Pacifist

The hideout was unusually calm.

After days of relentless violence, bloodshed, and tension, the members of Phantom Veil finally had a moment to breathe.

Kasumi sat on the couch, grumbling as she struggled to put on her boots. "Damn laces… who even invented these? A sadist?"

Aiko, leaning against the wall, smirked. "I mean, you wear them every day, so what does that make you?"

Kasumi glared. "A victim."

Unknown, already fully dressed, adjusted his gloves in absolute silence, but the slight shake of his shoulders gave away that he was amused.

Celeste, fixing her hair, rolled her eyes and sighed. "You're all children."

"You're just mad because I look better than you," Kasumi shot back.

Celeste turned, eyes narrowing. "Say that again?"

Jin, already done changing, sat on the counter watching the chaos unfold. He let it happen. He wasn't about to waste energy stopping them. Besides, this was the most peaceful kind of war they'd had.

Kairi, slipping on her leather jacket, was about to step out of the room when Jin's voice cut through the noise.

"Kairi."

She stopped, raising an eyebrow.

He didn't say anything at first, just nodded toward the back hallway. "Come here."

The others immediately shut up.

Kasumi grinned. "Oooohhh, is this about to be one of those conversations? Should we leave? Or should we watch?"

Aiko threw an arm over Kasumi's shoulder. "Oh, we're definitely watching."

Kairi sighed, rubbing her temples. "You two need a hobby."

Unknown, adjusting his mask, muttered, "They have one. It's being a menace."

Jin ignored them, his gaze still fixed on Kairi. His expression wasn't playful or teasing—it was something darker.

That was enough to quiet the room.

Kairi hesitated for only a second before following him down the dimly lit hallway.

…

Jin led her to one of the less-used rooms in the hideout, a small space with an old wooden table and a single hanging lightbulb.

He leaned against the table, arms crossed, watching as Kairi stepped in.

She sighed. "Alright, what's this about? You look like you're about to tell me I have an incurable disease."

Jin chuckled—but it was humorless. "Something like that."

She narrowed her eyes. "Spit it out, Jin."

He tilted his head, studying her.

Then—his voice dropped into something lower. Something unreadable.

"Why do you think I wanted you in this group?"

Kairi blinked. "What kind of question is that?"

Jin didn't look away. "Answer it."

Kairi scoffed, crossing her arms. "Because I'm a violent, psychotic killing machine who hates the Arakawa family? That's kind of our whole thing."

Jin didn't smile.

"Partially."

Kairi's amusement faded. There was something about the way he was looking at her—like he knew something she didn't.

He took a step closer, voice quiet. "You think this is all a coincidence?"

Kairi didn't move back. She didn't flinch. But she could feel the air between them shift. Thicken.

Jin leaned in slightly, his breath ghosting against her ear. "You and I… we're cut from the same cloth."

Kairi smirked. "Oh, yeah? And what cloth is that?"

Jin's eyes darkened.

"The kind that doesn't belong in this world."

Silence.

The light buzzed faintly above them.

Kairi let out a slow exhale, her smirk still lingering—but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"You know," she murmured, tilting her head slightly, "you talk like you're trying to seduce me, but all I hear is a death wish."

Jin grinned. "Maybe they're the same thing."

A heavy pause.

Then, Kairi laughed.

A quiet, dark laugh.

Jin chuckled too, shaking his head. "I knew you'd get it."

They stood there for a moment—two monsters disguised as people, sharing a quiet understanding.

Finally, Jin pulled back, the tension still thick in the air.

"Go get some rest," he muttered, turning away. "We've got a lot of killing to do tomorrow."

Kairi watched him for a second before heading for the door.

Just as she reached it, she paused.

"Jin."

He glanced back.

She smirked, eyes gleaming with something dangerous. "Don't get soft on me."

Jin chuckled, shaking his head. "I should be telling you that."

And with that, she was gone.

Jin stood there, staring at the empty space where she'd been.

Then, under his breath, he whispered—"I hope we don't kill each other first."

…

Jin and Kairi walked back into the main room, their usual composed expressions firmly back in place—but Aiko and Kasumi were already grinning like gremlins.

"Ohhh, welcome back, lovers," Aiko teased, stretching on the couch. "Did you guys have a nice, intimate conversation? Should we leave you two alone next time?"

Kasumi gasped dramatically, clutching her chest. "Wait, don't tell me—did he confess? Did she say yes?! Is the wedding next week?!"

Kairi's eye twitched. "Do you both wake up and choose to be annoying?"

Aiko leaned in with a smirk. "We don't choose it, babe. We are it."

Kasumi nodded solemnly. "It's a gift."

Kairi cracked her knuckles. "Then let me return it. With violence."

Kasumi grinned, unfazed. "Ohhh, so aggressive! Is it because Jin didn't kiss you? It's okay, Kairi, some men just lack the courage—"

Jin cleared his throat.

