As they stood there, gathering their ammunition, Ivan could feel the familiar rush of adrenaline flowing through his body. This always seemed to happen, no matter the mission that he went on. It made him feel more confident in himself and the people surrounding him. It was also fortunate that the plan had formed rather well, thanks to Shizu's thoughts prior. Ivan nodded his head as Azrai mentioned keeping in contact with one another. As much as he hoped that this mission would go smoothly, he knew that everything couldn't go his way. It was slightly frustrating when things were not in his control but that was the risk they took with their lifestyle. Every day was a risk, every second was precious. It was important that they were cautious and well aware of everything that was going on around them. Not only would he have trouble with Azrai if something happened to Shizu, he would also have to deal with Zachariah, whom he had promised that this mission would not fail. Then again, failure would never be an option in his mind. That was why he was so determined to have a perfected plan and course of action.<br/><br/>Ivan knew how hard it must be for Azrai to have to deal with Levi, especially given the state that Levi's mind was in currently. It was always complicated when personal emotions and histories were mixed in with a mission. That was why they had the sole rule of never becoming attached to a target. It would only cause further complications along the way. Now, Ivan was by no means thinking it was wrong for Azrai and Shizu to have become attached to one another. It seemed like it had been inevitable and the more they fought against it, the stronger the attachment grew. Still, it was rather unfortunate that she had been brought into their world and it was unfortunate that her peaceful life had been disrupted. Ivan was unsure if Levi knew that Azrai had any kind of feelings towards Shizu. He could only hope that Levi didn't or else that may strengthen his vendetta against Azrai. It would only make sense right?<br/><br/>Exact revenge by taking away someone that Azrai cared for. He ran a hand over his face, knowing that if information like that leaked out they would be dealing with a much more serious problem. As long as things didn't get out of hand, then that would still be information that enemy couldn't use against them. So far, Ivan knew that Levi knew about what happened in Israel, which is why he decided to go after Shizu. Did he think of Shizu just as someone who had connections with Azrai? Or did he think that there was more than a connection. It made Ivan uneasy at how much Levi knew about Shizu. He truly wondered who had given him all this information and it caused his stomach to become uncomfortable. How much did Levi know? How much did Levi know about the organization, about Zachariah? Who exactly was giving Levi all this information? Ivan knew that this must be something that would be bothering Zachariah as well. When they finally got a hold of Levi, they would get it out of him, if not then he would have Elias do a bit of intensive research.<br/><br/>"Agreed, should anything get out of hand, the problem will be eliminated immediately and efficiently," Ivan stated in a stern tone of voice, making sure everyone understood how serious he meant to be. There was tension in the air though he felt as if it shouldn't affect the mission too much. There was a lot that would be placed on the line soon. He could only pray that no one's lives would be lost. It was already difficult enough to try to pull this off without causing too much of a commotion. The neighborhood that Elias and Shizu lived in was fairly quiet, so many people wouldn't be around but still he worried. The alleyways were plentiful so that gave them some coverage. The fact that Elias had lived here for so long gave them the advantage of having someone to tell them where exactly to go if trouble pops up. Ivan wondered if Levi's group had that kind of advantage as well. Ivan knew that things were in their favor but he knew better than to be too optimistic about the situation. Anything could go wrong.<br/><br/>"Alright, let's get a move on. I shall call when we are ready to head out," Ivan said nodding at the two other males. "Let's go Shizu." With a quick glance over at Azrai, Shizu could only pass on a look of concern towards the male. She could sense the increasing bloodlust that was slowly building within the man. A slight frown tugged on the corners of her lips, knowing that it was still too soon for him to be on the field. She had grown accustomed to the deep claws of desire that harbored deep within her being. Azrai, however, had only started to adjust to it for...how long had it been? Six months? Surely, that time had not been enough for him to fully rein control of his aggression. Still, she had faith in the man; he had always proven to be in control, most of the time. She knew it would probably upset him if she showed that she was too concerned. Knowing that she should avoid saying anything unnecessary, she followed Ivan's lead into his car.