Raven's POV

As I'd predicted, I missed the rest of the week of school, the yakuza group my lovely parents left me indebted to had called in a favor and sent me on a mission to take care of some rogue underlings. In the process, I'd managed to get shot, break a rib and fracture my collar bone. On Saturday when my newly replaced alarm began blasting I groaned as my body was wracked with pain. Every inch of me ached. I swatted at my alarm and rolled out of bed with a wince.

My gaze fell on my phone, I'd slept through dozens of reminders and phone alarms, it was almost noon. Swearing under my breath I stumbled into my closet and found a pair of clean pants, a pair of black distressed skinny jeans and hurriedly tied up the bottom of my oversized distressed band shirt to make it look like a more form fitting top before stepping into a pair of converse. I sprinted out of my apartment and hailed a cab. By the time I reached the Sakamaki estate it was a quarter past noon.

"Oh boy, the square is going to be pissed." I sighed as I made my way through the entrance gate and jogged to the giant gothic mansion.

By the time I reached the door and rang the bell I was winded and doubled over gasping for air. The gunshot wound in my side ached and I silently prayed I hadn't ripped any of my stitches. There was a loud creak as the giant double doors swung open into a dark gothic foyer. I didn't see anyone inside.

"Well that's not creepy or anything. Thanks, invisible butler." I grumbled as I stepped into the foyer and jumped as the doors slammed shut behind me, "Rude." My eyes strained to see in the darkness. "Hello?" I called into the darkness.

"There's a visitor, Teddy, and she smells nice." An eerie childish voice sounded from behind me.

I turned to find the smallest Sakamaki brother standing behind me clutching a cryptic teddy bear wearing an eyepatch to his chest. Kanato was one of the triplets and in the grade below me. His hair was a bold grey tinted purple at the roots that faded to a paler lavender color at the tips and he had matching pale lavender eyes. There was a small twisted smile dancing across his lips.

"The visitor is only mildly creeped out by the freaky child talking to his teddy bear like she's not here." I rolled my eyes and unconsciously sniffed the air around me; I hadn't showered yet and possibly smelled like gun powder and cigar smoke from my mission the night before, "Where's Reiji?"

Kanato pointed straight ahead without a word. A creepy giggle escaped him and he began muttering away to his teddy bear as I turned and walked away in the direction he pointed.

"Getting a lot of Children of the Corn vibes from that one..." I mumbled to myself as I continued through the dark foyer into an equally dark corridor. "Holy fuck, I need a map to navigate this place. This is fucking ridiculous."

"You're late." An icy voice sounded from behind me causing me to jump and swivel around to find Reiji looking down at a fancy looking pocket watch in obvious annoyance. "And I could do without your foul mouth."

"Christ! Are you all fucking ninja? Where the hell did you come from?!" I snapped in annoyance. It was rare for people to sneak up on me and two of the Sakamaki brothers had successfully startled me in less than a minute.

He made a show of adjusting his glasses before fixing me with a reprimanding glare, his crimson eyes were narrowed and cold. "I should have known your behavior would be absolutely deplorable. Perhaps I should instruct yo-."

"That a threat?" I challenged him as I noticed the darkness to his voice.

"Merely a suggestion." Reiji shrugged. "Shall we?" He made a move to lead the way but faltered before scanning me over with a scrutinizing eye. "Are you injured?"

"I'm fairing a lot better than the other guy." I winked, "Can we get this over with, your house gives me the heebie jeebies."

Reiji frowned at my rudeness but made no comment, just threw me a look of disdain before leading the way. I trailed after him blindly as I studied the various gothic portraits adorning the walls and various pricey looking art pieces. We made it to an enormous ornate dining room with crystal chandeliers and an immaculate dining table fit for a king. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed the elder Sakamaki brother, Shu, nodding off in a nearby window seat.

"I'm beginning to think my house would have been better." I snickered as Reiji shot a loathing look in his brother's direction, "I live alone."

"In a hovel no doubt." Reiji scoffed.

"It's an apartment." I corrected him.

After shooing Shu away, he motioned for me to take a seat at the fancy dining table. Reluctantly I took a seat and nearly laughed as he offered me tea acting almost like a butler. I declined the tea and he finally joined me at the table before scowling at me.

