His playful nature ceased, of course, it did, but the smile remained. It was very clear that Issei was a feeling a bit different before he started to glide around, mindless playing with his hair for a moment before sighing to himself. 

"While I do not want you in trouble nor in the way of what could possibly get you killed or worse, it is the only one we have at the time..."

Issei sprung up to the couch, his knees coming up to his chest as his arms wrapped around his knees. A thoughtful look on his face as he hummed for a moment, it seemed to be for a while as Nola started looking at him oddly wondering what was going on in his head. 

"You will be carrying many backup weapons with you. I don't care if it looks like you have a rifle in this car of yours, you'll be taking the precautions and so help me god if you get caught Nola, I'm telling you, I promised that wouldn't happen....and it will never on my watch."

Issei's voice was seemingly meant to be playful with the hint of seductiveness that lurked behind the wording, only if Nola knew him and she did, clearly. There was that edge, the sword that was in its sheath had slowly been coming out of its scabbard. Issei was not ready to simply let go of her, he never would be. 

Of course, a silence lingered between them as Issei's words echoed in each of their heads, Nola moreso as she wondered where this side of him had been, it was clear, he was different. More so than the time before when she had her own personal business to deal with, for a moment, it felt like they had both been through something. 

She didn't have time to analyze it any more as multiple knocks were sounded on the door, looking out at the setting sun, Issei knew what was coming and a brief pause settled on his features. His playful smirk back up as he jumped off from the couch, landing with his arms set out in front of him as if reaching out to embrace a partner of his. 

"Issei...hurry the fuck up!"

"So heavy-handed Grappler...we should really talk about that, right Nola?"

There it was again, the playfulness that lingered with him, it definitely wasn't a cover, Issei seemingly enjoyed this like it was a simplistic moment of business but it was more than that, it had to be, Issei was the one that had brought them to this moment. The dragon had led them in place of the calm man, so who was this?

Finally, stopping his glancing at the beauty that had continued to hold his interest for some time, Issei moved over to the door, opening it softly as Baki made his way in with a glance around the room and he noticed the smirk that was playing at Issei's lips. It was almost...drawing, fo a moment, Baki almost felt himself falling before shaking it away with an odd gleam of surprise in his eyes. 

"You know, I wonder what it is about you that you just don't get at times but this was certainly interesting, either way, I hope we can actually get a move on. My contact says that the time to strike will be soon, by the time we get into position, he'll be leaving...are you guys ready, do you have a plan?"

With those words, a small giggle left Issei, which drew the attention of both Nola and Baki as they continued to try and figure what was going on with him. Something was there, it lurked, it grew, and it certainly held the edge that the dragon once had...

"Nola has one, it's very risky but of course, she seems to love putting her life in such a chaotic light and I can't help but find it hot! Oh my..."

Issei didn't stop himself as he glanced at Nola giving her a not so subtle wink but once again, there seemed to be a genuine worry in his eyes. He didn't feel like this was necessary but of course, there was certainly a part of him that was longing to see what she could, it almost drove him to see how much of a sadist she...really could be. 

"Oh...excuse me, seem to have lost myself there...but let her inform you of the plan, considering she is the one calling the shots..."

Giggling to himself, Issei sat on the couch, his knees coming up to his chest as he looked between Baki and Nola with a notable amount of playfulness and a slowly setting in callous nature of what would come for those that failed against them...

With a shake of her head and another perfectly executed eye roll, Nola turned her attentions onto Baki. Of course she had caught onto Issei and his antics but there was no time to play into it. Cause time was off the essence and from the sounds of it they were going to pushing it to get things in place in time. 

Not only did she have to explain the plan to Baki but she also needed to find a wig and a change of cloths. So many things to do in such a short amount of time. 

Firstly Baki... 

Nola took a couple steps towards him, stopped and headed over towards the table in the kitchen area. Needless to say Issei room was rather nice, it resembled a small apartment. Was definitely a lot nicer than her room, all she had was a bed and a chair. Made her wonder who booked these rooms... She was caught in thought for a moment until the legs of the chair across from her drug across the floor. Baki sat down and placed his hands on the table in front of him. He interlocked his fingers together and just gave her a look. 

”Plan?” 

”Right! Okay well like I said to Issei, we are going to go with the whole decoy and ambush plan. I’m going to be the decoy.” Baki was in the process of opening his mouth, Nola noticing this raised her hand up to silence him.”I know, I know... it’s dangerous and they already know what I look like. Which is why I need a wig and some frilly dress or something. Something that isn’t me. Think you can have someone grab that for me?” 

Baki have her a nod, Nola continued. 

”I will play the woman in distress role, let’s go with a flat tire. We will make sure that the car is situated on somewhat baron road, one with some cover around it. You, Issei and a couple more guys will lay in wait and I obviously will stay with the car. If he’s like any other guy, he will stop to help. When he stops and makes his way to my car, you all will come out.” 

Baki raised an eyebrow. “You realize he probably won’t be traveling alone. He will definitely have a couple of guards with him.”

”Oh... hmm... I guess I will have to get him alone. I’ll figure it out when it comes to it, once I pull him from his guards you all need to mow down the guards.”

”Huh?”

”Shoot them...”

”Ah... yeah understood.” 

”So, need two other guys besides you and Issei. Wig and a dress... Car and guns... gather the stuff and we will meet you downstairs in about 20 minutes?”

Baki stood up from the table, nodded and promptly walked out of the room. Nola turned herself about while seated in the chair, she focused her attention onto Issei whom was still on the couch. He was still intermittently giggling. 

”20 minutes and we need to be downstairs, you ready?”

Issei's smile remained but his eyes were the one that showed the emotion necessary, seemingly dimming with the moment. Of course, he was thinking about what was to come, his time with her had been limited and for a moment he wasn't sure what was going to come next, informing Baki had been the best as he turned his head to face the door. 

"Need you ask that question?"

Once again in his voice was the playfulness but what was gone was the cool seductive tone replaced with that of the sword edge that he was known for. Issei's eyes met her eyes and finally, she would see the difference, most likely. His eyes were not lifeless, nor did they hold what he was always known for, fire. 

Issei knew that playing around had always brought him to a certain point, he loved it now, waiting and seeing, making people sweat. It was always fun, of course, not getting a reaction from Nola was also something. At best, it was an eye roll and for now, he would settle knowing that she was focused on what was coming next, the stage of their plan that involved kidnapping Sammy.

"Of course, now just don't hold back. If you sense danger you make sure that you live, alright? We have steaks to devour..."

A giggle left him again as he looked around the room, removing himself from the couch, noticing how the sun was slowly setting. It was almost time and a lot of things were about to change, it was going to be glorious, the time where people would pay for what was done to the. He shifted, his body faced her but his head towards the window with a smile still plastered there. 

"You know...I do wish to see you thrive and make a lot of things happen, like fights, bloody Sundays, and the things that we love to do. This? Well, it's planned...it's not spontaneous! That's the boring part but they tried to hurt us..."

Pouting, Issei knew that this was the part that got him, while he enjoyed blood and carnage, people hurting him or Nola was a no on his list. He doubted that they would even be able to blink before seeing what even happens next...

Issei was acting very different, he wished for the spontaneity of things to come back when even they didn't even know what was going to come next. Playing with his hair again, he jumped turning to face Nola once again who raised a single brow at him wondering where he was going with this. 

"I'm saying that they're not going to fuck with what we do again, we were having fun. They took us away from that fun and now we're going to make sure that we have fun with them!"

And it was there that the understanding came through, Issei was going to make sure that they paid for what they took from them. It was almost like they were innocent of all this behaviour, operating in secret, making sure that all plans were ready to be executed. The spontaneity they once had was turned into a cunning gameplan which had issei wondering what else they could achieve in the future...

Glancing at her with that smile still on his lips, oh it would have been clear that Issei was ready for what was coming for them, a great start to the war that would be on their hands. The sheer thought of it brought an almost pleased smile to his lips, a shiver running through the man once known as the dragon. 

