And so, two weeks passed, and Hongjoong's life took up a routine rhythm as things swiftly turned back to some semblance of normal. He'd go to training sessions four times a week, then visit the gym with San whenever he wasn't. At training, he would do a variety of things. One day he'd be working on the pads with the others, other days they'd practise sparring, and sometimes they'd have sessions focused on utilising their Magik in fights. Hongjoong felt himself improving, and judging from the results of some of his sparring matches, he definitely was. Just the other day, he had even managed to beat Robert (though Hongjoong himself didn't particularly count it as a victory because he had only just managed to push the half-holin out of the ring).

Seonghwa had been getting busier lately, and was not at the training sessions often, meaning Hongjoong would have to face the other assassins alone. At first it had been mortifying, and extremely awkward, but as time passed, even the other assassins began to warm up to him, realising that he wasn't a privileged brat as they had first assumed Hongjoong to be.

"Hey," Eli had said coming up to him one day, "I'm just here to say I'm a bit sorry for how we all acted to you at first. You're not as bad as we thought."

Even Hyungseok had grown less aggressive.

Hongjoong had also started receiving lessons on handling and using guns. He knew why, of course, and a sick feeling would curdle inside him whenever his mind strayed to that reason, but he tried to deny it. He wasn't ready for that.

The day was Sunday, and the time early in the morning. Hongjoong and the other Cherries assassins (minus Seonghwa) had just finished warming up. Instructor Sayan had been called in to sort out some problem, so they had some time to themselves.

"So I guess Seonghwa's a no-show again," Hyungseok said bitterly. Though he had toned down on any outright bullying (if you could even call it that), he still kept up a passive-aggressive tone whenever he spoke with, or about Seonghwa or Hongjoong.

"He's probably off doing a job for Big Grey," Eli said, sighing. "Like always."

"What's the matter?" Hongjoong asked.

"Well..." Boram started hesitantly.

"It's just that they call us 'assassins', but we're never sent to, well, assassinate anyone," Seolhyun finished for her. "We've never been sent to kill anyone, unlike Seonghwa, who's always off doing jobs for Big Grey."

"All we're ever used for is fighting in gang wars," Robert added.

"Gang wars?"

"Yeah. Over territory and stuff," Eli shrugged. "It may not look like it, but there's a lot of bad blood between a lot of and certain gangs. Take High-End, for instance. They're one of the more powerful and rich gangs, and I think Big Grey has some kind of personal grudge against their leader, Sebastian Yoo."

"Just a couple of months ago," Boram piped up, "we were at war with them, actually. We were the main combatants."

"Which is why we can't help but hate Seonghwa a little," Seolhyun explained. "He's always doing the 'important' things, being called Big Grey's favourite, whilst we're left to fight petty wars over land."

"Oh," Hongjoong said understandingly, his eyebrows furrowed in sympathy for his fellow assassins. "I didn't realise."

"That's why we kinda hated you at first as well," Robert said. "You were a demon, and you know how much Big Grey obsesses over them, so we thought the same would be with you."

"Ah."

Just then, the double doors swung back open, and Instructor Sayan returned, followed by none other than Park Seonghwa himself. Upon spotting Hongjoong, he gave a little smile and small wave, and Hongjoong waved back welcomingly.

"I'm sorry for disappearing for so long," Sayan said as she walked briskly into the room. "We'll do some sparring today. Any volunteers?"

There was silence.

"I guess I'll have to choose myself then. Hongjoong, Seonghwa – you're up."

Hongjoong's eyebrows shot up, and he looked to Seonghwa questioningly. Me?? Against you?? his expression seemed to say. Seonghwa shrugged and made his way to the centre of the ring.

"Rest in peace," Eli whispered to Hongjoong as he gulped and made his way into the circle as well.

"You know the rules," Sayan said. There was a loud beep.

Seonghwa's Dark Energy sputtered to life as he lowered himself into a guarding stance, swirling about him in a tornado of black and lilac. Though he had been smiling just seconds before, his expression had hardened, eyes focused, and the aura about him, his whole demeanour, changed. He was no longer the soft, gentle friend Hongjoong had come to rely on and look to for guidance; he was the brutal killing machine that everyone had come to fear.

Hongjoong swallowed, and gathered his own focus.

Seonghwa always likes to finish things quickly, Hongjoong thought as he adjusted his stance. He always aims to use only one or two bullets when he kills, so he'll probably attack with full force straight away. And that meant he'd have to be quick and alert.

"Begin," came Sayan's measured and controlled command.

BEEP!

As expected, Seonghwa immediately jolted into action. Almost as soon as the unseen machine signalled the start of the match, a flash of lilac arced towards Hongjoong, fast, powerful and deadly. He knew there was no blocking this. Using his own Dark Energy to speed him up, he ducked, barely missing the dart of lilac that shot across the air above him, and began to sprint forwards. Keeping his body as bunched up as possible, he weaved and dodged as all the while he tried his best to reach Seonghwa.

A searing pain flared in his shoulder and he bit his lip, tightening his fists to lessen the pain. It wasn't very effective, but it prevented his focus from wavering.

Another round of quick-fire attacks sped towards Hongjoong, somehow seeming faster than before – perhaps strength had been traded for speed.

Even with a boost from his Dark Energy, Hongjoong wouldn't be able to dodge all of those at once. Besides, maybe using his Dark Energy to block might end up benefiting him in the end; using it actively would make counterattacking quicker, and easier.

He decided to change his course of action.

Skidding to a stop, he let his Dark Energy assemble, little blue wisps bloating to the size of thick ribbons. As the lilac spears reached him, ice blue shot up in front of him; a legion of sentinels with only the purpose of self-sacrificing protection. Hongjoong felt the impact jar his bones, but he forced himself to concentrate. As barrage upon barrage of attacks relentlessly pummelled against his defences, he waited for a chance.

