Walking back to the room where the other assassins were after a job well-done — Goto was riddled from head to toe with the blood of another target that he had killed. His kimono drenched in all different hues of the crimson liquid...

With his head hanging low — the tussled hair covering half his face made him all the much more unreadable, before he lifted his head up slightly after noticing some movement in his peripheral. Yato’s expression was ominous as he noted what looked to be another unfortunate target that was caught by the hands of assassins.

He made direct eye contact with you from behind the bars. Your mouth was covered by a piece of fabric cloth, along with your wrists binded behind your back with rope — all the while hunched over on your knees on the hard concrete ground of the cell you were…likely forced into.

‘A noble huh..?’

His expression was unreadable before he heard one of the men, the ‘leader’ of the assassin group speak up. Goto was stronger than any of the guys here and he wasn’t entirely fond of group work, but he was willing to play along as ‘the guy that just does what he’s told’ for the time being.

He did like this job after all.

“Gahh! You’re all bloody! Go bleed outside at least, that’s dirty!” The older man spat out before sighing afterwards — knowing fully that Goto wasn’t gonna heed to such a simple request. They were a group of hired killers, this wasn’t anything new.

“Anyways, did you do it?” The older man finally asked. Goto smiled slightly with his head still hanging a bit low, giving a brief ‘ah’ as though to confirm the kill.

The older man grunted in satisfaction and nodded in approval. “It’s true when they said you were a legend… Took us ten days to try and kill that bastard, and it only took you one. I’d actually like for you to do another job.” The older man added before pointing over towards you in the cell.

“Will you kill her? The client ordered not to kill her right away, so just keep an eye on her for awhile. But..when it hits nine o’clock,” the older man grinned as he leaned over to whisper it while patting Goto’s shoulder. “Kill her.” With a chuckle, the older man began leaving towards the door with a dismissive wave.

“My client was quite generous, so do a good job and I’ll pay ya well.” The older man said before lastly giving a warning to the other men in the group. “And since none of you have any money to buy her, don’t bother this woman. Or else i’ll have this young man here, cut you to pieces.” giving a final grunt, the older man left the room. Leaving you and the other men alone in the room — along with Goto.

“…Got it.” Was all Goto said as he lifted his head to glance at you again, a smile stretched on his face — now crouched down from behind the bars to watch over you until the clock strikes 9.

Goto chuckled under his breath, seemingly amused by the look you were giving him. His own expression remained unreadable and cold as ever, despite being so close to your face now. He leaned forward slightly, resting an elbow on one knee while supporting his weight with his other hand. "Don't worry...I won't let anyone else hurt you before I get the chance." His words were laced with a teasing tone that only added to his mysterious demeanor.

Goto raised an eyebrow, tilting his head to the side slightly as he looked at you curiously. "My name is Goto...But I prefer Shinpei." He paused for a moment before asking in response, "And what might your name be, beautiful lady?" His tone was still light and teasing, not giving anything away about how truly dangerous he could be if the situation called for it.

Goto smiled softly, nodding his head slowly as though understanding something about you. "Rina, such a lovely name," he purred, almost sounding almost gentle for once. He leaned back against the bars of the cell again, crossing one leg over another. "Well then, Rina-chan...Why don't you tell me more about yourself? Or are you too scared to speak up?" He asked with a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

Goto chuckled at your words, though there was a hint of sadness behind it as well. "I suppose you're right." He mused, watching as you silently stood up and took a piece of cloth to try and wipe the blood off yourself. The assassin glanced down at his own clothes, already stained with the crimson liquid from head to toe.

"Well, Rina-chan...If it's any consolation," he began, leaning closer to the bars once more. "I won't let them take you from this world in any way other than how I was told. You have my word." His voice was soft and almost reassuring as he spoke these words, his eyes meeting yours intently.

It seemed like an odd thing for him to say, given his job...But somehow, it sounded sincere. Almost as if he actually cared about your wellbeing

Goto laughed softly at your comment and the unexpected gesture of trying to clean his face with a scrap of cloth. He leaned back against the bars again, watching you curiously as you approached closer to him. "As I said," he replied, "I will make sure that's all they take from you."

With a hint of amusement still lingering on his lips, Goto allowed you to clean the blood off his face with the cloth. As your fingers brushed against his skin, he closed his eyes briefly, seemingly enjoying the sensation despite himself. It was an oddly intimate moment between strangers in such a dire situation.

"My name is Shinpei...And no, even after tonight, it won't be true that I'll be the only one left alive." The assassin paused for a moment, considering how much more to reveal about himself before shrugging slightly. "It's not as though I have family or friends to return to. This life..." He trailed off, looking away from you and toward the distant wall of the cell. "This life has been my own choice."