"I'm ready for what we have to do Nola, we're going to make sure that we get what is owed to us, that is blood and fear."

And it would have been there that it didn't fit him but it did, the playful chaotic look, the smile, the way his eyes glistened for a moment. It looked like he was very excited to execute this plan as he jumped up and down for the rest of the time as he waited for Nola to prepare herself. 

Looking himself over, huh, well he looked fine but he would have to do something about all this red, he liked it as blood but not a colour. Shaking his head, he would have to visit a tailor soon. Plus, maybe he should take his own advice with hair, remembering that this hairstyle he had, it wasn't exactly the best...he would get it changed as well. 

“Blood.” Nola smiled. “There will definitely be plenty of blood.” 

Actually, if everything worked out the way they were supposed to, there wouldn’t be a ton of blood. There would be lots of screams and plenty of charred body parts. Whole and not whole, depending on which guy was where. It was going to be a mess, a glorious mess. The thought of it made her smile even more than she just was. 

Her twisted nature was kicking in full force as the thoughts of things to come rushed through her mind. She had lost herself for a moment, idling in place. Only brought back to reality for the noise that came from Issei direction. He had cleared his throat rather loudly, was clearly an attention getter and it worked. 

”Huh?”

She watched as his eyes shifted onto the door before locking back onto hers. 

”Oh, yeah... we should probably head down now, huh?”

Issei gave her a nod, took a couple steps past her and opened the door. He motioned for her to go ahead. “After you, princess.” Nola gave him a rather sinister glare, one that she locked into him the entire time she walked out of his room. Once past him, Nola shifted her focus onto the hallway. While behind her Issei closed the door with a rather forceful pull. 

Nola began walking, Issei quickly caught up to her. They walked down the hallway side by side in utter silence. It was as if they were both mentally preparing themselves what was about to come. Though she could only vouch for herself, truly she had no idea what was going through his head. There were brief moments she could figure it out but really she had no idea what was going in there most times. For her it was rather alluring, there was a wildcard factor about it. 

The silence continued until they got into the elevator, it was just the two of them in there. 

”You ready for this? Cause once we get in the car there’s no turning back.”

Nola gave him a smirk.

”I was born ready for this... are your ready?” 

”I am... though truth be told, I’d still rather you not be the decoy.”

”I know you’d not prefer it but it has to be me. Just make sure you take care of the guards. You do that we will be all good.”

”Don’t worry about that, I’ve got your back. Now and always...” 

Nola gave him another smile, she was about to comment further but the bell rung on the elevator, signaling the door was about to open in the bottom floor. The doors slowly opened and the pair made their way out, they walked through the lobby and out the front doors. A cool breeze blew across them the moment they stepped outside. 

She stood there for a moment, closing her eyes for a moment to the feel of the elements. It was the first time since they had gotten to the hotel that she had been outside. Was far too long for her liking. 

”Nola!”

She opened her eyes slowly to a waiting Issei whom was motioning with his head towards an awaiting car. Giving him a nod back, Nola walked with him towards the car. There was no turning back now...

Issei had actually changed, there was a thoughtful look on his face in place of the smile, though he admired Nola, the way she embraced what was coming next. He had to give it to her, she was something because of the way she was approaching this business now, it was almost enticing for him to just watch her work sometimes, shaking his head, he slid into the seat opposite her. 

For a moment, he thought about sitting next to her but that was something that he knew was something that would start a different kind of problem. A smirk played at his lips, he knew his antics were often the result of his desires, yet when he saw her bloodied, that moment back at Josies, he wished that he had been like this, a moment where he would have simply laughed....joining in, just loving the carnage that it would have been.

Issei sighed out, looking at Baki, the man was certainly one of the people that didn't seem to mind the way he was being right now. There was something about the Grappler, did he have a hidden nature like them? It would have been interesting to see for a moment there, maybe there was something Issei could do to bring it out but he was never one of those manipulative people, he believed that people unleashed that hidden part only when they wished to. They were the jailer of their beast in ways, it was a choice to be partners or be consumed by its anger. 

"You okay there?"

Shaking his head, it was only then that Issei noticed the way they were both looking at him. That thoughtful look on his face had remained, it was clear that they were worried. A giggle escaped him once again as a smirk played at his lips...

"Aww were you both worried about me, the dragon?"

Baki scoffed with a small smile playing at his lips, the grappler knew that working with Issei was going to be a monster like no other but he was ready for it and that was the thing that would continue to drive him. A desire like that, it was to work with him, to see what he was truly like. Baki heard the stories and he was ready to make sure that he knew the man. 

"No, I need payment, Nola is probably here for some kind of perverse pleasure in seeing blood..."

Issei's smile widened as he leaned forward, his eyes wide and his cheeks going red, his eyes gleamed with pleasure, he licked his lips. It was clear, the very playful nature was there but in a seemingly increasing variety. 

"Oh you should have seen her Baki, back in Josies....she was covered in blood....of course back then, I kissed her! I couldn't help myself, her in blood, the way she looked like a goddess of sacrifice, war, and atonement...it was almost like paying homage!"

Issei's eyes rolled in pleasure before Baki looked between the two for a moment, well then, Baki's thoughts were going a mile a second wondering what was up with Issei. They seemed....different, but nevertheless, he was about to address but the man playing his loving game did not stop there as a sad sigh escaped past his lips. 

"Of course...I was denied, my homage was not accepted but still, her in such a sight it is heavenly..."

Noa looked between the two, once again, Issei's antics was going all over the place. She had seen the plethora of emotions, worry, anger, playfulness and whatever this was. 

"How...did you know about my history, Baki?"

Turning his head, Issei did turn to the man, how did he know? It had only been him who knew, the only one who understood her and vice versa...

"What history? I know about your travels from New York to LA, I do my research about my employers....anything prior to business in the states is unknown to me, unless you wish to say..."

Baki arched his brow before turning away, already feeling that Issei was watching him but differently than before. Something had changed and Baki knew then, fearing these two together....it was just the beginning for him....

Nola sat there trying to put the wig on, it wasn't the easiest thing to do in a moving car and without a mirror. She needed to make sure she was able to hide all of her jet black hair under it, otherwise it would stand out like a sore thumb in contrast to the blonde wig. While tucking a few fallen strands underneath Nola chuckled after comment Baki made. Did he really think that there was enough time right now to dive into their pasts?... Let alone even just one of them. Clearly he had no idea how deep they ran.

"We definitely don't have the time nor the booze right now to jump into that. Perhaps tomorrow evening after we have sat in front of Sam's headquarter... after we watch it burn to the ground... As long as one of you all are buying of course."

Nola smiled and sat up straight, she scooted herself into the middle of the car so she was able to see herself in the rear view mirror. The wig seemed to be sitting good, looked straight... was just a matter if any of her own hair could be seen. Looking down from the mirror, Nola glanced over towards Issei.

"How does it look?"

Issei did one of those eyebrow wiggles towards her. You know, the flirtatious kind...

"Seriously? Does it look okay? Can you see any of my hair?"

"Actually..." Issei leaned forward and extended his hand in her direction, wiggling his fingers, motioning her to lean forward a bit. She hesitated for a moment. "Come here..." Slowly she leaned forward as he brought his hand towards her face. He brushed a strand of hair back from behind her ear and tucked it under the wig. "There you go."

Nola stayed there for a moment and just gave him a soft smile. "Thank you..." She leaned back into the seat then directed her attentions onto the bag sitting next to her. It was the bag she had pulled the wig out of, the bag that contained her outfit as well. Except it wasn't an outfit, it was just a coat. A rather long one, light blue with black buttons.

"A coat... really?"

Nola glanced back over to Issei then onto Baki as she knew he was the one that provided her with it and not Issei.

"I think I specifically said a dress, did I not?"

