Morning at Reiji's Apartment
The morning light filtered through the window, casting soft shadows across the room. Reiji sat on the edge of his bed, staring out at the sprawling cityscape. The world outside looked so distant, peaceful even, in stark contrast to the chaos that had gripped him and his group over the last few days. His body was weary from the battles, but his mind—his mind felt even heavier. Sleep had barely touched him, and the questions that plagued his thoughts refused to give him peace.
The explosion. The battle with the Black Lotus assassins. The fleeting image of the woman who had set off the blast—the woman who had nearly brought them all to ruin. Reiji didn't know much about her, but he had seen something in the way she fought, something that gnawed at him. It wasn't just her skill—it was hesitation. For just a moment, she had faltered, as though she wasn't entirely committed to killing them.
He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his tousled hair. The weight of everything pressed down on him. Everything was happening so fast. Not long ago, he had been someone entirely different. Then he found the Vongola mansion, unlocked the power of the Dying Will Flame, and formed unlikely alliances with Shinya and Chuuya. Now, they were embroiled in a conflict with a deadly organization shrouded in mystery—an organization that was relentless in its pursuit of Tom.
But why?
His thoughts drifted back to the Black Lotus—the assassins who had come for them, and the woman who hesitated when she faced Shizuo. That moment of doubt had stuck with him. It was like a crack in her resolve, a small fracture that could be exploited. Reiji didn't know much about her yet, but he knew one thing: any weakness in the enemy was something they could turn to their advantage.
He stood up, the decision beginning to take shape in his mind.
At the Vongola Mansion
By mid-morning, Reiji had made his way to the Vongola mansion. The grand structure loomed over the street like an old sentinel, its walls scarred from past conflicts. As he stepped inside, the familiar tension hung in the air—a silent reminder that they were far from safe.
In the living room, the group had already gathered—Shinya, Chuuya, Shizuo, and Tom. They were still recovering from the events of the day before, but the urgency of their situation left no time for rest. Everyone's faces were drawn with the weight of the battle they had fought, and the knowledge that it wasn't over.
Shinya stood by the window, his back to the room, his posture rigid. He had been out early that morning, following up on leads, and now he turned to face the group with a grim expression.
"They're hunting her," Shinya said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, but there was an underlying tension. "The Black Lotus is after their own. The assassin—Nobume. From what we've gathered, she's gone rogue. Her actions during the mission didn't align with their usual methods, and now it seems they consider her a liability."
Reiji's heart quickened. This was it—confirmation of what he had been thinking. The Black Lotus didn't tolerate weakness, and if they were after one of their own, it meant Nobume's hesitation during the fight hadn't gone unnoticed by them either.
"Do we know why?" Tom asked, his voice slightly shaky but determined. He leaned forward, trying to make sense of it all. "Why would she turn on them?"
Shinya shook his head. "We don't have the full story yet. But internal conflict in organizations like the Black Lotus isn't uncommon. If an assassin doesn't follow the rules, they're usually dealt with swiftly—and violently."
The room fell into a tense silence. Shizuo, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, absorbed the information, his expression unreadable. There was an intensity to his silence, the kind that only built when he was on the edge of taking action.
"So, what's the plan?" Chuuya asked, breaking the quiet. His tone was casual, but his eyes held a glimmer of frustration. "We can't just sit here waiting for them to come after us again."
Reiji had been quiet throughout the conversation, his mind racing through possibilities. Now, he knew what needed to be said.
"We should try to turn her."
All eyes snapped to Reiji, the room suddenly charged with a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"Turn her?" Shizuo's voice was low and dangerous, a hint of anger creeping into his tone. "She's an assassin, Reiji. She nearly killed us. And now you want to make her an ally?"
Reiji met Shizuo's gaze evenly, unflinching. "Think about it. She hesitated during the fight. If she was fully committed, you wouldn't have walked away. And now the Black Lotus is hunting her. That means she's vulnerable, and she could be an asset to us. We're up against a powerful organization, and we need all the help we can get."
Shizuo's eyes darkened, the frustration clear on his face. "She's still an assassin. Vulnerable or not, we don't know anything about her."
Chuuya leaned back in his chair, arms crossed as he eyed Reiji with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "You're soft, Reiji. Too idealistic. Just because she's on the run doesn't mean we can trust her."
"I'm not saying we trust her blindly," Reiji countered, his voice firm but measured. "But she's a weakness in their organization, and if we play this right, she could help us bring them down from the inside."
Shizuo's jaw clenched, his frustration palpable. "You're asking us to rely on someone who nearly killed us."
"I'm asking us to be strategic," Reiji replied, his gaze steady. "We can't face the Black Lotus head-on. They have resources, assassins, and power. We need allies, and Nobume might be one."
For a moment, the room was silent. Shizuo's gaze was hard, but Reiji noticed the flicker of something else behind his eyes—uncertainty.
"She didn't fight like the others," Shizuo said quietly, almost as if he were speaking to himself. "There was something different. She wasn't trying to finish me off. At least, not like the rest of them."
Chuuya raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shizuo in surprise. "So, you're saying she held back?"
Shizuo didn't answer immediately, but the look on his face was enough to confirm it.
Reiji seized the moment. "Exactly. We need to consider every option. If we can turn her, it'll weaken the Black Lotus. She knows their inner workings. She could give us the advantage we need."
Shinya, who had been watching the conversation unfold, finally spoke up. "We need to be careful, Reiji. You're right that she could be an asset, but we can't assume she'll join us just because she's on the run. She may still be loyal to the Black Lotus. Or she could be playing both sides."
Reiji nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I know it's a risk, but we're running out of time. If we don't act soon, the Black Lotus will strike again. We need to use every opportunity we have."
Shinya's gaze softened slightly, though his expression remained serious. "I'll keep investigating. We need more information before we make any moves. But be cautious. If you're going to pursue this, don't go in blind."
As the group dispersed, each of them left to their own thoughts, Reiji remained seated, his mind still spinning with possibilities. Chuuya's words echoed in his head—"You're soft." Maybe he was. But he also knew that sometimes, taking a risk was the only way forward. And right now, Nobume was a risk worth taking.
He stood, his decision solidifying with every passing second. If there was a chance to turn her, he had to try. It might be their only shot at weakening the Black Lotus from the inside.
Nobume's Perspective
The scene shifted to Nobume, hidden in the shadows of the city. The weight of the Black Lotus' betrayal hung heavy on her shoulders. She knew it was only a matter of time before they came for her. That was the way of the Black Lotus—no loose ends, no second chances. But as she contemplated disappearing for good, a strange sensation washed over her. She wasn't alone.
Her instincts flared to life, the familiar surge of adrenaline as she scanned the dark alleyway. Someone was watching her.
Nobume tensed, her hand tightening around the hilt of her sword. She listened carefully, but there was no sound—no movement. Yet the presence was unmistakable. Whoever it was, they were good—too good. But she could feel it. She wasn't alone.
Was it them? The Black Lotus? Or… someone else?
The chapter ended with Nobume's realization that she was being watched, leaving readers with a sense of foreboding. The tension hung heavy in the air as the mystery deepened, setting the stage for what could be a confrontation—or something else entirely.