⠀⠀⠀⠀𝐶all me— 𝑀𝑒̲𝑑̲𝑢̲𝑠̲𝑎̲ ͡꒱.

[   A SHARP INHALE;   eyes shooting a glare from behind darkened glasses.   ]   I'd rather be soft,   / weak /,   compared to the life you lead.   I am at peace at who I am now,   with the life I live and what I become.   Have you accepted who you are—   @onnanohebi?   

you could've been so much  ..      now you're nothing.

nonsense.   everyone's  worth  saving,   regardless  of  who  they  are  or  what  they  have  done.   [   a  terrible  mindset  for  an  assassin,  and  hanzō  knows  it.   instead,   he  goes  on.   ]    I  don't  live  here.   nor  do  I  know  any  of  the  people  living  here,   but  I  want  to  thank  you.   I  worry  for  people  like  them  knowing  that  there  is  not  much  I  can  do  for  them.   [   glancing  at  the  setting  sun,   his  gaze  trails  back  to  the  other.   ]   what  did  you  say  your  name  was?

[   A ping of guilt strikes deep in his chest:   a frown tugs at the corner of his lips as he remembers his past.   The expression is short lived,   turning back into a neutral stare.   ]   I'm  ..  not too sure to be honest.   I landed here after a couple weeks,   injured.   The community banded together to help me.   I'm not sure why,   God knows I am not worth saving but they did it anyways.   I suppose I decided to contribute to this little place  ..  my home.   [   It's the truth,   Mitsuki cannot lie to @miinobe ,   everyone else he can but it was just different with him.   Despite the years that separated them.   ]

[   nodding  with  a  hum  of  acknowledgement,   he  couldn't  help  but  smile  slightly.   ]   it's  nice  knowing  that  the  people  here  can  now  defend  themselves,  considering  it's  mostly  just  old  people  and  kids  here.   can  I  ask  why  though?   what  exactly  made  you  want  to  teach  them?  [   the  male  didn't  miss  the  admiration  in  the  kid's  eyes  as  he  hurried  inside  the  dojo,   and  how  proud  mitsuki  seemed.   ]   there's  gotta  be  a  reason.

no.   never.   [   his  words  are  quick  and  without  hesitance,   and  he  almost  wants  to  slap  himself  for  it.   a  failure  of  an  assassin,  it's  no  wonder  he  could  never  join  the  JCC.   he's  quick  to  look  away,   too  ashamed  to  meet  mitsuki's   eyes.   ]   yeah  well,   it's  a  wild  goose  chase.   most  of  them  think  you're  dead  anyways,   but  I doubted  it.   I  was  right  to.

I figured I had a bounty;   after all the resources the JAA and JCC put into me.   Imagine,   one of their brightest prodigies,   destined to land a seat on The Orders circle.   Gone.   Nowhere to be found.   [   He sighs,   scratches the back of his neck as he stares off in the distant.   Mitsuki reflects on the words that Hanzō said;   a name,   bounty  ..  it was a lot to take in.   Though it was expected.   ]   Do you plan on killing me,   @miinobe ?

[   hanzō  doesn't  know  how  to  let  out  the  words  stuck  in  his  throat.  that  if  push  comes  to  shove,   he'd  (un)willingly  give  mitsuki  a  peaceful  death.  that  if  he  could,   he'd  stop  the  other  from  getting  hunted.  he  couldn't  bare  to  face  the  other.   too  ashamed.   ]   yeah  well,   you've  made  quite  the  name  for  yourself.   got  quite  the  bounty.   many  are  trying  to  gain  that  cash—-   newbies  included.   I  couldn't  let  chairman  sei  pick  any  assassin  he  wanted  to.  knowing  him,   he'd  be  ruthless.

you,   teaching?   that's  a  pleasant  surprise.   you  used  to  barely  interact  with  me  before  I  got  you  to  warm  up.   [   a  chuckle  slips  past  hanzō's  lips,   arms  now  crossed  over  his  chest.   ]   ...I  bet  you're  a  great  teacher.   I  can  tell  how  much  those  kids  mean  to  you.  do  they  not  frustrate  you?

IT SEEMS WE BOTH CHANGED,   @miinobe.   [   Their eyes never meet,   raw emotions linger behind their words,   begging to be spoken.   Hanzō speaks again,   changing the subject.   For that,   Mitsuki is grateful.   ]   Yes,   I do.   I teach here during the afternoon.   All ages.   Martial arts;   And a mix of self defense.

since  i’ve  changed.  that’s  when.  it’s  been  years,   i’m  not  the  same  i  was  back  then.  [   he  couldn't  bring  himself  to  look  up  at  the  other.   not  when  they're  talking  about  a  subject  like  this.   hanzō  feared  his  eyes  would  betray  his  words.   ]   do  you  own  this  place?

