Hell awaits them

"N-No! Don't kill me, please! I'll do-agh!"

Toshetuyek sliced apart the old weasel's abdomen with a pull of her katana, allowing his guts to spill out in a torrent of blood and bile. The poor man expired in thirty seconds flat, and the catwoman wiped her blade clean with a handkerchief as she surveyed the scene of carnage.

The entire office - a safehouse hidden behind a shell company - bore witness to countless bodies of corporate executives who thought themselves safe from the police and the law, once evidence of Matoi Corporation's evildoing was brought to light. Their security, all hired goons and trained security loyal to Matoi Corp's money, were slaughtered in the blink of an eye, the Kurohyou's skill and expertise superior in every aspect tenfold.

Even now, many more such safehouses and hiding places of the corrupt corporate elite were hit hard by the Black Panthers, and Toshetuyek hummed an appreciative tune at the efficiency of her men.

"Milady, we have mopped up the last survivors," One of her men reported, clad in black apparel reminiscent of shinobi, "We also found two hostages being held in a locked room: A woman and a young boy."

Toshetuyek raised an eyebrow, "I wasn't aware they had hostages."

The man nodded in agreement, "They have been terribly recalcitrant to speak much more, so we let them be in the room for now."

Toshetuyek nodded, "Anything else I should know?"

"No, Milady," The man reported.

"Good. Hold down the fort while I go talk to them," Toshetuyek ordered.

"By your will."

Toshetuyek walked towards the room where said hostages were kept, and as she walked in, she noticed the musk of sex all around the room. Fresh and strong, yet not strong enough to permeate every inch of wood and concrete. She saw a number of sex toys in a nearby box, and the woman herself was dressed in lingerine that exposed her nipples and vagina, shivering from both the chill of the night and fright. Young and in her late twenties, she had long raspberry hair tied in a ponytail, a pair of fake cat ears on her head and a fake tail plug in her ass, her violet eyes warily eyeing Toshetuyek. Clinging to her was a young boy bearing her hair colour and eyes, clothed in full unlike her risquely dressed mother.

Closing the door behind her, Toshetuyek sat opposite the mother-son pair huddling fearfully on the bed, a calm, disarming smile on her lips.

"Hello there," She greeted, "I suspect you have many questions."

"Y-Yes, we do," Said the woman shakily, "Starting with 'who you are' and ending with 'why do this'."

"Then I shall start first," Toshetuyek answered, "I and my men acted on intelligence to storm every single safehouse hiding any and all affiliated with Matoi Corporation and its dirty dealings in prostitution and ****, and the executives were our targets. As for me, consider me a professional assassin."

The mother swallowed nervously, though the boy then asked, "You're a real assassin, like in those movies and TV shows?"

"Son!" The mother said exasperatedly.

Toshetuyek giggled light-heartedly, "Not to fear, I like his inquisitve attitude. And yes, I am as real as you are."

"Wow..." The boy muttered in amazement.

"Although I'll say this kind of work isn't for everyone. In fact, I'd rather you didn't look at me with those idolizing eyes," Toshetuyek pointed out, her tone firm but not unkind.

The boy looked downcast, "Sorry."

"It's fine, you are young and have much to learn," Toshetuyek smiled again, "In any case, can I now ask what are you doing here?"

"You're not telling us your name yet?" Asked the mother.

"Not if you don't plan on seeing us again," Toshetuyek answered, "If so, the less you know, the better."

The mother nodded slowly in understanding, then began to speak.

"My husband... he was a simple employee for Matoi Corp. He was kind, gentle and loving, and he always made time for us despite his busy schedule. He... passed away just six months ago."

The mother's voice started to break, tears of anguish, guilt and self-loathing welling in her eyes.

"My old workplace had gone bankrupt, and we were struggling to make ends-meet without my husband's income. I couldn't pay for my son's education and our home, and if nothing changed, we would be beggars on the streets. Then my husband's boss came to me. He... He visited me one day, and offered to pay for all our expenses. In exchange, I was to... service him whenever he wanted."

The mother bitterly wept as she hugged her son tighter, as if to apologise to him for how unfaithful and tainted she had become.

"I couldn't go against him for the sake of our family, and worse, he made sure to tape every single one of our sessions. If I ever opposed him, my life is over!"

