In Japan...

Evening time, 2nd day.

"Why the fuck did we not do this sooner?"

V excitedly says while wiping the katana on the clothing of the man on the floor.

"We just got no choice, we got caught. If you haven't been so reckless-"

Suga had to shut up and use the darkness as more men rushed past them.

Well, they're simply in an old traditional Japanese house where RM told them they can get valuable information about who the enemy is in South Korea.

Unfortunately, RM forgot to inform them the house is full of swordsmen.

Much to Suga's dislike but the opposite for V, who now is swinging the katana he stole from one of the previous men he sent to their next lives.

"Most of them might have already gone outside but we still have to be careful to get to the head of this house."

Suga adjusts his gloves. Pulls out a dagger, and starts moving.

V, on the other hand, leisurely walks the opposite side.

"Why don't you guys just go together?" – Jhope

"Let them be. We can't locate the head yet so it's faster to go different ways to find him." – RM

The two on the line commented while the two walking in the darkness didn't bother to say anything.

~~~~~~~~~~

On Suga's side...

"Is there any way you could at least tell us if there are more men on which side of this enormous house?"

Suga complains, now gloves dripping with red liquid.

"My bad, but no. We don't have more info about the place. At least we got the right location." – RM

"Very helpful."

Suga grumbles.

He continued walking towards another room. He was about to approach the door when another shiny blade almost got him, a cut on his mask isn't so bad.

"Shit."

He steps back twice and swiftly slides on the wooden floor. Giving the man's legs a few slices and stabs and finally silencing the said man with a quick two stabs in the chest.

Suga then checks before opening the door. It surprised him a bit when he saw the person waiting but still entering the room, politely closing the door.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Meanwhile on V's side...

"You've been quiet for a while, V." – Jhope

"We should keep this night peaceful."

V sits not on the floor but on a slowly getting cold body.

He looks at the katana he had been using since earlier. His eyes went to his stained gloves. Although it's all black, you can still see fluid on them.

"Ah, it's dirty. It smells."

He drops the katana.

He wanted to wipe his hands – gloves clean but to his amusement, a small, yet familiar smell, dagger got stuck on the wooden pole he was leaning on. An inch and it would have cut his temple.

He smiles widely with great excitement in his eyes.

"Aha, finally a good one."

He stretches up while the dagger owner walks cautiously behind another pole.

(Italics in Japanese)

"Hello. Nice to meet you."

V walks towards the pole he assumes the person hides. He stops at a good distance.

Close combat is his favorite. He'd like to watch how his opponents' eyes change emotions as they fight. He'd like to feel how most of them tremble before turning cold.

"Based on your dagger earlier, I presume you have poison expertise too. If you had aimed better, I'd be dying by now."

V continues yet again, with no reply from the other.

"I'd die protecting the head. You'll have to kill me if you can."

The other, finally speaks. Firmness.

"HAHAHAHAHHA!!!"

V laughs, echoing the entire place they're in.

He mumbles something while stifling his laughter, even bending and holding his stomach.

"Is that so? I like it. I like that attitude. You have the skills. I like it so much that I can't wait to see what you can do."

V continues, now walking much closer to the pole.

The boy flinches when V's voice suddenly sounded so close to him.

'I didn't hear his footsteps.'

The boy thought but was quick to recover. He pulls out another poisoned dagger and prepares.

"But what to do? While we're chatting here, my friend's having a nice tea with the head by now."

V taunts and faces the now agitated boy.

The boy runs and tried to escape but came face to face with V's thrilled eyes.

"Not so fast, kid. Let them chat as we play here."

V had to lean backward as fast as he could before his neck came into contact with the dagger.

"That's right. That's right."

He cheers as the boy proceeds to aim at different parts of his body with the poisoned dagger.

At one point, V feels the sleeve on his left arm tear.

"Not bad."

He praises the boy.

But the boy was more surprised. He had been attacking with one dagger and aiming at the right side of the opponent. When he thought he got the timing, he pulled the second dagger to hit on the left but how did the smiling man in front of him still dodge it?

"Oh, I'm ambidextrous. You should always expect the unexpected when facing an opponent that you don't know well."

V waves his left hand with his arm sleeve cut.

The boy pants and stops as he couldn't get the opponent with any of his attacks.

'But I need to go. The head. I need to protect the head.'

The boy prepares once more.

"You look young. You wanna work for me instead?"

V offers, looking delighted.

"My loyalty's with the Head."

"Is that so? Then let me see..."

V wasted no time and took his turn to attack.

V charges with a tackle, instantaneously disarming the enemy. He successfully pins the boy to the ground.

A proud smile appears on his face when the pinned boy clutches his arm with both legs, aiming to turn the situation to his advantage.

Briefly, V moves his hand, gripping the boy's neck. Veins appears more prominently as he strangles the boy, who in return, tries to tighten his grip on the choking hand.

With no chance to overpower V, the boy uses his legs to kick the former on the head.

"AAARRGHHH!!!"

The boy couldn't help but scream and tears threatened to fall.

Before he could land his kick, V already let himself fall on his back, releasing the boy's neck. But in a blink of an eye, the boy felt V's boots on his chin and jaw, forcing him to bite his teeth and tighten his jaw.

But as V said earlier, expect the unexpected. The moment he focused on protecting his neck and head, all he could feel is pain in his right leg and foot. V got a good grasp on his right leg, sliding the clasp to the ankle. No second thought on twisting it and a not-so-quiet sound of bone was heard.

V releases the now, broken ankle. The boy immediately crawls to move away. V didn't allow that.

He grabs the other's leg and drags him back close to him.

"AARGHH!!"

Another scream from the boy.

"Oh, my bad. I thought it wasn't the broken leg."

V beams as if he couldn't see the twisted ankle.

"This leg is still fine. But I guess you haven't felt pain like this before. Now, you're crying like a baby. We gotta change that."

V then squats next to the boy's head.

"Name?" – V

"Ni-ki."

The boy answers, accepting defeat.

"I'm right. Not only you are skilled but also quick at making smart choices. You're young but capable."

V compliments. Standing up ready to leave.

"Wait! The head-"

"You know by now. Such organizations have rules. Whatever your relationship with the head ends here. You'll have to survive or stay dead from now on."

V knowing by this time, Suga already is finishing the job.

"If you manage to survive, come find me."

An offer. An awaiting offer telling- ordering him to survive.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back to Suga's side...

Suga entered the room after closing the sliding door.

"Take a seat. I have one last request."

What surprised Suga earlier was this. The head. He expected a hostile one. Yet, here he is facing this woman with a welcoming smile.

Yuriko Ishida (Japanese actress)

"You're prepared. Sorry, but this is business."

Suga apologizes. Genuinely feeling sorry for the older woman.

"I'll give you the names. But please hear my last request." - Yuriko Ishida

"I can't promise you anything." – Suga

The woman still smiles, pouring some tea for him. Another cup was already in front of her. His was tea, but hers? Suga knows it well.

"If you came here with others, this boy might still be fighting one of them. He's a young boy trapped in this organization. I adopted him way before I became the head."

"I came with one, depends on how good that boy is, he might be spared."

Suga is hoping a tiny bit that V didn't slaughter everyone.

"That's all I want. His name's Ni-ki. Please."

Yuriko Ishida pleads, which heads should never do.

It shows how this woman cares for the boy. Suga could only nod.

=======================

This is the only one left from my draft. The other chapters were, unfortunately, not uploaded here before my computer broke.

See you next month!