"Yes... you did but the coat is better. It's late fall now, it's brisk outside. Would be a bit odd if you were just in a dress standing outside your car, would be weird. Would be an instant red flag for me. Plus with the coat you can conceal more than one gun with ease. This is better."

Nola went to open her mouth to refute it but it did make sense. He was right... this was better.

"Okay..." She pointed at him. "I think I like the way you think."

She gave him a wink then tossed the coat over her shoulders, forgetting for a moment about the still fairly new wounds she had. A sharp pain radiated from her left side, causing her to wince in pain. Was a wince that Iseei caught glimpse of, causing him to shoot forward in his seat.

"What? You okay?"

Nola grinned the pain away then pointed to her left side and shoulder before answering.

"Bullet holes... forgot about them for a little bit there. Don't worry though, they let me know that they are still there..." She laughed once and stopped. Giving the coat a bit of a pat down, expecting to feel for another gun. One that wasn't her own... her own of which was tucked in her waistband.

"Thought you said you were going to give me another gun. Where is it, Baki?"

"They are in the trunk, I will get you another one when we stop."

"Which will be when?"

Just as she asked, the car slowed to halt.

"Now."

Baki glanced at the other playful man as Issei went unnaturally quiet, the way he seemed to be in that thought mode again. He soon shook his head as he felt himself calm down, knowing that she would be fine, this was going to be a different kind of moment, one that Baki didn't need to be here for. Of course, the man had already left the car knowing that he would need to get that gun or two. 

Issei didn't waste any time in sitting next to her, placing his hand over hers as he enjoyed the relative comfortable quietness that had eased between them. For once, Issei wasn't being playful or the chaotic sadistic man he was known for being, Here he was a friend, partner, confidant and protector. It was clear there was a worry, one that did not see to cease with a single moment at the very least. 

"Just....you know what I mean when I want you safe here, the precautions and if I see anything wrong from my position, I swear, I will flay him and that is just the beginning of what I would do to protect you, aye?"

Issei's voice went soft for a moment as he placed a hand on her shoulder and brought her into a one-armed hug. He knew that this was not the last time he would see her, she was a fighter but her wounds, coupled with the fact that she might be recognizable, it was certainly a gameplan that could go wrong and Issei, well, a lot had gone wrong in his life. Family dying, being the last of a dying breed. 

It was a single moment that had him realize something, she was the last one that knew him. No one else had even come close to knowing his story, shaking his head, he met her eyes and knew that something needed to be said but what else could be said? They did enough, they had been through this enough...looking ahead, Issei saw out the window, the celebrations were kicking off alright, they were enjoying. 

Celebrating to their downfall? That's what it felt like to the man known as Le Dragon, he felt like they thought they won, that all their problems would cease. Only this was going to be the start of a war, one that would not stop for Issei until they all laid at his feet, at the very least, begging for mercy, knowing that none would come. 

"You okay there, you've been silent?"

Her voice, as per usual broke him out of his internal monologue for the moment. Looking at her, Issei found himself smiling for the moment, knowing that she would be fine, the steely look in her eyes, one that told him to trust her. It was all that she asked or at the very least, outright stated in complex ways. 

"And...if the guns don't work, stick 'em with the pointy end..."

Laughing, both of them could only look at each for a moment as Issei sighed, starting to get out of the car as Nola reached out one final time. He knew that Baki had a second car that would just be arriving, of course, Nola still had a ways to go but this was what mattered, she would be driving this car...everything would be cleaned and it would be suitable. 

"Don't forget, we'll get our steak dinner..."

Nodding, she was right, they would be getting that after all this was done. Finally, stepping out, he didn't speak much but he knew his actions spoke all that they needed too. Finally, he stepped out, allowing Baki to get the final things done as he calmed down...this was just the start as they all knew.

The car was now void of all others, as Nola sat there in a bit of silence by herself. She could only hear the bit of chatter going on between Issei and Baki, through the slight crack of the door that had been left opened but it wasn't enough to disturb her thought process. For some reason she was both nervous and excited for what was about to come. In her head she had an idea how it was going to play out but in reality it could go in a hundred different directions.

Hell... it was even possible that they wouldn't even stop or randomly choose another route. Anything was possible.

Closing her eyes for a moment, Nola took in a deep breathe. She held it in her lungs for a moment then exhaled. This was something that she did a few times, was to help focus herself. That was until that loud slap, the one that is made when an opened palm hits the roof of a car. It made her jump just a bit, in which caused her to open her eyes.

Turning her head to the left, looking out the window, Nola saw it... him... Issei, with that playful smile on his face. For a moment she could have swore he was going to plaster his face up upon the glass and try and make some kind of ridiculous face, he probably would have if not for someone distracting him. Causing him to turn away from the window momentarily.

Nola took that brief period to shimmy herself towards the door and giving it a slight push. One that Issei felt as he turned back about to open the door the rest of the way.

"About time you come and join us out here." He gave her a subtle wink as he extended his hand in her direction.

Turning her body, she reached out for his extended hand with her right. Once he had her in his grasps he yanked her out of the car.

"Jesus..."

"No... Issei..." Issei said with a smile.

Was a smile that caused Nola to roll her eyes, yet one that caused her to smile back at him.

"You're something special, you know this?" She continued to smile but didn't give him much time to respond as she made her way towards the back of the car where Baki stood. The trunk was opened and he was head first in it sorting some stuff out, what that was she didn't know until she actually stopped at the back of the car.

It was a large duffel bag filled with all sorts of weapons.

"Look at all of those toys..."

Baki stood up with a pistol in each hand, he extended his left hand towards her. One that held a small pistol.

"'Here you go, the extra one like I promised. I know it's small but it's easy to conceal. Plus it's just an extra one... Oh and it's loaded and ready to go."

Nola reached out and took it out of his hand, she looked over it quickly then tucked it in an inner pocket within her coat.

"Hey thanks... you've got another car coming right?"

Baki nodded.

"Alright, I'm gonna need you or someone to pull a wire or two from the engine. This way the car truly is broken."

Right on cue the second car pulled up, was probably a recently stolen one. Wasn't that new but it was still rather nice looking, it would work perfect for what they needed. As it pulled up, Baki closed up the trunk on the car they were at and walked over to the bait car. Nola in the meantime turned back towards Issei, whom was the only one left over there with her.

"Everything still look in place? Do I look okay?"

Tilting his head to the side, Issei's twitched up into that of a playful smirk that could not be denied which held some odd intent. For a reason that only he knew, of course, he slid closer knowing that now was not the time for such antics but having already got into the mood, why would he waste such a thing?

"That's a question that could have many answers, all of them good and in all kinds of scenarios..."

Issei wiggled his eyebrows before chuckling in that tone of his, it seemed like he was ever so happy with this kind of development but his eyes did rake over her form ever so slightly. 

"Are you sure you want me answering that...honestly?"

Once again, Issei decided to playfully swat that question back in her face before his eyes got serious. The gleam in them was something he was not always going to deny but right now, he was sure of what was to come, she looked...different. He was used to her differently, yes, they had revealed things to one another but as always they had not had the time to simply enjoy one another, to make sure that things were as they had been before. 

His eyes drifted over to the car that was waiting for him, especially with Baki and his current planning. They would need to get these things right, a lot of stuff like this needed to be sorted, correctly. Yet they planned, all of this was kept to the letter, this was how they operated, it was fun that way and this was a spontaneous moment, one that wouldn't be denied like this. 

"Fine, you look...beautiful, enough to catch many eyes, so don't worry he'll be stopping for you, alright..."

Once more, Issei's tone switched, it wasn't the same with how it was playful, there was the edge of what would happen. Leaving her here, for a moment, he had realized, the longest they had stayed away was a month and that was due to his avoiding her, yet he wound back up in New York, he said it was to drink, yet it didn't always seem like that, it seemed a certain way to simply....deny what he had really went for back there. 

