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Kohaku yawned as he just got home after he took another therapy, his condition on his body went well--he was relieved that there's no sperm inside his body when they remove the rape kit, turns out it's also dried for too long and he doesn't have a choice to continue taking traumatic therapy. Both Byakuya and Hokuri advised him to try to stay as positive as possible and believe that he will someday recover--he agreed with them and is getting more confidence in himself that it's never over. He was thinking on what to give for his father, because he will be having a field duty for one week from today but will be back at Friday--which means he still have time to do something.

It was at night about 18:00 PM when Kohaku was laying on the couch in the living room, watching the news from his smartphone. "Hmph... politics... not interested," he didn't seems to care about those politicians, ever since they have been doing petty and shady things. 'I wonder what will dad think about this case after he comes back... he might be upset and worried of me,' Kohaku thought, tilting his head before his eyes glanced upon another news article. 'So he resigned...' Kohaku was curious on the article's headline.

He decided to go out and took a night stroll for fresh air, it was cold at night when he folded his arms and enjoying the feel of it. It was until he saw the stairs to the tunnel of the train station so he walking down there, the dim light flickered a little that give off the feeling of mystery that made him feel excited. Kohaku entered the station that was empty, he really need to take some of his time alone until he heard a screeching and inhumane sounds coming from the tunnel.

Kohaku was shocked, he didn't expect that there's someone that he didn't see before. He look down the tunnel and he saw two people that he didn't expect to meet up here; there were two people in black suits was carrying the large tube of Phantom Beast inside which made him covered his mouth. He immediately hide there and waiting for them to be done, he heard words like 'the boss will make this come true for his political purposes' and he had no idea what it is. Kohaku heard a scream from the two guys, and the dying inhumane noises also there too.

"What happened?"

Kohaku walk out from his hiding place and took a peek, his eyes widened that it was Byakuya with the similar familiar; Demon Cloud--during his first meeting with him. Byakuya wears his signature assassin attributes consists of black formal shirt, dark gray pants, dark gray blazer and a pair of black shoes, with black belt on his waist and he was holding a blood-stained katana on his hand. As he turn around when he was sheathing his katana, his eyes widened that Kohaku was watching the whole time. "K-Kohaku?" he asked as his familiar dematerializes, not to mention that Kohaku was listening to it the whole time. "N-No, it's not what you think... it's part of my work that I told you before and it has been--"

Instead of being angry and scared, Kohaku was oddly interested with this line of work. This may be a life and death situation, and yet all Byakuya could manage was to gawk at his best friend. Kohaku stared back for a moment until he got confused on why he was staring at him like that. "This... is your work?" he asked calmly, seeing him nodded hesitantly as he adjusted his glasses. "Yes, my superior assigned me to kill a Japanese politician who has been doing bad deeds and causing trouble for my homeland."

Kohaku gasped in disbelief as Byakuya explained everything that happened during his assassination mission. It makes sense since Byakuya was dressed as an assassin that shows his assassin identity, plus there's no one who knows him personally so Kohaku was the only one who know about this. "He's does a lot of corruption," Byakuya said--relieved that he was wearing dark attributes, but unsure if the scent of blood can be smelled. "I could help you," Kohaku said with a smirk, not to mention he felt like helping Byakuya with his task. "I could follow them and help you with your job."

Byakuya blinked, then slowly... a small smile came across his face. "Really? You don't have any problem about that?" he inquired, watching Kohaku removing his hood before he shook his head. "Maybe you'd get caught, but if you want to be involved... that's fine, as long no one finds out about your involvement in here. I can inform my boss if you like," he told him, seeing Byakuya taking out his flip cellphone to contact his superior. "Oh right, what organization did you joined?"

"Secret Garden."

Kohaku lifted his eyebrows, from what he knows; Many stories of Secret Garden are believed to be urban legends. An unofficial paramilitary organization operates in Indonesia, they purge traitors of the country under orders from the shadow government of Indonesia--they also an enemy of World Government because of their protectiveness and ruthlessness of the government itself that the word 'secret' might used loosely in terms of guerrilla. Now, Kohaku begins to understand where Byakuya stood with him. "Understood..."

Kohaku didn't know since he was an Indonesian himself while Byakuya is aware since he's Japanese. They are assassins are tasked in assassinating high-profiled people with backgrounds of importance by their clients' request, one of the members can take down the military troop--but he thought it was an urban legend or tale that has been spread around among the people in Indonesia. "I've heard of it before, but I never believed that they exist."

"They're real," Byakuya replied.

Huh? That means Kohaku is involved in something important, in fact he had no other choice but to accepted his suggestion. He tried to refuse, but Kohaku stopped him before he changed his mind--it's not something that Byakuya can simply walk away from. "Well, I already joined the organization before I enrolled in your university. Even though I'm a noble like my younger sister with several family treasures and inheritances, I need extra incomes too."

Kohaku listens to him with a nod, before Byakuya elaborated. "We're assassins--we're paid with high amount of money if we accomplish our mission successfully to kill high-profiled people with hidden criminal records. We're more than normal people, Secret Garden is under the shadow government of Indonesia, but they also welcomed some expatriates like me--as long we served them until our last breath. So, are you coming or not?"

"Well duh!"

Byakuya rolled his eyes, letting him walk by his side while putting his phone away inside his blazer pocket. "Good, now let's go. We're going to chase them," Byakuya stated, turning around and head towards the train station with Kohaku following beside him. Byakuya was also used to being part of this group so... he doesn't care. "How's your condition? Can you sit normally?" he asked, Kohaku yawned quietly as he adjusted his spectacles. "Yeah... don't worry, basically those gang shoved a dull object--not a private organ or something. I don't know that thing, but I'd rather not think about it anymore. I decided to move on, so I can fight those thoughts."

They have arrived at the forested area where his target is hiding, Byakuya didn't tell him how he tracked those politicians but he seem to already known where his target is. "Can you distract them?" the latter asked, Kohaku twitched his eyebrows--how does he even do that? No, Kohaku trusted him enough as Byakuya peeked from his side of the bushes, narrowing his eyes as his target are conversing.

Kohaku sneaked up on those two spies who tried to carry a tube of what appears to be a cocoon of Phantom Beasts, before he used his karate skill to take them down. Then, his eyes noticed a certain tube at their car before he got rid of them and covered it from getting dirty--when he was hit at his right side, he used his roundhouse kick to knock the guard unconscious. Kohaku opened the door at the trunk, taking the tube away from their hands after he kicked those politicians and using the other spy as a shield.

