An Assassin's Respite

Ms. Katsuchi and Kagura's Talk

Now with a plan and a time limit, everyone begins to leave Kagura’s house and go home, eager for the next week to hurry by as they didn’t want to leave Kazuna alone for another second. After a few minutes, just about everyone had left except for Ms. Katsuchi who stayed back and was chatting with Mrs. Itsuki. Kagura was about to return to her room when Ms. Katsuchi called her over. She approaches Ms. Katsuchi a bit hesitant. 

“There's no need to be so cautious. I’m not going to give you some secret talk about abandoning Kazuna or anything I just wanted to talk.” She says. The statement helps Kagura loosen up a bit, though she is still a bit nervous.

“I just wanted to know what type of person do you think Kazuna is or, to be more specific, what you thought of him before you learned what you did today?” Ms. Katsuchi asked. Kagura is silent for a short time before she answers. 

“He was kind, and it always seemed like he had a lot on his mind. So much in fact that it seemed like it was weighing him down. He always kept his personal life a secret, but I didn't mind, I mean, everyone has things that they want to keep a secret. He was always helping people whether it was with schoolwork or training. Honesty, I admired him.” She answers. Ms. Katsuchi smiles as she stares off into the distance. 

“I see. So Kazuna did make the right choice.” She says almost to herself. 

“What do you mean?” Kagura asks. Ms. Katsuchi turns to Kagura as if she just remembered she was there. 

“The assassin life wasn’t meant for Kazuna. He’s much too kind, or at least, he was. But living in the dark for so long would change anyone. During the later days as an assassin, he was ruthless, frighteningly so in fact. To hear that he is still kind now like he was before he went on his first mission makes me very happy.” Ms. Katsuchi explains.

“What was Kazuna like as a kid?” Kagura asks. Ms. Katsuchi smiles. 

“Kind, smart… but, naive. As a kid, he truly believed that what we did could be used for good as long as we only killed those that were bad. Although he was naive he truly wanted to do good. He wanted to create a more peaceful world where everyone could live happily.” Ms. Katsuchi answers. 

"What made him change his beliefs?" Kagura asks.

"As he started to go on more and more missions he saw the world's true colors. He saw that no one was who they said they were. Politicians, rich entrepreneurs, and even special agents would hire Kazuna to take out their competition so that they could have a better standing in the world. It would get worse as he gained more notoriety and he would receive even more of these requests. When Kazuna was growing up he would say 'I'll only accept missions involving bad people'. But he had such a black and white idea of bad back then, so he changed. He realized that people put on fronts and that the evilest people were hard to find. So he took on more requests that were out of character for him. Maybe I should have done something when I noticed this change in him. ” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“Is that why Kazuna sees the world as so cruel and unfair?” Kagura asked. 

“Yes. In any case, he's not the same person he used to be." Ms. Katsuchi answers.

“No, you’re wrong.” Kagura replies. 

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?” Ms. Katsuchi asks. 

“Kazuna is still kind, in his own way of course. He may just be getting used to being able to show emotions and have other people not see it as a weakness. I think that once he spends more time living as a high school student he’ll start to show more emotion and even show more kindness. Who knows, maybe he’ll stop calling all of us idiots too.” Kagura says with a smile. Ms. Katsuchi lets out a laugh. 

“Hmm, maybe. Although he probably won’t ever stop calling you all idiots, he’s done that since he was a kid.” She replies. Both of them laugh and then sit next to each other in silence before Ms. Katsuchi stands up. 

“Well, I guess I will be taking my leave. I do have a clan to run after all.” Ms. Katsuhci says. 

“But isn’t your clan in America?” Kagura points out. 

“We may be a clan of assassins but we do have cell phones.” Ms. Katsuchi states. 

“Then why does Kazuna write you letters instead of emailing you?” Kagura asks. 

“Probably to make it harder for anybody to track him. Karma can tell if he is being followed and can easily shake off any pursuers however, the same cannot be done for electronics. If he sent an email, it wouldn't be too long before someone found a way to track him. So letters were probably the best way for him to communicate and stay hidden.” Ms. Katsuchi answers. 

“I see.” Kagura says. 

“Well if you have no more questions I will take my leave.” Ms. Katsuchi states. 

“No, thank you very much for all the information you shared.” Kagura says with a bow. 

“No, thank you for listening and agreeing with my selfish request.” Ms. Katsuchi retorts as she smiles at Kagura. 

“I guess I’ll be seeing you tomorrow for your training.” Ms. Katsuchi says while heading to the front door. 

“Yes!” Kagura responds as Ms. Katsuchi walks out of her house.

Kagura lets out a sigh of relief. 

