A/N: So, I've been writing lately, and this pairing popped in my head, and I missed them. So long story short, they're back alive. I've written multiple chapters and will continue to do so, but I'll post them a bit slowly, so I have enough time to edit and everything. I've written this chapter to 13 in the past week or so. My process has changed a bit, and I'm just getting back into the swing of things, but please bear with me, and I hope you enjoy!
The dead of night had a dead of night, apparently, and Kinu wasn't surprised as Takasugi returned with his group of three. The man in a navy blue trench coat, and a blonde woman in pink. When they entered the storefront, they were all relatively relaxed, and didn't need to speak on their positions. Instead, Kawakami walked to the counter with the woman at his side, and motioned to her.
"Kijima Matako, this is Inoue Kinu."
"Nice to meet you." The woman said, and Kinu slowly bowed back to her. She didn't seem to mind the lack of speech. Just turned and took a seat at a booth, but Kinu couldn't help but glance up at her as she filled a kettle with water.
Bright pink, with uneven black socks. Even her hair was pulled into a fashionable side ponytail. She was the epitome of girl stuff. A dangerous woman brimming with the confidence to wear a miniskirt and expose her stomach.
Kinu wanted to be like that. She placed the kettle the stove top, and turned the heat up. The flames burst forward with a satisfying click as she tried to picture Shinpachi's face if she wore something like that and was actually cute when she saw him next. He'd die.
She covered her mouth with a loose fist and suppressed a chuckle. He'd go pale white and faint on the spot. Maybe he wouldn't bow because his face would be too close to her legs.
"Are these the cups you've chosen?"
Takasugi's voice snapped her attention to him, and she was nearly surprised to see him seated at the bar. Nodding, Kinu walked to the sink and stopped in front of him to slide the purple one into his hands. He eyed it, and lifted the empty cup to examine, seeming pleased with her choice. He reached into his loose yukata and placed the book he'd taken on the counter.
"It was an interesting read. Is this translated?"
The girl nodded, and gingerly accepted the green paperback. She turned it over in her hands once, then placed it behind the counter. As if prepared, she placed another where it had been and pushed it towards him. Holding it up, Takasugi opened the worn blank cover and was assaulted by a neat index in pencil with information and page numbers written beside each line.
"You did this?" He asked as he flipped to a page that was listed and found the reason. English text. He watched as the girl turned to her cupboard and glanced over his group once more before pulling a frilly pink cup from over her head. She placed it down and put one of the cups away, and as she did, Takasugi felt a form far too close for comfort. When a blonde ponytail slithered into his line of sight, he turned towards Matako as she grasped the pink cup.
"Is this for me?" Kinu nodded, and the woman chuckled. "How cute, you're matching the cups to our clothes?"
As Takasugi glanced over to the girl behind the counter, she shifted in place. To Takasugi it sounded condescending, and he shot a look at Matako, but Kinu didn't seem to notice. Maybe she was dense. He wasn't sure. But when Kawakami joined them at the counter, she quickly placed the dreaded cup from before in front of him. Orange cactus print.
The deaf man didn't say a word, but Takasugi could see the corners of his mouth dip low.
"I dare say this doesn't match my outfit…"
Matako let out a laugh and pointed to the cup.
"What's that supposed to be? Is it an insult?" Still laughing she leaned onto Takasugi's shoulder, and he squinted at Kinu. Her face looked the same as before, as if she expected Kawakami to take the abomination silently.
"Let's save this for our guests." He murmured, pulling his pipe from his sleeve, and Matako's laughter died down, but only slightly. Kawakami's patience was rewarded with a deep blue cup that seemed to satisfy him.
Having so many people in the shop was new to Kinu. Not only were they there laughing and being generally pleasant, they were lightening the mood of the entire house. She took the steaming kettle from the stovetop as the door opened, and Takasugi's group fell silent. Matako returned to her booth, taking her cup with her, and the form that entered was followed by two more. They all wore identical hairstyles; a top knot gang. That didn't sound very scary, but Kinu set their cups out all the same. Kawakami was the only one of Takasugi's group to stand as they entered. They didn't even greet one another. Instead the main man walked to the bar and sat two seats away from Takasugi, and Kawakami took a stool beside Takasugi and between them. The others sat at the table with Matako. As she straightened the cups on the bar Kinu set the tea to steep.