Suddenly, he heard that footsteps moving and he got in a defensive position. Byakuya popped out and slashed the attacker with his katana, killing them instantly. His surprised expression was genuine, though he thought he was safe after that. But Kohaku didn't hesitate, seeing he was holding the tube on his hand. "How?"

"Told you, I can help."

They went to the villa where Byakuya's target is hiding, as they arrived at the villa; Byakuya told Kohaku to hide himself. They made a plan, hoping to take those two politicians' out from their misery. Kohaku watched Byakuya and Demon Cloud murdered the bodyguards in cold blood including the advisor who was scared by them, he was surprised and astonished by this power that Byakuya possess. It was until Demon Cloud stabbed the bodyguards to death and left a trail of blood along the floor, he realized that Byakuya was a phantom-user and an assassin--he had seen it in the media but never believed that he existed--the rumors of the phantom-user was no secret because Secret Garden is part of underground business. He didn't know much about it until now.

Kohaku understood and hides within the trees, waiting for the sign from Byakuya's signal on his fingers--pointed at three. Kohaku then jumped to the building, silently attacking the guards who turned around by his fists, while Byakuya quickly enters the main bedroom where his target is sleeping with his gun on his hand. Then, the man slowly open his eyes and sat up in alarmed expression--he was about to aim his gun until Demon Cloud materializes in front of him and injured his arm with her katana--causing him to yell in pain by the stinging pain.

"Nakamoto Azumi," Byakuya spoke, revealing his blood-stained blade of his katana in front of him. "My sincere apologies for intruding your 'business' after you invited your fellow yakuza friends to meet up, and I think you know why am I here," he glared at the Japanese businessman, he knows what kind of person this old man is. "Ah, if it isn't Byakuya Shinobu... one of the remaining heirs of Shinobu clan for their assassination methods," Nakamoto clicked his tongue in annoyance, he still hates that clan but he could do anything about it when Demon Cloud stabbed her blade into his wrist. "This will teach you to shut your mouth, and I'd expect that you'd understand if my family keeps following and monitoring yours."

The man yelled when Byakuya took one step closer, the phantom familiar beside him aimed her katana at him.

"The trial may forgive you, but I'm in charge of sending you to the trial."

Kohaku closed the door when Byakuya starts the whole mass murdering them inside the room, hearing the screams of the bodyguards and the businessman also screamed before getting killed. After a while, he opened the door to see Byakuya standing there after mass murdering them. His purplish-black short messy hair with long bangs did not stain a blood and light violet eyes, but his fair complexion and clothes were stained with blood all over them. "Are we done here?"

"Yeah," Byakuya nodded. "Let's head out."

Kohaku stood up and helped Byakuya to take the bodies outside the villa, it was hard to carry them since they're already dead so Byakuya called one of his superiors to bury them in the cemetery. "Looks like we killed the politician, that means mission accomplished," Kohaku grinned at him, he was in the bathroom as Byakuya was cleaning his hands and his katana from the blood until he cursed. "Urgh... I need to go to the dry cleaning to get this thing," he grumbled, coming out from the bathroom as he sheathed his katana. "Do you really have to?" Kohaku asked curiously, frowning in confusion. "Well... yes, just in case if they're tracking us, but we could burn them if we have time."

"You're so organized."

They decided to burn the corpses with lighter and gasoline from the car that those spies own in the open field before they run away. Kohaku also threw the same tube that was in his car's trunk to the forest and it causes the sound to emitted loudly--it alerted them in shock as they keep running. Until, the group of spies were slain to death by the group in the dark who were approaching them--leaving the dead bodies behind. "Ah, there he is," Byakuya said to him, seeing his superior came with his two subordinates.

Damien Fernandez Christiadjie; the twenty-three years old Indonesian commander of the organization with half-Spanish descent hummed with the confident smile, seeing that the person Byakuya told him is here as he approached them. He was known to have a cool and youthful image while he's tall with lean and muscular figure, holding his black cane that has light ruby diamond on it. He has a short lilac gray hair with one side slicked back and side of his bangs almost covering his ruby eyes, he has alabaster complexion and his eyebrows are light silver-gray with black layers underneath his hair and sideburns. Wearing a dark blue formal shirt with the dark yellow tie and silver brooch, in addition of light gray blazer and matching light gray pants with black socks and brown leather shoes.

Damien appears to be composed, professional and often seen smiling with a vibe of a wealthy businessman--normally accepts any petition or favor from his subordinates. He's very mysterious, even his employees from his company and the organization in the underworld business doesn't know everything about him. He has connections with different people, and he's known for his generosity, charisma and kindness. He was one of the Nine Dragons in Indonesia--being the youngest while being twenty-five years old, the most powerful and influential person in the country. They considered him as the youngest godfather in the underworld business--though he denied it since he doesn't like the fame and pressured looks.

"Finally, nice to meet you," Damien greeted the young boy before him, tapping his cane on the ground before turning his gaze to Byakuya--his subordinate. "So, this is the 'assassin' that Byakuya mentioned?" he asked, while Byakuya nodded with his arms crossed. Kohaku's jaw dropped--this man gives off a vibe of typical fancy businessman who likes to travel, eat exotic foods, expensive clothes, wine and such. Well, that's his opinion of him but... he has several faces when it comes to 'dirty' businesses.

"My name is Kayana Sahanaya Tirta, nice to meet you."

Kohaku introduced himself, he could feel the cool and dominating aura but not in intimidating way--he seems to hold his integrity and his position very seriously--even if he's not the actual boss. "You can call me Kayana," he assured him, accepting his handshake.

"My name is Damien Fernandez Christiadjie, I'm the leader of the Secret Garden."

Kohaku tried not to faint as he felt nervous, seeing him calmly looking at him and examined him from head to toe. He was a little taken aback when Damien noticed him staring in fear, he raised an eyebrow before adjusting his glasses. "What brings you here?"

"Uhh... you see..."

Kohaku explained what happened that he accidentally witnessing what his best friend is doing, Byakuya can't deny that because he agreed with him. Damien nodded when he was listening to him, not to mention he was amazed by his courage to do such thing. "I'm impressed with your bravery Byakuya, to do something like this in the middle of the night and you did it with your fellow best friend-this is what I call dedication and loyalty."

