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"Huh? There's another assassin of Secret Garden who came from Japan like you?"

Kohaku asked, walking beside Byakuya into the Batara International High School where Kyouka schooled. He nodded, answering the Indonesian master degree's student question. "Yeah, he's a high school student and seventeen years old--like my younger sister Kyouka. His name is... Kiryu Ryugūji, or simply known as Kiryu, this guy is... more like a catboy himself."

Kiryu Ryugūji; the seventeen-years old Japanese-American high school student in Batara International High School in Bali who was Kyouka's classmate, and an assassin of Secret Garden. He has a messy shoulder-length blonde hair with bangs almost covering his golden-colored eyes with sharp pupils and his cheeks--as he has fair complexion, he wears a collared shirt with leopard prints and dark gray pants with a black shoes and wears dark gray blazer as well--leaving the leopard-printed sleeves poking out on his blazer sleeves and... wait a minute… is that a black choker with a gold cat paw pendant on it?

Kiryu is snarky, passive-aggressive and playful with a cat-like persona who kept to himself, although he often lashing out at them or retorting to their insults when they teased him excessively for being cute. He often try to get his friends' attention with different antics--by using his sharp claws to scratch the table, when he's sitting, scratching the desk--not out of nervousness. He have a tendency to scratch the shit out of them verbally or emotionally, even sometimes both at the same time with all of them he knows. But, he's actually kind and understanding when people needed someone to understand them and is soft-spoken, humble and reasonable. Despite his personality, he's a master in combat and acrobatics.

"Nya! Good morning!"

Kiryu greeted the students that he made the girls squealed by how feline-like he looks, while Kyouka--she cringed so bad that she must witness the embarrassing moment. After they know the latter's deadly weapon is a dagger that formed into a cat tail and he gained the nickname 'Neko Koroshiya', Kyouka knew that fate must've enjoyed watching them like this and tried to bring people together or tear apart as a payback for making the kitty-assassin doing cat impression to them. It just sounds unnatural for a boy to do that. "What the..."

Kohaku whispered in horror, not because Kiryu attempted to flirt them at the school--but how Kiryu acted with those girls and they treated him like a cat on a leash because he found that was embarrassing. He couldn't believe he found a school dedicated to this type of stuff as... interesting, until he saw Kyouka smacked Kiryu on the back of the head and made him whimper sadly like a house cat. "Kiryu is really carefree person and too careless with his target, but after he proved his capabilities--his rank was higher than other assassins," Byakuya said to his comrades, ignoring the squealing girls while Kyouka approached both of them. "Sorry about that, we were preparing for the open house in our school. And yeah, that's how he is..." she said.

Kohaku had an idea in his head, before he grinned. "I got an idea," he said, taking out the feather teaser cat toy and starting to dangled the teaser a little in front of Kiryu that catching him with his undivided attention. And like what everyone said to him, the assassin really acted like a cat as Kohaku grinned widely that caught Kyouka and Byakuya's attention. "Now play with the feather toy!" Kohaku teased as he laughed at the fact that he managed to hold on, forcing the feather toy and teasing the latter with it.

"Kohaku, this is Kiryu... he's an assassin, well an apprentice one..." Kyouka introducing him, putting a hand onto the cat boy's shoulder to calm him down because it seems he was going to bite Kohaku's finger and grabbed the feather toy from him. "Alright, keep calm..."

'How is he acting like a cat, just asking like that...' he wondered in disbelief. His cat obsession is worse than any assassin, 'Is he even an assassin?!' He demanded mentally, there's no way he can be an assassin! Wow, great. Kiryu also does not know the meaning of private space when it came to his targets, and has very intense look whenever he makes threats towards people. The little guy is the sole proof of cats having human-like personalities and antics. He have several encounters with Byakuya and Kyouka due to secret mission cooperation and he loves his colleagues so much (being protective brother-like figure to them) which made the two annoyed and flustered in his presence. And everyone is pretty fond of him, even Damien who treated him like a human being.

"Don't worry, he's cool. I already know him for a long time," Byakuya spoke, staring at the latter that finally sat down and gave up because of exhaustion--and the thought of him being able to cat-maul his targets down. Halim bought Kiryu some food that has cat-like shape such as paws-shaped cookies, and the cat-boy assassin eats it quickly--making Kyouka's dumbfounded face like usual because this is not the first time they saw him doing this, and maybe all these cat food will make him looks like a cat rather than human beings.

"Nice to meet you-nya!" Kiryu greeted Kohaku, making him gulped--it's his turn. "Er... Nice to meet you, I'm Kayana Sahanaya Tirta--or you can call me Kohaku if you like," he introduced himself to Kiryu, not because he was scared of the latter because his aura is odd--thus he hid behind Byakuya for his protection in instinct because Byakuya is protective, as usual. Kiryu grinned at him, accepting his handshake as he wanted to befriend him as well. "Nice to meet you too, Kohaku," he said. "We should get to know each other, nya!"

Kohaku sweatdropped, not because of the assassin's cute appeal--but the way he spoke. "Is this real life? Am I in heaven right now?" Kohaku sighed dramatically, Byakuya facepalmed while Kyouka can't believe Kohaku thought he had been dead and was sent to heaven because of Kiryu's cuteness.