"Did you bring anything with you?"

"I thought my presence was enough of a gift, was I supposed to bring wine or something?" I smirked.

He ignored my snarky comment, "A textbook, notebook or anything to write with, for a start."

"I was in a bit of a hurry. Let's just brainstor-." I cut off as the double doors to the left of the hall opened and the youngest Sakamaki brother, Subaru, froze in the doorway staring at the scene before him in confusion. "Less interruptions at my place."

Before Reiji could respond, the door we'd come in through swung open and all three of the triplets, Kanato, Ayato and Laito peered inside curiously. I looked to Reiji curiously as he silently fumed at the constant string of interruptions. Was it so strange for one of them to have a visitor they all had to be nosey about it? Shaking my head, I reached for the notebook in front of Reiji before taking the pen from his hand and scribbled down my address.

"I'm starting to feel like a zoo animal on display, I'm out. We can work on this at my place-." My phone buzzed in my pocket and I hurriedly glanced at the screen a message containing a time and place flashed across the screen, I had work to do. "...tomorrow... noonish?" Reiji looked like he was about to protest; I stood up and leaned across the table to ruffle his soft purple tinged raven hair. "See ya later, Square."

.................................................................................................................................

Sunday:

I woke with a start to find a figure standing next to my bed, my vision was slightly blurred, my body felt like it was on fire and freezing all at once it was sweating and shivering all at the same time and my movements seemed sluggish and slow. Something was wrong with me. I thought back to the night before, could one of my targets have had poison on their blades? That was such an outdated practice, who dipped blades in poison anymore?

I reached for the automatic handgun beneath my pillow and pointed it at the intruder, "Who are you? How'd you get in?" My vision was still blurred, I couldn't make out any details.

The dark figure moved faster than I could perceive and snatched the gun from my hand, "Honestly, Miss Krowe, your manners and etiquette are reprehensible, you invited me." A familiar sophisticated voice drawled.

"Reiji?" I attempted to rub my eyes but my vision remained blurry. "How did you get in?"

"Your door was unlocked, and I thought that useless servant was trouble, you've completely outdone her." What on earth was he going on about?

"Sorry, I'll meet you in the dining room." I waved him away as I struggled to sit up.

"You appear to have acquired more injuries...and why exactly does a seemingly average high school delinquent have a firearm under their pillow?" Reiji inquired coolly.

"Are you going to leave my room so I can change or did you want a show?" I smirked as I somehow managed to sway to my feet and stumble toward the closet. I expected my remark to catch him off guard, make him react in some manner, to no avail.

Reiji remained in the room quiet and though I couldn't make out any features I had a feeling he was scowling at me, as usual. "Answer my question."

"Why should I?" I mused as I stripped out of my nightshirt revealing my scarred body from years of mercenary work. Not bothering with a bra, I slipped on a tight form fitted tank top with a loose oversized sweater and a pair of leggings before turning around to find Reiji still in my room, "Prim, proper and a pervert." I teased him.

He appeared before me and roughly caught my wrist in his hand in an iron tight grasp. A soft gasp escaped me as I found his grip unbreakable and a worrisome thought crossed my mind. Though I knew I was in a weakened state I wasn't so sure even in my prime if I could have honestly overpowered him.

"Seems I may not be the only one with a secret life." I smirked only to wince as his grip on my wrist tightened and I was suddenly wrenched toward him with so much force it felt as if my shoulder had been dislocated. My head swam as I stumbled forward and I felt my equilibrium drop and my blood pressure take a dive.

Strong arms encircled me before I could hit the floor. Something was definitely not right, this wasn't normal wear and tear ache, I'd been poisoned. Reiji carried me out of my bedroom without a word before laying me across the cherrywood dining table.

"You've been poisoned." He noted unsympathetically.

"I gathered" I attempted to roll my eyes but it made the room spin and made me feel nauseous. "There's several kinds of antidotes in the greenhouse." I pointed toward the balcony.

"Do you know what poison it is?" He asked his tone seemed somewhat lighter and though I couldn't make out his features I had a feeling he was enjoying himself at the prospect of poisons and antidotes.

