YOU GUYS TOTALLY FORGOT ABOUT HIMURO DIDN'T YOU don't lie I know ;)

Well lucky for you, I haven't forgotten about that pretty boy, because he's pretty important to the plot too.
But I'll shut up now. Enjoy this plot filled installment!

Chapter 10: Haste

Kagami looked up from where he was sitting on a bench as Aomine walked out of the main hospital doors. The blue haired man's expression was unreadable, but there was some tension around his lips as though he was gritting his teeth.

"Didn't get anything useful, huh?" Kagami smirked and Aomine sighed.

Aomine shrugged. "Not really."

"Well lucky for you, I was more productive, so we can get moving," Kagami stood up, dusting his clothes. "But maybe we should go somewhere else before I say anything out here," he added with a furtive glance around them.

Aomine nodded silently, clearly still deep in thought.

Kagami cocked his head. "Everything alright?"

"A-ah, yeah…" Aomine hesitated. Should I tell him? But where do I even start? Maybe I should hear what he has to say first. "Let's go."

"What…?"

"You heard what I said," Kagami said quietly, wiping his hands on a napkin. They were sitting at the back of a quaint restaurant, finishing up a mountain of sandwiches. They had been starving, and now finally had some downtime to catch up.

"Yeah, I did. I just…" Aomine pinched his nose. "Hara. Do you even know what that means?"

"Well, I guess I'd have to see what characters they use to write the name-"

"No, you dumbass," Aomine clicked his tongue. "I think you forgot that up until a very short while ago, I was in Narcotics. The Hara family is…well, they're one of the main organisations, if not the leading one, when it comes to distribution in Tokyo."

Kagami hummed. Takao had said something similar. It didn't matter, Kagami would do anything to bring those bastards in. Anything to get answers out of them. Even if it was bending the rules a little.

Aomine sighed. "Imayoshi was starting to get antsy a few months back when their activity dropped off the grid completely, like what was happening with most of the Tokyo gangs," he leaned back in his chair a little, chewing his lip in contemplation. Could this be related to Akashi directly? Makes sense though…if it's Hara… Out loud, he continued, "We'd been chasing them for months when they just disappeared. And now you have a fucking location! Where did you get this information anyway?"

Kagami paused. "My CI."

Aomine's eyes widened. "He works there? He's the one that gave you that Shuutoku lead, right?" Kagami didn't respond but Aomine's mind was working overtime.

Kagami's confidential informant was the same guy who had led Kagami into that area in Ikebukuro, where Midorima had fired those warning shots. Which meant his CI was working with Midorima, and that would also explain all this knowledge about the drug trade the guy was telling Kagami. But Midorima…he hadn't seemed ready to give up any sort of information, let alone to a cop he didn't even know. Which could only mean Midorima's subordinate was helping Kagami, without telling Midorima. Aomine was unsure if the CI knew about Akashi or not, but either way, it was a gutsy move.

Aomine laughed dryly. "Fuck, Kagami. Your CI has balls."

Kagami snorted. "Yes, well, he is a guy." At the annoyed look Aomine sent him, Kagami smiled back. "I know, I'm kidding. He does, and I don't want to let him down."

Aomine steepled his fingers together. "So, we gonna tell the boss are not?"

Kagami hesitated, squirming under Aomine's scrutiny. "Yeah, of course." He would've preferred keeping it to themselves, getting some more information…but Aomine was probably right. Kagami took his phone out but Aomine slapped his hand on it. "What?"

"Let's use the payphone," Aomine insisted. "Your battery will die soon-"

"It's on thirty percent, it's fine-"

"Please," Aomine stood up, taking out a few loose coins. He was somewhat sure Akashi had bugged his phone, but he knew for certain that Kagami's was hacked. And he was not going to let Akashi take this lead from them.

Kagami followed him, shooting him strange glances. Aomine punched in the number on the payphone that idled beside the shop, and held the receiver to his ear.

We'll get one up on you this time, Akashi.

"This is nice."

"My apartment, or Momoi-san's leads?" Riko drawled, her eyes following Imayoshi as he peered at the modern art she hung on her walls, and brushed imaginary dust off her leather couch before sitting down on it with a relaxed sigh.

The bespectacled man smiled at her, waving the piece of paper in the air. "Both. Some of these names are surprising though. Some, not so much. Honestly, I was expecting to see Hara in this list," his squinting eyes narrowed further. "But that politician Seto? Interesting."

"Yeah, we'll have to keep an eye on him for sure." Riko paused when she felt her phone vibrate. "One second," she squinted at the unknown number, answering it cautiously. "Hello…?"

The line crackled a little. "Hey, it's Aomine."

"Aomine-kun." Riko met Imayoshi's curious gaze with a raised eyebrow. "Any news?"

"Uh, yeah. Say, where are you right now?"

"In my apartment. It's a Sunday, and even higher-ups need breaks," Riko snorted. "Well, Imayoshi-san is here though. We think we've got some leads so get back here and I can bring you up to speed."

"Imayoshi's here?" Aomine's voice was a little gravelly over the connection. "Yeah, Kagami one minute, let me tell them…"

"Chief, put it on speaker!" Kagami's voice sounded from the background.

"Okay," Riko sat down beside Imayoshi and placed the mobile on the table, switched to speakerphone.

