Chapter 2 – Akemi Aihara, Tamakoma's O-Rank Squad Captain
"Soya." Akemi walked over to the blackette as he waited at the bridge, staring out at the river. She stopped about a foot short of him with a smile that was a little off as compared to normal. "Sorry I'm late." Kazama stared at her, glancing over her outfit. Black sweater, grey pants, black boots, and a blue jacket with grey fur lining. He felt the heat rise slightly to his cheeks, but it wasn't as though he was blushing.
"It's fine." He said. "Let's go." He began heading towards the shopping district with her, keeping to a reasonable pace and walking side by side with her. "You really made an impact at HQ."
"What? Really?" she asked, turning to him. "What did I do? I don't have a fan-club again do I?" Her wide eyes made her look genuinely curious. Soya covered his mouth, trying not to laugh at her expression. She crinkled her eyebrows, pouting a little. "Wait, I don't right? I don't want to deal with that again-"
"No, I mean that you have set your reputation with the lower ranking members very dangerously." He stated once he was composed again. "Mouthing off to Commander Kido right before leaving a meeting, not even bothering to excuse yourself before exiting the room, and on top of that defending your sister's so-called inexcusable conduct. That was the gist of what I heard."
"Ahh, Kinuta-san and Netsuki-san must have been talking while passing by a bunch of lower ranking agents…" she nodded, crossing her arms as she thought about it. "They never liked me much to begin with, though..." she tilted her head. "I'm probably causing trouble, but that's just how I am. I have to fight for what I believe in or I just end up as a pawn in someone's game."
"Most people don't know how to deal with you thanks to how blunt you are." He reminded her as she uncrossed her arms to walk normally again.
"But you do."
"Only because I've known you as long as I have."
"Mm… well anyway. You know Kido-san only tolerates me because of my trigger's usefulness to Border." Akemi stated as she walked alongside Kazama. "Mukou isn't something just anyone can fight… And even against other Black Triggers I'm of significant use. The only person who might have a chance at this point on their own would be Jin and Fujin, or Mikan and El."
"Even if you say that, you're still causing a stir." Kazama stated. "Everyone seems to know you after less than half a day back."
"What, worried about me?" she asked, taking his hand as they entered the shopping district. "Don't worry about it, ne?" she smiled. "I can handle myself."
"That's not what I'm worried about." He replied.
"Then what is it? You're bothered by something." She stated, looking around. "Anything in particular you want to eat?" she asked him. "I'm not picky tonight, so I'm up for whatever you want."
"I'm not picky either."
"You're avoiding the question, Soya." She said, releasing his hand and stopping in the middle of the street. She rummaged in her pocket, taking a coin out and looking at him and tilting her head a little. "Heads will be the left side of the street?"
"That's fine." He said, watching her flip the coin. Heads. "Left of the street it is." He took her hand again and walked with her along the left side of the street. "And I'm bothered because we're being followed."
"Oh, we are?" she asked. "Can you guess who?"
"Who else would know and pester us while we're trying to be alone?" he asked her, pulling her into a restaurant, stopping just inside the door and turning to see Jin and Tachikawa entering. "What do you want?"
"Aww, you don't have to be so rude, Kazama-san." Jin grinned. "We just wanted to eat at the same place, is all."
"Yeah yeah, don't get all worked up." Tachikawa nodded his head and crossing his arms. "What, afraid we'll ruin your date? We can just get separate tables."
"The restaurant's crowded, it's fine just share a booth with us." Akemi stated. Kazama was about to object but he noticed her face set in a calm, almost icy expression. They got a table, Akemi sitting next to Kazama while Jin and Tachikawa sat across. And as soon as they were comfy, Kei doubled over onto the table. Soya's eyes went wide, wondering what was wrong until he noticed Akemi's leg tap the ground. She'd kicked him under the table. "Now, as you two are being very rude and interrupting our date, you'll be paying for the meal."
"Ahaha, well I can't argue with that." Jin said cheerfully. "My Side Effect tells me we're going to be paying about 5000¥ for the 4 of us."
"Why didn't you see that she would kick me then, huh?" Kei asked, grumbling.
"Well, she'd likely have poisoned Jin's next meal if he'd told you." Soya said, picking up a menu. Akemi nodded, looking over the menu with Soya, smiling a little bit. She missed hanging out with them all this way. It reminded her of their school days.
Flashback:
Akemi was walking past the school when it happened. Kei had previously grabbed Kazama and kept him from running off when Jin grabbed Akemi. The two pulled their senpais towards the shopping district, essentially making the glasses girl and the stoic blackette go on a date. Jin and Kei were very pushy with Kazama, mostly because they found it funny. Akemi and Soya were friends, and the date part was not subtle at all. But thanks to the pair of pushy underclassmen leaving them alone, Soya didn't seem to mind much so Akemi just went along for the ride. At this time, Akemi was fresh out of high school and had just become a full time Border Agent. Kazama was a 3rd year, Kei a 2nd year, and Jin a freshman. "Sorry about that." Kazama told her at the end of their outing when they were heading to Border for their afternoon practices.