Oh right, he really need to meet Damien and Hisato in the restaurant that belonged to Nadya's aunt who's a native Balinese. Also, he's hungry as hell. "I'll catch up on you later, okay? You can go ahead if you like," Byakuya told him, Kohaku nodded as he bid him goodbye and walk off to the restaurant--which is not far from here. He stretched his arms as he finally decided to spend his free time walking around Bali. The views were breathtaking, making him sigh with ease as he started to stroll along the path. He continued walking for another few minutes until he reached the place where he can find several traditional buildings and structures, as well as some artistic displays. One thing he loved about Bali is how peaceful and beautiful the environment is compared to the urban city, he also believed in superstitions and ghosts despite having an advanced mindset. And, one thing he hates about Bali is; the foreigners.

Not that he's racist, he was pissed at their disgusting behaviors especially coming from Europeans or perhaps non-natives who don't know about Balinese hospitality. Plus they acted like tourists roaming everywhere trying to find perfect places to take their photos, Kohaku isn't disappointed at everything he saw in his life--sometimes, it's a wonder how the tourists don't get irritated and tried to avoid them as they look like an annoying mosquito that won't leave. However, he did enjoy seeing tourists in his country, most of them are nice people and he was a little glad when people began appreciating him about his existence and personality.

Kohaku was bumped by a random foreigner who was looking around the area with their families, making Kohaku stumbling on the ground. "Hey, that was a rude behavior for you to--"

Before he even managed to protest against the guy, he growled and muttered in disgust. "... Americans," Kohaku whispered to himself in a venom-laced tone. Another great thing that Kohaku have to say is that Indonesia and its people are the most polite, friendly and compassionate in the whole South East Asia--behavior-wise. BUT FOR FOREIGNERS (who have bad behavior), don't try to start a fight because you're standing in the fucking mess.

YES HE IS PISSED, SO PLEASE DON'T TRY TO MAKE HIM EVEN MORE ANGRY. BECAUSE YOU'LL REGRET IT.

HONESTLY IF YOU WANT TO GET YOUR BUTTS SLAPPED BY HIS KARATE KICK, JUST ASK HIM BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO FUCKING BE A PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL!

When he was walking in the sidewalk, another foreigner suddenly spat at his face as he glared down at Kohaku. "Watch your back you fucking faggot!"

Kohaku took a deep breath as he gulped a little, trying to contain his anger as he wiped his face clean from the man's spittle. He kicked the man's crotch with his martial arts skill, causing the man to stumbled backwards groaning in pain. "You're the one who should watch your back, fucking jackass," Kohaku scoffed, giving him a thumbs down before began to walk away. "Next time, don't mess with a street fighter if you don't want the same treatment."

The rest of the foreigners stood there speechless while they saw their friend doubled over in pain, trying to figure out what just happened to him. Kohaku ignored their stare while he continued walking down the street, the locals applauded him for standing up against the foreigner. Kohaku has been dealing with annoying expatriates recently, first he had seen a foreigner meditating with his nude body--the first thing Kohaku do is stomping the guy's back and walking away. Who would want a shitty pervert to ruin the area? Only the stupid ones. Second, he saw a female expatriate came out from the temple all naked, so he grabbed a bucket and splashed a huge torrent of water at her--and another local did the same.

Kohaku loves to prank the problematic foreigners and exposing their shameful and rude behaviors so much, sometimes even acting all sweet and nice towards them to prank them and he recorded some videos of him tricking the foreigners.

Back then, only several expats who visited Bali stayed but all of them will be gone a week later when they encountered Kohaku--he was their savior for protecting Bali's culture and environment from the abusive foreigners. As an Indonesian, of course he has protectiveness over his people. "Fucking Europeans, sorry to say and no racism intended but some are full of trash," Kohaku cursed underneath his breath, as he proceeded to ride his motorbike towards the village in the Ubud, passing through the rows of tropical trees.

Once he finished with his important errands, Kohaku decided to walk away and wandered around the Bali--before he saw the sign of a traditional art market that just opened yesterday. "Bali is a pork's heaven... I love it..." he murmured, seeing the foods and cuisines that are made of pork products.

Until...

Kohaku swore he just saw a pig went straight at the restaurant as he gaped in shock. He froze when the pig approached him and rubbed his snout against his leg. Now that's a first time Kohaku had met a pet pig in person, the pig was friendly enough as he let Kohaku rub his head (although Kohaku feel bad because he often cook pork-related food with his father Kahayana). "Ah, Kayana! You're here!" Nadya greeted him with a smile, she saw the pig approached her and hugged the animal gently. "Ah, and Bubu's here too!"

Kohaku was awestruck, it's true when everyone says that Bali is a golden cage, you'll get addicted to the beauty and life in here. "Wait, you know that pig?" he asked (he was talking about the animal... not insulting his nickname by saying 'oh great you found your own species'). "Oh, he's Bubu. I rescued him from the middle of the street," Nadya replied. "He's part of my family, we often treat him like a house pet. He's such a cute little fella, right?"

Kohaku saw the pig oinked as he was eating a carrot that Nadya offered, she placed the pig on the floor and the pig was still following her. "Okay... I came here to see Damien and Hisato if they're around," Kohaku said, wondering if he and Hisato are here (since Byakuya and Kyouka unable to come because of their schedules) to visit the restaurant that Nadya recommended earlier. "Well, Hisato and Damien are not here, but they'll be coming soon."