"Well, it's not really impressive since I just follow orders from you," Byakuya replied, folding his arms when he kept his usual composed posture. Kohaku find out that Damien is an Indonesian like him, though his name looked foreign except his surname he still retains his accent in here and he probably mixed-race. 'He looks so nice though... not sure if he will be a good commander, I wonder who else--'

"I understand," Damien sighed. "But since you're here, I'd like to talk with you about a few things."

"Sure," Kohaku nodded, listening to him.

Damien observed him with his usual stern gaze, examining the Indonesian's appearance from head to toe--from his auburn short messy hair with long bangs, magenta-red eyes behind his spectacles and light complexion with slight tan (due to being living in Bali for a long time) along his age who turned twenty-one like Byakuya. Kohaku was simply wearing a black hoodie jacket with hood on him, long light blue track pants and a pair of white and red sneakers, black socks and bracelet on his left wrist. 'Great, I look like a fucking hoodlum,' Kohaku thought, he felt out of place when he look like a geek wearing casual clothes which doesn't usually blend well. "Sorry, I just woke up earlier."

Kohaku covered his mouth that made Byakuya's face comically went pale, he can't keep his mouth shut before he pulled his hands away in embarrassment. "No no, it's fine," Damien said kindly, before he added. "I want to see how you able to stay calm in that situation, you surpassed the level of not showing fear--you didn't seems to mind of seeing blood and killings."

Kohaku tried not to shit himself when he was being intimidated like that, the man in front of him was too intimidating and he tried to compose himself. "Oh? I see, you're just like him," Damien replied to him, he look at Byakuya and the other male who was observing everything in the conversation. "I'm not a normal person," he stated the obvious, because Kohaku is SOMEWHAT in the traumatic past and yet he looked unaffected that his best friend is actually working for a mercenary-assassin group.

"Anyway, before we discuss about your fate in this organization," Damien murmured, moving closer to them. "The reason why I want to meet you personally is because I want to see how capable you are," he looked at Kohaku intently, using his cane to lift up his chin and meet him face to face. "Hmm, looks like your therapist told me that you have your psychological problem--"

"W-wait... how do you even know that?!" Kohaku asked the man who was still smiling gently at him, Damien tilted his head to the side. "I can't answer that," Damien replied softly. He turned around, looking at Byakuya. "But back to topic, I believe that Kayana might be useful for my purposes and I also want to see how he worthy of becoming part of my organization. So, your answer?"

Kohaku went hesitant when he questioned him, but when he think about it--that should be much better rather than suffering because of what Simmons have done to him and his future. Besides he still traumatized because of him, due to his disturbing presence even on how he was being manipulative. However, he decides by himself and won't let anybody force him. "Well then…" he clenched his fists, before he look up at Damien since he's taller than himself. "I'm not gonna hold back anymore, and I'm taking that offer," he answered, without hesitation.

Damien smirked when he gave him that response, he was amused with how he was bold and brave. Even though he's just a human, he's still a good candidate for the organization. "You've got guts, but I don't think that'll be enough," he said as he narrowed his eyes, sensing what's within Kohaku. He nodded, before he look back at his two subordinates and he introduced them. "This is Hisato Nakajima, captain of the organization, our best strategist and the top forger for manufacturing several weapons--he's my second-in-command who works under me."

Hisato Nakajima; twenty-six years old Japanese-American captain of the Secret Garden stood by Damien's side as a right-hand man of the leader, carrying his seven-years old daughter who was sleeping after her school camp ended. He has a short dark chestnut hair with a long bangs framing his forehead, almost covering his purple eyes and fair complexion. His signature assassin attributes consists of white collared formal shirt with long sleeves, a dark grayish-black vest with black buttons and matching pants, dark purple tie and black shoes; in addition of his black gloves on his hands. As he also wears a black trench coat, draped over his shoulders like a mantle. He has serious expression on his face, and he seems to be a single-father.

"And this is Nadya, she's around you and Byakuya's age."

Narandya Sastrawijaya or Nadya; the twenty-one years old master's degree student and assassin waved a him when she smiled cheerfully a him, making him waving a little back at her with a small smile. She has a slightly-wavy long black hair with her straight and thick long bangs framing her forehead reaching her chest, fair complexion and ruby red eyes. Her black hair was pulled into almost messy bun with the golden hairpin with blossom ornaments, while her thick locks fell loose onto her chest and framing her forehead. Wearing a signature assassin attributes consists of sleeveless black turtleneck dress and black shorts underneath a crimson blue slit collared dress with sleeves, a "cut-off sexy" slit part on the upper long sleeves to reveal her upper arms. The thick black belt with the silver rectangular buckle attached on the front around her waist, including the black corset around her waist with a silver strings. Wearing a thigh-high black boots over her thighs with the straps and heels with accents of red and dark yellow oriental embroidery, the pair of arm-length fingerless black gloves on her hands and has black holsters for her weapons.

Hisato was folding his arms, explaining. "There will be covert attributes for your work and your weapon of choice if you passed the test, please be right on time while if you can," Kohaku don't know what kind of test that is, but when he think about it--he's looking at Byakuya who explained for him. "There will be three phases, first you will be defeating the troop of bodyguards of our superior, second with the assassin of the Secret Garden members and lastly--you'll be facing with either the leader or executives--it's all up to your choices."

Kohaku nodded when he was determined, he needed redemption so bad after he didn't get the justice he deserved after what that bastard took away from him. "I will keep that in mind."

After they left--Damien read the script on the screenplay on his hand while he was in the limousine, he highlighted the line that he finally met Kohaku and made him come here. Then, he close the screenplay. "Checkmate."

***

The training ground was located in the port in Denpasar, where Damien and his subordinates setting up the area to be used as their training field. It was the warehouse where they store the weapons and other equipment that they need for their job and some agendas, the space is still available for them to use it as a training grounds and meetings. In front of the warehouse is a huge field that was covered with sand-the whole place is surrounded by walls made of cement, creating a defensive barrier against any intruders; there are no windows in the walls of the wall that surrounds the courtyard.

"You came, right on time."

