Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited, or put this story on alert. Those things are a great motivator to keep me writing, so keep 'em coming (no, seriously)!


Chapter 3:

No Gentleman

Street lamps and store signs flashed by in an orgy of neon, shivering and blinking like the lights inside of a pinball machine. Nagisa's Kawasaki motorcycle weaved in and out of traffic with ease, sliding around creeping cabs blaring Indian music like a bright blue cheetah, accelerating ahead of buses and Porches and tiny VWs. Nagisa had been concerned with how Karma would take to his fast, erratic driving, but it seemed he had nothing to fear. Because Karma had both arms around Nagisa's waist, his chin pressed to his shoulder, and Nagisa could feel his body's vibrations over that of the bike's. And he was laughing.

Karma was laughing.

Nagisa admitted that was a strange reaction to what had just happened. Namely, seeing four people brutally murdered in front of you, and then having your own life threatened in the process. It was definitely odd behavior. But then again, this was Karma. Violence was second nature to him; it was his natural element. Or at least, it had been. He wasn't sure what to make of this older, twenty year old Karma.

...the Karma that used to be in E-class with me. That's the Karma I'm addressing now. I need you to be the ruthless, violent, and cunning boy I used to know. I need you to get yourself out of this...

There had been a moment there, back in the hotel room, where Nagisa had hesitated. He had seen the look of fear on Karma's face and that look had bounced from him to Nagisa, and in that moment he had actually hesitated. He'd actually faltered. And unfortunately, that kind of hesitation could get you killed. If Karma hadn't reacted to his goading the way Nagisa had expected, then things could have turned out a lot differently back there. A whole lot worse. Nagisa had banked on Karma still being Karma and fortunately, for the both of them, things had worked out.

But what if things hadn't worked out?

Stop it, Nagisa. Focus. Why are you obsessing over one tiny incremental slip up? a niggling little voice inside his head asked him.

And a second voice, sounding very much like his fifteen year old self, answered, Because I could have gotten Karma killed, that's why! And the thought of that happening, well…well…

Well, what?

Nothing. Nagisa's mind refused to pursue that line of questioning any further. Instead, he focused on the situation at hand, which meant getting away from the scene of the crime and getting Karma back to his room. Luckily, Karma hadn't touched any of the objects in Albertson's suite, and Nagisa himself had dismantled the CCTV cameras aimed at the hallway and the elevators a couple of hours earlier. Other than the witnesses in the lounge, there was no way any of this could be solidly traced back to Karma. Nagisa found himself worrying over the logistics of this in a way that was totally alien to him. Usually, while on a job, he only had himself to worry about. And one didn't waste time worrying about a ghost. Because that was what Nagisa was: a ghost, a specter, a thing that didn't exist on paper. But Karma, he existed. He had a real life in the real world with real world documents and a job and real world problems. And Nagisa didn't want to screw that up for him. Not if he could help it.

The fifteen year old voice in the back of his head snickered at the irony of the situation.

The motorcycle pulled into the backlot of a converted brownstone that had been remodeled into a hotel. Nagisa watched as Karma staggered off his bike, his face glowing red as he said, "That was...that was…"

The comment remained unfinished as Karma dove for some nearby hedges and promptly started vomiting into them. There, thought Nagisa with a raised eyebrow. That's a far more suitable reaction. Nagisa waited patiently for Karma to stop retching. After a few more dry heaves, Karma stood up and wiped his mouth and said in an calm, observational tone, "That rum and Coke didn't taste nearly as good coming back up as it did going down."


"C'mon, we're going up to your room. You can lead the way," Nagisa commanded as he pulled a shellshocked Karma by the arm through the double doors of the lobby. Karma squinted under the harsh glow of the electric lights as he felt another bout of nausea begin to overtake him. He shoved it back down as he noticed two smartly dressed girls behind the front desk staring his and Nagisa's way, along with an older couple who were lingering by the coffee bar. Karma straightened, tugging his black blazer into place. Just put one foot in front of the other and walk forward, the reasonable little voice inside his head told him.

Suddenly Nagisa appeared directly in front of him, blocking his way, breeching his personal space in an unexpected manner. Before Karma even had a chance to process what was happening, Nagisa stepped up to him and linked both arms around his neck, pulling him in close. Karma only saw two orbs of brightest sapphire lined in dark kohl moving towards him like an oncoming pair of headlights as he muttered, "What are you doing?"