"We're pleased that you could make it on time, Aso-san." Kawakami was the first to speak. As soon as the additional trio had entered, the air in the shop went stiff. Kinu carefully filled their cups, not looking directly at anybody as she loaded two cups on a tray for the men at the booth. She rounded the counter and walked to the table to set it. Settled them in with tea, and as she turned to retreat behind the counter, one of the men snagged her wrist.
Matako leaned up as Kinu was pulled back and her tray dropped. The blonde's hand was already on the handle of one of her guns, just itching to retaliate if need be.
"Bring me something to eat."
"Get your hands off me." Pulling her arm away from the man, Kinu picked her tray up, too aware of the eyes drilling into her back. She'd spoken low, so not to disturb the men at the counter, but the sound of the tray had rung through the room. Thankfully, the kettle had been mostly empty, and was heavy enough that she'd kept a firm grasp on it..
"Lighten up, I just want a few rice balls. And maybe some noodles or…"
"I'm hungry too," The other guy said, and he leaned forward. "How about some tea sandwiches? With the fancy cucumbers?"
Glancing to Matako, Kinu received a slow nod, so she returned to her spot behind the counter.
"We expect you to control your associates." Takasugi stated as Kinu filled a plate with the requested food as well as a second in case Matako was hungry as well. Maybe she was just too polite to ask. So Kinu gave her the same food as the others with an added slice of lemon cake that would pair well with the tea she had chosen for the event. When she returned to the table, she wordlessly placed the plates. Matako eyed hers, and shifted as Kinu placed utensils on the table, then left.
"We're aware of the underhanded techniques you tried to use, and are offering an opportunity to explain yourself." Kawakami was saying, and Kinu carefully filled another plate with various foods for the men at the bar to choose and set it on the edge of the counter, but not too close. She didn't want to put her hand anywhere near those men.
"Underhanded… techniques?" Aso echoed back, and Takasugi glanced at him as he took a rice ball.
"Denying it is no use. Look where we are. This is the very tea shop you tried to use to steal the shipment. This is the girl your man was going to slaughter." Kawakami stated, and Takasugi glanced back at the girl. She had drifted away at some point, but raised a brow as she peered up from her book. What on earth was she doing? She'd taken a seat at a table and was scribbling something down with a pencil. A narc?
He didn't think she was after their previous interactions, but there was no such thing as too careful. He'd see what that was later.
"We'd never. I assure you, we did nothing to endanger your colleague." The man said back, leaning away as Kawakami shifted in his seat.
"Cut to the chase Bansai." Muttering to his friend, Takasugi took another rice ball and snagged the edge off in his mouth. It seemed the girl had set a variety in front of them. The last one was bonito, and this was salmon. He'd have to get these again some time.
"To restore good faith between our organizations, you need to decide which of your fingers is more important."
"My... fingers?" The man repeated, eyes wide.
"Matako." At Takasugi's cue, the woman pulled both of her guns from their holsters and aimed at the men across from her. The shocked expressions she received made her grin. "Bansai, hold his hand over the sink." Takasugi stood and popped the rest of his rice ball into his mouth. He rounded the counter as Kawakami obeyed. Took hold of the man and shoved him across the counter, kicking and screaming. Kinu's chair scraped across the hardwood as she stood, gaping at the scene. What was happening? Takasugi opened a drawer beside himself. Then another. He found the knives, and turned back to her. "Which of these is the dullest?"
He was crazy! Kinu knew it! He couldn't cut somebody's finger off in her sink! It was a health code violation! Maybe not unintentionally, but definitely intentionally! She rushed to the man's side, and frowned up at him.
"No screaming. I'll get in trouble." That was all she could say? Not hey, how about you don't do that? Or can you not?
"Hmm, you're right. Gag him." Takasugi peered down at her, and her jaw dropped. Okay. Well, if the psychopath said to gag his victim, that was a better option than letting them wake her father. At least she wasn't the one getting her finger cut off. She grabbed a towel, and Takasugi grabbed a knife. He raised it to the man's hand, and was met with another scream. Kinu shoved the towel on the man's mouth, glancing at the ceiling. If this happened her dad was gonna wake up and she'd be in big trouble. And she didn't want to even think about her mom telling Gintoki that she had resorted to organized crime.
The man's head moved, and Kawakami placed an elbow on the back of his neck to keep him still.
