Pov 3 person
In a quiet room filled with musical instruments , Kurumi with her head resting on Neo's shoulder silently sit in front of the piano . The atmosphere around them would give a certain homeless man diabetes and an old lady reasons to smile.
" We haven't talked about it yet but I think we finally have to bring up this subject , because time is flying and I don't want to wake up to it at the last minute. Neo do we buy this building ? "
Asks Kurumi straightening up in her seat . The loss of Kurumi's head on her shoulder caused visible displeasure on the face of Neo who could only let it slide . Then turning to face Kurumi Neo conveyed her thoughts .
" I know we can not afford it . The only thing left is to borrow money , only it won't be a small amount but I trust big papa so it won't be a problem ."
" The only thing is that we will have to work to pay it back . Depending on the amount it will take years . Perhaps we will sell these clocks to collectors , then perhaps we can pay it all off at once . It would be nice to have our own house ."
Kurumi said when Neo smiled at her .
" You are right , it will be worth it . This place really is special not only for me but also for you ."
Says Kurumi looking around the room when she is suddenly interrupted by the mewing of a small black kitten that demands attention from both girls .
" Right you will also have to name this cat . To be honest if it wasn't for Ash I would never have thought of it ."
Says Kurumi in a flat tone as if she did not care at all . But by her eyes Neo could tell that her tsundere friend was most excited about it . Picking up the cat Kurumi puts it on the bench between her and Neo .
" But we'll think about it some other time , for now let's finish cleaning up ."
Says Kurumi as she and Neo go back to cleaning their base .
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Kurumi pov
Looking out the window of the moving car, I see how the streets of Vale have already returned to normal as if the events of night before never happened. Aside from the occasional police checkpoint there is nothing else going on . The city has become quiet again despite the fact that last night pink mouse and I again heard gunshots which means that this calm is only during the day not at night where the fighting starts again .
Thinking about it I look around the car that is driven by Ash next to whom sits big papa . In the back seat with me is Neo and unfortunately between us sits Copper as because of his physique I do not have much breathing room with my pink mouse .
" Why are we all going there ?"
I ask thinking about how comfortable it would be to drive with fewer people in the car . In the end, I with the mouse , enough to collect our prize .
" I'm not going with you , Ash is just giving me a ride . I need to make sure of the details of your loan ."
Says Big papa reminding me that in the morning Neo and I agreed to let him arrange it for us .
" Thanks again ".
I say watching as big papa wave his hand at this .
" I suggested it to you myself. So I was prepared to take care of it myself."
Says big papa when the car stops at the side of the road .
" This is my stop ".
Says Big papa getting out of the car . In the now vacant seat sat Neo. This move allowed Copper to move to the side giving me room to breathe . Returning to driving Ash looked in the mirror inside the car allowing me to see his eyes .
" Do you have rings ? "
Asks Ash as I raise my hand to show him the ring that cherry gave us during our first visit . My pink mouse also raised her hand to show the same ring . With a nod Ash returns to driving .
Our further journey, except for the checkpoint on the bridge where the vehicle was checked, passed peacefully. Stopping in front of the Recycling Facility, me, Copper , Neo and Ash get out of car after which we go to the building . Surprisingly Cherry is not at the reception desk , instead of her sits there another woman who with her head down browsing something on the desks
And she continues this activity until Ash knocked on the countertop in front of her , causing her to raise her head and look at us .
" Ash and Copper , what do you need ?"
Asks woman looking at the brothers when finally her gaze lands on us .
"We have an appointment with Cherry ."
Says Ash when his words cause surprise on the woman face who looks at me and Neo with uncertainty wondering what we are doing here since Ash and Copper came here on business . Honestly as two children there is no surprise , rather no one would think from me and Neo that we kill for money .
After all , I always wear an innocent nice smile that I only pull off in front of people who know me well . To random people me and Neo are two young ladies who have an interesting way of dressing .
' I even think people find it more cute .'
Well it's better to have a faux smile that doesn't arouse suspicion than my real smile that appears when I beat someone into submission . But my mouse finds it cute and always teases me because of it even though she smiles the same way then .
However, without asking anything knowing that it is not appropriate as a receptionist employee, woman stood up and led us to the same elevator that we rode last time. On the way to the elevator I noticed that all the offices unlike last time were practically without people and the atmosphere of the building itself was more gloomy .
As we entered the elevator together , woman looked at us while remaining outside the elevator , then moving her hand she applied her card to the reader inside . This caused the elevator to begin to close and the woman pulling her hand from inside looked at us through the slowly closing doors .
