Sakamoto days : The Heinous Flower

Chapter 9

Inside the dimly lit limousine, the driver glanced at the road ahead "Boss, is coming here really necessary? After all, it's just a baby with an oversized head. We could've sent Mr. Howard to get the job done."

Beside him, a man in a crisp suit dozed lightly, his head resting against the window, completely unbothered by the conversation.

From the back of the limousine, a deep voice answered, laced with quiet authority, "Underestimating your target? I thought we were taught since childhood never to make that mistake."

The driver, Fabio, kept his eyes on the road, his voice steady. "That's not what I meant, boss."

"Then what did you mean exactly, Fabio?" The voice sharpened, the weight of the question filling the confined space.

Fabio hesitated for a moment before responding, careful with his words. "I meant that handling this personally seems excessive. We've got resources for this kind of thing. Why risk getting involved directly?"

From the backseat, the man leaned forward just enough for his face to catch the faint glow of passing streetlights, his expression unreadable. "Let me tell you a short story," he said, his voice low and deliberate, before leaning back into the shadows. "Once upon a time, a unique child was born. So unique, his case might be one in a billion."

Fabio turned his head sharply toward the man in the backseat, shock flickering across his face. "What do you mean?"

"The reason he was unique," the man continued, ignoring the question, "was because during a war that happened thirty years ago in the veietnam a nuclear bomb was dropped on a city. It killed thousands of people in an instant. A catastrophe of unparalleled scale."

Fabio's knuckles whitened on the steering wheel, his mind racing as he absorbed the words. "And the child...?"

The man's tone darkened, his voice thick with the weight of the story. "The child crawled out of his mother... or what was left of her. Not just surviving, but thriving. His body adapted, mutated—as if the bomb itself had rewritten his very existence."

Fabio swallowed hard, glancing in the rearview mirror. "You're saying..."

"I'm saying," the man interrupted, his voice sharp now, "that if you think a mere homo with an oversized head is all we're dealing with, you're woefully mistaken."

Silence settled in the limousine, the gravity of the tale leaving Fabio at a loss for words. The man in the backseat continued "We don't take chances, Fabio. Not with people like that. Now, focus on the road"

Fabio nodded silently, gripping the wheel as the limousine pressed onward through the darkness. The vehicle glided smoothly until, just a minute later, he abruptly hit the brakes.

The man in the backseat leaned forward slightly, his voice calm but laced with irritation. "What now?"

Fabio pointed ahead, his voice low but steady. "Boss, someone's blocking the entrance."

The headlights illuminated a lone figure standing in the middle of the road, unmoving. He wore simple eyeglasses, and a cigarette dangled lazily between his fingers. Despite the seemingly casual stance, his gaze was locked directly on Edward, piercing and unyielding.

Edward stepped out of the limousine, his imposing figure contrasting with the stranger's relaxed demeanor. He smirked, the night air carrying a faint chill. "I didn't know they hire kids" Edward remarked, his tone mocking as he took a step forward.

But a flicker of movement above caught his attention. Without breaking stride, Edward tilted his head just as a blade plunged downward toward where his skull had been.

The attacker landed behind him, crouched with precision, their weapon gleaming under the headlights. Edward straightened, turning to face the failed assailant with a bemused expression.

"That's cute," Edward said with a smirk, his tone dripping with arrogance. "Two-on-one, is it? You should've aimed better."

From the side, Rion stepped into the light, wiping a bit of dirt off her hands as she regained her stance. Her knife glinted faintly in her grip.

"This is our big guy, Sakamoto," she said, her voice sharp and steady. "Be careful. He's not like the others we've faced."

Sakamoto adjusted his posture, his calm demeanor unshaken despite Edward's looming presence. "Noted" he replied simply, his gaze fixed on their opponent.

Edward smirked as he dismissed them with a wave of his hand. "I don't have time to play with delusional kids."

Turning his attention away, he gestured toward his men. "Fabio, Solomon, take care of those clowns."

Fabio stepped out of the limousine, adjusting his gloves with a bored expression. Beside him, Solomon woke up from his slumber and stepped out

Rion tightened her grip on her knife, her eyes darting between the two newcomers. "Who do these bastards think we are ?? Sakamoto leave this to me ill take both of them"

Sakamoto didn't respond, his focus entirely on sizing up their new opponents

Fabio smirked, cracking his knuckles. "This shouldn't take long. Try not to disappoint us."