"Not a damn clue, pick an antidote any antidote, we'll Russian roulette this shit. Worst case scenario, I die, no biggie." I attempted to shrug my shoulders.

"Your crass, uncivilized, and completely deplorable, however you are interesting and I'd love to instruct you properly." His voice sounded somewhat sadistic at this.

"Freak." I poked.

I could feel his glare but he decided not to react to my jab whether he was taking pity on me for my current deteriorating condition or was just planning on giving me hell later, I wasn't sure. "As I was saying..." He cleared his throat, "It would be a shame if you were to die without proper training in how to conduct yourself."

"Whatever you say, Square." I wheezed as breathing became steadily more difficult.

"Hmm, its affecting the respiratory system now." I felt his hand lightly grip my arm and peel away the bandages from the knife wound where I'd assumed I'd been exposed to the toxin, "It appears to be slow acting, this wound looks to be at least twelve hours old."

"I'd ask if you were a doctor but I'm starting to think you just have some weird sadistic fetish and need to understand basic medical training incase you go too far." I quipped before falling into a coughing fit.

Reiji released my arm from his hold without a word and headed toward the balcony to the small greenhouse I'd set up. Due to my double life, I couldn't exactly wander into a hospital so I'd had to learn how to doctor myself and as a hobby began growing all kinds of medicinal plants. My vision began to darken as I struggled to breathe. I lost all sense of time in the darkness.

After what felt like days in the darkness I felt cool hands on the side of my face. There was a familiar voice in the distance but it sounded too far away for me to make anything out. I felt the brush of cold lips across my flaming hot ones and felt a soft sigh of contentment escape me. The moment my lips parted a strange liquid substance spilled into my mouth. I attempted to struggle against my captor but they were too strong. Unable to escape or expel the liquid from my mouth, I reluctantly swallowed it and felt an instant wave of relief. My body stopped burning and I was able to breathe a little easier.

In a matter of minutes, my eyes fluttered open and I found my vision had cleared, I could see everything like normal. I spotted Reiji leaning over me noting my condition in silence. He seemed somewhat displeased that I was quickly returning to normal. Perhaps he wanted to play mad scientist more.

"I can poison myself again if that would be more fun for you." I rolled my eyes as I noted his displeasure.

"Perhaps another time." There was the faintest trace of a smile on his lips and I felt a fluttering in my chest, I had no idea he was capable of smiling. I'd always thought he was a robot incapable of feeling anything other than annoyance.

"Thanks for saving me..."

"That's not the proper way to thank your savior, we'll work on that." A wicked smirk crossed his lips and I felt a sudden sense of anxiousness, apprehension and excitement worm through me.

"Sorry, should I be on my hands and knees bowing at your feet, my lord?" I rolled my eyes.

"It'd be an improvement." Another small trace of a smile crossed his lips, he was actually joking with me. I didn't think it possible.

"Am I still poisoned? You're acting weird."

"How so?"

"I don't know, you're acting almost human." I shrugged and watched as his body tensed. Had I said something that triggered him?

He straightened himself up, "I think that's enough for today. Should I expect to see you in school at all this week?"

"Don't get your hopes up." I smiled.

"Very well. We can resume on Saturday." He fixed his already perfectly positioned glasses as if he were nervous about something. Saying he was acting almost human seemed to have caught him off guard. Did he not realize he acted like a robot all the time? Was this news to him?

"My place, noon?"

He nodded and left without a word seeming to completely vanish from view as if he'd never been there at all. I rubbed my temples and hopped off the table before heading to the kitchen. Maybe I'd imagined the whole thing, maybe Reiji never showed up because he truly believed me to live in a hovel and not a nice penthouse apartment on the top floor of a nice skyrise apartment building. I'd paid off my parents' debt but the yakuza were extorting me for more labor saying they'd reveal all the crimes I'd committed for them and have me locked away for the rest of my life. While life wasn't all that enjoyable, I liked my freedom, or at least what little I had of it. They paid me for the work I continued to do for them and provided me with a nice ritzy apartment and made it very clear that I could never leave them.

Video- "Genesis" By Ruelle