Of course, he had long since come to that conclusion. One that he wasn't afraid of, Issei made his many statements, many true, others, well, they were thoughts that had he had long since recognized as a part of himself that loved the blood on her. One that he hoped to see soon, at the very least, it would be a moment that he wouldn't forget. 

"Everything is in place....of course, that coat could use some adjusting, like discarding it, altogether but that's for another night..."

Issei's lips did twitch up into his usual playful smirk then, one that stayed in actuality as he leaned forward and brought his forehead against hers. For a moment, the peace and that bubble existed again, it was all right in the world. Then, he moved away as Baki came back around knowing something had happened...

"You ready Issei?"

The man nodded, looking back at Nola for a moment, taking her hand as he still looked with that smile of his. One that seemed to be for her and on the rare occasion, Baki. 

"You do not forget that date you owe me....steaks in Detroit, hehehe!"

Gliding away, Issei knew that the arched brow of Nola was sporting. Of course, he turned back, wondering if he would see the classic rolling of eyes but he didn't, oddly enough....huh. 

Not thinking on it, he stepped into the car as Baki and his guy drove off, this was it, the moment they had all been waiting for. Nothing was going to mess this up, at least, in Issei's book....

Nola watched as the car with Issei in it drove off, circled back around and parked off in the bush. They made sure that the car was tucked away, so you couldn't see it from the street. Goal accomplished... cause Nola lost sight with them. Was kind of eerie, it was just her... on a desolate road somewhere in New York. She hadn't been in the city long enough to actually know where she was and didn't pay attention while they were driving to get any sort of direction.

If things were to go wrong, she could be in deep shit... It was a notion that she shook off. There was no time to think on the possible negatives. It was time to get in position, time to be patient and wait.

Adjusting herself, Nola brushed out a couple wrinkles in her coat. It was a good way for her to one look a bit more presentable and two make sure she had both of the guns on her. It was just her double checking, even though she already knew exactly where the each of them were and knew they were already in her possession. It was more so just reconfirmation for her, a sense of security. 

"Alright, time to pretend to be in distress..." Nola spoke to herself in her head, while moseying her way over to the cars opened hood. She glanced in, giving it a look over. There were wires, metal things... more metal things and whatever other things. Needless to say she didn't know much about cars... hell she hardly even knew how to drive them. Come to think of it, she was actually quite suitable for this role. There was no need to pretend about not knowing much, cause she didn't know. 

With a bit of a smirk and shrug of her shoulders, Nola continued to look downwards into the the engine compartment. Only looking up when she heard the ominous sounds of a car coming towards her. Looking up with a defeated look on her face, she directed her gaze onto the upcoming car. It wasn't Sam... it was some woman, in some sort of sedan.

She half expected the woman to slow down, possibly stop and see if she needed help but this was not the case. The woman in fact slowed down just a bit, making sure to glare over towards her before driving off. For some reason this rubbed Nola the wrong way, the nerve of that woman to just bypass her like that. She took a mental note of the woman, hoping that she would run into her at some point down the road. "Fuck You!" She yelled as she watched the car drive off.

She was so in-tuned to that car and that woman that she didn't even hear the next car. It had pulled right behind her car and had stopped.. It wasn't until she could hear the slamming of a car door that she realized this was the case. Turning her head about, she glanced towards the sound. It was surely another car, this one a lot nicer than that woman's... There were three men, two of which were still seated in the car. Both of which in the front seat. They were beefy looking guys, definitely gave off the protection vibe. 

"You having some issues? Need some help perhaps?"

Nola sighed and gave the guy a nod. "Cars... I swear..."

The guy chuckled and made his way over to her. She could see him give her a look over, his eyes fixated on her form. "I'm no expert but let me have a look." He took a couple steps past her and glanced down into the engine. He looked for all of maybe three seconds before turning himself back towards her. "Yeah, looks broken to me...." He looked her up and down once more, with a look of lust in his eyes.

"Dammit... any idea what's wrong with it?"

He shrugged and stepped closer to her.

"I don't but why don't you come with me, come take a ride." He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "I will... bring you to where ever you need to go..."

Nola took a step back.

"My mother always told me to never get in a car with strangers..."

The man took another step closer to her and extended his hand, placing it on her left shoulder. It was a painful grasp as he squeezed gently on her gunshot wound. She had no choice to grin and bear it.

"Well, the name is Sam... and you are?"

"I'm Ma..." She paused for a moment, realizing she was about to give him her actual name. "Margaret..."

"Well, Margaret... seems we aren't strangers anymore." He stepped to her side and slid his arm around her, he started up towards her shoulders but quickly slid it down to her lower back and forcefully pulled her towards his car.

"I... uh..." She tried to stop but he continued to pull her. It finally got to the point that she shoved him off of her. Was an action that he didn't like, was an action that made his guards step out of the car.

"Whether you like it or not, you're coming with me. Don't make this difficult..."

Well... seems things had escalated rather quickly. Not only was this Sam guy the head of some street gang but also seemed like he was a man that took what he wanted and what he currently wanted was her... It was an advance and a line that infuriated her.

"Or what?

"I will have them forcefully take you, tie you up and throw you in that trunk. Then... I will make you mine over and over and over again... until I get tired of you then ship you off over seas."

Nola gave him a nod and a subtle smirk. She knew going into this that this guy was a dirtbag but she didn't know the extent to of. Not until this moment. It was just a matter now of how she wanted to play this... making a move right now would be hard, she needed to wait a bit. She needed to get in the car with them.

"Oh... okay..."

Sam smiled and wrapped his arm back around her, gripping her backside with a tight grip. The rage within her grew even more, advances like this, unwanted ones. Always ended badly for the person giving them, it was something that she always despised. She had killed plenty of men for less... but she just grinned and took it in stride. 

He walked her over to his car and opened the backdoor for her, Nola scooted in and was quickly followed in by Sam who closed the door behind him. He got situated then placed his hand on her inner thigh... that right there was the last straw, she couldn't restrain her rage anymore. In one motion she balled up her right fist and quick jabbed him in the face. It sent him backwards towards his door, quickly gripping his now broken nose.

Reaching into her coat, Nola pulled out both of her guns with both hands and raised them towards the front. With a squeeze of each trigger, the bullets from both guns connected with the two guards in the front. One to the back of the head of the driver and the other directly in and through the eye socket of the other guy.

Blood coated the inside of the car, sprayed all over the front windshield. It was dripping down off the ceiling and her once blonde wig was now blood red. Leaning back onto her door, Nola fixated the guns onto Sam who was cursing her out like no other.

"You fucking bitch... you're fucking dead... do you know who the fuck I am?"

Nola giggled at his response.

"You just signed your death warrant..."

Nola giggled once again and kept one of the guns drawn on him. While with the other one pulled off the wig and chucked it onto him, exposing her jet black hair. His eyes widened... it was then he realized who she actually was... he quickly got quiet.

"Actually... I think it was you that signed your own death warrant, the moment you opened fire on me... and him..."

Nola motioned to the window behind him, the window Issei was now standing at.

Issei was a man of many things, a man of pleasure, desires, money, and power. He wished for the world to realize that many things could be had this way, he knew that the way he was, he could have accomplished many of the desires that he had once lusted for.

Only when it came down to it, he was not really like that, they were dreams of an entitled bastard, one who believed that the world belonged to him.

No, he had been moulded into something different, long before his other nature could set in, long before the thought of true greed could set in.

Issei was not the man that he was once painted as, someone who lusted for that kind of thing, a power that he knew not, things that he knew not, he already many things and they cost him little each time. 

Looking at a man like Samuel, one of these people who thought that with the slightest snap of his fingers, he could have the next few women belong to him, to be what, whores? Oh if only he knew the society of the chosen, a society that was built upon honour, this was the code he had been brought up upon. Its very reaches, its claws had reached into every single place on the green earth. 

Issei knew honour and he knew when to hold himself back, yet here he was, looking at Samuel, the man was probably letting himself see what he could say, what he could do to make sure that he survived this. 