Hisato greeted him when he was leaning his back against the the wall, folding his arms in his secondary signature assassin attributes. Wearing black trench coat with silver buttons covering his black suit, black pants tucked into his knee-length brown boots-wearing a frameless glasses and black gloves. "Hisato... right?" Hisato nodded at him, unfolding his arms when he called him."You should call me captain during work, but I'll allow you since you're the candidate," he told him, before he continued. "Now let's get started with the test."

Damien was waiting for him to come while Byakuya standing beside him, Byakuya noticed that he came with Hisato who accompanied him. Byakuya was wearing a black formal shirt, dark gray pants, dark gray blazer and a pair of black shoes, with black belt on his waist as his work clothing. "How long have you known him?" Byakuya was thinking for a moment when Damien asked him, before he folded his arms answering his question. "When I came to the campus for the first time as a foreign transfer student, he was the first person I met, I became his best friend."

"Hmm..." Damien was looking at him as he was listening to Byakuya. "What do you think?" he asked him, Byakuya shrugged. "About him? He's a good candidate, but I need to see him in action," Damien nodded when he was looking at Kohaku, before he folded his arms.

"You seems to have quite expressive, Byakuya."

Kyouka Shinobu or Kyouka; the seventeen-years old assassin, second-year international high school student and Byakuya's younger sister rolled her eyes, folding her arms that she isn't surprised to hear that. The petite late-teen has a smooth purplish-black long hair and white headband with two white ribbons on the back of her ears, her long hair's tied into low pigtails on her shoulders by the two pair of white flower ribbons-her bangs fell to her light-violet eyes and cheeks, light porcelain complexion and slender posture. Wearing crimson kimono with yellow-purple wisteria patterns, along a plants embroidery with golden sash, a black-red wrist pads with the gold strings, wearing black tights and black-red geta. Her flip cellphone was attached into the necklace, alongside the rabbit keychain hanging on them.

Kyouka has a personality that opposite of her older brother; she's calm, graceful and kind-hearted unlike her cold and coolheaded older brother who prefer to hide his expression behind his emotionless face. She also very compassionate, loyal and strong-willed, as she helps others while focusing on her goal. Her strength and desire to protect all have helped many people in times of despair, she cared about others and the people she holds close. "I've seen him smiled before," she said with a grin, making him scrunched his eyebrows and nudged her arm saying. "Don't spoil it."

"Let's begin," Damien said to both of them, before he approached Kohaku and talked to him. "You're the first candidate that I'm going to test today, so we'll be evaluating the scores based on your martial performances, defenses, skills and tactics that you have to defeat my bodyguards," he look back at the men in black who served under him, Kohaku nodded at Damien when he listens to him as he folded his arms.

Hisato will be evaluating on his weapon usability and tactics when he was in the second floor behind the railings, Damien will be evaluates everything through martial techniques and the last is Byakuya will evaulate a continuity report, speed and agility. The three of them prepared their evaluation list report on their hands, preparing their pens as well.

Hisato hummed when he observed Kohaku, with a notebook that he used in recording every single detail of his observations. "Alright, let's start with the first phase," he shouted as he was observing how Kohaku performs against the bodyguards that they have stationed in the warehouse; they're above ordinary when it comes to strength and skills. "Are you ready, Kohaku?"

Kohaku watched the bodyguards as he was faced with them, for some reason he felt nervous but he tried his best to hold it back. "I'm ready," he stated, determined and ambitious as he won't hold back his strength. "Good, you have ten minutes," he said to him, watching him until he turned to the side to observe his surroundings. "Don't cheat, that's a final warning."

With the bodyguards on standby, the three of them are situated on the ground floor of the building, surrounded by three walls and the ceiling for an added measure of protection and security. The bodyguards were also equipped with bullet proof vests and bandoliers full of ammunition, along with their handguns and knives. The bodyguards of the organization were clad in black combat suits, with a small emblem on their sleeves, all of them had large guns strapped to their hips.

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"Begin."

Byakuya ordered once Kohaku was ready-the first thing they did is to test his movement, but he's doing fine even though he's not sure if there's a trap or ambush waiting for him. Hisato designated the traps since he's a former guerrilla tactician and knows how to create ambushes for unsuspecting targets. "Don't rush, we don't want to waste time and resources."

Kohaku narrowed his eyes that he doesn't look hesitant, he was unafraid and unequaled that he's confident with his own capabilities, despite he's new to this kind of fight. He went against the bodyguards by his both fists and feet, he's moving fast and accurately; he quickly dispatched his opponents with brutal punches and kicks. Hisato watched the battle when he was evaluating Kohaku's weapon mastery, his eyes focused upon their battle. "Interesting…" Damien hummed, before he write the score on the report paper and Byakuya supervise the battle.

"His movements are very fluid and dynamic, he's strong too," Byakuya said, nodding at him. "He has the potential to be an assassin, but he needs more experience to improve," he continued, Hisato nodded at his subordinate. "It's true, but he's a promising candidate," Hisato agreed with Byakuya's observation.

"But..." Damien stopped for a moment, when he saw something unexpected happening, seeing Kohaku being trapped by the bodyguards from all sides. "What happened?" he looked at Byakuya, who was observing the bodyguards. "They were surrounding him," Byakuya answered.

"He's not letting anyone get in his way," Kyouka said to him, frowning at the situation for a while. "Well, he's trying to escape, but they were faster than we expected to see," Damien murmured, his eyes widened when he realizes what they're doing. "Didn't I say? Don't rush," he slapped himself in the forehead, making his colleagues laugh at him.

"We don't want to waste time," Byakuya said to himself, sighing at them with an eye roll.

"Now I remember why I hate it," Hisato grumbled, which made Damien groaned out loud. "Stop laughing at me, I can't take it anymore!"

Nadya was tasked to be a time keeper to monitor the time when the battle will end, keeping track of the time with her watch. She's writing down the time on a piece of paper whenever someone hit the bell. Kyouka was ensuring to keep Kohaku monitored from here, making sure that no one will attack him. "I hope he gets out of this," Byakuya whispered to himself, looking at the battle between Kohaku and the bodyguards.

The bodyguards of the organization were very skilled, they're well-trained and disciplined. Kohaku doesn't show any exhaustion, he looks composed and confident that he's not afraid of anything. Even though his body is getting punched repeatedly by the bodyguards, he's still going strong. He dodged the attacks of the bodyguards using his speed and agility, countering and blocking their attacks with counterattacks. "Alright... one more..." Damien sighed, his best friend interrupted him. "They're almost done with him," Hisato said to him, nodding at him.

