It was finally Sunday so Shiho could meet with Akemi. They took a habit of visiting restaurants where they'd treat themselves with fancy meals and enjoy long conversations to make up for what they missed the rest of the week. Shiho texted Akemi a day ahead to ask which restaurant they should visit, but Akemi responded that she wants to have dinner at her own apartment. Shiho found it strange for Akemi to break their long-running ritual, but since she was going to spend time with her sister, she didn't care.
The redhead knocked on the door and it didn't take long for the brunette to respond.
"Hey!" Shiho greeted.
"Hey, come in."
"I brought us some wine." Shiho signaled to the bottle in her hand.
"Ah, thank you! I ran out of wine yesterday." That was the first sentence Akemi says with enthusiasm since she opened the door.
Shiho just smiled. She proceeded to walk inside the living room with Akemi following behind her. She placed the bottle on the coffee table and took a seat. Akemi sat next to her.
"I'm starting to regret we didn't go to a restaurant because I'm starving! And to be honest, I don't trust your cooking skills."
"Good thing you won't have to worry about that. I ordered us pizza, it should be here any minute." Akemi replied.
Shiho looked at her, unimpressed. She could be in a fancy restaurant eating some fancy dish now, but instead, she's having pizza –which is not bad, just not what she'd expected.
"What?" Akemi looked her back innocently. "I don't trust my cooking skills either, I didn't want to take the risk."
"Alright, alright… So…" Shiho started enthusiastically. "Tell me what's new with you?"
"Nothing." The elder sighed.
Now Akemi was the most cheerful person Shiho knew. She always kept a smile on her face and had a bubbly personality that spread joy all around her. This time though, her smiles didn't look genuine and she looked drained of energy despite her attempt to hide it. That truly worried Shiho who noticed the strange behavior. Yes, Shiho was the youngest but she always felt responsible for protecting her sister.
"Are you okay?" She asked.
"I'm good, I'm fine." Akemi smiled weakly.
"You don't look fine, what's wrong?"
"It's nothing."
"Akemi, you refused to go to a restaurant, you obviously skipped brushing your hair today, and look... you have eye bags under your eyes, you're starting to look like Dai san." Shiho giggled when she noticed the resemblance, but seeing Akemi's serious expression wiped the smile off her face. "…It's him! That's what's wrong."
With a sigh, Akemi fidgeted with her hands as she took a moment to decide whether to tell Shiho or not. She didn't want her to worry.
"I… I don't know Shiho! He suddenly changed. He hasn't come to my apartment in a week, whenever I call him I find voice mail, and even when it rings he won't pick up, he barely replies to my texts… I mean… he just got promoted so he's supposed to be happy and we're supposed to share that together but instead, he cut me off entirely."
"Well, he must have his reasons. Did you two argue about something?"
"No! That's what I don't get, nothing happened." Akemi stayed silent for a while before adding. "Do you think he found someone else?"
"That's ridiculous! You've been together for a year now, he can't just find another woman and leave. I don't think he's that kind of man." Shiho placed a hand on her sister's. "I'm sure he has his reasons, Akemi. Just be patient, he'll come back to you soon."
(~)
After sharing pizza and chatting for a while, it was time to leave. Shiho called her driver. She got in the car and he started driving without asking for the destination. He already knew; Shiho drives from her apartment to the lab and back every day. Sometimes he picks her up from Gin's apartment, other than that she meets her sister every Sunday then heads home afterward, that was the routine.
Sherry looked out of the car window in thought. She managed to distract Akemi for a while but she knew that after she left, her sister returned to her sadness. Akemi wasn't her usual self, she lost her glow and cheerfulness because of the stupid Moroboshi guy. 'I don't think he's that kind of guy' tch, that was bullshit. She said it to make Akemi feel better but she didn't believe it. What could possibly make a man leave his woman for so long? Gin leaves her when Vermouth's around and Dai is no different! All men are the same.