Nadya answered, giving Bubu the bananas as he ate them all. "Do you mind waiting here for a while?" she asked him, but before Kohaku even managed to say anything else--he just nodded his head. "Do you want to carry this little guy? He likes to be carried like a baby," one of the staff said, making Kohaku shook his head. Although the pig was only inches away from him, Kohaku's mind only had one thing on it; 'Cute.'

Kohaku tried to carry the pig, in case of him dropped him unintentionally which made Nadya laughed. He carried him like a baby that made the pig snuggling against his chest. Kohaku blushed shyly, that's the first time he never carried an infant in his life... but fucking hell it was so heavy and he sweats like hell. "Fuck! I can't even carry him, he looks really light and yet... it's heavy as fuck," he cursed, sighing when he saw the pig eating from the corn that someone gave it. "Oh right, Damien also sent one of his colleagues in Secret Garden to see you in here. Let me know if you need something to eat," Nadya said.

He nodded while still holding the pig, feeling like it wanted to be carried by him again. "Er... thanks, I have a pig in the hands. Feels like I'm having a son," Kohaku deadpanned sarcastically, stroking the animal's pink ears with a smile on his face. Bubu was squeaking around him while he hugged the animal, and he even played with him a little. 'I wonder how old is this pig?' he questioned inside his mind, suddenly imagining if Bubu was a food--

Stop, stop right there. Don't make him either a food, or an ingredient in his mind. As he waited patiently for Damien and Hisato to arrive, he stared curiously around the village as he didn't expect the restaurant be so traditional like this.

"Kayana Sahanaya Tirta."

There was a young woman spoke with a smooth and suave voice greeted him across him, making Kohaku shrieked that the pig hopped off and ran towards his owner by surprise--leaving them alone. The woman has a light burgundy long wavy hair, her uneven messy bangs framing her forehead fell on cheeks and almost covering her wine-colored eyes--she has fair complexion as well and a black sunglasses on her eyes. She wears a dark gray turtleneck sweater and high-waist black skirt underneath her black leather jacket, black belt around her abdomen and brown tights--she wears a thigh-high black strapped boots with heels and has black ribbons that tied on the top. She wears a black gloves, along a thigh-length black collared coat that draped over her shoulders with a silver oriental dragon pin on both sides and butterfly lapel behind her coat--her hand is carrying a black umbrella on her hand.

Kohaku sat there in surprise as he had no damn idea who is this woman, before he asked. "Who are you?"

"Sherry Simalungun, who do you think I am?"

The Indonesian assassin answered with a mysterious and alluring smile, she was gazing at Kohaku behind her glasses and that made him unsettled. Sherry seems to be an alluring woman, she enjoys watching her target suffering and struggling to survive--before she took their life with her blade of her katana. "The underworld business regarded me as 'Motorbike Gang Killer' and 'Underworld Butterfly', especially the ones who were the son of either former government officials or police. They often wore flashy outfits like punk, motorbike gangs, and overall--committing crimes."

Sherry is widely feared by the corrupted government officials and police, the latter's reason is because they are nothing but lowly scums who trying to hurt the innocent people around them by hiding their guiltiness. She despises motorbike gangs and mafia, even they were afraid of her--where she brutally slain them using her katana and strung them alive before she set their bodies burn to ashes in the abandoned alleyways. Sherry does not sympathize with her enemy's relatives, because they are just as despicable as them and sent them any threats regardless if they have no connections to them whatsoever--perhaps it's a reminder to them they should know who they are dealing with.

Her katana was customized to have a purplish-red blade, but it also decorated by purple flowers and butterflies, a metal gun case as well as a chain that connected with the gun on it--she also known for 'Hypno-Whisper' by commanding her enemies through her voice and controlling them--she knew her words can manipulate them perfectly and killing them while they are being hypnotized by her. The Indonesian woman is one of the Secret Garden's strongest assassins (at her early time), the best swordswoman of the underworld and she became one of the organization's most wanted criminal.

Her fingers hold his chin and tilted his head upwards--making Kohaku look up at her eye-to-eye, so he can see her wine-colored eyes from under her sunglasses. It was alluring, passionate and entrancing by every second and Kohaku was getting confused by the sight, he felt hypnotized by her stunning eyes that draws him in closer than he realized. "Huh, you're quite sensitive than the ones I faced. Usually, my gaze has already been observed and dissected--especially targeting weak-willed people, making them become a mess in front of me," Sherry said, still not removing her fingertips and let him sat still.

Sherry pushed her sunglasses further to the bridge of her nose, making him still keeping staring at her with seductive glances. "To be honest, you're not bad."

Kohaku froze, what does that even mean? The look she has is that of some twisted mixture of allurement, danger, and malicious intent and it was almost too much for Kohaku to bear. He narrowed his eyes, before he sighed. "Thank you," he replied, making Sherry lifted her eyebrows--did he just... accepted her compliment? "Kayana Sahanaya Tirta of Indonesia... just like me? An exotic man who stayed around in here, the beautiful and calm island located in one of the biggest countries in the world," she said to him, her voice has a seductive and sultry touch that made Kohaku blushed in embarrassment. "Is it just me? Or it seemed we have a special connection ever since I saw you?"

"What..."

Kohaku felt heat burned across his face--he is like a walking human radiator on fire.

"Sherry, what did I tell you again?"