you're  watching  out  for  them,   then  who's  watching  out  for  Y͟O͟U͟?͟     for  christ's  sake,   suki,   think  of  yourself  for  a  moment!   stop,   for  one  moment,   thinking  of  how  you're  going  to  protect  them  and  think  of  how  you'll  protect  yourself!   be  selfish—-   arrogant  even,   just  for  now!   [   a  bewildered  and  almost  offended  chuckle  is  all  hanzō  could  let  out  after  all  that,   clearly  frustrated.   ]    let  me  h͟e͟l͟p͟   you.   you  can't  expect  the  JAA  to  just  kill  you  and  leave  everyone  here  alive  and  well.   you  know  what  they'll  do  when  they  find  you.   [   brows  furrowed,   he  can't  help  but  pace  up  and  down  the  street.   the  moonlight  was  their  only  source  of  light  right  now.   his  eyes  shot  up,   staring  at  mitsuki.   ]   
            
            what  makes  them  so  special  that  you  can't  leave?   that  you  HAVE  to  stay  and  protect  them?   [   he  knew  he  was  being  irrational.   that  deep  down,  he  was  still  salty  that  mitsuki  got  up  and  left  without  a  word  when  it  came  to  him,   but  found  it  impossible  to  leave  these  people.   his  thoughts  weren't  spoken,   but  they  were  evident.   they  were  there.   ]

[   PRACTICALLY,   FAMILY.   The fear and grief hits him all at once at the painful memories he tried so hard to forget.   To atone for his sins by doing good rather than harm.   EVERY MEMORY FLOODS BACK TO HIM,   the surprised look and bloodshed.   Not a word was spoken that day.   ]   I— @miinobe ,   I— I can't just get up and leave.   You / don't / understand.   Leaving just because the JAA and JCC wants to come after me;   I can't leave this place.   I don't know what will happen if I'm gone.   Or away.   They need me here,   watching.

then  stop  attracting  attention.   this,   E͟V͟E͟R͟Y͟T͟H͟I͟N͟G͟    you're  doing  is  gaining  others  attention.   assassins '  attention.   no  one  would  be  able  to  protect  the  kids  if  you're  found.   do  you  think  some  wouldn't  stoop  that  low?   hurting  the  kids  just  to  get  you?   many  lowlife  assassins  go  for  it  now.   ones  who  just  want  the  bounty  on  your  head.   just  listen  to  me.   I  know,   they're  practically  family  to  you,   but  they  need  you  a͟l͟i͟v͟e͟.   capable  of  protecting  them.   [   please.   ]

oh,   thank  you.   [   hesitantly,   he  keeps  his  gaze  at  the  other  before  giving  an  unassuming  smile—-  nodding  in  thanks.   ]   it's  nice  knowing  people  are  still  kind  enough  to  help.   if  I  may  ask,  what's  your  name?   I  am  hanzō.   minobe,   hanzō.

If you keep walking down the road,   you'll eventually see a little store.   Nice old lady sells noodles,   have a bowl if you can,   if not.   Turn right at her store and keep straight,   you'll hit the main road.
            
            @miinobe

i  see.   could  you  tell  me  where  i  am  then?   i  got  lost,  now  i've  no  clue  where  i  am.   [   ...   ]   i   /told/   boss  to  send  me  the  location,   he  never  listens.

[   FROM BEHIND HIS GLASSES,   he gives her a deadpan stare.   His shirt was fine,   untucked,   but it wasn't going to kill anybody.   Though,   if it bothered Orochi so much (WHICH; HE CAN TELL IT DOES),   he quickly tucks it in for her.   ]   There  ..  does that fix your problem with my shirt;   The little piece of fabric that was untucked.   [   Yeah—   they both had issues with patience today it seems.   Mitsuki was used to not being bothered and here was @onnanohebi ,   picking out the tiniest detail about his wardrobe.   Safe to safe;   they could get into a fight.   (PLEASE JUST LET HIM GO BACK TO HIS ROOM TO SLEEP).   \

@akvenges:        (she's already mumbling about inconveniences and how this is her fifth one of the day under her breath before mitsuki can speak again.)     no.       it's untucked.        which means there is /definitely/ something wrong with your shirt,  mitsuki.     which means you should tuck it in.      (orochi yamada,  ever the perfectionist.       the jcc's fourth year is practically giving the death stare at the untucked part of mitsuki's shirt━━━━  as if it had cursed her and her dead parents.       orochi's just left one of her classes,  still wearing her surgical mask, gloves, and lab coat;  her patience has already been spread far too thin today for something else to bother her.)

[   A GRIMACE CROSSES HIS FACE AT THE ACCENTUATED S— SOUND;   @onnanohebi was here.   Just the person he wanted to see.   ]   There is nothing wrong with my shirt.

@akvenges ♡ uuhhmm brain empty idk random 

ᘝ ⠀⠀ ݃   @cleangea )
            
            . . .   [   Odd.   Is all his thinks about the figure standing near him;   when has anybody ever needed to see his eyes.   Especially  ..  a floater.   ]   How exactly does that help you do your job?   Please,   enlighten me.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ〔⠀I̲D̲.̲@akvenges ╲ ˢ̶ᵗ̶ᵃ̶ᵗ̶ᵘ̶ˢ̶⠘̶ ᶜ̶ˡ̶ⁱ̶ᵉ̶ⁿ̶ᵗ̶⠀〕
            " YES.  actually.  following  your  line  of  vision  helps  me  do  my  job  better. " ... ODD,  sure.  BUT she  has  to  adapt  to  other  assassins  and  their  unique  differences.

[   NOIR SHADES STARE BACK AT @cleanigea ;   an unreadable expression plagues his face.   ]   Do you need to know where I'm looking.