So when he had the choice of what was to come next, a questioning, one that was peaceful, one that could have ended in the simplistic desires of Le Dragon being met. Only this wasn't it, Issei couldn't maintain his once-great peace, his proclamation of loving a super-peace! Oh no no! He was ready to make sure that this was anything but peaceful.

Issei didn't waste any time, his smile remained, that eerie smile, the one that was playful and yet oh so different because the sword was out now. Issei's head tilted to the side and his eyes seemingly reflected that of a madman before a giggle escaped him. 

Before Baki could even lift a finger or utter a word to stop Issei, not that he would even think to draw that...look of playfulness unto him. Issei smashed the car window and gripped Samuel tight, dragging him out with a strength that had not once left Le Dragon. 

"PLEASE! PLEASE! ISSEI LISTEN! ET-"

Issei didn't listen, booting the prick in his face as his head snapped to the side, oh he was still alive, Issei was going to make sure of that. This was not going to be slow for Issei, bringing forth a switchblade, Issei spun it around in his hand. He stood over Samuel, the man was already looking sorry for his involvement but they all knew, nothing short of a call from Nola would be stopping him...

"Eto! She's- Issei! LISTEN FOR FUCKS-"

A punch this time, Issei's lips curled up into a sneer, his eyes were wild before he knelt down, Samuel's arms were trapped and for a moment it was thought that Issei would have made a comment. One that made him look even more demented but no, nothing was uttered from the man. 

Issei dragged the point of the blade across his cheek as Samuel thrashed, begging for the pain to stop. He couldn't handle it and all the more, Issei smiled, now he knew how he felt, how he had to witness Nola helpless, calling for him! Her blood on his hands, having to press into that wound of hers just to keep her AWAKE! THIS WAS HIS FAULT!

Issei made sure that the artistry would be seen for all. His skill with the blade wasn't to be denied, a chuckle escaped him as Samuel was close to passing out from the pain. This was just the start, this man wasn't going to die, not on his watch. Issei had plans for him, many things that would make sure that this was...seen!

"You look...amazing SAMMY! OH BAKI! DO YOU SEE IT!? Such art.....of course, nothing can be compared to that...walking piece of art right there, beautiful as ever, Princess..."

The tone of Issei was once again playful all the way through as he looked at Nola, his breath was taken as he could only look at her for the moment. She was something special at that, shaking his head, he didn't notice the sly look on Baki's face...one that promised a horrid amount of teasing for the dragon...

"He sure is Dragon. Do you want to do the final touches?"

Issei's smile did not even stop for a single moment and it seemed like he was in a state of total euphoria. Issei nodded to Baki, the grappler passed him a lighter and it was clear to everyone there what was going to happen next. Issei waited for a moment, looking at a half-conscious Sammy. 

"You're fucked! I PROMISE THAT!"

Issei nodded, he certainly was, in the head. Only for right now, that conclusion was something that would wait for now, setting it alight, Issei brought the lighter to Sam's face as the man, uselessly tried to move his head only for Issei to grip him tight and brand the fucker...in his own special way. 

"Nice to meet you, O-Eater Sammy..."

Raising a brow, Baki looked at Issei wondering what that moment, turning around to meet the man's eyes, Issei shrugged with ease with a playful smile still there. 

"Oreo eater....that's what the carve means there. Take him to the warehouse, Lola should be there, waiting. Make sure this fuck doesn't die on us but he should be fine, I've had my fun..."

Bowing his head, Issei didn't even bother to wonder if Issei was mentally well because, after this, it was an act to him. Issei had layers, yet the way they switched like it was musical chairs, it made him feel like he was watching a game with the same ten people. 

"I understand, I'll wait for you two, aye?"

Nodding his head, Issei let Baki and his guy pick up the unconscious Samuel. The man had been taken care of, for now. Of course, he was still going to die but Issei wasn't blinded by rage, that was his fun as he had said to Baki. Only he heard the things he had to say about Eto, of course, that was going to be fun to learn. 

Hearing the footsteps of the only other person that had to be here, Issei noticed the blood that covered her, for a moment he was stuck in that trance. Once again, it was like he was hypnotized, though a giggle had broken through, one that did not stop Issei from noticing as he met her eyes. 

"How was your fun?"

Tilting his head, Issei knew that she was having her own brand, there was something that he didn't hear in that tone but it sparked something as his giggle came back. His eyes hooded for a moment as he brought his finger to his lips, his eyes raking the bloodied form for a moment before he shook his head. 

"Huh...what was that? I was just so.....heh"

Issei didn't even stop there, for a moment it seemed like a repeat of Josies was going to happen again as he leaned forward only to grin in her face, his eyes on hers for a moment. There was that giggle escape, one that didn't even stop, it grew louder before the rolling of eyes came again. It was like a personal tic for Issei to do whenever she was around. 

"YOU are so....hot like that, I mean it, what a shame that we are stuck with this business of blood and fear on our hands...the homage I would have paid would have been......explosive!"

Issei didn't waste any time as he licked his lips, waiting for Nola as he walked at a slower pace, though there was a certain skip in his step. Like he couldn't even wait for what was going to come next, this was certainly going to be an interesting next few days for his group of people around him.....though next, he did turn around to wink at Nola with no small amount of appreciation for her bloodied look in his eyes. 

"Though the next time this happens, Princess Red, you covered in blood, it will be...euphoric!"

Nola hadn't even gotten out of the car while Issei was doing whatever he was to Samuel. She, herself was in her own little trance. The fury and the rage still pulsating throughout her core and she sat in the car. Her gaze directed towards the now dead guard with a bullet hole in through his eye socket. She just sat there, silent... watching the stream of blood dripping outward. For her it was like a calming waterfall, a waterfall of blood...

It was a little while that she sat there, was just randomly that she happened to snap out of that trance. Forgetting momentarily where she was at. It wasn't until she looked out to her left that she noticed Issei standing up, looking down at the unconscious body of Samuel. She watched as Baki and a couple of his guys walked over and picked him up. It wasn't until then that she stepped out of the car, slowly making her way over to where he stood.

There was a brief back and fourth then he commented on her... commented on how hot she was like that... it was a notion that she initially shrugged off. One that she initially didn't even hear. Instead she went off on her own tangent.

"Can you believe that fuck... I knew he was trash but I didn't know how shitty of a person he actually was. Makes you wonder how many women he's had his ways with over the years. It's disgusting.... Such a dirtbag, I should have shot him in the face in the car. Fuck..."

Issei chuckled at her anger, for him it was rather enticing. The more rage that filled her, the more attract she was to him. It was something that she didn't realize. Not until that chuckle. The chuckle immediately made her replay the comment in her head that he had recently made.

"Thank you though, I try and make this whole covered in blood thing hot. Perhaps I can start a new trend?"

She could see Issei eyes widen, he began to nod and smiled a rather large one. It was different than all the others she had seen from him. It was a rather contagious one, one that made her smile back at him.

"Yes! PLEASE!"

Nola gave him a wink and took another couple steps towards him and slowly walked by him. Issei turned about, she could hear his footsteps catch up to her, until he was elbow to elbow with her. She was not sure what overcame her, perhaps it was a sort of a comfort within her but she tucked her arm in the crook of elbow. 

"Hoping Baki and his guys are gonna clean that up, right? Cause lemme tell you that's a mess... that car... it's trashed."

Issei glanced down at her, with that same smile on his face.

"Oh yeah, it will be taken care of. Don't you worry... Also Samuel is now tied up and in the trunk of the other car. He will be brought to the warehouse and will be questioned."

"You mean tortured?"

"Yeah... well that too. We will be sure to get out all the information we need from him before tomorrow then he will die."

"Perfect! For now though, do we have enough time that I can run back to the hotel and shower? If not I guess I could rock the dried blood look."

"Considering that all we'll be doing next is getting every single piece of information from him, then making sure that the HQ is remove, then yes. You have the time, though...do you really have too though?"