The thought of him hurting Akemi provoked her protective senses, Shiho felt compelled to make things right.
"I'm not heading home." She said to the driver before uttering Dai's address. She had it fresh in mind after he'd hosted one of the Sunday dinners with her and Akemi in his apartment.
(~)
Shiho arrived at Dai's apartment. She knocked on his door several times without a response. Just when she lost hope and decided to leave, the door cracked open, exposing her sister's boyfriend. He was wearing a black T-shirt and pajama pants.
"Shiho!" He looked at her in surprise.
"Can I come in? I need to talk to you about something."
"Sure."
The agent stepped to the side allowing her to get inside, he closed the door and joined her inside the living room.
Shiho sat on an armchair, and him on the couch. And she wasted no time.
"I only came here because I know you're good at keeping secrets, so I hope Akemi won't know about my visit." Her voice tone became authoritative as she continued. "Now what's it with you? Why'd you stop talking to her?"
"I will call her." Dai spoke casually as if nothing was wrong, it annoyed her.
"What about the last week?"
"I didn't get a chance."
"For an entire week, you couldn't spare five minutes to give her a call? What were you doing anyway except sitting your ass on that couch?"
"I… don't call, I couldn't..." Shuichi's tone indicated that those words were a sentence, although they didn't make sense. His eyebrows were raised and his eyes were a bit widened. For the first time, Shiho could see what Akemi describes, his greens were really innocent at that moment, just like a child's.
"Are you drunk?" She asked, eyeing the bottle of bourbon on the coffee table that only had a quarter left.
"No." He blinked, "a bit."
Shiho sighed. Maybe this will make things easier, now he'll let her know what she needs to know instead of being his normal mysterious self. And without beating around the bush, she went for it straight.
"Are you cheating on Akemi?"
He looked at her startled.
"What? No!"
"Then why is it that you've changed? You just got promoted, if anything you should be celebrating instead of closing in on yourself here."
Dai grabbed the bottle of bourbon and took three generous sips not caring to answer her. He really didn't want to talk to anyone and now he's fed up with talking to Shiho.
Sherry stared at him, thinking about what could possibly make him act this way. It didn't take her long to find an answer.
"Is it Gin? Did he do something to you?"
"He hasn't contacted me yet."
"Then what? Is it Haru? Is it because you killed him?"
With eyes locked on hers, Dai took some other continuous sips from the bottle.
"What, Really?" Shiho exclaimed. Realizing what it was about made her stand to her feet. It was a ridiculous reason for him to act this way. At least now she knows he'll be back soon so problem solved. The side of her lips lifted in a smile. "Please! Why would you feel it for that guy from all people? You've been working with us for almost a year so you're used to it. Just stop acting like a drama queen and call your girlfriend... Soon enough you'll be enjoying that work."
That last sentence seemed to hit a nerve for Shuichi whose eyes narrowed. He suddenly looked as sober as a judge.
"You don't know me, so don't you say that about me." His voice was dangerously deep.
"You've killed plenty of people before so why do you care now?" And Shiho retorted.
Shuichi looked to the side escaping her gaze, that's when she came to the realization. She was living with all those people who treated murder like eating pie. Almost everyone she knew had killed, and they all seem to enjoy it that she naturally assumed everyone is like them.
"Is it… Is it the first time you kill someone?" Her voice became low and hesitant.
Dai's answer came in the form of sipping again from the bottle in his hand. When done, he placed it on the table and aimed to stand up.
"I'm going to sleep now. Tell Akemi that I'll call her." When he managed to lift his weight, he fell back into the couch as everything around him swayed like a mirror maze. He was really drunk!
Shiho stared at him. He was different after all. He felt guilt, he had a good side in him, he had mercy. He was not a complete sociopath like the other people she dealt with. He could help her and Akemi out, she hoped. But then if he's like that what brought him into their world in the first place? Could the absurd thought she had last week of Dai being with the police be true?
