An Assassin's Respite

Getting Kari Into School

It was Friday and Kazuna had spent the past couple of days skipping school so that he could take care of Kari. Kagura had asked Yua if she knew where Yuu was but she said that she didn't know and his secretary said that it was disclosed information, so Kazuna couldn't rely on Yuu and he didn't trust any other agency to look after her. He knew he had to come up with something, he couldn't just keep ditching school after all. He was currently watching tv with Kari when he heard a knock at the door. He opens the door to Kagura standing in front of him.

"May I?" She asks.

Kazuna opens the door fully to let her in.

"Where's Kari?" She asks.

"In the living room," He answers.

"Hey Kari," She says while entering the living room.

Kari ignores her as she was too immersed in her show.

"She really likes that show, huh?" She notes.

"Yeah, she's been watching it non-stop," Kazuna says.

"So, have you figured out what you're going to do? I can't keep Ayanami at bay for much longer." She asks.

"No, still thinking," He replies.

"Have you considered enrolling her into a school for special agents? There are schools that have programs for younger kids that have plenty of special agents to keep her safe. It'll also be good for her to make friends with kids that are closer to her age," Kagura suggests.

She waits for his response, but he remained silent.

"Don't tell me," She says to herself as she looks over at him. His answer was written all over his face.

"You really haven't thought of that?" She asks.

"In my defense, I'm not very well versed in raising children or when they should enroll in school," Kazuna states.

"Sure," Kagura responds sarcastically. She sits next to Kari and taps her shoulder to ensure that she has her attention.

"Kari, what do you think about going to school and making friends that are around your age?" Kagura asks.

"I-I don't know, having friends is scary," She replies.

"What do you mean?" Kagura asks.

"They're fun to play and talk with, but it hurts too much when they go away," She clarifies.

Kagura gives her a confused look and turns her head toward Kazuna. He knew what Kari was talking about. She clearly had watched her friends die or disappear. It makes sense why she was hesitant to make more. Kazuna goes over to Kari and crouches in front of her.

"You won't have to worry about your friends going away because I'll make sure nothing bad happens to you or any of them," Kazuna assures her.

Kari looks at him with a dazzled look in her eyes.

"Really!? Then... Then I want to go to school," Kari says.

"Alright, then I'll enroll you into the nearest one tomorrow," Kazuna states while placing a hand on her head.

"It's good that you're going to get her into school, but how exactly are you going to do that? I'm sure that they will want to know why a kid is enrolling another kid into school," Kagura asks.

"I'll talk to Ms. Asuka and see if she can do anything to help," He answers.

"You think that will be enough?" Kagura asks.

"I'm sure she'll come up with something," Kazuna says.

"I'll just trust you on that, so I guess I'll head home," Kagura says.

Kazuna nods as he walks her out. She stops once she walks out the door and turns to Kazuna.

"What is it?" He asks.

"Nothing, just thinking that you've really begun to open up," She notes before hurrying away.

Kazuna watches her walk into her house with a baffled look on his face. He walks back into his own house and calls to Kari.

"Kari, go ahead and take a bath while I make dinner," Kazuna shouts.

"'Kay," She responds.

Kazuna begins making dinner before he stops and starts to go into a daze.

"Should I really allow myself to go soft when things will only get more difficult from here on?" He asks himself.

He shakes himself out of his daze and continues making dinner.

The next day, Kazuna woke Kari up early so she could get dressed in time for their meeting with the principal from the closest middle school which happened to be GA's pre-academy called Burst Academy. Just as it seemed, it's a school that gives you a path into GA. He had messaged Ms. Asuka yesterday and she had gotten him a meeting and had gotten his story together. After waiting for about twenty minutes, Kari was finally dressed and ready to go.

"This, is Ba. So, what do you think," He asks while looking over at her.

She had a look of awe in her eyes, but the grip she had on his hand showed she was nervous as well.

"Come on, let's head in," He says.

Kari nods as her grip tightens.

"You remember what I told you, right?" Kazuna asks as they enter the school.

"Mhm, if they ask, I'm your cousin from America who moved to Japan recently. My power allows me to copy other people's powers and I want to be a special agent," She recites.

"Good," He says as they stop in front of the principal's office.

"I doubt they will ask any questions we aren't prepared for, but if they do, answer the best you can," He notes.

Kari nods as he knocks on the door. A voice calls them in right after. The principal was sitting at his desk. The nameplate on his desk read Akira Tanaka. He was a well-known special agent, famous for his brilliant light power. They take a seat in front of his desk.

"So, you're the Kazuna that Asuka has been talking about," Akira says.

"She's been talking about me?" Kazuna says in surprise.

"Yes, she says she's found quite the gifted child," Akira adds.

"I see, well, in any case, we're not here to talk about me," Kazuna responds.

"Indeed," Akira agrees as he turns his attention to Kari.

"So, your power lets you copy the powers of others, right?" Akira asks her.

"Uhm, yes," Kari replies nervously.

"Have you seen this in action?" Akira asks Kazuna.

"Yes," He answers.

"That's quite the power you've got there Kari. We would be glad to have someone like you in our school," Akira states.

Kari's face starts to brighten up, but Akira wasn't done yet.

"But, before I allow you in my school, I want to know one more thing," Akira says.

"W-What's that?" Kari asks, her nerves back in full swing.

