When Akane continued to pester [Name] about what the note's contents were, [Name] became tight-lipped. [Name] walked off in search for Junko and found her speaking with the medical team, located not far from Sai's location.

"Junko," she quietly called out, interrupting Junko's conversation with a man who seemed to be a physician or some sort.

"Yes, hun?" Junko turned to her with a concerned expression on her face. "I'm trying to figure out what went wrong with Sai."

Everything went wrong with Sai, [Name] thought with annoyance. Everything's wrong with him too, from his head down to his toes.

[Name] smiled grimly and showed her the note. "I'm sure this could explain what happened."

She watched Junko's lips pull into a frown as her eyes quickly scanned the note. "Who sent this?"

[Name] shrugged. "I dunno, you know anyone with the initials AS? And I know what you're thinking, but it's not Akane, just because her name starts with an A. Her full name is Akane Risa and that would be AR. Besides, she was with me and why would she even do that? Don't think it's Asuma either – "

Junko held a hand up to stop her incessant chatter. "Hun, you don't need to explain anymore, I get it. But this is worrying, considering the reason Sai has gotten into an accident was indirectly because of you. This can mean that you are the main target and you might be next."

The younger female opened her mouth, only to shut it. Her foster mom was right, but was it really a bad thing for Sai to get hurt? [Name] had forgiven Sai for the amount of damage he had caused to her – emotionally, mentally and physically – and that landed her into the many more mistakes she committed because of him. But the number of chances she gave Sai ran out, and she just settled on sneering at him everytime they crossed paths.

[Name] muttered, "Not really. Not my problem or my fault that he got hurt."

Junko gasped at her statement. She scolded [Name], "Don't you dare think that way! I didn't raise you to become a spiteful person – "

"Yeah? Well I didn't ask to have an abusive boyfriend to beat me every night because of the way life wasn't going for him or because of his stupid losses," [Name] bit back. "So yeah Junko, I'll think what I want and I think I don't give a shit if he died right now." She stalked off, fuming at the lack of understanding from Junko.

She made her way to the exit, only to be stopped by none other than her friend, Akane.

"Where are you going, girl? You just vanished into thin air after Sai's fiasco!"

[Name] stared directly into Akane's dark-brown eyes. "I'm going home because I don't want to deal with this shit. Now move."

"Are you worried that Sai's really injured? I'm pretty sure he isn't, considering he didn't burst into flames right then and there – "

"I don't care about him at all," [Name] simply said, before roughly brushing past Akane and ignoring her shocked expression.

She trudged back home with an angry disposition, ignoring the pee-stained snow that went beneath her combat boots and Nagasaki's questioning of her mood. When she opened her apartment door, the first thing she noticed was Itachi on the ground, sitting with his legs crossed. He sat no more than a few feet away from her, giving her a piercing stare.

[Name] felt like a deer caught in headlights. She quietly closed and locked the door before turning to him.

"What?" she finally asked.

"Where have you been." It was meant to be a question, but the way he worded it was said so flatly and frighteningly calm she couldn't help but feel incriminated.

"I was out. Duh," she replied.

"Why?"

"Because..." Her eyes flashed with irritation and she pointed a finger at him. "Listen here, who do you think you are? This is my house if I recall, and you don't get to interrogate me! Fuck you and your questions because I'm not in the mood."

She removed her coat and slung it over a nearby coat rack before sitting on the couch. She turned on the TV with the remote and barely glanced in Itachi's direction.

He sat there, motionless, until he stood up and walked over to her. He settled besides her on the couch and pulled her into an embrace, so that she slightly sat on his lap.

[Name] broke the silence. "You know, you're kind of bony and it hurts me. Definitely not cuddle material. You need to eat more." She aimed to move away from him, but he held on to her.

She released a short, angry screech, smacking his arm. "Why do you always have to hug or touch me? Ever heard of personal space?"

"Your touch soothes me," he whispered with such anguish, she couldn't help but feel horrible.

"Just tonight. Afterwards, you take the couch and I sleep in my own bed, got it?" she conceded with a sigh. Yet again, she admitted defeat to his words.

She received an answering snuggle instead of a verbal response and she sighed. This was going to be a short sleep for her, she just knew it.

***

The next morning, [Name] awoke with a crick in her neck and a sore behind. She slipped from Itachi's loosened grasp and went to the kitchen to make breakfast.