Goto leaned forward once again, resting both arms on the bars this time as he studied your face. There was something about you that intrigued him, something he couldn't quite put his finger on. "What about you, Rina-chan? Why did you choose this path?" He asked curiously, his voice lower now than before, almost gentle in its tone.

"Ah, I'm sorry," Goto said softly, tilting his head to the side. His gaze never left yours, even as he absently reached up to wipe at one cheek where the blood had trickled down. "I didn't mean to make you feel bad. It's just..." He shrugged slightly. "It is what it is, hm?"

The assassin paused for a moment, considering his words carefully before continuing. "Maybe we can find some sort of solace in knowing that we were doing what we believed in...Even if it led us here." There was an almost wistful quality to his voice now, making it sound almost like he was trying to convince himself more than anything else.

Goto considered your request carefully before giving a small nod. "If that's what you truly want...Then I'll stay with you until the end." There was a strange mixture of determination and resignation in his voice, as though he knew exactly what fate had in store for both of you but didn't care enough to try and change it.

He leaned forward closer still, their faces only inches apart now. "But remember," he whispered softly, his breath warm against your ear, "I will make sure they don't take anything from you that isn't supposed to be taken." His expression remained unreadable as ever, but there was a hint of something in his eyes...Perhaps even affection?

Goto looked at you for a moment, taking in your plea before giving a slow nod. "Alright," he said quietly. "I'll stay with you." Reaching out, he gently grasped the bars near your head, his hand curling around them tightly as though somehow keeping himself steady in this moment. With another soft smile, he added, "Just remember, whatever happens next...You're not alone anymore." There was genuine warmth in his voice when he spoke those words, an emotion that seemed foreign to him yet oddly comforting at the same time.

"Hmm, I could...But then again..." Goto mused, looking thoughtful for a moment. "Perhaps it would be more amusing to see what sort of trouble we can get into together, hm?" He chuckled lightly before adding, "Who knows? We might even manage to escape this mess after all." There was a playful glint in his eye now, as if he'd already forgotten about the grim reality of their situation and had begun to focus on the possibility of survival instead.

The assassin flexed his fingers around yours gently, squeezing reassuringly before letting go. "Alright then," he said with a grin, moving closer still so that they were practically touching from shoulder to shoulder. "Let's make some chaos." His voice was low and confident, almost seductive as it drifted past your ear.

Before either of you

Goto laughed softly, leaning against the bars next to you. "Yes, chaos...Don't you find it exciting?" He glanced at you sidelong from his dark eyes, a mischievous grin playing on his lips. "Think of all the possibilities that await us. The danger, the thrill of escaping death..." His voice trailed off, as though lost in thought for a moment before returning with renewed vigor.

"We could be legends together...Immortalized in stories told by those who manage to survive our wrath." There was a strange sort of conviction in his words now, a genuine belief that together they could achieve something truly remarkable, despite the bleak circumstances they found themselves in.

Goto arched an eyebrow at your question, tilting his head slightly to the side as he studied your face once more. "Yes," he said simply, almost too softly for you to hear over the steady drip of blood from above. "I want to help you escape...If that's what you truly wish." There was an unreadable expression on his features as he paused for a moment before continuing. "But remember, my assistance comes at a price."

His voice dropped even lower now, taking on a near-seductive quality. "You will be mine to command...For however long it takes us to get out of this mess. I expect you to listen and obey, no matter the task." His eyes never left yours as he waited for your response, his expression unwavering.

Goto raised an eyebrow at your response, tilting his head slightly to the side as he regarded you carefully. "I see...So be it." He smiled faintly then, though there was something unsettling about the expression. Almost predatory. "Now, we just wait for the right moment..."

He leaned back against the bars once more, folding his arms across his chest as he closed his eyes, seemingly lost in thought. His breathing remained steady and calm despite the tension thrumming through the room. Beside him, you could feel your own heart racing, anticipation and fear tangled together in a knot within your chest.

Time ticked by slowly, each passing second feeling like an eternity as they waited for their opportunity to strike...

The assassin nodded curtly in acknowledgement before glancing back over at you. There was a strange mix of emotions playing across his features, almost too complex to decipher fully. "It's nothing," he muttered under his breath, focusing once again on their plan. "Just do as I say when the time comes."

As minutes turned into hours, their bodies began to grow sore and stiff from sitting in the same position for so long. The air in the cell seemed to thicken with tension, making it hard to breathe sometimes. But still they waited, biding their time until the perfect moment would finally arrive...