Rei drove there slowly, a part of her expected to see Kazutoras motorcycle at any point during her drive but she did not. Pulling into the parking lot she turned off the van, locking it and making her way inside the building. She grabbed his spare key from its hiding place, unlocking the door and replacing it. In the two weeks she'd been gone the apartment had gone back to being a mess again. So she got to cleaning it up, using her anxiety as fuel. It took about an hour and the sun had long since begun to set. Her phone had received no more calls, so Rei decided she'd just lay in his bed and wait, stripping off her clothes in favor of one of his shirts she got comfortable. It didn't take long for her to fall asleep, her mind spinning with worry.
Kazutora was flying through town, he expected to see her somewhere. She was seriously hiding from him now? 'I can't fucking believe her, I can't believe she would be so stupid.' his mind raged, when he'd seen one of the guys drag her in by the hair his first instinct was to hurt him. He'd refrained, knowing that an opportunity would come later. Once the meeting was over he'd beaten the man half to death, Hanma hadn't been opposed to the idea. They had plenty more men for the upcoming fight against Toman anyways, one man didn't make much difference. He couldn't believe how stupid she was, here he'd tried so hard to keep her away from this whole situation. Meanwhile she'd thrown herself right into it with reckless abandon. 'coming to find me, worried about me.' his grip on the handlebars tightened up and he continued zipping around. Looking for any trace of her, or her van, but finding none. He was furious, he didn't know if it was at her or himself anymore. He had to find her, had to have her tell him exactly what the fuck she had been thinking when she'd followed him. How much she had seen, how much she had heard. Baji hadn't even bothered telling him to leave her alone this time, simply saying Kazutora was an idiot for thinking she wouldn't come looking for him. Especially after he had ignored her for two weeks.
It was only once night had truly fallen that he realized he wasn't finding her. Wherever she'd hidden herself he couldn't find it. So, begrudgingly, he made his way back to his apartment. Still searching for her all the way. To his disbelief he pulled into his own parking lot and saw her van. 'She came to hide here? Are you fucking kidding me?' he couldn't get up to his apartment fast enough, throwing open the door to find her…totally asleep on his bed. As if nothing at all had happened, wearing his shirt curled around one of his pillows. He made his way over to her, he wanted to shake her, to wake her up and yell at her. But instead he merely sat down in the bed next to her, staring at her in utter disbelief.
His whole apartment was cleaned, and she was just…here. Face entirely peaceful, soft little breaths passing through her lips, his hand moved to brush a piece of her hair out of her face. The anger he had felt evaporated, replaced by a feeling he couldn't readily identify. He moved to lay next to her, not even bothering to change out of his clothes. As if on cue Rei moved into him and he wrapped her tightly in his arms. He knew he couldn't protect her, sure he could probably protect her from the gang hell he'd fight Toman and Valhalla if it meant keeping her safe. Just like when they were kids, keeping her safe from anyone who he perceived her as needing to be protected from. But he couldn't protect her from himself, from the damage he would undoubtedly cause her. Asking her if she would abandon him had been selfish, he knew that. Even when he'd asked, he knew what her staying meant. The danger it put her in. Hell Kazutora had known from the very first moment he'd tried to approach her. She'd run and he'd chased her in spite of that, he was selfish. All he wanted was her to be near him, to eek out as much happiness with her as possible before the inevitable end. Whether he died or went to prison, it didn't matter he'd leave her life again one way or another.
Rei stirred and he watched as her eyes fluttered slightly and she yawned, snuggling into him again. "You think all this is just going to disappear if you go to sleep?" He asked and her eyes popped open in surprise as she looked up at him and comprehended her position. "Nice hiding place by the way, do you know how long I spent looking for you?" His voice was softer than Rei had expected it to be. She'd been expecting him to be just as furious as he'd sounded in the voicemails he'd left. Not to wake up snuggled up to him and have him speak to her so gently. She shook her head and he laid his head back on the pillows. "Hours, I spent hours looking for you. Now that I have you though I don't even know what to say. I can't believe how stupid you were. I can't believe you followed me. Why? Why did you do any of that?" He asked and she stared at him, unsure of how to answer him it took her a moment to come up with an answer. "I ran and you chased me. You're running and now I'm chasing because...I love you. I have loved you since we were twelve years old Kazutora, through stupid haircuts that made you look like a douchebag, going to jail, my life going into a absolute tailspin. I have fucking loved you. I have never stopped, you absolute idiot." She was shaking, it was true she'd tried so hard when we came back to stuff those feelings down. To box them up and forget they existed, loving him hurt. It had burned her before, it was burning her again but this time she couldn't let go. She'd hold this flame until it either burned her alive, went out, or stopped hurting her.