Damien called her, making Sherry chuckled before she released his chin as she glanced at him and Hisato. "Damien, Hisato, you shouldn't let me come earlier before you guys came here," she said, sitting beside Kohaku casually and wrapped her arm around his arm--making Kohaku shrieked and blush furiously when she's doing such clingy actions with him. Hisato deadpanned, as he sat across Damien while still eating the local food. "Kayana, this is Sherry--she's one of the Administrators in Secret Garden like me and Hisato. But, keep in mind that I'm the Leading Commander--because I'm in charge of managing all of you."

Kohaku nodded at his boss, seeing Damien sipped his cup of iced tea while Hisato was holding a clipboard on his hand. He merely let Sherry hugs his arm without any protest--he allowed her to because of how casual she's acting towards him. On the other hand, they are in the public where a lot of tourists come to this island for recreation... so why the fuck not? Nadya just came back as she was surprised to see Sherry here, while she carried Bubu on her arms and the pig oinked happily. Sherry's eyes glowed in excitement, putting her fingertip onto Bubu's tiny nose. The Indonesian woman was an assassin of beauty, with sensual poise, elegance and sophistication--even her targets and victims lured by her alluring scent in the air.

Yes, her senses always calmed by the flowers and jasmine whenever she swings her sword. She has a charismatic and feminine persona and even showing a sensual temperament when she kills someone in her crime scene, which was no surprise that they became enraptured in her elegance.

"Sherry! How was the trip?"

Nadya greeted her happily, seeing her colleague just returned after her 'business trip' outside Bali. "Glad to see you return, Nadya. Also, your cute pig is here again," Sherry said while she greeted her back with a smile. "Is something wrong? You look pale, Kayana."

Kohaku sat there, still not used to being close with girls--although he have been hugged by Shania once. "He's new here, we still haven't know his capabilities. But, he has potential and I didn't want him to be a worthless employee if his progress and effort was just nothing."

Damien said, because the reason why he placed Kohaku on a higher rank (Associate Specialist) of the Secret Garden is because he has skilled in combat, acrobatics, martial arts and weapon mastery with his signature black chain-blade bullwhip as his main weapon. His best friend Byakuya approved him, while Kyouka also befriended him and Kiryu as well. "We have been thinking of making a team with you as a leader, Kayana," Damien stated, the latter was shocked--he wasn't expecting for their leader to assign him that kind of important task.

"However, our rules remain the same. As we always don't favor using violence on civilians, anyone who tries to get their dirty hands on this group--you're going to be a target for the underworld business. You must protect your country because you're an Indonesian, plus get rid of all traitors who betrayed the Secret Garden and the nation--we'll determine whether or not you are actually the right man to lead them in the right path... The path to true freedom."

Kohaku nodded after he heard that, the words of encouragement from Damien gave him hope when he first stepped into this business. "Your team will be Byakuya, Kiryu and Kyouka--but I will add the rest which including Sherry as one of your allies," Damien informed him, he wasn't fazed when he sensed Kohaku stared at him with shock written across his face, even Hisato's face was screaming 'oh no'. Sherry raised an eyebrow, before she clapped her hands once--ignoring the male Indonesian's flustered face.

"Will you mind being in the same team as me? I won't bite, too hard," Sherry said innocently, there's a sadistic and passive-aggressive edge under her smile when Kohaku nodded at her reluctantly--ignoring a sense of trepidation that coursed throughout his body. It was in Sherry's nature to seduce both men and women alike and it doesn't matter what's her target gender is, the fear-stricken and hapless faces of her targets/victims will encourage her more.

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After this, he had to join the other Secret Garden assassins to meet the man named Hifumi Kujou--another Administrator who has a red fan and a former assassin but still involved in meetings. After his work is done, he went to the area of Ubud where Hifumi stays with his Indonesian assistant who's in charge of his visa--while his colleagues will be picking up later. Their destination arrived since it took twenty minutes to go there, the machiya house has a temple where everyone can train in the field, several cherry blossoms are there too which is Byakuya's favorite flower in the past like Kyouka.

"Here we are," Damien informed them when they have arrived, before they came out and could feel some refreshing air in here. "It's so nice in here… right Demon Snow?"

Kyouka asked when Demon Snow materialized beside her and nodding at her, observing the petals of the cherry blossom fell. Byakuya observed her and her phantom familiar, before he look back at Demon Cloud by his side. "I agree with you, so does Demon Cloud by my side."

Kohaku wasn't surprised at their relationships with their phantom familiars, before the two phantoms dematerializes with style. They have connections with both sides and perspectives of the siblings, able to work together with sync. "He should be in there with the others, let's go."

Damien told them when they followed him from behind, heading up with the stairway with the torii on their way there. Kohaku could feel the breeze was also slightly cold, although that was still refreshing and cooling at the same time. As the path almost nearing there, he saw the large temple was shown before his eyes and there he saw the assassins who are still rookies. "Woah… so many newbie assassins in here…" Nadya was awed by the trainings similar to their previous experience, before the formation of Secret Garden. "It's his house, let's meet them in the garden."

The machiya house has a garden known as Zen Garden at the back, the entrance was guarded with a pair of Japanese sword hanging on the walls. The interior was filled with green trees and flowers around the entire area while it was surrounded by waterfalls in the center.

The executives of Secret Garden never exposed the person who was involved in the underground business of shadow government, as a part of underworld is crucial to be kept. Kohaku take a deep breath when they entered the garden, where the meeting will start soon and he swallowed the lump in his throat. This is his first time meeting where it involves the officials of Trilaksana, the former member of Secret Garden assassin.

