It took more than three days for Takasugi to realize Kinu's transgressions. He'd been engrossed in the cannibalistic annihilation of the population on a remote island in the pacific. Anticipation had built in waiting for the so called protagonist to realize his sins and end himself. Then he was at a barbecue. In the middle of a fierce battle with the elements, the protagonist was at a barbecue, kissing his wife, and fathering a score of fat babies. He'd said what aloud. Flipped back through the pages, and traced them to the source of the discrepancy.

That was when he saw the faint outline of missing pages. Lines of paper jutting through the spine of the book with their closely held secrets that he was supposed to sort through.

His mouth opened, brow cut downward, and he ran his thumb over the empty space that should have been gory, excruciating details. He'd flipped through the book when he first picked it up and it had been in perfect condition. Kinu was as good as dead when he saw her again. Better yet, right now.

He snapped his phone open and called the girl. It rang once. Twice. Then it went to voicemail. That fucking brat had the nerve to reject him again! The second call was met with the standard voicemail message. Just as he was about to storm to the shop, he received a text message. The subject line read "What", but the message itself was empty. Furiously jabbing his thumbs into the phone, he fired a message back to the girl.

"Come here. Right now."

"No", was her response. She was going to get it.

Throwing himself to his feet, Takasugi finished the rest of his yakult and stepped over the discarded novel near his futon as he exited his room. He could play right now.

As he navigated the dark house, he could hear Kawakami and Matako down the hall. Laughing. Probably shimmying up to each other now that they thought he was engrossed in something of his own. Their usual guess was drinking himself to sleep. The joke was on them.

He was well aware of their mostly private affinity, and that they always turned to each other for needed comfort and support. Takasugi wasn't really cut out for that anymore. Not in the tender way Matako needed. Kawakami rarely, if ever, required such a thing.

But they weren't having all of the fun. The fact that Kinu thought she could get away with ripping pages from his book infuriated him. Almost made him laugh. Not almost. It did make him laugh. She had lulled him into a false sense of victory and been two steps ahead of him. He couldn't let her get away with it.

The night air was cool against his skin, but held the bite of soon as he was outside, he called her again, and was ignored. That was pissing him off! More than the book, more than her so called infatuation with that stupid boy; she kept denying his calls! He sent her a text; short and sweet.

"Open the door."

The girl's window slid open at that, and her head eased out, peering down into the alley. The moment she saw him, she darted back into the room and slammed the window.

"I'm sleeping." She sent back; message title only. Filthy fucking liar, he'd just seen her! Saw the light in her room on!

"Don't make me let myself in."

At that message, Kinu peeked out again.

"You wouldn't." She said, and he narrowed his eye. Instead of saying anything, Takasugi walked towards the door, and Kinu's window shut. Footsteps, rushing down the stairs and tripping across the genkan echoed through the house in record time. She snatched the door open, before he could get any ideas.

Takasugi walked past her without so much as a greeting. Went straight to the stairs, quickly followed by the girl.

"Oi-" Behind him, she padded up the steps, rubbing her head with a towel. "Oi, you can't just show up!"

Turning back to the girl, Takasugi fixed her with a single look.

"Oh? And why would that be?" She had nothing to say. Paused. "Scared your sorry excuse for a father will catch us?" The man continued then, and Kinu was quick to catch up. "You could at least put some clothes on."

"No."

Takasugi frowned at the girl and she grabbed the edges of her white nightgown, holding them out. "This is cute." She murmured and he stopped in her doorway. Sure, once he looked past the overly plain fabric. It was just a long shirt, how was it cute? She looked like she'd clawed her way out of an antique funerary photograph and was in the process of regaining color. Just needed the head gear.

"Cute." The man repeated, rolling his eye as Kinu unenthusiastically turned and swished the sides of her dress. "Give my regards to your necromancer. You almost look human." He went into her room, barely greeting Momo as she followed him and shut the door behind them.

"What? Is something wrong with me?"