"Great!" Nadya cheered, clapping her hands together as she raised her fist in the air, making everyone laughed. "Nadya, you're distracting me y'know," Damien cooed playfully at her, making her scowled at him. "Shut up Dam, I'm just cheering!" she pouted when he scrunched his eyebrows at her. "Hey! You're making fun of me!" she complained at him.

Byakuya checked the time again, there's less than thirty seconds left before the battle ends. Now when the time almost hit zero, that was the moment Kohaku defeated all of his bodyguards. "Woah... he defeated them?" Hisato asked, before he gave a score on his evaluation report. "This is a surprise, I thought that he won't win," he smiled at him. "Good job, Kohaku."

Byakuya congratulated him, Damien gives him a score on his exam and speak into the microphone of the PR system. "Alright, you passed into the second phase, now you're going to defeat one of my subordinates which is..." he look back at each of them, before he smiled. "You're going to face-to-face with Nadya, or known as... Angel Heart, the deadliest assassin of the underworld businesses."

Kohaku was shocked from the words of his superior, but he managed to calm himself down and take the challenge. "Yes sir," he replied, before he looked at Nadya who got out and he nodded at her respectfully. "Uhm… this your first time, right?" Nadya asked with a shy smile after she appears to wear her assassin attributes, she carries the six set of slender, single-handed gold weapons with vague resemblance to the long needles, ice picks, thorns or awls with circular handles at the end and the handle. As she spun her two stiletto weapons by two hands used for the assassination, as the other four pairs used to throw like a darts to trap her enemies.

As she has spare of them, most of them tucked inside her holsters under her two thigh straps, under her dress and always kept hidden most of the time. "Be careful there!" Kyouka warned her, she nodded with a wink before she prepared her golden stiletto-like weapons. "Noted!" she turn around to see Kohaku, but she's surprised to see his appearance. "This is my first time."

Kohaku answered her late because almost being carried away by her presence, shaking his head while trying not to be distracted. "Are you ready?" Damien questioned, Nadya smiled before that moment her bright attitude changed, which he witnessed her heartless and cold personality with her eye color shimmered with carmine red color. "I'm ready," she let out a grim smile, both of them began to dashing against each other.

Kohaku quickly dodge her attacks, he's able to predict her next move and he's ready to counterattack her with his swift maneuvers. It didn't take long for him to realize that Nadya is quick, agile and versatile that she can use any of her weapons to finish her opponent. Hisato watched the battle when he was evaluating Kohaku's tactics and execution, he was impressed with the way he handled his sword. "Hisato, do you think that he'll survive?"

Damien asked his second-in-command, whose eyes fixated on Nadya. "I don't know," he shook his head. "Nadya is pretty dangerous, one of the figures who are feared by the underground businesses and criminal organizations. She's one of the best assassins that we have, but I'm not sure if he'll be able to defeat her. Maybe she's underestimating him," he muttered to himself, but Kyouka overheard him. "Yeah... not to mention she has a superhuman strength like you nii-sama," Kyouka said to Byakuya, who was watching the battle between Kohaku and Nadya.

After a short period of time, Kohaku doesn't show any hesitation to make her drop her weapon. It's not easy to deal with as he almost got stumbled by her weapons, knowing her brute strength made him had to think twice. Kohaku didn't seems to be exhausted despite panting a little, before he ended up instinctively scowled up at her. Until he find swinging his fist between her chest, she went distracted that she ended up letting her weapons sprung away from her hands. However she have the spares from her and she was about to take it out, before she could slash his hand--her eyes were widened when he smirked at her. "Got you."

Nadya suddenly got pushed with his arm on her neck to the ground, her spare weapons fell on the ground when he was on top of her. With his hand holding her stiletto-type weapon pointing right at her, she was surprised that she was defeated by him by naturally due to finding out about her tactics. "How did you do that?" she asked him, confused. "I don't know, I was lucky," he shrugged his shoulders, before he released her and handed her weapons back to her. "Need a hand?" she nodded at him, holding his hand and he pulled her to stand up.

"Thank you!"

Damien whistled before he scored the martial techniques that he used, while Hisato scored the weapon mastery and the tactics. Byakuya on the other hand impressed like them, evaluate and score the speed of how he executes the battle. "This is good, I didn't expect that you'll be this fast," Byakuya told him, grinning at him. "I'm glad that I choose you," he complimented him, which made Kohaku grumbled. "We can talk about that later!" Kohaku responded back to him.

"Alright, you pass the second stage," Damien announced, folding his arms. "Congratulations!" Nadya cheered, congratulating Kohaku with a friendly hug. "Thanks," Kohaku hugged her back, but then everyone laughed at him, making him flushed and felt her releasing him. 'This is the first time a girl just hugged me...' he thought, before he heard Damien spoke.

"Great, you managed to pass the two hardest tests! Now, you're facing with the last but not least... the hardest one," he informed him. "You have the privilege to choose one of the two from us, as your opponent--Byakuya is excluded because I don't want you to cheat the test."

Kohaku didn't know why but he started to feel intense, something he always had when he was nervous. 'There's no way I would fight my own best friend, we sparred before so it would be unfair… Damien was right about that...' he thought, rubbing his chin when he observed them. "I made my decision, I'll fight... him," he pointed at Damien, much to their surprise.

Everyone in the underworld business nicknamed Damien as "The Nightmare Spider" because of his disposition of being the organizer of half that is evil and of nearly all that is undetected, he often sit motionless like a spider in the center of its web--but that web has a thousand of radiations so that he can manipulate his pawns, and they would not think of escaping. He even 'controls' his men like a puppeteer, as if they are like his marionettes in his hands.

His signature presence that he always use his hands like a conductor to an orchestra, while listening to the screams of the victims of his deadly crimes--the blood of the innocent victims is his music, and the pain of the victims is his lyrics. He is the mastermind of the assassination missions, the boss of the elite assassins that are the six members of Secret Garden--under the shadow government of Indonesia.

"Oh? Interesting..." Damien smirked, making Byakuya yelled at Kohaku. "You asshole, I knew you actually dumb as hellto make that decision!"