<br/><br/>Elias watched the two of them get into the van, before driving away. It wasn’t like they had to drive slowly, seeing how Elias had been the one to pick out the exact location of Shizu's apartment. He glanced over at Azrai who started walking after they had left. With a slight sigh, Elias slowly started walking as well. This was certainly not the first time Elias had been asked to join the field, but it was usually something that he tried to avoid. The hacker knew his way around a gun and was capable of taking out any potential threat, but he just felt more comfortable sitting in front of a monitor. That was why he was usually on edge out in public, not like he ventured out in public often. It was because of Lucian and Shizu, as of late, that he saw the outside world. He had to say, it wasn't as bad as he initially thought it would be but that still didn't mean that he enjoyed being around other people. Maybe it was his somewhat sheltered childhood that had made him this way but he was truly appreciative of Lucian and Shizu. Without them, he would be a recluse, never knowing what the sun looked like at noon or what kind of people would show up at the bar at three in the morning.<br/><br/>That was why this mission was important to him. Sure, Lucian had been there for him through thick and thin. Their friendship was odd but it certainly worked for the both of them. With the addition of Shizu, it had made things seem more complete to him. She would drop by from time to time to see how he was and if he had been getting fresh air lately. They would have lunch together in order to see how her education was progressing and he would listen to her complain about her job on rare occasions. Then sometimes, when everyone was free, they would go out to the nearby bar and have a few drinks, enjoying life as Shizu would put it. Shizu had really made him open up more than he thought he would. She had made him become more social and he found himself laughing more in her presence. He didn't care if she was human like he initially thought; she was still just as important to him. That was why this mission could not fail.<br/><br/>While walking towards Shizu's apartment, Elias pulled out his phone, feigning distraction to keep a low profile. He made sure that he kept the air of being unaware and completely absorbed in whatever was on his phone. He cocked his head slightly as Azrai spoke to him, his eyes flickering over to the male briefly. "No problem, I have already thought about some places that could be a bit troublesome," he muttered gently. "However, I am slightly doubtful that they know these streets better than I," he added after a while, though he wasn't trying to sound overly confident. Who knew, they could have someone that knew the alleyways like he did and that caused him to be a bit more cautious. If that was the case then he knew that he could outsmart them with his knowledge of the streets, that's what he would have to do.<br/><br/>"Her place is right up here," Elias pointed out, remembering the familiar buildings that surrounded the area. "She lives on the second floor," he said, nodded at the slate blue building. He could see the light on from her bedroom window, it seemed like things were going accordingly. "I'll be over here to be on the lookout. Ivan should be just up ahead, once Shizu leaves, we will be on our way." Elias nodded his head behind him, their position was rather simple. Ivan would be in the front of the group, Shizu would be next, Azrai after that and Elias would be covering from behind. It was a standard formation that worked efficiently, so Elias knew there wasn't too much to worry about.<br/><br/>However, anything could happen.<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>They pulled up to the curb of the street, just in front of her apartment. The drive hardly took more than five minutes and she knew that Elias and Azrai would show up shortly. When Ivan parked the car, she unbuckled her seatbelt before Ivan caught a hold of her attention. She glanced down at the object in his hand before she glanced up back at his concerned face. It was normally hard to read the Russian's emotions but for once, Shizu was able to understand what he was trying to get across to her. A gentle smile came to her lips and she nodded her head, before taking the smaller pistol from his hand. She tucked it away with caution, just in case someone walking by might see. "I am not saying that the mission will fail....this is only to ensure that should things go awry, you will have protection," Ivan stated to her gently.<br/><br/>"I understand," she said knowing that things may not go according to the plan.