The scientist took two steps and sat next to him on the couch.
"Look, Dai san, if you don't like doing that then I'm not sure if working for Gin will suit you. He's in charge of assassinations so every time he calls you, you'll have to take a life. You can stop that now, you can leave and take Akemi with you."
Dai shook his head.
"I don't understand. Why do you want to stay and do something against your morals?" Her eyes pierced him. He didn't say a thing so she voiced her thoughts. "Unless you're with the police and trying to infiltrate the organization..." There was only the sound of their breaths to break through the installed silence, which was short yet felt long for Shiho who was anticipating his answer. "Dai san...Are you?"
"You watch a lot of movies. Who said it's against my morals? If it were I wouldn't have done it in the first place." Shuichi replied with a hint of slurring. Even if he was drunk he had to protect his identity from being exposed, he was trained for it.
He glanced at Shiho before attempting to stand up again, this time successfully. The agent tottered his way towards the bedroom, but half the way through he lost his balance. Shiho rushed to his rescue and gained him balance just before he fell down. His long arm crawled around her shoulder so she found herself compelled to walk him to the bedroom.
"Even if you did it, doesn't mean that you liked it." She pointed out.
"I'll get used to it."
"Why would you force yourself to get used to something like that?"
"You seem to be so opposed to that thing yourself. Now how do I know you're not the one with the police infiltrating our organization?"
"Maybe the fact that I was raised inside it since I was a baby." By that time, they had reached the bedroom. Shiho sat him on the bed and stepped away.
The room was all dark, a perfect place to crawl in bed and sleep his intoxication. The only light source was the faint light coming from the hallway.
"Whatever your motive is, just know that what happened with Haru today will keep on repeating over and over. Believe me, that's all that Gin does!"
The memory of Haru revisited Shuichi. Ever since he did it the pictures kept hunting him again and again and again. The blood on the wall, the motionless body, Haru's open eyes. He could see them so vividly as if he was looking through the rifle's scope. They were torturing him everyday depriving him of sleep. He wasn't a good sleeper, to begin with, but his insomnia worsened after the promotion. For the entire week, he didn't sleep at all except the times he lost consciousness from drinking.
Shiho looked at him, despite the faint light she could see him clearly. Maybe he thought that she couldn't see him in the dark and decided to lose his poker face, or maybe he just couldn't control himself anymore, but Dai, for the first time exposed all of the pain he hid behind his stoic expressions. His eyebrows drew together as a look of agony took over him.
Without thinking, Shiho found herself sitting down and taking him into a hug. It was the first time she sees him like this, he was broken, he was wrecked, she just felt like she had to do it.
Dai's arms enveloped her fast as if her hug was the cure to his pain. All this time he needed someone to lean on but couldn't find anyone, and now she came. He buried his face in the crook between her shoulder and neck "I'm a murderer!" His husky voice whispered in her shirt.
Shiho didn't know what to say. She just placed a hand on the back of his head, running her fingers through his long hair. For a moment, she felt her heart tighten when he clenched her shirt in pain. She could feel just how awful he felt. Guilt! Something is definitely wrong with her for admiring him because he felt that. It was a non-existent feeling in her entourage but Dai was now suffering because of it.
Recalling Gin's hugs and his ruthless ways, and this hug with Dai, she could feel a big difference. This is the first real hug she gets from a man with feelings, it felt warm, not only physically but it made her warm on the inside too, a feeling she couldn't explain. Shiho rested her head on his, hoping to ease his pain. But not so long after, the green-eyed man pulled back as if he was suddenly backed to his senses.
"Can you go?" His voice was weak, a mere whisper.
"I-"
"Please!"
Shiho didn't need to be told twice.
(~)
"To what do I owe the pleasure of you inviting me to your lab?" Dai asked.
It was a beautiful sunny day. He had already slept his intoxication and woke up to a text from Shiho inviting him to meet her. By the time he headed to see her he was still suffering from hangover symptoms, but Shiho specified the time in her text so he had no choice but to go.