Kohaku is dumb as hell, because he always trusted Byakuya and his decisions. Even now he was facing with his superior and his best friend warned him, his mental self was telling him 'Don't underestimate him', yet he didn't listen.

Kohaku felt the spider-like web red lines crossing his sides, he gasped as he was hypnotized under his spell as his ruby-red eyes staring down at him, they're dark and penetrating. "This is a challenge, if you can break my spell--you might have a chance to defeat me," Damien said to him, folding his arms and he showed off a smug smile. "If not, you have to let it go..." his voice echoed in his mind, which he slowly closed his eyes--when he opened his eyes again.

Kohaku realized something, Damien's ability is a hypnosis--in order to break the curse, he must summon his strongest will. However, Damien didn't show any fear, nor hesitation or anger--despite the darkness inside of his heart--he won't be distracted by the pain.

He know this ability will trigger people into despair and become mentally unstable, plus negative thoughts and such; which only applies to the people with positive minds and emotions--and Kohaku has a trauma. So, it didn't affect him just yet. "You know... Damien, I'm not a positive person that you see me as," his eyes narrowed, before it turns into furious expression. "I'm... a victim of rape and suicide!" he shouted, before he charging his fist.

Nadya gasped, with Byakuya froze in horror and Hisato dropped his report book on the ground, shocked and appalled. Kyouka covered her mouth, shocked with tears visible in her eyes. "Oh my god..."

Damien was stunned for a moment, watching Kohaku coming towards him with a strong punch--before he ducked his punch and dodged his kick. When Kohaku threw a barrage of punches and kicks, he evaded his attacks and defended his attacks with a martial art skills to counterattack. I curse a lot of shit tons of bad things happens, it hurts like hell... and now there's nothing I can do, but stand on and punch them in the face with my words!" Kohaku yelled, before he turned to Damien who was about to attack him with his fist.

Kohaku grabbed his fist, making the leader narrowed his eyes by what he does. Kohaku slowly clenched his fist when he smirked grimly at Damien who didn't realized his action to him, before a small flicker of a shock and a grim smile visible for the moment--his eyes flashed for an instant, grinning manically when a small part of his power starts to develop. "It's over."

His fingers coiled tighter around Damien's wrist, tightened that a crack sound made him realized Kohaku's aura in powerful state. "What's going on?" he whispered, before Kohaku didn't realize he successfully defeated Damien by punching him on the face. Before he took a few steps, everyone was just frozen in shocked from what he said as he gritted his teeth.

Kohaku realized what he did. He touched his cheek, thinking there was something wrong with him, but then he just saw Damien and the others were shocked and dumbfounded. 'What happened here?' he thought, before he froze at the revelation and fact he just accidentally said to them. "OH SHIT! I PUNCHED A BOSS!" he screeched, his pale face made Nadya laugh. Byakuya facepalmed, shaking his head. "Jesus Christ, I have a smart-ass friend, but I've never seen him punch a person like that."

"Impressive. You made it almost on our level, I'm impressed," Damien said, wiping the blood off his mouth. "Though you didn't make it, I was overwhelmed with emotions for a moment, so I'll give you two chances."

Kohaku suddenly forgot that he was hypnotized and he sighed out of relief--he went back to his usual self, but he was surprised that Damien somehow was able to handle his hypnosis. 'He was probably immune to that,' Kohaku thought, before Damien charged against him to end it all. 'Shit, I didn't mean to show my vulnerable side!' he thought, before Kohaku evaded his attack and kicked him on the chest that he tripped him.

"Great, he won this battle," Hisato murmured when he saw the two trying to reach the peak, they're exhausted. In the last minute, Kohaku managed to escape his control and he saw his fingers curled against his palm. "Oh shit, sorry sir!" Kohaku apologized, but Damien looked annoyed when he accidentally scratched his neck. "Your martial arts and dodging can use some improvements, but everything is much improved," he said as he checked the time when it reaches forty minutes, he almost won.

"Time's up!"

Kohaku heard Damien shouted as he let out a deep exhale, before he watched him tried to get up but Kohaku helped him. "Ah shit, did I hurt you?" Kohaku asked, worried about his superior. 'Damn you! You have such a great impact that almost made me fall over my own control. Even Nadya fell to her knees because of that..!' Kohaku cursed inside his head, while Damien looking at his subordinates. "It's fine, it's fine... actually, this is the first time someone defeated me," he said with a cough, spitting the blood from his mouth--standing up as he gave an applause to Kohaku with the other members, even the other bodyguards who volunteered to the examination.

As he heard the applause from them, Kohaku didn't know why but a sense of relief made him feel ease. Damien received back his evaluation report from his partner-in-crime and friend Hisato when he scored the whole things through, while Nadya and Kyouka joined them to observe the performance. "With outstanding performance with your martial techniques, you surpasses them without falling back--with exception that you had to improve on defenses so you need to improvise again," Damien explained, before Hisato continued. "Tactic and strategic moves are balanced, but since it took five to ten minutes--it made you longer to find the opponent's weak spots so… I'll give it above average."

Byakuya got his turn when he was reading the result from his scorings to him, it made him wide-eyed a little at his results. "Excellent speed, synchronizes moves and a wide range of evasion--and you have such a great lightning steps," he evaluated for him, "We're going to discuss with the result, our superior will make his final decision after our discussion okay?" Byakuya asked, Kohaku nodded at his best friend, watching him discussing the result with Damien and Hisato from afar.

When they finished their discussion, the two of them agreed with their leader because he's the one who decide. As they turn around to face him, the leader put his hands behind his back with a smile. "I made my final decision," Damien's expression becoming serious, he took a deep sigh that Kohaku wasn't sure if he actually made it or not. "But, not yet," he said in English, which puzzled Kohaku as well as the other members.

"You have to sign a contract with us," he smirked, before he continued. "You're hired."

After hearing what Damien just say, Kohaku stood there dumbfounded like an idiot he was. Everyone behind him murmured after the two just laughed because of it, making them stared each other before they cheered along with his best friend and the members when Kohaku looked surprised and flustered when they surround him. "Wait… I passed?" he asked, hoping that was true.

Damien nodded, before holding on the clipboard with the report papers that he keeps folded in his black case attached by its clips, locked it inside, before he grabs another folder that contain the contract and shows it to Kohaku, which his eyes were widened when his new boss showing the contract to him. "Indeed, you also showed your attitude to your opponents, you're actually very extraordinary, from your strength and weakness," he explained, looking at Byakuya who had the hope in his eyes at him.

