Chapter 1
My name is Fushigo and I am the son of a very powerful assassin. Since his death the town has looked up to me to eliminate people. The price was always set high, so there were never any bargains. I’ve never wanted to live in my father’s shadow, so I decided to change my life around. I will put an end to all of this madness.
“What could you possibly do that will keep them from looking for you?” my assistant, Leo, asks.
“I don’t know. Get plastic surgery or something that could change my whole appearance.”
He shakes his head, “You have to do something daring.”
“Like what?” I ask.
“Well, sir, you could fake your death,” he suggests.
I reply, “Nonsense.”
Leo shrugs and goes back to typing on his computer. Pulling a stunt like that will cause me to spend a lot of money. The last thing I want is people coming to my door trying to find out if I’m actually dead. I don’t plan on continuing this and I need to find a way to escape as soon as possible. Plastic surgery just might do the trick.
After collecting my reward from the tailor shop, I head over to Lance’s Surgery. What he does is legal till customers start to come at night. Things like this requires me to earn money from my killings. I’m a wanted man, but not from the police. The first person anyone goes to is me.
From mafias in Italy to mob bosses in France. Don’t get me wrong I know that something might happen to me if I keep this up. I needed some money and they were willing to give some up. Plastic surgery is a big deal and it’s illegal in some countries. Everyone knows not to spill anything about this place.Lance is a close buddy of mine and is glad to help me in any way.
“No. No. No.”
“But-”
“You know I can’t do that to you. It’ll ruin your handsome face,” he pinches my cheek.
I cross my arms, “So you wouldn’t mind me telling the authorities that there’s an Italian living amongst us Japanese?”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh I would and I will. I need this surgery for a good cause,” I take out my recent cash reward, “I will double this pay if you accept.”
He hesitates for a moment, “Fushigo, I am not one for bargain-”
“Triple if you start right now,” I place the money in his hands.
“Why didn’t you start off with that in the first place?”
I know him a bit too well. He is the only Italian in Japan and hasn’t been made since he came. He turns the sign to ‘closed’ and marches to the back of the building. Following after him, I message Leo to get ready to transfer the money. For me to be trusting Lance, I’m actually pretty nervous.
“You know the drill,” he says.
“All too well. Do you know the drill?”
“If you want this surgery done tonight, I advise you to quit stalling and lie down.”
“Right.”
I lie down on the surgical bed and close my eyes. Lance flicks me on my head and tells me to relax my entire body. What I need is a massage to ease all the tension in my body.I might even go to Stacey’s place and ask her. Last thing I heard was the sound of Lance’s chair scraping across the floor.
I remember closing my eyes and dreaming a dream. I was walking through town and no one even acknowledged me. I walked to my most favorite places and not even one familiar face looked up.For once, I felt invisible and it felt so good to just be like everyone else. Then there was a group of people whispering. I walked over and caught a few words about me…dying.
I quickly wake up and I am back in my room. I think faking my death is getting to my head. I know my assistant means no harm to me, but that was a strange suggestion. I slide into my slippers and walk downstairs into the kitchen. All I want, at this moment, is some fresh, black coffee. Leo makes the best coffee and his coffee is the only one that I’ve ever tasted.
I enter the kitchen, only to find an empty coffee maker, “Leo!”
“Yessir,” he comes stumbling into the kitchen.
“Were you just asleep at this time in the morning?”
“Sorry, sir,” he lowers his head, “it won’t happen again.”
“I’m not mad at you, but please fix me some coffee,”I place my cup onto the counter, “I’ll be in there watching tv.”
I walk out of the kitchen into the living room. I wasn’t expecting him to forget such a thing. He’s living with a killer who can turn on him at any time. I just can’t get that dream out of my head. I’m not going to take my life because I don’t even know where to begin. I kill, not get killed.
Leo comes in with my coffee. He sits down next to me with a loud sigh. I arch a brow and he just smiles at me. Just by him looking at me is making me wonder how the surgery went. I shoot up from the couch and rush to the nearest bathroom. I remove the bandages from my face.
“Oh son of Mary the virgin,” I’ve never looked so attractive.
“I couldn’t tell what your face looked like since you had it wrapped up. You do look quite amazing,” he compliments.
I continue to admire myself, “Leo, do I look like a god to you?”
“No, sir.”
“What?
“You are a god,” he puts emphasis on the word ‘are’, “you are unstoppable.”
“You always know what to say,” I pat his shoulder, “I’m going out to get a massage. Take care of the house for me, will you?”
He chuckles, “That’s all I ever do.”
I smile and head back to my room. I can’t believe he went so far as to make me look like this. I have to pay him more because he deserves that much. I don’t think there is going to be someone else that can do an amazing job. I really have to give Lance more than I promised. I changed into my most recently bought outfit.