<br/><br/>"You know what is needed of you, let's not waste anymore time." She nodded once more getting out of the vehicle. "Be careful, Shizu." She stopped before closing the door, a worried look upon her face. She knew that Ivan understood how she felt without her having to express it. She quickly made her way up the two flights of stairs, listening to Ivan's car pull away from the curb, going a little ways down the road to avoid suspicion. She let out a heavy breath as she entered her apartment, staring at the place that she hadn't seen for the last month. It felt surreal to be coming home like this, as if it were an ordinary day. Closing and locking the door behind her, she quickly moved about her home. She practically ran into her bedroom, knowing that she didn't have time to dilly dally around. She was on a time limit before the others would show up and things would only escalate from there.<br/><br/>She rid herself of the clothes she had stolen from the man that she had killed earlier this day, her nose scrunching up in disgust. She hopped into the shower almost immediately as she had turned on the water, flinching at the cold water before it came to the correct temperature. She scrubbed her skin vigorously, wondering how many times she had done this before. A memory hit her briefly, remembering the first night that she had escaped the village with Azrai. She had done the same exact thing when she had come to the hotel. She paused slightly from her intensive cleaning, wondering if she would constantly live a life like this. Would she always be on the run from the unknown organizations that knew of her? It was obvious to her now that no matter the fact, that Zachariah and the others had placed her under the radar, she had been found and probably would always be found. This was not the life that she had been expecting, yet it had been peaceful months prior to this. Would it always be like this or would she have to give up on the dream of living a peaceful life?<br/><br/>She allowed herself time to mull over those thoughts as she continued to clean off herself. Cutting off the water, she grabbed a couple of towels wrapping them around her body and hair. She walked through her spacious bedroom before looking into her closet. She stared at the clothing, knowing that she would need something that would be easy to move in, if she needed to run but she also didn't want to look like she was expecting anything to happen. She was supposed to remain as oblivious as possible, like she would not be targeted again. Biting her lower lip, she grabbed a beige turtleneck sweater and a black cardigan. Opening up her bureau drawers, she pulled out a pair of dark jeans. She hoped that this looked decent enough to remain unsuspecting but it would also help cover up the minor bruises and cuts that had yet to heal. She quickly dried herself off and shimmied into her clothes as fast as she could. Going back into the bathroom, she ran a comb through her tangled locks as gently as she could before blow drying her hair. Looking at herself in the mirror, she could still see the bruise on her forehead.<br/><br/>Frowning, she knew it would bring suspicion to her manager if she showed up at work like this. Grabbing some concealer she did her best to cover up the bruises as well as the dark circled under her eyes. When she finished, she had to say that she looked a lot better than she had prior even if she hadn't seen herself. She was glad that Azrai had mentioned that she should clean up before they headed out. It made her feel a bit more at ease. Walking out of the bathroom, she grabbed her purse, carefully tucking the pistol that Ivan had given her in there. She placed her wallet and keys and other miscellaneous items inside before slipping on a pair of low ankle boots. With everything in place, she was ready to go out, walking to the front door; she grabbed a scarf and a pair of gloves, before exiting.<br/><br/>She locked the door and hurried down the steps heading off in the direction of her work. She knew that everyone was waiting around for the moment that danger hit. She felt a bit uneasy, seeing how things seemed a bit quiet but this neighborhood had always been like that, that was why she had thought it safe but seeing how she had been attacked made her think otherwise. Letting out a breath, she continued to walk down the sidewalk at a normal pace, despite the fact that her nerves were on the edge. This was the first time that she was actually participating in a mission with everyone. There was no way that she wanted to let them down in any way or form. So she continued on, being sure to act like she knew nothing about the men tailing her, all that should matter was hoping that she still had a job which was very unlikely. She let out a sigh as after a few minutes, seeing the streets liven up slightly before the sign of the diner she worked at came to view. Taking in a deep breath, she knew that this was the beginning of the mission.<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>Ivan had parked the car in a small parking lot a little ways from Shizu's apartment, he camped out in a closer building just in case is intuition was wrong and that Levi and his group would come directly to her place. He could see the figures of Elias and Azrai coming closer while Shizu was inside preparing herself. His eyes scanned the area, things seemed to be undisturbed. Was Shizu right? Would they come immediately or would they want to plan out things more carefully? Ivan could only imagine that Levi would be impatient to exact his revenge. How long had Levi been planning this? Constant questions kept popping up in his head though he could find no clear answer. It bothered him more than anything not knowing who all was behind this but for now he had to focus of the task at hand. It wouldn't do him any good to think about it now.