"Enough," he said, but the slightest smirk ghosted across his lips.

Celeste and Unknown were watching quietly from the side, arms crossed. Celeste finally sighed and looked at Jin.

"So, what's the situation?" she asked, ignoring the chaos behind them.

Unknown nodded. "Yeah. What was that about?"

Jin's face returned to absolute seriousness.

He opened his mouth—then stopped.

Kasumi and Aiko were still bickering with Kairi in the background, throwing playful insults and borderline threats at each other like children on a playground.

Jin rubbed his temples. "Can you idiots shut up for five seconds?"

Kasumi blinked. "Five is a lot."

Aiko nodded. "I can do three. At most."

Jin sighed. "Fine. Three seconds. Shut it."

Silence.

Jin exhaled. "We're going after Sayuri Arakawa."

The room immediately shifted.

Even Kasumi and Aiko stopped messing around.

Jin continued, voice low and sharp.

"She controls the gangs and buildings in the Ichiban District. We hit her next."

Celeste's expression darkened. "Sayuri's more dangerous than Ryotaro ever was."

Unknown nodded. "She's not just some corrupt businesswoman—she's a tactician. A strategist. If Ryotaro was the face of the Arakawa family, then Sayuri was the brain."

Aiko exhaled. "Damn. And here I was hoping for an easy job."

Kasumi grinned, stretching. "What's life without a little struggle? Besides, I've never killed a mother before."

Kairi tilted her head. "You're saying that like it's on a bucket list."

Kasumi shrugged. "It was between that and 'set a building on fire,' but we already checked the second one off."

Jin ignored them. "This won't be like last time. We don't storm in without a plan. Sayuri won't go down as easily as Ryotaro."

Kairi smirked. "Easy or not, she's dying. Doesn't matter if she's a genius or a ghost. She's next."

The room was quiet.

Then—Kasumi clapped her hands. "Alright! So, assassination, mass destruction, and traumatizing an entire district. Just another Tuesday, huh?"

Aiko grinned. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."

Jin exhaled. "Then let's get to work."

The group made their way to the weapon stash, a dimly lit room filled with racks of firearms, blades, explosives, and some questionable weapons that shouldn't exist.

Kasumi whistled, grabbing a combat knife. "Damn, look at this place. It's like a murder-themed candy shop."

Aiko snorted, picking up a sawed-off shotgun. "Yeah, except instead of cavities, you get criminal charges."

Jin ignored them, checking the magazine of his pistol. "Get what you need and suit up. Everyone except Unknown—change your look. We don't want Sayuri catching on too fast."

Unknown, adjusting his mask, simply nodded. "As always."

Kairi picked up a katana, unsheathing it slightly. The glinting steel caught the low light, reflecting her twisted grin. "Haven't had a fresh blade in a while. Gotta make sure it stays red the whole night."

Kasumi leaned over. "You say that like it's a romantic commitment."

Kairi winked. "It is."

Kasumi cackled. "You and I are gonna get along so well."

Jin sighed, throwing Kairi a black tactical jacket and a demon-themed mask. "Wear this."

Kairi raised a brow. "Dressing me up already? Usually, guys buy me dinner first."

Jin didn't even flinch. "I'd rather buy your coffin."

Aiko burst out laughing. "Damn, bro. That was cold."

Kairi put the mask on, her smirk hidden but still very much felt.

Celeste loaded a sniper rifle, securing a trench coat over her usual outfit. "I hate disguises. Feels like a bad cosplay."

Aiko strapped twin pistols to her waist, slipping on a fox mask. "Hey, if it keeps the cops off our backs, I'll dress like a damn clown."

Kasumi, now in a blood-red hoodie and a kitsune mask, twirled a butterfly knife. "Oh, I love this. I look like a discount horror movie villain."

Kairi tilted her head. "You are a horror movie villain."

Kasumi beamed. "That's the nicest thing anyone's ever said to me."

Jin pinched the bridge of his nose. "Alright. Everyone's geared up. Let's move."

They all climbed the stairwell to the rooftop, stepping into the night air. The city lights of Kurokawa stretched before them, the skyline pulsing with neon signs and distant sirens.

Jin rolled his shoulders, exhaling. "We run the rooftops to Ichiban District. Stay low, stay fast. No distractions."

Unknown, standing at the edge, glanced back. "Are you sure they can stay focused?"

Kasumi grinned under her mask. "I'll try my best! No promises, though."

Aiko snickered. "Yeah, last time she said that, a gas station exploded."

Kairi shrugged. "Hey, that explosion wasn't technically our fault."

Jin didn't even ask. He just leapt off the rooftop.

One by one, they followed, their silhouettes vanishing into the night, racing towards Ichiban District—towards Sayuri Arakawa.