I used an expression that could be wrongly interpreted in the previous chapter. I used the term "first floor". I discovered that it can mean two things, depending of if you're speaking a USA english or a UK english. So, let me get this straight:

If you're speaking the USA english, Otoya fell from the second floor.

If you're speaking the UK english, Otoya fell from the first floor.

If you speak another kind of english, Otoya fell from one floor and it hurt.

In french we say "premier étage" for the floor above the ground floor. Sorry for those who were confused by this!

Shiena rushed to go outside the building, in the backyard, where Otoya supposedly landed.

When she arrived, she discovered that indeed, the serial killer was lying on the grass. Otoya wasn't moving. Cautiously, the brunette approached from the inert girl. She could see that there was blood on and under the serial killer, but because of her blurry vision, Shiena couldn't see the extent of her injuries.

With some hesitation, Shiena crouched near her and stretched her arm to check her vitals. Suddenly, Otoya opened her eyes and gazed at her. The brunette blenched and recoiled immediately. Despite her bad vision, she could see that the serial killer was smiling.

"Shiena-chan…that fucking hurt. But eh, I guess that I kind of deserved it."

Otoya took out something from her pocket. Shiena was on her guard, worried that it could be a weapon. But it didn't look like that, neither a pair of scissors. She could see that the object was red. She finally recognised what it was.

"Hehe, look at this, Shiena-chan. I didn't…break them…this time…"

The serial killer closed her eyes and her hand fell weakly on the ground, still holding Shiena's glasses.

Slowly, the hacker took her glasses and put them on. She could see clearly in what state Otoya was. Her body was covered in cuts, probably because of the broken window's glasses. But, her injuries looked minor. Shiena reached her neck to check her vitals. She sighed in relief when she felt her heartbeat, to her greatest surprise.

"Why am I glad that she's ok?" she thought.

Shiena wondered what she was supposed to do now. Called the police? No, Otoya could denounce her to the police about her being an "assassin" and they could find out about her group. Leave her there? No, the serial killer's injuries could worsen, or she would come back to her apartment for revenge.

The brunette took out her revolver.

"Kill her?"

Shiena knew that she couldn't. Despite all the horrible things that Otoya had done to her, she couldn't kill her. The brunette was unable to kill, even someone like Otoya.

So, there was only one option left. Shiena put her weapon away and lift, with some difficulties, the serial killer and put her on her back.

It was with pain all over her body that Otoya woke up. She noticed that she was lying in a bed, with a blanket above her. The serial killer lifted it and discovered two things. First, she was in her underwear. Secondly, her body was covered with bandages.

She then spotted Shiena's presence. The brunette was sitting on the bed's edge, showing her back to her. Otoya tried to reach her with her hand, but something stopped her. The serial killer turned back and discovered that, while her left hand was free, her right one was handcuffed to the bed leg.

"Shiena-chan?" she called.

The brunette turned back and looked at her.

"Oh, you're awake." Shiena said coldly.

"What…what's the meaning of that? Why am I half-naked and handcuffed in your bed?"

Shiena didn't answer. She looked away and seemed somewhat embarrassed by her question.

"Oh, I get it! Haha, I knew it! You're into roleplay. That's kinky."

"No I'm not!" Shiena protested while blushing. "Your clothes were all bloody, dirty and torn apart, so I took them of. And for the handcuff…you really are asking why? Isn't obvious? I don't want you to jump on me and start assaulting me again."

"Well, that seems like understandable reasons." Otoya replied. "Wait, what about the bandages? Did you…treat my wounds?"

"Well, yes. You treated mine, even if you were the one who caused them. Well, to be fair, I'm the one who threw you by the window."

"Yeah, about that…I'm sorry for what I've done. I still don't get a lot of things about…you know, feelings. But I wasn't lying when I said that I love you."

Shiena suddenly turned her back to her again.

"Takechi, do you know what love is?"