<br/><br/>After waiting for a while, he could see Shizu come out of her apartment. He sent an immediate message to Elias and Azrai, they would start now. Digging his hands into his pockets, he walked ahead of the group, in order to look out for any oncoming danger. He had visited Elias a few times but that still didn't mean he knew the area well. He would keep in front of Shizu for a while, before going into a secluded spot to lookout from. He knew that everyone would be on edge at this point and he could only pray for the best possible outcome. He could only pray that Azrai would be able to keep his aggression in check. There was so much that was on the line right now. He would not allow failure. Perhaps he was being too desperate for things to work out that could eventually cause all of their efforts to become meaningless. He needed to clear his mind in order to work efficiently. Despite all the worries and concerns he had, knew that they would do him no good now.<br/><br/>Stopping at a few street vendors, pretending to be interested in the cheaply made trinkets, he keep his eye on Shizu's figure as she continued to make her way towards her job. He moved after a few moments, knowing that staying in one place could be risky. Levi and the other man that was with him knew his face and they would probably be able to pick him out in the crowd if they searched hard enough. He stopped after another vendor as Shizu hurried across the street into the diner that she had worked at. He could feel his heart start to beat a little faster knowing that this was only the beginning of the mission. Now, they had to wait until Levi showed up. Something just didn't feel right, like he was missing something. Frowning a bit, he moved to a secluded area, before communicating to other two. "You know this already but be careful, there are a lot of people," Ivan muttered in a low voice. "Something doesn't feel right," he added, his gut twisting uncomfortably.<br/><br/>With their formation, everyone was close enough to come when needed but also far enough in order to have a better coverage of the area. He was also glad that he had given Shizu a weapon should she be separated or too far away from any of them, should things get confusing in the heat of the moment. Still, these kinds of missions always caused him to be more tense than usual. Luring out the enemy was a risky move on their behalf. Not only were they relying on Shizu but they were putting her in harm's way. Should something happen, they could lose her...again. He couldn't even fathom what would happen if they did but it was a possibility that, he was sure, was on everyone's mind. Gritting his teeth, he continued to watch from a far for anything that caused him to feel uncomfortable.<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>At Levi's last words, David had nothing else to say. He knew that there was nothing else to add. They all understood the severity of the situation and should they fail, they would probably, no; they wouldn't see the light of day again. David glanced over at the mythologist, gauging his reaction to Levi's words and glances. The male seemed to be holding up well, for now. He was placing a lot of his trust into Tyler and that was a big deal for him to do so. Not only was he putting his trust into Tyler but also he was putting his trust from Levi on the line right now. This had to work, this absolutely had to work or else he was done for. With that in mind, it only strengthened his resolve in getting the Oni woman and Azrai for Levi. A slight grin came to his face; he was feeling pretty confident with their set-up. Surely, the other team would not be expecting what they had prepared.<br/><br/>He made sure that Tyler knew what to do with a gun, just for extra measures before following Levi outside. He took in a deep breath of the unforgiving cold air and let a satisfied sigh. This plan would go well, he was sure of it. They had the resources and the man power to get the job done. He was rather impressed with the plan that they were able to come up with in a small amount of time. That was what he lived for. That was why he loved his job. Doing things on the fly was the thrill that he lived for. The thrill of chasing and shooting down the enemies was a high that he could never get enough of. Sure, Levi had some screws loose but he had his own as well. Perhaps that was why they made such a great team. Cracking his knuckles, he basked in the waves of adrenaline that coursed through him.<br/><br/>He would shoot down the woman with the sedative then get Azrai. It was simple, even if Azrai fought back, he was sure Levi wouldn't mind if he was a bit battered and bruised when he was handed over.