Chapter Text

Cache Hit

The hit on Tokunobu wasn’t Mizu’s first fuckup, but it would be their last.

But that wasn't how Mizu assumed this assignment would go. Mizu glared at the sight on the floor and hesitated. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” they hissed angrily before picking up their phone.

One hour earlier.

Like every Thursday afternoon, Mizu was eating at their favorite soba restaurant. Sitting in the dimmed corner listening to violin orchestras. Anything to keep their inner peace. Even wearing their sunglasses inside. It gave the appearance of a blind man wanting to be left alone.

Well, Mizu was raised by an angry old man who spent his life making swords. So...

“Mizu,”

“Yes?” Mizu replied without looking in the person’s direction.

“You have delivery,”

“Do I?” Mizu politely removed their sunglasses and gave the waitress her full attention. She was carrying a sushi tray that was covered. Mizu looked her over. A liaison, clearly. “It’s Thursday. They know I’m busy on Thursdays.”

Today is my day.

“Mizu, here’s your dinner.” The woman appeared terrified and placed the sushi tray on the table, sliding it towards Mizu, “They say it’s urgent.” she whispered under her breath.

Mizu waved her off and reached for the tray, lifting the lid and finding the single black cellphone. It began ringing right away. “Fuck.” She quickly answered the phone with an annoyed—, “It’s Thursday.” 

The voice on the other end only laughed, “Which means you’ll get this finished quickly.”

“Mhm,” Mizu remained stoic, but their other hand was balled in a fist. She had to reach for her tea to calm down. She’s a professional and every job means more money. More money means—more tea and naked women.

“Party is in an hour. Wouldn’t want you to be late.”

“Then send me the invitation.”

“Already sent.”

Mizu’s phone buzzed with the incoming message. They pulled the phone to quickly memorize all the information. They hung up the call before the phone went black. She placed the device on the tray and covered it with the same lid. 

Mizu was sitting in the backseat of their Mercedes-Benz S Class. 

Her driver, Ringo, was listening to some K-pop band from a video game. KDA or whatever, singing along, “I’m a picture-perfect face with that wild in my vein, you can hear it in my growl, growl, growl, growl! So keep your eyes on me noooow!—”

Mizu ignored him for now, lowering the window to take a look at the Tokunobu skyrise they were at. “Hm. Pretty high up. It’s only 3 men but I’ll need a cleaner afterwards.”

“All taken care of!” Ringo continued humming and singing. He was actually the perfect cover to bring along. Easy going man from Komatsu City who works at a fast food soba grill. “He’s waiting for your call, Master.” He looked over his shoulder, “Are you ready? Are you waiting for somebody to get here? Do you think you’ll be gone for a long time?”

Mizu grabbed her wide brimmed hat and cane, “It’s only three gifts. I’ll be down sooner than you realize. Keep the car running, Ringo.” She instructed before stepping out of the car and into the afternoon foot traffic of downtown Tokyo. Placing their hat on, making sure their hair was still slicked back—sans the rebellious little curl on the side.

“Have fun!” Ringo called out.

“Always do.” 

It was easy to just walk in like they owned the building. Mizu’s suit was fine and custom designed for their comfort. All black sleek suit with a burgundy red paisley ascot.

Mizu was leaning on her cane, holding onto the smooth curved handle that was carved out of mahogany. She kept her vintage red sunglasses on while staring at the wall of the elevator, ignoring the giggling nuisances. The young ladies in the same ride weren’t being very subtle with their phones and not-so-hushed voices.

Mizu pushed up their sunglasses and sent them a curt smile.

“Oh my god, he’s so hot!” One exclaimed in a hushed tone.

Mizu rolled their eyes and prepared to eagerly leave this elevator. A housekeeper was walking by at that exact moment, pushing a cart of towels in the opposite direction. Mizu grabbed the cart and pushed it towards the room she needed. Mizu stopped outside the suite and prepared her card. She walked in as though she were another member of the Shindo gang. There was only a minor problem with this.

There sounded like there were a lot more men than the spotter had mentioned. 

Mizu slipped on her leather gloves and got to work. 

One man was heading towards the foyer, thinking it was another delivery perhaps. Mizu reached into the towel cart and pulled out one of her knives. She threw it hard at the man’s neck. He gargled trying to scream but ended up inhaling his own blood. His eyes widened.

Mizu pressed a finger to their lips. “Shh, I heard it’s a surprise party.”

The man stumbled forward and Mizu caught him. Taking the knife out as well. 

Mizu dropped the body on the ground and listened. The music was so loud in the main room it was hard to distinguish footsteps. But she heard a few. Drunk men laughing about a woman they managed to grab, 

“Can you believe we really have her? Are we allowed to fuck her?” One of them asked,

“She’s not awake to say no.”

Mizu grimaced and pressed themselves against the way before roughly swinging her cane at the closest man’s arm—breaking it. He tried to scream but the assassin lunged forward, grabbing him by the throat and snapping his neck. The second man was so shocked, still processing what happened Mizu grabbed her knife and stabbed his eye, then kneed him in the dick.

“You won’t be using that anymore.” Mizu warned.

“The hell’s going on here?” More men rounded the corner, hearing the commotion.

Mizu frowned, “Either someone I know doesn’t know how to count or more of you were invited without them knowing.”

Didn’t matter, she got to work easily kicking their asses.