"Asuka told me that you wanted to be a special agent, but why do you want to be one?" He asks.

"Why?" Kari repeats.

"Yes. Wanting to be a special agent is well and good, but you need a reason why. Those who don't have a reason, whether it be a vain or righteous one, will either fail to become a special agent or die an early death," Akira states.

Kari looks from Akira to Kazuna. The look on his face made it clear that she was going to have to come up with an answer on her own. She clutched the frail of her dress as she thought hard. She looked back up at Kazuna who gave her an encouraging smile and at that moment, she knew her answer.

"I want to be like Mr. Kazuna," She says.

Both Akria and Kazuna give her a shocked look.

"Is that so?" Akira asks.

"Yes, Mr. Kazuna is strong and kind and helps those that need it. If being a special agent can get me closer to Mr. Kazuna, then there's nothing that I want to be more than one," She answers confidently.

"Well then, welcome to Burst Academy," Akira says.

Kari gives Kazuna a wide gleaming smile.

"I'll send you her schedule and the things she needs as well as her uniform," Akira states.

Kazuna gives him a nod before he and Kari leave. While they were walking home, Kari's happiness showed as she hummed and skipped the whole way home.

"Are you sure that's what you wanted to go with?" Kazuna asks.

"What do you mean?" Kari asks.

"Being like me. I'm not sure that's something you should aspire for," He responds.

"Mhmm," Kari replies.

"I don't think you could say that so confidently if you knew about my past," Kazuna says.

"But I want to be like the Mr. Kazuna of now," Kari states.

Kazuna stares at Kari for a while while they were walking. He didn't know why, but the statement had given him a warm fuzzy feeling. Before they went home, Kazuna took Kari to a school supplies store so that she could get her backpack and everything else she would need. Once they made it home, Kari eagerly unwrapped all of her school items and looked at them with a gleam in her eyes.

The next day, Kari was constantly talking about school. Often wondering if she'll make friends, what her teacher would be like if she would be able to do the work, and all the other worries of a student new to a school. Normally, this constant talking would annoy him, but for some reason, he didn't mind it. Actually, he sort of liked it.

Finally, it was the night before Kari's first day of school. She rushed off to bed although Kazuna figured she wouldn't get any sleep at all. Once Kazuna got settled in his own bed, there was a knock Kazuna had come to expect at his door, and, as expected, Kari walked in. Kazuna had become used to her sleeping with him, but he would like for her to get over her fear of sleeping alone. But he decided to take it easy on her for now.

Through the night, Kazuna finally got some nightmare-free sleep, but of course, no day could go so smoothly. In his sleep, he can barely hear what sounds like a high-pitched shriek. He wakes himself up and see's Ria, staring at him with her mouth agape. She had been gone for so long and so much has happened that he forgot about the inevitable return of Ria and the explaining that he would have to do. Also, having her see Kari sleeping next to him was one thing he knew would be an annoying altercation.

"K-K-K-Kazuna! W-W-Who's t-t-that girl in y-y-your b-bed?" Ria asks in a stupor.

Kazuna sighs as he rubs the back of his head.

"Calm down I'll give you the details," He says as Kari wakes up.

Kazuna tells the story to Ria who was livid.

"You didn't think to consult me about this?" Ria asks after she hears the whole story.

"Sorry, it happened pretty suddenly. Besides, you're not the one to talk about consulting with someone before moving into my house," He replies.

"That's different, I've known you since we were kids. And why couldn't you hand her over to some agency?" Ria asks, now fuming.

"Because her situation was too similar to yours," He answers.

"Huh?" Ria squeaks out. The statement had caught her by surprise.

"Her circumstances nearly mirrored yours, there's no way I could leave her knowing that," Kazuna explains.

"So, you saved her because she reminded you of me?" Ria asks with a hopeful expression.

"You could say that," Kazuna answers.

It was probably the best thing he could say in order to get her to calm down and accept this circumstance with less resistance.

"Well then, I guess it can't be helped," Ria says with a smug look.

"Anyway, why don't you tell me what my mom had you do," Kazuna says.

Ria's face dons a serious expression.

"She had me follow some members of the clan that she felt were trying to start a coupe," She states.

"And?" Kazuna asks.

"It doesn't seem like they'll make a move for a while, but they're definitely waiting for an opportunity," Ria states.

"I wonder what they could be waiting for?" Kazuna ponders.

"Does it matter, it's not like they have the manpower to take you out," Ria says with a shrug.

"Even so, the idea of them waiting for something has me worried," He responds.

Kazuna sits there, deep in thought for a while before he realizes that he has to get ready for school.

"I guess I can worry about it on another day, for now, Kari, you should be getting ready for your first day of school," Kazuna states.

Kari's sleepy expression turns into a face of unrivaled anticipation as she jumps out of bed and runs for the bathroom to get ready.

"Is she really that excited to go to school? I don't see what's so exciting," Ria asks.

"Yes, weird how different we are from the norm," Kazuna notes.

"I guess," Kari says in agreement.

"We should be getting ready as well," He says while walking past her.

He stops at the door and turns around. He places a hand on her head before he speaks.

"Good job on your mission and I'm glad you made it back safely," Kazuna says.

He walks away leaving Ria standing there with a wide grin on her face. She chuckles to herself as she happily trots out of the room.