Cold Dish

The two boys made the trek back to the car in silence, neither one exactly sure what could be said anyway. Once inside, Mannix started the car but had to wipe some of the blood from his hands so they wouldn't slip on the steering wheel. Ren watched him carefully to see if having another man's blood on his hands would bother him. It clearly didn't and why should it? If Ren hadn't stepped in that first night with Mannix and Michael the poor fuck was as good as dead. Killing, Ren had to realize, was nothing new to Mannix and never would be.

"What the hell was up with you?" Mannix's voice said, finally breaking the silence.

"What are you talking about?" Ren asked.

"'Mannix, stop'?" He muttered with disgust, sparing a nasty glance at Ren in the passenger seat.

Oh, that. Ren looked away from Mannix and concentrated on the buildings and cars passing them by.

"I'm still waiting for an answer," Mannix grumbled.

"You just—" Ren began.

"Truth," Mannix suddenly interrupted.

"Huh?"

"Truth," Mannix repeated. "Or don't bother saying anything."

Ren thought about his response and actually considered staying silent, it certainly was a safe route. Instead he found himself laughing softly.

"Because you weren't yourself in there," Ren replied. "You don't know how you look when you're in that zone."

"Did I scare you?" Mannix said with a grin.

Ren didn't turn away from the window, watching as the scenery became more familiar and the brighter buildings and lights could be seen in the far distance. If they took a left at the next exit it would lead them right into what most call the Glamour Strip, the district of town where all the rich and glamorous people lived and hung out. It was there that the lights never went out; there was always fun to be had and people to be bought. Ren, having come from such wealth, would have seemed like he belonged in that type of place. He basically lived there as a kid, his parents dragged him there on a daily basis either for shopping or showing off him off to friends that they ran into. It wasn't bragging with pride for their offspring but more like the displaying of a puppy that you just taught cute tricks to. 'Look at what a wonderful and bright son we have, aren't you jealous we're parents?' Well, that little boy grew up bitter because of that and was soon telling both those wonderful parents to go fuck themselves years later. They were still unsure where they went wrong and if Ren's attitude was even their fault to begin with. At any rate, Ren felt better as the horizon of lights slowly disappeared from view and let all those thoughts ride along with it out of mind.

Mannix mistook Ren's silence and found it quite unnerving. Normally Ren was the king of assholes and would always have something to say but now he was just looking out the window and he didn't even answer Mannix's question yet. Sure he had said it to tease, to try and get a rise out of his friend but Ren's response—or lack of one—made the question a serious one.

"No," Ren finally said.

Mannix was about to push Ren to elaborate on his answer but why should he when he didn't necessarily care? He didn't ask Ren to tag along and if Ren got spooked then it was his own damn problem. Discussing how Ren was feeling wasn't really one of his concerns at the moment, anyway. How Ren felt wasn't even a fucking issue and it pissed Mannix off that for a moment it became one. He wanted Ren at a distance all of the sudden. When they got back to his place Ren could get in his car, go back to his own little world and leave Mannix alone. Now let's see if it happens that way, he thought sourly. He turned down the road leading to his flat and parked next to Ren's shining jaguar. Why the guy refused to get any other model or type of car was beyond him, but as every new model rolled out of the factory Ren scooped it up and customized it. They got out and instead of going to his car Ren was walking past him and towards the apartment building.

"Where the fuck do you think you're going?" Mannix mumbled.

"Nowhere," Ren replied and kept walking.

Nowhere ended up at the elevator leading up to Mannix's floor where Ren entered and patiently kept the door from sliding shut. Once Mannix caught up with him Ren let go of the door and pressed the button for the third floor.

"You can go home, Ren," Mannix said as the elevator hummed to life and started upward.

"I can," Ren said with a nod, "but I'm not."

"You think I need you around or something?" Mannix sneered. "Killing Saburo only bothered you, Ren, I'm fine with it. It doesn't bother me."

Ren was sure that killing didn't. Killing Saburo? Now that Ren wasn't too sure about. Mannix was acting like they just came back from shopping, not like they just murdered a man. Sorry, they? Mannix just killed a man. Ren wasn't positive but shouldn't you feel something, even if it was relief? No, Mannix was trying to act like it never happened and Ren was no Freud but he sure as fuck knew that wasn't good.

"Who you trying to convince?" Ren replied.

