Chapter One

Nakayukong naglalakad ang isang lalaki habang dala-dala ang isang maleta. Hindi kita ang mukha nito dahil sa suot nitong itim na facemask. Mahaba rin ang buhok na nakatakip sa gilid ng kanyang kanang mata. Lahat ng taong nadadaanan nito ay hindi mapigilang mapatingin sa lalaki. Iba-iba ang reaction sa mukha; may nagtataka, may naiilang at may natatakot.

Diri-diritso lang ito sa paglalakad hanggang sa makalabas ng airport.

Ilang sandali lang, isang itim na SUV ang huminto. Bumaba mula rito ang dalawang lalaki na may di-kalakihang pangangatawan. Pareho itong nakasuot ng black suit, at maikli ang buhok na halatang nilagyan ng gel. Ang isa ay nakasuot pa ng eyeglasses. Sabay na nagbow ang mga ito sa harapan ng lalaki.

"Masuta!" (young master)

Nagtaas ng tingin ang lalaki. His face remain emotionless.

"Sorry, Masuta. Alam kong ayaw niyong magpasundo pero sinunod ko lang po ang utos ni Master Watanabe," paliwanag ng lalaki na may suot ng eyeglasses habang nakayuko. 

Hindi sumagot ang lalaki. Inabot lang nito ang maleta sa kaharap at pumasok sa loob ng van.

"The documents."

Parang hinukay sa ilalim ng Atlantic Ocean ang boses ng lalaki. Para itong yelo sa lamig. It's only two words, but it's enough to make the other person shiver.

Mabilis na inabot ng lalaki ang isang white long folder. Nakasulat dito ang lahat ng impormasyon tungkol sa bago nitong target—isang Psychology professor. His mission is always like this. They're only obliged to send him the information and he'll kill do the killing.

"Everything is already prepared. Don't worry, young master. Pwede na po kayong pumasok bukas na bukas din sa Wueen."

He just nooded at tiniklop ang hawak na folder. Sumandal siya sa upuan at pumikit nang may isang lalaki ang biglang sumigaw.

"Wait! Masuta! Masuta!" Kumakaway-kaway ito habang tumatakbo papunta sa direksyon ng van.

"Ken, watashi o mattekudasai!"

(Ken, please wait for me!)

Yes. Ken is the cold, heartless man in the picture. For his new task, he comes to the Philippines. Akala niya mag-isa lang siya, nakalimutan niyang kasama niya pala ang lalaking 'to.

Nagpipigil ng galit na napapikit si Ken at bumuntong-hininga. This dimwit.

Humihingal na sumakay ito sa van at umupo sa tabi niya. Puno ng pawis ang mukha nito habang tinatanggal ang suot nitong backpack.

"Ken, why did-'' Magkasalubong ang kilay na tiningnan niya ito ng masama.

''Ken?'' 

 ''I...I mean Masuta, why did you left me? I was so-"

"Damare. (Shut up.) He paused then whispered, "Stupid."

Wueen University is an elite school. Most of the students there are from prestigious family. His target, Professor Tan Xavier, is a member of Red Veil. It's also a part of his adopted father's organization. He embezzled half of the money and killed two of their members. 

He could easily kill him, but the Philippines is different from Japan. It's not his turf. Isa pa may lage itong bantay sa paligid, and has a lot of subordinates. He needs a thorough plan if he wants to succeed.

"Hey dimwit, are you sure you wanted to be my partner?" tanong ni Ken sa katabi na kanina pa tahimik habang nakatiklop ang dalawang kamay.

"Huh?"

"I'll give you a second chance. Think about it."

Matagal bago ito sumagot at tumingin sa kanya. Ang lakas ng aircon pero napuno pa rin sa pawis ang noo nito. 

Is he scared? Just where the hell did that old man found this idiot?

"O-o-of course I am. Master Watanabe asked me to stay by your side twenty-four seven. A-also, Viper won't accept me as their member so I...I have no other choice." Huminto ito saglit at nag-iwas ng tingin.

"I don't have a family. I can't also do anything. I don't have friends. You're the only one who didn't beat me up and drove me away," dugtong nito.

Hindi mapigilan ni Ken na mapangisi.

"Of course I won't beat you. It's troublesome. Why bother when I can just kill you," mahina niyang bulong.

"But...but you still didn't kill me. So, I know you're different from them. You're a good guy. Unlike from those Viper."

Good guy? When did this dimwit saw a good guy who killed a person like they're some kind of animals?

He can't even hold a gun. Much more to work as a spy. Rou is not that stupid to accept him as their agent.