"This," said Nagisa quietly before leaning up on tiptoe to kiss him. Every nerve and synapse in Karma's brain began to misfire as a rush of contradictory emotions and impulses began to flood his thoughts.

Oh my god! Nagisa's kissing me!

What the hell is wrong with you? Push him away! Why are you letting him do this?

I must have drank more than I thought.

Hallelujah! Nagisa's kissing me! I've wanted this to happen since middle school!

I. Am. Losing. My. Mind.

Maybe I'm dreaming this…?

Just as Karma was starting to respond to the kiss in kind, Nagisa pulled his mouth away, whispering by his ear, "Are the two girls behind the desk watching?"

Karma's eyes snapped open and he stared over Nagisa's shoulder. Sure enough, the two girls were looking at them, both of them whispering and giggling. "Yes," Karma confirmed, an unbidden blush rising to his cheeks.

Nagisa's gloved hand slithered through his hair. "Good," he whispered. "I want them to remember us. It'll make an excellent alibi for you."

"Do I need an alibi?" Karma honestly asked.

Nagisa shrugged in his arms. "Can't be too careful."

"Right," agreed Karma. "Can't be too careful." When Nagisa tried to step away, Karma pulled him back into his embrace, murmuring, "Maybe we should do it again just so we'll be sure they won't forget…" With that, Karma sealed his mouth over Nagisa's, his hands delving into those electric blue locks, his lips questing, silently begging for more. Yes! This! This is what I've always wanted! Right now, more than anything! Before Karma could get his tongue into the blue haired assassin's mouth, Nagisa pulled back, his eyes narrowed into icy blue chips. "Down boy," Nagisa chastised, the half smile on his face blunting the impact of his words. "You don't have to pretend quite so hard."

"Who said I was pretending?" Karma answered with a sly look. His flirtatious tone left no room for ambiguity. He clung to Nagisa, liking the feel of him in his arms. Feminine, yet not. Delicate, yet solid. Protective, yet ruthless. A creature made up of contradictions, a paradox in human form. Oh yes, Karma definitely liked what he saw in this new Nagisa. Ah, but he was always this way, said the fifteen year old voice inside his head. You were just too afraid to acknowledge it.

But Karma wasn't afraid anymore.

No, Karma knew, that for a certain kind of person, there were far worse things to fear. Dull complacency. Unquestioned mediocrity. Unfulfilled desires. Loss of self…

Karma was staring intently into Nagisa's eyes, searching for the answer to a long held question. "Nagisa, I…" Karma leaned forward again, intent on stealing yet another kiss-


"-Nagisa! Why aren't you answering me?" An electronic voice boomed right into Nagisa's ear.

Nagisa practically jumped out of Karma's arms at the sudden intrusion, whirling around and walking a few paces away. "Your timing is impeccable, Miss Bitch," Nagisa muttered, catching the crestfallen look on Karma's face.

"There you go again with that name! What's wrong with you? Is everything alright?"

"Everything's fine, Irina-"

"-you weren't answering earlier and I thought maybe things had went south-"

"-I told you, it's fine. There was a surprise fourth party in the suite and things got a little...messy."

"I thought Albertson only had two guards-"

"-as did I, but apparently I was wrong-"

"-and the fourth party-"

"-dispatched. All four."

There was an audible sigh of relief in Nagisa's ear. "Thank god for that-"

"-listen, I gotta go. I'll contact you later-"

Nagisa could practically picture Irina's eyes narrowing suspiciously as she said, "What? What do you mean? Nagisa, are you going out on a-"

Nagisa ripped off the earpiece and crammed it into his jacket pocket. He stalked off toward the elevators with Karma following close at his heels. The look of surprise was apparent on Karma's face as he said, "Miss Bitch? As in, Professor Bitch? Are you for real?"

The elevator doors slid open and Nagisa and Karma got on. Karma reached across Nagisa and clicked the '3' button. Nagisa looked at Karma and said, "Irina's my senior operative."

Karma's eyebrow shot up. "You chose Professor Bitch to be your S.O.? Over Karasuma? Over Koro-sensei? Over...anyone else?" Karma shook his head in disbelief. "Why, Nagisa?"

Nagisa crossed his arms defensively. "She's not the shallow person everyone thinks-"

"-I know that. But still…"

"It's hard to explain," Nagisa said. He suddenly found himself thinking back to a particular day at school. A day not long after the events of the island and the confrontation with Akira Takaoka...