Kazutora was stunned, suddenly so many things made sense. Why she'd always been so attached to him when they were kids, baby ducking behind him no matter where they went. Holding onto the sleeve of his jacket every single time they went out. Calling him before Baji whenever she needed someone despite having known Baji longer. How hurt she'd been when he went to jail, how she'd run away from him when he'd come back. Suddenly it all clicked. "Loving you hurts. I don't want to, but I can't stop. I've tried. Fuck have I tried." She had tears running down her face, he'd made her cry again. In the few short months he'd been back he'd made her cry twice.
Kazutora didn't even think about what he was doing, he just kissed her. She kissed him back with zero hesitation, in spite of everything it was exactly what she'd been waiting for for years. This moment, everything else slipped away and it was just him. Rei held onto him, as if she let go he would just disappear again. Their kiss was so all consuming she didn't even know if she was still breathing. She could feel his arm around her waist, the other in her hair. There was a certain desperation to it, and when he pulled away and the world came sharply back into focus she yearned for more. His hand was still lightly wound into her hair, his arm still held her close. She could feel every inch of him pressed against her and she still felt as though they weren't nearly close enough. His eyes were heavy lidded and they both tried to catch their breath, but it was Kazutora who spoke first. "You shouldn't love me. I'm going to leave again, it's only a matter of time at this point." The words stung, the kiss had set her on fire and those words were the water that doused her flames. "I don't know what you're trying to do, I know whatever it is means a lot to you. But I've never asked you for anything before. I am now and I'm asking you to stay. Please." She felt so desperate, pathetically sad and desperate for him to just stay. For him to choose her. Rei knew it was a selfish thing to ask, if he was willing to throw his life away for it then it had to be important. But she wanted to be more important. "I can't." The words didn't even hurt, it was what she had expected. His hand unwound from her hair, he removed his arm from around her. Despite being alone when he was away for nearly six years at this moment, in spite of him being right there, she felt more alone than ever before. He sat up rubbing a hand across his face. "You should go." The words were said quietly but she heard them loud and clear. Rei stood up and collected her things, throwing on her pants, removing his shirt and pulling in her own, dropping the one she had borrowed to the table. Making her way to the door and sliding on her shoes she stopped, without even looking back at him. "I knew I shouldn't have let you back in. I hate that I love you enough that I did. I meant what I said before…I'm not going to just go away. I'm not just going to let you come fuck up my life again for nothing." She didn't wait for a response, she doubted he would give one, she merely made her way out to her van. It was only once she had driven a short ways down the road that she pulled over and cried. She'd been so sure he couldn't possibly break her more than she already was but now here she was. Shattered into even smaller fragments that she would have to try and piece together again. To her surprise though she didn't want to go and get fucked and fucked up about her problems. So Rei merely sat there and cried until the tears ran dry and she drove off, she got the feeling she wouldn't be sleeping tonight.
Once she was gone Kazutora cracked, while there wasn't much in his apartment he demolished it. Everything was thrown, the bed, table, and the TV. He threw things until the apartment was in utter shambles. He stood in the midst of the chaos he'd created and broke down. For the first time since he'd killed Shinichiro he cried. Every part of him wanted her to stay, screamed at him to call her, to go find her, to tell her he loved her, that he'd stay. But he didn't. Merely collapsed in upon himself, not unlike a supernova. Kissing her had felt so right, like a piece he'd been missing for so long and hadn't even realized. 'I love you. I have loved you since we were twelve years old Kazutora. I have never stopped. Loving you hurts. I don't want to, but I can't stop. I've tried.' The words ran through his mind on a loop, the look on her face, the tears. He hadn't realized it until she'd said it, he'd never really known what love felt like. But he loved her, he knew that without a doubt in his mind. That was why he'd always felt differently with her than with other women, why he'd chased her so hard. It was also why he sent her away, his love was dangerous. It would hurt her, it was hurting her. While he was entirely prepared to die, or to kill, he was not prepared to hurt her. Sure sending her away had hurt her, but not to the degree being near him would. After a while had passed he finally managed to pull himself together. Slowly he began to pick up his apartment, piercing it back together one piece of furniture at a time. He eventually came to the shirt she'd been wearing, moving to sit on his now fixed bed he laid down clutching it in his arms. The smell of her was faint, both in the bed and on the shirt but it was soothing. He eventually felt himself begin to slip into sleep, knowing tomorrow was going to be a rough day.