Mannix shot him a glare of death but didn't reply. Truth be told, he wasn't exactly sure what his response was going to be. The elevator halted and Ren groaned softly and held his stomach as it lurched from the elevator settling into place. Mannix walked out of the elevator and down the small hallway that lead to his door. He opened it and threw his keys to the coffee table by the door and starting pulling off his shirt. He tugged at it and noticed it was hard in some places and as he pulled it off it seemed like it was sticking to his skin. Mannix looked down and saw his shirt was a mess of blood. He didn't remember beating Saburo that badly. But he had, hadn't he? He balled his hands into fists from the memory, remembering that soft flesh breaking under his strength, bleeding from his power and finally going cold from his will. Saburo was dead. Now what? He thought. Now he had to take a shower and get this blood off of him, he remembered Ethan's note and had to make sure he was up in the morning to go by his place.

"Do me a favor Ren," Mannix said as he started to unbutton his pants and kick off his boots. "Be gone by the time I get washed up."

"Uh-huh," Ren said in a noncommittal way, "sure thing."

Mannix rolled his eyes and walked through the kitchen to get to his bedroom and bathroom. He didn't bother closing the door since he was sure that Ren would give him his privacy and not want to mess around even though the shower was one of their favorite places to fuck. Tonight Ren left him alone and he was thankful for the silence.

Ren understood enough to give Mannix a bit of space but he had no intention of leaving. Mannix would get mad possibly but would soon cease to care since Mannix didn't really want him to leave. Ren took off his shirt and flopped down on Mannix's soft down mattress and waited until Mannix stepped out of the bathroom. He was dripping wet with just a dark blue terry cloth towel wrapped loosely around his waist. Mannix stopped as he soon as he saw Ren stretched out on his bed.

"I thought I told you to leave," he mumbled.

"You did," Ren agreed.

"Then why haven't you?"

"Simple, Manny," Ren said and got off the bed and went over to the drenched Mannix, "you don't want me to. Do you?"

"Enough, Renold," Mannix said with an irritated tone. "Just—"

"Truth," Ren said, turning the tables on Mannix.

"Renold—" Mannix warned.

"Truth," Ren repeated with a defiant lift of his chin, "or don't bother saying anything."

Mannix exhaled sharply as Ren slipped closer and he felt Ren's hands move to his hips and tug at his towel.

"I don't," Mannix replied softly.

Ren pulled on the towel with a growing persistence and Mannix thought of snatching away but just couldn't bring himself to. He was feeling tired, almost like the hot water had drained the last bit of strength he had and he didn't want to fight back. He wanted Ren's hands on him, wanted to feel more of Ren's skin and wanted to finish what they had started a mere hour ago. He let go of his towel and leaned towards Ren's exploring hands. He let out a soft moan as their lips met and it was like a shock of electricity that went from his mouth, along every nerve and finally settled in-between his legs. He moved his hips against Ren, his cock digging into Ren slowly. Ren returned Mannix's moans with his own and deepened the kiss as his tongue slithered inside Mannix's mouth and pressed against his teeth. Mannix twirled his tongue around Ren's and sucked on it and used just a bit of teeth to keep Ren where he wanted him.

Mannix's fingers found Ren's pants and his deft fingers soon had him unbuttoned and unzipped. Mannix pushed everything down, feeling Ren up as he kissed him deeper. It became more urgent, less like kissing and more like a consumption as if they could swallow each other whole just through their mouths. With a small sound in-between a moan and a whimper, Ren quickly kicked off his pants and pressed his naked body fully against Mannix. He shivered as Mannix's skin, cooled by the dripping water, touched his and he hugged Mannix to him for more of it.

Ren gasped and his breathing quickened as Mannix started to hump him, letting their cocks grind into each other and his hands gripped Ren by the ass to keep him from moving. Yeah, right, like he was actually going to.

"Bed," Mannix whispered and kissed Ren a bit more softly. He gave Ren's lips soft yet deep kisses and the palm of his hands rubbed slowly circles along Ren's chest. Ren quickly started backing up and sat on the edge of the bed, waiting. Mannix went to his knees in front of Ren and he froze without meaning to. Now he enjoyed a good blowjob as much as the next guy but with Saburo and Mannix's debt still in his head he wasn't keen to see Mannix's pretty lips around his cock. Mannix seemed unperturbed but Ren just didn't feel…..right. He took Mannix's chin in his hand and pulled him up on the bed.

