It played in his head over and over again. Those sweet words, spoken in Neneko's gentle, whispery voice. They made his heart race and it took all of his self-control to not run to her apartment after hearing them.
Sitting on the bed in his motel room, he ran a hand through his hair and felt a smile taking form. She loved him. She had said those words to him and she really, truly loved him. Just thinking about it sent a rush of happiness through his being and he wanted to sweep her into a hug.
I have to stay away, though. She told me to stay away, he reminded himself. Which means she'll be even more surprised if I just show up unannounced! Jin frowned and lowered his head. I can't do that. She said she was going to take care of whatever problem she had. If I go there, she'll be mad. No way! She'll be super happy to see me! Ladies love romantic crap like that!
He was unsure of how long he had been sitting on his bed, but when his phone rang it made him jump a little. Jin's heart skipped a beat as he imagine it being Neneko and then his heart sank upon seeing Giran's name on the screen. "Yeah?"
"What are you doing right now?"
The man reached for his cigarettes and lighter, his frown fading a bit. As long as he could hold himself together, this interaction might help him take his mind off of her. "Having a smoke. Why? You need me to do something? Do it yourself, you old creep! Ngh! S-sorry…"
"How'd you know? I need your help with something in a little bit. See, I've got this friend that I think needs my help. I just need for you to keep a path clear long enough for me to get them out of their building."
"Uh…what time? I'm a busy guy, you know! You think I have time for this?" Jin was about to apologize again, but stopped himself out of fear of it growing annoying. I'll take my mask. No way I can hold it together for the rest of the day.
"Let's see…" There was a brief pause. "Okay, how about you meet me in an hour? I'll send you the address. See you soon."
The call ended and Jin stared at his phone in puzzlement. Giran had never asked for something like this before. It was perplexing and the broker was acting shifty. He ran his fingertips along his scar and closed his eyes.
Hopefully, this task could act as a good distraction for him. Whatever strange, secretive, shady thing that Giran wanted help with, Jin was fine with it. He lit a cigarette and leaned back against the wall, his frown returning.
Thinking those words over and over again. Three simple words that brought him so much happiness. Not only had she told him she loved him, he had confessed his feelings as well. It made his heart feel fluttery. Rubbing the back of his neck now, he tried to imagine what sort of face she made when she heard him say it. How pink her cheeks had turned, how her lips had probably quivered for an instant before drawing into a sweet, timid smile.
Shift P.O.V
"I'll give you a week to rethink your decision."
The first words that Neneko heard as she was coming back. The world around her had blipped away for a short while. One moment she was sitting on her couch in the meeting room with Chisaki leaning toward her and the next moment, her life ended in one, large splatter of crimson. Now she was back to life, staring across at him as he reached for his gloves.
Three simple words. That was all it took for him to decide she needed to die. When offered to join the Shie Hassaikai, she simply told him "I must refuse". His posture changed, his eyes grew intense with cold hatred, and his tone changed as well. He demanded to know who she was choosing to work for instead of him.
Neneko attempted to explain that she just wanted to work with small business, but it was clear from his gaze that he knew there was another reason. It was the first time Chisaki had ever killed her and she knew she was lucky that he restored her back to life. She bowed her head, eyes beginning to grow wet with tears of shock from the experience. "Yes…Chisaki-san. I will look forward to our next meeting."
His gloves were on again. His eyes were narrowed on her as he stood. "Do you remember that man with the small business? Maru, wasn't it?"
A shiver ran down her spine and she nodded once. Neneko was now chewing on her thumbnail as she tried to avoid his gaze. Near the door, Kurono was completely unfazed by what had just taken place. The next time that he kills me will be the last. I will need to leave the country then. Make preparations…but…I will never see Jin again.
"It would be too bad if there was another Maru incident, don't you agree?" Without another word to her, Chisaki exited the room and made his way to the apartment's main door. "Let's go, Kurono."
"Right behind you." Kurono spared her a brief glance, but his face was hidden behind his mask. "I thought you were smarter than that, Kuroiwa. Don't turn him down again, got it?"
The apartment door closed and locked behind them, alerting her to the fact that they had a key to her home. Neneko trembled and curled in on herself, tears flowing freely. I have to leave the country if I want to escape. I never thought it would come to this. In order to be free, I will be forced to leave everything behind.
Neneko hurried to her bedroom with her cat close behind. She began stuffing clothes into a bag, panic making her move without thinking. It was only as she was struggling with the zipper that she remembered she would need to first sort out booking a flight out of Japan. Of course, she was unsure of where she could even go.
She abandoned her bag and rushed to her office to search for a flight. United States. Ireland. Russia. Germany. I have to get far away from here. Even then, I will need to maintain a low profile. I know from the translations that Chisaki's influence is beginning to spread quite a ways.
There was a flight to Ireland that looked promising so she settled on that. Neneko grabbed her purse and a jacket next, knowing that she would need to get all of her money turned to cash so there would be no electronic trail. She slipped her shoes on and opened the door, still panicking a bit and hurrying.
The translator stopped in her tracks when she spotted the muscular, masked man awaiting her. He was a good deal taller than her, definitely stronger than her, and he was wearing a vaguely penguin-like mask in black and white. The very sight of him made her blood run cold and stumbled back a step. "Ah…excuse me, sir…?"
The man had been facing away, as if guarding her door, and seemed smug when he looked at her. "Going somewhere, Kuroiwa?"
Shift P.O.V
Jin could hardly believe it. He had gone to the address Giran sent him and it was Neneko's apartment building. Standing in the alley, near the maintenance entrance, he was sweating bullets and going through cigarette after cigarette.