Rei made her way into school the next day, she'd already called Chifuyu. Informing him that trying to convince Kazutora to not go through with his plans had failed. He'd apologized to her, clearly knowing what that meant for her. Telling her he would attempt to speak to Baji, and to do so herself if and when she felt up to it. Now she sat in class, trying to actually listen to the teacher and pay attention to the lesson but she simply couldn't. Kazutora wasn't here yet again, she couldn't decide if she was relieved or worried. But she forced herself to get through the class, eventually the bell for lunch came. Forcing herself to stand she made her way to the class she knew Baji was in. To her surprise he was actually there, one of a few people sitting in class eating their lunch. Despite some of the occupants of the class looking at her funny, she moved to sit at the desk right in front of him. Sitting backward in the chair to face him. His eyes met hers, just as blank and unreadable as yesterday. "It doesn't have to be now, but you and I are going to talk." The statement was blunt, there would be no getting out of this for him. He nodded, not even placing down his chopsticks. "After school? I can meet you at your place?" He asked and Rei nodded, knowing he meant her van. "Yeah, that's fine. See ya then." She said standing up from the desk but he grabbed her wrist stopping her. When she looked at him his gaze met hers and if she didn't know any better she'd say she saw a bit of sympathy there. "Kazutora told me what happened." A twist of the knife in her heart, she didn't let it display on her face. Merely pulled her wrist back from his grasp. "I'm sure he did." She mumbled moving across the classroom and exiting, she went down the stairs and outside, not even bothering to go to her van for a cigarette. Just pulling the pack from her blazers pocket and lighting it. Rei felt so hollow, as much as Bajis words had twisted the knife she was out of tears. She had cried herself empty.
The end of school came quickly after that, Rei sat in her van waiting for Baji. It took a few minutes but eventually the passenger door opened as she looked over at him as he slid in the seat. Once he closed the door there was a brief moment of silence. "So…what the fuck?" She asked, propping her head on her hand in order to watch him carefully. "I could ask you the same." He said back and she smiled just the littlest bit. "I was trying to take care of Kazutora, like I said I was going to. He was avoiding me, so I followed him." She answered calmly, he watched her with cautious eyes. Baji knew he couldn't tell her anything. He also knew she wouldn't accept that. "I'm doing what I can to untie my hands. I'm going to help everyone, Kazutora included." Rei nodded, it was the best she was going to get and she knew it. "Chifuyu told me what he thinks your goals are, I believe him. Just….don't take it all onto yourself. You have friends who love you and want to help you. I'm one of them." She stared at him, she knew her friend was going down a dark and dangerous road. Rei knew the likelihood he would get hurt walking down this road was high. Baji nodded, understanding knowing he wouldn't take the help even if it was offered. "I know." His response was quiet and they sat in silence for a moment before she spoke again. "I never properly thanked you…for being my friend. For everything you've done really." The smallest of smiles crossed her lips, as she said the words. Even if everything was fucked up right now she appreciated her friendship with Baji. The things that friendship had brought into her life were irreplaceable. "If you want to thank me then live a good life, take care of Kazutora, be happy. Promise me you will." Rei nodded, she didn't know why but for some reason this conversation felt like a goodbye. She hoped her feelings were wrong, not a goodbye but a see you later. "I promise, I love you Kei" She said with a smile even though she almost wanted to cry. Keisuke cracked the first smile she'd seen from him in what felt like far too long, that little fanged smile she so adored. The smile that had been attached to the hand that had dragged her from the darkness. The smile that was attached to so many good memories. Keisuke was the glue that had held Rei and Kazutora together as kids. Why had things gotten so fucked up? "I love you too. Take care of yourself chickadee." He said reaching out to ruffle her hair before exiting the vehicle and closing the door. She watched him walk away with a growing heaviness in her heart. Rei knew he wouldn't ask her for help, she could only hope maybe Chifuyu could get through to him.