After sending a text to Sydney that she would walk home, Aiko walked down the street and stopped at Westfield Therapy Clinic.

  'Sydney may hate me for this, but I believe it is best for her.' Aiko thought as she pulled a lighter from her bzer pocket. 'I need to make it clear that I'm not rejecting her new self though.'

  Just as she was about to swing the doors open, she hesitated.

  'I should ask her first.' Aiko thought, 'It's a betrayal of trust if I set her up with a therapy session without her permission. I'll come back after asking her for her opinion.'

  With those thoughts in mind, she walked away and continued the long trek home.

  *CLACK CLACK CLACK*

  Around 15 minutes of walking ter, Aiko paused in front of a fashion shop.

  'I did want an eyepatch. Guess I'll buy one here.'

  Stubbing out her cigarette on a nearby ashtray, Aiko opened the door and went to browsing the limited selection of eyepatches. Eventually, Aiko found three that she liked. A bck one with two golden daggers in a crucifix, a pin white eyepatch made of ce and a red and bck eyepatch, with bck flowers embroidered onto the red background in the middle.

  #These three please.#

  Scanning the three items, the receptionist replied, "Of course. These will be...."

  Hartford Mansion - Butler's PoV

  "So the bitch decided to bring a friend over?" The Master repeated.

  "Yes sir." I replied.

  "I see." The Master said as he fell into musing.

  I lifted my eyes. The lithe, handsome man sucked on his cigar like it was his life support. His white shirt was unbuttoned at the top with a loose bck tie hanging from his neck. Adorning the back post of the Master's chair was his creaseless blue bzer. His eyes were shut, showing how deep his musing was. Suddenly, the Master started to lightly rock his head from left to right, causing his side part to sway slightly.

  "How peculiar. The bitch knows that we've been in a stalemate, yet she brings in a friend?" The Master mumbled. "Is the friend affiliated with the government?"

  "No sir. But she was the former police chief."

  "I see." The Master mumbled again. "Tell the Shadows that a new prey has come."

  "I see Master, but, would it not be wise to leave the former police chief alone? There was no official statement as to why she retired so there is a high likelihood she is undercover to watch the young mis-"

  "DO NOT CALL HER THE YOUNG MISTRESS!" The Master roared.

  I was wrong. My apologies, Master. Please accept this humble one's forgiveness.

  Countless excuses ran through my head. How do I get out of this with my life intact?

  "M-my apologies, M-Master. How should I address th- Her?"

  "You call her a bitch like everyone else in this mansion, understood!?"

  "Y-Yes sir!"

  "Good. As for your worries, there will be no problem. As far as I know, she has become a vagrant after her house was blown up. I reckon she will be staying here for a while. There will be time to observe before acting, so tell the Shadows that they should be good hunters and only observe until I decre it safe to take action, lest they wish to be sent to the Handler for re-education."

  "O-of course sir!" I hurriedly replied, not wanting to be the next to enter the Handler's loving embrace. All who enter, come out different. They come out absent-minded, with unfocused eyes and undying loyalty to the Master. I have lost many friends to the Handler, and I do not wish to join them.

  "Good. Butler, you may be excused. Ah. Before I forget, no respect shall be shown to the bitch. Since she tried to ruin this glorious family's reputation, she is not to be respected as that is what she desires." The master said, drawing out his words. He then mumbled again, "You just had to run off to the police after we had some family fun. Good thing I managed to suppress those stupid articles, though someone has accessed one of those recently... "

  'Finally home. Gotta put the eyepatches in the wash first. I do have an ominous feeling though. Must be that bastard Kiyoshi pnning something again.' Aiko thought as she went through her tasks one by one. 'Should something happen to Sydney, she should be able to take care of herself since she was a police officer. The problem is that, should he send those hounds of his again, I may not survive this time, not with my shit aim and worse eyesight. Guess another trip to the shooting range is necessary.'

  5 Years Ago...

  'Shit. Who the fuck are they?' Aiko thought as she scrambled through the byrinth of mazes.

  *TUNK TUNK*

  Suppressed pistols fired at her as she ducked and weaved, praying for her dumb luck to guide her to safety.

  Aiko hurriedly pressed her phone power button three times, triggering the SOS function, connecting her to Emergency Response and sending a notice to her starred contacts, namely her grandfather and Sydney. 'They don't seem like Father's people.'

  *TUNK*

  A bullet grazed her delicate arm as she winced in pain. Cutting the call to emergency response, Aiko continued to focus on running. Dodge. Weave. Avoid the bin. Jump over the cat. Hide behind the small brick wall while they try to catch up.

  *THUD*

  Trying to follow the young woman's trace, one of the pursuers tripped. A man in a bck hoodie and jeans, ordinary sneakers and a bck face mask.

  Coming out from behind a small wall in a building behind the pursuer, Aiko swung down with a metal pipe she found, likely left behind by a gang member who thought it would make a decent weapon.

  *CLANG* *CLACK*

  The pursuer dropped. It was unknown whether he was dead or unconscious.

  *HUFF HUFF*

  Exhaustion from the long game of cat and mouse finally kicked in. Her muscles were burning as she forced herself to stand upright to allow as much air as possible to enter her lungs. Then, out of the corner of her eyes, a man with the same attire as the one she just took down rounded the corner.

  Hastily picking up the suppressed Glock 17 and the spare magazines the te-pursuer held on him, she continued to run.

  "Over here!"

  Aiko ran into another one of them. Dropping the bat, Aiko raised her stolen Glock 17 and let bullets fly.

  *TUNK TUNK TUNK TUNK*

  4 bullets ripped into the pursuer's hoodie and jeans.

  *THUD*

  The body fell, dropped in a pool of its own blood.

  *HUFF HUFF*

  'Faster. I need to get out this maze. I need to get to Grandpa. He can help me.'