It had been a beautiful warm day, with the midday sun hanging outside the classroom window like a bright, smiling Koro-sensei head. Nagisa was all alone in the classroom with Irina, working on an extra credit assignment for English. Irina was seated at a small portable keyboard, her talented fingers dancing across its keys, filling the small space with notes of Gershwin. Specifically, Rhapsody in Blue. The notes suddenly stopped and Nagisa looked up to find Irina staring at him intently. The intensity of her gaze made Nagisa swallow nervously and he dropped his eyes back to his paper, his natural shyness taking over. Finally Irina said to him:

"Nagisa, have you given any serious thought to what you want to do after school?"

Nagisa shrugged without looking up. "I don't know," he answered uncertainly, even though he knew.

Even back then, he knew…

Nagisa heard a chair scrape back across the floor and the click of high heels on bare wood as Irina approached him, stopping to lean against his desk. He looked up at her, shrinking back in his chair a little. Then Irina said:

"The girls told me about what happened in the upper lounge of the hotel," she said quietly.

Nagisa's face immediately went red. When he didn't respond, Irina continued, "Of all the pretty girls there, that boy chose you." Irina paused. "Why do you think that was?"

"I...I...don't know."

Irina's eyes narrowed. She grabbed Nagisa's arm, pulling him from his chair. She walked him over to the full length mirror that was positioned just behind her keyboard. She turned him towards the mirror, standing close behind him, holding him in place by both arms. Her reflection said to his over his shoulder, "Remember what Koro-sensei said about the necessity of having a second blade?"

"Yes?"

Irina reached around and lifted Nagia's chin with a delicate, perfectly manicured hand. "This," she stated, staring at his reflection. "This is your second blade. If you would just embrace it."

Nagisa stared uncomprehendingly at his own reflection. He saw what he always saw: a short, effeminate looking boy with ridiculous, messy pigtails and a blue vest and slouchy cargo pants. In other words, he saw nothing special. He looked at Irina's reflection with a question in his eyes. Irina smiled what Nagisa thought was a sad smile and she squeezed his shoulders affectionately and said:

"You're going to be something special one day, Nagisa. You don't see it yet, but you will…"

The elevator gave a cheery ding! and both Karma and Nagisa exited through its doors, with Nagisa trailing Karma down the hall. Nagisa watched as Karma fumbled with a set of old fashioned keys, dropping them clumsily onto the carpeted floor. They both knelt down at the same time, reaching for them-


-Karma froze as he stared into Nagisa's eyes, their faces mere inches apart. He felt nervous, unnaturally so. He couldn't account for this feeling, except for this: the thought of being alone with Nagisa in his hotel room terrified him. And not because he was afraid (although he was). It was because the situation was too much like the real life culmination of so many secret, adolescent fantasies that he'd had about the other boy over the years, for so long and so often, that Karma was literally freaking out. Freaking out like he was fifteen years old again. So when he dropped his keys like a blundering idiot and they both reached down for them, Karma disguised his fear with a flirtatious, bravado filled comment:

"Are you sure you feel safe coming alone with me into my hotel room like this? I'm not a gentleman, you know. As you could probably tell by that kiss I gave you in the lobby."

Nagisa, still kneeling, tilted his head to the side, regarding Karma with an inscrutable expression. "I think I'll be okay. I don't know if you've noticed, but I've gotten pretty good at defending myself."

"From guns and knives, yes."

There was a brief flicker of emotion in Nagisa's eyes at this insinuating comment. He snatched the keys from Karma and stood up and opened the door, pushing his way in without saying another word. Inwardly groaning, Karma followed him inside, the words falling from his lips in a hurried speech as he tried a different tact:

"Listen, I have these tickets for a private showing at the Victoria Albert tomorrow night. It's some sort of artsy fundraiser and the collection belongs to another one of my parents' clients. It's going to be super boring and stuffy and completely unbearable, but I'm supposed to put in an appearance there and anyway...I was wondering if you'd like to be my plus one?"

Nagisa turned and regarded Karma with a look of complete disbelief. "Even though it's going to be super boring and stuffy and completely unbearable?" Nagisa repeated with an arched eyebrow. "Wow, what a way to sell an evening there, Akabane-"

Karma had the good sense to look mortified. "I know, I know. It's terrible," he nodded, grinning like an idiot. "But, it'll be a lot less terrible with you there-"

"-are you seriously asking me out on a date?"

They both stood, frozen into place. "Yes?" Karma said, the word coming out like a question. A few seconds passed and Karma thought for sure he was about to go down in flames when Nagisa narrowed his eyes and said:

"Okay then. Just tell me what time I should show up and I'll be there…"