Solomon said nothing, his presence alone exuding an unsettling aura as he stepped forward , though in an instant Solomon closed the distance in an instant, his arm aimed to pierce through Sakamoto's chest like a spear.

Sakamoto seeing this spat the cigarette directly into Solomon's eyes.

The burning ember struck Solomon's right eye, forcing him to stagger back with a sharp grunt, his hand instinctively clutching his face.

Not wasting the moment, Sakamoto dashed forward with precision, pulling a knife from his pen and aimed to drive it into Solomon's chest

Fabio reacted swiftly, yanking Solomon back by the collar while delivering a powerful kick to Sakamoto's midsection. The force sent him skidding backward, giving Fabio enough time to position himself between Sakamoto and Solomon.

"You're quicker than you look," Fabio remarked, his stance firm as he steadied Solomon, who glared through the pain, the pen still embedded in his right bicep.

Sakamoto straightened, brushing off his coat. "You talk too much."

"FABIO, LET GO OF ME!" Solomon roared, his voice echoing through the tense atmosphere. "I SWEAR I'M GONNA KILL THIS LITTLE SHIT!"

"You're an embarrassment, Solomon," Edward said coolly, walking over to the knife Rion had thrown at him earlier. His calm demeanor only amplified the weight of his words. "You're supposed to be a Wu Hei, so act like it."

Solomon's fury dimmed, replaced by shame as he wiped blood from his mouth. "Sorry," he muttered begrudgingly.

Edward's eyes narrowed as he observed the injury. "You won't be able to use your left arm anymore." He kicked the knife on the ground toward Solomon. "Here, use this. And take care of the cleanup."

Solomon snatched the knife with his uninjured hand, his expression dark and determined. "Understood."

Edward turned away, his tone dismissive "I'll get you some chicken legs when i kill the target. Meet me outside when you're done."

"Got it," Solomon replied, the anger simmering just beneath the surface as he turned his full attention to Sakamoto

Edward kicked the main gate open and started walking inside only for a head to fly past him

Edward paused mid-step, his boot barely touching the threshold of the gate as he saw a head thrown at his right. The faint sound of blood splattering reached his ears, but he didn't turn immediately. He let out a deep sigh

Finally, he turned his head slowly, his expression as calm as ever. His eyes flicked to the headless body of Solomon, still spraying blood, then to the severed head resting to his right side The knife in Rion's hand dripped crimson

"Who said you could leave, dipshit?" she taunted, her voice carrying an edge of defiance.

"Give me a break," Edward muttered, his irritation finally seeping into his voice. He glanced at Rion, his tone dripping with condescension. "Why won't you just give up and act dead? Save me the effort."

______________

"Huff... finally," Nagumo muttered as he dropped down from the ladder, landing unceremoniously into a pile of boxes. The rough landing made him grimace, a hand moving to his side.

"Hmm? Where am—" His words were cut off as Kasumi landed right on top of him, the impact forcing a sharp groan from Nagumo. "Oh, for crying out loud!"

Kasumi rolled off him, dusting himself off as though nothing happened.

Nagumo sat up, wincing as he rubbed his back. "How much do you weigh, dude?" His glare at Kasumi was more exasperated than angry.

Kasumi shrugged nonchalantly. "My bad." He pointed to the broken box beneath Nagumo. "What's that white stuff falling out?"

Nagumo glanced down, his eyes narrowing at the powder spilling from the shattered crate. He scooped up a small amount between his fingers, inspecting it. "Looks like... some kind of powder. Could be drugs."

Kasumi frowned, his tone skeptical. "Drugs?"

Nagumo gave him a pointed look. "You'd be surprised how often places like this double as storage for illegal cargo. Let's just hope we didn't blow our cover crashing in here." He flicked the powder off his fingers, standing up and brushing himself off. "Stay alert. If this is what I think it is, we're in the middle of something."

Kasumi nodded, his expression unreadable as he walked over to the door. Without hesitation, he turned the handle and pushed it open.

He then froze, his hand still on the now-open door, his sharp gaze darting forward. The voice was unfamiliar, thought he was ready to swear it was the sasiest

"Hey there, handsome~"

Before he could fully process the figure in front of him, the sound of fingers snapping echoed through the space like a whip crack. The air seemed to warp and twist, the oppressive factory-like surroundings dissolving into nothingness.

In an instant, he found himself standing in his old dojo. The familiar wooden floors stretched out beneath him the former bloodied floor was gone, polished to a pristine shine. Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting long, warm beams that felt almost surreal.