"Apparently we also evaluate your mental and physical condition, turns out you actually have a great strength and prowess that we haven't seen it before," Hisato muttered, shaking his head before he took a look at him. "Of course you have flaws, but there's no doubt in me--from your boldness, high ambitions and brave acts, it will be a wonderful addition."

Kohaku listened, he was reading the contract for a moment (not gonna lie, it was intimidating), knowing that he had to make a decision between continuing to escape his reality or to help them to protect the innocent lives. "I want you to read the NDA first, before you sign up the contract," Damien said, even though the organization is unofficial--they must consider with the lawfulness and protocol to not attract suspicions to the government. After you signed that and agreed with our terms and conditions, then we're ready to start the training--we're going to bring you somewhere safe where no one can see you, and that's our hideout."

Kohaku hummed, before he received a pen from him and began to sign the NDA and the contract papers--it hit the duty stamp on the paper. Damien's lingering smirk-like smile appeared on his lips once again, although what he did may be questionable--but he cared about his peers and him as well. As much he wanted him to see his potentials, he won't force them unless if he had to. "Well then, you also awakened 'that' when we witnessed your battle--so it would be easier for us to have you ours," he went serious once again, commanding his comrades. "Move aside, none of you intervene."

The four of them took a steps including Byakuya away from them, they're like a paramilitary forces when they are in assassin mode. The comrades' eyes around him became red when they revealed their darker sides, it made him reminded about Byakuya's words for anyone who saw his red eyes and that make sense; he meant it. Kohaku had no idea at what he wanted them to do that, when he was about to figure out what it is--he was met with the darkness around him and everything went red. "Stay still, Kayana. Your judgment is here," Damien muttered, his voice echoed in his mind.

Kohaku was going to turn around, until he went stunned that he was bitten on the neck from behind. With the pair of arms around him and his hand holding his chin, Damien's fangs sunk deep to his neck and drank some of his blood that made his eye color becoming scarlet.

As he felt his fangs released his neck, he ended up fell down and kneeling on the ground; his heart is pounding in his chest like a thunder. Kohaku slowly struggled to open his eyes, as he saw someone appeared in front of him; whose smile became darker while his eyes were shimmered with carmine-red color and that meant only one thing. Kohaku felt slightly comfortable and relaxed at the moment the state of hypnosis that Damien made went straight to his head, not forced but naturally made him only had his focus and thoughts on them--he's still himself but his eyes are shimmering red matching with Damien and the other four assassins.

"I want you to forget everything that happened in your past life," Damien commanded, before he whispered to Kohaku's mind again. "All you ever known is me, I'm your leader, your only ally, I'm the only one you can trust... your 'savior' in this world."

Kohaku didn't resist, nor said anything that made him speechless. He only nodded with a single tear slid down on his cheek when he heard his hypnotic words that only affect him and his new masters. A sudden chill ran down Kohaku's spine hearing Damien's words, he didn't even think that they will be able to do that to him so easily and so quickly.

However, Kohaku keep listening to him--obeying his command with a nod.

"Everything that you are before you don't exists, you obey me and I will ensure that you are strong and 'perform' that you have to give us. You had only one goal, defeat the corruption," he said, looking at his eyes. "You didn't know that your father... Kahayana Sahilendra Tirta, is one of us... is that right?"

Kohaku looked up at Damien, as he saw a sadistic glint in his eyes and he approached him to place his hand over his shoulder. It made him shudder in fear, but at the same time exhilarated as he was completely broken by him. There were no doubts, no regrets from his decision--and he did not care if he was nothing more than a pawn to Damien, he would not allow himself to be seen as some desperate fool who was too weak to withstand the pain, he was never weak. His pain caused him to become stronger, and his strength will be able to face him and overcome any obstacles that lie ahead of him.

"Follow what I said, a pledge as you bound to this oath will result in tragedy for your enemies and allies. Never cross me or defy my will, remember… I might be 'cruel' but I have standards--though, if you screwed up, our comrade's freedom is on the line..."

Damien muttered, before he glared at him.

Even his appearance always scared him, but with his eyes like this--it actually made Kohaku trembling from fear. "Swear that you won't disobey my wish, whether it is my command over you--and don't forget the oath that you pledged to me.Because if you violate our sacred oath, it will result in deadly consequences, both for you and our organization," Damien said to him.

"Do you understand?"

Kohaku listens to him as if he was hypnotized and enthralled, he swallowed the lump in his throat when he narrowed his eyes consciously responded back to Damien--who will be his superior. Kohaku nodded slowly, before he opened his mouth to swear his oath. "I swear it... I will obey your command no matter what wishes you had, I won't forget my sworn oath for you... and I will follow your order, until my last breath."

Damien smirked before he let go of Kohaku's chin and he looked at him with a satisfied grin. "Then I guess we're good, you're under my protection now... don't forget about it, we're all yours," Damien grinned at him as he let out a heavy breath. Kohaku heard him as he choked a bit when he finished swearing his oath to his superior, his hypnotic scarlet eyes matching his own as he narrowed his eyes--he was only focused on him and members of the organization that he was surrounded with--nothing else he can focus on.

Damien stared down at him with a fierce glint in his eyes--as if Kohaku was his prey, he moved his fingers to touch Kohaku's cheek and he let out a smile that was sly like a fox. "Welcome to the Secret Garden, Kayana Sahanaya Tirta," he released him once he watched the bitemark dissolves into black mist-like marks on his neck, vanishing into thin air with a puff of smoke. It left him feeling drowsy and weak but he knew that this was the beginning of something new to happen to him.

"Now you're one of us."

Damien snapped his fingers when the hypnosis is done, completely releasing the tension between them. Kohaku's eyes went back to normal before he fell on four, he have returned into reality when he was panting a little. "Tonight is your initiation ritual," his expression softened, but he was serious at the same time. "Now, you're part of our group and don't worry, we're still in training, got it?"

Kohaku seems to have developed something from within him for some reason, he heard Damien spoke to him calmly. "I'll be getting you into training soon, so let's get prepared first," Damien told him with a smile. He led him to the exit of the building, followed by Byakuya who assisted him until he was out of the building. When they are outside of the building, Kohaku's consciousness returning to him; he was confused from what happened inside the building here. "What exactly happened there?" He asked himself when he recalled what happened during the test.