He knows about her! That's gotta be it! No way! It's just a coincidence! He held his head with both hands, gritting his teeth and destroying the cigarette he had just lit. What am I gonna do?! He'll tell Shigaraki! Giran's great with secrets! He'll tell Shigaraki and he'll want her to join! I can't let it happen! I can't-!
"Bubaigawara, over here." Giran entered the alley, giving him a casual wave and a smirk. "So what do you think? Nice place, isn't it?"
"You…said your friend lives here? Who're you trying to fool, huh?! I know my own soulmate's building!" He slapped a hand over his mouth as he sank down to the ground, leaning heavily against the alley wall.
"Soulmate, huh?" Giran lit a cigarette and half-grinned. "I knew you were serious about her. You got me; we're here to rescue your princess."
"…what're you talking about…?" Jin tasted blood and realized that he had bitten the inside of his cheek.
"I'll explain why later, but I've been keeping tabs on Kuroiwa. Everything's been pretty normal until today. A big fish went to see her, if you catch my drift. I get the feeling he came here to take her. My sources told me he left the place empty-handed, but he left a few guys behind to guard the place and tail her if she leaves."
"Why are you doing this though? You really wanna help or is this about getting her for Shigaraki?"
Giran quirked an eyebrow and released a sound of resignation as he looked toward the building. "She'd be good for the League, but I'm not gonna push her into it. I don't wanna make a woman like her my enemy. Really, I'm doing this to help you, Bubaigawara. I won't even charge you for the consultation."
He was still a little skeptical, but pushed himself to stand. "What's your plan? If she's got people guarding her-"
"It's not a lot of guys. Just a few hanging around in the maintenance stairs and the lobby. Probably a couple on her floor, too. All I need you to do is clear the stairs and I can help her slip out without being noticed. I'll make the accommodations for her to stay somewhere until we get this sorted out, but-"
"N-no…she'll stay with me," Jin argued. He managed to pull himself together and looked toward her building with determination. Save the princess…His pulse quickened at the thought and he grimaced in frustration. The thought of someone keeping her trapped, under surveillance, made his blood boil. Jin would rescue her no matter what. He just needed to be careful that he did not take so much damage that his body was reduced to the mucky puddle that all doubles became when they died.
Shift P.O.V
"Sir…? I don't believe we've met." Neneko tensed as the masked man took a step toward her. He had wild sort of orange-pink hair that made him look all the more intimidating. Like a feral creature about to attack.
"Doesn't surprise me. He forgot to tell you." The man laughed wickedly and crossed his arms. "The name's Rappa. I'm your bodyguard for the next week, got it? If you think you hate it, imagine how I feel! This is a huge waste of my time and energy, but he wants to make sure you don't disappear on us."
"Ah…I see…" She tried to maintain a calm expression and bowed slightly. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Rappa-san."
"I don't know what the big deal is. What? Are you super strong or something? Why's he want you so bad?"
"I can honestly say that I have no idea." She winced when he chuckled. "I need to…get food for my cat, Rappa-san. If you will excuse me. This is a mundane task that is surely beneath you so-"
"You're damn right. So you know what we're going to do?"
Neneko could feel the smugness, the frustration, the excitement all radiating from this yakuza underling in front of her. She tried to step around him, her anxiety swiftly growing when he stepped closer. "Rappa-san?"
"You're gonna sit in your apartment like a good girl."
"W-wait! Please, sir!" Her upper arm was snatched by a large, powerful hand that surely would leave a bruise. Neneko was hauled back into her apartment, the man slamming the door shut behind them. No! No, no, no! I have to escape from here! This is….this is the worst…scenario that I could imagine!
The man loomed over her, his shoulders almost too broad for the narrow little corridor. "Look, girlie, if you need stuff just tell me and I'll send somebody else to get it. I'm not letting you out of my sight for the next week." He smirked and lowered his head, glaring at her closely. "What're you gonna do? Are you gonna cry? Pretty sure I heard that idiot Chrono say you were seeing some guy. Is that where you were really going?"
She felt like her knees might buckle. Bracing a hand against the wall, Neneko bowed her head. They…they know about Jin?! If Kurono said that…then they must know about Jin! No…no, no, no! I can't allow this! Jin! Her hand curled into a fist and she lifted her sharp violet eyes to narrow upon the man.
He snorted. "Heh. You know, you're kinda cute when you're pissed off. You wanna fight or something?"
"…get out…" she murmured in warning.
"What's that? You think you can order me around just 'cause Overhaul thinks you're special?" Rappa started toward her, hands curling into fists at his sides. He drew an arm back, as if readying to attack.
Neneko took a deep breath and stormed forward. She grabbed the front of his shirt and yanked the man's face down close to hers so there were only a few inches between her nose and his mask. Her thoughts were far from clear. Her number one concern now was protecting Jin, which she could not do from her building.
The translator's lips parted and her vocal cords felt like they lit ablaze. "You are a pathetic lump of flesh with no manners and you smell like blood and sweat! You call yourself yakuza and you are nothing but trash! I suggest you run back to Chisaki-san like a dog with its tail between its legs in defeat!"
The man began to tremble. He stumbled back from her grip, limbs shaking and shoulders hunching forward. Rappa mumbled something, but it was too quiet to hear. He held his head in his hands, hiding his face from her view. All of that fierce energy was draining away quickly and leaving behind an unmotivated, fearful shell. "I'm weak…I'm so damn weak! What is this?!"