There was a pout, Issei really didn't like the fact she was getting rid of the warrior right there. It didn't make him happy. There was a small smirk there, Issei was generally alright with what was coming so he hummed for a moment letting her know that he was okay with it, albeit, reluctantly. 

"You know....I did offer you the first poke..."

Grinning, there was that playfulness again, it didn't even seem to be missing as if it was always going to be there lurking like some unknown entity. Everything about it, Issei was willing to let it loose and right here, he was letting her know that she was still able to play the game, yet he had a feeling with the way her arm was tucked into the crook of his elbow, he found himself stunned but still playful...

Of course, it didn't stop as he continued to talk about the business at hand, which was her being able to spill more blood and how they would handle the other parties. With Samuel out of the way, things like this would fall into place, and it would leave her protected, at the very least, Issei knew why he was doing this and he stopped walking in his playfulness. 

"I'm wondering Nola, how do you wish to handle the others? Samuel...was different, a monster, yes. One that I will take great pleasure in showing what I can truly do to him, this is going to be one of the greater moments of me being Le Dragon!"

The way he licked his lips, it did not seem like this was going to bode well for Sammy. Issei looked positively demented, yet it all stopped when he looked down at her, he cupped her cheek and smiled softly. There it was, a glance at the former person he was before the cheeky grin came back with such fluidity that it would have seemed like he was a revolving door. 

"I mean...we did this, I don't want you putting yourself in harms away again but I know, I cannot really stop you from doing this. Only I want to make sure that this is something you do, ONLY if it is the last resort and if you are...like this again."

Chuckling, Issei started to walk, still with her arm tucked in his elbow as Baki watched the two as they finally approached the car, for a moment he scoffed with a simple roll of his eyes...

"If you lovebirds are done...can we get a move on?"

Issei smirked knowing that his current sword was feeling weirded out by the two, of course, he hadn't been around this side of him and he had a feeling that no one had seen this side of Nola in a long while. 

He gave his guard a smile, one that was the same as per usual, filled with chaos and playfulness, as if he could not wait to roll the dice and see what came up. 

"Oh come on, I got distracted Baki, have you seen her with blood and without!?"

Blinking, Baki shook his head, not even about to respond to that. His employers had proven to be....strange, one was clearly infatuated and the other was, well, he didn't know but there was something there, it gave him the shivers. 

"Yeah yeah! Just get in the car, alright? You and this bloodlust with her...."

Issei chuckled at Baki, letting Nola get in first as he got in after. The two drove off, with Issei telling Baki they needed to get back to the hotel for a moment. 

Nola waved off the Baki, Issei was right... there was no real need for her to clean up, there would be time later for that. First and most importantly, they needed to get to the warehouse and extract every bi of information out of Samuel as possible. Any little bit that they got would have been more than what they already had, so yeah... every little bit of detail would help.

She wasn't so much worried about his operation, an operation that come tomorrow morning would cease to exist... It was the Los Angeles group... It was the Yakuza. From her angle she knew nothing about either group, not a single iota of detail. So for her knowledge alone, anything they could get out of his would be good.

"Baki, no need for that. Let's just go to the warehouse."

Baki gave her a nod then turned his head a bit to the side.

"We are going directly to the warehouse." He spoke loud enough for the driver to hear, a driver whom gave him a nod as he understood.

Giving Baki a small smile, Nola then directed her gaze onto Issei. He already had his gaze fixated onto her with that playful smile on his face.

"What?"

"Oh nothing..."

He continued to smile at her. For a moment she wondered if she had missed something. Trying to figure it out, Nola gave Baki side eyes but the man wasn't paying any attention towards them. He was glancing out his window, seemed to be hard in thought about something. He definitely had no idea what was going on, so it must have just been something within Issei head.

"What? What is it? And don't say nothing..."

"Keeping the warpaint... it suits you well princess." He gave her a wink.

"Yeah, I kind of figure there is no point in wasting an hour to get cleaned up. Not when we have some information to extract. If we had all the time in the world than perhaps I would reconsider but right now showering isn't really a top priority."

"Sure, we can go with that. The longer you can stay just like that, the better.... So yeah... Time is of the essence.."

Nola shook her head in his direction, she could basically see the thought processes going through his head. She needed to get his mind back onto the task at hand.

"You did offer me first poke, I drew first blood instead. It's a win, win for both of us I guess." With a slight shrug of her shoulders, Nola continued. "In regards to the others, I have no idea. Haven't really thought that much about it just yet."

She really hadn't thought about how to handle the others. There was no need to, not yet at least. They still had things to finish up here in New York before they moved on. Things that could still go wrong if they weren't careful.

"To be honest, I don't think that we need to dive into anything else but what's in front of us at the moment. We still have things to do here, let's concentrate on that first before we move onto the next. Cause if we get to far ahead of ourselves, that's when bad things start to happen."

Nola leaned up towards him.

"I will do what I have to do in order to make this successful for us... if that requires me putting my life on the line than so be it. I know you want me safe and want me protected but I can handle my own. I won't put myself in a situation that I can't handle..." She was about to continue but the car came to a stop. The front doors opened as both the passenger and driver got out. They were followed by Baki whom did the same. Once out her turned back about, ducking his head into the car.

"We will get Samuel out of the back and get him situated inside. Lola is waiting inside to give him a once over and get him to wake up. Should only take a couple minutes. You two just come and meet us inside when you are ready." With that being said, he closed the door, leaving just Issei and Nola in the car.

There was a brief period of silence, one of which that caused Nola to reach for the door handle. She pushed the door opened and proceeded to get out. That was until she felt the grip onto her wrist, a grip that gave her a slight tug backwards. It was clearly Issei, as he was the only one there with her. Slowly she turned her head about, glanced down at the hold he had on her then back up at him.

"What?"

He didn't answer, just sat there looking at her.

"Issei... Either speak up or let's go."

Tilting his head, he let go of her hand, rolling his eyes this time. Well then, they really had switched roles, he didn't have a quip for this, one that didn't really matter to him like that. This called for him to be serious, he wasn't going to address her serious deathwish whenever they had things like this, for right now he nodded. 

Not saying anything else as he stepped out of the car, not at all waiting as he continued walking into the warehouse as his thoughts began to circle. It was almost like an odd moment, one that held him in this single different regard. It almost seemed amplified, she was willing to do that? Of course, he barely heard her words in the car last time.

Entering the warehouse, Issei glanced straight at Lola with that smile in place as he nodded for her to proceed. All he was doing had been that single motivation of making sure that this had never happened again, waving his head, he let Nola and Baki go on with the business as planned. As said before, he had his fun and wasn't going to let himself get involved right now at the very least. 

"You okay?"

Turning his head, he knew it was Lola and bowed his head in a small noticeable nod as he looked at the struggling Samuel. A single man that had been involved with all of this, once again, he wondered if he had always been this way, a monster. Was that the path he would have been going down? For a moment, it would have seemed like anything was possible at that moment, was he, the dragon, wishful? Yes, to the motherfucking heavens he was. 

To dream and wish was something he had done for a while and he had one now, to protect those closest to him and to make sure that no harm came to harming his precious people again. That thought, the blood, everything would have been fine if he hadn't been there to get them into this kind of life. All the while, he hadn't noticed what was coming, all of this had happened inside his head, he realized, he was inside his head too much. 

"Issei, are you okay?"

Not even noticing that Lola was still standing beside, hadn't she left already? Wouldn't that have been the better choice? Of course, he was fine, yet that mere thought was already trying to drag him quicker into his mind for lying. 

Tilting his head to the side, Issei knew what the problem was and he didn't want it to come to that as his eyes were flush with anger. It was at himself, as usual, the playfulness was still there, in that smile. Chaos was there, reigning in his mind for the moment as he tried to bring himself to a calmer solution, one that would tell him the source. 

He knew it already, what was the choice in lying to himself?

