"Like hell you're sending me away!"

"Sayuri, I'm serious."

"And so am I! I can help! I'm stronger than most of the members you plan on using!" Sayuri shouted as she glared at Dazai.

"But you're more important to me than each and every single one of them combined! I will not risk you dying! Not after you made me that promise!" Dazai raised his voice as he clenched his fists.

"Do you really think I would get killed so easily?" Sayu looked at him and he could see the hurt in her eyes. She had never felt so disparaged, so belittled. "Do you seriously think I'm that weak?"

"Sayu, you are one of the strongest people I know," Dazai spoke, his voice back to a lower tone. He held her shoulders firmly as his eyes bored into her soul. "You are incredibly skilled in combat, you have a powerful ability, and on top of that you have a heart of gold. You see worlds of treasure where other people see useless junk. This world doesn't deserve you, but at the same time, it can't afford to lose you."

Sayuri looked at him, her eyes pleading to let her help. "Then why don't you think I'm capable of this?"

"It's not that I don't think you're capable. I don't even know if this plan is gonna work. This is all one big gamble. There's a large chance that we will fail," Dazai replied calmly. "But it's the only plan that has any chance of success."

She sighed softly as she lowered her head.

"You promised me that you wouldn't die on me and if I need to help you keep that promise, I will. But right now I'm not even certain that the people I'm sending are even going to come out alive. I will not let the one person who matters to me be in a position where the chance of death far outweighs the chance of living. Please, just let me keep you safe. You've protected me countless times. This time, I'm begging you, let me protect you."

"Okay," Sayuri murmured with a slow nod.

"You are my best friend, Sayuri. You really are. I know I'm not the greatest person to be around, and that I don't tell you everything, but that doesn't mean I care about you any less."

He hugged her close and buried his face in her hair. He knew he would regret becoming so attached to her, but he couldn't help it. All he could do now was keep her safe.

"And someone needs to tell Zoe what happened to the Young Bloods," Dazai mentioned quietly.

News had spread quickly through the mafia. Verlaine had attacked and murdered the Young Bloods, excluding Chuuya. Someone had to be the one to tell her.

"I asked the boss to give you am assignment in Tokyo. Take yourbrother and Zoe with you. Okay?"

Sayuri nodded slowly, clutching him tight. "Okay. But you need to make it out alive too."

"I don't plan on dying by the hands of that man. Now go. I'll be in touch to let you know how everything happens," Dazai replied as he lifted his head.

"You better," she shot back quickly before they parted ways to take care of their own jobs.

Sayuri knocked on the door in front of her, fiddling her fingers.

The door opened and she immediately saw the tear stains on the cheeks of the brunette.

"It's true, isn't it?"

Sayuri sighed as she looked at the ground. "So you heard..."

Zoe felt her knees weaken as a new wave of tears racked her body.

Sayu wrapped her arms around Zoe as she let her cry. "I'm really sorry, Zoe. I really am."

"He promised me that he would always come home to me," Zoe whimpered as she clutched Sayuri's shirt. "Why didn't he keep his promise?"

"I'm sure he tried. He was one of the strongest members. I know he definitely put up a fight to see you again," Sayuri assured, stroking the back of the crying girl.

"I know... it's just not fair. I love him so much. He wasn't perfect, but he was the best thing that ever happened to me."

"I know you're really upset right now, but I need you to pack a bag for a few days," Sayuri said with a gentle but serious tone.

Zoe looked at Sayu with confusion. "Why? Am I in danger?"

"Not you specifically, but the whole city is. Dazai told me to take you and my brother to Tokyo until he gives the okay to come back. I have some business to handle there as well," Sayuri replied, moving to grab Zoe's hands. "We're just trying to keep you safe."

"I understand."

The two went inside the apartment that used to be shared between the late two toned mafioso and Zoe. Sayuri helped Zoe pack what she needed before they went out to her car.

Sakunosuke was sat in the front seat, waiting for the girls.

"Zoe, this is my brother. Sakunosuke, this is Zoe," Sayu introduced after both girls slipped into the back seat.

