He snorted a bit while looking at the message, his eyes rolled slightly. Of course he'd get rid of the nuisance or else he'd streak around his apartment complex naked singing the fight song of Sweden's football team at the top of his lungs. He'd be damned if some punk tried to out hack him. That would be like hell freezing over and Santa Claus was handing out presents to the Devil. He growled lowly, grinding his molars together as he waited for the virus to go through, though he knew the little prick was trying to figure out a way to stop it. Snorting once again, he sent another virus as second warning. He was not to be toyed with. He took great pride in his abilities and he wouldn't let Azrai down after the few years they had been working together. Murmuring gibberish to himself, he hurried the process of getting all of Shizu's identity finished. She and Azrai wouldn't be able to leave Japan unless she was registered in the system. He even made a falsified birth certificate to put in one of the random hospital computers. He assumed in the general area of Tokyo would be fine for now. It wasn't like anyone would ask for her hometown anyways.

He went through a list in his head, checking off all the items that he had completed. He grinned in satisfaction as monitor three had yet to pop up with another intruder alert, served the little brat right. Leaning back in his chair, he popped his neck, allowing himself a short yawn. He looked at monitors one and two, the files and data close to completion. Now that his little problem was out of the way, even though it had hardly been a problem, everything was running smoothly. See, he was a very reliable associate. He looked over at the rumpled sheets of his bed, knowing that it would be cold when he returned. If he could fall asleep after this, which would be a God send, though he was sure that he would stay awake. That hacker caused him a bit of uneasiness. He had to make sure nothing transpired, so he would stay up and watch over everything until they left Japan. He was sort of a perfectionist, obsessing over his work until he knew that it was a success.

He entered a few more keys and codes, before he pressed the 'Execute' button. He watched as Shizu slowly had a life that filtered through the security system. She had been home schooled all her life, graduating with high scores and was currently taking a few years off from her studies at a university to travel. It seemed plausible. She had transcripts and immunization records at a small clinic just outside of Tokyo. He grinned pleased with his work. He pulled up Azrai's number sending him the final text. 'Looks like you both are ready to go. Where do you want this sent to?' He knew that she would at least need her passport and identification card for the airport. If there was a post office around their location, he could hack into the system and have her new card and passport there within a few seconds. Another yawn escaped him; sleep could wait until his part was done.

------

When he let out an agitated noise, she wondered if her questions had been too abundant. She frowned and was about to apologize though her eyes zoned in on the device in his hand. She gingerly took it from him, flipping it over in her hands. She nodded her head as he tried to explain the workings of the device. It was so light yet slightly heavy, if that made any sense. "Does this device have a name?" She was slightly confused with the whole idea of signal towers but it seemed that Azrai was having a difficult time trying to explain it to her. "Then I shall accept your explanation without question as well," she said with a slight quirk of her lips. Humans were strange, how could they not ask about important things like technological advances. But in order to conform to society, she would take his answer as it was and not voice complaints. That was the human thing to do right? Don't question what is given.

She turned it around and opened it, looking at the illuminated screen. How queer. She looked at all the numbers and letters on the buttons and she was still curious as to how it worked. She closed it and looked at it more, one day she would figure it out for herself. She jumped when the phone came to life in her hand, flailing around a bit and nearly dropping it, she immediately handed it back to Azrai. She would have inspected it more though she had not been expecting it to move like that. Her heart was in her throat and she flushed in embarrassment. Those devices should come with a warning or something, least she have a heart attack when it decided to move. She immediately recovered when he talked about his card. Plastic? She agreed that it had to be manmade; nature couldn't produce something as hard as that, unless it was glass or precious stones. That was all the explanation she needed. She was sure she would run into even more manmade products soon.

The roar in the sky caused her to jump and she glanced up when Azrai pointed in that direction. She blinked seeing this weird...bird? No that couldn't be a bird, could it? It lacked feathers and did not call out like one. How fascinating! How could that large object be flying in the sky? Humans must have made that as well, but how? She tilted her head and glanced over at her counterpart. "So, we will ride that...metal bird and fly through the air? Is it safe?" She called it a bird because that was the only other animal that she could think of. Well, she supposed it could be a dragon but it had yet to breathe fire. Besides, dragons were elusive creatures. It would be a true gift from Kami-sama to see one. She continued to the metal bird go through the air until it disappeared over the tree line.

She shook her head, feeling a head ache coming. "Your world is all so strange. How can you manage?" She wasn't sure if she wanted an answer though she stiffened slightly, glancing around she felt something amiss. Frowning she cleared her throat, trying to remain calm. She had to remember that they were being followed and at any second someone could be slinging bullets through the air. "I believe we have stayed in this spot for too long," she commented lowly, knowing that Azrai would get the hint. She could pick up the faint scent of someone nearing them. She didn't care if it was an innocent bystander or a henchman, all she knew was that she didn't want to stay around to find out. "We should probably move to a place that we can easily become hidden. What do you say?"

She was a fast learner and she understood that wherever one of them sensed danger, it would be best to avoid it at all costs. She also knew that there were things in life that would scar her and haunt her sleep. She prepared herself slowly for that, after all she had seen death twice in less than two days and known nothing but torture back in the village. What else could possibly scar her? Never mind that thought because she knew there was a lot more in this world than the cold hard truth of death and the cruelty of torture. She sighed and looked around again, the person was getting closer. She didn't want to have to deal with another park scene but then again, she knew she needed to feed. But it was still early in the day and anyone could see it happen. Frowning she allowed her voice of reason to win over her other side. She had enough self control to last for six months, a few more hours wasn't going to hurt. She had led the way last time, so she figured Azrai would do it this time, assuming that his contact had what they needed. It would give them a good reason to move.

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Thank God Shizu hadn’t dropped the phone after it went off otherwise they would probably be stuck here. His contact was their only ticket out of here as far as he knew; it would be a disaster if he was unable to keep in touch with him. The moment she handed the phone back to him, he exhaled softly and relaxed a bit. He was tense when he though she was going to drop it, imagining all the pieces that made the phone scatter and the fragile screen would be left with a giant crack in it. Picking up the pieces would not have been fun. And that brought on yet another thing: he never understood why people made such fragile things now. Back a few years ago, everything was a lot more durable, not things were fragile and broke a lot easier. He reminded himself constantly about that considering he was rough with technology when it didn’t work for him and as a result he has gone through about five phones in a span of six years.

Taking his attention away from Shizu for a moment, he answered his contact with an ‘Excellent, as always. I believe there is a post office somewhere close to the hotel that I am staying at. Send it there.’ Sometimes they had that sort of mental connection where they often thought alike, where they were almost completely in sync even if they were on different ends of the world. It was a bit scary but then again great minds always thought alike. Not to mention it only made sense to have those things sent to a post office. They got a long so well because they often did think alike, and likewise worked well together when it came down to business. Unfortunately that was mostly all their relationship was, business, since they hardly ever spoke face to face and whenever they did, all they usually discussed was business. It didn’t come as much of a surprise though.

Azrai was not a man who made small talk even with the people he considered friends, as reserved as he was, and was always about business and it took a lot to get him sidetracked. He had a one track mind most of the time and he was stubborn as all hell. Drove a lot of his friends nuts just how stubborn he could be most days.

Grinning at Shizu, “Preparations for our trip are almost complete. I plant to… have us leave Japan within a day or so.” He told her softly. “Do not worry, flying is completely safe, I assure you.” Well that might only be partially true considering a lot of things, but in a way flying was a lot safer than driving since you didn’t have to worry about traffic. Instead your only worry was plummeting to the ground at almost five hundred miles per hour over the middle of nowhere. The possibilities of that happening were low, but still something to keep in the back of your mind. Of course he wouldn’t mention this to Shizu since he didn’t want her to worry about it too much. He was hoping he could get her on the plane without much trouble, but knowing her curiosity and how she seemed to tag along with him without much hesitation maybe it wouldn’t be as hard as he thought. He just liked to make things seem harder than they were most of the time.

When she mentioned leaving, he couldn’t help but get a feeling like they were being watched and he felt himself becoming somewhat restless again. He looked around, seeing nobody in particular that stuck out to him, before slowly giving her a nod. They had already stood around enough, surely those men would return. He kept his composure but the thought of those men coming back made his trigger finger once again restless and he reached under his jacket, ready to pull his gun if needed. The number of people that were in the area was few, that was to be expected for the morning, but he really didn’t want any attention drawn to them. He gestured for them to start walking and he did so, heading back towards the hotel to confirm that there was definitely a post office there. If there wasn’t then he would probably break his own leg off and kick himself with it.

“I have an idea,” he spoke suddenly when they came near what looked to be a small corner lined with areas for shopping. There were two clothing stores. “I mean you no offense, I assure you… but I could not help but notice your clothes are a bit dirty. How about we find you a more suitable outfit to help you blend in a little more?” A simple change of clothes could go a long way in the end, and what better way to have her start her new life than find a change of clothes? If she refused he would understand completely; not only were those probably clothes she has known all her life and modern clothes probably would not appeal to her but here she was shopping with a man. That was probably odd for her and he wound understand, considering she was old custom and he was still a stranger. He had no intentions of doing anything of course but it was at least worth a shot.

She could have some new clothes to go with her new identity, a new look to start her new life. The idea was something he wanted for her, not just because he did not want to deal with any more goons coming after them. Perhaps she would be less recognizable if she had a change of clothes, and he figured it would help her understand the modern world a bit more. It would give her a little more freedom knowing she could make her own choices as well, he figured. However, perhaps she would wish to stick with her customs instead of conforming to modern clothes, and he would respect that. He had no intentions of forcing things on her, this was simply a suggestion. This modern world was more about free will with a few exceptions. And in all honesty it was a beautiful kimono though he felt if he voiced his opinion she would probably feel a little uncomfortable and think he him to be some sort of pervert.

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He had already been hacking into the postal system when he received the message. He grinned to himself seeing how they did, in fact, think alike. That was what made him a reliable source. Azrai was not the kind of man to talk much and after a few years of knowing him, it became a habit to try and figure out what was in that man's head. It had been difficult at first, since he hadn't been used to dealing with stubborn people. Elias was a fast learner, that's why he had been chosen to help Azrai in the beginning, and after a while he began to think a few steps ahead of the other. Trying to figure out what other steps the man was going to take and he had made plans for all those situations. Another ping let him now that his hack as successful and he sent the information to the post office.

'Everything is in order. I sent it to a post office a few buildings down from the hotel you're staying in. I'll be up for a while, let me know if you need anything else.'

He leaned back in his chair, watching his monitors. He was itching to figure out who that hacker had been. With a whirl of his chair, he went to his kitchen to brew more coffee. Might as well pass the time somehow, he thought to himself.

-----

She nodded her head as he told her of their plans. So within the course of the next day or so, they would be in the air. Honestly, the idea of being so high had never really occurred to her. She had thought it impossible for humans to be able to fly like birds, but in modern times, she assumed anything was possible. Humans were strange creatures, they could make all these mechanical objects yet they took for granted what nature gave them. It made her sad to know that people had lost the value of nature and all the earthly splendors that she gave, but that's why humans were strange. They were very selfish creatures, wanting more and more not caring about the price to pay. She had seen the villagers become drunk with greed. Always wanting better prices and more for less. They wanted more money and a better way of living. She shuddered at the thought of how the modern people would be like.

She noticed how he tensed and she probably should have said that someone was coming towards them, even though they were not in plain view. She knew that he would be in the zone once she had spoken about it, but alas, she was still not used to conversations. She didn't want to just stand around and say nothing, but she was sure she could have hinted that she sensed something. Then again, she tried not to speak about her Oni side. Although he said he wouldn't let it bother him, she was courteous enough not to talk about her demonic abilities or her cravings for blood. It wasn't exactly a good conversation starter and she was sure that Azrai was still getting used to the idea of her being not human. It was a big concept to understand, the supernatural that is. It was meant to be hidden, due to the irrational fear that humans tended to have about anything out of the norm. That was the main reason why she was isolated and locked away, because she was feared for being anything but human.

They walked away from the secluded area they had been standing in. Shizu had to say that she was very pleased with herself. In that short period of time, she had been able to trust in a complete stranger by telling her true nature. At least she hadn't shown Azrai her true form, this one that she was in now was just for being able to blend in within society. She was sure that he would have had a hell of a time trying to figure out what he was seeing. She scrunched her nose a bit, remembering that she was never supposed to let a human see her change. The human mind was fragile and weak; she knew that it could do some heavy psychological damage on the mind. Not to say that Azrai wasn't capable of handling it but she would be cautious when she felt she was on the edge of changing. Aside from those thoughts, she had also been able to learn a few things about the modern time. It was only a small amount of information but she had enough to quench her curious appetite.

She glanced down at her clothing then she looked at his, before her eyes danced about at everyone around her. He did have a point; her kimono did make her stand out a bit. Everyone else wore these tight looking hakama pants and tighter shirts. "So, I will be wearing clothing that is similar to yours," she said aloud not really expecting an answer. This kimono symbolized a lot of memories. The ones that she had all were her mother's outfits before she died. Her stepfather hadn't had the heart to throw them out, so he had given them to her when she reached a certain age. This style of clothing was all she knew. She looked at the clothing stores that they had, realizing that her kind of fashion was long outdated. It was no wonder that people looked at her with question, she certainly did stray from the modern norm. Unless people thought that she was a Geisha or Maiko, but that wouldn't have made sense, since she kept her hair down. With a slight release of an uneasy breath, she nodded her head.