"Hullo hello!"

Hifumi greeted them happily, seeing the fellow assassins who are his former subordinates and friends. Wearing a black and red kimono with red obi around his waist under his white haori that gets darker into ashen color with the motifs of spider lily patterns in the lower part, he wears a black socks and black sandals while holding a black and red fan on his hand. Kohaku was told by Byakuya that this must be the assassin with a red fan, just like his father Kahayana told him yesterday. "It's been a long time since I saw you in your face again," Nadya said, as all of them followed their commander to sit on the mats--with Hifumi and one of his friends/assassins sat in front of them.

Kyouka was usually being chill whenever Hifumi is around, but she couldn't help but stay guarded so does Hisato and Damien who was the current leader of Secret Garden. They were well-aware that Hifumi is deeply involved with the underworld business, but he isn't evil nor bad. He is just a flamboyant man who is in love with money. "Ahh… thanks for welcoming me~ Have a seat here! There's sweets prepared for you even drinks!"

Sherry yawned, she does not get along with other Administrators except Damien--who saw her as a respectable colleague. Her target are mob bosses, corrupt politicians or government officials that hiding under their desk until the last minute before their demise. Sherry has cold, but distant eyes. The smile she flashes just before she kills her targets makes them scared, realizing they're not worthy enough to breathe the same air as she does. She is manipulative and has many connections--being able to hypnotize her target whenever she flaunts and uses her voice seductively.

They take off their shoes and boots while leaving their socks on, entering the ryokan room and gathered around the table with him. Kohaku was still cautious with him, probably because of his first meeting with Hifumi and not to mention that Hifumi is one of the Administrators that should not be messed up. "Ah... finally we got the chance to reunite," he said, before he offered them to have a seat on their side of the tables, and the cup full of steaming warm tea were placed on the table that they sit on.

After settling down, he explained the agenda of this meeting and everything about their client and target. "Nice to meet you. Please... allow me to take this honor for an occasion of pleasure that you may bestow to us for some leisurely delight," Hifumi greets them, but there's an undertone message that it was dangerous and intimidating; he's one of the three top influential figures of the underground business and holds the power over the criminal world, not to mention being a head of gambling syndicate. And yes, that's right--he's dangerous and probably, he does whatever he wants without anything to stop him.

Damien was listening carefully to him as Hisato took notes on his notebook, Byakuya still remained serious and cautious that someone might overhear them. Nadya's eyes were looking at him while he was speaking, she felt uncomfortable hearing the information that Hifumi is revealing. Kyouka kept her composure like usual when she saw Hisato's daughter Ichika is sitting beside him, and Kohaku kept his stern gaze upon Hifumi while listening to him. Sherry simply ignored his words and had her back turned from him, Hifumi knows they're planning against him and it made his smile wider as they were in his palm all along.

"So, who's taking the offer to accept this commission?" Hifumi asked, before he grinned. "You better not make me wait too long, I am getting bored here~"

Byakuya sighed and glanced at him, while Damien nodded to confirm that they can start accepting the offer. "My apologies for making you waiting, but I will take the offer. What do you think Hisato?" he asked and Hisato nodded, he wrote something on the paper that he is using to take notes on. "I'll give my approval, what time and when do we plan to execute the assassination? The more secretive the better, this time you'll be in charge to assassinate the target... Byakuya, Kyouka."

Byakuya and his younger sister Kyouka stared at each other, they scowled at each other due to their rivalry when it comes to fighting against the targets and they can show to everyone that they can surpass to save someone without hesitation. Yes... that means Byakuya would do anything for his little sister and vice versa. Kohaku watched them while sitting back against the wall, folding his arms. Byakuya still remained calm and composed but he couldn't help feeling uneasy when it comes to Kyouka. She never failed in her missions, she is one of the best assassins in the world and even his own subordinate. More worse, they often bickered for smallest things and sometimes, they quarreled over trivial matters. "Well, I'm fine with it. As long as you'll take care of the rest."

"We heard that you're volunteering us to train some rookie assassins, so if you need any help we can assist you," Damien said to Hifumi, which made him excited by that. "Aw~ that's so nice of you, they are in the temple not far from my place! Let me guide you there!" Hifumi cooed, smiling when he stand up and guide them to the temple not far from here.

On the temple, there are four levels, first is the ground level that is used as a training ground, second and third are the floors where they can rest and sleep in the night, fourth is the roof top of the temple where the main hall is located. Kohaku was aware today is morning, so his mood is still safe to keep up with them. Once they have arrived outside the temple, Kohaku saw the assassins who are still beginners are waiting to be mentored by the Secret Garden assassins. "Alright then, let's start!"

Hifumi waved a hand to get their attention as they went inside the temple, there are six people who have a weapons in hand. They are the same exact students who trained under his side; as assassins, as warriors--the only way to test them in the real battlefield and to get used to bloodshed, killing. "Everyone, this is Kayana Sahanaya Tirta--or Kohaku, the newest member of Secret Garden~" he introduced him to them. "He's new but he excelled into master's level of assassination! You'll learn from him too!"

The temple was filled with people who are still learning and practicing for their skills, they were divided into groups and assigned with instructors. Kohaku was instructed to monitor the mentorships with the rookie assassins with their instructors, since the assassins of Secret Garden became their instructors. "Daydreaming?" Sherry guessed, standing beside him with her arms folded and a bored expression is plastered on her face.