"It's a pleasure," Odasaku replied as he gave a curt nod. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yeah. Let's go," Sayuri replied.

Zoe just stared at the promise ring on her finger, sitting in silence the entire ride.

Sayuri strapped on her thigh holsters over her pants before slipping her pistols into their respective slot.

She slipped a knife into the slit in her boot before walking out of the room in the mafia safe house they were currently occupying.

"Damn," Zoe spoke as she eyed the female assassin. "Looking badass, gotta say."

Sayuri laughed lightly as she grabbed the keys to one of the mafia motorcycles she had access to. "I appreciate that."

"She's one of the best in the business," Odasaku spoke up from the kitchen where he was making some lunch.

"I learned from the best," Sayuri replied with a smile.

"I know it's weird to ask, but um, how many people have you killed? You don't have to say. I'm just curious," Zoe said as she fiddled with her hands.

"Around one fifty, give or take. I've had a hundred and twelve contracted kills, but I've had to kill some random people along the way that I haven't accounted for."

Zoe nodded slowly, fiddling with her ring. "I personally can't imagine killing anyone."

"I know for normal people that death is scary, but when it's all you've ever known, you become numb to it," Sayuri spoke lowly. "You don't hate me now, do you?"

"Never! You did what you had to do to survive. I think you're really strong, not just because you have abilities, but because you still try to hold some semblance of life outside of the mafia. You have friends, and you keep what family you do have close to you. I think most people would have given into the depression or just stumbled along while waiting for a miracle. I admire your heart."

Sayuri's smile returned before she turned to the door. "I'm glad you think that. Now, I gotta go. Love you, Saku."

"Love you too, Sayu. Be safe," Odasaku replied with a small smile.

"Where's the fun in that?" Sayuri shot back with a grin before leaving swiftly after.

Sakunosuke chuckled lightly as he bowled up the curry he had made. He brought one of the bowls over to Zoe and sat on the opposite side of the couch.

"Thank you, Sakunosuke," Zoe replied softly as she took the bowl happily. She took a bite and her eyes lit up. "Mm! This is really good!"

"Glad you like it. I love curry. Sayuri learned to make it for me and then she taught me. The spicier the better," Odasaku responded, taking a bite from his own bowl. He picked up his novel from the end table beside him and began reading from where he left off.

"I agree."

The two sat in a comfortable silence while eating before Zoe noticed the book that Sakunosuke was reading.

"Is that Kokoro?" Zoe asked quickly.

Odasaku looked up in slight surprise as he nodded. "Yeah, it is."

"Those books are my absolute favorite! Natsume really has a sense for making the reader feel everything the characters are feeling," Zoe gushed excitedly.

"I completely agree. I've read the first two more times than I can count," Odasaku replied as he smiled warmly. "I haven't found the third book though."

"I have it! I brought it with me actually," Zoe said as she stood up. "Give me a moment."

Sakunosuke watched as Zoe went into the room she was staying in. She cane back out with a book in her hands.

"Here!" She held out the book for him to take and he carefully took hold of the hardcover book.

"Where did you find this?" Odasaku asked quietly as he flipped through the pages.

"My dad bought it for me before he passed away," Zoe replied and she saw Odasaku open his mouth to apologize. "Don't apologize. He was very ill. I'm just glad that he isn't suffering anymore. And I still have things like this book to remember him by. You should read it. You can return it when you're done."

"I'll take good care of it. I promise," Odasaku assured as he set the book in his lap.

The two began making conversation on different books that they had read in the past. Time flew by for the two, their curry forgotten.

Sayuri unplugged a thumb drive from the laptop in the hotel room she was in.

The man she was sent to kill was the Port Mafia's informant, Haruki Murakami. He had been caught selling information to outside organizations. To keep Sayuri out of the city, Dazai had Mori send her to take Murakami out.

She had downloaded different files from his laptop that showed his contacts and what information he had sold. They needed to know what organizations had what on them and stop the flow of information as quick as possible.

The door handled turned as Sayuri slipped the thumb drive into a pocket.