"I do not know much about the...fashion style of this time but if you think that I would be able to blend in better, I am willingly to try," she said in a hesitant tone. If she took off this kimono, she would lose all that she had left of her mother. Perhaps she could keep the kimono. However, this kimono also represented the past. That past was full of horrors that still shook her to the bone. She knew that getting rid of her kimono would be another step to becoming a new person. It would be another step to starting a new life. She was still hesitant, not sure what was acceptable in this modern society. She was well aware that she needn't worry about showing off her body, like some women and men did, but she did seek approval from Azrai. "If you could possibly tell me what would be suitable for me to choose then I believe that I can find something on my own. Most men either feel uncomfortable or loathe the idea of shopping." She smirked at a memory that came to mind. A guard had been taking her out to buy a ribbon for her hair, he had been her personal guard for years and she knew that even though he didn't like her, he was kind enough to offer an opinion. Which he would always murmur about how much he hated when women asked him about which color looked nice. It was one of the few pleasant memories she had growing up.

They moved slowly through the shopping district, her eyes glancing at different stores. Kimonos were expensive, so it would probably be better off if she stopped wearing them. She eyed what some of the women were wearing, trying to get an idea of what to wear. There were dresses, shorter dresses, pants, tight pants, loose shirts, and much more. She was sure that Azrai had little opinion in fashion, especially women's fashion. She laughed at the image of his impassive face while she asked him about which outfit he liked better. Surely he would shrug his shoulder and say they both looked nice, he was a gentleman like that. She stopped in front of a small shop; she read the sign '75% Discount!' Shizu was a bargain hunter and she assumed that it was because women liked getting the cutest things for a cheap price. "I think that this shop shall be suitable," she said more to herself than the other. She moved through the aisle of clothing, not really used to things being so cluttered. In her village everything was placed spaciously throughout the store. She turned around to look at Azrai, her brows crinkled a bit and she looked a bit frustration. "I have no idea how to wear any of these clothes." It probably been funny for a normal girl to say it, trying to be dramatic, however Shizu was dead serious. She wasn't sure how these outfits worked. At least with kimono, it was simply layer after layer until it was all tied together with a matching obi. Why would anyone want to change from the simple way of dressing? Humans were weird.

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The slight hesitation was something he had been expecting of her, there was no mistaking catching on to it when she answered him. She was still willing to try, which made him feel a little better about helping her out with this. He was not usually one for shopping for new clothes unless it was absolutely necessary; his attire was simple and nothing he wore was too out of the ordinary like some modern styles and he was not the type of man to dress up though he always did dress nicely. He just wore casual clothes that always seemed to suit him well. In his opinion there was no need for fancy accessories, and let’s face it: some modern styles were just plain ridiculous. Why would people want holes in their pants or even want to wear tight pants regardless of gender? Surely it was uncomfortable, and he was someone who would much rather wear comfortable clothes. That being said, he was not expecting her to choose clothes that were similar to his. He was a man for one, and he wanted her to develop her own taste in style once she got a better idea of what the clothing was like.

Then again, glancing around, there were some things that said they were for men that he could not help but question. For example, while he walked with her through the store he noticed that there was a pair of green and yellow plaid pants that he would not be caught dead in. They looked more like something a younger, rebellious teenage female would wear than a male.

At least the prices were reasonable in this store. Since Shizu seemed to pick the cheaper of the stores around this area so perhaps this would go easier than he expected, namely on his wallet. However, she had left him to decide on something for her to give her a better idea of what she should wear and that was what was difficult for him. How the hell was he supposed to know what she would like or what her size would be when it came to pants… and bras especially. That was a subject he would much rather avoid for various reasons, but the main reason being he didn’t want to insult her in any way. His level of discomfort rose a bit and he couldn’t help but sigh as he glanced around the clothes, hoping he didn’t seem too awkward to the people around him. There was only one other time he had to shop for a woman, but it has been at least nine years since then though the memory was something that was enjoyable. He remembered buying her a simple dress shirt and how much she loved it so much that she smiled and expressed her thanks with a hug.

When he finally found a simple blouse that had a similar pattern that her kimono did, he returned to her and held it out where she could take in the appearance carefully, “Will this be alright?” He was slightly hesitant but he managed to grin slightly. He tried to keep a nonchalant look on his face but it was obvious he wasn’t comfortable picking out clothes for her. It was a start, right? He was indeed stepping out of his comfort zone a bit here. If she liked it maybe she could build off of it like she had said about finding something on her own and he would feel less uncomfortable about this. If she didn’t, there were plenty clothes around, perhaps he could simply find something else for her until she was satisfied. Maybe she wanted a dress? He was trying to picture her in a few different styles of clothes but it only added to his discomfort. What made it worse was she said that she didn’t really know how to wear these clothes. He couldn’t help but stare a little but at the same time he gave a nod of understanding.

Of course she wouldn’t know how to wear these clothes… though he was sure it was self explanatory and she didn’t need his help with it. How was he supposed to help her? Did she want him to dress her? Was he supposed to take his own clothes off and do a little demonstration? At first he thought she would be the one who was uncomfortable, but in the end it was he who was uncomfortable with this. Perhaps he should put a little more thought about what he was getting himself into, but he knew that this would do her some good. He wasn’t about to back out of this now after all. As he always had, he took a moment to collect his thoughts before he answered her again, “Honestly, I do not quite understand what you mean when you say you do not have any idea how to wear these clothes.” He told her quietly as he unbuttoned the blouse, feeling slightly embarased that he didn't understand. “You just slide your arms through the sleeves and work with the buttons, making sure they are aligned, until each button hole is filled.”

It was probably a crappy explanation but it was the best he could come up with. People were probably staring now. He really was being honest, though. “Of course I could always… demonstrate if you truly are having trouble figuring it out…” It was his turn to be hesitant. It sounded like he was being facetious but he was actually being rather serious. It probably came from being rather uncomfortable; he doesn’t usually handle being uncomfortable very well though over the years he has learned to keep himself calm and not make it too obvious. Hopefully she wouldn’t need that, surely she would rather not see him shirtless, but if it had to be done then it had to be done. He supposed he wouldn’t have a problem with showing her how to put a **** on, even if his was simply a button-up shirt and not a blouse. Perhaps this was part of him being a teacher, showing her about this new world that she would slowly be calling home.

That being said, what would he do once it came down to finding her a pair of pants, or perhaps a skirt? He couldn’t really demonstrate putting on a skirt, he would never bring himself to do that, and he wasn’t too fond of her seeing him in his underwear either way. Then he really would feel like some creepy pervert. Maybe he was thinking too much into this...

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She watched him for a while, waiting for his opinion. She could see that he was not comfortable with this at all. She watched as he glanced around the clothes, he looked a bit lost honestly. She wanted to laugh a bit, to see a man like him surrounded by such feminine garments made her mood lighten. She had been so worried about this and that, that she had forgotten that she was free. Well, sort of, she was very close to being completely free. She looked at him, realizing that he probably wasn't going to be of much help. She looked at the blouse that he had picked out, tilting her head. It looked very nice, similar to what she wore. "It is very nice, however, I feel like I should stay away from something that would...still look like me." She sighed and shook her head. "You must understand that I only wear one garment, all of these pieces here." She flung her hand around suggesting the entirety of the store. "Confuse me," she admitted in a slightly frustrated tone. She wasn't mad at him but the whole different fashion thing was annoying at this point.

If anything, she did not want to see him shirtless, ever. Not saying that there was anything wrong with him, he was a good looking man but she just couldn't think like that. Thinking about the bare flesh of a man made her skin crawl in an unsettling manner and her stomach would roll around in an agonizing knot. It brought flashbacks that she was not willing to work through or remember she would need some serious therapy to get over that feeling. She tried to hold back the sudden wave of discomfort that came to her. She held up her hands frantically, waving them quickly. "I do not think that it will be necessary for you to demonstrate. Your explanation was suitable." She got the gist of it, though she wasn't sure how she liked the buttons, since they were new to her. They seemed like a tedious task to have to deal with, though she did like the design of it. The black color suited her the most, while the multicolored pinwheels looked similar to one of her other kimonos. She gently took the hanger out of his hand, holding the shirt closer to her face for better inspection. "I like this," she murmured, rubbing her fingers in the fabric, it was soft.

She nodded her head, deciding that she had found one part of her outfit; it was time to continue to look for another piece. She hummed to herself, enjoying the luxury of actually being able to shop. She stopped in front of a rack of light blue colored pants, she stared at them and she looked at the long holes of fabric. She assumed it worked the same way as the shirt did, but for the legs. She held up a few hangers, not sure if she liked the way some of them looked. She was sure that Azrai wouldn't know what to do either. She compared the pants to the kind he was wearing, his looked baggier and more comfortable, though she supposed that it was because he was a man and he didn't have curves to show off. Though some pants in this store were questionable. She picked a few pairs, wanting to find a place to try them on. She had also picked up a cropped gray jack to cover her arms. She wasn't comfortable exposing the bruises on her body. She wanted them to be healed first.

"Do you need help miss," one of the workers asked her. She flinched a bit staring at the woman, her anxiety levels rising. She could barely understand her dialect, her eyes wide with fear. The lady smiled at her and looked at Azrai and winked. "I see you're taking your lady shopping, how sweet." Shizu squeaked as she was escorted to the lingerie section, a flush touching her face. She looked at Azrai, a silent plea coming from her. "My comrade and I are nothing like that," she said to the woman. "Sure thing honey but you need to look good for him," the woman said nonchalantly, ignoring her and happily picking out a wide selection of bras. Shizu glanced down at the weird item on clothing, just what the hell was she supposed to do with this. "Um...what is this," she asked hesitantly. The woman gave her a dull stare before she sighed. "It's a bra honey; it covers your girls and lifts them." Shizu blinked at the weird slang and frowned. "My...girls?" The woman shook her head, acting like she was talking to some kind of moron. '"Yeah your girls...ya know...breasts." If she could, Shizu wanted to die from embarrassment. How could women be so...crude? She wore bindings around her chest for modesty, though she knew of some women would allow the layers of their kimono to cover their chest.

"Just go try them on and if you need help let me know." She ushered the protesting Oni into the Dressing Room before shaking her head. She honestly had never met such a clueless lady before. She moved off to help other customers who knew what they wanted. Shizu stood in the changing room with an arm full of bras and clothes. She looked at the bras before setting them down. She needed to recover from that situation. This world was so strange. She decided that she wanted to change, pay, and leave as soon as possible before another humiliating moment happened. She quickly got dressed to the explanation that Azrai had given her, though the bra part had been confusing, resulting in a few moments of being tangled in the straps. When she was finally done, she looked at herself in the reflecting glass. She...looked different or should she say more modern. Everything fit accordingly without displaying herself like some common prostitute. She was satisfied. Now for the verdict, not that Azrai would know that she was seeking his approval. It was a habit that she had to get out of because she knew it would cause annoyance. Who liked someone who always wanted their approval? No one.

Walking out of the dressing room, after she had neatly folded all the clothes she didn't want, she looked over at Azrai rather shyly. She held her old kimono tightly in her hands, before she stopped in front of him. She held out the kimono to him and bowed her head slightly. "Please sell this. I know that it may be dirty, but kimonos like this are hard to come by. A collector would love this and clean it. I...I do not wish to own it anymore," she said softly, knowing that he could understand why she would want to rid it. She wanted to start over and leave that wretched, old life behind. "I have been spending a lot of the money you have and this could fetch a very pleasant price." She knew that it would and overall it would make her feel better about spending his money if she paid him back.

She tucked a piece of her hair behind her ear, feeling a bit embarrassed. She didn't even bother looking for the woman who had helped her, well embarrassed her. "I think that this outfit will suffice for the time being," she muttered lowly. “Are you ready?” She reminded herself that this would be the last she would go shopping with a man or in such a store like this one. But it had been cheap, so she wouldn’t complain too much.

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At first he narrowed his eyes when she told she liked the blouse but at the same time was not satisfied with it. She did have a point when she said she wanted to stick with something that was completely different than what she had one, but he couldn’t help but feel his frustration level rise slightly. If she did not like the blouse then he would have to find another one and Lord knows how long that would take until she decided she was satisfied with him. However, he wouldn’t have to worry about that, because she then took the blouse out of his hand and decided that she did like it. He couldn’t help but grin and nod when she expressed her satisfaction and because he was happy that his explanation worked well for her and he didn’t need to remove his own shirt to demonstrate. That brought back a great deal of his comfort though at first glance it probably wasn’t that noticeable. It also meant he could relax and wait for her to be finished.

Surely she wanted to be out of here as quickly as possible. From the look on her face she was just as uncomfortable as he was, it almost made him feel like he was being a little selfish bringing her here to shop for a new outfit. Also, had this not been a public area and had the lady been someone looking to take Shizu back to that place, he probably would have ripped that lady’s throat out (figuratively, not literally) for taking Shizu and then saying that he was taking his lady shopping… They were ten years apart and the thought of them being a couple was highly unlikely, not just because of their age. Not only was he the kind of man who didn’t really think of that sort of thing, not since his first and last love, as he felt his heart was too hardened for loving another woman. He had just met Shizu and surely she was not the kind of woman who looked for love at first sight herself. He snorted at such thoughts, somewhat amused by them, by how uncomfortable they made him.

It was probably better that a woman helped her out anyway since he was obviously not much help. While he waited for her to finish, he looked around the store for himself, seeing if anything caught his eye while he was here.

Perhaps he would pick out a shirt for himself as well since it has been at least three years since he has gotten any new shirts. He was not going to be the typical tourist and pick out an ‘I love Japan’ shirt or anything stupid like that. Instead he wanted something that he could look at, that reminded him of Japan and when people asked him about the shirt he could say ‘yes, I did get this while I was in Japan.’ It was just something he did whenever he travelled assuming he had the money. Looking at the prices here, though it was cheap, he couldn’t help but cringe slightly as he once again worried about not being able to afford anything. And son of a ****ing, he had forgotten to stop at the bank on the way here. He groaned at the thought and shook his head with a sigh. In the end he just decided that she needed it more than he did and decided to hold off on buying himself a new shirt.