"No- it was a misunderstanding!" He said around Kinu's towel, and though she willed Takasugi to just go ahead and take his finger, he made no effort to. "We'll pay- We can pay you!"
"Interesting." Takasugi murmured, and his knife lowered. "How much do you think a finger is worth, Matako?"
"Is it a trigger finger?" She asked back, and the man dipped his chin.
"I think it is."
"That's worth a life then." The woman stated, not daring to take her eyes off the men in front of her. They hadn't moved. Kept their hands over the table and gaped at her with wide eyes.
"Bansai, how much is a life worth?"
The man hummed low, but before he could respond, their guest shouted a number. Takasugi took hold of his hand, and pressed his fruit knife into his skin, only hard enough to draw blood, but it got the point across. To his satisfaction he was met with another scream of a higher figure. The room fell silent, and Takasugi gazed at Kawakami. Then he did something Kinu didn't expect. He smiled. Kawakami let the man go and he fell back against the wooden floor gasping as though he had been jabbed in the stomach. Takasugi turned to Kinu and motioned for the box, and she dragged it from under the counter without looking at him.
As she did, Takasugi rounded the counter and squatted at Aso's side.
Aso rummaged through his yukata and produced an envelope. Opened it and shoved more money into it before handing it off to Takasugi and bowing so low his forehead touched the floor. Thanking him. It was a sight to behold. Kinu had only read of such things, but that was nothing like seeing it with her own eyes.
"You two, take the crate from the girl." Takasugi commanded, and the men at the table carefully slid out under Matako's watchful eye and joined Kinu behind the counter. They scowled at her as she stared up at them with wide eyes, but they obeyed the one eyed man's orders. Hoisted the crate up and walked to the door. She wondered how they managed. The thing had been impossible to lift. "Kinu, come here." Perking up, the girl stood. Everybody was looking at her. Hesitation came first, but with so many people expectantly staring she had no choice. So she walked to Takasugi's side. He grabbed her arm and pulled her down to kneel beside him, then pulled a box of matches from his sleeve. Striking one, he brought a flame to the bowl of his pipe, then shook the match to extinguish it.
"And what do you say to the pretty girl?"
"I- I'm sorry!" The words exploded from Aso, but Takasugi shook his head.
"That's not convincing at all. It almost sounds like you don't want that finger."
"No, forgive me! I'm sorry for trying to- to kill you!"
Frowning, the girl stared down at the man. Had he actually tried to kill her? Was she in a gang? It felt like she had accidentally joined a gang. Takasugi's expression was even. He turned to her, and blew a trail of smoke directly in her face. Poking fun at her for looking so lost. She was on the winning side, and it hadn't appeared to give her any confidence.
"You can go now." He stated, and the man jumped from the ground. Him and his men rushed out of the shop thanking Takasugi all the way, and the one eyed man turned to smirk up at Matako and Kawakami. They returned the expression as he stood, and the girl at his side eased away. Back behind the counter.
"More than double the asking price." Matako said, grinning at Takasugi. "That was amazing! You really showed them. They'll think better than to mess with us next time!" She bounced to his side, sliding her guns back in their holsters, and Takasugi turned to Kawakami. He knew the man had something to say.
"We'll have to watch for retaliation once word gets out, Shinsuke."
Humming an affirmative note, the one eyed man offered the envelope to Kawakami. The deaf man took it, and slid it into his pocket. Kinu had returned to the table, and was writing again with a book laid beside her. As if she hadn't seen a thing, or didn't care about the way Takasugi had used her shop without so much as a warning. Everybody else had been on the same page, and knew exactly what he was going to do. Kinu, not so much. When he approached, she didn't look up.
"I'll bring your shipment in the morning." He stated, and the girl hummed back at him. As if it wasn't worth an actual response. He peered over her shoulder and let his curiosity get the best of him. Kinu had been writing a paper. The entire time, she had been trying to do school work. The book beside her was a manual filled with schematics that made zero sense to him, but it appeared that she was gleaning information from the picture. Enough to write an essay.
When he turned the book beside her to read over her shoulder, her head raised and she gazed back at him, frowning. Personal space, sure, he got it. But he stayed that way, just to spite her. As if he hadn't noticed the glaring blue eyes or the delicate pout and wrinkled nose.