She trembled with guilt and terror, uncaring if others heard her through the door, as if the world had already ended and she was plunging headfirst into a bottomless pit from which she could never crawl out of. Toshetuyek no longer smiled, her eyes shining with a feral anger as her fists clenched tightly, despite her stoic facade.

"When things started to go wrong, he **** us, **** me to serve him with my son held hostage. What could I do against him...?"

Toshetuyek walked forward and cupped the mother's face in her hands, wiping the tears from her cheeks.

"Your tormentor is dead, as are all his lackeys," She said, "You need not fear them anymore."

"Truly?" The mother asked.

"If you want, you could check the corpses to identify him," Toshetuyek offered.

"I-I don't know, maybe I..."

The mother took a deep breath, then stepped onto her feet.

"I'll take a look," She said, her eyes hardening, "I want to make sure that old man's dead with my own eyes."

"Then follow me," Said Toshetuyek.

The mother saw the old man whom Toshetuyek had gutted like a pig, and at once relief cascaded over the mother's features, and she collapsed to her knees like a marionette with its strings cut.

"He's dead, he's really dead..."

One of the Kurohyou ran up to Toshetuyek, whispering into her ear. She nodded at him, then went to gently grip the mother's arm, bringing the mother's focus to her.

"I hate to interrupt, but we have to go soon; the police will be here, and I'd rather you don't get caught in such an incriminating scene," She said.

"I-yes, of course," Said the mother, "But first we need to destroy all the dirty videos of me he has."

"Right, but could I have a strand of your hair, please?" Asked Toshetuyek.

"But why?" Asked the mother.

"Trust me on this," Toshetuyek smiled.

The mother obliged and plucked out a strand of her own hair and handed it to Toshetuyek. She cast a spell, and the hair created wasps of light that guided her men to the aforementioned video stashes. Discs, flash drives, video tapes, not a single one was left out. They were piled in one part of the room, before Toshetuyek snapped her fingers and set them ablaze.

"Wha-"

"Come on, we'd best go now," Said Toshetuyek.

Neither mother nor son protested.

---

"I swear, if it isn't a masterful assassin killing an entire yakuza family by his lonesome, now we have to deal with coordinated attacks across different locations?" Miyoko grumbled as she massaged her head, "Not that I miss the Matoi Corp, but this goes far beyond mere **** or corporate espionage."

"You got that right, Miyoko," Okabe shrugged, "At least they're saving us a lot of work in arresting the survivors."

"Maybe," Miyoko muttered, her eyes distant.

The corruption scandal of Matoi Corporation was one of the biggest cases the country of Japan had seen in years. From the president to the Board of Shareholders and even four-fifths of its CEOs in various offices, Kobe roiled at the sheer impact this case has had on both the company's trust and the local business scene. Even now, more and more employees were cut free from abusive work conditions and their families saved from other forms of ****. If that was not enough, even more corrupt companies were implicated and their trust and credit ruined forever.

And then there were the massacres; powerful business elites who believed themselves untouchable were slaughtered like pigs no matter where they hid, both them and their lackeys and connections, leaving them isolated and alone. Fearful executives pleaded for mercy, willingly surrendering themselves to the police and testifying in court to save their lives in exchange for jail time.

Yet even prison was not enough to save them; prisoners murdered them in their beds, and rumors flew that the guards themselves were in on the whole thing.

"Detective Miyoko, Ma'am," Officer Shoko said, "We found the body of Ayama Montaro in the safehouse."

"Ayama Montaro, CEO of the Kobe branch office?" Asked Miyoko.

"None other," Said Shoko, briefly blanching before continuing, "He was... cut open like livestock, his guts were everywhere on the floor."

"Ugh, that is a nasty way to die," Okabe commented, "Whoever killed him must've really had it for him, eh?"

"Could be, or he's sending a message," Miyoko said, "Either way, it looks like Matoi Corp's finished for good.

"That it is, Ma'am," Shoko smiled, "I'll head back to the safehouse for now."

"Of course," Miyoko nodded.

Yet Miyoko felt extremely unsettled by the recent turn of events.

Her mind once again thought of Elwur, and she could not help but suspect he had a hand in this whole thing. Whether he was the ringleader, on the other hand, remained a matter for debate.