When Shizu returned to him, he took in her appearance, raising his eyebrows slightly at how much the new look really did change her. He really wasn’t sure what to say at first but he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was a bit nervous. Before he could say anything to her, however, she had held out her kimono and told him to sell it. He hesitantly took it out of her hands, not quite sure how to respond though he indeed understood why she wanted to get rid of it. It must hold some rather horrible memories of her old life and he didn’t question it, only gave a slight nod not really saying anything. A part of him didn’t want to sell it, though, as it was a nice kimono but on the other hand it probably would sell for a fair price and what the hell was he going to do with it. He didn’t really have anyone to give it to… not anymore anyway… Cassandra would have loved it if she were still alive.

The entire time he was here, he had tried not to show how shopping with a woman also made him remember his old love. It saddened him a bit, remembering good times, and it probably showed a bit as he eyed the kimono though as always he would never voice it. He immediately turned his attention back to Shizu once again and smoothed back into his more professional demeanor, “If you insist that I sell this then I suppose I will have no objections.” He folded the kimono neatly and laid it over his arm carefully. Flashing a faint grin, “I have to say, you look rather… lovely. I feel this change suits you quite well. We shall take our leave once I pay.”

He walked over to the register, noticing how the woman was not pleased that she had to come out from behind the register to scan the price tags. Luckily there were no security devices on the clothing, otherwise Shizu would have had to put her kimono back on again, though he did have to make up a little lie and tell the woman that his friend had an ‘unexpected accident that required a change of clothes’ and the woman seemed to understand. Since Azrai was not a woman and therefore didn’t have to experience going through having his period, he didn’t know how else to put it. Didn’t women usually use that as an excuse to get a new pair of pants and underwear? After everything was paid for, the two left the shop, glad to just be out of there.

He even let out a sigh of relief and ran a hand through his hair, relaxing a bit more now that he didn’t have to deal with that. Oh the things he does for his job… but had he really done it for his job? It could probably be looked at as both a selfish thing and something nice he wanted to do for her. He had used his own money after all, and those clothes alone nearly sucked him dry and he was almost out already even if it had been rather cheap. Japan was such an expensive place… But he felt pretty good knowing that he had done something nice to get her started in her new life. He glanced at the kimono in his arms as they walked along the street, wondering if perhaps he should throw it away, but he figured that would just be mean even though it would mean neither of them would have to see it again. Not to mention someone else might find it if he tossed it in the garbage…

“Are you truly satisfied with what you are wearing?” He asked her suddenly. Though she had said the clothes would suffice, he wanted to make sure that they were really comfortable for her. It would be a bit pointless taking her out if she was not satisfied. As much as he liked her kimono, this new look was nice as well as he had said. He wanted her to be more open and express her opinions. Women had a lot more freedom in the modern world than they did back then; he wanted her to be more aware of that if she wasn’t already.

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She was still hesitant to give him the kimono, it did hold terrible memories but it had sentimental value to her. She wasn't sure if she should feel relieved when he took it from her. A part of her wanted to take back what she had said and ask for the article of clothing back. But wouldn't that show that she was weak? She didn't want to appear weak; she wanted to be a strong woman. She took her eyes off the kimono, trying to find some sort of closure. She was sure that once it was no longer in their possession she could overcome the loss. Besides, she had her mother's blood in her, so it wasn't like the memory was completely gone. Besides it wasn't like she could remember her face that well, she had died when she was a very young girl. She could remember a few things like the kimono she wore, how she always had her hair down, and her soft magenta eyes. That was about it, those few images were what she kept close to her heart. She was saddened that she had never really gotten to know either of her parents. She had read about her father in the older scrolls at the Compound but that was all she knew. She assumed that was all she needed to know, he had been a ruthless Oni.

She smiled as he voiced his thoughts on the offer; she was glad that he didn't make it any harder for her. She was still torn by the idea of getting rid of it but she was determined to start a new life. That kimono symbolized the harsh life she had had and she would never escape it if she didn't rid it. She looked down at her outfit, still trying to get used to the way the fabric felt, she had honestly never worn anything so body fitting. Not to say the pants were extremely tight or anything, it was just different from her usual choice of garb. She smiled as he gave her a small compliment and she bowed her head. "Thank you, I think this change is pleasant as well." She was happy that he found her new look pleasing and that was more than enough to make her feel more confident in her choice of clothing. She felt uncomfortable as the woman scanned the tags of her clothing, though she was curious of the item she was using to do so.

When they exited the shop, she felt herself become more relaxed. She was honestly beginning to not like shopping. Well maybe she had just had one bad experience today, so it would be alright. Next time, however, she would not bring Azrai, that is if he was still around when she needed to go shopping again. It was doubtful; these clothes would be fine until they reached their next destination, which would mean that they would part ways. She quickly became captured with anxiety, just who had asked him to come on this mission? How did they know of her misfortunes? She knew that it was something that she needed to ask Azrai. She was felt like she was a package, being handed off to one owner to another. It was wrong to think like that; surely the person who had hired Azrai was only looking out for her well being. But she couldn't help but be skeptical; she had known betrayal and cruelty all her life.

She was a bit surprised that he was concerned about how she liked her clothing. She thought about a response as they walked, not wanting to sound like she hated the outfit. "I am truly satisfied," she said softly, glancing up at him. "Indeed I am trying to get used to the way it feels and how to maneuver, but I like it a lot, actually. It makes me feel...normal," she admitted. However, this whole bra thing was uncomfortable but she assumed that was not something a man needed to hear. She would just have to get used to this unholy contraption. She pulled her hair over her shoulder, running her slender fingers through the soft locks. She pondered if she should do something with it, perhaps cut it? The thought sent a terrible pain through her heart that was just something that she couldn't bring herself to do. Instead, she decided that pulling it into a messy braid would throw people off. She tied the tip in a knot, her hair able to withstand that kind of pressure. The braid fell over her shoulder, which made her look more in tune with the modern society.

She glanced around, realizing that they were heading towards the general area of the hotel. She remembered that his contact had to have been finished with the items they needed by now, right? She nodded her head knowing that they were probably going to retrieve such things. She was content at this point; she didn't feel like someone could easily spot her out in the crowd, at least from behind. Face to face, she knew she wouldn't be hard to miss. Maybe she could enjoy the city now, learning more and more without the thought of being found out. It would take a while before someone could actually recognize her. She smiled at being able to blend in and not being stared at. It was...pleasant.

However her pleasant feeling faded and she was brought back to the thought of who she would be going to when they left Japan. She glanced at Azrai, unsure as to how she put her question into words. "Azrai...do you know who asked to have you rescue me? It has been on my mind," she said gently. She was generally curious as to the person who wanted her freed. She had never met anyone outside of her village so it was quite impossible that she knew who Azrai had been hired by. She was just curious. Maybe it was better if she didn’t know that way she could just be content of being rescued. But she wasn’t; she feared that she was just going to be moved to another wretched place. That was normal right? She couldn’t help but feel like she might get a small sample of what being free was like, before she was locked away again. She was being paranoid again and she knew that she had to stop thinking about the worst possible situations. It really needed to stop or else she would drive herself insane.

She tugged at the braided plait that was her hair, feeling like she was going to be extremely on edge until she met the person who wanted to save her. She also wondered how much money Azrai would be getting for this mission which was rude of her to think of. It wasn't like it would benefit her to know such things, but his occupation did intrigue her. Which it probably shouldn't but she had never heard of anyone who would willingly put themselves in harm's way to save someone. It was fascinating and horrifying at the same time. She was beyond curious about the male who was walking beside her. She knew it was probably in her best interest to not try and become too friendly with him. It would hurt when they separated for good. She frowned at the thought but knew that was why he had yet to be more open with her. He was keeping this strictly professional and she should as well.

Though she was curious by nature and he was the first person that she had come in contact from the modern world. It was only plausible that she was interested about the kinds of things that he did. She bit the inside her cheek, keeping the questions she had about him at bay. She should remain oblivious about his life and he would do the same for her. The only reason she had told him about her true self was because it was necessary. She would only tell him the necessary facts that he needed to know, anything else would not be important. They would remain professional. Perhaps when they left Japan, she could make a friend in their new destination. That would be nice, a friend to have secrets with. She wanted to laugh at the idea of acting like a naive girl once more, but she knew that wasn't possible. She could only hope that she would be as willingly as she was now to find a friend.

But she was a strong woman and Azrai would guide her in the right direction to becoming more independent. She could manage, hopefully.

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If she was truly satisfied then he would be satisfied as well knowing that she could be a bit more relaxed since she had more freedom and didn’t have to worry too much about being found out. He wanted her to be more confident; he wanted her to know that she was truly free to make her own decisions without his help. It would definitely help them in leaving Japan. Perhaps those men from earlier were probably still looking for a woman in a kimono… which reminded him he should probably change his own clothes but he would do that once he was back to the hotel. Even though he had changed this morning, he was often the kind of man who took precautions. He had packed enough clothes for about a week, so he wouldn’t have much trouble picking something out. However, as far as doing anything with his hair, that was out of the question since it was far too short to be placed in a pony tail or anything. Not that he would do such a thing anyway.

In his opinion it was just plain queer for a man to tie his hair back or put any hair accessories and it was something else he would not be caught dead doing. Call it pride, call it what you will. He simply refused to have long hair and honestly never understood why men allowed their hair to become as long as a woman’s. Maybe he was a bit odd in that sense, especially since he grew up in a strict Jewish household where their laws were absolute, but every day it became more and more evident that everyone was weird in some way. Not that he was saying Shizu was weird, of course; her way of thinking was understandable as she was not use to it. He respected it. And when she said she felt a little more ‘normal’ despite still getting use to the clothes he couldn’t help but be somewhat amused and grin faintly. Perhaps this really was going in the right direction after all, and that made him feel good. It was indeed nice to do things for people instead of hunting someone down, traumatizing them, and then killing them.

He decided right then and there that he was going to leave out, at least for the time being, that he was actually a hit man and didn’t usually work as a body guard. It was something that was best saved for a later time, or maybe he wouldn’t even mention it at all since this day seemed to be going rather well despite what happened earlier.

At the mention of who exactly the person that had asked him to rescue her was, he couldn’t help but frown a bit in thought. Honestly, he really didn’t know who it was… “I apologize, but I do not know exactly who it was that… asked me to come to your rescue. One morning I found a note in my mailbox requesting that I come rescue you, with your picture and a general location of where you would be.” He paused a moment. The apology in his tone was perhaps a bit too strong for his liking, but honestly he had been rather curious about it as well. No name was mentioned at the end of the note, nor was there anything hinting as to where he could find this person once he returned to Israel. That being said, he wasn’t even sure if this person was even living in Israel or the Middle East in general; he or she could be European, American, or perhaps someone who lived right here in Japan.

Concern was brought up on his end as well. Perhaps he was just being set up by those people in the village? That would, however, be impossible considering that he was a foreigner and does not visit Japan often. Then again word of his rather interesting reputation could have very well spread quickly and someone obviously sought him out. Maybe this was a challenge by someone in the village who wanted her out of there, but everyone seemed to be just as unaware of the modern world as she had been, having been living there, locked away, all of their lives. There were just so many possibilities swimming through his mind that he was pretty deep in thought, silent, for awhile until they reached the post office.

At first everything went smoothly, they had gotten the items without any trouble at all, and he had sent a message back to his contact saying so assuming the man had not gone back to sleep. He handed the passport and ID card to Shizu carefully, grinning a bit. “As I have said, I know reliable people. Feel free to examine it and if it is not to your liking feel free to say so.” He knew there was no time to make another one, but he figured he would be reassuring telling her that it could always be changed later on if she was displeased with it. As he always did, he knew he would have to thank his contact later though he knew it was probably not needed. The man was always more than willing to help, and vice versa, so ‘thank yous’ were hardly ever exchanged like they were when they had first started working together. It just wasn’t needed as much since it’s been established they could count on the other to get done what needed to be done. Still, he couldn’t help but show that he indeed appreciate the work he did.

When they were about to leave, he noticed there was a patrol car outside. His entire body tensed as a few possibilities popped into his somewhat paranoid mind: could these false documents been found out so early? Could the dead man have been traced back to him by some witness? Perhaps he was just being paranoid and the cop was just out for a stroll. Either way, he didn’t know a damn thing about how law enforcement worked in Japan and he did not want to stick around to find out. He quickly gave Shizu a look that suggested they should leave and slipped out the door while the police man was not looking their way, exhaling softly with a hint of relief once they were outside. One thing out of the way, much more to go he told himself.

This was starting to become harder and harder by the minute, but at the same time that was why he loved this job so much. He was not much of a thrill seeker, but there was something about this job that tended to bring that out in him a bit more. It was probably the part of him that was a cold hearted killer. But even then it still felt good… like he was alive, whenever he did illegal things. It was all quite ironic since he had worked for the military for so long. Perhaps it really did make him feel good to help someone, or perhaps it really was the money involved that was driving him. Whatever it was he kept daring those men to come back again. At the same time being out for blood now wouldn’t get them out of Japan any quicker. The next step was finding the fastest ride out of here so they wouldn’t actually end up being stuck in Japan for more than a few days more.

He quickly sent another message to his contact, requesting that he find them the next flight out of Japan that is to leave for Tel Aviv, and then looked to Shizu once they got a bit closer to the hotel. He could feel his craving for alcohol rise up again, reminding him he had a bottle of wine waiting for him back in the room. “Shizu,” he said softly once another question popped up, “are you… nervous about leaving Japan at all? I realize this might be an obvious question, but I cannot help being somewhat curious.”

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His answer was not something that she had been expecting and she made sure to hide the slight disappointment that she had. She could sense that he was concerned now and that didn't really ease her mood at this moment. So they were both clueless as to who had made this mission happen. Her anxiety levels made her feel uneasy, she wasn't sure what to expect when they left Japan. It worried her only beause she wouldn't know who she would be facing. It could possibly be her mother, which was very unlikely, though Shizu had this feeling it could have been a member of her lat family. Sure, she had been told that her mother had passed on, but could she really believe everything that village said? She had lived a life of lies, so maybe she would slowly begin to find out the truth in things.