"Don't worry, I know Kei and Jin are your underclassmen but I didn't expect them to work together. I thought they hated doing that. They're rivals, aren't they?"
"Normally yes but it seems they made an exception." he stated, keeping his eyes on the path ahead of them. "How are your siblings?"
"Ayu's working hard in school now, with Shuji Miwa... But she's in and out of the hospital a lot thanks to her mishaps with the Border Triggers... Azami's working hard too, but he wants to join Border when he figures out which trigger he wants to use."
"A little fast, isn't it? Isn't he still a little kid?"
"He is, but his determination is hard to argue with." She smiled, walking so her hands were behind her back, the black case she normally carried seeming so light the way she handled it. But Kazama knew it wasn't nearly so easy to hold, the thing was heavy.
"You're just too mothering to him." He said, still wanting to know what she kept in the case. He'd wanted to know ever since she started carrying it around.
"Hm, true." she smiled. "How is everything with you?"
"... Fine."
"Soya, you're lying to me." she stated, pouting at him. "That is not the face of someone who's okay." she pulled on his cheek a little. "I'm here if you need me." she switched to gently rubbing where she'd pulled, as though in apology. "You know that."
"Yeah." he mumbled, not seeming to mind her touching his face. He didn't get why, but Akemi was so kind, it made him feel better no matter what he was thinking. His heart fluttered a little, god he hated this feeling. But it was Akemi, so it was okay, wasn't it? "Akemi-senpai?"
"Hm?"
"Do you want to go on another date sometime?"
: Flashback End
Soya walked with Akemi back to Tamakoma's general vicinity, not wanting to make her walk back alone. They arrived at the block over from the Branch Office when he pinned her to the wall of a nearby house. "Y-yes?" She was apprehensive thanks to Jin's previous mentioning of something "scandalous" occurring.
"Sorry... It pissed me off that Jin and Tachikawa showed up." he leaned his forehead against hers. "They both knew. Sorry, I shouldn't have been so-"
"You weren't careless... I ran into Jin a little while before I met up with you, it was my fault." she stated, petting Soya's head gently, pulling him closer to her. In order to counteract her nervousness, she put up her game face. "And if you want a kiss, please ask... I don't mind if you want to rush a little. I don't mind, so long as it's you... Soya..." But he saw right through her.
"Did Jin say something to you?"
"Ehe, is it that obvious?" she rubbed the back of her neck.
"A little… you seemed apprehensive." He muttered, leaning his forehead against her shoulder, his shoulders moving in rhythm with his breathing. "I won't push it if you aren't ready, Akemi."
"I really don't mind, so long as it's you-"
"Don't lie." He stated. "You're scared about what will happen." He looked up at her, calm again. "I trust you, Akemi, you know that."
"Yes, but I don't trust myself." She replied, her smile not reaching her eyes. Those ash-blue orbs were filled with insecurity. "But thank you…" she pulled him into a hug. "You're always looking out for me…" Kazama just stood there with her, knowing she didn't want anything to go wrong. "I… I'm sorry, I'm no good at this…"
"It's fine, Akemi." They let go after a moment before he walked her to the last block of her trip back to base. "I'll see you later."
"Okay. Thanks, Soya…" she pecked his cheek before heading off back to Tamakoma, leaving Soya with his thoughts. His heart was racing again, he hated how worked up he got with her. But he put up with it, so as not to upset the woman he loved. He let himself calm down before he headed home. Even if Akemi was the older one, she'd only ever seriously been involved with one other person. He'd used her and she was extremely cautious thanks to what had happened, and left Akemi with invisible scars so deep that Soya wasn't sure she'd ever really heal. Despite being in a relationship for almost 3 whole years, Kazama and Akemi hadn't gotten to first base yet. Kazama had asked after their first 6 months, which was when he learned about Akemi's first boyfriend. The guy broke her down physically and mentally to the point where she was afraid to even let a boy touch her, and anyone who tried to force themselves on her or even touched her without permission got beaten to a bloody pulp. That's why she was scared, she'd killed the man who'd hurt her, even if she didn't remember doing it. Kazama had been the first one since the incident that she'd allowed so close.
"Thinking about Akemi?" Kazama snapped out of his thoughts to see Jin and Tachikawa.
"So what if I am?"
"You know, if you ask her to bed she'll accept. She adores you." Tachikawa said, sighing afterward.
"Th-that's none of your concern, Tachikawa." Kazama was a little caught off guard by the sudden mention of taking Akemi to bed.
"If you keep this up you'll get frustrated with her." The kogetsu user stated.
"She isn't ready, and I don't want to scare her." He retorted, glaring at Kei. "You know what happened to her, it's perfectly reasonable for her to still be scared."
"But you DO want to, right?" Jin tilted his head at the blackette.
"Shut up."
"Ooh, you're even starting to talk alike too." Jin stated, earning another glare from Kazama. "Whoa whoa, don't glare like that. I'm just saying. Maybe ask her to spend the night or something. You don't have to push her too far but I bet she'd love the company. She just sits on the roof all night anyway, when she spends the night at base."