It feels like a dream, but why does Damien look so happy?

Oh right.

He passed the test.

The next day...

Kohaku was sore from last night after training under mentorship of Damien and his fellow comrades, he was in his own residence of his mansion to take some rest. Although he has become stronger, he still felt a little weak from his body aches. However, he started to get used to it when he felt as if he can lift off heavy objects without problem. The first training was warming up but it was more militaristic in nature, where he learned how to use his limbs and weapon properly and keep himself balanced during battle.

They practiced using their weapons against targets which were wooden dummies and punching bags that resembled human beings, making him realize that he needs to improve his defensive skills and techniques. The second training is superhuman strength and controlling durability that makes him able to withstand pain. After that, they taught him basic combat movements that involves kicks and punches, it made him sweat profusely especially when he fought against Nadya, whose kick was hard enough to break his ribs.

Kohaku stared at the mirror--he was surprised that his muscles has grown after the training, he can feel the bulging from his arms and legs; he also noticed that the scars on his chest are fading away. His built becoming lean and athletic, it made him look more toned than before. He flexed his arms, grinning at himself. "Looks like I'm in good shape, better exercise to maintain this!" he gasped at himself, impressed at his physic. After his 'accident', he lost a lot of weight and now he was heavier, now he need to lose some weights.

He was surprised that he gained weight after training with them, it was a good thing though because he was able to eat anything like before. He didn't expect himself to gain some pounds, since it's not like he was eating junk foods before; the training was like hell which he was able to carry heavy objects with ease, even though he is exhausted from the previous training, he managed to finish all the exercises with ease. Which is why last night was a hellish nightmare for him, but at least now he knows he can do anything that was given to him; it is all thanks to the power bestowed upon him.

Today was still a holiday during semester break, so Kohaku was able to work out for the training that he underwent yesterday; making him more fit and healthier. He was wearing a black hoodie tank top and shorts to cover himself up from the sun, he didn't feel cold when it was hot as if his body got used to its temperature. He remembered that Hisato was sitting on his back when he was taking push up by Damien's instructions, it is hellish but worth it that Kohaku was able to withstand any weight on his shoulders.

They were having fun during the first part of their training, but it suddenly turned into a brutal exercise when they were doing sprints and martial arts fighting in pairs or groups; it's common for assassins of Secret Garden to underwent this type of training. Kohaku felt embarrassed by this and it was obvious from the other people who saw what happened during their training. He remember that he has been training with Nadya and her comrades, who have mentored him for the rest of his training--soon they becoming friends with him.

Kohaku also remembered that his best friend Byakuya also training with him, even though Byakuya has history with asthma like his younger sister Kyouka who was five years apart and seventeen-he was quite strong and able to take his breaths without much effort; making him look like an athlete from afar, but still he had to take swimming lessons to ease down his asthma. He felt a bit awkward seeing Byakuya sweating profusely due to exertion and fatigue while they sparring in groups, but he didn't force himself because he knows his limit. However, he wasn't surprised that Damien has athletic and lean but muscular built as well as if he was trained in the military service while he's a businessman, making them both similar in terms of appearance. After his workout ends in the backyard, Kohaku took a shower afterwards and began to wear his signature assassin attributes for formal meetings that Hisato made for even forged signature weapon for him.

His formal assassin attributes consists of black collared blouse with long sleeves, black leather belt and black pants tucked into pair of knee-length black riding boots, he wears a dark gray slit collared dress-like sleeveless coat reaching his ankles with belt fastened around his slim waist with dark gray Batik Garutan patterns underneath--with addition of the golden necklace with cross pendant around his neck hung elegantly. His dark auburn hair has almost grown to his shoulders and styled similar to wolf's cut, almost covering his magenta-red eyes and cheeks while he put on his frameless glasses.

Kohaku was holding a black bullwhip with a chain-blade and metallic handle with the hilt, it was pure black color and furnished smoothly by Hisato--the whip was very long as compared to a normal whip with about twelve feet and three inches long which was enough for Kohaku to use in a wide range of ways. There was a ring with chain attachment at its end which connected with a loop attached to its handle, it is meant for attaching other accessories like knives--it also acted like a hook. At the tip of the whip was a metal bar with serrated edge that resembles like a dagger blade, it could be useful in close quarters combat as it can slice through clothes and skin effortlessly and it can be used in slashing and stabbing attacks as well.

He can't disobey his superior's orders, which making him obey to his commands.

Kohaku heard a phone call from his telephone on the nightstand in the living room of his own mansion, he approached the nightstand and answered his commander Damien's call next to his ear. "Yes, sir?" he asked, ready to respond immediately. "Good afternoon, my dear subject," he greets him, sounding carefree, with a cool grin evident from his reply. "What is it? Did I catch you in the middle of something?"

"Well, I finished my own training," he was telling him as if it's the most normal thing in the world and Kohaku would have no idea otherwise.

"Hmm, I think it should work fine. About that, I have something to tell you as well. The report regarding the incident inside the warehouse has been already sent to you, so you better check it out. There was a client who wanted you to assassinate a politician for his political ambitions, however he is also involved in several illegal business transactions that will be exposed in front of the world if not stopped. He's the traitor of the nation, but you know that we don't care about politics or money."

Damien stated matter-of-factly and Kohaku listened to him carefully. He was surprised that his target was related to Damien's case; but Kohaku didn't complain since he was professional and loyal to him despite the fact that they aren't acquainted yet. "The mission will begin tonight."

"I'll handle this one for you, sir," Kohaku assured him, which made Damien nodded. "Thank you, make sure that you'll assassinate him-you have sixty minutes when it starts."

"I understand, could you give me the information about the target?"

"Sure thing, I'll send it by email," Damien told him, before he smiled. "Good luck, Kayana."

Kohaku hung up the phone as his eyes looked at the screen of his laptop on the table-and he clicked the button to open the email from his superior. As he goes to print the file with his printer, he waited for the file to be done and he goes to grab the file so he can read the information about the target. "Hmm... a politician, secretly conspiring with the mafia and bribery."

Kohaku nodded, his eyes reverts into amber gold color--a part of assassin's instincts to always be aware of their surrounding and their environment around them.

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