As knew not of anyone else who knew the predicament withing the viillage stopped within time. The only people she could think of were the people who came to have meetings with her stepfather. Maybe this was all a plot to get rid of him. She didn't understand how they would know about him and he would know about the modern world, but she had never questioned it. Who was she to question something that her stepfather did? She had no say in anything, like most women, in the village. It didn't help that she was Oni, making her opinion hated and unneeded. She frowned slightly and the more she thought about it. She honestly had second opinions about this. Her heart race accelerated and she could feel it pounding in her throat, her mouth felt dry. She wondered if Azrai had the same concerns or did he not think anything of it?

"I see, well I suppose we shall find out when we reach our destination," she murmured softly. She fell silent allowing her mind to run through all the scenarios in her head, all of them could be possible at this point. She could understand that if they were trying to rid that scum of her stepfather, then rescuing her would lure him out. But what if that wasn't the case? What if one of his foreign colleagues wanted to have her for themselves? The thought made her sick but she when that it wasn't entirely impossible. Should she voice her worries and fears to Azrai? But what could he possibly say to that? He would just look at her and go into a moment of deep thought. She felt panicked though she refused to show it, if she was indeed going back to the same life she had, then she would accept it. It would probably make the other sad to know after all his hard work that she would humbly accept what Kami-sama had thrown at her, but if it was the life she was destined to live, then she would.

When they arrived at the post offcie, she allowed herself to be distracted. It was something that she definitely needed at this point. She looked at all the metal boxes within the wall, there were so many and people were opening them with a key, pulling out white papers and brown boxes. How weird. She smiled slightly as she was handed her very first treasures of the modern world. Her hands turned over the plastic card, she looked at the her face of the card. This was fascinating! She had a record of what she looked like, which wasn't as bad as she expected. She had thought she looked more exhuasted and a little more beaten up.Thankfully she looked normal, a little paler that she would have liked, but overall she was pleased with the outcome of the identification card. "I like this a lot, please send my regards to your colleague," she said, her voice laced with awe and excitemnet. She flipped the small book that held her passport, she smiled a bit realizing that she had something that was real about her life. She had an identity now.

She followed him to leave and noticed that he was looking at the police car outside. She tilted her head to the side, she could see that the car held some sort of authorative aura. Perhaps it was the more modern Shinsengumi, riding around in those mechanical beasts. From what she knew of law enforcement, the generals were very polite always trying to help out the citizens when somethings was a problem. Maybe those thoughts have changed in Japan, she knew that even before her time law enforcement officers were high with power, perhaps they were now. Azrai looked over at her and she nodded her head slowly, not sure why he was so uncomfortable around the officer but sh edidn't question it. They made an easy escape into the public and she sensed his relief. This brought about even more questions about him and she pursed her lips together, deciding to let it go.

They moved closer to the hotel, something telling her that it may not be safe. Then again they would not be safe in any part of Japan. Her eyes stared at the hotel on the horizon and she decided that if there was trouble...then she would feed. That would have been a message from Kami-sama and she would happily take it. She was brought out of her thoughts when he said her name, she blinked at bit getting the image of feeding out of her mind before she looked at him, listening to his question. She tilted her head slightly as she thought about it. "I am...not nervous to leave Japan. I am more sad than anything else. Even though I lived in one small area here, Japan is still my home and it is all that I have ever known." She looked at the buildings that were around them. "I am saddened because I have missed out on what is truly Japan and I will not be able to experience. I am sure, maybe, one day I will return." She nodded her head, even though she wasn't sure if was confident that she would come back.

"I am nervous about the flying part and I am nervous about what will happen after that but...I am also very curious. I wish to explore more of the world," she said while glancing over at him with a gentle smile. She looked nervously around as they neared the entrance of the hotel, she knew that in the public she probably say what she was about to. When they entered the building, she bowed her head at the innkeeper, uttering a belated 'Good morning.' When they reached the elevator, she turned around as the door was closing, her eyes lifted up, only to see some of the men from the restaurant stroll in as the elevator doors closed. She was wide eyed, before she glanced over at Azrai, knowing that he should have seen them. The elevator moved with a jerk before slowly bringing them to the fourth floor.

Her heart pulsed in her ears, she could hear the hunger that was drive her Oni side. Closing her eyes, she leaned her head on the side of the elevator, she was very aware of everything at this point. She swallowed slowly counting in her head, telling herself that she would be alright. "Azrai," she said in a strained voice. "I know that this might not be the most appropriate time and place to say this, but I really...need to feed." There was desperation in her voice and she pressed herself close to the walls of the elevator, enjoying the cool feeling. She felt weak and close to changing, which was something that she had been trying to avoid. Ever since Azrai had mentioned that she feed from the enemy, her Oni side had been hoping and praying that it caught sight of a henchman. Now was the worst possible time have seen one. Not only was she trying to keep under contro but she was also trying to remain calm in this enclosed space. Opening her eyes, they had changed to a bright saffron hue, she watched as the red numbers changed from two to three. She groaned wanting it to go faster. She needed to get out of her, least she turn on Azrai.

She knew she wouldn't but he may not know that and she wanted to keep that small amount of trust they had. She trusted him to protect her and he trusted her not to attack him. When the elevator stopped and the doors opened, she was the first to exit, panting heavily. She leaned against the wall, sweat making her bangs cling to her forehead. This was the worst feeling. She was was the halfway point of changing, which made her want to vomit, to pass out from the pain. She shuddered at the cold chill that went down her spine, this was definitely the most inappropraite place to change. She inhaled deepy trying to remind herself that she was in control, but the Oni within her was ready to break free. She allowed herself a few moments to calm down.

She turned to face Azrai, though she looked like she was seriously having an internal struggle. "I apologize, I should have been more restrained," she said in an exhausted manner. Her eyes stayed their yellow color, though it seemed that was all that she had allowed to change. It was a very diffcult thing for her to do, to stay in the halfway point. She had wanted to stay in better control of herself, but it had been six months and that was her limit. She could smell the scent of the men coming up through the emergency stairwell. She tensed, her jaw clenching tightly. All she needed was one out of the three that were coming. She could bring one to the room and kill him. It was as simple as that.

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Elias grinned as he looked at the message. So they got everything that they needed. That was perfect; he would be able to sleep with great ease. He had already been in a good mood; seeing how he had successfully hacked into the computer of that brat before and destroyed all his heard work. He snorted a bit wondering why anyone was trying to mess with him. His skills were impeccable and he would not allow an intruder to soil his reputation. With a slight yawn, he sipped on his fresh cup of coffee, going through a few more things and perfecting a new virus he had been working on.

He glanced at monitor one as another notification popped up. He nodded to himself and searched around on monitor four. A frown came to his face and he rubbed the scruff of his five o'clock shadow, he searched more only to get the same results. He let out a sigh and sent a reply back to Azrai. 'There's a flight back to Tel Aviv at three in the morning. One stop in Istanbul and you'll be home free. You'll be taking Turkish Airlines and don't worry about the price, I've got it covered.' He knew that their jobs paid well at times but then again with all the travelling that was involved they needed a constant supply of money. He also knew that Azrai hardly ever enjoyed spending money but it was necessary for the job. Besides, he liked Azrai enough to spend his money on the male.

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Shizu’s answer to his question was very satisfactory and he gave her a nod of understanding. It was reassuring knowing she was not nervous, it definitely put him a little more at ease when it came to taking her away from here, and he understood completely that it would make her sad to leave the only place she knew. As they have discussed earlier and like she told him now this country was still her home. It made him happy to know that she had thoughts of returning despite all she had been through; one should never be too discouraged about going back to their home some day. He wanted her to know more about the modern world, well more the good parts about the modern world than the ever increasing bad like the violent conflicts in the Middle East for example, and he wanted her to eventually return and experience Japan as she truly should. It was so strange that he felt this way. Perhaps, despite his efforts not to put much thought into it, he could not help but become somewhat attached to her in their short time together.

Perhaps it had been the trust they had built that brought it? That could very well be, since he had been so kind to her and in return she trusted him a little more. It was still rather fragile but that didn’t mean it was not there. At the same time, he felt it was a strong trust in a sort of unbreakable sense, as odd as it sounded to him. Then there was also the fact that she intrigued him. Not just because she was an Oni and he doesn’t always deal with the preternatural world, but because he never thought he would enjoy teaching someone about the world. It was like he had a daughter… though he decided not to think much about having children since it made his mind wander back to Cassandra. He doubted he could ever love another woman as much as he had loved her, and he found it strange how Shizu subtly reminded him of her. It started with shopping and he just could not shake it since.

He decided to shake those thoughts away as best he could for now, giving this mission his full attention. It was… unprofessional, at least in his opinion.

When they entered the hotel just the thought that everything had been a bit quieter than expected was enough to put him on edge. And when he, too, caught glimpse of the men from the restaurant his entire countenance twisted into an irritated snarl and part of him wanted to pry the elevator doors open with his bare hands just to murder them. He wasn’t sure what **** him off more, the fact that they were still following him or the fact that he knew he should have been keeping any eye out just in case they were still following him. “Son of a ****ing,” he muttered aloud. That little side trip shopping must have distracted him a bit more than he thought and he kicked himself for being sloppy. He made a small note to himself to keep vigilant. Of course there was also the possibility that he was still a little tired from the other day and just didn’t want to admit it.

His attention was brought to her when she said that she needed to feed. If there was one thing he did know about supernatural creatures it was that if they needed to feed, they needed to feed and they didn’t care what the hell was around to satisfy their hunger. He tensed even further, wondering if she would turn on him, slowly nodding in understanding. Those men could not have come at a more perfect time, he thought to himself with a grin. His hand went to his gun, and he drew it, checking to make sure he had enough bullets for each man. He had seven rounds out of eight since he had fired one the other night, more than enough take these men out. However, if Shizu needed to feed then he would have to make sure one was still alive. Meaning he would also have to bring out the hit man in him and make sure that one of the men stayed alive long enough for Shizu to make a meal out of him as well and he wasn’t sure if he was comfortable with that.

It would not be a difficult thing to do, but it might threaten their trust once again. Nevertheless, he was ready. His demeanor seemed to change suddenly… “You have gone quite awhile without a proper feeding, I do not blame you for losing yourself like that,” he told her quietly, watching the fire escape out of the corner of his eye. They were approaching fast and he needed to hurry. He reached into his pocket and held the room key and her old kimono out to her, giving her a light push towards the general direction of the room they were staying in. “I will provide you with a… satisfactory meal, I assure you. For now I need you to head into the room and make sure you leave the door cracked so I can enter once I am finished. Do not worry about me, I will be alright.” Once he was sure she was alright, he turned his attention back to the fire escape.

By that time the men had already began to come through the door. Azrai shot the first man that came through the fire escape door before taking cover against the hallway, behind an archway to avoid being shot by the other men. They kept yelling at him in Japanese, saying something along the lines of ‘give us the girl’ and ‘you’re dead’ or something to that extent. He wished he understood Japanese a little better to fully understand, but at the same time he was better off remaining ignorant. A few more shots fired off before he stepped out of cover and took out another man. His bullets hardly ever missed their mark, he made sure of that. Adrenaline ran through him at full speed after he holstered his gun, deciding just how he was going to take out the final man without killing him.

There were several possibilities and they were all risky. But this job of his was about taking risks, was it not?

He charged down the hallway towards the man, a bullet grazing his shoulder before he tackled the man to the ground and proceeded to slam his head against the ground like he did to the man in the alley. There was a bit of a fight between them, and he ended up with a bloody nose and possibly a few bruises. Size wise, the man, being Asian, was still a bit smaller than he in comparison was despite being well built and he was also quite fast. It had not been easy getting a good grip on the man to put him in a headlock, cutting off circulation until the man fell unconscious from lack of oxygen. It was not an easy trick to pull off that was for sure, but years of practice whenever he had to take someone out without spilling blood, temporarily, until he found his main target he was able to pull it off nicely. He then dragged the unconscious man back to the room before anyone who could have heard the gunfire could investigate who could have been causing that commotion.

With a light knock on the door to let her know it was him, he brought the unconscious man inside the room and closed the door behind them. He left the man in the bathroom, gesturing towards him, “Enjoy. I told you I was going to be alright,” he said with a faint grin before he went for the small refrigerator and brought out that bottle of wine he had been saving. It felt so nice to have that cold liquid burn slightly as it hit the back of his throat; he needed it now more than ever. He then took the time to check his phone since it had gone off again during their time in the elevator, nodding slightly, pleased with the results though three in the morning was still quite a ways away. Hopefully nothing else would happen before then… not to mention he had a feeling they could not stay here much longer. Someone was bound to see those bodies and then look at the security tapes…

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When he didn't panic at the fact that she mentioned she needed to feed, she felt overwhelmed with emotions. She was sure that this could be symbolized as a test of their trust in one another. He merely nodded his head in understanding. Of course, she would not blame him for being a bit wary of her at this point. She was a few moments away from becoming someone else and that terrified her. But she had self control or at least she thought she had. She wondered if he was bothered by the fact that she needed to feed. That she needed one of the men alive at the end of it, she could certainly deal with the rest of the situation on her own. She was probably disgusting in his eyes at this point. But she couldn't control the urges that she had.

She felt a little better when he didn't scold her for nearly losing the composure she had been trying to hold up. It made her like him a little more, trust in him a little more. If he could handle all the uncomfortable situations that she was going to put him through, like feeding, then she knew that he was a trustworthy and reliable person. She felt as if she was blessed by Kami-sama, who gave her a friend who was more than understanding. Maybe he understood because he didn't necessarily know what else to be. He just seemed to go with the flow of things. She blinked a bit as he handed her the room key and kimono, her eyes looking at the items before looking up at him. She nodded her head at the instructions she was given, biting her lower lip slightly before she looked up at him and she moved with the gentle nudge he gave her. She wanted to say something to express her gratitude or something to let him know that she would worry about his well being. "Be safe," she said gently before quickly unlocking the room and leaving the door cracked like he asked.