"Just your brain." His gaze immediately jumped to the brown cat laying across the short desk in the middle of the table. Then the array of tools, metal bits, and parts that were meticulously laid out across a blue cloth, seemingly organized by their type and size. In the center laid a partially formed gray hunk of metal with five digits jutting from it and wires hanging from the opposite end. "Is… That a hand?"

"Hm…" Kinu dropped her towel in the doorway. Carefully entering the room, she slinked past him. As though she expected him to grab her. "It's supposed to be…" The girl took the item in question, and held it up, bending each finger as she studied it. "But it's stupid right now…"

Frowning to himself, Takasugi watched as she twisted and removed the thumb, along with a cluster of green wires. Was this what she spent her free time doing? The way she was scowling at her handiwork let on that she was more than a bit frustrated with it, but Takasugi didn't know anybody that could replicate such a thing. Especially without a full shop's worth of tools.

"Where's the last chapter?" He asked, and Kinu's eyes shifted to the wall beside her. She slowly placed the hand back on the table and pursed her lips, but it did nothing to stifle the grin spreading across her face.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Her voice was a monotone, but her lips were a dead give away. Momo hopped off the table and weaved between her legs chirping, and prompting the girl to pick him up. She obliged and backed onto her futon. Takasugi glared at the girl as she waved the grizzly cat's paw at him. "We're innocent."

Her partner in crime was the worst one to back up a not guilty plea.

Momo looked like he did crime and hard drugs for breakfast.

Spanking was off the table. Takasugi wouldn't make that mistake again, knowing what he'd seen last time. It was more of a punishment to him than her. He stepped towards the girl, and Kinu dipped backwards; maintaining that coy look.

"Release your hostage, and only one of us has to get hurt." He murmured, and delight crossed the girl anew. Kinu eased back to the window, never breaking her eyes from him. She slid it open. Gently lifted Momo up to the ledge, and the chestnut cat turned back once before hopping onto the short roof and gliding away as quickly as he'd come.

"Oh no, he escaped."

This shouldn't have been attractive. Ripping pages from a book was an unforgivable sin, but the way the girl smiled at him, light on her feet as she eased about the room, was something. He didn't think he'd seen her so giddy before.

"Come here." Takasugi expected her to play innocent at the very least. Instead, the girl walked right up to him. Her palms slid over his chest, and she smirked, tilting her head towards his, as though to connect with his jaw.

"What? Are you angry?" A single fingertip dragged up his collarbone. "That I read the last chapter before you?" So she admitted it? Openly?!

"That's barbaric." Takasugi murmured and the hands on his chest wrapped around his neck.

"I possess the forbidden knowledge... I'll spoil it."

"You wouldn't." Appalled, the man stepped back but Kinu followed. He should have known she'd be so bold. The girl's mouth pressed just under his ear, and he turned his head. Why was she all over him? It was making it hard to concentrate on how furious he was supposed to be.

"He's stabbed in the stomach." A set of teeth tightened on his neck, and a single fingertip pressed into his abs, dragging a line that mirrored an incision. "His esophagus gets burned out. His guts are ripped open, and as they're gnawing on his supple flesh, he realizes that-"

"Shut up!" Kinu didn't move when he grasped her shoulder and jerked her back.

A grin met the man and her head limply rolled back. Then a snicker. Far too delighted with herself, and her master plan coming to fruition.

"He realizes that the boat didn't even crash-"

"Don't you dare say another word." Yanking the girl forward, Takasugi sneered the threat. Shook her for good measure, but there wasn't an ounce of resistance in her. Something skimmed up his stomach and he jumped at the sensation. Glanced down at the singular finger still touching his chest.

"And he's covered in blood. He tastes it. The flavor of his madness. Because the woman hadn't been his assistant at all-" A hand clamped over Kinu's mouth and she turned away, in an attempt at freeing her muddled laugh.

"I'm gonna kill you." He had no choice. This was the price of ruining his reading experience. Kinu hadn't stopped laughing, but she brushed his hands off herself and retreated.

"Don't threaten me with a good time. Go home."