"Oh she does? That explains why she always looks so tired." Tachikawa said, Kazama directing his glare at the kogetsu user. "What? It's true."
"Leave it alone. I'll ask her when I think she's ready." As much as he'd wanted to go right now and ask, he would wait. He walked past the two and headed home, trying to keep himself composed.
Akemi had gone up to the roof of Tamakoma Branch after getting back from her date, staring at the stars as she lay on her back. She did not move, searching the sky for what she hoped would be an answer to resolve this fear of hers. Soya was so patient with her, it almost hurt to realize how long he'd been waiting for her. "I'm sorry." She whispered, noting her vision starting to blur. "Soya, I'm sorry…" she removed her glasses and covered her eyes with her forearm.
"If you're sorry, shouldn't you go and tell him that in person?" Akemi bolted up to see Reiji standing nearby. "Here, milk." He handed her a cup of warm milk, sitting a couple of feet away as she stared down at the cup.
"I don't know what I should do at this point."
"You shouldn't worry so much, he's waited this long for you." Reiji stated simply. "If he hasn't left you yet, he'll wait for you as long as he has to, Akemi."
"… As much as I want to believe that, I know I can't just make it go away." She shook her head. "It scares me… not just to be that close to someone, but the fact that I'm unable to bring myself to accept Soya's advances." She turned to Reiji, tears forming as she began to tremble a little. "I don't want him to be mad at me…" she sniffled and rubbed her tears away.
"He won't be." Reiji stated, looking away as she tried to dry her tears. For her to cry in front of someone else was unheard of by anyone who knew her outside of her inner circle. "Kazama isn't that kind of man, from what Jin tells me." He turned back to her as her sniffling stopped. "Jin also said he really cares about you. He may be all business on the outside, but with you, its apparently very different." Reiji took a breath, waiting for the woman to speak on the matter.
"I see…" she smiled a little, seeming calmer after hearing that information from someone like Reiji. "Do you think… that I'm just stuck in the past?"
"No, your fear is well grounded." Reiji replied. "However, if you just keep telling yourself you're scared, how can you get over it?" he asked. "If you start on a path, even if you take it really slowly, you'll get there."
"Hehe, Reiji-san is so wise." Akemi finished calming down and drank the rest of her milk. "Thanks…"
"Don't worry about it." He said, watching as she headed back downstairs. He sighed, looking up at the sky. "Ne, Kagami." The reddish-brown haired man stepped out from the shadows. "Did she happen to lose it on the away-mission?"
"Almost." Kagami replied. "But she has been trying to work on her control, and she's been much less volatile then she was when she was still a teenager."
"Well, you do know her better than anyone else at Border." Reiji stood up and headed back downstairs, Kagami following. "Must be tough, keeping her on a leash."
"It's less of a leash and more of a blanket tossed over her eyes." Kagami stated. "To keep her from going crazy and attacking anything that may pose a threat."
"Mm, must be tough. Keep up the good work."
"Of course. That's been my job for the past decade, I don't intend to stop now." He replied. "See you in the morning."
"See ya." Reiji said, watching as Kagami walked off. The man may have been calm and composed, but Reiji could tell that his friend was worried about his team leader. Akemi may have been a strong border agent, but inside she was all twisted up and hiding all sorts of insecurity. The red head sighed, heading to his room for the night. "Man, the air around here is so full of bad vibes…"
The next morning, Akemi walked along the streets of Mikado City, stopping at a house with a rather large gate. The nameplate read Aihara. She jumped over the wall, her bagworm fading as she arrived at the door. "Ayu, are you home?" The door opened and a girl with long bangs and frameless glasses stood there, a stuffed bear in hand. "… You know, you are causing serious unrest with the higher ups…" she muttered, taking in the appearance of the girl in front of her. She was not only wearing a bagworm, but she was in her border uniform. She had bags under her eyes and it appeared that she'd been crying. "… Have you kept your bagworm on since you went into hiding?"
"They tried to take him." She squeezed the stuffed bear in her arms tight, as though afraid he'd get taken. "I… I was protecting him…" she seemed to be glancing past Akemi, as though afraid someone would notice.
"I know, Ayu." Akemi reached through the door and pet the girl's head. "Come on. Let's go to base." She smiled. "Big sis will take care of everything ne?" The girl in the door looked up at Akemi, nodding slowly.
"… Only cause it's you, Akemi-nee…"
"Come on then." Akemi offered her hand to the girl. "Let's go to HQ and sort this out, Ayumi."
"… Yes, Akemi-nee… I'm sorry…" the two left the property before heading towards Border HQ. "Are they going to yell at me, Akemi-nee?"
"If they do, they'll be in for a world of hurt." Akemi said, keeping her sister close. "Now stop worrying so much. I promise to take care of it, alright?"
"… Okay."
(Here's the next chapter.
Hopefully this is a good chapter...
Reviews are appreciated, and thanks for reading~ ; u ;
-Winter Cheshire)