" Here I will leave you lately we have a lot of work and there are not enough of us to do it all " .
Said woman as the elevator completely closed . After that the elevator began to go down below the " possible " level . However, I am already used to this so I ride with the rest of our group in silence until the elevator doors opened to a familiar sight letting in a familiar smell .
The only difference is that unlike the situation upstairs I see a lot more people here than before . The corridors whereas previously empty and lifeless were now full of people walking one way and another with papers in their hands .
After this observation our group set off to the place where the office was located where we were last time to collect the award . When we reached the corridor leading there we stopped abruptly because In front of the office door stood two men in black suits and red shirts symbolizing their affiliation with Xiong .
" Xiong ? What are they doing here ? "
Wonders aloud Ash as I look at them in silence not noticing that the office door opened when a tall young man with black very short hair and a light beard came out of office.
Like the people standing in front of the door he is wearing a black suit with a red shirt and black tie symbolizing that he too is a Xiong. After he left , his gaze fell on us , I could see him looking at me and Neo confused for a moment but that disorientation disappears when our eyes meet .
Apparently he has noticed something that some people do not see or has realized that we are not normal children since we are here . Smiling innocently at him I see him shake his head then he says something in the ear of two of his men outside the door . Stopping to look at him I turn to Asha who continues to look at the young man .
" Junior Xiong ? Hei Xiong son what is he doing here ? "
Cooper says surprising me .
' So this is the son of the Xiong leader .
I think looking at him then I turn my attention to Neo whose eyes focused on Junior .
" Are you alright ?"
I ask poking her with my elbow thus knocking her out of her thoughts . Looking at Neo's face I see what she is trying to convey to me . " He looks like a copy of his father " .
Says Neo reminding me that she is acquainted with Hei Xiong who was like an uncle to her . At the same time Junior and two of his people passed us walking along the corridor towards the elevator . Without prolonging it we walk the whole group up to the office door . There is a bell next to the door and this is due to the fact that the door itself is soundproof .
Ash pressed the bell leaving us with only the possibility to wait for an answer which came with a flash of green light above the door . Seeing this none of us hesitated to go inside where we were met by the sight of a tall man in black suit pants , white shirt with a red tie who looked at Ash and Cooper with a smile as his large hand reached across the desk straight to the button located on the side of the computer .
Only after a while men seem to notice me and Neo . And only then looking at his face I realize who he is . Black thick beard same short haircut as Junior and face although older is also the same as Junior Xiong .
'This is Hei Xiong .
I think while looking at the face of the man whose gaze pushes past me and stops on Neo . I see his eyebrows raise a little and his face freezes only to then turn into a sly and proud smile .
" Trivia , child you are alive. "
Says a joyful Hei . Surprisingly I don't feel any sarcasm or threat from him , quite as if this guy is actually happy that Neo is alive . However, Neo does not share his sentiment as she looks at the man in horror . I see conflicting emotions on her face when she finally looks at me , then the hesitation disappears replaced by cold confidence .
" Excuse me Mr. Xiong but we are waiting to meet Miss Cherry . Can you tell us what you are doing here and where Ms. Cherry is ?"
Says Ash politely trying to find out what is going on .
" I am here and Mr. Xiong is leaving ."
Says a cold female voice that I associate . Turning my head back I see Cherry looking at Heia Xiong with a cold expression .
' Interesting .'
I think looking at the interaction of the two .
' So you guys are the group that completed my commissioned task ."
Says Xiong without paying attention to Cherry who slipped into the room to face the calm Xiong .
" You crossed the line Hei , you were supposed to leave ."
Says Cherry standing in front of the further calm man .
" Cherry don't blame me , you were the one who didn't check if I left the office . You could have sat here and waited for me to leave but you left before I did ."
Says Hei playing some game showing his foxy haracter . But apparently Cherry is not buying it and looks at him with even more anger which makes me realize something .
'Isn't Cherry acting a little bossy ? Wait is Cherry the boss of the family ? Big mom never said who is her deputy and so far Cherry is the only person who fits the typical description of a mafia boss .'
I think realizing this . At that time Cherry crossed her arms under her breasts when Xiong looked at her calmly as if the place belonged to him .
" As I said before , I insist on meeting with the contractors . "
Said Xiong looking at the four of us .
" And I repeat to you that this is not how it works . You can not demand anything in this building ."
Says Cherry leaning in fromt Hei's face no frightened of his body twice her size . And honestly despite the serious atmosphere I am not afraid of him either without the number he is a nobody in this building . Nevertheless all this time my antique gun in my shadow is ready to enter my hands when the shadows under Hei are ready to tear him to pieces .