1

The man, surprised by the unexpected request, never questioned a contract.

Every job, regardless of the target, added to his reputation. The Oni, known for eliminating anyone for the right price, didn't discriminate as long as the pay was right.

He quickly accepted the job, but upon seeing the target, he wondered what kind of crime she could have committed to require his involvement. 

The immediate transfer of money showed him just how urgent this job was to his client but this wasn't a client he recognized.

The Oni worked in silence and didn't communicate with his clients, only receiving the money and the target's name.

Within 48 hours, the target would meet their end; that was his modus operandi but he had another life that he kept separate.

An ordinary life that allowed him to blend into the real world because this was the ultimate disguise.

Stepping out of his house, he received warm greetings from his neighbors but he didn't go unnoticed because this man was drop dead gorgeous, one could say he was even safer with the mask on. Among the people that greeted, one neighbor stood out in a negative way and that was Mrs. Woo.

In her early thirties, Mrs. Woo looked younger than her age, with laugh lines on her face adding a flaw to her otherwise smooth complexion. 

Despite her well-endowed chest and slightly chubby figure, the man didn't pay much attention to her nosy behavior as long as she respected his privacy. However, a sense of unease lingered whenever he felt her gaze upon him. 

It was as if her eyes followed him even though he couldn't see her. 

The movement of curtains in her house confirmed that she was indeed watching him.

A voice called out from behind, interrupting his silent observation.

"Hey Kenzo, it's been a while," the man said, causing Kenzo to turn around. 

Kenzo, known not only for his oni mask but also for his social skills, responded with a polite smile.

"Yurei, sorry for not being around. Work has been keeping me busy," Kenzo explained.

Despite his good looks, Kenzo wasn't a good person but who could make that distinction?

"It's nice to see young men like you working hard. I wish my brothers were as dedicated as you," Yurei praised but if he knew what Kenzo truly was, he would instantly revoke this wish.

Kenzo knew the importance of maintaining social connections to keep up his facade, but he prioritized his mission over everything else and that was to take someone's life.

Luckily, the conversation ended at a surface level, allowing Kenzo to excuse himself without delaying any further.

Surprisingly, the woman he was after had no social media presence or any records to trace, almost like she didn't exist. But his client seemed to have anticipated this and gave Kenzo the address he needed.

Although Kenzo considered the possibility of a trap, he remained unfazed. 

He had survived 35 previous attempts on his life, giving him confidence in his ability to scale through such situations.

Hailing a cab, Kenzo left the area, ready to undertake his mission of ending a life.

-

Living alone, Kenzo didn't have friends. It wasn't that he didn't want companionship, but he found it hard to form connections with others.

His closest relationship was with his colleagues at an organization called the Death Squad. 

Even among them, Kenzo kept his true self hidden, and no one had ever seen his real face.

Known as their best killer, clients often requested Kenzo for their assignments, which was why he received that recent job offer.

Kenzo struggled with a condition called antisocial personality disorder, similar to what people today might call psychopathy.

He understood emotions logically, but he couldn't really feel them.

As night fell, Kenzo eagerly awaited this time of day. He didn't plan to take her life right away; he wanted to survey the area first, looking out for any potential obstacles.

Not sure if the address he was given was correct, he observed the seemingly empty location. 

However, he noticed a slight movement in one of the houses but he wasn't bothered seeing as he was well hidden in his distant hiding spot, Kenzo wasn't worried about being spotted.

Kenzo saw signs of a struggle before a man came out, loudly swearing.

"Drunk?" Kenzo wondered, not caring about the man's situation. His focus was on figuring out who the man had been fighting with.

"You fucking bitch! One of these days, I'll mess you up! Just wait, cunt!" the man kept shouting. 

Soon, a redhead woman came out, her nightgown barely holding in her big chest.

"I don't want to see you all week, you scumbag! I can't believe I married you!" the woman shot back.

"Screw you! I wouldn't come back even if you begged!" the man yelled.

"That's her..." Kenzo thought to himself. 

But something seemed strange. 

Why would a woman who looked like her choose to marry a guy like him? The man was short, bald, and hunched, the complete opposite of the woman who looked very much like a goddess.

"It must be love," Kenzo concluded, thinking that the strange couple was an example of how love can bring together people who seem different, like in the story of Beauty and the Beast.

Despite the odd situation, Kenzo learned some important information from his quick scouting. It seemed likely that the woman would be alone at home the next day.

In just thirty minutes, Kenzo gathered all the information he needed to carry out his task of ending her life the following day.

"Tomorrow, I take another life," Kenzo declared, an evil grin appearing on his face. But as soon as he noticed it, he wiped it away.

"No... Not yet," Kenzo whispered to himself as he left the area.