A/N: Thanks for the review, BecomingFearless1F, I'm glad you're liking it!
Monday - Akiza
Akiza bolted full pace through the torrential midnight. Tears fell freely. She couldn't have stopped them if she wanted to. What had she done? She didn't stop moving until she reached her room and closed the door behind her. Only then did she start hyperventilating. Only then did the cold set in. She looked at her hands. They were white, numb, and shook violently. She couldn't stop them. Where was the blood? Was it a dream? But it was too real. She remembered it so vividly. It replayed in her mind like nails on a chalkboard. Again and again and again. What had she done?
No, she hadn't done it. It was something else. The same something that had somehow slipped into her on Saturday night. This wasn't her fault. She couldn't control it. All she had wanted to do was help Yusei, not…not kill someone.
The man's eyes flashed before her. She heard the gunshot. Watching the life drain out of him…she had to vomit. Akiza scrambled for the toilet and let her minimal stomach contents out. She couldn't stop the trembling. Shivering. It had been a gut shot. He would still die, but it wouldn't be fast. If he was lucky, he would bleed out. If not, he would lie there slowly starving, dehydrating. Undoubtedly the wound would get infected too. And she hadn't called an ambulance. Didn't dare to. What would she say? Would she confess to a murder? Tell them it was suicide? How would she explain why she had been there?
So she had left him to die slowly, painfully, and with full knowledge of his inevitable death. No - no, it hadn't been her. What was it she had said? The witch of roses? No, she hadn't said that. No one had. The man had thought it. How did she know that? It didn't matter. A black witch of roses had come in the night to commit murder in the name of Akiza's love. In the name of love, but not really. The witch was cold and malevolent. There was no pity. Only a cruel, vicious delight in the suffering of others. She was not Akiza. She couldn't be.
Akiza only prayed that Yusei would never find out.
Monday - Yusei
Yusei recalled three odd things he found in his building that morning. First was his almost-dead landlord lying in his room. He had a gunshot wound to the stomach which was inflamed and pus-filled. Amidst the delirious ramblings, Yusei had made out one phrase of any meaning: 'black rose witch'. The man died soon after. While Yusei didn't relish his death, he didn't exactly mourn it either. Life in the Satellite without a landlord was suddenly much simpler. Now his prime concern was food.
The second odd thing he had found that morning was the rose and rose petals that decorated his landlord's body. To him it spoke of a killer different than the usual criminal type one found in the Satellite. This was the mark of someone proud of their work. It was gloating, mocking the man's very life with faux respect.
And the third thing paid for all as the most peculiar thing of that morning: the same type of rose was on his pillow when he woke. It wouldn't be hard for a stranger to figure that the man above was Yusei's landlord, but this rose implied the killer may have known of their specific situation. The landlord had Yusei on the end of a rope. It was like a gesture, a signal that said, for you. A pity killing performed just for Yusei. Someone with a sense of pride and power who couldn't help but flaunt their magnanimous favour.
More likely than not, however, was that the killer was simply a psychopath. The decision to spare Yusei but kill his landlord must've been quite the power trip.
Jack wouldn't know about it. His absence still hurt. Yusei had impulses, many times a day, when he would think to text Jack. A funny thought, or maybe a meme. Maybe just to vent about his day. Jack had a similarly wry sense of humour. It had been so easy to laugh together. Why had it all gone so wrong?
"Don't like your curry?" Akiza's voice brought him out of his reverie.
They sat in the uni food court in the student union building. The room was filled with the bustle and buzz of scores of other students also on their lunch breaks. Like them, Yusei and Akiza hid from the gusting winds outside. At least the rain had stopped. Yusei took what he could get.
He sifted his fork through his half-eaten food. "What? No, it's great. Best food I've had for days."
"Yusei, that's the only food you've had for days."
"Only two days, actually."
Akiza raised an eyebrow. "That's still days. Come on, eat up. I paid for it."
Yusei waved her off, chuckling. "I know, I know. Thank you." He had no idea what he'd do without her.
Akiza smiled. "You're welcome." She shifted in her seat. Briefly looking at her hands, she took a breath. "Did you make rent today?"
"Turns out I didn't need to."
"Oh…and why's that?" Akiza said, shifting again.
"I found my landlord dead this morning. Someone shot him in the stomach."
Akiza gasped. "What? Yusei, you have got to get out of there! The Satellite is honestly ridiculous. I don't know why Rex Goodwin hasn't done anything about it." She crossed her arms haughtily.
"I thought you might say that. And I'm sure you'll feel loads better knowing that the killer was in my room last night. But they let me live for some reason."