Murakami came into the room and immediately whipped out his gun when he saw Sayuri.

She dove to the side without hesitation as three shots were fired. She darted forwards and kicked the gun into of his hands.

"Who are you?! What do you want?!" Murakami cried as he backed up against the door.

Sayuri pulled one of her pistols from its holster and spun it in her hand. "The boss sent me."

"Mori sent you? Why?" Murakami questioned, feigning innocence.

"You didn't think we wouldn't find out about you selling information?" Sayuri stalked closer to him, grinning as she saw the color drain from his face. "You got a little too greedy and then you got caught."

"Wait! I'll do anything! I can pay you! I'll disappear!" Murakami begged desperately as he held his hands up.

"Unlike you, I don't care about the money. When Mori asks me to kill a rat, I won't hesitate to do as he asks."

"I have a little sister! She depends on me! You wouldn't take away her only support would you?" Murakami continued to plead.

Sayuri loved the panicked look in his eyes. The way his pupils enlarged as they darted around the room, desperately looking for a way out. She loved seeing the distress all over his body.

"I have a brother, so I understand how you feel," Sayuri spoke lowly.

"So you'll let me go?!" Murakami had a spark of hope in his eyes that was put out as quickly as it ignited.

Sayuri fired three shots in his chest. This was an assigned mafia hit.

"I never said that I would let you live. I can't let Mori down, unlike you," Sayuri replied before dragging his body over to the coffee table.

She made do with her surrounding, setting his top jaw on the edge of the table, making him bite onto the edge with what little life he had left.

"You knew exactly what you were doing. I feel no sympathy for you," Sayuri continued coldly before smashing her foot down onto his head, breaking his jaw with an excruciating crack.

She watched as he bled out with tears trickling from his eyes.

"If you really cared for your sister, you would've been more careful. Only an idiot would sell out the mafia," Sayuri grumbled as she put her gun back into its holster.

Her phone started to ring and she pulled it out, a smile forming on her lips when she saw that it was Dumpster Boy. She answered quickly as she climbed out the window of the hotel room.

"Perfect timing," she spoke, climbing up the fire escape.

"I was just checking in to tell you that everything is okay here for now. Though Chuuya decided to torture me. It wasn't very nice and I could've used a hug from you to make me feel better."

"You deserved it, you mackerel!"

"Who is he talking to?"

"I'm not sure, but I'm assuming it is a friend."

Sayuri heard a familiar voice and then a new voice she had never heard before. "Who are you with?"

"Chuuya, Adam, and who are you again? Oh, wait, Shirase, right?" Dazai answered.

"Shirase?! What the hell is he doing there?! If he lays a hand on Chuuya, I'll rip his spine from out of his ass and beat the shit out of him with it!" Sayuri growled as she stood on the roof of the hotel.

"I appreciate the concern, Sayu, but we're fine," Chuuya spoke up.

"Keep her away from me! She's insane!" Shirase whined.

"Hey, you're the one who pissed her off by stabbing Chuuya. I mean, really, that was a stupid move," Dazai deadpanned.

"How was I supposed to know he was friends with a psychopath?!"

Sayuri couldn't help but grin. "Oh, speaking of which, I just took out Murakami. I've got the thumb drive with all the files of the info he was selling."

"Wonderfully done, angel," Dazai praised.

"Angel? What are you, like some sadistic couple?" Shirase muttered from over the line.

"She's the mafia's angel of death, but personally I would love if she would take me out of this world with her beautiful hands."

"I'm not killing you, Osa," Sayuri spoke with a sigh, grimacing at the whined that came from the other side. "Alright, I need to get back. Osa, Chuuya, you both stay safe. Oh, and that Adam guy you mentioned. Tell him to stay safe, too."

"What about me?!"

"I guess you're right. Stay safe so I can rip your throat out later," Sayuri replied. "See ya!"

She hung up while Shirase complained and her smile rested on her face.

"You guys better be alive when I get back," she murmured to herself. "Or I'll bring your asses back and kill you myself."