That was it?! She'd lured him here to spoil the book and kick him out? All for not letting her have it?! Takasugi recognized the earthy scent in the room as she turned away from him. Weed.

"Gimme the damn chapter!"

Over her shoulder, Kinu stared at him. Was silent. Maybe it was just Takasugi but that cold expression was still unnerving.

"You'll never find it." She slipped past the short table and walked to her shelf. Ran her finger across the dozens of novel spines, as if that was the end of it. Madder than the man in the book, apparently.

"Don't make me take it." Walking up behind the girl, Takasugi turned her around. Her even expression broke and she met his authority in the worst way possible. Utter delight. Eyes flashing with excitement. Victory.

This was exactly what she wanted. She was intentionally provoking him, and he'd been an idiot for not noticing sooner. A leg skimmed up the outside of his own, and the girl eased towards him.

"Take what?"

She was going to be the death of him. Jaw clenched, Takasugi stared at the window across the room. Act casual. Like he hadn't been anticipating getting his hands on her.

He loathed her. She'd spoiled key pieces of the ending! Like a savage! Now this?! He wanted the book, not that! His fingertips touched her thigh. The cotton slip offered no resistance as he dragged it up, barely. Then the glaring red lines stared back at him. He dropped the cloth. Erased what he had witnessed, as well as his touch on the girl altogether.

"You expect a spanking don't you? Think you can manipulate me into giving you what you want?"

"You destroy things all the time, don't you?"

"Not books, my god!"

The girl hummed as he gripped her side. It was the safest place to actually touch her. She leaned back into the shelf, and tucked her hair behind her ear before giving him a look that was plain wrong and didn't belong on a face like hers. Especially not set on him... But that made it all the more fun.

Pulling her away from the shelf, Takasugi shoved the girl aside and unsheathed his sword.

"I'll destroy your books. Pick a sacrifice."

"Oi!" Stumbling back toward him, Kinu latched into his arm. "Oi, that's not equal at all!" She tugged at his arm, throwing his balance as he tried to swipe at the bookshelf.

"Oh, it's equal!" He declared trying to shake her off, and the girl at his side shrieked back. No words. Just a sound that made it clear that she disapproved. She pushed him, tripping over the man as she tried to defend her precious novels and throw herself between them. The moment Kinu hit the floor, Takasugi's feet swept out from under him and he joined her with a thud that would have been painful if he hadn't caught himself.

Still holding his sword, Takasugi frowned, more to himself than anything. A dull ache rippled through his forearm, and side. How the fuck? He leaned onto his elbow, and found Kinu seated at his feet.

That hadn't been luck, she had calculated that without him even realizing. As he sat up, Kinu remained perfectly still.

"Pick something fair…"

A book for a book was fair to him! Kinu didn't wait for him to get up. Far too pleased with herself, she took post over his lap. It wasn't an overt look, but Takasugi knew it was written all over her smug expressionless face.

"Adding assault doesn't lighten a punishment. Now the stuffed animals have to go, too." Her hands pressed into his shoulders as if she'd be able to restrain him if he made a mad dash for the grinning amorphous blobs on her shelves. "What do you think you're doing, crawling all over a man's sword like that?"

Frowning, the girl looked down at Takasugi's lap. Then back at him. Her fingertips carefully pressed into the blade at his side, and leered up at her. Moved it away. That was downright lewd.

"You're a terrible person. Aren't you?" The hand that had been hovering over his sword decided to trail across his knuckles. "Bullying girls in their own bedrooms."

"Oh, I can do so much more." Murmuring back, Takasugi barely moved under the girl as she sat on him. Raised an acknowledging brow at what she found. "But it looks like I'm the one being bullied here."

Snorting into her fist, Kinu turned away. Coming over to play with her had been a good idea. Takasugi couldn't remember the last time he had spent a moment completely focused on anything but his arrangements. Deals, infiltrations, people to murder. There was something fun about poking at her, and having her push back.

It was nothing like a brothel, with the mundane cut and dry schedule. People watching. Timing. Hell, if Takasugi wanting to toy with her all night, he doubted Kinu would say anything more than a half hearted refusal before she turned a blind eye to her own reasoning.