"Kasumi..."

The voice was unmistakable, a haunting echo from his past. Slowly, hesitantly, he turned, his movements heavy as though weighed down by an unseen force.

His eyes widened further, shock and disbelief freezing him in place. It was his.... Father.

He looked exactly like Kasumi, down to the sharp features and intense eyes. But there were differences—subtle ones. He was shorter.

Kasumi's lips parted, but no words came. His throat was dry, his body stiff.

"...You've grown," the man finally said, his tone calm yet piercing.

Kasumi didn't respond, his hands curling into fists at his sides as emotions surged—confusion, anger, fear, and something deeper, buried far beneath his usual indifference.

The man took a step closer, his gaze unyielding. "Is this how you greet your father?

Kasumi's jaw tightened, his voice low and sharp when he finally spoke. "You're not real."

" Oh ? You think so ?" His right hand then shot forward striking kasumi in the face

Kasumi barely had time to react as the figure's hand shot forward, striking him square in the face with brutal force. The impact was like a freight train, sending him flying backward. He slammed into an unseen wall, the collision knocking the air from his lungs.

He stumbled, his vision blurring momentarily as he struggled to steady himself. Blood trickled from his nose, and he wiped it away with the back of his hand ' my father can never punch like this .... just who is this infront of me '

"Still think I'm not real?" his father taunted, stepping closer with an air of menace.

"..."

In a blur, Kasumi shot forward, his movements fueled by raw emotion and instinct. His fist connected with devastating force, driving his father's head into the floor. The ground cracked beneath the impact, sending a shockwave through the space.

Before Kasumi could fully process the sudden change, the dojo around him dissolved, replaced by the industrial confines of the factory once more. His gaze snapped downward, and to his shock, the figure he had punched was no longer his father. Instead, it was a an extremely short boy ?? with an oversized head, clutching his nose and crying out.

"That... hurts!" the thing wailed, his high-pitched voice grating as he stumbled back, tears pooling in his exaggerated eyes.

"What the hell...?" Kasumi muttered, still trying to make sense of what just happened.

Nagumo didn't hesitate. Seizing the opportunity, he lunged forward with his knife aimed squarely at the man's face.

But with uncanny agility, the figure bounced back, narrowly avoiding the blade. His movements were almost comical, yet unnervingly fast.

"Ah, Kasumi, you're back," Nagumo's voice broke through the tension as he shot a glance over his shoulder. "You suddenly dazed and launched yourself against the wall."

Kasumi blinked, his grip tightening as he processed Nagumo's words. His gaze darted between the oversized-headed figure and his surroundings, his breathing steadying.

"It was him."

Nagumo's eyebrows raised in faint amusement. "Him? That thing?" He jabbed his thumb at the oversized-headed figure, who was glaring at them with exaggerated indignation.

"Yeah, he's our target," Kasumi said coldly, his stance firming. "Be careful—he can make illusions and has the strongest punch I've ever received."

The figure's face lit up with a sly smile, a faint blush creeping onto his oversized cheeks. "My name is Natto. Nice to meet you, baby ~~" he cooed, his tone dripping with sissiness

Kasumi and Nagumo both froze for a second 'Baby?' they both thought in unison

But the moment passed quickly without exchanging words both of them bolted toward natto , their movements synchronised by instinct

Kasumi's swing sliced through the air as Natto effortlessly flipped between the gap in his legs, landing lightly on the ground behind them and started running away

" hohoho , you have to catch me first daaaarling ~ , we should do this in a beach sometime " natto laughed as ran away

"Seriously? This guy's like a cockroach." Nagumo said

Kasumi didn't waste time responding. He spun around, his sharp gaze locking onto Natto. Without hesitation, he lunged again, this time feinting a direct attack to force Natto into Nagumo's line of fire.

"Gotcha," Nagumo muttered, already moving to intercept.

Natto glanced back mid-sprint, his oversized head bobbing comically as he narrowly avoided Kasumi's feint. He skidded to a halt, his grin widening. "Oh my, you're so eager, darling! But you'll have to try harder than that!"

Nagumo, however, was already in position. As Natto tried to bounce away again, Nagumo lunged, aiming to grab him by the collar.

"Not so fast, napoleon," Nagumo growled his hand brushing against the fabric before Natto twisted like a slippery eel, darting out of his reach.