“She may say she’s not a fighter, but she has quite a presence. I was so nervous talking to her.” Kagura says to herself. 

She heads upstairs to go to bed after the long day she just had. She gets into bed and buries her head into her pillow. 

“How I feel about Kazuna huh?” Kagura whispers to herself as she drifts off to sleep.

The next day Kagura was heading home after an excruciatingly long day at school. It was their first day back since the incident and since their class had been in the mix of most of it they really didn’t do much. It also didn’t help to see Kazuna’s desk empty and hear that they were covering up the fact that Kazuna was taken by saying that he was in intensive care. Even as she was walking home Kagura was still upset about it. She quickly heads home to change and heads next door to Kazuna’s where Ms. Katsuchi was going to hold their training. She rings the doorbell and hears Ms. Katsuchi usher her in. 

“Hello.” She says as she enters. 

“Hello Kagura, you sure are early, not that I didn’t expect you to be.” Ms. Katsuchi replies. 

“Well I do live next door and it’s not like I have anything else important to do so I thought that I might as well come early.” She answers defensively. Ms. Katsuchi laughs. 

“Sorry, you’re right. I’m just teasing you a bit.” She answers. 

“Jeez.” Kagura pouts as she takes a seat in the living room. Ms. Katsuchi follows suit and sits next to her.

“I want to thank you Kagura, for choosing to save my son despite what he’s done.” She says.

“It’s nothing really. I genuinely want to save him.” Kagura replies.

They sit in silence for a little before Kagura speaks up.

“About what I said before, is it true that you never worried about Kazuna?” She asks.

Ms. Katsuchi sighs. “Unfortunately, that is half correct. I did worry about Kazuna, but I didn’t ever show it. Whenever he came back from a mission I thought ‘Just as I expected’ instead of ‘I’m so glad you came back safe’. It didn’t help that I never showed him any love either.” Ms. Katsuchi answers.

“But why?” Kagura asks.

“Love, friendship, family ties. These are things that don’t really have a place in our clan. It’s all about performance and how well you do on your missions. If someone doesn’t complete their mission, they are regarded with disgrace. If they don’t return then they are seen as weak. Strength is absolute in our clan.” Ms. Katsuchi answers.

Kagura looks at Ms. Katsuchi with a sad expression. “No wonder Kazuna has such a hard time showing any emotions.” Kagura notes.

“Yes, Kazuna’s demeanor is almost completely our fault. But, you all have succeeded where I failed.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“What do you mean?” Kagura asks.

“In Kazuna’s most recent letter, he talked about changing how the clan did things. I wasn’t sure what he was going to do. I thought that maybe he would continue with the changes that his grandfather had set into motion, but after speaking to you all, I know what those changes are going to be. He’s going to use what he learned from you all and implement it into the clan. He wants us to be based on trust and friendship over strength alone. I didn’t think that it could be done, but you all have managed to thaw his frozen heart, even if only a little.” Ms. Katsuchi explains.

Kagura smiles at that thought as she hears a knock at the door. “Oh, I guess people are starting to show up. Would you mind getting that?” Ms. Katsuchi asks.

Kagura nods in response and opens the door to see the student council president Ayanami.

“Ayanami? What are you doing here?” Kagura asks.

“What do you think? I’m here to help rescue Kazuna.” She answers.

“Huh? How do you know about him being taken? And how did you know where he lived.” Kagura asks in shock.

“Well, I am the student council president so I am privy to more delicate information, and I asked your mom where you were and so here I am.” She answers as she walks in.

“I-I see. Well, We’d be glad to have the extra help.” Kagura states.

Ayanami walks in and notices Ms. Katsuchi.

“I’m sorry if I was intruding on anything.” She says in apology.

“No, we were just finishing. I’m Kazuna’s mom, it’s nice to meet you.” Ms. Katsuchi says.

“Kazuna’s mom? Hmm, you do look like him. Well, I am Chika Ayanami, and I am the student council president. Kazuna was a member of the student council, that’s my main connection to him I suppose.” Ayanami notes.

“Kazuna was involved in afterschool activities. My, My, I seem to hear more and more surprising things. I never expected him to be involved in something like the student council.” Ms. Katsuchi states.

“It did take some, convincing to get him to join.” Ayanami adds.

Ms. Katsuchi laughs. “I’m sure it did, although I’m sure he was ecstatic to join on the inside. He always used to talk about what it would be like to join a school club as a kid.” She says.

“I would love to hear more about kid Kazuna, but for now, can you tell me the details of your plan or at least give me a quick explanation.” Ayanami asks. Ms. Katsuchi nods in response and gives her the details of the plan.