Kohaku stared at her sideways, before he averted his gaze and stared at him while waiting for the instructors, before he replied at her. "... Just a little."

Sherry listens as she can hear the awkward response of Kohaku, the flustered expression that formed across his face and how tense he reacted towards her. He was leaning against the wall behind him with his arms folded across his chest as usual--although she finds it very handsome of him. "Do you ever wonder why Damien bite your neck and drank your blood? He's more... than just human, something like infused with some kind of unknown power... and that bite isn't just an ordinary bite."

Kohaku glanced at her when she said that, how did she know? Sherry continue to explain with casual smile. "For your information, no assassins ever receive that 'possession contract'... only four of them and you're one of them, along Byakuya and his younger sister Kyouka. I was one of the four, but somehow... he bit the other three but we don't know who it was since we can't figure it out," she explained, which surprised him a lot. "So... what is the 'possession contract' that you've been talking about? How does that even work?"

"Because in the back of your consciousness, you will have someone took over your entire being and let you submit yourself to the end and that alone obeying the one who bit you and claimed your blood. You may not realize it, but that oath is holding the ropes around you like a prey in the hands of the predator. It's the demon that you'll have to live until the day it will consume you, leaving nothing but eternal pain."

Kohaku flinched at the other's response, it feels like he didn't need to know about it before. Actually, he didn't even knew why the commander of Secret Garden bit him, let alone having a partnership like a person and a parasite. "It's not a bad sign, just that bite declares that you're the 'favorite one'. Besides, you're not the first assassin who has been bitten by him--until we have found the one who was in the same category as you, the others have it and become the favorites as well," she said, reminding him that there's another two assassins who were bitten. "Fuck, no wonder I feel so attached to him.”

"Oh, that's the effect when you're a 'favorite one'. Don't worry, even without that bite on your neck it will still remain."

Kohaku feel the sweat rolling down from the side of his neck, having the Commander's favorite is nerve wracking because of the risk that he took to mess around with him. "Let's move on from politics, my head hurts from all of the discussions."

Kohaku grumbled with the information, it's better that they leave this topic (because screw politics in real life) and not talk about it at all. Although politics are mostly interested by everyone, they still remained their senses for the safety and harmony of the world. When we become adults, we are aware of what's happening in society and the dangers hidden in the dark. "So, do you know something about... Phantom Beasts?"

He asked, while Sherry holding the katana when she gazed at him--but soon averted her eyes at someone with him. "Phantom Beasts... yes, they are malevolent beasts came from the world outside the world of the living--nobody knows where are these beasts came from--the only hint is that they are a cataclysmic being that caused a calamity, chaos, suffering, and destruction. People who studied the history and learned some documents contained the records of the ancestors claimed that these beasts might be the worst of the worst--since phantoms can take shape and form depending on their level of strength, with the ability to do anything in their power to drain the life out of you, made you sick from the inside and control you like a puppet."

"There are humans who infused with the Cores of Heruka; the wrathful deities who are envoy, or rather apostle of the Phantom Samsara. They called themselves 'Heruka's apostles' by their possession on the Cores, given to them by the higher deity who gave them mercy. All they do is inhabit human vessels that are capable of adapting to it, manifesting out of the host's negative emotions--bending worldly laws to their whim and command entire armies through phantom minions to attack and feed on from living beings. Once infused with Core, every essence of positive emotions have vanished away, their kind are mostly known for being malicious and the root of suffering. The same goes for Asuras, they're power-seeking apostles who are above their league and with greater power than them."

Kohaku nodded slowly, listening to her. "Then, the human who infused with Core of Heruka are known as Tiryag... they were hated by humankind as the deviant, a person with no regret and act reckless," she explained the history about Tiryags; they're essentially wicked when they are known as their most dangerous foes, evil-natured humans and their existence will cause the death and a part of this world. "They are like Raksha; a human infused with the Core of Asura, but Raksha is more cunning and unpredictable since their sole purpose is to cause the havoc among people, but they are also powerful and unpredictable if someone dared to find the weak point in their bodies."

Damn, this Tiryag and Raksha are sure sounds more twisted and dangerous. "Oh right, Herukas are known as 'blood-drinkers' so it applies to the Tiryags," Sherry said, before Kohaku spoke. "You mentioned that only four people were bitten by Damien, you included? Then, I guess we're his 'favorites'."

"Yes, but it depends of course. Because the choice lies with him, not on yours. He is the one who chose it, not you. Everyone must follow his strict and merciless commands. I don't know about you, because you doesn't seems... pressured by the circumstances."

Sherry whispered at the end, approaching him as she touched Kohaku's neck--checking if there's a bite mark and turns out it was hidden, where Damien has placed it. Kohaku was taken aback by her action, still could feel the bite that Damien made on his neck since it's still recent. "I just had it for a month... though, yeah. I guess I'm accustomed to this..." Kohaku muttered to her, thinking that he might have been numb because of the pressure or something related to their workplace.

Kohaku didn't know why but he laughed a bit by the rookie assassins' efforts, he found them interesting and entertaining when they also tried their best. As he was watching them from the distance, he stood beside Damien and Hifumi in the temple. Hifumi asked with a whisper when he was smiling with his fan opened on his hand, leaning closer to Damien who tilted his head to the side listening. "So what are your plans to deal with them?"