Kasumi growled in frustration, closing the distance quickly. ' augh my head feel .....a bit empty after getting hit '

Natto giggled, flipping onto a stack of crates with inhuman agility. " Oh ho ! You look confused baby ... is it because it got in your head ?? It took longer than expected "

' wait a sec ... what ? ' Kasumi stumbled slightly, his fingers pressing against his temples as a dull ache started spreading through his skull. His sharp focus faltered for a moment, and his vision blurred ever so slightly.

Natto leaned forward on the crates, resting his chin on his hands like a smug child. "Oh, darling, you really should've been more careful. Did you think my punch was just about brute strength?"

Kasumi's eyes snapped to Natto

Natto grinned, his oversized head tilting to the side. "Let's just say I left a little gift behind. A spark, a seed—call it whatever you want. It's been planting little whispers you can't hear but feel... and those same whispers will turn your brain into a red mush"

Nagumo, watching Kasumi's struggle held his shoulder. "Kasumi focus! Don't let him get in your head!"

"Too late for that," Natto sang, his laughter echoing in the space. "But don't worry, baby. I'll make sure you're well taken care of when you finally break."

" don't touch me " kasumi slapped nagumo hand away

Nagumo recoiled slightly, his expression hardening as Kasumi slapped his hand away. " Okay... jeez "

' if what I... think is correct then what I'm expe ..rincing now is radiation symptoms ... and judging from how fast it got me it's not weak "

" nagumo ... leave I will take care of him alone "

Nagumo narrowed his eyes, clearly not pleased with Kasumi's demand. "What? Are you serious? You can barely stand, and you want me to leave you here with that thing?"

Kasumi steadied himself, his breathing uneven but his resolve unwavering. "It's not just him… his body's highly radioactive. That punch sped up the effects—it's why he's been running away. He's stalling, waiting for you to show symptoms too."

"As expected of my daarling your sooo smaart ~" Natto teased, leaning forward as if savoring the moment.

"Shut up," Kasumi snapped, his voice sharp as he turned back to Nagumo. "Leave. Now."

Nagumo hesitated, his eyes flicking between Kasumi and Natto, who stood watching with an ever-widening grin. Finally, with a reluctant nod, Nagumo turned and started running.

"Wait," Kasumi called out, stopping him mid-step. Nagumo glanced back, only to see Kasumi wink at him. A faint smirk tugged at Nagumo's lips before he resumed running, leaving Kasumi to face Natto alone.

Natto waved mockingly at Nagumo's retreating figure before turning his attention back to Kasumi. "That was heartbreaking... but look on the bright side," he said, his voice dripping with twisted delight. "You should rejoice, Kasumi. Leaving this world isn't as scary as it sounds."

With slow, deliberate steps, Natto advanced. Each footfall echoed unnaturally, and with every reverberation, the scenery around Kasumi shifted. The cold, dim warehouse dissolved into vivid, haunting memories—places etched deep within Kasumi's mind.

One moment, he was back in the dojo, the faint scent of tatami mats filling his nose. Another step, and he stood in a forest, sunlight filtering through the leaves above. Then, the scene shifted again, and he was in a room filled with blood and the echo of a dog's faint whimper.

Kasumi's breath hitched as he clenched his fists, his resolve straining against the flood of emotions. I... I can't do this, he thought, the weight of the shifting memories threatening to crush him.

Seeing Kasumi's state, Natto's grin widened, his glee evident. "That was a marvelous battle, my love..." he purred, his voice dripping with affection. Then, without warning, he leapt into the air, his fist hurtling toward Kasumi's chest with deadly precision, aiming straight for his heart.

Time seemed to slow as Kasumi's instincts screamed at him to move. In that split second, his brown eyes returned to their normal state, steeling with fierce determination.

Without hesitation, he drove his fist forward, slamming it directly into Natto's face. The impact was devastating, a sickening crunch echoing as Natto's right eye burst in a spray of blood and fluid.

Natto shrieked in pain, stumbling backward, clutching his ruined face. "To think you killed all your loved ones to escape the hallucinations . Ah~~~~how manly~~" he mocked, his voice dripping with amusement.

Kasumi's breathing quickened, his focus narrowing in on Natto's every move.

Natto, still grinning despite the blood streaming from his face, raised his right hand high into the air. "See ya, ♡."

Kasumi's eyes widened as reflected light glinted from the factory's walls, ceiling, and corners. Too late, he realized the source: snipers.

BANG !BANG !BANG !BANG !