"Can't one invite her friend for a cup of coffee?" Shiho looked at him from her desk before standing up.
"You could, but since I know you better, I'm sure there's more to it than that." Dai spoke confidently as if yesterday never happened.
Satisfied, Shiho smiled. "Alright, you got me. I asked you to come here because I didn't want Akemi to know we're meeting."
"And..."
"I don't think you should work with Gin."
"Well, too bad you don't have a saying in that." He said, picking up a lab tube that was on her desk.
"Don't touch that." Sherry warned looking at the tube before moving her eyes to his greens "Dai san, you're not suitable for the job. Every mission with Gin will require you to murder or at least contribute to the murder of someone."
"So what?" He shrugged.
His acting as if yesterday never happened made Shiho feel irritated. What she didn't know was that he really had no memory of her coming to his apartment. He was too drunk to recall it and he was still a bit hungover when he came to the lab.
"You can't do that!"
"I have a record in shooting with a sniper rifle. If I can't do it then who could?" He asked, looking rather smug. There he goes, that cocky look...Ugh it irritated her.
"I don't care about that. If killing one person caused you all of that pain then what do you think will happen if it turns into ten?"
"Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression but, do I look like I'm in pain?" Shuichi asked, collected at the surface but confused on the inside. How on earth does she know?
Shiho walked to him with her chin up and her gaze locked on his. She stood too close to him and smiled daringly. "Are you telling me, you didn't feel a tiny tiny bit of guilt after killing Haru?"
"No." He shrugged. "Not that it's any of your concern."
"You're a goddamn liar...That's not what it looked like yesterday." She looked at him amused. She just loved cornering him, anything to wipe that cocky look off his face.
Shuichi's confusion grew enough to become visible on his face. It was then that the memory came to him. How come he forgot that? But he can't tell her anyway, he needs to hide it. He can't allow a member of the organization to expose him.
"It was no different. I did feel new to the situation and told you I'll get used to it, didn't I?" He said in an attempt to save himself. "Guilt, on the other hand, No. I always prevent things that would make me feel guilty before they even happen."
"I don't believe you."
"Believe what you want, I'm not demanded to convince you." He looked her back daringly.
"Fine, but yesterday, in the bedroom your feelings were clear. I'm believing what I saw in there."
"Whatever you want, Shiho." Shuichi moved his gaze back to the tubes on the desk. This time he really messed up, he let her in and she almost exposed him, he needs to be more careful.
"Am I interrupting something?" A deep voice came from the office door. The twosome looked towards it. It was Gin with his usual intimidating grin.
"No, actually I was about to leave." Dai calmly said. He didn't want the scenario of the first meeting to happen again so he left the office before Gin could say another word.
"What was he doing here?." Gin asked Shiho.
"We were talking about Akemi, they were having some troubles and I was trying to help fix their relationship."
"Wow, how nice of you sherry! Helping other people fix their relationships." Gin started. "But I won't trust you with that because, you know, in order to give advice, you have to be in a good position to give it, and from what I see your relationship is not in a good position."
"Then I'm happy to inform you that my advice had worked and now they're getting back together." Shiho said confidently, proud of her doing.
"I think we should go home." Gin said impassively.
"There's no way I could go now. It's 11 AM, work is at its peak."
"That's not a suggestion, Sherry!" Gin harshly said with an earnest expression. "You have five minutes to meet me in the parking lot."
The long-haired man left the office. Shiho took off her lab coat. It was the first time Gin asks for her at such time. He always picks her up after work or on days off but to snatch her from the lab at 11 AM when he knew it was the time she did most of the work was unusual. The scientist rode the elevator down to where she'll deeply regret going.
Next chapter: Gin is so angry at Shiho, but why? And what is he going to do about it? Shuichi has something to say to Shiho.
I just noticed that for some reason most chapters start with Shiho knocking on doors :D