"I will do what I have to do in order to make this successful for us... if that requires me putting my life on the line than so be it. I know you want me safe and want me protected but I can handle my own. I won't put myself in a situation that I can't handle..." 

The words she spoke, putting her life on the line, for what? It wasn't right, it really wasn't. Didn't she even realize what those words were already doing? Shaking his head, he turned his eyes to meet those of Lola, she gave him a soft smile in return. 

"I will be..."

Walking towards the duo of Baki and Nola, he stood off to the side, watching the two with a genuine interest and the look of ease in his eyes. Of course, he wondered what was next as he held his hand to Baki, telling him to stop his interrogation. 

"This can be easy Sammy, you've been through enough. Just...tell us and we will make sure your family see you again, I promise...."

Sam looked into the eyes of that monster, for a moment, he didn't even know who was worse, the man who branded him like a common field animal or the one who stood there with nothing more than a smile on his face or the one with the bloodied look of a fabled monster that continued to deliver a punishment that he thought existed in hell. 

"Please, Issei! I'm begging you...just let me go, whatever you want...I don't know anything else more than Eto and Gremory-"

And it was then, issei's eyes went wide with excitement as he clapped like a man who just witnessed the end of a great play. Gremory and Eto? So...Grayfia IS dead. Sighing to himself, the young dragon calmed himself down in his playful chaos. Already knowing that he was getting ahead of himself. 

"Tell me everything about Gremory and Eto, I promise you then, only then, will your family see you again! THIS IS SO FUN RIGHT SAMMY!?"

Issei didn't even bother to let it be known the meaning of his words, he already knew the plan and so should she. This was going to be glorious and he would make sure that they won in the end, they always did.

It was rather odd that he had gripped up like that, well that part of it wasn't really the first time. Though it was what followed that was odd, the look... then the nothingness. He said nothing but in the same essence he said everything. There was apparently something in her words that she could sense didn't set well with him. For her, it was something that he needed to get over, cause everything that she had stated was true. There was no sugarcoating her thoughts... it was what it was... he didn't have to like them but she wasn't going to do something that wasn't her style. Not anymore...

As she walked through the warehouse, Baki met her at the door. He walked with her towards the center room, where Samuel sat tied to a metal chair. It was one of those classic scenes as he sat there under a giant spotlight.

"Samuel..." Baki snapped his fingers towards him in order to get his attention onto them. "Let me formally introduce you to Magnolia... better known as Nola."

Stepping up closer, catching the beams of the shining light down on her, Nola smirked as she stood in front of him. The light highlighted the dried blood splatter that was still present on her face and that blue coat she still donned. She could see his eyes looking her over from top to bottom, there was a sense of fear in those eyes. A major contrast difference from the events back at the car.

With a sinister chuckle Nola stood there and just looked at him then suddenly stopped laughing. She took a couple steps closer and squatted down in front of him, making it so she was eye level with him.

"Sam... Can I call you Sam?" She didn't let him answer before continuing. "This is quite the predicament you've gotten yourself into, isn't it?"

There was a muffled sound that came out of him, one blocked by the piece of tape over his mouth. A piece of tape that Nola promptly ripped off, causing him to tense up from the pull.

"What was that?"

"Fuck you!" He said just before spitting on her, catching her right on the cheek. It was rather disgusting, was rather degrading. This was something that she wouldn't stand for. Wiping it off with the back of her right hand, Nola stood up in the same process. She balled up her fist and threw a rather hard hook in his direction. It caught him right on the lower jaw, sending one of his teeth flying from his mouth.

"No... fuck you!"

She went to swing again but was stopped by Baki as he stepped in front of her.

"Get out of the way!"

Baki stood there and shook his head.

"He's doing exactly what you want him to do, you're blinded by your anger right now. Take a breathe."

Nola took in a deep breathe, he was right. This wasn't the way to go about this, cause if it was up to her he would probably be dead right now. She would have just kept hitting him until he ceased to exist. That wouldn't have helped their cause. She was about to speak up to him but caught glimpse of Issei coming towards them. He placed his hand onto Baki, bypassing her completely.

"Whatever!" She thought to herself.

"Seems I'm not needed here..." She scoffed in their direction before heading back to where Lola was at. It was probably about time she had those bandages changed and there was no one better to do that. Plus she may or may not need a bag of ice for her hand. The punch connected rather flush...

Bowing his head with a small turn, he didn't watch her go, for right now, as she had said, they had business to focus on. Giving the captain a small playful smirk, he made sure to motion for Baki to move forward as he stood to his feet, pacing back and forth. 

"So...Gremory and Eto, well those two have it out for me now? After all, I've provided for the two, traitorous they are, that's just...not nice, wouldn't you say Baki?"

"I don't really have an opinion, I'm just here to make sure that Sam's family sees him again, right?"

Chuckling, he was starting to love Baki, he knew when to have fun. Of course, at the expense of a man who had some very difficult time understanding his predicament. He was not going to be making plays from a seat and one of his teeth laying on the floor. 

"Issei, listen, you were supposed to be kept alive...that that BITCH! She was the one that was meant to die...alright!? Can't you understand that, there is still a home for you back with the Yakuza, we all need it, right!?"

And there it was, Issei giggled, jumping up and down with glee in his eyes as they seemingly rolled back in a pleasurable explosive moment that had him questioning everything for a while.

"SO, you kill Kiba, Jasper and everyone that means something to me...to what, show me that you control my life, hehe!?"

Raising his arms up to the side, Issei didn't stop as he started to circle the young man like a shark. He was certainly something, but of course, there was more and he was going to find it before the day was even up...

"Also...what is this I keep telling people, stop calling Princess a bitch...cause I swear...this is with the blade next time..."

Sam didn't have time to even look confused as Issei punched him, in the exact same spot as Nola. Maybe he was something of a copycat person, it seemed to be something that fit him pretty well, of course, there were those other moments as well. 

"FINE! What the fuck do you want!? I'll give you anything, just let me see my family again, alright!?"

Issei bowed his head, relaying everything he needed and Sam, for once, seemingly, listened. Nothing was stopping Issei here, he was making sure that Sam knew what this was. It was not a negotiation, nor was it a moment where the business would be performed, this was a time for him to get right with the program. 

"Eto and Gremory are going to be bunked up in Las Vegas, more than likely, where they coordinated the deaths of your friends Issei, that's all I know. The LA gangs, they were out of my reach, even I didn't know shit until the day of the hit came...alright?! That's all I know, Eto seemed closer with the LA gang leader, they seemed to have some kind of connection, I don't know...all I got was that they had it out for this Dixon family...."

Issei's face went through a plethora of emotions, for one, the playfulness was there at the prospect of this new player on the board. This was really getting interesting, Issei might have more blood to spill and a new ally to play with...

"When...did the Leader say this?"

"A few hours before we were going to be hitting you in the Burger, I got a single name by the name of Ernesto. Leader of The Saviours..."

Issei knew when new players made their presence known, if things were going to be like this, then a message would need to be sent. This made the plan to blow the cars and burn down the headquarters solid, of course, Sammy's time was up as Issei turned his head walking back to Lola and Nola. 

"You heard that....would you know any Dixon family? Seems like this Ernesto out in LA might be after 'em....maybe they have someone for me to play with and help out with our Nesto..."

Bowing his head, he didn't even notice the look on Nola's face as he looked back at Baki with that playful smile. 

"Make sure his family see him alright Baki?"

It took her a moment to grasp the words he had just spoke. It was as if she hadn't heard it until she said it back in her head. "Would you know any Dixon family?" Once the name actually registered, Nola whipped her head in Issei direction.

"What did you say?"

The look of confusion radiated off of Issei face. "I told Baki to make sure his family sees him." He leaned in towards Nola."In pieces..." He chuckled, while Nola shook her head. 

"No, before that..."

"Oh.. the Dixon family, who ever they are. We find them, they might be able to shed a bit more light on the situation."

Her eyes widened a bit as she turned her head about back towards Sam.