But no chances came.

Long-distance attacks would never work; the other demon's defence was almost perfect, and he preferred long-distance attacks – Hongjoong would clearly be at a disadvantage. Close-combat, if executed well, could give the inexperienced demon, however, an edge. That didn't necessarily mean Seonghwa was bad at hand-to-hand combat...but Hongjoong had been going to the gym and working out these days – he'd buffed up – so he could potentially give himself an advantage.

Besides, standing around metres away and just blocking wasn't doing much, was it?

Hongjoong reverted to his old plan, and lurched forwards, only this time his Dark Energy was thick enough to protect him. He sprinted forwards, his path punctuated by leaps and jumps and ducks and rolls to the side wherever necessary as he engaged in a ballet dance of life and death. Well, life and death, had it been a real-life fight.

It felt like an eternity before he finally found himself anywhere near Seonghwa.

He raised his eyes, seeing his target right in front of him, and a moment of indecision swept over the little demon. What should he do? He was used to looking up to Seonghwa thanks to his short stature, but right now, he felt like he was looking up at an impossible height, a towering mountain he had no hope of scaling. What should he do?

Of course, Seonghwa took this chance.

Hongjoong felt the rush of power coming before he saw it. Instincts took over, his arms and pillars of ice blue leapt up in front of him, and he screwed his eyes shut as he waited for the attack to make contact.

The impact was immense.

Hongjoong felt himself being blasted backwards, and his backside scraping against the floor. It certainly hurt, that was one thing. He hadn't expected it to be that strong.

Groaning, he gingerly got back to his feet, expecting another barrage of attacks, but Seonghwa stood still, an almost triumphant smile playing on his lips. Hongjoong stared back, confused and prompting for an explanation. Seonghwa merely indicated with his chin to the floor, and Hongjoong's eyes followed his. He saw a plain, curved purple line staring innocently up at him, and his feet on the outside of it.

Oh.

He was outside the ring.

Seonghwa laughed (much to the shock of the other assassins) and made his way over to Hongjoong.

"Well done," he said, patting Hongjoong's back. "You've improved a lot."

"I have?" Hongjoong asked, feeling his back. His hand came back dry – the floor didn't seem to have scraped off the skin or clothes, at least. "It didn't feel like it – I barely even touched you."

Seonghwa shrugged.

"But the way you move, your tactical way of thinking, it's all much more natural."

Hongjoong didn't quite understand what Seonghwa meant by that, but he decided to go along with it.

"Cool," he said, and the pair made their way out of the ring together, joining the other assassins.

"So who's up next?" Sayan asked.

"I wanna go," Eli said, raising their hand. "Robert, you're up."

"Why me?"

"Come on, we have unfinished business."

Robert frowned, and looked like he was about to persist, but Instructor Sayan gave him a look, and he grudgingly stepped forward.

* * *

The next morning, Hongjoong and Seonghwa suddenly received a summons to Big Grey's office. With a feeling of unease plaguing them, they headed out, and left San with his workout videos and Shiber.

There was a reason for their unease; last time the two had been simultaneously summoned, things had gone wrong – horribly. It was the reason why Hongjoong had joined Cherries in the first place. If not for this, he would have happily been living his life a free man, enjoying the perks of not being controlled by an evil gang boss.

But Hongjoong was an optimist – or, so, he told himself he was. His mind tended to think up of the worst scenarios whenever he was withheld information, but this time, this time, he tried his best to stay positive. His mind had latched onto some little detail, and it gave him hope.

Last time, technically, Seonghwa and Hongjoong had little to no association with each other – apart from the fact that they lived together. Big Grey had not been aware that the two were friends. Big Grey had no reason to talk to Hongjoong, a mere affiliate of Cherries, and Seonghwa, the best assassin of the gang, together. But, now, they were both assassins, both on the same level. Perhaps Big Grey had something to say to the both of them, and perhaps the rest of the assassins as well.

That was what Hongjoong hoped, anyway.

As the door swung open and Hongjoong and Seonghwa stepped through, Big Grey's almost smug face greeted them.

"Hello there, my dear little assassins," he purred as they both bowed.

"Hello, sir," Seonghwa said curtly.

"How are you both doing? Especially you, Hongjoong – how are you adapting to your new life?"

"I'm doing fine, sir. It's actually quite enjoyable," he half-lied. He wasn't enjoying being a part of Cherries, but the training sessions were...interesting to say the least. "I feel like I'm learning a lot."

"Good, good."

"Why have you summoned us both?" Seonghwa asked.

"Ah, about that." Big Grey pressed his fingers together, a little smirk dancing on his lips. "I have a, er, very special request to ask of you both."

Hongjoong swallowed. He felt an inexplicable sense of doom settling at a small corner of his mind.

"Hongjoong, you are an assassin, yes?"

"Yes, sir," Hongjoong said, his stomach already churning.

"So then? What is an assassin's job?"

"To kill people, sir. For money."

"Indeed," Big Grey agreed. "And an assassin must do their job, correct?"

Hongjoong wanted to point out the fact that pretty much all of the assassins in Cherries weren't particularly doing their job, but he kept his mouth sealed. No good would come from crossing Big Grey, even in the smallest of things.

"So, therefore, my little request to you, dear Hongjoong and Seonghwa – can you guess what it is?"

Hongjoong stayed fearfully silent, whilst Seonghwa's expression remained neutral – although it seemed to grow an inch stonier.

"I want you, Kim Hongjoong, to 'take care of' this person right here," Big Grey purred, and tossed over a photo.

Hongjoong's stomach plummeted.