"Huh? Well, it's when you like someone so much that you want to make them yours and possess them forever…"

"No, that's not how love is supposed to work. Love is when you want to spend time with someone, when it's painful to be separated from them, when you empathized with them so much that only the thought of them being hurt hurts you even more…Honestly, I never really experienced love myself, so it's hard for me to tell. But this is how I imagine what love is."

Otoya thought about that. Did she like spending time with Shiena? Yes. Is it painful to be separated from her? Probably, but she couldn't tell now. Since she realised her love for the brunette, she had never really be separated from her, so she couldn't know. But, the thought of being separated from her was indeed painful. Did she empathize with Shiena? Well, she did feel some kind of pity for her when she injured her, and if someone dared to hurt the brunette, Otoya would probably skinned them alive.

"My way of interpreting love, you way of interpreting it, I think that my love for you it a mix of both." Otoya said.

"You apologized to me earlier. Why?"

"Well…because I hurt you. You know, with my scissors."

"Only that?"

"What else I did that was wrong?"

"Sexually assaulting me maybe?"

"Huh? Did it hurt you?"

"No, but…"

"So it felt good?"

"That's not the point! You did that against my will! Yes, it did hurt, but not physically. It hurt me emotionally. It was…my first time."

Otoya wasn't sure to understand. She understood what physical pain was, but the emotional one? She wasn't sure to get it. But, she did feel somewhat bad about what she did to Shiena. She knew that she loved the brunette, and she also knew that the last thing she wanted was to be hated by her.

"I'm sorry." the serial killer said.

.

It was the second time that Otoya apologised to her today. This time, Shiena had the impression that the serial killer was more sincere in her apology. At this point, it wasn't really a question of forgiveness. It was clear that Otoya couldn't really felt empathy. She was most likely sick in the head, she clearly showed some sociopathic traits.

The real problem was, she couldn't trust Otoya. She couldn't predict if the serial killer will try to attack her again or not. She knew that she couldn't get rid of Otoya, she was pretty much trapped with her for probably a while. Well, if Takechi really loved her, maybe everything was going to be fine? At least she didn't seem to want to kill her…

"Shiena-chan, I think that I understand what you meant by 'emotional pain'. When you told me that you hated me and could never love me, I felt…really bad. I think that…it somehow hurt me. It felt like a stab in my heart."

Shiena sighed. It looked that despite Otoya's lack of empathy, she could still feel that kind of emotions. The brunette lay down, next to the serial killer. She had an idea, a terrible one, but it's not like she had a lot of options in her current situation.

"Takechi, do you really love me?"

"Yes, I love you!"

"Enough to stop killing people?"

The serial killer seemed to hesitate for a moment.

"When I'm with you, I don't feel the need to kill. Being with you bring me a pleasure that isn't comparable to the one I feel when I kill. To me, you're a flower that could never fade, an eternal bloom."

Despite the creepiness of this statement, Shiena felt her heart racing.

"I don't hate you, and I can't say that I really like you either. But, I'm willing to let you stay here, if you promise me that you won't kill innocent people anymore or try to attack me."

"Deal. But eventually, I'll make you fall for me." Otoya replied with a confident smile.

The only feeling she had for the serial killer right now was pity. She agreed to let her stay in her apartment for a specific reason. Since she can't get rid of Otoya, the least she could do was to make sure that she won't be a threat for others. And who knows, maybe she'll eventually…appreciated her a little more, and maybe change her for the best.

The brunette rose up and get out of her bed, heading to the door.

"Huh, Shiena-chan, are you going to…free me?"

"Now? No. I don't trust you enough to let you walk freely into my apartment. I want to be sure that you'll behave properly."

Shiena grabbed the handle and opened the door.

"Shiena-chan, please, there's an emergency…"

The brunette turned back and saw that Otoya who was grabbing her own crotch.

"What…what are you doing?" Shiena asked.

"I can't hold it back any longer. I need to…go to the bathroom.

"You must be kidding me…"

You know this awkward feeling when you have an injured serial killer handcuffed in your bed?

...

Yeah, me neither.