The deafening sounds of gunfire erupted in unison, drowning out everything else. Kasumi's body jerked violently as bullet after bullet tore through him, the force sending him staggering backward. Blood sprayed in arcs, painting the ground beneath him.

Kasumi collapsed onto his knees, struggling to stay upright as his vision blurred. A shaky breath escaped him before he finally fell motionless, his body crumpling to the ground.

Natto approached him leisurely, his footsteps echoing in the now-silent factory. Staring down at Kasumi's lifeless form, he tilted his head, a small smile curling his bloodied lips.

Blowing him a mocking kiss, Natto purred, "See ya, sleep tight, my love."

____________

Edward exhaled a plume of smoke, the faint glow of his cigar lighting up his face, now marred by a long, jagged scar running down one cheek. He smirked, seemingly unfazed by the chaos that had unfolded around him. "That steak I had for lunch was good, but personally, I prefer Rubia Gallega beef," he mused, inspecting the blood-stained cigar in his hand. "You should give it a try sometime, Fabio."

He glanced to his right, where Fabio sat slumped against the wall, his breathing ragged. His right arm was gone, the stump hastily wrapped in blood-soaked fabric. Fabio's battered form made Edward's injuries look superficial in comparison.

"Still with me, Fabio?" Edward asked casually, his voice eerily calm as he glanced down at his fallen comrade.

In front of him stood Rion and Sakamoto. Rion was breathing heavily, blood smeared across her face as she wiped her nose. Sakamoto, in stark contrast, appeared unscathed, his posture relaxed but ready.

"It's one-on-two now," Rion said, her tone sharp despite her exhaustion. She gestured toward Edward with a bloodied hand. "How about you slit your throat and get it over with?"

Her words dripped with defiance, but her labored breaths betrayed her fatigue.

Edward let out a low chuckle, tossing his sunglasses aside with a casual flick of his hand. "Slit my throat? Oh no, no, no," he said, his voice growing darker. "I'd much rather slit yours."

As he finished speaking, his veins bulged grotesquely, crawling across his body like writhing snakes. His skin darkened to a sickly purple hue. "I'm done playing," he growled, his voice carrying a menacing edge.

Without hesitation, Edward turned toward the unconscious Fabio. In a single, brutal motion, he kicked Fabio's head, the force of the blow causing it to explode in a grisly spray.

Rion's eyes widened, her hand trembling slightly. "He's... crazy," she muttered, her voice a mix of disbelief and simmering rage.

Edward turned back to face them, a twisted smile spreading across his scarred face. "Crazy? Maybe. Efficient? Absolutely." He wiped the blood off his boot against the ground, his gaze locking onto Rion and Sakamoto. "Now, shall we get started? I'm done entertaining children."

Rion gritted her teeth, wiping the blood from her nose once more. "You talk a lot for a dead man," she snarled, gripping her weapon tighter.

Sakamoto stepped forward, his calm demeanor unshaken, his piercing gaze fixed on Edward. "Careful," he muttered to Rion. "He's much stronger now."

Rion nodded, her grip tightening further as she readied herself.

Without another word, the two lunged at Edward simultaneously, coming at him from opposite sides,

Edward's twisted grin only widened as he saw them coming. His purple, vein-covered body moved with inhuman speed, sidestepping Sakamoto's strike while deflecting Rion's weapon with a casual flick of his wrist.

Sakamoto pivoted on his heel, aiming a precise punch at Edward's midsection. Edward caught it effortlessly, his hand clamping down like a vice.

Before Edward could retaliate, Rion slashed at his exposed side. He released Sakamoto's fist just in time to twist away, the blade grazing his skin but not breaking through.

. He lunged at her his movements a blur, but Sakamoto intercepted, delivering a swift kick to Edward's ribs. The force made Edward stagger slightly, but his grin never faltered.

"You two are more annoying than I thought" Edward growled, his tone darkening. His bulging veins pulsed ominously, and with a sudden burst of strength, he slammed his fists into the ground, sending shockwaves rippling through the factory floor making a a huge deep crater

Rion and Sakamoto leaped back, narrowly avoiding the cracks spreading beneath them.

" at this rate we'll draw more attention lets end this quick rion" Sakamoto said, his voice low and determined.

Rion smirked despite her exhaustion. "Then let's make it count."

They exchanged a brief nod before charging at the middle of the hole in unison, their combined attacks more ferocious and relentless than before.