"I can help, as long as I'm still in contact with my comrades," Hifumi said with a laidback smile, holding his fan on his hand. Kohaku felt like he's being ignored by Hifumi, he shrugged his shoulders and his eyes widened when Hifumi looked at him. "What is it? Don't tell me you already forgot about your promise~?" Hifumi teased him, Kohaku was surprised a little because of his sudden question. "As I promised, if you need any assistance I can help you out too," Hifumi said when Damien is listening, seeing Kohaku's expression he continues. "It's just for a favor, I won't ask you for anything else. If you don't need any of my help, I'll leave you alone."

Damien looked at him while he nods his head. "After that, I will send some of my men to Jakarta to help you out with the situation over there."

Hifumi sighed when he was stepping back a little and fanning himself, he was in his assassin attributes during their mentorship to the newbies. "I'm telling my servants to serve them foods, since it hasn't been my turn yet," he said when he was stepping onto the stairs to the engawa with shoes off. Until he stopped and kneeling in front of Damien and Kohaku, however his entire focus is on Damien only.

Damien felt his fan lifted his chin up to face Hifumi, who spoke to him. "Remember this, I'm not hesitating to kill those bastards if you need it," Hifumi added to them as Kohaku noticed, he was staring at Damien and smiled happily like that in that usual cheerfulness of his voice. He remained like that for several minutes and Kohaku just watch quietly from his spot--

Damien kept his straight-faced expression that is more than cold expression, not saying much words when Hifumi smiled at him. As he told him the reminder for the future, he close his eyes to reconsider when the tip of his fan releasing his chin and Hifumi walked away elegantly. Kohaku had no idea what are they talking about, but he knew that Hifumi was serious about it. "Don't worry, Hifumi is always like that," Kohaku heard Damien spoke when he look at him, he tilted his head to the side. "He's just too cheerful to be suspicious."

The training session still continues when Kohaku watched them from the distance after Nadya is still mentoring the rookies in her part, Damien taught the rookies about the rules of assassins that must be done, especially when they were paid to kill and acting in undercover. Byakuya will be teaching them about the strength that can break their opponent's bones or most likely martial arts he'll taught them, Kyouka will be teaching them how to do defense after being captured or restrained because she was good at that. And lastly, Hisato focused on tactics, strategy plannings and an assassinating operations.

Kohaku was immersed with how they teach the rookie assassins--as he still dons his assassin attributes with his bullwhip, he learned that assassins must be skilled in almost everything, other than assassinating they must have sense of validity and following the code of ethics for them to managing them if they want to work for them.

"Interested to learn from them~?" Hifumi asked with a grin, which surprised him a little as he turn around to face him. "Sorry for scaring you, it's quite endearing since you're new but on advanced level of assassination mastery, I'm sure you can handle these people."

Kohaku nodded when he folded his arms, watching him holding his fan that covered his lips as the servants prepared the lunch for the rookie assassins. "Understood, sir," he responded to Hifumi, not wanting to disappoint him. "I would like to remind you that you shouldn't call me sir, there's no need for that. Can you follow me for a second?"

He asked with his suave-charming voice that make Kohaku nearly fainted, but he shake his head. "No thanks, I'll wait until lunch is served," he declined his offer, in which Hifumi smiled at him and his gaze was nowhere to replace. "If you don't want to, that's fine. I was just being nice to you, that's all," Hifumi reminded him, which made him froze by surprise-his mind went blank when he listens to his voice. For some reason, it was hypnotizing and Kohaku tempted to cover his ears--but he stopped himself.

"Do you remember what I said?" Hifumi whispered to him as he was trying to make the other side of him woke up, he was testing him so it wasn't something bad. His unfolded fan now covering his lips, his shimmering crystal blue eyes shimmered in the shadow underneath the roof of the temple where they are. His eyes are cold and calculating when she almost overwhelmed from his persuasion, hypnotic and seductive tone which enforce them into their ideals and making them dedicated in their duties.

Kohaku was hypnotized because of his voice, his body is still tense and stiff. He can feel his heart beating heavily because of his attention toward Hifumi, he couldn't resist the hypnosis that Hifumi caused on him when he was listening to him--before Damien came to interrupt and pushing him away respectfully. His conscious went back to normal once he broke free from Hifumi's hypnosis, he was panting heavily when Damien was holding Kohaku's shoulder to keep him standing on the ground and Damien scowled at Hifumi with shining red eyes. "What the fuck are you doing to him?"

"Forgive me, Commander-sama. It's my fault for having him on the edge and testing his dedication," Hifumi teased with a mischievous grin, a wicked glint in his eyes. "I thought it is best to test how your disciple can manage after they're trained for a long time."

Kohaku listened to them by his wide open eyes, he saw a shocked expression on Damien's face, before he raised his hand to hold the back of his head. "I'm sorry Damien..." he muttered, before Sherry assisting him to get him up from the ground. Damien look back at Kohaku, he couldn't blame him because he didn't expect Hifumi to hypnotize him without his consent. "Are you okay, Kayana? It looks like Hifumi triggered the deepest trauma inside your heart."

"Yes... I'm fine sir," he replied with a sigh, he was still a little shaken from the incident. Hifumi grinned under his fan, while Damien scowled at Hifumi because of what he was doing. "I guess that was not enough for a lesson," Hifumi said before he put away his fan, looking at Kohaku in the eye. "Anyways, I'm going to take a nap. Have fun!"