She placed the kimono and key neatly on the edge of the bed, her hands shaking with anticipation. She jumped at the first sound of a bullet being fired. She wanted to peak out the door and see if he was alright. However, he had told her not to worry and that he would be alright. That was the exact opposite of the feelings that she had at this point. She would be devastated if he suffered injury for protecting her. She wouldn't be able to forgive herself. She could hear the shouting in the hallway and she had to continue to resist the urge to check up on Azrai. He was more than capable to deal with the men and she would do nothing but get in the way. She sat down on the lounge chair that had been her bed last night. Her pale hands clenched into tight fists as she continued to wait for the outcome of the confrontation.

It was maddening sitting there, listening to all the commotion outside. She dropped her head as a headache cracked open from in between her eyes. It was also driving her insane to just wait, when she knew that feeding was only a few moments away. She opened her eyes, staring down at the claws that replaced her nails. She sighed a bit, knowing that she could make it. Besides, she was by herself; the only thing she could do was destroy herself which would be better than if Azrai was in here. There was one final gunshot and she jumped, staring at the door with wide eyes. She strained to hear anything else, though she could barely hear the scuffle between Azrai and the last man. She stood up from the spot she was sitting in, hesitating to move towards the door. She flinched at the knock on the door, before Azrai walked in.

She felt relieved that it was him and not one of the henchmen. She shouldn't have doubted his abilities, but she couldn't help the brief moment of fear that came from her when he knocked on the door. She watched as he lugged the unconscious man into the bathroom before he came back out. He gestured to the bathroom, saying that she was free to do what she needed and how he was alright. However, she would make sure that was the correct outcome. Her eyes danced over his figure, concern within her bright eyes. Her eyebrows had furrowed in concern when they landed on his bloody nose and the small bullet wound on his shoulder. Frowning, she wanted to say something about it but she decided it was better if she didn't. "Thank you," she said with a bow of her head before going into the bathroom.

She closed the door behind her, looking down at the unconscious man of the floor. This was why she hated feeding from Humans, it made her feel guilty. Animals were meant to be eaten; at least that was what her Human side told her while her Oni side said that anything was up for grabs. She moved around the body, feeling slightly anxious. What if he woke up? She doubted that but it was still a thought. Kneeling down beside him, she let out a steady breath. Even though she was practically shaking, she still managed not to savagely bite into the man's flesh. She was a lady after all, even at the most unusual times. Besides, it would be a hassle to clean if she made a mess. She gently picked up the male's wrist; she had to prepare herself for this moment. She almost felt nauseous. Her canines elongated as she opened her mouth, two sets of fangs on the top row and one on the bottom, and she swiftly sunk them into his wrist. The warm feeling of blood in her mouth felt strange at first, though with each pull of the vein, she felt herself getting back in control of herself.

She took her time while feeding; it would be a long time before she would think about doing it again. Shizu breathed through her nose as she indulged in the taste of it. She hated that she thoroughly enjoyed tasting the blood of Humans. It was much thicker and sweeter than animal blood, which made it addicting. That was one reason why she chose to stay away from it, however, Human blood would certainly relieve her hunger for a longer period of time and it would give her more strength. She pulled away from the wrist, realizing that she had taken too much. Her stomach hardened as she looked down at the body. The unconscious, now dead, man's body was whiter than tile on the floor, his breathing nonexistent and she was pretty sure that there was no blood left in his body. She had drained him dry unintentionally, but that was what she was supposed to do, right? She was supposed to kill him or else he would cause more problems for them. Though she wished she had been paying more attention to when she had technically killed him, instead of greedily taking his life essence.

She sat there for a while, allowing her stomach to settle as she was full at this point. She glanced down at her hands which returned to their normal state. She was sure that her eyes were back to their crimson color. Sighing, she slowly stood up and stared at the corpse on the floor, she was sure Azrai would know what to do. She looked into the reflecting glass, surprised to how healthy she looked. There was color to her face, her hair looked very healthy and thick, and she looked as if she had slept for an eternity to get the bags out from under her eyes. She honestly felt rejuvenated, full of all this energy. She smiled and noticed how her canines were completely gone, her teeth very straight. How long had it been she last looked like this? Ages probably, seeing how she had only taken vein from a Human once and that day she had been punished severely. Her body no longer ached with bruises or wounds, she was thankful for that. She washed her hands and her bloodstained lips, before she was ready to face Azrai.

Opening the door to the bathroom, she walked out and sat back down on the lounge chair. She bowed her head in gratitude towards the male. "I thank you for all the trouble that you went through for me," she said in a grateful tone. She glanced at him, a smile coming to her lips. She honestly felt a million times better now and she wasn't sure how to express it to him. She glanced in the direction of the window briefly, before she looked at him once more. "I assume that this place is no longer safe for us to stay, least someone sees...the bodies." She tilted her head a bit. "What are we going to do about the bodies? And....what are our plans now?"

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Nodding towards her when she thanked him, he rubbed his shoulder gently as he sat at the edge of the bed, wincing slightly at the pain. His nose felt like it got slammed into a wall, as it had, and his shoulder felt a bit stiff but he was alright. It wasn’t like he hasn’t been shot or had his nose busted up before, as long as he was alive that was all that mattered. He felt a bit dizzy as well but he didn’t think much of it, figuring it was a combination of exhaustion from the other night and the brief. adrenaline rush running its course.

While he was waiting for her to be done with feeding, he thought hard to come up with a plan to get out of here safely and hope nothing else happened. They were not safe at this hotel. Those men after Shizu obviously knew she was here and he had to do everything in his power to make sure that the men lost their trail. First step was getting rid of those bodies assuming nobody has seen them yet. It wouldn’t be that difficult if his allies were closer to him… Ivan was his partner in crime back home even if they didn’t always see eye to eye and he could rely on that man for almost anything. If he was around, cleaning the bodies and escaping this place would be a piece of cake. Now that he was alone, he was having difficulty thinking up a plan, or rather all the plans that were running through his mind were somewhat reckless and would probably not help their situation. He was known to be a bit rash when it came to such things, thinking more with his gun than his brain, but at the same time his plans were so simple that they worked.

And he was desperate for a plan right now. He had to think of something fast, the clock was ticking, and someone was bound to discover those bodies. Any moment now, he was expecting there to be a knock on the door or find the police kicking the door down and arresting both he and Shizu. Oddly enough he has only been arrested twice throughout his career and every time Ivan and his other friends managed to bail him out. That took time, however, and he was not going to get arrested today. Not knowing what else to do, he shot a message to both Elias and Ivan, informing them briefly of his situation and that he might require both of their help even if they didn’t really get along well. He didn’t want to ask for their help, wanting to handle this himself, but he felt he had no choice and would be sure to do something for them in return. Their skills were the only thing he could think of right now to by some time, so he and Shizu could leave Japan safely.

He estimated it to be about sixteen hours, give or take, before they had to be at the airport. Passing the time was not the hard part, it was laying low. The city was probably going to be on high alert and he knew that the men would not get the message to leave them alone anytime soon, however he knew that once more of those men showed up he could just allow Shizu to have her way with them. He grinned at the thought, his mildly sadistic tendencies showing through again. The smile faded and he sighed when he realized he was completely out of wine when he went for another sip.

It was around that time that Shizu had come out of the bathroom and sat back on the chair. He immediately noticed how she looked a hell of a lot better than when he had first rescued her, almost as if he was looking at a different person. That was another thing out of the way, he told himself, though every time he takes care of something more things kept popping up. “I am glad that you appreciate what I am doing for you. I suppose there is no need for me to tell you that it has not been easy… but I do not think you are much trouble, I assure you.” he said honestly, grinning a bit though the grin probably looked a bit odd with his still bloody nose. It really hadn’t been easy and he definitely had not been expecting to be dealing with an Oni, but it was also odd. He may have been a hit man but it was almost… fun keeping her safe and teaching her about the modern world.

“However,” he continued, sounding a bit disappointed, “you are correct to assume that we can no longer stay here. For now we shall take our leave and hope we can stay low for awhile, perhaps take shelter at some cheap motel closer to the airport. We are leaving at three in the morning tomorrow, I will warn you now that it will be a rather long flight and there will be a transfer.” It was obvious he was extremely restless and on edge, wary, but the determination to keep going was clear in the look in his eyes. He was determined to bring her back to Israel, to keep her safe, and not just because of these men. The fact that he did not know who wanted her rescued was still rather unsettling and he felt that he needed to keep her safe with him until he knew for sure what exactly was going on. Out of everything that was going on, that put him on edge the most.

Not wanting to delay any further, he stood from the bed while fighting the pain in his shoulder and decided to quickly grab a change of clothes, changing into just another button-down shirt and a pair of jeans, ignoring the dead man in the bathroom while he changed, and packed his things. He pretty much threw everything in his suitcase and zipped it up as best he could before he turned his attention back to the dead man in the bathroom. If he checked out now, he knew that the body would be discovered and it would be traced back to him. A frustrated sigh escaped him as he ran a hand through his hair. What else was he supposed to do? Maybe he should leave the body here… or he could drag it back out into the hallway in front of another door. A quick look outside told him nobody was out and about and he did just that, not knowing what else to do.

Afterwards, he grabbed his suitcase though he had half a mind to leave that behind as well… On second thought maybe he should just travel lightly. He ditched the suitcase and packed mostly his shaving stuff, comb, and shampoo into one of those smaller travel bags, about the size of a small bag allowed to be carried with you on the plane. He also made sure he had his gun, of course, which remained the shoulder holster hidden under his jacket.

“We should probably leave through the fire escape, just as a precaution,” he told her, nodding towards it once he stood outside the room. His heart was pounding, and he was praying that nobody came into the hallway and saw the mess. "Unfortunately the bodies must be left as they are..."

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Elias blinked wearily at the computer screen, a new notification popping up. He had been about to call it a day and catch up with his bed, but he was stopped. His eyes scanned over the message and he stared at the monitor for a while. It took a few moments to register what was going on and when it did, he let out a loud, foul curse. He pulled himself to his keyboard, his fingers typing away at the speed of light. He grumbled under his breath, wishing that he didn't have such a reckless partner. He clenched his jaw, refraining from cursing at Azrai from the spot that he was sitting in. Here he thought that everything was going to plan, but no, Azrai always seemed to find himself in some trouble.

He hacked into the hotel's security system, quickly finding the fourth floor monitor. He played back the footage before he let out another curse. This was bad. Just how the hell did Azrai manage to get himself into these predicaments? Another thought popped in his mind, just how the hell did no one notice all that commotion? Were they the only ones staying that hotel or on that floor? He didn't have time to question the meaning of life and he began trying to erase the fight footage and replacing it with a damn near perfect replica of Shizu and Azrai simply heading back to the room. It would take some time but he was confident that he could make the change go unnoticeable. As for the bodies, he was sure that Azrai had contacted Ivan by now.

He frowned a bit, wondering if Ivan could be of any use though Azrai wouldn't have contacted Ivan if he weren't. Sighing, he took a few seconds to reply back to Azrai. 'Leave the footage to me. It's best you both leave the area and lay low.' He knew that it wasn't necessary for the last sentence, but it would let Azrai know that he was more than annoyed with the situation that he was in. If that man got arrested, along with the objective, he would raise hell. 'I'll try to get in touch with a few contacts and see if I can get you two on a RV-10 to Tel Aviv as soon as possible. Try not to get in any more trouble.' He was madder than a bat out of hell but he was simply relieved that the male was alright. He would hate to think of all the worse case scenarios that could've played out. To make sure no one else got to the fourth floor, he short-circuited the elevator, hopefully that would hold long enough for Ivan to get there.

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He grunted from the current ministrations that he was doing. He dropped the body that he had been holding against the wall and pulled out his phone. A frown tugged at the corner of his lips as he read the message he received. Running a hand over his face, he slung his boot into the head of the man he had been interrogating. There was a pained groan that left the helpless male's body and he was sure that he had caused some internal bleeding, just another body that he had to clean up, wonderful. Clenching his jaw, he glanced around the alleyway, it was littered with two bodies and he shook his head. He was sure that there were more at the hotel. The message explained why he had been attacked upon trying to clean up after Azrai. The man was seriously slacking in the disposing of corpses department.

It was a good thing that he had second opinions on the mission than Azrai had. The fool went along with it, unable to turn down the mission. For what reason? That sure beat the hell out of him but he wouldn't question his companion's motives. Moving around the sleek black car he had rented, he pulled out two opaque body bags, whistling slightly. He would clean and dispose of the bodies later; he didn't have time for that tedious and meticulous task right now. He grunted a bit as he lugged the bodies into the open back before slamming it shut. Azrai better thank God for him being in Japan. Well, he'd probably be **** that he decided to follow him, but he was worried. Not necessarily over Azrai but over the mission in general. He liked to have a full set of details before accepting any mission, no matter how simple it was. Something about the mission had made him feel uncomfortable and Azrai was a fool for not listening to him in the beginning.

Just look at where that got him.

He hopped into the driver side, starting the engine. He pulled out his phone, shooting back a reply before peeling out of the area he was at. 'Get out of there, I'm on my way. I'll take care of the bodies and I'll find you afterwards. Stay low.' He slowly could feel himself slip into the cold demeanor that his job required. Hopefully, no one would see the bodies before he got there, or else that would be a hassle to deal with. They didn't need any more complications as of now.

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She smiled meekly at the grin that left him as he told her that she was not thought of as trouble. That was a relief. However, she kept looking at his bloody nose and she felt guilty. If not for her need to feed, he could've managed to get out of the shootout unharmed. She would remember to be of more help later on. She understood that his task had not been easy and she truly appreciated all the effort he put into protecting her, as well as how he catered to her needs. It was probably because he didn't want her to attack him, but nonetheless the gesture was kind. She was not used to such things. She couldn't help up laugh lightly at the grin, because in all honesty he looked ridiculous. His nose was still oozing blood and he looked a bit roughed up yet he had the strength the grin. She wondered what kind of strength it took to be able to smile through that kind of pain.