Viper is one of an elite group in Dark Organization whose in-charge in gathering information about their targets and traitors. Having Rou as their leader, it's really hard to enter their group.

"What's your name?" tanong dito ni Ken. Kahit isang linggo na niya itong nakakasama sa Japan, hindi niya pa rin alam kung ano ang pangalan nito. He only called him 'dimwit' or 'idiot'.

"Da-Daike Yoshida," mahina nitong sagot.

"A child who shine brightly?" he asked in a low-tone. A sarcastic smile form on his lips.

"What a waste for a good name."

Daike is one of a popular names in Japan. It means big or shining, naming this for their child means they want them to shine brightly. But this idiot didn't even have a single light.

Lalong napayuko si Daike. Sa expression pa lang ni Ken, alam na niya kung ano ang nasa isip nito. Alam niyang, he's really useless and stupid.

Kung pababalikin man siya nito sa Japan, wala na siyang magagawa. Ken is the strongest and unbeatable assassin in Dark Organization, he's also the future Oyabun of Yakuza, while him? He can't even raised a single punch. His hands will started to shake once he holds a gun.

Parang nabagsakan ng langit at lupa ang mukha ni Daike sa naisip. Magsasalita na sana siya para sabihing babalik na lang siya sa Japan nang marinig niya ang sunod na sinabi ni Ken.

"If you really wanted to follow me, then you must remember this three rules; don't butt in my bussiness, don't ask, and don't make a sound. I hate noises the most."

Hindi siya nakapagsalita. Matagal bago nag-sink-in sa isip niya ang sinabi nito. Ang lapad ng ngiti niya habang tumatango.

"Thank you, Masuta. I promise, I won't be a burden."

"If you ever break one of these rules, this good guy beside you will immediately send you to hell."

Noong nasa headquarter pa lang sila, lage ng naririnig ni Daike mula sa ibang kasamahan kung paano magalit si Ken. They even said, he's a monster, a killing machine, a Yama's reincarnation, etc. Hindi niya alam kung totoo ang mga sinasabi nila o hindi. 

Pero sa tingin niya, Ken is really a good person. Though he looks emotionless and cold, he never saw him beat anyone without a reason. But, he's indeed really cruel when killing his target.

Ken put on the black headphones at tumingin sa labas ng sasakyan. There's no music, but he always wore it whenever he wanted to think. It also helped him block the sounds from his surroundings. Just like before, no single emotions can be seen on his face. 

Takeda Watanabe, the boss of the yakuza and the headmaster of the Dark Organization, brought Ken in eleven years ago. He raised him as his own son. Ken doesn't remember anything about his past. He's just ten years old nang magsimula siyang magsanay bilang assassin. Kahit isa wala siyang kaibigan. Kahit ang mga kasamahan niya sa guild ay takot kumausap sa kanya. They would take a U-turn when they saw him.

When he turned fifteen years old, he killed the former leader of Shadow, the strongest elite group of assassins' guild. He then replaced him as the leader. His members, Takagi and Akira, became his friends—no, not really friends, they're just stubborn and nosy creatures who're not scared to talk to him.

Pero ngayon, may iba-iba na itong mga mission. That's when that old hag gave this dimwit to him as his partner.

PINALIBOT ni Ken ang paningin sa kabuuan ng bahay. After five years, ngayon lang ulit siya nakabalik dito. Hindi ito kalakihan, hindi rin gaanong maliit. Isa itong two-storey glass house na may swimming pool sa likod. Puti ang kulay ng pader at itim ang lahat ng kurtina. Wala itong gaanong gamit maliban sa sofa, malaking TV, two-door refrigerator, at simple at malinis na kusina. Napuno ito ng gamit pangluto. He knows how to cook, but only simple dishes.

He sighed while putting both of his hands inside his jeans' pockets.

"Tell Rou to send all of Red Viel's information, all of it," utos ni Ken sa dalawang lalaki na nanatiling nakatayo sa likod.

"Yes, Masuta."

He waved his right hand, a sign asking for them to leave.

"Masuta, should I hire a coo-" He cut him off while looking at him blankly.

"Get lost."

Mabilis itong nagbow sa harapan niya.

"Yes, Masuta."

Nang makaalis na ang dalawa ay kumuha siya ng sigarilyo sa bulsa at sinindihan ito.

Si Daike naman ay nanatili lang nakatayo habang nakatingin sa kanya.

"Are you expecting me to carry you into your room? Get moving. Your room is upstairs."

