The song was a nursery rhyme, coming from the crib mobile toy, an old lullaby sure to make a baby fall asleep.

It was dark inside the room, with only the moon's light as its source of illumination. Before going inside it, my feet felt heavily planted in the doorway.

I hesitated.

I've never hesitated before.

"You're a cool and kind person." Matsuno's words swirled inside my mind. Huh. If he only knew how evil as a devil I was.

I closed my eyes and inhaled. I wasn't being myself. I chanted in my mind: I am Death and I'm here to take my target's soul. Then I opened my eyes, feeling the determination to kill sizzle back in my veins.

Quietly, I let myself inside. I didn't know how the infant became my target but in most cases like this, it was about inheritance. Money. How greedy the souls of the humans were.

Gently, I shut the door close and cut the distance between me and my target. I looked at it, sleeping so peacefully without a care for the world. I should end your suffering and not let the world taint you, I thought as I raised my kunai above its tiny chest. But as I was to strike, it opened its eyes and looked at me through his little green eyes.

The same shade of eyes as Matsuno's.

My heart quivered.

What was I doing? I should just finish my work and kill the babe. I was Death. I--

"M-mama," its words were like a gurgle.

It continued looking at me with its innocent green eyes. It just called me its mother.

"Mama!" I remembered myself calling and running towards mine. The memory clenched my cold heart. A bead of sweat trickled near my eye. Why couldn't I do as I've done? Why couldn't I just end its life?

Life.

Just what the heck was life anyway?

I didn't know how long my movements were frozen until my cell phone vibrated. I put the kunai back to the side of my pants and answered the call.

"You hesitated," said a male voice I didn't recognize.

My eyes widened and I looked instinctively out of the big windows. Someone was watching me. "Who's this?"

"Let's just say, a buddy from work. Boss will not be pleased if he hear about your incompetence in finishing your job." I heard him chuckle.

Where the hell was he hiding?

The call ended and, after a few minutes, another assassin in ninja clothes entered the room. "Hush, little baby don't say a word. Papa's gonna buy you a mockingbird." He sang in tune with the music from the crib mobile. "That's a nice song, isn't it?"

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

The boy inched closer to the crib and it took my all to stop myself from protecting my target.

He replied, "Taiju was being careful. Since you disappeared yesterday, he wanted me to keep an eye on you, just in case. Turns out, his hunch was right. Something happened."

The image of Matsuno and his friends flashed in my mind.

Why the fuck did I think of them?

"Are you being soft, Death?" the man taunted. "You see, you and I, we live only to serve and kill and I know we do it pretty damn well. I've heard rumors about you. The young ice ninja, able to slaughter anyone. I was inspired hearing tales about you yet I see you now and..." He dramatically shook his head. And then, with sick determination in his eyes, stared down at the baby. "Our job is simple. Let me show you. Target, I'm Karasu and I'm here to bring you death." In one fast strike, he easily killed the infant.

Right.

It was just simple.

Before alive. Now dead. It didn't matter who it was, the only thing that mattered was to do the job efficiently.

"Now," he continued. "We must make the kill room look like it was robbed. Oh and the other rooms, too. Remember, no witnesses. If there is, erase them."

I cast one last look at the crib and then knocked a few items on the cabinet down.

***

"Here."

A plastic bag appeared in front of my face. It was lunchtime and most students already went to the school's cafeteria. I was planning on spending a quiet lunchtime inside the classroom when Matsuno appeared and gave me this... "What is this?"

He grinned at me. "Peyoung yakisoba. I lost, remember? This is your price."

I looked down and took from my bag the melon pan I bought earlier. "I don't need that."

"That won't be enough for lunch," he said about the piece of bread in my hands. "Here. Just take it. Besides, you earned it."

It was really tempting, taking the food from Matsuno, saying thank you, and then maybe we could hang out together again. But that wouldn't be wise. I had a dark secret. Someone like me should be content hiding from the shadows. And, if someone else knew about my true identity, I'd have to eliminate them. Instantly. Matsuno and my eyes met when I glanced at him. In a quick moment, I felt my heart stir a bit but I ignored it. I pushed the plastic bag away. "I said I don't like that. Please leave me alone." I stood up and exited the classroom.

When I went back inside an hour later, I saw the plastic bag with peyoung yakisoba waiting for me on top of my desk. A letter above it read: "You must eat well!" After reading it, I crumpled the paper and threw it in the bin.

Didn't I say that I don't need it?

Stubborn idiot.

The day went fast as I pretended that I was interested in understanding the lessons our teacher was teaching. Look normal but not approachable was my new mantra. After the classes, I checked my phone and saw no new message from Boss. No assignment tonight, huh?

I remembered how Karasu killed the infant last night. The scenes replayed in my mind over and over again. While daydreaming, I didn't realize that I wasn't heading to the school gate but toward the back of the old gymnasium.

Right where Matsuno confessed his feelings for me.

And he was there again. But, this time, he wasn't alone. Around ten high schoolers were with him.

"Ganging up against only one opponent? You're stooping too low, Black Dragon," Matsuno teased.

"Bastard! What matters is that we kill you!"

These Black Dragon members looked stronger than the ones Matsuno defeated before. This time, he might really be killed. My hand flew to my chest and I gripped my school uniform. Was he going to be okay? It was there again, the feeling of fear I felt like last time. I should help him, but how? How could I save him without revealing my real strength?

"Take this!" one of the big high schoolers shouted.

With lightning speed, I placed myself between him and Matsuno. "Stop! I already called the police!" I lied.

"Who the fuck are you?"

I stepped closer so that the gangsters could see the butt of the gun I'm hiding between my skirt and my blouse. "I said stop. The police are coming," my words were laced with threat as I slowly pulled the gun.

The Black Dragon members shook at the sight of my weapon and walked away saying, "This doesn't end here."

Or did they want me to end their lives instead?

"Minamikawa-san." Matsuno put one hand above my head. "I didn't know my life was going to be saved by a girl. Thanks, but next time don't put yourself in the middle of a fight. You might get hurt."

Ignoring his stupid advice, I brushed his hand away. "You're okay now so I'll go."

But he said, "I'll walk you home. As a thank you."

"No thanks."

As I left him I heard him say, "I really like you, Minamikawa-san."

What a fool.

And I was, too.