He knew why she was angry. Why did she have to wait until morning, that's what she wanted to ask. The answer was simple, though he wouldn't tell her. Because he said so. He waved Matako and Kawakami off as he stared at the girl's paper, and though Kawakami immediately took the hint, Matako stood there. Watching. She was drawn out of her nosiness by Kawakami's hand on her shoulder, then slowly left the shop behind him, still looking back.
"What's that book even showing you?" He asked Kinu, and she peered at the book in question.
"The placement of shock absorbers on ships. This paper is for one of my final grades and I'm really not doing well in the class…" Murmuring up to the man, Kinu pointed her pencil to the book and etched a fine circle around one of the square branches. She tapped her eraser against it, sighing. "Most manufacturers don't include them anymore, but without them it makes landing a bitch. So if this paper is good enough, maybe it'll be submitted for an actual review and that could save my grade."
The fact that Kinu spoke more than five words was amazing in itself. Takasugi skimmed over the words of her paper, reading what she had drafted, then clicked his teeth.
"Your wording is too informal to be submitted."
"But it's right." She stated, frowning back at him.
"Sometimes presentation is more important than what you're saying." Kinu scooted her chair back, forcing him to take a step back; out of her bubble. "Why do you think that went so smoothly just now? Asking for more money would have been a debate. Escalating kept everything in check."
"You're insane." The girl muttered back. "I'm not trying to escalate, I just want to pass."
Rolling his eye, Takasugi pointed down to the girl's paper and underlined a word with his nail.
"Then escalate your grade." His voice was equally low. "You shouldn't use words like very, or contractions."
Kinu looked at the word he pointed to and erased it. Didn't question him. As she crossed out the contractions in her paper, she sighed up to him.
"It's due in the morning, I can't think about that. I just need to finish.
"Why would you wait so late to write it?"
Kinu hummed under her breath then scooted over to the edge of her chair. Turned to Takasugi. He took her cue and lowered himself next to her, looking over the words she had written. Kinu's shoulder brushed his when she took the schematic book and thumbed through the pages.
"I've been busy this week." She stated, not returning Takasugi's look. When he took her pencil and started to cross out lines and write new ones beside them, she leaned so close that he thought she was going to push him from the chair. But she only watched him edit her paper, and made slight agreeing sounds when he explained why her wording was wrong. They stayed like that until the sun was starting to peek into the shop, each with a mug of coffee Kinu had made without asking and placed in front of Takasugi. When the door to the shop opened, Takasugi turned to see the woman sneaking back in the wee hours of the morning. She frowned when she saw him, but didn't say a word until she was behind Kinu.
Grasping her shoulders, the woman leaned over.
"Have you been up all night?"
Nodding, Kinu didn't move as the woman embraced her, then placed a hand on Takasugi's shoulder.
"Young man, I don't know who you are, but thank you for helping her. She'd been struggling with this paper all week, and I don't know anything about this stuff. Are you… A classmate?"
Turning to peer at Takasugi, Kinu's eyes went large. She slowly nodded, and he felt the edge of his lips curl. Convincing.
"Mom, this is… uh-"
"Takasugi." He stated. Not offering his given name. But the woman nodded regardless.
"Ai." She said, before trying to usher them up. "You two should move to the living room, I'll make more coffee." Brushing a lock of brown hair behind her ear, the woman turned to the sink, but Kinu shook her head.
"Uh, that's okay. He was just... leaving…"
Glancing over the girl, Takasugi took a hint. She didn't want him around her family. Or maybe she didn't want her family around him. Either way, he didn't care. As much as they'd worked on that paper, if she didn't get a good grade, it wasn't for lack of trying. It was a personal issue with the teacher.
"Dear, that's rude. How many times have I told you-"
"No, it's quite alright. I've got my own paper to work on." Takasugi stated as he pushed himself to his feet and smirked down at Kinu. One of her brows raised, the other dipped low, and her mouth curved. The man let out a chuckle and grabbed the book she had offered him from the counter as he passed, only turning back to Ai to offer a smile. "It was very nice to meet you." He stated and she placed a hand on her cheek and turned her head.
"Kinu you didn't say he was so charming!"
When he glanced back at the girl she was openly glaring at him. The morning air was cool against his skin when he let himself from the shop. He snickered and lit his pipe then started down the alley. Where had the time gone? He'd have to reschedule giving the girl her delivery, she'd be exhausted, and probably sleep until evening.