"So? The sacred pages for a better punishment?"

"You drive a hard bargain." Sitting up, Takasugi started to push the girl off himself, but she scooted back, and glared at him. Completely unaware of the shiver that ran through him.

"You're not escaping until-"

"Don't do that!" Cutting the girl off, Takasugi grabbed her hips, pressing her back in place. Held her perfectly still. Kinu frowned at the floor beside them, then the pressure between them. As if she didn't understand his tone. Seconds later, the corners of her mouth deviously curved, and her hands covered his. Who was the sadist here?! He couldn't remember anymore! She moved again, and the man tightened his grasp on her, jolted upright. "O- oi- This isn't a game anymore!"

"Then why am I winning?" Her hips ground into Takasugi again, far too firmly, and he groaned. This was unfair. She was taking advantage of her position, and if she kept pushing him he'd give her exactly what she was practically begging for at this point. Takasugi didn't want to deal with anything that came after that, though. He glared at her smug victory.

Pushing the girl back again, he left no room for her to continue. Kinu plopped onto the floor beside him, hand over her side where he'd shoved her, cringing.

"I'm not interested in women."

Averting her gaze, Kinu felt her brow furrow. What? She was silent, turning the new information over in her mind as Takasugi straightened his collar. She'd been pressuring a gay man into weird situations? He'd lied to her. That had been a pity kiss. Takasugi had forced himself into humoring her, just to be nice, like some selfless golden Buddha. She had no idea he'd been going through something like that alone.

"Oh…" Turning back to her bookshelf, Kinu was nearly swept away by the wave of embarrassment that washed over her. She never would have guessed. Kinu had never had a gay friend. Sure, she had read about plenty of fun friendships like that, but she had no experience. She was willing to try. It was a shame though. To think that she had thought he was sort of her type. Under the man's hawk like gaze, she lifted a green plushie nearest to the floor to reveal the pages she'd stolen. Handed them off to him, eyes low.

Thumbing through, Takasugi took the handle of his sword and pushed himself to his feet. He sheathed his blade. Ensured that every single page was there, before he accepted the collection.

"I'm sorry..."

"Good." It took him a moment, but he murmured back, calm. Kinu sighed. Resignation, probably, and as she eased up Takasugi took hold of her arm. She understood he had more important things to focus on. That was good. It was probably more convenient than any of the other options. Best that she erased the thought of anything between them before it took off, because he didn't have time for a woman.

As he led her from the room, the girl alternated between looking at his back, and replaying the line in her mind. Right up until he found the light switch in the bathroom, and released her in front of the shower.

"Step in."

Frowning, Kinu glanced back at the tub. She started to protest. To ask what he was doing. But the man cut her off before she could form the words.

"Leave your clothes on, and turn the water on the coldest setting."

"But… I just took a bath…"

A devious grin washed over the man, and he slid the papers onto the counter beside him. Takasugi stopped directly in front of her, voice low, only inches away.

"You wanted something fair. This is it. I'll even give you a choice. This, a book, or a hundred line letter of apology explaining exactly why you were wrong, and why I should forgive you."

Horror flashed across Kinu's face, and the heel of her foot hit the tub behind her.

"You can't make me write something like that!"

"No… But I think you wanna see where this game is going, and you can't do that without me." The defiant streak disappeared as easily as that. Vocally, at least. Kinu still narrowed her eyes at him and kept the look the entire time as she stepped into the shower and crossed her arms. "Three minutes. I'll time you."

The man took his pipe out, and lit it. As soon as he grabbed his phone, and told her she could start, Kinu hesitantly turned on the shower. She jumped at the sensation, and immediately crossed her arms again as Takasugi leaned against the wall beside the tub.

It was only fitting. She'd practically forced him into taking one before, and now she knew what it felt like. Hell, as he looked over her, and the quickly soaking cotton slip, he knew he'd be taking one as soon as he got back to the hideout.

Still worth it.