This time rion append infront of him with her eyes wide open , her hand shot forward narrowly missing Edward neck

Edward's eyes widened in genuine shock as he leaned back, narrowly avoiding Rion's strike. "Oi, oi... that was dangerous,"

Rion didn't respond, her gaze sharp and focused as she immediately shifted her stance, following up with a low sweep aimed at Edward's legs. He hopped back effortlessly, but before he could fully regain his footing, a knife came flying at him from the right.

Edward tilted his head back just in time to avoid the blade, smirking. "Is that the best you've—"

Before he could finish, Rion snatched the falling knife midair with precise timing. Without missing a beat, she lunged forward, aiming to slice his throat.

Edward's smirk returned as he tightened his grip on Rion's wrist, stopping her blade mere inches from his throat. "Nice try, sweetheart," he taunted, his voice dripping with condescension.

But Rion, instead of reacting with frustration, smiled back—a sharp, defiant grin that made Edward's confidence falter for a split second. "You're about to see something beyond that," she said.

Bang!

Rion pulled a gun from her pocket and fired at Edward's crotch. His eyes widened, and a guttural groan of pain escaped him as he faltered.

"Ha? Why did you stop talking, big guy?" she sneered.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

She fired three more shots in quick succession, all aimed at the same spot, forcing Edward to stagger backward his face looked pale0. Just as she was about to pull the trigger for a fifth time, a brutal A kick slammed into her stomach, sending her flying across the road, skidding to a stop in a heap.

Edward staggered but managed to stand, his expression a mix of rage and twisted amusement. "Now you've done it, you filthy whore," he spat, his voice seething with venom. "You've pissed me off for the last time."

Despite the four bullets lodged in his crotch, Edward looked disturbingly composed, sheer willpower keeping him upright. His twisted grin widened as he cracked his neck, the sound echoing ominously.

But then, a subtle shift in the air made him pause. Feeling something behind him, Edward instinctively tilted his head—only for a kick to connect with his face mid-motion, sending him stumbling sideways.

Sakamoto landed gracefully, his expression calm and unreadable as he straightened his stance. "You're so predictable," he said, his voice laced with disdain. Without breaking eye contact, he reached down and grabbed a stone from the ground

Edward wiped the blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, his grin now more unhinged than before. " Oh really ? "

Sakamoto rolled the stone in his hand

Edward snarled and lunged forward, but Sakamoto stood his ground, his grip tightening around the stone.

As he was about few feets away sakamoto thrown the stone from the ground to his face , the stone moved in a blur but Edward still managed to avoid thought this time Sakamoto instead of kicking him he appeared infront of him and performed a 1 inch punch right to his heart which made Edward stumbled back, his entire body convulsing as the force of Sakamoto's one-inch punch sent shockwaves through his chest. His once-menacing form instantly reverted, the veins receding and his purple skin fading back to its natural tone. The injuries he had previously shrugged off now erupted with ferocity, blood spraying from multiple wounds.

He gasped, clutching his chest as his legs buckled. "You... bastard..." Edward rasped, his voice weak, his arrogance and bravado replaced by shock and pain

Sakamoto straightened, his calm composure unwavering as he wiped his hand on his coat. " You rely way too much on your heart blood flow ... and I fought many who used the same technique as yours so your not special"

Edward fell to his knees, blood pooling beneath him, his vision blurring as he struggled to remain upright. Rion, still recovering from the earlier kick, smirked as she leaned against the wall for support. "Looks like all that yapping finally caught up to you," she taunted, her tone sharp.

Edwards lips twitched into a faint , bitter grin as he coughed up blood " heh ... you me out I'll give you credit for that ... though by kil-

BANG !

Edward's words were cut off by the sharp crack of a gunshot. His head snapped back as blood and fragments sprayed behind him, his body slumping lifelessly to the ground.

Rion lowered her smoking gun, her expression cold and unflinching. "I've heard enough out of you," she muttered, giving his body one last glance before turning to Sakamoto.

Sakamoto sighed, brushing dust off his coat as he looked down at the lifeless Edward. "Well, that's one way to end a conversation."

Rion smirked, tucking the gun back into her pocket. "I thought it was fitting. He talked way too much."

" do you think they've got the midget " rion asked Sakamoto

" what ? scared your boyfriend will die ? " Sakamoto teased her

Rion scoffed, crossing her arms. "Hah! That bastard as my boyfriend? Don't make me laugh," she shot back, rolling her eyes.

Sakamoto smirked slightly, leaning against a nearby wall. "I don't know. Let's give them a few minutes. If they don't come out, we're leaving."