"I wasn't listening was that really what he had said? The Dixon family?"

Nola turned herself back around facing Issei once she finished asking him that question.

"Yup, that's what he said." He nodded while speaking. "You've heard of them before."

Nola nodded cautiously, trying to process everything. There was a major disconnect somewhere in her head, of all places her family name would be brought up, she never thought it would be here. Hell... no one here in the US even knew of her last name, at least to her knowledge.

"Yeah..."

"Great! Guess we should go find them and have a little chat, huh?"

Nola awkwardly chuckled under her breath, was a chuckle that caught Issei attention.

"What?"

"Well... you see the thing is... we don't have to go very far for that..." Nola smirked.

"Oh? They in New York?"

"One of them is..."

"Only one? Where are the others and who is here? What's their name?"

"The other are over in the UK and the one here goes by Magnolia."

She could see Issei thinking on it then suddenly he blurted out a subtle "Oh" There was another pause then he spoke up once more. "So you're a Dixon? What did you all do to piss that many people off over here?"

Nola shrugged, she had the slightest idea but she knew she needed to find out. With a turn about, Nola casually walked over to where Sam was seated. Pulling her gun out of her waistband while heading that way, making sure to cock the gun in the process. Baki once again got in her path, blocking her from him.

"Let me take it from here!"

Nola shook her head.

"Get out of the way Baki."

He shook his head and stayed put. Nola only had one option, one that she seemed fit in her head. There was no way that she was going to be able to physically move him so there was only one option. She raised the gun and pointed it in his direction.

"Baki... move! If I have to ask you again I will shoot you, don't make me shoot you."

He raised his hands up in front of him, Nola could see him gazing past her. Probably onto Issei, before looking back onto her. He stepped to the side, Nola followed his moves with the gun until he was out of her sight. Once he was gone, she aimed the gun towards Sam.

"The Dixon family, what's the significance?"

Sam laughed. "Fuck You! Kill me! I won't talk."

Nola stepped closer and pressed the tip of the barrel directed on his forehead.

"I won't hesitate to pull the trigger, don't fucking try me!"

Sam laughed again and pushed his head into the barrel harder. "Do it, Bitch! Fucking do it!"

Nola pulled the gun off his forehead, causing Sam to laugh a bit louder. "Just as I thought!" Nola gave him a smirk then shoved the gun into his crotch. Instantly Sam's eyes widened, he went quiet.

"Shooting you in the head is way to quick, I think I will shoot your manhood off first." She pushed down on it, causing him to squeal. "Someone has gotten rather quiet, you're all bark and no bite. Huh?" Nola giggled. "I'll ask you again and if I hear anything other than an explanation, rest in peace little guy." Her eyes glanced down then back up towards him. 

"Alright... alright.... It's payback from Ollie..."

"Ollie? Who the fuck is Ollie?" She pushed the gun down harder.

"OLIVE! OLIVE!!!!"

Nola gave him a nod and slowly removed the gun from his crotch. "Oh... that wasn't so hard, was it?"

"You're gonna fucking die, I hope you know this..."

Nola giggled once again, her face went blank then she turned the gun about in her hand. She turned about then swung the base of the gun towards Sam, connecting once again in that same battered spot. The force of the hit knocked him unconscious, making him slump over in the chair. 

"Not before you will!"

She gave his lifeless body a smirk before heading back over to a smiling Issei.

Issei took a red apple from Lola, watching the scene with wiggling eyebrows as he could not help but enjoy the scene, taking small bites of the apple. He was really enjoying the show, was something wrong with him? More than likely, oh but that wasn't going to stop him, of course, the scoff off to the side had made his eyes change to the good doctor.

"You really going to stand there enjoying that Apple and watch her, dragon?"

"That was the plan, yeah, I mean, do you see the fire!? Like I don't see what you and Baki have, eh?"

Lola shook her head with wide eyes, wondering how he even found out, even Baki looked at Issei with that wide-eyed look. Issei had to laugh, it was so funny, Baki teased him and it was just...different. Issei knew the two had something but even he knew that his moments were just suspicion. 

"Oh that was fun, I just hope you sanitized that medical facility before I came, I don't wanna know what you did during that week. Anyway, she's finding out about her family. The ones she still has, eh? Maybe I just know what I would do if I had them, eh?"

Issei gave them a look, he understood that rage, it was then that the seriousness returned. It didn't even leave for five minutes before there it was again, the playfulness that he was getting known for, sometimes, Issei was sure that they were getting tired of his business with it. They had to adjust with it, as he had with the time in that hotel. 

Baki was wondering about the two, one moment, they were not speaking and the next they were giving each other okay's, it was like they worked on a level that he never even saw. It was something that he couldn't even begin to understand, she aimed her gun at him and Issei didn't even blink in telling him to move. 

Lola had seen the barest of moments when they worked together, it had been long in New York, Issei was already being himself then, playful. Not to this extent and she had always hated he was involved with this life, he had a better future for him outside of it, yet seeing the connection of these two....

She had a feeling the only way Issei was leaving as if she was going with him. 

"There she is, Princess Red, can you believe her Lola? She's a Dixon, I've known her for a while now and I've yet to know her family name. You'd think after all this time, I'd know?"

Issei grinned, leaning forward as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder bringing her closer than before, seemingly for comfort but there was that playfulness in his eyes. Especially considering the warpaint as he put it, was still making her look like a warrior to his eyes. 

"I'm kidding, but still, there is a need for the headquarters and Sam's fall from grace, I was wondering if you wanted to come with me and do it...maybe get some fries on the way..."

His eyes met her then as he looked down at her, touching her forehead with his for longer than a moment as Baki and Lola watched the two. It was pretty weird, what kind of person ordered fries after all the shit they had done?

"If you two are done in this odd intense moment with...this we have a body to move...."

Baki's teasing didn't stop Issei from chuckling, giving him the finger as he looked at Nola one final time, waiting for her answer. They were in the final moments now, this was their time to finish off Sam and his gang, next? Ernesto and his saviours, things were getting a bit different now but they had each other...

"I'd love to."

Nola smirked as she watched Issei flip off Baki, which reminded her to give him a bit further direction. Sure Samuel seemed dead but he was surely alive... At least she thought he was.

"Baki..." Nola turned her gaze towards Lola. "Actually, Lola... Can you check out our friend over there, I'm pretty sure he is still alive. You don't have to fix him up, just make sure he is still breathing. Thanks!"

She didn't give Lola enough time to actually answer, leaving her not much of an option but to go check on him. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see her huff a bit but slowly make her way towards where he was at. Making sure to stop next to Baki, brushing her hand across his arm and glancing up towards him. It was the first time she had ever seen them two in that light, must have been because Issei called them out.

"Get a room you two!" Issei said as he chuckled in their direction. Apparently he had caught witness to it all as well and made sure to poke a little fun at it before directing his look back down onto Nola.

"So it's a date?"

"Huh?"

"You, me, carnage at Sam's headquarter. Burn it to the ground then steaks in Detroit!" There it was again, that playfulness in his voice. She could hear the excitement in his tone.

"I mean yeah but is it really a d..."

Before she could finish Issei spoke up. "Oh, it's going to be the best time EVER! You're going to love it!"

The excitement within him was a bit much but for some reason it was rather contagious, causing Nola to smile and giggle.

"I wouldn't miss it for the world..."

Before they were able to continue, they could hear Lola's voice breaking through them. "He's alive... though at this rate without any medical help he won't be alive for long. A couple hours maybe, if he is lucky." Turning her head towards Lola, Nola simply nodded then turned back towards Issei.

"If we are lucky, he will live just long enough to see his empire be reduced to ash. Then as promised... his family will get to see him. More than likely in pieces but hey at least they will get to see him." She paused for a moment. "I will explain the Ollie situation to you a bit later, it isn't that pressing right now but it is something that I will need to tell you."

"Okay..."

"After this is all done, I promise."