Their conversation took a turn towards more serious matters and she listened intently. She nodded her head as he told her about the flight. She was more than prepared physically to endure such things, however mentally, she was unsure about it. She would just have to wait until the time came. She let out a slow breath as he went into the bathroom. She took looked around for things to bring, not like she had much. She took hold of the kimono she placed on the bed. She didn't want to leave it here, even though it held too many horrible memories, she wanted Azrai to sell it. She was determined to have it sold and far away from the possession of anyone who had seen her in it. If those men took that back to her stepfather, he would keep it until they dragged her back kicking and screaming. She wouldn't allow that but then again she could be paranoid.

She watched him drag the body out of the bathroom and into the hallway, placing it in front of another door. She watched with hesitance, sensing that Azrai was more on edge than usual. They were in quite the predicament at this point, she could understand his frustration. Things had definitely escalated to a point where he could no longer control it and she assumed that Azrai was a man who liked to be in control. She exited the room, stepping around the bodies that lay scattered on the carpet. Crimson eyes flickered over to this fire escape he mentioned before she looked down at the bodies. "I...I understand," she said in a heavy tone. It seemed like it was now hitting her how bad the situation had become and all because of her. When she had thought of freedom, she never expected things to turn out like this. But she wasn't in control of the fates, Kami-sama was and she trusted him enough to put her life in the hands of Azrai.

"Then...we should make haste," she said quickly, before she turned to take the fire escape. She pushed open the door and glanced down the stairwell. She inhaled deeply, trying to pick up on anyone else. She sensed no one and as soon as her foot hit the first step towards the lower level, she was moving fast. She made sure that she wasn't going too fast, knowing that she had the ability to be downstairs within that matter of seconds. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure that Azrai was behind her, she worried that he would be in a lot of pain, though he wouldn't stop moving until they were in a hidden place. Her footsteps were light as she moved down the steps, her heart racing. It was almost...exciting to be on the run like this, even though their lives were in danger. She was enjoying the thrill that ran through her veins. They reached the bottom of the fire escape, before she cautiously pushed open the door, sticking her head out into the empty lobby. She slipped out and moved to the back exit of the hotel, she silently opened the door and turned around to see another alleyway.

She exhaled a heavy breath from the physical exertion; she turned to look at a black Sedan sitting idly at one of the open ends of the alley. She recognized danger when she saw it and she cursed under her breath. She glanced at Azrai, knowing that he probably wanted to avoid another shoot out, especially if they were supposed to lay low. "Azrai, this way," she said gently, motioning for him to follow her before they were spotted. She jumped as a bullet ricocheted against the brick wall beside her and she let out an audible curse, looking behind them. They didn't need this right now, she held out her hand towards Azrai, expecting him to take it. Her eyes changed to a saffron color once more, this time anger swirling in her eyes. They softened when she looked at Azrai, to reassure him that she was in control. "I need you to trust me for a few moments." She took hold of his hand anyways, before she could get a solid answer. "This will feel...weird, I apologize in advance, but this is the…fastest way."

She had only done this a few times, like when she was trying to rescue an injured animal or a reckless child who was about to fall off a steep cliff. She inhaled deeply before she began to run however, it wouldn't feel like running for Azrai, just merely floating, standing still while everything around him was moving at the speed of light. The streets began to blur and the faces around them blended into one another. She moved them nearly all the way across town before she grew weary. Azrai was certainly heavier than the last thing that she had carried in that state. She slowed them down, easing into a complete stop, hoping she hadn't made him queasy, it happened sometimes. She let go of his hand once they stopped, she glanced around at the desolate buildings around them. She couldn't have picked a more convenient place to stop. She looked at him. "Are you feeling well? I know that was very sudden...ah...forgive me." She had to make that decision fast and she was sure no one else saw them; she blinked a few times before her eyes changed back to normal and the world was still once more.

"Does this location suffice for staying low? I can always move us to another place," she said with a smile, knowing that many people didn't like going that fast, though it amused her slightly. She found odd things amusing. She placed her hand on a broken door, pushing it open and glancing around inside. It seemed decent enough. “Perhaps we should rest for now and do something about that nose of yours,” she said raising a slender brow while she looked at him.

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At the point, his nose was bleeding badly to the point where he knew he was losing more blood than he should be. That man had really roughed him up. All in all he was fine, but his shoulder was burning and he had to breathe through his moth so he didn’t end up inhaling blood. That might seem a tad dramatic, but asphyxiation on his own blood was one of his weirder fears oddly enough. He probably should have at least cleaned up before descending the fire escape stairs but he knew there was no time for that and cleaning up could wait for another time. Unfortunately he was getting blood all over his clean shirt as it slowly tricked down his chin but that was something else that could be dealt with later. Right now he had to put his trust in his colleagues to, once again, clean up after him and help him get the hell out of here before anything else happened. Knowing his luck he was not out of the woods yet, more trouble was bound to show it, he felt like he was a ****ing magnet for trouble sometimes. He knew it drove them all up a wall that he was so reckless but if violence cannot be helped then he was not going to hold back.

By the time they had reached the first floor and exited into the alley way, he was starting to feel a bit dizzy again; more than likely it was a combination of exhaustion and loss of blood. It was getting harder to focus but he knew he had to keep going and the sight of the car at the end of the alley only added to his frustration and he could feel himself tense again. Perhaps he really was too trigger happy for his own good sometimes, for he found himself absently reaching for his gun once again even though he knew he was supposed to stay low. He growled quietly, feeling his heart rate pick up again as adrenaline started to take over once more. The look in his eyes was more than evident that he was ready to defend Shizu until the bitter end. He didn’t care how many men were waiting for them, he would make sure to send them right to Hell with a bullet in their skull. And once he ran out of bullets, he would beat them beyond recognition with his bare hands until his knuckles bled.

This strange urge to protect her was growing stronger, and he had yet to figure out exactly what compelled him to be this violent, more reckless than usual. He was about to go after the men but Shizu had called his name, capturing his attention, gesturing for him to follow her. The bullet hitting the wall beside him made him tense again, and he looked behind them again to see that there were more men coming. This was too narrow a space and didn’t allow much room to take cover, and he thought the hotel hallway was a horrible idea. Before he even knew what hit him, he noticed the change in Shizu’s eyes; he would be lying if he said he wasn’t worried about her Oni side. Something told him she knew what she was doing, however, and before he knew it she grabbed his hand and everything turned blurry, like they were moving at high speed. It certainly did not help the fact that he was already feeling dizzy.

When they eventually stopped, it was relieving. He held his head for a moment and leaned against the wall of the old building, trying not to vomit. It wasn’t that he minded going fast he just wished there would have been a warning explaining just how fast they were about to move.

“I am alright, I assure you,” he told her softly once he recovered a bit more, following her inside the building. After taking a quick look around, he gave her a nod, “This old building will be… fine for staying low. I agree that it is better to rest as I do need to recover, and I am sure that you wish to rest as well.” He didn’t like the idea of sitting on a filthy old couch, but he didn’t trust the floor either, so he shrugged slightly and sat on it. The room felt like it was spinning, but he was able to keep his composure enough to check his phone again, grinning with slight amusement. Oh they were definitely ****. That was to be expected, he though with a dry chuckle and a sigh. The **** he puts them through, it amazed him that they put up with him some times. Indeed, he was a stubborn and determined man despite his recklessness. He could already hear Ivan scolding him, calling him a pain in the ass once he found him. A mental note was made to apologize to them later but he was sure it wasn’t needed. Then again they were always willing to help out no matter how much **** hits the fan.

He narrowed his eyes a bit as he rubbed his shoulder lightly again as he leaned back on the old couch, fighting the urge to sneeze from the amount of dust in this place. With his nose still bleeding pretty badly sneezing would be something else that wouldn’t end well and he wanted to avoid it for as long as he could. There was also a growing itch, and he ended up wiping his nose on the sleeve of his jacket, wincing slightly. Daring to lightly touch his nose, he was thankful that it wasn’t broken though it sure felt like it was. He knew he was probably going to have a nasty bruise for awhile, but that was better than having a broken nose or bleeding out.

In the end he was thankful to be alive. The fact that he and Shizu could work together like that was definitely a bit more reassuring. “My contact is working to get us out of here as quickly as possible,” he gave her a nod once he fought the pain away. “If we are going to stay low, I feel it is best that we remain here until I hear from them again.” Assuming they were not going to be found again, he told himself, deciding to leave that bit out. Something told him there was a chance they would be, but he also doubted it since the people he trusted were damn worthy of every last bit of trust he could ever place on someone. They were going to get out of Japan soon. And once they did, everything would be alright and he could work on giving Shizu the real, true freedom that he felt she so deserves. Should he voice that? No, he decided against it.

He needed to rest right now, feeling the exhaustion beginning to sink in again. How much longer did they have to stay here? Resting was not bad, as he was feeling more and more fatigued, but he was anxious to just get out of here.

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She had definitely worried that the speed would cause him illness. She allowed him the time that he needed to recover while she scolded herself mentally. It had been a rash decision but it worked. There were well hidden within the lively city. She wiggled her nose as the dust was settling from their sudden intrusion. Granted, this was not the most immaculate place but Azrai said it would do for now. She watched as he sat down on the couch, she could feel his exhaustion from where she stood. As much as she wanted to explore, she needed to look at his nose. It was obvious that he wasn't going to take care of it on his own. His shoulder could probably use a good examination too. She cringed when he wiped it across his sleeve, that wasn't going to help at all. She unfolded her kimono, looking through the layers; she ripped off several strips from the fabric. She folded the apparel once more; she knew it would be useful if she brought it with them. She neared him and took a spot beside him on the couch.

This was the first time that she was allowing herself to be close to him. She trembled a bit not sure of how he would react by her touching his face. She frowned a bit, knowing that they both enjoyed their personal space. "I am going to stop the bleeding from your nose," she said in a manner that left no room for an argument, she was determined. "I will try to be gentle." At least she gave him fair warning this time, unlike the episode back in the alleyway. Placing the fabric under his nose, she applied a little pressure with one hand, while she wiped away as much blood as she could with her free hand. Her touch was light as she continued to clean up his face, her lips pursed together in concentration. Well at least it wasn't broken, that'd be a lot worse and harder to fix.

Taking hold of his hand once more, she made him hold the fabric there, pinching his nose. She honestly knew that he was tired but she would fix him up before she left him alone. "If you will just lean forward, that will eventually stop the bleeding. I have had one of these bleeds before, so you should not lean your head back, the blood will drain down your throat which is less than pleasant." She would hold off on looking at his shoulder, he seemed far too tired. Perhaps he would get some rest while they were flying to their new destination. She gently touched his arm, giving him a small smile, as if it were alright for him to relax. She stepped off the couch, moving around the old place. She wasn't tired at all, even though moving them at that high speed had taken the breath out of her. She was more than capable to keep watch for now.

She moved around the place, very curious. She looked up at the steps before placing a foot on it, she was light enough to not break the wood, but it did creak from the pressure. She glanced at the resting male before deciding that he would be fine where he was. She wanted to explore more and she crept upstairs, looking around at what was left of the house. She moved from room to room, not finding anything in particular until she opened the door to the largest room. There was nothing special at first but her eyes landed on a big box in the corner. She tilted her head curiously, before clicking on one of the buttons. The screen came to life with moving pictures with loud noises and she let out a cry of surprise.

"Azrai!! Azrai!!" She was running down the stairs as fast, yet carefully, as possible. She stumbled to a halt in front of him, her eyes wide with excitement. "I went up the steps and I looked around and hardly found anything interesting. However, I came across the most fascinating thing. I wish I could show you but it was too heavy and stuck its tail in the wall." She spoke quickly, a smile on her lips as she explained what she saw to him. "There is this big black box in the final room and I pushed a button on it and it came to life! There are people inside the box and they are moving around and talking! It is the most marvelous thing but I worry for them. How are they in there? I tried to help them, but they were not paying attention and protected by glass." She pouted slightly. She was very animated at this point, finding something that was strange; of course she had to tell Azrai about it.

Her smile faded as she looked towards the window, hearing the sound of a car pull by. She held her breath as she listened to it go by. She moved towards the window, peeking out from the cracks of the board. A lone man parked the car, a frown set on his face. She was reminded of Azrai when she first saw him. He was a professional like Azrai, she looked at Azrai. "I believe one of your colleagues has found us."

-------

Elias grinned to himself, despite how **** off he was. He had successfully implanted new data in the hotel's computer, got a RV-10 for Tel Aviv, and even got a hold of Ivan. It was well known that they didn't get along, but when Azrai needed them they got their **** together. Later they would duke it out but for now he was going to be civil towards the prick. He had monitored the way Ivan had disposed of the bodies, before he made sure that Azrai and the objective were nowhere else on the security cameras. He let out a steady breath when he couldn't find anything major, just a few more minutes of editing as they left through the fire escape. His phone rang and he clicked on his microphone.

"Are the bodies cleared?"

'Yeah, where is he at?'

"Let me find the satellite signal from his phone and I'll route you to him."

'Thanks."

The phone hung up and he knew that Ivan was just as **** as he was. They had spent a few moments discussing what reasons Azrai had for being so careless, but they settled that it had something to do with who he was trying to protect, Shizu. They had also discussed about what their nest steps should be. He sighed hoping that Ivan would at least punch him in the face for him; he was seriously on the verge of a mental breakdown. It was only five in the morning and he needed the bitter sting of alcohol sliding down his throat. Elias found the signal of the phone and sent the coordinates to Ivan before leaning back in his chair. He had half a mind to hop on a plane to Tel Aviv himself and chew Azrai out, but he was sure Ivan would take care of it.