Akiza paled. "How do you know that? Maybe they didn't know you were there."
"They left a rose on my bed, so I think that's unlikely. They also littered the crime scene with flower petals. Must've been a fun night out for them."
"Fun?" Akiza cocked her head. "You mean…"
"They didn't steal anything. Just killed. I think maybe I have a secret admirer." Yusei shuddered.
"I don't think murderers are your type. Did you call the police?"
"The first person they'd suspect is me, so no. The body is still upstairs."
Akiza grimaced. "That is disgusting."
"Yeah, I'll probably have to move it at some point. By the way, I have a job to do tonight."
"No…Yusei. Please tell me you didn't."
"I did," Yusei said grimly.
"What is Hunter making you do?"
"I don't know. They'll tell me when I get there tonight."
"Sounds seedy already."
"True…but money is money. It's probably just going to be transporting drugs or something. Won't be too bad."
"Yusei, please…"
Yusei sighed. "What? Please what?"
Akiza gazed at him helplessly.
"Aki…" Yusei placed a hand on hers. "I'll be fine. Really."
"You keep saying that, but you're starving and you've got a bruise on your face. It just keeps getting worse."
"I'll make it through."
"You'd better." Akiza bit her lip. "I want you safe."
Yusei couldn't help the smile that tugged at his lips. "It's sweet that you're worrying about me, but I'm doing one job for them. Just one. That's it."
"Please keep it at one. Getting tangled up with the likes of Hunter…" Akiza clutched the hand Yusei had resting on hers. "Just don't get tangled up in it."
"I won't. Anyway, enough about me. How was your presentation?"
A shy smile spread on her face. "It…actually went well."
"That's great! I knew you could do it."
Akiza fiddled with the ends of her hair. "Yeah, yeah. I sort of just…"
"Just…?"
"Well I just…thought of you, really. You're always so clear-headed, so I just tried to imitate that."
Thought of him? Warmth flushed through him. He inspired her? "I guess I really am a great cheerleader." Yusei laughed.
"The best. I'm gonna get you a uniform for your birthday. You need better clothes." Akiza wrinkled her nose as she said the last.
Yusei tugged self-consciously at his jacket. "What's wrong with this? I thought you liked it."
"I mean, it fits well, but you have to switch it up sometimes. Hence, birthday present!"
"There goes the surprise. Thanks, Aki."
"I'm sorry, Poo-sei."
"What?" Yusei guffawed. "What was that?"
"Your new name."
Yusei clutched his belly as he continued to laugh. "That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Thanks for that. Really made my day."
Akiza crossed her arms and pouted. "That wasn't supposed to be funny. It was scathing! Hurtful! You're supposed to be a ball of tears right now!"
"I'm sorry," Yusei said as he wiped away a tear of laughter. "How about I make it up to you?"
Akiza narrowed her eyes. "How?"
"Dinner tomorrow night. You aced your presentation today, so I think you've earned it."
A faint blush tinged Akiza's cheeks. She blinked. "On a uni night? Are you sure?"
"Why not? Let's live a little. My treat."
"You're gonna treat me with dinner…using my own money, I'm guessing?"
"Yep."
Akiza chuckled. "I actually like the sound of that. I know the perfect place."
Monday - Yusei
This wasn't good.
"Come on, I can steal from someone in Tops or something," said Yusei.
Hunter Pace took a step closer. His goons circled around and surrounded Yusei. "Because in Tops people actually steal. Here, nobody will blink an eye. Steal for me, and you'll be fed, sheltered, and protected from other gangs. It's not a bad deal, Yusei."
"But it's an orphanage. They have nothing else. I'm not going to steal from children." Aki was right. As always. He shouldn't have called Hunter. Maybe he should listen to her more often. He'd get to see her tomorrow. The thought steeled his nerve.
"What, you wanna go after a harder target straight up?" Hunter chuckled. "Man you're ballsy, but I gotta see if you can be loyal. You can't have it both ways."
"If this is how you operate, I don't want it at all." Yusei glanced around and counted the men. There was Hunter, plus four other men, all equidistant around him. They could overpower him easily. The one thing he had was surprise. If he made the first move, he had the initiative; he controlled the momentum. But what move to make?
Hunter snarled. "Yusei, you call me, and beg for my help. From the goodness of my heart I decide to give you a chance. Now you're gonna spit in my face?"
