building's roof. He was doing this mission solo; he'd left the other boys behind. Why should they go up against his rival? He needed to complete this assignment as a personal favor to himself. An assassin has his pride, too.

Then there was a movement on the roof. Ah, he'd emerged from the stairwell. Abyssinian had known right where to find him-- where else than the Takatori building? The man's bright white clothes were easily seen in the moonlight, and the assassin was close enough to see the look of impatience on his face.

Mission details replayed themselves in Abyssinian's head. 'Kill Schuldich... as a threat to Takatori... helicopter arrives at 8 pm...'

He checked his watch. It read clearly 7:51. He had about ten minutes to finish off his rival or that was that. The end. Nothing mattered anymore... Aya... he had to do this, to get revenge, to help her, everything. He held his sword up with both hands and made a mad dash for his rival.

Caught utterly off guard, Schuldich whipped around to face Abyssinian when he was only about five feet away. The sword ate into his flesh... it skewered him easily through the stomach, to his total shock. Pure crimson slid down the cold blade in the moonlight, dripping to the ground. A small trickle of it ran down Schuldich's now smirking lips.

"You know..." he uttered, forcing the words painfully, "they'll... get you... now... They can... find you easily..."

Abyssinian looked dissatisfied, and so shoved his sword into the man's body until the hilt guard touched his bloody shirt and flesh.

"You're dead. That's all I needed to do. I'm done now. Let them come after me." Abyssinian's words were icy.

"Fine... they will... but your sister.. will not... be safe..."

Furious that such a man talk about Aya, he slid the sword agilely out of his body. Grabbing a clump of Schuldich's wild carroty hair, he drug him to the ledge of the building, hearing his grunts of pain as he did so. However, instead of throwing him over, Abyssinian lifted his sword, and with two jabs, had stuck Schuldich's knees. He wouldn't be walking soon, even if he had been able to get himself some medical help with his first wound. No, he would surely bleed to death now. But, despite his location, there was no doubt Takatori would know within a few hours.

Abyssinian sheathed his sword and turned to leave. "Fujimiya..." the voice croaked behind him. He stopped, but didn't turn around. "Ran... You're... just a corpse... now... just... a corpse..."

He gritted his teeth but ignored the comment. "You are really one to talk." He dashed off towards the building's opposite ledge to hop onto another building. Suddenly, as he neared it, his vision became distorted. Something was messing with his head. Could it be one of Schuldich's comrades? No, it wasn't that.

Yelling out in agony, Ran stopped and gripped his head in his hands. His attempt to regain his balance failed, and he tumbled off the ledge. He knew... he was as good as dead now... And he waited to collide with the noisy street below. And he waited... and waited... and nothing happened. There was only complete darkness around him... He gasped for air instinctively, his face a mess of worry. But then his fight was over, and he passed out.