As she inhaled the delicious smell of sizzling bacon, she turned to grab an egg and saw Itachi silently standing a few feet away. Taken by surprise, she accidentally threw the egg up in the air. With quick reflexes, Itachi caught it, leaving it unharmed.

"Breakfast?" he casually asked. He cracked the egg against the table before placing the contents on the pan.

"I don't know, is it? I mean, it's only 10 A.M," she sarcastically replied. She studiously ignored the man beside her and focused on keeping their breakfast unburnt. He quietly stood beside her and watched her cook until she was finished.

[Name] took a plate from the cupboards and filled it with the early meal, handing it over to Itachi.

"Here," she said. "Eat up. I can't have you looking like the skeletons in my closet."

His eyebrow raised from curiosity. "You have skeletons?"

"It's a saying, not meant to be literal. Shut up and eat."

Obediently, he took a seat at the diner table and began to eat – or from [Name]'s point of view – stuff his face.

"Whoa, calm down, Bones. It's not going anywhere." [Name] granted herself with a plate of food before joining him at the table.

"So, you wanna tell me where you're from?" she asked as she took a bite of scrambled egg. She was glad she could cook, allowing her to survive on her own.

He paused and said, "Japan."

"Hmm," she eyed him with skeptical interest. "When did you move here then?"

"Years ago."

"And why did you move to New York City, of all places?" she continued to question him.

"Due to family matters."

His answers were brief, leading her to believe he was reluctant to speak about himself.

"Fine, I see you don't want to talk. But let me know this: Why are you homeless?" [Name] bit into her bacon this time, savoring the smokey taste.

"Because I am a gang member."

She barked out a laugh. "Hah! Gang member? Please. You don't look it. Don't lie to me, you fuckface. After all, I'm giving you a place to stay for the time being."

A twitch of a smile was present before it disappeared. "My... occupation does not allow me to have a home," he hesitantly stated.

She chewed quietly and swallowed. "And what's this so-called occupation of yours?" She silently prayed he wasn't a serial killer –

"Assassin."

[Name] set her fork down and stared at him. She began to giggle uncontrollably, clutching her sides as she continued to laugh. "Y-Yeah right! Assassin. They don't exist now. Maybe in the long ago eras of Japan, but not now – "

Itachi shrugged. "It is your choice to believe or not. I am simply stating the truth. My clan comes from long generations."

"You..." She was at a loss for words now due to the solemn tone of his voice. "You either need to go to the crazy house or you're not lying."

"I am not lying."

"Okay." She nodded, then pointed towards her door. "Get out before I call the cops." She hated to do such a thing, but precautions had to be done before she ended up killed.

His eyes widened for a fraction before he stood up and set himself down on his knees. [Name] recognized this as a position of begging.

"Please, let me stay awhile. I will cause no trouble, I assure you." Itachi's head bowed down with his forehead touching the ground.

"You're not going to kill me?" she asked with doubt. "I think you're telling the truth, but you better tell me everything if you're going to stay with me."

"I give my word, my life and honor."

"Wow, you're as dramatic as the assassins in the movies."

Suddenly, [Name]'s home phone rang in the distance. She looked towards the direction and said to him, "You're to stay in here and continue eating. Got it?"

Itachi looked up at her with gratitude and something more. "Yes."

She cautiously walked backwards, eyes narrowed with suspicion as she did so. What did she even get herself into? A lunatic or an actual death machine?

[Name] picked up the phone when she reached it. "Hello?"

"[Name]!" Akane's high-pitched voice came through.

"Hi Akane. Listen, about last night, I'm sorry for – "

"Sai's dead," Akane interrupted. "Someone killed him."

"W-What? Are you sure? How do you know?"

[Name]'s brain exploded with curiosity and horror. Her mind only pointed to one person, and that was –

"Itachi!"

She hung up the phone then, absently dismissing the fact that Akane was on the other end still. She marched over to Itachi and her hand landed on his shoulder. He paused from his eating and stared at her with confusion. She squeezed him with warning.

"You better tell me about this assassin business and you better tell me if you killed Sai or not... right now."

Oh - an assassin. Welp, [Name]'s world is about to get crazier! Thanks for the love this story is getting! I love reading all your comments, rest assured I do, even though I may not reply :') <3. Please leave some more love! Thanks all <3