"I want your mouth on other places," Ren said quickly, enough of the truth that Mannix would easily take.

Mannix grinned and pushed Ren flat on his back and moved on top of him. Which he didn't stay there for long since Ren rolled them, pinning Mannix down on the mattress and wasted no time grinding his cock down. Mannix let out a sigh and arched his back as the friction between them made shocking sparks of pleasure that made Ren whimper. Mannix—for once—had no major arguments about Ren being on top, for now at least. Ren deepened the kiss, latching onto Mannix's lips like it was life. Mannix's tongue slithered in his mouth and warm hands traveled along his arms and down his back. More. Must have more. Ren thought, his brain in a fog of desire and lust. The desire to have more of Mannix was so strong and overwhelming it threatened to make Ren explode just from the intensity of it. How did it come to this? That he could want a guy this bad? The feeling that began to form in Ren's chest had a name but it was best not to think about that emotion. It was a dangerous one. It was safest to just concentrate on the passion and the pleasure. Nothing else.

"More Ren," Mannix whispered, echoing Ren's thoughts. Ren was thankful for the interruption at any rate and was more than happy to give in to Mannix's request since he wanted the same thing. He moved down Mannix's body, trailing his tongue as he went and used his teeth when he wanted to see Mannix react. He kissed his way past Mannix's chest, down his stomach and stopped to suck just the head of Mannix's cock into his mouth. Mannix's hips lifted off the bed and his body writhed as Ren's tongue flickered along the soft sensitive flesh and his teeth grazed along it.

"F-f-fuck!" Mannix stammered with a shaky breath and fisted the sheets, twisting the soft cotton sheets in his hands as Ren continued. Just when Mannix thought he couldn't take it anymore Ren's mouth moved down Mannix's shaft to suck on his balls, sucking them like candy. He left it reluctantly and let his tongue travel lower finally settling at his ass hole. Mannix hissed and lifted his hips up so Ren could have easier access. Ren's tongue flicked and twirled in crazy circles before he slipped his tongue inside Mannix and the other man bucked and muttered something Ren couldn't make out. Mannix moaned again, and Ren had had enough. He climbed back on top of Mannix, positioning his cock and quickly pushed it in. Mannix hissed, from pain or pleasure Ren wasn't sure, and held on to Ren by the shoulders as he moved his legs further apart and readied his body for the fucking that followed.

Ren usually eased into sex, and he enjoyed the softer sensation as he drew his hips back until his cock nearly slipped out of Mannix's ass only to thrust back in that same easy glide. He pushed forward again, with more force this time until every inch was buried deep within Mannix. Mannix hissed his name and Ren had decided to hell with being slow and easy. He started thrusting wildly and it was hectic like Ren couldn't get enough, a force driving him on. Ren breathed hard against Mannix's lips, a steady panting that was closer to a rutting animal than a steady flow of air. As he felt Mannix lock his legs about him he lost what little bit of control he had and only pushed his body to go faster and harder. An invisible cord connected straight with Ren's cock was pulled and the pleasure rose with that small yank deep down inside him. His breathing quickened and he gasped as the pleasure became so much more and he sought out Mannix's mouth. The bed was now shaking and rattling from Ren's thrusting and Mannix reached back for the headboards and used it as an anchor as Ren's pace turned into seeing how well his cock would work as a jackhammer.

Pretty fucking good, Mannix must say. Several curses fell from Ren's mouth, his voice was hoarse and barely intelligible as he pounded away. He was right on that edge of the best pleasure ever possible to the worst pain he could ever imagine. But that was all of being with Mannix, Ren was beginning to realize, and it didn't change how he felt…just how strongly he felt it. After it was all over Ren would explain such strange thoughts away by claiming it was just 'in the heat of the moment'. But for right now Ren was more than content to lose himself in the heat of Mannix's body. Mannix was making small grunting sounds as Ren drove his dick in mercilessly and he was almost eager for it to end. To hover in that state of dual sensation was a mix of being almost too good and Mannix shut his eyes tight as Ren pounded away at him, glad for the escape.