Bago pa ito makasagot ay naglakad na si Ken papunta sa isang puting pintuan—study room. May isang mesa at upuan ito sa harap, habang sa gilid ay may mahabang shelves na napuno ng libro. It's all about mystery and vampire books. Pero kahit isa wala pa siyang nabasa sa mga ito. He doesn't like reading, it makes him dizzy. He just used it as a cover. 

He walked to the left side at kinuha ang isang pile ng libro sa gitna.

Bumungad sa kanya ang isang fingerprint scanner.

He pressed it with his right thumb, and then heard a click. The shelf turned into half—he saw the hidden elevator. 

Sumakay siya rito and pressed the down button.

Siya mismo ang nag-desinyo nitong glass house. Hindi niya alam kung bakit. But his instinct told him that he should build this and stay here for vacation. Pero wala siyang oras o gana para magbakasyon. He's always occupied.

Hindi niya akalaing magagamit niya ito ngayon, not for vacation but for killing.

Isang all gray room ang bumungad kay Ken pagkalabas niya ng elevator. Sa bawat gilid, mayroong malalapad na glass shelves. Napuno ito ng iba't ibang klase ng armas. Sa harap ay may dalawang malaking screen monitor. Kita dito ang skwelahan ng Wueen University, pati ang mga malalapit na eskinita, at bawat intersection.

Binuksan niya ang kararating lang na files galing kay Rou. Iba't-ibang klase ng mukha ang nakita niya sa screen. May matanda, 'yong iba ay mukhang ka-edad pa niya. Lahat ng mga ito ay may tattoo sa braso— red human skull na may ahas na lumabas sa bibig.

There are almost 50 to 100 members of Red Veil. And since he can't kill that professor inside the campus, kailangan niyang mahanap ang lungga nito–the main den.

Tumama ang mata niya sa isang larawan. Tax Restaurant? 

He tracked the so-called place. Lihim siyang napangisi. Isang kanto lang ang layo nito mula sa University.

Isang plain black t-shirt ang suot ni Ken na pinatungan niya ng black jacket. Pagkalabas niya ng kwarto naabutan niya si Daike na nakaupo sa sofa habang may tina-type sa laptop.

"Masuta, you're leaving? Should I-"

"No need."

Gamit ang isang black ducati, kaagad umalis si Ken at pumunta sa Tax Restaurant.

Wala pang fifteen minutes ay nasa harap na siya ng restaurant. Ang tahimik ng paligid, wala itong gaanong tao o vendor na nagtitinda sa labas. Alas-otso pa lang ng gabi pero para na itong ghost town. He can't even spot a single person.

Nilagay niya ang dalawang kamay sa loob ng jacket saka naglakad papasok. Malakas na tawanan ang 'agad niyang narinig mula sa limang lalaki na nakaupo sa dulo.

It's only a small restaurant. Their menu is quite common; pasta, curry, steak, etc. It doesn't even have a second floor.

Pinalibot niya paningin sa paligid. Wala siyang makitang ibang costumer bukod sa mga ito.

"Ah–good evening sir. Pasensiya na pero sarado-"

Napalingon siya sa likod nang narinig ang isang mahina pero malumanay na boses. Based on his face, he's just the same age as him—about 20 to 21 years old, with a slender figure, small face, high cheekbones, one black mole above his lips on the left side, thick eyebrows, and big eyes. His high volume undercut blended well with his pale complexion. It makes him looks kind and gentle.

Ang laki ng ngiti nito sa mukha habang nakatingin kay Ken. He looks so innocent, but Ken has a sharp eyes. He can still see the hidden emotion behind this man's eyes. It feels like he has a deep secret, though he doesn't know what it is. It's not dangerous.

Bumaba ang tingin ni Ken sa braso ng lalaki. Wala itong tattoo ng Red Veil. It looks like he's just an ordinary waiter. He doesn't know why, but he feels relieved.

"Sir? Sir?"

Mabilis na umiwas ng tingin si Ken nang marinig ulit ang boses ng lalaki. Ngayon lang niya napansin, kanina pa pala siya nakatitig dito.

Tumikhim siya ng mahina at umayos ng tayo.

"You're...close?" mahina niyang tanong sabay sulyap sa limang lalaki.

"Oh. They're my boss's friends. They rented this place for tonight. So, I..." Umiwas ng tingin ang lalaki pero nanatili pa rin ang ngiti nito sa mukha. Ken slightly raised his eyebrows. Why does he kept on smiling?

Nang mapansin niyang wala na itong balak magsalita ay napagpasyahan na rin ni Ken na umalis.

Sinulyapan pa niya ulit ang lima. When he saw the red skull tattoo flashed on their wrists, he secretly grinned.