Shadow Contract-Chapter 28: Kisuke’s Night

The rain in Heukseong tasted like iron. Kisuke sat on the edge of the rooftop, his legs dangling over the side. Three stories down, the street was wet and empty. He unwrapped a candy bar, the foil crinkling loudly in the silence. He took a bite. Chocolate. Peanuts. Sweet.

He chewed slowly, watching the target building across the street. Window four, second floor; the light had been on for six hours. "Shift change in ten," he whispered. His voice was light and casual, like he was talking to a friend, but there was no one there. He checked his watch. The luminous hands glowed green. He finished the candy bar, crumpled the wrapper, and put it in his pocket. He did not litter.

A shadow moved on the roof behind him. Kisuke did not turn, and he did not reach for his weapon. "You are late," he said. The shadow stepped into the light. It was a woman wearing a long coat, her hair gray. "I am exactly on time," she said, her voice rough like gravel grinding on glass.

Kisuke turned his head and smiled. It was his usual smile—bright and easy. "Time is relative. Especially when you are waiting for death."

The woman did not smile. She stopped two meters away. "Are you still playing the clown, Kisuke?"

"It pays the bills."

"It buys you time."

Kisuke turned back to the street and swung his legs, the heels of his boots hitting the brick wall with a rhythmic thud. "What do you want?" he asked.

"Information."

"I do not sell information."

"You sell nothing. You give it away. To them." She stepped closer, the rain falling between them. "You left the organization," she said. "You left the life."

"I retired."

"There is no retirement."

Kisuke stopped swinging his legs and sat still. The smile remained on his face, but it did not reach his eyes. "Why are you here?" he asked.

"Because you are watching the wrong building."

Kisuke’s eyes narrowed just slightly. "Explain."

"Ogata is not in Sector Two. He is in Sector Five. The clinic is a decoy."

Kisuke looked at her, really looked at her. He saw the scars on her neck and the way she held her hands, ready. "Who told you?" he asked.

"Someone who remembers you." She reached into her coat and pulled out a small, black drive, tossing it to him. He caught it one-handed.

"Why give me this?" he asked.

"Because you were the only one who got out." She turned away, walking toward the shadow of the ventilation unit.

"Wait," Kisuke said as he stood up. The smile was gone. His face was empty and the light had vanished; he looked ten years older. "Who is hunting you?" he asked.

"The same people who are hunting you." She stepped into the dark. "Be careful, Kisuke. The joke ends sometime."

She was gone. Kisuke stood alone on the rooftop as the rain fell harder, soaking his hair and coat. He looked at the drive in his hand. It was cold. He closed his fingers around it tightly and did not move for a long time. The city lights blurred in the rain like tears. He put the drive in his pocket, turned away from the edge, and climbed down the fire escape. His movements were silent and precise. There was no bounce in his step, no hummed tune.

He reached the street, walked to the car, and got in. He locked the doors and sat in the dark. He looked at his hands; they were steady but felt heavy. He remembered the old days—the blood, the orders, the things he did before he found the crew. He remembered the faces. He closed his eyes, breathed in and out, then started the engine and drove back to the safehouse.

The safehouse was warm. The lights were on, and the smell of coffee filled the air. Dante sat at the table cleaning his weapon, Sophie sat nearby reading a file, and Isaac stood by the window watching the rain.

Kisuke entered the room, shook the water off his coat, and hung it on the rack. He walked to the table, sat down, and pulled the candy wrapper from his pocket, placing it on the table.

"Rain is terrible," Kisuke said, his voice bright again. The mask was back. "I almost drowned out there. You owe me hazard pay." He grinned, looking at Dante and Sophie. "Dante. You look gloomy. Smile. It confuses the enemy."

Dante looked up but did not smile. Sophie lowered the file and looked at Kisuke. Isaac turned from the window to study Kisuke’s face. Kisuke leaned back and spun a knife on the table. "Seriously. I found a noodle shop on the way back. Best broth in the city. We should go. Team bonding."

He laughed. It was a loud sound that echoed in the room, but no one laughed. Dante stopped cleaning the weapon and looked at Kisuke’s eyes. Sophie saw the tension in his shoulders. Isaac saw the way his hand trembled just slightly. Kisuke stopped spinning the knife, caught it, and sheathed it. The silence stretched, heavy and uncomfortable.

Kisuke looked around the table. He saw the concern and the knowledge. They knew. They did not know what, but they knew something was wrong. He stood up and pushed the chair back. "Fine. Be boring," he said, walking toward the kitchen. "I will make coffee. At least someone appreciates me."

He opened the cupboard and took out a mug. He did not turn around. His shoulders slumped just for a second, then he straightened. He filled the mug, poured the water, and brought it to the table, setting it in front of Dante.

"Drink," Kisuke said. "You look like you need it."

Dante looked at the coffee, then at Kisuke. "Thank you," Dante said.

Kisuke nodded and sat down. He did not make another joke. He did not smile. He looked at the rain on the window and waited for the morning. The drive in his pocket felt like a stone—heavy, cold, and real.

A/N: Thank you for reading Chapter 28! Kisuke’s mask slipped. Who was the woman? What is his past? The crew knows something is wrong. Drop your theories in the comments! Don’t forget to add Shadow Contract to your library and vote with power stones. See you in Chapter 29!