As Hifumi was taking a few steps forward, Kohaku immediately felt drowsy but he stayed up with his legs a little shaky and Damien led him to his spot to rest, taking note what Hifumi was doing to hypnotize him and left him sluggish and miserable when he's awake. "Hey, are you okay?" Byakuya asked, after he and Kyouka finished training the rookie assassins--while Kiryu also joined them and surprised of what happened. "Nya! What happened to you?!"

Hifumi was known to have a deceptive charm and be able to use it to get whatever he wants, or leave their soul with deep holes--one way or another, whenever he wanted it. His charisma, leadership, and wits was used to prevent them from resisting the temptations that cause misery to anyone, whether by breaking their will or leaving them in the fate of depression and loneliness because of him. "I feel like shit..." Kohaku cursed, taking off his glasses and rubbed his eyes that filled with tears.

Sherry glared at Hifumi from the distance, she loathed him since he had taken someone that she holds dear and to think that she couldn't forgive him for it. "He better fucking apologized after the mess he made," Sherry snarled, her wine-colored eyes glowed out of anger. Damien know why--Hifumi was good at manipulating people especially by using his powers, especially with his cold, clear and sweet voice, and uses his persuasive vocal cords whenever he wished, in order to either charm them or cause them even deeper madness. This Administrator is very good when it comes to vocal cords, since he can hurt others more than just mentally or physically... but also to inflict an actual wound on their chests when he was telling about their injuries, they almost thought he was the type of cunning person or more.

His father Kahayana approached his son Kohaku who was still affected from the hypnosis as well as the intense mental strain on him, he sighed and pat his shoulder gently to comfort him. When the time skips for lunch, everyone already arrived for them to eat the lunch (which consists of rice, grilled pork or chicken, greens, soup and dessert). While the masters were eating their lunch, the servants were invited for lunch as well, instead of being commanded to be serving to others.

Kohaku became incredibly weak and shaken from his encounter with Hifumi, resting his head on Sherry's lap like a cat who just woke up from his sleep. Sherry had a bored expression on her face, but it soften once she stared down at him who slept on her lap with his glasses still in her hand. He has nothing on his mind and it all looks like a piece of dream or reality isn't real, every single thing that happened on that day all of that events must be some sort of hallucination after the trauma when he was still new. "Hifumi is untrustworthy, he might be not serious when he's speaking... but he isn't the man that you want to play with. I had a rough time dealing with him," Damien told Kohaku who was still affected by the hypnosis, clutching his head on his hand. "My head... it hurts."

"He have this abilities to ensnared you in your consciousness, which sometimes make you hallucinating about something and it'll ended with a faint of heart, a mental fatigue from the psychic. He's a psychic like Kyoran, but he was moredangerous and insidious when it comes to deceptions. At least Kyoran can predict for the future, and read people's heart."

Kohaku was shocked to find out that Hifumi is a psychic, but also a very dangerous one in the wrong hands. "There was one time when Kiryu was on his way to get something from him, only to get in the wrong room that Hifumi traps him inside his hall of mirrors; which caused him to get disoriented. Also, his vocal cords is connected with his mental and mental effects were used for his advantages. Kiryu got scared of him after that, which is why he seeks under my lead instead of him and other Administrators," he told him.

Byakuya sighed deeply when listening to the information Damien mentioned, his eyes glanced at the sight of the other assassins like Hisato or Kyoran--even Nadya across them. "Kayana, are you okay?" Kahayana asked his son, watching Kohaku still laying down on the floor with his head on Sherry's lap and some of them seems suspicious and a bit pissed off. Damien must be aware of this, but he has to do something to assure them that no one should let their guard down. "Yeah... my vertigo hasn't recover just yet," he mumbled under his breath, with a hand covering his face.

Sherry played with the streaks of Kohaku's auburn short messy hair, she find him quite adorable with his fringes covering the streaks of his hair. His eyes are closed, she smiled as she see his sleeping face on her lap. The silence begins when they thought Kohaku already went into a slumber, she patted his head to make him comfortable to sleep and she didn't hesitate to show a loving smile upon him. "Hey, can you like stop that?" Kahayana told his colleague, seeing Sherry grinned at Kohaku's father who reprimanded her. "Mr. Tirta, you seems kind and noble like your son. Even though, we met for the first time."

Her eyes widened when he was glaring at her, making her huffed. "Fine, I promise I won't harm him--especially when Kayana and I are on the same age. Just let him have a rest, he won't realize what I'm doing..." Sherry told him that she and Kohaku are the same age (which is 21 years old), while the latter seems to be in a deep sleep. "That doesn't mean you can flirt with him, just get him away from you," Kahayana reminded her, to which she scoffed a sigh. Damien took a glance on both of them and smiled, knowing his close companion had grown feeling attached towards them.

Kiryu was teasing Kohaku by tickling his nose to make him wake up, as he laugh at his reaction--making Kohaku grumbled. "Stop..." he whined, while Byakuya sighed and Kyouka snickered at his reaction. "That's enough, you don't have to ruin his rest."

When the mentorship had finished, they were ready to head home.

That night...

'There will be rebellion.'

Damien read the script in his mind, holding the screenplay book on his hand as he circled the line.

'That rebellion will trigger another riot, causing casualties and more chaotic for all of you.'

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