<br/><br/>"Alright, sounds good," David stated before getting into the car. After waiting until everyone got in as well, he started the engine and headed off towards their destination. He knew roughly the location that the Oni woman worked, seeing how he had tailed Dean's men for a while now. The drive was silent, due to the fact that having any kind of music would cause his guard to drop. He knew it was best to not be overconfident however, he knew that he had to keep a mantra of success running through his mind. They were being extremely cautious with all the firearms they had on them, so should things get too crazy then they could overpower the other group.<br/><br/>Pulling into a back alley, David parked the car and turned off the engine. "Alright, we are currently near the cafe that the woman works at, she should live within walking distance from here. We all know what she looks like, so she'll stick out in the crowd. Tyler you will be in charge of getting us away once we have the girl, so you stay closest to the car. Hank, once we spot the girl get as close as possible to her without being detected and once I hit her with the sedative, you grab her immediately....and I mean immediately." He knew that he could not have the same effect that Levi would on Hank but he was practically second in command. Besides, he spoke to Hank like he was an actual person, so maybe Hank would accept his words without a fight.<br/><br/>Getting out of the car, David looked around a bit before nodding. "Alright, let's get started, we don't know if they are here, but I have a feeling that they are, so everyone watch your asses." He gave a pointed look at Tyler, who nodded and gulped nervously. Was it really worth bringing a wimp like him along? Well, Levi wanted him to come for more support so he wouldn't question the man. David glanced over at Levi, relaying that he would not fail with a determined look before he went off to find a place to hide out in. He would need to find a good spot to shoot the woman and get to Azrai in time so that he doesn't go in and rescue her. That time of distraction should be enough for Hank to get a hold of her. He only wondered how he would be able to subdue the most aggressive man out of the group.<br/><br/>He shook his head as he continued to look around for a spot to get in position from, until he eventually found a place that was suitable. He scanned the vicinity not really noticing anything out of the ordinary. He watched after the cafe that the Oni woman worked in, would she be on her way or was she already there? His hand was on his gun, ready to shoot within a few seconds of seeing the woman. Even though the cafe was a bit of a ways away, he was a good shot and could hit her from his position. "I'm in position," David relayed to everyone. "Hank, be ready to go as soon as I say so."<br/><br/>--------------<br/><br/>The talk with her manager had not gone over well, while she had used the story that Ivan had told her to use, in the end she no longer had a job. Though her manager did seem to show a bit of sympathy but she had been told that she should have called. With a gentle sigh, she stepped out of the cafe. Well, it wasn't like she really needed the job anymore, especially since she was a targeted woman now. She probably would have had to quit anyways given the circumstances. Shaking her head, she decided that it was best to head back home and forget that she was jobless. Running a hand through her hair, she waited at the crosswalk. Suddenly, she felt as if the air around her had changed. Like there was something that she was not seeing. Glancing around slightly, she chewed on her lower lip trying to sense anything out of place. She could feel some hostility around her but she was sure that it was from everyone watching over her. They were all on edge. The other group had yet to make a move and now would probably be the time.<br/><br/>She jumped a bit as the sound of the light beeping caught her out of her thoughts. She walked across the street, trying not to see too hurried rather feigning the air of depression from losing her job. Still, no matter how hard she tried, she still felt uneasy. Maybe this life was not for her, going on missions like this. Maybe this plan was not the best idea. Being out in the open like this made her feel vulnerable, despite the coverage she knew that she had. Gripping her purse tightly, she continued along the sidewalk, memories of coming home the last time filling her mind. She wanted to look behind her but she knew that would make her look suspicious. Letting out a steady breath, she continued to move along. She just wanted to be in the comforts of her home.