_Elwur... just who are you?- - - - - -

_

"Are we far enough now?" Asked Toshetuyek.

"Yes, Milady, we will be reaching our safehouse soon," Said the driver.

"Good," Said Toshetuyek, "Let me know once we reach there."

"Yes Milady."

Toshetuyek then turned to the mother and son pair, the former covered in a thick coat that kept her warm.

"Thank you for rescuing us from that place," Said the mother, "If not for you..."

"Don't mention it," Toshetuyek smiled, "That reminds me, I don't know your names."

"Oh, right. My apologies," The mother scratched her cheek sheepishly, "I'm Matsuyama Fumie, pleasure to meet you. This is my son, Hisahsi."

"Please to meet you, onee-chan!" The boy cheerfully greeted.

"Always the cheery fellow, isn't he?" Toshetuyek giggled, "As for me, I'm Toshetuyek-ra-Kamun, Headmistress of the Kurohyou of Roshuk."

"T-Toshe... Sorry, it's a bit difficult to pronounce," Fumie bowed her head slightly.

"It is fine," Toshetuyek shrugged, "If you want, you can call me Tansho."

"Nice to meet you, Tansho Onee-chan!" Hisahsi greeted.

"So, pardon my curiosity, but if I may ask, what made your people act like this towards the Matoi Corporation?" Asked Fumie, "As far I know, I don't think they even heard of you."

"You're right in that we don't know them either, at least on a more business level," Toshetuyek nodded, "What I can say is that a certain someone - call him a longstanding partner - requested that I bring down the Matoi Corporation."

"And this... partner, why did he request it?" Fumie asked cautiously.

"He never told me," Toshetuyek shrugged, "But I suspect it's because someone he cares about just so happens to be working in Matoi Corp as an employee."

"How do you know?" Asked Fumie.

"It's the only explanation I can think of," Toshetuyek answered, "He's a very private man, and has very few people he truly cares for. And for those few, he'd willingly turn all the heavens and hells upside down to rescue them from ****. That's the kind of man he is. In fact, when he approached me for help, he willingly paid me half a lifetime's worth of owed favours just to get me to do this."

"And... you accepted it?" Asked Fumie.

"Well, a group as small and weak as Matoi Corp are like ants to me," Toshetuyek casually waved off, "Though you could say I also had my own reasons for doing this."

"I see..." Fumie trailed off.

"Milady, we're here," Said the driver.

The unassuming car pulled up to a single two-storied house that looked no different from other houses in the local neighbourhood - anonymity being their best defense.

"Come inside; you both need a bath and hot food," Toshetuyek offered.

Who were the Matsuyamas to refuse such generous hospitality?

---

Fumie appreciated the feeling of hot water running over her skin, washing away the soap and accumulated filth of half a lifetime. She scrubbed her own son Hisahsi with motherly care, indulging in his clinginess towards her despite being close to eleven years old.

"Mother?" Asked Hisahsi.

"Yes, son?" Asked Fumie.

"Is it over...? It's really over this time?" Hisahsi asked again.

"Yes, it's finally over," Fumie smiled.

"No more inviting those bad guys to our house?" Asked Hisahsi.

Fumie's smile cracked slightly, yet she smiled and said, "No more bad guys."

"That's great. I'm so glad..."

And Hisahsi broke down in the bathroom, hugging his mother tightly as he cried his heart out. Months of having to live with her mother giving up her body for the sake of their family, to provide for his education, their house and amenities, finally ended by one single assassin's contract. It was a dream come true in the best way possible, as if it were a TV drama with a happy ending.

All Fumie could do was comfort him and be the mother he so desperately needed to share his pain with.

Once they were done bathing, they were provided a fresh set of clothes by the house attendants - more Black Panthers disguised as housekeepers - and a fresh hot meal of rice, fried karaage and veggies was prepared on the dining table.

"Eat," Toshetuyek offered.

The Matsuyamas dug into their meal with gusto, while Toshetuyek ate her meal with the monastic grace of her imperial upbringing - slow, measured, elegant and dignified.

"So tell me, Fumie," Said Toshetuyek, to which Fumie looked at her, "What do you plan to do, now that you're free?"