Mikuru couldn't go back home now. She was going to this man's house. She needed to see just what the hell she was getting into.
"4-191-1 Meiki, Nagoya..." she mumbled, walking down the street. The building that address belonged to was a simple brick apartment with granite steps. Nothing more. She stared at the building inquisitively, taking everything in.
A beeping noise brought her back to reality. It was her cell phone. She pulled it out of her pocket and flipped it open, unhappy to see that all it was doing was alerting her of the news story she had seen before. She shrugged, deciding to read it again. She hadn't gotten the full story before. "A well-known Nagoya jewel thief was found dead in his home this morning by local authorities," she read only loud enough for herself to hear. "The police say that it was the work of an assassain, a man known only by "Yaseppochi..." How weird."
"If you want to go in, Sanaka-san," a voice said as it walked up, "you have to enter the doors." Mikuru glanced over her shoulder. It was that man again. Kakashi.
"Who the hell are you?!" she shouted, turning to face him.
"Let's go in my apartment," he responded, pointing to the entrance. "Then I'll explain everything."
"Why does it have to be in your apartment? Why can't it be out here, in the open? Where they are witnesses in case you FREAKING RAPE ME?!" The words "freaking rape" made half of the bustling crowd on the street stop and look at the two. Kakashi said nothing, staring at her.
"I'm not wanting anything like that!" he responded in a stern tone a few minutes later. Mikuru responded by folding her arms, looking at him suspiciously. "I can't tell you outside. I might lose my job. Come in. You don't even have to stay for long."
Mikuru rolled her eyes, and uncrossed her arms. "Okay, I'll give you a chance," she said quietly. "But I'm keeping my distance."

The two said nothing as they boarded the elevator and made their way to the third floor, and Apartment 108. As Kakashi unlocked the door and fumbled for the key to the deadbolt, Mikuru rung her hands nervously. What was he going to do as soon as they got in there? Would anybody hear her if she screamed? Was it too late to back out?
"Would you like some tea?"
Kakashi's voice was startling. Mikuru looked out of the corner of her eye and quietly responded, "if you don't mind."
"Not at all."
Kakashi nodded and headed to the kitchen. As he did, Mikuru closely studied his house. A simple white couch, recliner of the same colour, and a coffee table were all that made up the living room area. Off to the side was a dark cherry bookshelf, packed with books of all various sizes and hues. The only other things visible were the kitchen and a door, which Mikuru assumed to lead to the bedroom.
After her examination of the apartment, Mikuru decided to sit on the couch; the right side, still keeping an eye on the man.
"As the water boils," Kakashi said as he came back from the kitchen, placing a plate of wafers on the coffee table. "We should get introductions out of the way."
"Well, you know my name...but what about your's?"
Kakashi smirked underneath his mask. "Patience, dear Sanaka-san...I'll tell you in due time...which is now." Mikuru raised her eyebrows, shooting him a "get this over with" look. "My name is Hatake Kakashi...and I'm in the business of v—" The two's heads snapped towards the kitchen as the tea kettle's whistle echoed through the tiny flat. "I'll be right back..."
Mikuru smirked as she watched the man pour the tea into two small cups. Saved by the whistle of the tea kettle, it seems, she thought. A few seconds later he came back, the two cups in hand. He placed one in front of Mikuru, the other he kept in his hand.

"You were saying?" Mikuru said curtly, looking down in her cup. She almost didn't trust it.
"Ah, yes...as I was saying, I'm in the business...of vigilantism."
She blinked wildly and questioned, "vigilantism?"
"That's right. I'm employed by Nagoya police to shoot and kill any criminals that they cannot apprehend."
Mikuru put her cup on the coffee table and got  up, pulling her denim skirt back down. "Well, sorry to say," she said, "I haven't done anything that's considered illegal."
"No Sanaka-san, that's not why you're here." Mikuru responded by frowning and sitting back down.
"Okay, but what exactly am I perfect for?"
"Well...I need an assistant. My last three have...graduated, I guess you could say."
"And you want me?"
"Correct, Sanaka-san."
Mikuru sat quietly, thinking. She then said, "how do I know you're for real?"
"Hmm?"
"How do I know that you're REALLY employed by Nagoya police? That this isn't just some kind of crazy idea you've concocted in your brain to bring in little teenage girls that—" Before Mikuru could finish, Kakashi pulled out his badge and put it on the couch, nudging it towards her. Untrustingly, she picked it up and looked at it carefully. It gave his name, his address, his height, weight and gender. Emblazoned on the top was "NAGOYA POLICE," and to the left was his picture.   "So wait," she then said, handing back his badge. "Are you paid to kill these people?" Kakashi simply nodded.  "T-T-That's kinda like...the yakuza!" Mikuru jumped up again, pointing at him. "You're yakuza?!"
"No, Sanaka-san!" he yelled. "Now calm down! Let me explain!" She sat back down, watching his every move. "I shoot and kill any fugitive that the Nagoya police is unable to arrest. Most of the time, it's thieves. But I do deal with some murderers. It is one hundred percent up to you if you want to do this or not...I'm willing to give you half of my pay."
Mikuru looked over to him, a concerned look on her face. Then, he pulled an envelope out and placed it in the same area that he placed his badge moments earlier. "Go on."
Mikuru slowly pulled it toward her. The envelope was already open, all she had to do was open the flap. Inside was a simple, light blue check. The amount was a figure that Mikuru had only seen in math class a couple of times. Atleast six digits. And much like Kakashi's badge, this too said "NAGOYA POLICE" on top.
"Is this per month?" she asked.
"Per hit."
Mikuru looked at him stunned. She shook his head and put the check back in the envelope, handing it to him. "N-No, I couldn't do that. I wouldn't feel right."
"Sanaka-san," Kakashi replied with a somewhat stern tone. "I don't have a need for all this money. I live comfortably, even on half."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure!"
"Okay..."
Kakashi nodded and added, "if you do decide to do this, let me know when you do. If not, just don't even speak with me again. I can take a hint. Now that I've said all this..." Mikuru fell silent again, thinking. Her main thought was simple: why her? If it was because of experience, she didn't have any. If it was because she was smart, she was a B-average student. If it was because she was pretty, she certainly didn't see it.

A part of her wanted to. She almost never had any excitement in her life. And to right the wrongs of the criminals of Nagoya...and her father. Her father died in vain, because somebody wasn't willing to work for their fortune; they wanted to steal it instead.
"I'll do it," she said, quickly and sternly. Kakashi looked at her stunned. He actually didn't expect this young girl to say yes. She had her whole life ahead of her. And the risk...the risk was so great.
"Are you sure?"
"Of course. I have my reasons..." she dropped her head slowly and added, "reasons I don't feel like discussing."
Kakashi nodded. "Would you like some dinner before we start? There's a ramen bar down the road..."
"That'd be nice," she replied, getting up off the couch once again. Kakashi got up a few seconds later, taking the cups back to the kitchen. "Sorry for not drinking any."
"It's all right," he responded. He came back and opened the door to the apartment, motioning for her to go through. "After we eat, we'll get started on your training."
As Mikuru walked through the doorway, she smiled and answered simply with, "sure thing, Hatake-sama."