Part of him tonight did want Ren gone but then what would he have done alone? Clean up and then spend the rest of the night staring at the ceiling as time flew by? Truth was he really didn't know how to feel about Saburo. He thought it would some how get rid of all the hatred, all the anger and all the other feelings he had pushed away for years but all it left was an empty hole. The person that he put all those feelings into was gone but the dead bastard didn't take them with him like he was supposed to. It left Mannix feeling oddly empty like he knew he just went through something important but couldn't quite put his finger on it. So it was only natural, one would guess, that he latched out to hold onto something tangible, something that would make him feel. And Ren was that something.

Ren's mouth was all over his lips, sucking them biting them as if Mannix was a meal to be devoured and he gladly returned the kiss with a passion of his own. Ren lunged forward so suddenly Mannix gasped from the sudden shock of pain and his eyes fluttered closed. Another thrust, just as quick and deep, and Mannix shuddered. Ren lapped at Mannix's lips as he fell into Mannix again and again, each thrust bringing him ever closer to release. He reached out to it, pulled on the feeling as Mannix moaned beneath him and the heat that had been building up exploded. He forgot to breath as orgasm overtook him and pounded away, his body moving on it's own, desperate for the pleasure, aching for the release.

Ren moved his hips in small circles, breathing in deep moans as he came down from the orgasm but still wanting to feel as much of Mannix he could. When he stilled and took a deep breath, Mannix pushed up and set them in a roll that ended up with Ren on his back. Ren didn't move as Mannix quickly pushed Ren's legs up, settling between them and lifted his hips invitingly as Mannix inched forward with cock in hand. It felt rushed and intense as the men repositioned themselves, eager for the next wave as if this was their last and only chance. Mannix was thrusting the moment the tip of his cock met Ren's ass and Ren held on to him, gasping. Mannix didn't let up for a moment, driving down his hips like he was trying to somehow push his entire body inside Ren. Ren leaned up and kissed Mannix's neck, dug his fingers into his shoulders and took the wild fucking. He was never one for pain much, his other fucks just never seemed into it and he just didn't try it. But with Mannix? It was new, it was tempting, it was freeing, and it made him feel alive in a way he was beginning to want badly. He didn't expect to feel something like this, especially with someone like Mannix. And there was another feeling deeper inside, warmer than he was used to and a nagging pull he couldn't explain. Fuck, that again? Not thinking about it. It's not there, it's just the head of the sex. Passion and pleasure…nothing else.

Mannix gripped Ren by the wrists roughly and pinned them to the bed on either side of him, yanking Ren from his thoughts. Ren smiled and knew it was now his part to struggle against Mannix's grip. Not that he could anyway even if he wanted to which he most certainly did not. He fought to pull out of Mannix's grip and he saw a ghost of a smile play on Mannix lips as he leaned down to kiss Ren. His kiss was like an attack, his tongue plunging in Ren's mouth and his teeth bruising the lips. Ren had remembered the difference when Mannix wanted to kiss you and when he was simply letting you kiss him and it made him glad he passed whatever test Mannix had set up for him. To know the difference and not get this kiss would have been torture. Ren made a low sound in-between a sob and a moan as Mannix ravished his mouth and fucked him to oblivion, urging him on while he lifted his hips in an attempt to meet Mannix's thrusts.

Curses fell from Mannix's lips as the pleasure took a sharp peak and it was only rising. Mannix felt like he was in a car, foot on the accelerator and speeding head on towards a double decker bus. He couldn't stop, couldn't let up and he wanted it faster, harder and deeper; aching for all there was to have of Ren. He wanted Ren bucking beneath him, whether from pain or pleasure and he wouldn't be denied. Ren cried out from Mannix's new pace and he fought to pull air into his lungs but every breath he took was pushed out by his deep cries as Mannix melded into him.

"Man—Mannix--" Ren gasped. The way Ren called his name sent a shiver through Mannix's body and he came hard, riding wave after blissful wave.

A few moments passed as both men gasped for air and slowly detangled themselves from each other. Although neither one would admit it but that was the most intense sex they had together since this strange relationship started over a year ago. For both of them sex was simple: you had fun, you felt good, you came and it was over. But as they laid still in the moonlight washed room it was beginning to feel like something else, an addition of some kind but to what? Ren turned on his side and braced himself up on his elbow and looked down at Mannix. He smiled at him and leaned down to kiss Mannix softly. Mannix lifted his upper body off the bed to meet Ren's mouth, sighing as he parted his lips to allow Ren's tongue entrance. He cupped Ren's cheek in his hand and let it rest lightly on Ren's neck as he pulled him closer. Fingers played in his drying hair, massaging his scalp and he groaned as Ren pulled away.