…

Mizu grabbed her cane and unsheathed her sword. The men still standing with their fists up reached for their guns instead.

“We don’t have to fight you!”

 Mizu looked mildly surprised. “Shit.” The assassin dove out of the way, rolling behind the couch and wincing, “Brought a sword to a gunfight? Nice. Can’t wait to tell swordfather about this.” Mizu cocked their head to the side,

She struck the approaching man, nearly slicing off his entire foot. “Ahhh!”

“I hate guns.” Mizu caught his body and angled him in front of the oncoming gunfire, using the body as a shield as she approached the shooters. “Shit!” 

When the shooting stopped, Mizu dropped the body and ran at the remaining men, expertly swinging her weapon.

…

Mizu grabbed one of the towels and wiped her blade clean. It didn’t matter how clean, once she returned home to swordfather he’d have it properly wiped down. Her glasses stayed on, she smiled. They mentally counted the bodies so she could make her call. 

Mizu reached into the towel cart one more time, hoping the phone wasn’t destroyed during the shootout. It wasn’t. 

“Perfect.”

Mizu continued to walk around the large suite, making sure no one was alive or faking death. She’s good at what she does. Noone is left alive. 

The contracted swordsman kicked open one of the bedroom doors, cautiously peeking inside before fully stepping in. Mizu picked up one of the guns and held it close. Mainly as a just-in-case. The bathroom entrance had no door so Mizu quickly walked over to scan the area for any hiders. She aimed the gun when she heard a sniffle.

Mizu smiled, “I hear someone left a nice fancy present for me.” She crept forwards, “Don’t worry… I’ll save you a slice.” She readied the gun, prepared to kill whoever was trying to hide.

Mizu froze.

There was a woman on the floor. Tied up and gagged. Her head bobbed up and down, like she couldn’t control her own movements. She was clearly drugged, but her eyes pleaded with Mizu. “Mm!” 

Mizu walked away. They dialed the only number saved on this phone. 

Taigen’s voice immediately picked up, “How many?”

Mizu rubbed their face, walking back and forth, “This place was a fucking mess. About 8 bodies.”

“Eight.” Taigen repeated, as though distrusting the count. “Are any of them casualties?”

Witnesses.

Mizu walked back to the bathroom where the woman was. The thing was… she wasn’t just any woman. This was Tokunobu Akemi, the fucking heiress to—

“Mm!” Akemi whimpered around the gag. But whatever drugs were coursing through her body won the battle, and she passed out. 

“Hello?” Taigen asked. “Are there any civilians?”

Mizu’s eye twitched, “No.” they said before hanging up and tossing the phone onto the bed. She buried her face in her hands and groaned. “Ugh, they had to have known she was here. There’s no way.” Mizu grabbed her sword and headed to the bathroom, “I have no choice. No one stays alive,” She warned.

They quickly approached the motionless heiress and angled their blade at Akemi’s thin and fragile throat. It would be so easy. She was small enough. She’ll bleed out in minutes once Mizu opens her main artery, and they’ll go on with their life. 

Then why was Mizu hesitating?

It’s just a woman (it’s really not though).

Because this is Daichi’s fucking daughter and he owns half of Japan. So why is Akemi here? Mizu reached forward, checking the woman’s pulse. Weak but steady. They leaned closer, listening to the woman’s breathing. Short and ragged. She can’t take Akemi with her, but… if Akemi clearly  wasn’t a part of the hit then Mizu is as good as dead. With a frustrated groan, Mizu got up and paced around the large bathroom. Who would they call for guidance on this situation? The people who hired Mizu? The ones who she just killed? 

The hit on Tokunobu—or the Shindo gang—wasn’t Mizu’s first fuckup, but it would be their last.

But that wasn't how Mizu assumed this assignment would go. Mizu glared at the sight on the floor and hesitated. “You’ve got to be kidding me!” they hissed angrily before picking up their phone. She only had one person left to call. 

Technically, they were already here.

Ringo picked up on the first ring. “Special Soba delivery! You make the order, I make the delivery! How can I help you?”

Mizu checked on Akemi one last time, “I need a retriever.”

Ringo went right along with it. “How many bowls will that be?”

Mizu’s attention never left the heiress, “One. Make it quick.” She hung up and snapped her phone in half, pocketing the two pieces. 

Ringo needed to move fast. 

He had to beat the cleaners and pretty much everyone else. Mizu had called Ringo with this order before. Just once, but it was for a woman’s body. To give it back to her family so they could have closure. So, when the man entered the fancy suite he was surprised to see a woman who was very much alive. Mizu didn’t even have a splatter of blood on them.

They were surely the greatest warrior Ringo’s ever known. 

Mizu had dragged the body closer to the door. “Help me get her outta here. We literally only have minutes before Taigen’s men get here.”

Ringo blinked, “Ohhhhh, you got a girl. You got a pretty girl!”

Mizu scowled. “She isn’t a prostitute, Ringo. This is the heiress to fucking Tokunobu!”

Ringo blankly stared back. “Huh. Wooooow.”

Mizu sighed, “You know the man who pays us, the man who puts the fear of every religion into the gangsters on the streets? He probably works for Daichi. Well, this is his daughter. The heir to all of his riches and power is hers. We have to get her outta here.”

Ringo’s brows shot up, “Oh… oh no.”

Mizu appeared very stressed. “Yeah. Oh shit.”

~~~