Kinu's glare had lowered to the floor of the shower, and she shivered in place as the white fabric clung to her skin, and her already damp hair was plastered down her shoulders and arms. A trail of smoke slipped from Takasugi's lips as he eyed her quiet submission.

He'd been right. Despite her usual icy demeanor, she was more than willing to be controlled. He wondered how thoroughly.

Delightful had been an understatement. He couldn't help but smirk at his phone as he checked the time again. Maybe doing this more often would be fine. So long as he could keep his hands to himself.

"I hate this." Begrudgingly muttering under her breath, Kinu glanced up at the man. As if stifling a laugh, his mouth pursed, still donning that uncanny, predatory grin. The digital clock on his phone shifted forward, and he drew another lungful of smoke from his pipe, eyeing the girl.

There was no harm in doing more with her. He bet she'd let him tie her up, but if he did, he knew he'd want to torture her as slowly, and thoroughly as possible.

"That's enough." The moment he spoke, Kinu severed the flow of water, and tightened her grasp around herself, nearly caving completely as she rubbed her arms. As she pulled her hair over her shoulder, a towel was draped across her, and she grasped at it. "You did well." The one eyed man's hands worked to fasten the cloth over her shoulders, and he tightly closed it over Kinu's arms. "I forgive you."

Kinu had been half expecting herself to be annoyed when she finished. Instead, a strange sense of accomplishment washed over her. As if she had actually done something noteworthy, and deserved his praise.

"Now, you should change. Warm up. I'll give you some privacy, and let myself out."

"Ah, thank you." The water was colder than she'd anticipated, but Takasugi was still giving her that overly satisfied look he'd held the entire time. As he stopped in the doorway, his eye flicked over her one last time, from the strands of hair plastered to her face and neck, to her legs; still pressed together as though they'd hold some semblance of warmth.

"Good night."

Then he was gone. As Kinu managed to ease out of her soaked clothes, she listened to the sound of his steps on the stairs. Then the front door, closing behind him. The moment she was alone, a pent up breath slipped through her.

Somehow, that had been completely exhilarating. She didn't even feel high anymore. It had been awful to start, but the ending made up for it and she wasn't sure why.

As she abandoned her underwear in favor of the towel he'd given her, she couldn't help but smile. Kinu had known she didn't need to go along with him, but she had been bored, and he was there. It was unclear, but she felt something. Exactly what that feeling was, remained a mystery, but it was as Takasugi had said. Better than nothing. It stuck the entire time she dried, and found a new nightgown.

When she had been under the water, the look Takasugi had donned was interesting in itself. Nothing malicious in the slightest. Something was a little different than anything she'd seen from him. Like they had an inside joke that nobody else could begin to fathom.

It made her a little warm, even. Despite the fact that she was freezing. A low buzz caught her attention, and she eagerly flipped her phone open, only to find another message from the man.

Make yourself a cup of gyokuro tea.

Wasn't there a rule about how soon you could text people after seeing them? Kinu thought it was something like three hours, or two days, maybe longer, but as she looked down at the message, she found that she didn't actually care. She listened. Jade seeped into the water as she stared down into the cup, still clutching her towel.

Gyokuro was his favorite, from what she could tell. Not surprising, considering the price. Kinu took her cup to her room with her, wondering if she should have written more back to him than a simple agreement.

To think that he'd had fun doing that. That he hadn't actually been angry at all. Only wanted to play with her. As she settled into her futon and buried herself in the covers, warm cup perched between her hands, another thought crossed her.

He'd said he wasn't interested in women. Had she really been that desperate? Misread everything and convinced herself that he was interested in her when women weren't his type? She was a terrible friend. He'd innocently wandered in, thinking he'd get a new girl friend and have all the perks of candid girl talk, and she'd betrayed him. Now that she knew, she was going to be the best friend ever. She'd show him how much she supported him, and his romantic preferences. Even if it left an acrid taste on her tongue, and made her feel like the most unlucky person on the face of the earth.

For now, though, she was going to savor the lingering sensation of what he'd made her do to herself.