"You glad I stayed now?" Ren said softly.

Mannix stretched like a cat on the bed and grinned. "Maybe."

"More than maybe, you fucker," Ren muttered and sat up completely, "and you know it." He swung his long legs over the side of the bed and stood. Mannix enjoyed the view of Ren's naked ass and watched silently as Ren got dressed. Ren zipped up and was pulling his shirt over his head when he turned back to face Mannix on the bed.

"Morning?" Ren simply asked.

"Ethan." Mannix replied with a yawn.

"Later?"

"Maybe."

"Call," Ren said.

"Alright," Mannix said, completing their strange one-word conversation. Ren found his shoes and slipped them on, hopping on one leg at a time until both shoes were on and tied. He bent down and grabbed the towel that was wrapped around Mannix's waist earlier and flung it at him.

"Dropped something," Ren said with a laugh.

Mannix rolled his eyes and threw it back but Ren quickly ducked. "Go home," he said with a small grin.

Ren shook his head. "You do a guy a favor and he just kicks you out like a used rag."

"Favor?" Mannix said incredulously and frowned. "You call fucking a favor?"

Ren lost his smile and his green eyes lost some of its mirth. "I wasn't talking about the sex, Mannix. I was talking about tonight."

Mannix went quiet for a moment and he looked away. "I didn't ask you to come with me," he said and glared at Ren angrily.

Ren scoffed. "How many times are you gonna fucking say that?" Ren shook his head and went to stand next to the bed. "If you hadn't noticed yet, idiot, I knew you weren't going to but that didn't mean you didn't want me to."

"You think you know me that well?" Mannix sneered.

"I know enough," Ren snapped back.

Mannix shook his head and smiled, but his tone of voice held the slightest hint of warmth. "Do you now?"

"I do," Ren said calmly, refusing to let Mannix's anger get to him. He went to the bed and lowered his upper body until his face was inches away from Mannix's. "You don't have to thank me," he said softly and lightly nibbled on Mannix's bottom lip, "I don't want you to. What are friends for?"

Mannix opened his mouth to speak but closed it. He had absolutely nothing to say to that. He frowned as Ren got off the bed laughing and left the room without another word. Mannix laid in the creeping silence and heard the door slam and the metal creaking of the elevator soon afterwards. Left to his own devices finally he wasn't sure what to do. He thought back to Ren and what he said. God damn the bastard, but he was right. Ren's presence meant more to Mannix than he was ever going to admit to Ren or even to himself. He was sure that Ren's act wasn't completely selfless (this was Renold we were dealing with, afterall) and he probably got off on being so useful. At any rate, Mannix still had to hand it to the guy for his persistence. He hung around where others would have ran, he handled things that would break someone else, Ren was there for him in more ways than one. He was getting pretty good at the whole friend thing.

He smiled to himself and felt a strange warmth as he realized that. Mannix had associates that could be friends, no doubt about that but all of them had something lacking that kept them going that last mile. There was something about the annoying bastard that Mannix couldn't shake, literally. From day one Ren was like a pain in Mannix's side, a problem that Mannix tried to dodge or get rid of. So it was a shock as Mannix saw that somehow Ren had weaseled out of that category, past fuck buddy, past associate, past being just a buddy and into—dare he say it—close friend.

Can't ever let him know that, Mannix thought with a grin as he rolled over on the bed and started to drift to sleep. The fucker would never let me live it down.

Next morning—or rather afternoon—Mannix had made his way to Ethan's house that also served as his little headquarters to whatever matter of business he was dealing with for that particular moment. The steel door was always locked shut and the only way in was if you were expected and someone was waiting to open the door for you or you had your own personal pass code to unlock the door. Mannix was one of the few that Ethan allowed a pass code and Mannix lazily punched in the digits at the keypad and heard the familiar click as the locks opened. He yanked the door open and slipped inside and it was pretty quiet since it was still early in the day. Things didn't start to get active around here until almost sundown. He walked through the small bar area and pool table, devoid of anyone and he made his way to the back of the house where he knew Ethan would be in his private rooms. He knocked on the dark ebony wood door and waited for a response.

"Come on in, Mannix."