"I don't want to spit in anyone's face, Hunter. Stealing from Martha's orphanage just isn't in my MO. I grew up there, man." Yusei gauged the surrounds. A dingy clearing with dank puddles. Buildings surrounded the area on all sides except one. On that side there was only a narrow alleyway out of here. It was to Yusei's right, which meant he had to clear the two men that stood in his way. He kept his body relaxed for the moment. He knew Hunter would sense any tension.
Hunter cracked his knuckles. "Then that's too bad. I really would've liked having you on my side."
"I still can be." Yusei held his contingency plan in his pocket - a bright blue flare he had cobbled together before coming.
Hunter shook his head. "No, it's too late. You can't yank me around like that." He took another step and reached for Yusei's collar. The other men began closing the distance.
Yusei scrunched his eyes, pulled out the flare, and lit it. He heard startled cries around him. Dropping the flare, he shoved his way past the two men to his side and bolted to the alley.
Hunter and his men gave chase, cursing and stumbling.
Yusei grunted as he slipped sideways into the narrow alley. It was damp, and chilling water splashed up his ankles as he ran. He bumped his shoulder on the wall painfully as he emerged out the other end, but he kept up his pace. Despite the cold air, he began to sweat. Yusei glanced behind him. Hunter and his goons were barely five metres behind. They were all bigger, with longer strides. Before long they would catch up, so Yusei needed a plan.
His shop was close by. Under no circumstances could Hunter be allowed to find out where he lived. Yusei veered in the opposite direction, down a street strewn with scrap. Should he throw some of the metal at his opponents? No, he'd have to slow down for that, and it wouldn't achieve anything. He grit his teeth. He hated to think of it, but there was no other way.
Yusei called out over his shoulder, "Catch me if you can!" He dashed to a single-storey building and used an adjacent rubbish bin to scramble onto it. One of the goons followed Yusei's path. As he scrambled on the roof, Yusei grabbed him in a headlock and squeezed as hard as he could. There was a little trick Akiza had told him about to defend himself with. In the neck ran a couple of important nerves and blood vessels. One of these vessels was the carotid artery - one on each side of the neck. On both of these arteries was a body called the carotid sinus, which helped regulate blood pressure. When it felt pressure, it automatically dilated the artery.
So that's what Yusei did. He applied pressure, and the goon's arteries dilated. This was important because without the normal blood pressure, there wasn't enough blood getting to the man's brain now. He fell limp, unconscious, and Yusei threw him off the roof.
But now Hunter and the other three goons were on the roof with him. Yusei ran for the edge. One of them darted forward and threw a punch, which landed on Yusei's shoulder. It didn't stop him, but his balance was off as he leapt off the roof. He landed heavily, falling on his hands and knees. A sharp pain shot through his left wrist. Yusei cried out.
Still, he got to his feet and ran. He wouldn't stop until he was safe. What other tricks did he know? The neck was a weak spot. Blinding them would help. But he had no training. He needed a solid advantage. A weapon. Yusei glanced around as he ran. Water, metal, cars, motorcycles, power lines. Gasoline from the vehicles? Electricity? But it would all be too slow to set up. These guys were right on his heels. The occasional person on the sidewalk watched on, but nobody tried to help.
There was nothing for it. Yusei stopped by a motorcycle, ripped off the fuel cap, and kicked it over. Petrol spilled all over the sidewalk, buoyant above the puddles of water. Kneeling, he stripped away a covering and pulled out the ends of some wires. He held them close to each other.
"Touch me and I'll light you all on fire!" Yusei yelled.
Hunter and his three goons stopped.
"You're…gonna set yourself on fire?" said Hunter, raising an eyebrow.
"Me and anyone who tries to fight me," Yusei growled. "Come on! Anyone want to risk it?" The gasoline slowly spread across the sidewalk and spilled onto the road. Hunter and his goons backed off.
"You can't stay there forever," said Hunter.
Yusei splashed some gasoline onto them. "Wanna bet?"
Hunter froze, eyeing Yusei. His brain seemed to be whirring, wondering what he could get away with. "You won't do it."
"Oh yeah? Either you beat me to death, or I kill myself and all of you with me. Guess which one I'm going to pick. Or there's the third option. You walk away, and we all get to live."
Hunter sighed. "You're nuts."
Yusei smirked, raising the wires. "I know."
"Let's go," said Hunter, and he and his goons left Yusei kneeling in a pool of gasoline.
They looked over their shoulders once or twice. Yusei remained motionless and stared them down until they were out of sight. Then he stayed there a bit longer, for safety's sake.
Only when he was safe did he let himself breathe again. His heart hammered in his chest. Could he have done it? Would he? He didn't know. But he couldn't stop picturing Akiza's reaction if he had. He really ought to listen to her more.