Author's Note:
Author's Note:
If you've read my other stuff, this may be a bit of a culture shock. I tried to make to make this fiction as close to the real deal as possible—mature content included. So try not to be overly concerned when I drop the f-bomb a million times and pair a thirty-year-old war photographer with a fifteen-year-old. (The way I figure it, what could be worse than Kataang being canon?)
It would be most useful to you if you've seen Speed Grapher.
If you've never read any of my stuff before, then thanks for the interest! Check out my author profile for more information and updates.
Guilty Pleasure is just as it might suggest. I portray the characters' guilty pleasures while satisfying my own: I wasn't satisfied with the way Kagura and Saiga's relationship ended up on the show, so I made my own alternate ending.
The characters do not belong to me. They are the creations of Gonzo.
This fan fiction takes place after Episode 15: Hell Is a Wet Woman.
. . .
It seemed to Saiga that after the war, everything in his life was a quick fix: tabloid photography, Ginza, smoking, drinking. He didn't hate his life. He just wasn't living anymore. To avoid the painful memories, he put off thinking about the war, and in not thinking about the war, he forgot his life before the war. All that was left was the patch-job, quick-fix present.
Then he met her.
Suddenly and increasingly, Saiga found his life revolving around rescuing, rehabilitating, culturing, caring for Kagura and cultivating a purpose for his dull life. She never asked for any of those things. He simply gave them to her, and in doing so, he saved himself from mediocrity.
After the final pull before Suitengu's wedding, Saiga and Kagura painstakingly took back roads, small towns, little pieces of nowhere.
...
They settled back into amiable silence that night. The jitters the mermaid had given them finally subsided enough that they could pull over and heat up the canned soup Saiga had brought.
"Now this really isn't much," he said apologetically. "But it's food."
"Anything is better than nothing." Kagura shrugged.
He stirred the pot a couple times. "Listen. What you did back there…." He shook his head. "Thank you for not staying in the car."
"I'm getting better at not doing what I'm told." She giggled. "Forget about it, Saiga. I owe you one or two, anyway."
He smiled. "So, uh, why don't you help me work on this whole 'awkward' thing."
"Well, maybe you shouldn't worry as much as you do. I'm fine, really."
"That remains to be seen." Saiga's face darkened.
"See? You're doing it again. Stop trying to shut me out and talk to me and actually listen."
His mind flickered back to Ginza. "Yeah. I've been told I don't talk as much as I should."
"So talk to me. Tell me what's on your mind."
Saiga glanced in Kagura's direction and frowned. "I don't need a therapist, kid."
"I'm not a therapist. I'm a friend!"
He spooned a bowl of soup and handed it to her. "Careful. It's hot."
She bent her head and took a small sip. "This is great! Thanks."
"Glad you like it."
"But don't avoid the subject. Come on; tell me something!"
"Fine. I guess… I've been wondering about… some things Ginza might have said."
"Ginza," Kagura echoed dully. "Captain Ginza?"
"Yeah, she's kind of a friend of mine… kinda." Saiga took his eyes from the fire and caught Kagura's stare. "What happened after she picked you up? How did you end up back in Suitengu's twisted grip?"
Kagura lost herself in her soup. "How close of a friend is she?"
"Only the kind of friend you use if you need something. Not very close at all."
"Captain Ginza…" She loosened her jaw. "Tricked me into coming with her. She had this news clip of my mother collapsing and—"
Saiga nearly dropped his bowl. "She kidnapped you?"
"When we started driving away, I didn't see you anywhere. She asked these questions about my relationship with you. She was so angry. But why?"
"She's paranoid maybe." He shifted uncomfortably. "And then she dropped you off at your house?"
"I ran in, expecting to see my mother ill, but she was fine—a-angry, but fine. I tried to get Ginza to help me, but she slapped me and told me you belonged to her. She had you in the trunk!"
"Not a very close friend," Saiga repeated. "I'm sorry you had the misfortune of dealing with her."
"Why is she paranoid? What is she paranoid of?"
"Losing me, probably. Ginza's controlling. She was good to have around because she tipped me off: I was always right where I needed to be to get a good scoop. I wouldn't be shocked if she started chasing us, too, though."
"She's terrifying." Kagura admitted.
"Don't worry." He grinned reassuringly. "You've dealt with much worse. What about Suitengu's men?"
"They were pretty scary. But up until a few weeks ago, I always thought that they were just his assistants, and I didn't have a reason to distrust Suitengu." She set her bowl at her feet.
Saiga noticed her discomfort. "Kagura, I swear to you I won't let him take you away again."
"I believe you."
. . .
Author's Note:
I realize that it is very corny now, but it does get better.