I wake up the next morning, for once excited to start the day. I get paid and can contact an informant, who according to Ramon Mathews, is the best ever. Then, I smell something. Something good. I walk out into the small kitchen to find Isa cooking eggs.

"Oh! I-I hope you don't mind. I made breakfast a-as a thank you."

I smiled. An actual smile, not the smirk I usually wore. "It's fine. You didn't have to make breakfast."

"B-but I wanted to."

"Then go right ahead."

We sit in silence as Isa finishes the eggs, Isa probably concentrated on not messing up the food, and me thinking about the informant. I'm so deep in thought that I almost don't notice Isa placing a plate down in front of me.

"I hope you like it," Isa says, and I notice she didn't stutter this time.

"Thanks, I'm sure I will," I reply. People would think that I'm not polite, since I'm an assassin, but that's not true. Just because I kill people, like I said before, I still have morals and values.

We start eating, settling into a slightly awkward silence. Suddenly, Isa breaks it. "I'm going to look for a job today. Just one to g-get me on my feet."

"Okay, I'll give you directions so you don't have to wander around this part of the city for long."

"Thanks."

"No problem. Also, you can stay here tonight, but you'll be alone, because I have some business to attend to at midnight."

"Thanks. But, c-can I..."

"Can you what?"

"C-can I-I come with you?"

"Come with me? Why?"

"B-because," Isa said, her voice lowering, "I'm afraid of being a-alone." I could tell she really was, because her stuttering made a reappearance.

I thought about her question for a minute. On one hand, I was going to meet a gang leader, which while not dangerous for me, could be for Isa. On the other hand, Isa looked to be on the verge of a breakdown, just from thinking about being alone. Even after knowing her for once a few hours, I still felt a strange urge to protect her. "Okay," I finally replied. "You can come, but it'll be dangerous."

"That's okay. I really don't care, as long as I'm not alone in the d-dark."

I could tell that she had gone through a traumatic experience, to make her so afraid, so I didn't press her for more. "If you're going to come with me, you'll need some basic training. I don't want or need you getting hurt because of me. Let's finish breakfast and find I place to train."

"Okay."

We finish up quickly, and I grab some equipment and lead Isa to an abandoned warehouse. Well, almost abandoned. I do the special knock, and the door opens.

"Scarlet! I haven't seen you in ages! What are you doing here? And whose your friend?"

I turn to Isa. "Isa, this is Ced. Ced is like my adopted dad. He took me in after my parents died when I was 14. Well murdered, actually. He found me, and raised/trained me. He used to be a gang leader, but his gang was kind of weak. Now he runs an underground fighting ring. Ced, this is Isa. She saw me on a job last night, but it turns out she's homeless and doesn't really have anywhere to go, so she's staying with me."

Ced grins at me and Isa. "Nice to meet you. I'm surprised Scarlet let you get this close to her. She's usually pretty cold hearted. Anyway," he said, turning towards me, "you didn't answer my first question. What are you doing here?"

"Well, Isa wanted to come with me tonight while I collect my payment, but she's unprepared. I was hoping we could use your training room?"

"Of course, you're welcome here anytime."

"Thanks, Ced."

"No problem."

I lead Isa to the training room. It was filled with punching bags and smelled strongly of the cheap cologne or perfume the contestants wore. I turned towards Isa to see her looking around the room. A second later she looked at me.

"Ced d-doesn't seem like much of a criminal," she almost murmured.

"I know. But believe me, he can be scary as hell if he wants to be. His gang was weak, but he wasn't. Anyway, on to training. Do you know how to throw a punch?"

Isa shook her head.

"Okay, so first, make a fist. Thumb on the outside, make sure it's not covering your knuckles." Isa followed my instructions, making a perfect fist.

"Good. Now, to punch, bring your arm back and thrust forward. Like this," I say, demonstrating in slow motion. She copies me.

"That's great. Now do it in regular speed. Hit me in my stomach." At this, Isa looks at me, worried. "Do I really have to hit you?" She asks.

"Yes. Don't worry about me. I can take hits. I've been through way worse than a punch." Isa still looks reluctant, but entirely punches me anyway. I tense up my muscles, but I still grunt when she hits me.

"Damn girl, you can punch." Isa blushes a little, a small smile on her face. "Thanks."

I set her to work on a punching bag, after wrapping her hands in boxing tape so she doesn't bust a knuckle. I stand next to her, critiquing her punches until she's got a solid right hook.

"You've been doing great. A real natural at this," I praise, and Isa blushes again. "We've been working for about two hours. Let's take a break," I say, grabbing two bottles of water that I brought, handing one to Isa. We sit down, and I give her pointers on self defense moves.

"If you get captured by a guy, get his balls. Punch them, kick them, knee them, doesn't matter. It's a guys weak spot, and hitting them will give you enough time to run away. If you can't do that, go for the shins or knees. A good kick to either hurts like hell." Isa nods, taking this in.

"If it's a girl," I continue, "You can do for the knees and shins the same way, or get her in the boobs." Isa snorts, and I smile, happy that she seems happy. "It sounds funny, but let me tell you from experience, getting boob-punched is very painful."

After our break, I suggest we work a little bit on weapons. Isa agrees. "I won't give you a gun, since it can be hard to fire some of them, but you should have a knife. It's pretty easy to stab someone. If I'm out on a job, I keep a couple on my belt. For you, I'd suggest one on a leg strap." We work on the different ways to hide a knife, how to pull it out, and how to avoid getting stabbed by one. We break for lunch, before continuing to train. Finally, it's around 5, and we head back to my apartment, to eat and get ready for tonight.