'Ivan will take you five miles from Narita Airport; your plane will be waiting there.' He sent it to Azrai before staring at his monitors, watching everything that his colleagues were doing. Being the tech guy of the three, he had to make sure that nothing else interfered with the flight to Tel Aviv.

------

Ivan parked outside the location he was giving; he was in a terrible mood. Not only had Azrai left a huge mess behind, Ivan nearly had to deal with the men that were after him and the objective. It was a damn good thing that he knew how to blend in, though getting the bodies out of the hotel unnoticed had been tricky. But it had been done. Now, he had to face the man who was causing all this trouble. A frown was permanently etched into his features as he slowly moved to the door of the building. When he pressed his hand against the door, he let out a sigh as he pushed it out.

"Some hide out," he muttered as his boots clicked across the floor before he arrived in the sitting area. He looked from a worse for wear Azrai, to the objective. He was a little shocked...he hadn't been expecting her to look so...healthy. Normally those who needed to be rescued looked like ****. The one who looked like **** was Azrai, he glanced at his companion and his frown deepened. He would find out what the hell was going on with him soon enough. "You look like ****," he said before a grin came to his face.

Shizu had watched the male leave the car and he carried himself in the same manner as Azrai. She knew that she shouldn't have been scared, but she was. She had shrunk further away from the window and towards the corner. She froze when he entered the house but she knew that she was more than safe in the new male's hands. When he cracked a joke towards Azrai, she was relieved. Surely they had caused a lot of problems for his colleagues. She had hoped they wouldn't argue, but she could sense that the new male was severely unhappy with Azrai and probably with her as well.

"Elias has everything set up for us," Ivan said in a low voice. "I'm here to escort the two of you and have a word." He gave a pointed glance at Azrai. "With you."

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Almost immediately he tensed and tried his best not to look away when she touched his nose. Not only did it hurt like a son of a ****ing, he was not a fan of people touching his face at all, and he knew he could do it himself if he wanted to. Oh yes, he wanted to protest, but he figured with everything he has done for her he would allow her to do something for him for a change. He was a very understanding man in that sense and followed her instructions with a slow nod though he couldn’t help but grin faintly like he always did. This was not the first nosebleed he has suffered and certainly would not be the last; he knew how to take care of them having been in several fights before. He remained silent while she nursed him, glad that they had brought the kimono with them in the end after all. At least he had something to help solve his bloody nose problem. His shoulder might need a doctor’s touch but he really wanted to avoid that. He hated hospitals with a burning passion.

When she was finished he relaxed more by taking a few deep breaths to ease his tense posture. Thankfully his tolerance for pain was exceptionally high or else he probably wouldn’t be able to relax at all, on top of being rather on edge about everything. Exhaustion was beginning to sink in deeper now that he had some time to himself, briefly he cursed himself for pushing himself way too hard the other night and perhaps a bit too hard today. He did his best not to lean back but he felt like he might fall asleep if he sat forward like he was. However, he decided he did not want to sleep until they were out of Japan. The plane ride home would be perfect for resting… that damn long flight… he would sleep then and keep vigilant for now to the best of his ability. Shizu probably had that covered since she didn’t really seem to be tired but he was far too on edge to let his guard down.

While she explored the place a bit, he looked around the room himself. It appeared to be abandoned at first, but another glance revealed this was probably a place where homeless people would gather. They probably had all sorts of stuff here… maybe even some alcohol as well. Thoughts of dulling the pain in his shoulder made his craving act up again even though he had just finished that wine a good twenty minutes or so ago. Perhaps he should have saved it. He was always bad at saving alcohol which was probably why his money ran out faster than one would expect when he traveled; he was always spending money on alcohol. It was an expensive habit, even more so than smoking. But he never really gave a **** as long as he got his alcohol fix –alcohol was probably the only thing he didn’t mind blowing money on. When a sound caught his attention, voices upstairs, his hand jumped to his gun and he was about to get off the couch when Shizu came back down the stairs.

She explained what she had seen and he grinned at her a bit. “The ‘big black box’ you have discovered is a television,” he began softly, narrowing his eyes in thought again for a moment while he did his best to hold back his cynicism towards society and television. Perhaps another time, he thought to himself, not really in the mood to play teacher. “The people are not trapped in there; however it will… probably take some time for me to fully explain how a television works.” Or rather how exactly he was going to explain it. It was a fairly simple explanation but he really couldn’t focus on anything else but getting out of here at the moment. He was not a fan of media anyway, so he really didn’t need that on his mind to cause him to lose focus on his objective.

At the sound of the car pulling up and footsteps nearing, he immediately stood from the couch, ready to shoot whoever was coming in despite Shizu saying that it might be someone he knew. About that time, his phone went off again; he noticed once more Elias has come through for him even if he was not happy with how this whole thing was turning out. Back on the person approaching, taking notice that it was indeed Ivan didn’t really help him to relax but he felt at ease knowing he didn’t have to spill any more blood. Ivan did seem angry with him, though, which he should have expected. He narrowed his eyes and snorted when Ivan said he looked like **** as he was not in the mood for the man’s snide remarks but nevertheless glad the man was here.

He let out a soft exhale and ran a hand through his hair, “I have a feeling that I… know what it is you wish to speak to me about,” he began slowly as he tucked his gun away and sat back on the couch holding his head. Dizziness from blood loss was settling in again as well and the pain in his shoulder and still in his nose was not helping things. “Shove it up your ass for now and let us focus on getting on that plane to Tel Aviv. I am not in the mood.” Azrai was the kind of person who, when he was in a foul mood, let people know about it right away. The scolding could wait, he knew he was going to catch hell for this the moment he accepted the mission but he did not want to hear it. He wanted to get home, even if that was a still a good eight or nine hours away, plus another hour, give or take, of driving to Jerusalem that he was definitely not looking forward to.

Sighing, Azrai stood from the couch again and looked over to Shizu, “This is Ivan,” he figured he might as well give an introduction to hopefully ease Shizu’s mood a bit though she seemed to be rather relaxed despite a new strange appearing out of nowhere. Silently, he himself to definitely speak with Ivan later on about this since he had told him not to follow him, saying that he would be alright, though now it was safe to say that he supposed he was kicking himself in the ass now. Ivan was going to give him an earful later… “He will be taking us to the airport as he has said. If you feel you are ready, we shall take our leave.” It was obvious he could probably use a bit more rest but he knew they could not afford to stay here any longer and he wanted to leave as quickly as possible. Now that everything was set, he wanted nothing else to get in their way, not to mention travelling by car would be a lot easier to avoid being spotted by whoever was after him and Shizu.

He had a lot more to say, oh yes, but as always he would focus on what had to be done and deal with the scolding later. Slowly, without further delay, he made his way towards the door trying not to let the pain get to him too much, to the general direction of where Ivan had parked the car.

_________________

They had an odd relationship, she could sense that. However, she also knew that the two men were pretty close with one another. She watched how they interacted, finding it odd yet endearing at the same time. She could tell that the new man, named Ivan, was angry with Azrai. She wanted to speak out in his defense, but Azrai seemed to understand. There was something that they both needed to talk about and Shizu already had an idea of the conversation. She looked away, feeling awful. If Azrai hadn't come to this mission, he wouldn't be in trouble or in so much pain. She was putting him through a lot in only a matter of a day, plus a few hours. She wanted to apologize for all the trouble he was going through for her, but she knew that would have to be for another time and place. Right now, they had other matters to deal with. Maybe when this was all over and done with, she could express her gratitude. But no matter how many times she thanked him, it would never amount up what he was doing.

Ivan let out a sigh as Azrai seemed to be in a ****ing mood than he had expected. He suspected that it had something to do with the fact that his nose was swollen like a marshmallow in a microwave or it could have something to do with the woman standing as far away from them as possible. He deducted that it was both of those reasons and he snorted as Azrai continued to be ****ing. He bit back a remark, in order to have some kind of decency in front of Shizu. He narrowed his eyes at Azrai, hoping that the other was prepared to get socked in the mouth later. They were a violent bunch, always deciding to duke it out rather than talk things out in a civil manner. He clenched his jaw and rolled his eyes, it was best not to bother Azrai in this kind of mood or else a fight would definitely break out.

Shizu blinked as she was introduced to Ivan and she bowed in a polite manner, unable to break that custom she grew up by. Ivan nodded his head in her direction before looking back at Azrai when he spoke again. So it was up to her, now? He smirked a bit but held his tongue for a later time. "I am more than ready," Shizu said gently, moving towards them. Ivan sighed realizing that Azrai was way in the deep in this mission; he could just feel it in his bones. He didn’t like what was going down and one way or another, someone would end up severely hurt. Shizu trailed after Azrai, Ivan caught how her hands twitched when Azrai slowly pushed open the door, sensing how dizzy he had become. It was as if she wanted to help him stand but she knew better. Men had their pride and she knew when it was time to help and when it wasn't. Shaking his head Ivan followed after the two of them, heading towards the vehicle.

"It'll take a few minutes to get there, even less time if we don't meet resistance," Ivan said as he walked around to the driver's side. Shizu stared at the car door for a while, watching how they opened it. She repeated the action before climbing into the backseat. When they were all in the car, Ivan revved up the engine, pulling out of the alleyway and into the streets. He glanced at the route on his phone, glad to have Elias guiding him. He knew the man was on the lookout for anything slightly suspicious. Shizu looked at the strange interior of the car; it was very different from the carriages that she had gone around in. She tugged on the seatbelt, feeling the material, and traced the leather seats. The smell of the car was strange too. It smelled like gas and metal. How strange.

Ivan glanced back in the rearview mirror, monitoring how Shizu watched the scenery move by them in a blur. Her eyes were wide as she looked through the window, he was the windows were tinted or else she would have been noticed. She was strange. A few years ago, he had been sent on a mission like this, though it had gone far more smoothly than Azrai's had been going so far. He remembered how the poor kid had been so terrified that he went mute. He had been expecting the same from Shizu and though she didn't speak much now, she seemed more lively, which made him wonder, what the hell kind of life had she been living before Azrai found her. He glanced over at the male, seeing how his condition was taking a turn for the worse.

"I'll handle everything here, you just worry about when you get back home," he said to him. If anything Ivan would hold off on the argument until everything was calm. Who knew how long that calm would last, Shizu seemed to be a very wanted woman. This only deepened his curiosity about her. They turned down a dirt path way, after exiting off the freeway. The road was bumpy but the car went over it like it was nothing. In the middle of the take off platform, there was a small plane waiting for them. Shizu leaned forward to look at the small aircraft. "We are going to be flying in that," she asked with hesitance. It didn't look big enough to fit the two of them on there. Ivan chuckled a bit because he knew that it might've not looked like the most reliable aircraft, but Elias wouldn't give them a piece of junk. "I assure you, our sources have given you an excellent plane."

She bit her lower lip and nodded before settling back down. She continued to look at the metal bird; she felt her nerves acting up. She wasn't so sure about this idea anymore. Azrai said they would be flying for a long time. She exhaled slowly knowing that she had to prepare herself for it. The vehicle stopped and the engine cut off. She cautiously opened the door, stepping out. Her mouth felt dry as she looked at the metal bird. She could do this; if it meant getting out of Japan then she knew she could. Ivan leaned against the car door, staring at the aircraft, it looked very nice. He scoffed wondering why he never got any of the fancy things, but that was a discussion between him and Elias.

"You guys have a safe flight. It was nice meeting you ma'am," he said with a small smile and Shizu bowed politely. He looked at Azrai, his expression becoming serious. "We'll talk when I get back to Israel." With that, Ivan closed the door to his car, knowing that he had a lot of work to do before heading back home. "Bastard," he muttered under his breath before he drove off. Shizu watched him drive off before she looked at the plane then to Azrai. "I suppose we should wait no longer," she said gently while walking towards to plane with some confidence.

_________________

Was it really wrong of him to accept this mission even though there had been so many suspicions? Was it really wrong that once he rescued Shizu he found he didn’t mind playing teacher and showing her what freedom was like? Was it any surprise that there was a lot of trouble involved in this? During the entire car ride he couldn’t help but have those thoughts running through his mind while he leaned his head against the window of the passenger door and closed his eyes to rest for a bit. He only nodded here and there as he listened to Ivan ramble on about how in trouble he was and how Shizu was pointing out several things as they drove past them. It wasn’t long before the car came to a halt telling him that they arrived at their destination. There was a great amount of relief that came over him when he noticed that there had not been any trouble and it put him a little more at ease. However, with all his thoughts he had during the ride, his demeanor had become more professional than he felt he had been lately now.

When he exited the car, the door was shut just soft enough that it hadn’t been slammed shut. He barely paid Ivan any attention when he spoke to him before driving off.

He knew Ivan was **** off at him, the man was always upset with him since they didn’t quite see eye to eye. But in the end the man was indeed his friend. A sigh escaped him as he imagined what he and Elias would say to him, but he had a feeling it wasn’t something new… Then again they didn’t know what Shizu was. He glanced at her, debating whether or not he should explain to her that she should probably reveal herself to them. Then again that might just bring about more conflict in the end and be troublesome for the both of them. Maybe he really has become somewhat attached to her… The thought was starting to frustrate him more than anything and since he did not have any alcohol to help him keep a level head he didn’t need that frustration on top of everything. He did his best to calm himself for now as he did not want to take anything out on her.

She had done nothing wrong; it was his fault for getting attached to her. Perhaps this was all his fault that trouble found its way to him as well, but it wasn’t like he was always this sloppy; blame the fact he was not quite use to being a bodyguard and was more for the hit man job than anything. When he worked as a hit man, he didn’t have to get attached to or trust anyone outside of his inner circle. Maybe that was another reason Ivan and Elias were so angry with him. If that was the case he certainly wouldn’t blame them… and he kept in mind he owed them a lot. Unfortunately Ivan and Elias were the least of his worries. It was flying this thing and getting them home. This was going to be a long ass flight, he thought to himself. He had basic knowledge of flying since he was in the military but he preferred not to do it himself. The plane looked small, but it was big enough for four people, which lead him to wonder just exactly who their pilot was.