Mannix rolled his eyes and opened the door and walked in the room. Ethan was in the far end of the spacious room that had been outfitted with several small TV screens and a computer that served as the controller for that and the alarm system. Mannix had always teased Ethan about such security and called him paranoid. Ethan would just laugh it off and tell Mannix that he didn't distrust everyone, just mostly everyone. Mannix was about to open his mouth to speak but Ethan interrupted him.

"Go over to the fridge and get me a beer out of there, would you?"

Mannix frowned but obeyed. "I'm not your fucking maid, Ethan."

"Never said you were, kid," Ethan replied and, satisfied with whatever else was on the screen, he turned away from them and leaned on the desk next to the computer. Mannix scoffed and grabbed an extra one for himself, handed Ethan a bottle and went to sit down in one of the armchairs. He twisted the cap off and took a long gulp.

"I didn't say you could have one," Ethan said.

Mannix nodded as he brought the bottle to his lips. "Nope, you sure didn't."

Ethan chuckled softly and drank his own. After a few minutes of silence Ethan cleared his throat and set down the beer bottle on the desk.

"Do I need to ask?" he said softly.

Mannix shrugged. "If it'll make you feel better, knock yourself out."

"Is Saburo…still with us?" Ethan asked carefully.

"I think it's safe to say that Fukai san is not," Mannix replied with a smile. "Unless you know of any way that a guy can breath through the back of his head."

Ethan laughed. "No, I don't think I do. So," Ethan continued softly, eyes boring into Mannix, "doesn't feel as good as you thought it would, does it?"

Mannix froze and glared at Ethan. "You don't know what it feels like."

"You forget who I am, kid," Ethan said, "and what I do. You think I never had my first revenge kill?"

"This isn't going to turn into a fucking speech is it?" Mannix mumbled angrily and took another heavy swig of his beer.

"No because I'm not here to teach you or raise you," Ethan said, "I just show you enough so you don't fuck up."

Mannix smiled. "I haven't yet."

"And who gets credit for that me or you?"

"Me," Mannix replied without a second thought, "you get an honorable mention."

"That's something, I guess." Ethan said with a soft laugh and went behind his desk and started going through the drawers. He pulled out five medium sized paper bags folded down as flat as they could go, two small metal boxes, several letters and a small manila envelop that appeared to be quite stuffed. "This is your job for the day, everything's written out where it needs to go and who you need to talk to. When you take these boxes make sure you've got some sort of backup with you, alright? These aren't exactly the best of presents if you get what I'm saying, these folks might react….badly. Why don't you take Michael and his friends?"

Mannix frowned so deeply it looked like he had bitten down on something really nasty. "I don't trust those fuckers."

Ethan let it slide off his back and simply shrugged. "Then find someone else then. The manila envelope is your cut from the Sweet Bliss sells last week and a little bonus just because."

Just because? Now Mannix definitely knew something was up since Ethan never did anything 'just because'. There was always a motive. Always. His mind wandered back to the previous night and what Ren was only teasing at became more tangible by the little show of Ethan's 'goodwill'. Ethan kept Mannix away from Saburo (or would that be Saburo away from Mannix) for four years and then suddenly he let Mannix have the revenge that brought him under Ethan's employment in the first place? Maybe it wasn't because of what Mannix had done but because of what Saburo didn't. A hit that he had found the perfect person for the job? Killing two birds with one stone?

"How much of a bonus?" Mannix asked instead.

"About 10 thousand," Ethan said nonchalantly as he pushed all the items on the desk in a small briefcase and locked it. "Petty cash, really."

"Odd," Mannix replied as he got up and walked to the desk. "But that's the usual pay off for hits."

"Really?" Ethan asked innocently and handing Mannix the briefcase. It didn't matter it was locked since only he and Mannix had the key to it anyway. Mannix snatched it away but smiled.

"Yes, you bastard, really."

They stood there in silence with amused smiles on their faces as they came to an understanding without saying a word to each other.

"Don't expect me to thank you," Ethan grumbled finally and walked away, going back to his surveillance setup.

"And you know I won't," Mannix replied and turned to head for the door and left without saying another word. It wasn't that bad when he really thought about it; he got paid to do something he wanted to do. If that wasn't a fringe benefit he didn't know what was. Now that it was a new day Mannix felt oddly relieved that Saburo wasn't around to see it, that he was perhaps starting to bloat and rot in that shack, surrounded by filth and decay. It was a rather cold thought for one so young but you know what they say about revenge, after all.