<br/><br/>The sound of a car doors shutting caught her attention and she glanced behind her briefly, only to see a group of men getting out of a black SUV. She hadn't noticed anyone in the car when she had first passed by and she knew it had been sitting there when she had first walked by. She looked around, hardly seeing anyone else and dread filled her being. She could hear the footsteps behind her and she knew that this was not Levi. She would have remembered his face and he was not within the group. She glanced once more, only to see something glint in the light of the sun. The color drained from her face and she soon began to run.<br/><br/>"Go after the bitch," one of the men said. She jumped as a bullet flew past her, it was nearly silent due to whatever they had placed on the gun, but she heard it whizzing through the air. Who were these people?<br/><br/>She continued to run, unsure of where to go, slipping into any alleyway, hoping to lose sight of them. "Azrai!!!" It was the first name that came to her mind. She knew better than to go find him but in this moment of panic and fear she needed to be near him. "Azrai!!" She yelled out again, nearly shrieking as a bullet ricocheted off the alley's wall. She could only hope that she could lose them in the maze of the backstreets.<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>David knew that he had picked a good spot once he saw the top of the Oni woman's head. She was walking right down the street that they would all be near. He contacted Hank, letting him know her location so that he could grab her. Things seemed to be looking up for their group, though he knew that Azrai and his men were out there. Once he knew that Hank was in position, he carefully aimed the barrel of the guy to the back of the woman. That was until a group of men got out of the car, His face paled and a vicious snarl left him as they gave chase to the woman.<br/><br/>"Levi, Dean's men are here," he stated into the microphone, before shimming down the fire escape of the building he was in. He knew that this was something that he should have expected but he didn't think Dean’s men had been capable enough to be this fucking smart. His feet pounded on the pavement as he lost sight of the woman, who was trying to escape through the alleys. "She went into the alleys, if we spread out, we'll be able to get her." He turned around trying to figure out the course of direction she would be going in.<br/><br/>That was until a bullet grazed his cheek. If he had moved any faster, his head would have been blown off. He turned wildly to see Ivan coming up hot on his trails. Another curse left him as he too slipped into the alley ways. This was just fucking perfect. Dean's men and Ivan's group were all here for this fuck fest of a party. He rolled into a building, jumping over a table and busting through a broken window. Tumbling to the ground, he quickly scrambled to his feet, he continued to move.<br/><br/>He had to find and get the Oni woman, if it was the last thing he did.<br/><br/>-------------<br/><br/>Ivan was right when he knew that there was something wrong. There had been no signs of anyone looking suspicious or walking around as if they were looking for someone. He let out a slight breath of relief as Shizu made it across the street without any kind of confrontation. Ivan half expected Levi to do some kind of drive-by and toss her in a van and speed off into the sunset but that was just his imagination taking over. However, that seemed too risky especially at the busy crosswalk. Ivan continued to hide in the shadows, knowing that now would be the time that Levi's group would strike. He glanced around, thinking that he saw someone move in the shadows across the street. He clenched his jaw, placing his hand on the grip of his gun. It was better to pull it out now than not be prepared later.<br/><br/>That was when he noticed the SUV. That SUV had been sitting there for quite some time and the windows were tinted so he was unsure if anyone was inside. He thought that things would be in the clear until people pilled out of the car. He immediately was on the move as they started chasing Shizu. He knew that she was afraid at this point; all of her reasoning was probably thrown out the window. He cursed slightly as he ran across the street, only to see someone else running. He remembered him being a part of Levi's group, so that meant that they had been waiting.<br/><br/>Then who the hell were the others?<br/><br/>"We've got another group after Shizu, find her and get out of here at all costs," Ivan said angrily into his earpiece. How could they have slipped under their radar so easily? That car had seemed like it had been parked there for days.<br/><br/>Raising his gun, he shot at David, knowing that if he could take him down, then they would have one less man to worry about. He cringed hearing the sound of bullets hitting buildings. He turned down the alley as well, following after David. He could hear the lost cries of Shizu yelling out for someone. Gritting his teeth, he knew that he should go find her but he needed to get rid of David. Ivan let out a growl of frustration as he leaped into the building, seeing David's fleeing figure jumping through a window. He hopped out the window as well, hot on David's trail, shooting when he had the opportunity.<br/><br/>This was just fucking perfect.