“Benzonna,” he swore under his breath in a sharp tone, too tired and frustrated for English for a moment. Looking to Shizu once he calmed down a bit, “Yes, we will be flying in this.” And almost on queue they found out who their pilot was. Everything seemed to be on queue today, he found it a bit odd honestly, but he didn’t think much of it. Given there was even a pilot, he was thankful that Elias had taken into consideration that Azrai could not fly a plane well to save his life this time around. He knew the pilot thankfully but he knew that he had more to worry about now. “It has been quite a long time, Lucian.” He said once the man stepped out of the plane. Being a bit more friendly than usual was another way of him keeping his cool though most people saw it as him being an ass-kisser.

Lucian looked the two over with a stern yet tired look in his eyes, “You had better hope that she was worth saving. Trouble that finds you is trouble for us all, I hope you’re aware.” He spat, “Get in and fasten your seatbelts. Be lucky I don’t charge you a fee.” Lucian has had almost three years experience in the Air Force but he has only flown civilian planes. You would never find him sitting in the cockpit of an F-22. He would never admit it but he was afraid of flying fast and didn’t like sharp turns; he was more for a smoother ride than some wild dog fight. Despite that he was serious about what he did for Azrai and the others, though he was closer to Elias than anyone was including Azrai. He loved that man like his very own brother and it was because of his request that he was here getting these two out of the city. He just hoped it was worth the trip. Azrai could be so troublesome at times, he hated it.

He made sure everyone was settled in before he made preparations to take off; performing the mandatory routine checks every pilot had to go through to make sure their aircraft was suitable for flight. There was enough fuel to make it to Tel Aviv, the weather conditions were excellent, and everything seemed to be fine. With a nod, Lucian brought the plane to the run way and readied for takeoff. Looking back to Shizu and he said, “If this is your first experience flying, you’re in for a treat! Just be aware that you’ll feel pressure in your ears from the change in altitude. It’s not that bad after awhile, but it does hurt a little at first.” He briefly looked back to Azrai, who appeared to be ready to just sleep and sighed before he allowed the plane to accelerate to the speed it needed to take off the ground, steadying it gingerly once it was in the air.

Azrai, as expected, just slept through the flight, hoping to enjoy the few hours of peace while it lasted and hope and pray that nothing else came up.

_________________

Shizu was worried about Azrai. She knew that he was being quiet due to the exhaustion that he had probably been feeling for a while. However, she knew that there was something else bothering him. She was not the type of person to ask such personal questions, besides were they not supposed to keep it professional? How professional was it for her to constantly be worrying about him? How professional was it for him to shoot down anyone who neared her? She couldn't deny that she liked the idea that he was around to protect her no matter the risks, but she also knew that this relationship would be short lived. Once they found out who wanted her rescued, he would get paid and that would be it. The thought kept floating around in her head, and now that they were at the aircraft, it wouldn't leave her alone. She didn't want to leave him, she felt safe around him, though she knew that it would happen. She was becoming attached to him and that was what she had been desperately trying to avoid.

She looked at the ground feeling like complete and utter crap. She knew that she would have had to open up to him sooner or later but she hadn't been planning on keeping it simple, sweet and most importantly professional. Obviously that had failed but she was willingly to try and hold back more, it would be easier in the end if she did right? At least, that was what she thought to be correct. It was hard for her to imagine that he would no longer be around to teach her things about the world. Even in this short period of time he kept to his word. He may have told her only some things but that was just more that she knew. When he was gone, who would teach her then? What if the person who sent the request out didn't even like her? She was terrified to leave Azrai and that was what bothered her the most. As strong as she wanted to be, she knew she wasn't. She jumped as the plane's door opened and a man stepped out. He looked extremely ****, more so than Ivan. She felt small beneath his stare and then the snide comment he made caused her to wince. Her thoughts suddenly turned dark as she followed the men onto the aircraft. She struggled with her seatbelt for a moment, before she was properly fastened in. Was she really worth saving? She honestly didn't think that she was but maybe Azrai did. She couldn't even put the safety belt around her without struggling; that definitely showed she was worth saving, right?

She sighed at the sarcastic remark she made to herself. It seemed as if everyone else but Azrai thought that she wasn't worth being saved. That this was all getting out of control. She even began to think that too, but not Azrai. That man did too much for her. She frowned glancing over at him, he looked absolutely dreadful and all he seemed to want was some sleep. She blinked and looked at...what was his name? Lucian? Yes, Lucian for a moment, wondering how a bunch of tense and foul mouthed men could ever get along. Azrai had been nicer for once, while Lucian had practically chewed off his head. Shizu shook her head deciding that all men were strange and she just let that thought be. Her eyes snapped back to Lucian as he spoke and she nodded her head slowly, he was certainly a lot easier to like than impassive Ivan or silent Azrai. She smiled gently at him, her eyes looking out of the window. When the plane started moving, she gripped the arm rests, feeling uncomfortable. She tried to think of all things possible to ignore the fact that they were increasing speed. She closed her eyes tightly as they took off from the ground. After a while, she opened her eyes slowly, to see that they were stable. She looked out the window and stared in awe.

She looked at the cloud forms, the blues sky, and the miles of nothing else. It was so beautiful, she had never been so high in her entire life. She was amazed at how this tiny aircraft could hold all of them. Azrai should have warned Lucian that she would ask a lot of questions due to her extremely sheltered life. For the next hour, she randomly would ask Lucian about the plane, how it flew, and other questions that she had been wondering about the metal bird. After that she spent a few hours just looking out of the window. It was a pastime that she thoroughly enjoyed doing; it gave her a peace of mind. She allowed herself to be taken away, yawning a bit and ears popping. This was such a beautiful site; she could stare at this all day. However it seemed as if today's festivities finally caught up to her, her eyes growing weary. She blinked a few more times, gazing out at the sky for a little longer, before she fell asleep.

-----

She woke up with a jolt, not sure as to where she was. Her ears her hurting and she stretched her jaw trying to pop the pressure. The aircraft shook a little bit and she jumped. Lucian commented on how it was turbulence. She nodded her head before shifting to lean away from the sun through her side of the plane, her head landed against Azrai's shoulder, while she fell back asleep. She was sure she could get in a few more hours of sleep before they reached Tel Aviv.

-----

She woke up for a second time, this time from a nightmare. Her eyes flew open and she panicked once more before her mind clarified things for her. She let out a sigh knowing that she probably wouldn't be able to sleep any longer. She didn't trust her dreams. She sat upright in her seat, tired eyes looking back out the window. She rubbed her face slightly, wiping away the sleep from her eyes. It had definitely been better than her sleep in the hotel last night, but she knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep properly until she knew she was safe. She looked ahead and over at Lucian, she wondered how he could stay awake, he had certainly looked tired when she first saw him. Maybe that was what it took to be a pilot. It was an admirable quality to have. She leaned closer to him, speaking softly. "Ano...how long have we been the air, if you do not min me asking?" She wanted to estimate how much longer they had, especially if this were to be a long flight. Hopefully she had slept through the majority of it, which was doubtful, she hadn't even been as tired as Azrai but she felt herself sleep heavily, that was the only way she would fall into the traps of a nightmare.

_________________

Lucian lived for flying. He may not have liked flying fighter jets but he felt that even they had an enjoyable experience whenever he had to fly them in the past. It was mainly test flights after maintenance, sometimes newly built aircraft, and sometimes he did the maintenance himself. It had been a dangerous job, and a bad injury caused him to be discharged much to his dismay, he would have loved to have gone back to work for the Air Force. But now he was stuck taxiing people around, like Azrai among other people, and sometimes it could be excruciatingly tiring. Sometimes he would rather work on planes then fly them; Lucian was an exceptional mechanic and knew every last function to a tee almost like it has been forever burned into his mind. When asked about how everything worked, he actually rambled on a bit himself, a big smile on his face while he explained the aircraft. Some detail was not really needed, but he threw it in there anyway since he felt that it was important to him considering he was the pilot. It was also amusing that she was eager to learn.

A few hours later, he looked back to find she had been woken by the turbulence while Azrai was still sound asleep, undisturbed. And people had told him that the man was a light sleeper, Lucian couldn’t help but wonder if he really was just that exhausted and he couldn’t help but imagine just what the hell he had been through to rescue this girl. There had been a point where he stirred a moment, noticing that Shizu was leaned against his bad shoulder, shifting to a more comfortable position only to fall asleep again. A yawn escaped Lucian, making him realize he was tired as hell himself, making a mental note that Elias owed him a beer once he got back home. It’s been a long day and he has been in the air for nearly twenty hours now, flying from here to there, it was definitely taxing and he felt rather fatigued as he held back a yawn. Trying not to drift off to sleep was difficult but he knew he had to stay awake and see this through especially with how unnerving it was flying through the Middle East of all places.

Another two hours passed, giving a total of about seven hours now, and he was being spoken to. By this point he was too tired to smile and his voice didn’t carry as well as he wanted it to over the engine noise, “It’s been about seven hours, meaning we only have about an hour or so to go before we’re in Israel and I drop you two off in Tel Aviv assuming no trouble finds us. Oh but don’t worry, we’re pretty safe up here for the most part and if anything happens to the aircraft chances are I’ll be able to land this bad boy anywhere safely, trust me. Are you enjoying the flight? You don’t seem to be as tired as Azrai is.” He briefly looked back at the sleeping man. This really had better be worth the trouble, he thought to himself once again with a sigh. “You know,” Lucian continued, “that was only my second time in Japan. It’s a beautiful country, much different than Canada.” Lucian was a foul tempered man like a lot of the people Azrai knew, but he was also such a plane geek and he did like to travel quite a bit as well.

It was pretty obvious that he loved flying despite the fact he was tired as hell and wanted to go back home and sleep. Though he knew he would probably end up staying overnight in a hotel, refuel, then head back home. He knew he didn’t have the energy to go immediately home.

Just as he had said it took exactly one hour more to get to Tel Aviv. He preformed landing checks before heading to the airport that Elias had instructed him to go to in order to avoid any major attention while avoiding suspicions as well. He always had the feeling that he would be shot down if he was seen as a suspicious aircraft and he did not want that. It was best to nod his head and follow whatever rules they had here. Conflict would be avoided that way and God knows that Azrai did not need any more conflict, or have anyone screw this trip up for him. “You had better be thankful I like you, Elias,” he muttered to himself as he spoke in rough Hebrew to inform the airport there was a personal aircraft coming in for landing, they instructed him where to go not even a minute later. Good. They weren’t that busy and he was able to land safely.

The moment the plane touched the ground, a man in uniform walked over to them and began questioning. Lucian gave Azrai a rough nudge, “We’re here, Sleeping Beauty. Mind answering a few questions this man has, I don’t speak Hebrew well enough to answer, sorry.”

Azrai woke with a bit of a start, clinging to the seat of the plane like he had been in some nightmare while he looked around. Even if it was pretty much the middle of the night still the sight of familiar scenery immediately put him at ease. He was home. Hell he hadn’t been happier to finally be home in his life, far away from trouble for the time being. Once he got back to Jerusalem, groaning once he reminded himself of that drive, he would collect his payment from whoever sent him on this mission and then wait for whatever else came his way. It was a rough yet simple life and he enjoyed it whenever he didn’t end up with a bloody shoulder a few bruises and a busted nose. He took a moment to further focus on what was going on before nodding his head at the security man slightly and flashing a faint grin that was rather short lived as he listened to what the man had to say.

The security guard gave them the ok after he had explained to him that they had come from Japan and had to come home earlier than expected because of his injuries and that Shizu was his distant cousin from his deceased wife’s side of the family who was here in Israel studying. It bothered him how tight airport security has been lately, they always seem to make it worse for travelers especially now. He would have flashed both passports to the man but he decided to hold off on that. Once they were left alone, Azrai let out a soft exhale and got out of the plane slowly. He felt like **** from such a long sleep, not really use to sleeping that long anymore. It surprised him he was able to sleep that long without tossing around and waking up as well. Perhaps he really had been that tired, and he still felt a bit fatigued in all honesty though he figured it was because of his wounds and because his internal clock was telling to sleep more since it was dark out.

“I truly appreciate you coming to get us,” he told Lucian quietly. Even if he was still in a bit of a foul mood, he was appreciative. They didn’t have to come get him… Hell perhaps it wouldn’t have been all that surprising if they left him to fend for himself.

“Don’t thank me, thank Elias. I don’t know why that man likes you so much. Personally I think you’re a thorn in the side most days.”

He didn’t take that remark personally considering deep down he knew Lucian was another who was more than willing to help. The man was another reliable person within his little inner circle of friends, a person he knew damn well he could count on even if their relationship was rocky and not nearly as close as he was with Ivan or Elias. He just grinned at the man half-heartedly and they went their separate ways. He decided to remain silent while he led Shizu through the airport so they could leave, not really in the mood for speaking, thinking about getting home. The quickly moved through airport security; the line was not as long as he would have expected however the woman behind the desk seemed to look over Shizu’s passport and ID a bit more than she looked over his. He could feel his jaw tense a bit but when everything checked out alright he relaxed and grinned at the woman before they took their leave.

Once they were a bit further beyond the airport, he walked to the nearest bus stop after asking another person sharing the stop, face glued to her phone, if they still ran this late, gesturing for Shizu to follow once the lady answered that they did, “I suppose this is where I say ‘welcome to Israel’,” he said to Shizu softly with a bit of a chuckle. “Tell me… what do you think of Israel so far?” He tried his best to keep his attention away from anything that might seem suspicious as they waited for the buss truthfully. Now that he was thinking about it, that ride had gone far too smoothly for his comfort.

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