1 So... I have a kid now.

"Uhh, Kuro. Can you explain what that is?"

My client pointed to the little girl beside me.

"Well, it's a kid."

I answered in a "matter of fact" manner.

"I'm not dumb, my man. But what I asked you is to kill someone not kidnap someone."

"But I killed the guy."

"And took his daughter?!"

He stood up from his chair.

"Ah, no. I just found her walking around the mansion of the target. Seems that she slipped in there."

"What do you mean slipped in?!"

"Slipped in, y'know, she's not from there. She just happened to be there."

"So why the hell did you take her with you?!"

He face palmed himself so hard I could see hand prints on his face and even his forehead. Tension has filled the room of the client I worked for.

What work you ask? Simple, I take out the trash. I like to call myself a sanitary engineer, but other people just call me a hitman. Trained since I was a little kid, I learned the best ways of decapitating someone and ending their lives in the most painless way. I can also do it vice versa and use torture to squeeze out information I need.

But there's one thing that I will always treasure.

My emotions.

"Look at me, Kuro."

He shook my shoulders, almost tearing the suit I'm currently wearing.

"This is not part of the deal!"

I looked at him dead straight into his eyes.

"I know. This is something I did on my own."

"But you weren't like this before! You did everything smoothly! Kill and get out! You were very efficient, and now you bring back a little kid?!"

"Can you stop yelling and shaking me?"

I took his hands off of me.

"Look, I'll take responsibility of this."

"How?"

"I'm gonna take care of her."

I pointed to the little kid who gave me a confused reaction.

"You're gonna what?!"

"Take care of her."

He looked at me like I was insane.

"Take care of her?! Do you even know how to take care of yourself?!"

I stood up and whispered.

"You better shut up now before I take care of you."

He quickly disengaged and fell to the ground in fear.

"Hey, you. Quickly. We're out of here."

I left the building with the kid and hailed a cab.

"Oh? Taking your daughter out for dinner?"

The driver said, smirking.

"I guess. Take us to your recommended resto."

"Aight'o!"

As the taxi started moving, I contemplate on my decision. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret it at all. I found her in a very sorry state. Truth be told, she didn't slip in. She just got involved. I found her deep in the mansion, waiting to be sacrificed or some shit. I didn't expect that the target was some cult fanatic.

There were a bunch of people dead in the basement. From my assessment, they've been stabbed to death, some of the bodies were even skinned. Some are even drained of blood. It's like a torture chamber in there, it's a nightmare.

She was the only one alive when I got there. This messy, sack wearing kid has seen some shit, that's for sure.

"Hey."

I called her. Her eyes widened and body stiffened.

"How old are you?"

"I'm n-nine years old."

It's the first time I heard her voice and it felt like an angelic choir blessing my ears. Fragile but beautiful.

"Okay, nine year old. What's your name?"

Her hands started shaking. Noticing this, I held her hand tightly.

"I'm sorry, let's take it slow, okay?"

I smiled warmly.

"O-okay.."

She said shyly.

The taxi dropped us at a nearby restaurant swarming with people who just got out of work. I held her hand and entered the restaurant.

The receptionist, seeing us, greeted us warmly.

"Hello, sir. In a date with your daughter?"

"I guess you can say that."

"Please follow me, I have just the seat for you."

She stretched her hands and lead us to our seats.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome, just ring the bell here and a waiter will come over and take your order."

She put a small bell beside me, smiled, and left.

I grabbed the menu that was already pre-placed at the table and asked her what she wants.

"I-I'll take what you're having."

"Alright, Hamburg Steak it is."

Her face lightened up and an aura of excitement can be felt.

Seems that she liked that.

I rang the bell and a waiter immediately made his way towards us. I relayed the order to him and within 30 minutes, the food is right in front of us. I saw her face light up for the second time. I think it will never get old.

She pondered upon the utensils beside her plate, her face almost saying "what are those?"

"Never seen them?"

"Never."

Just what the hell happened down there?

"Those are called utensils. You use them to eat food."

She tilted her head.

"What about just the hands?"

"Hmm."

I put my elbows on the table and intertwined my fingers.

"You also use those. But usually we use utensils to prevent our hands and our food from getting dirty."

"Ohhh."

Her eyes widened in wonder. I bet she's thinking that these utensils-thing are amazing.

"Well, you hold them like this."

I held my knife and fork and showed it to her. She copied it and nodded.

"And use them like this."

I pierced a piece of steak with my fork and used my knife to slice it. She copied my every movement and seems to be getting the hang of it. After a little bit of repetition, she eventually learned how to use it.

What bothers me is the fact that she's already nine years old and it seems that it's the first time she saw eating utensils. I can't shake that off of my head, again, just what the hell happened in that mansion?

After finishing our food, I called for a waiter to give us the check. I paid and we left the restaurant.

Outside once more, I hailed for a taxi. This time, the destination is my house. A humble apartment home in one of the most expensive places you can afford.

The ride wasn't long but the little girl fell asleep anyway. It must've been tiring for her as she's seen everyone she knew get killed, the mansion she called her 'home' get burnt, get taken by a 21 year old strange man, and being essentially getting adopted by the said strange man, all in just a day.

It must've taken a lot from her. It would from me, it's a pretty messed up situation.

The taxi dropped us in front of a big building housing a lot of large apartments. Getting a unit here wasn't an easy job, you need to be recommended by someone who has previously stayed in it. Good thing I have ties with the gangs and mobs that I've worked with and they put in a good word for me.

The rent on the other hand.. not really a problem as one of my previous clients offered to pay for all of my expenses here. So that's that.

I entered the elevator, still carrying the sleeping beauty, and pressed the 4th floor. The doors closed and in just a bit, a "ding" sound was played and the doors opened once more. Each floor has about 5-6 rooms, considering their size, it's a pretty nice number. I stopped in front of my unit: 402. I dug my pockets for my key card and opened the door.

"Home sweet home."

That's right. It is home sweet home. My unit consists of a living room, a kitchen/dining room, two bedrooms, and a comfort room. More than enough for the two of us. I laid the girl on the sofa at the living room and went on to my room to get changed.

I tossed my suits to the laundry basket near my computer and quickly grabbed a new set of clothes.

Comfy.

I went out and checked the girl to see if she's still asleep but it appears that she's already awake and sitting upright on the sofa facing the 55 inch TV I bought just a week ago.

"W-where am I?"

She looked at me, still rubbing the sleepiness away from her eyes.

"We're at home."

"Home?"

"Yup. Our home."

I handed her a glass of water.

"Thank you."

She received it but didn't drink, placing it in between her legs.

"O-Oh... Uh, Sir-"

"Just call me Kuro."

"K-Kuro?"

"Yup, that's my name."

"M-my name is Haruhi."

"Haruhi, huh."

Haruhi. Spring day. Maybe an indication of our future?

"Yup!"

She smiled.

"Nice to meet you, Haruhi. And from now on, we're family."

I smiled back.