'This is the best.'

And it all belonged to him and all to him for many nights that would come. He didn't care if he lost out on the race to find the killer. He had achieved a greater trophy that no one else could.

Only he knew how much he had craved for such warmth in his past life. He was driven to madness even to the point of talking to his own 'ninjato' for company. After all, both he and his ninja sword were tools. Klautz had thus felt a certain sense of familiarity with his own sword.

"Mhmm,

" Verona squeaked in her sleep. Klautz could only imagine what kind of dream she had.

Had Verona been awake, Klautz wouldn't have felt so comfortable acting like a child.

As Klautz snuggled and comforted himself on her racks, he felt his body got heavier. His eyes drooped as the heavenly experience caused him to forget all of his worries.

*Hoot* *Hoot*

The sound of the nocturnal birds as if called out to Klautz to wake up. Klautz's eyes shot out awake as he was driven back to reality. He pulled himself away as he wiped off his sweat.

"Damn, this is bad. Almost fell asleep,

" saying so Klautz slept beside Verona instead of on top of her as his pupils shook.

The comfort that he felt was enough to drive him to sleep. He was supposed to stay wide awake and be on the guard, not the other way round. For threat was looming in every corner of hell.

'How many years have passed since the last time I slept?' Klautz thought.

Klautz had no recollection of the event. He had been spending his nights in his meditative state ever since he was promoted to a rank C ninja. When did he actually begin doing so? He had forgotten. But it had been a key to his survival.

Fortunately, his meditative state was effective enough to prevent his brain from getting dried out. Had it been someone else he would have died in a month!

Klautz turned around. Verona's sleeping face came to his view.

'Maybe someday I too would be able to sleep in peace. Someday…' Klautz thought as his lips arched into a wry smile.

That 'someday' wasn't coming any time soon. At least not today when there was a homicidal killer on the loose.

***

Klautz hadn't slept the whole night. He kept away from Verona too for fear that her silent lullaby would draw him to sleep.

He was waiting for the sun to rise. With the rise of the sun his promise would be fulfilled. He was a man who is used to see through his missions to the very end.

He bent over and kissed Verona on her forehead after which he shook her awake.

"Verona, wake up!

" Klautz screamed.

Her eyelids twitched, as little by little they pulled open creating a blurry image of Klautz for her.

"Wait!

" she screamed as her body jerked as she pulled herself away.

Klautz tilted his head in confusion.

Finally looking left and right, Verona breathed a sigh of relief as she held onto her head.

"Sorry, I thought I was dreaming.

"

Verona still hadn't got used to Klautz's presence. It would indeed take her some time to digest everything that had happened so far. The day before was literally a mess for her and so was for Klautz.

"It's okay,

" Klautz continued.

"And… I kept my promise. I stayed beside you throughout the night ensuring your safety. But now I have to go… sorry. I have something important to do.

"

Verona smiled.

"No problem,

" She leaped on him and left a peck on his lips.

"But come back once you are done okay?

"

Klautz nodded as he got off the bed.

*Swish*

Pulling open the door he walked out, but not before he gave one final glance towards her.

"Take care.

"

Verona smiled.

"You too,

" she said.

With a nod he left.

Klautz's aim was simple. He was not even aware of these murders before. So he had to plunge and steal information for those who had it. For a ninja like Klautz this kind of job was as usual as breathing.

'But I have very little time.'

Klautz had about an hour or so to plunge in and get any sort of information.

'Hopefully most guards would be busy early in the morning making my life much easier.'

With silent steps carrying almost no presence Klautz walked through the corridor heading straight for Gozoto's cabin.

***

"Dammit nothing yet,

" Gozoto screamed as he plunged his dagger on the table.

*flick*

It stuck on the register where he had just written a new name. Till the day before the number of names had always been an even number but today it was odd.

Gozoto had no idea that Klautz had already slipped inside his room. He was hiding behind a rack of shelf constricting himself in a small space. His heart had slowed down, his breathing was silent. There wasn't even a speck of his presence in the mess of a room.

Someone else might have suffocated in such a state. But Klautz was used to fitting himself anywhere to the point of twisting his tendons in weird angles.

"Damn! EVeryone is slacking off,

" Gozoto claimed as he moved around with a hand on his hips.

He couldn't sleep the whole night last day the same as Klautz. While Klautz had done it out of habit he kept awake because of worry.

That is when the clock struck six. And Gozoto knew he had to go.

'I hope no one dies today.' He thought.

The deaths both at the drill and at night had proved to be a headache. With more deaths it would be harder and harder to hide the whole matter from the 'Residents'.

*Bam*

***

Author:

Creation is hard for authors. Cheer me up with your power stones.

Let me know about your thoughts on the chapter in the comments sections.