Aomine cleared his throat. "We got a location of a potential drug operation down here, in a warehouse. We believe it's headed by a member of the Hara family."

Riko's eyes widened, and Imayoshi leaned forwards. "You're sure?"

"Fairly certain."

"This is big," Riko hissed. "Okay, boys, sit tight. Under no circumstances are you to go there by yourselves, got it? We don't know what we're dealing with here. Aomine-kun, give it to Kagami-kun."

"Yes Chief?" Kagami asked cautiously.

"Kagami-kun, I don't care about your feelings here, alright? You wait there, in one spot, and you wait for backup. This might be a big step forwards for us and we can't afford to stuff it up."

"What if we just scout-"

"No. Kagami-kun, no." Riko massaged her forehead. She had to be careful now. They had started to step even closer into Kagami's personal territory, into an area of the investigation where Kagami was bound to act more on impulse and emotion than reason. And she couldn't have that compromise their case. "We will assemble a tactical team as fast as possible, and we'll be there late tonight. We'll have to move carefully. One wrong move will send them all packing and running, and we have to catch them in the act. So you stay in one place until we get there, okay?"

Kagami sighed. "Fine."

"Give it to Aomine-kun," Riko said, continuing when she heard Aomine over the receiver. "Aomine-kun, keep an eye on Kagami-kun. He can be a bit rash sometimes, but maybe you can keep his head on straight."

"Kagami, rash?" Aomine sounded a little confused. Riko hesitated. Seemed like he didn't know how personally invested Kagami was in this. She wondered when Kagami would tell him, if ever. "But sure, we'll just hang around here until you guys get here."

"Okay, good. Stay safe," she disconnected and got up, stretching her back. "Can't even get a quiet Sunday in, can I?"

Imayoshi chuckled softly. "And what tactical team can we assemble on a Sunday and with such short notice?"

Riko pursed her lips. "When my father was in the force, more specifically when he was investigating the Kiseki Syndicate, he used one specific team for all his raids. I think if I pull some strings and jog a little memory, his old team will be happy to come with me." She grinned. "I already have the leader's number. I thought I'd need them sometime."

"Yes, well, won't they be old?" Imayoshi scrunched his nose. "That was ten years ago, wasn't it?"

Riko rolled her eyes. "The team has new members, but the unit leader is still the same. And he's just a little older than us. Wait and see." Her finger flickered over the keypad and she held the phone to her ear. "Ah, is this Matsumoto Itsuki? Do you remember Aida Kagetora…? Yes, that's right. It's Aida Riko, his daughter, from Homicide. I'm going to need a favour."

"She told you to keep an eye on me, didn't she?" Kagami scowled.

Aomine shrugged, walking quietly beside him back to the motel they had originally stayed in. It was relatively cheap and somewhat clean. They could kill time there without attracting too much attention.

"I don't need a babysitter."

Aomine picked up Kaagmi's hostile tone. "What's wrong? Just because you thought we should scout it out before, and she disagreed? It's not like you aren't going to listen to that lady." When Kagami didn't respond, Aomine squinted. "Right?"

Kagami kicked the ground.

Aomine stopped walking. "Kagami, you've been a bit off this whole time."

"I've been off?" Kagami snorted, stopping as well. "You wanted to use a payphone!"

"At least I had a proper reason," Aomine ruffled his hair. "Chief's right, you're acting a little reckless. I understand you're restless, and you want to bring these guys in, but we have to lay low and follow orders."

Kagami shook his head. "Scouting the area isn't going to hurt. We can just see how many there are, see if we can get a few photos-"

"Kagami, no," Aomine walked past him and Kagami stalked after him, grumbling.

The love hotel looked a bit less suspicious in the daylight, although the peeling paint and loose roof tiles still gave it a bit rundown sense. They pushed the door open.

"Back again?" the girl from last night was still there, like she had been when they checked out in the morning. This time she was wearing a spaghetti strapped top and Kagami wondered how she never seemed to be cold in this weather. Maybe it was the packets of cigarettes she was constantly burning through.

Kagami took out his wallet as she tossed them the keys to the same room as last night.

"We haven't cleaned it," she drawled. "So just take it again."

Kagami handed the keys to Aomine. "You go up first."

"Excuse me?" Aomine crossed his arms. "I'm not letting you out of my sight."

"Naughty," the girl leered but they ignored her.

"I'm just dropping by the pharmacy. I have a headache," Kagami explained, feeling a nerve tick in his forehead. "If I'm not back in ten minutes, then you can chase after me. You know the location."

Aomine peered at him suspiciously, before huffing and going up the stairs. "Fine. Be quick."

"What do you want, handsome?" the girl inquired when Kagami stared at her.

"Can you keep something between us? I think you can help me," Kagami leaned on the table, flinching a little when it creaked.

She grinned, her dull teeth contrasting against her glossy lips. "Your boyfriend not performing in bed? I've got just the thing-"

"No, no, I need something more…discreet," Kagami waved his hand, his stomach clenching at the implication. But he had to do this. It was the only way he could go where he wanted. He couldn't risk the operation moving anywhere in the next few hours. The information he had was fresh. He'd track them if they moved, and inform the Chief of any changes in location. He bit his lip.

Sorry, Aomine.

Aomine was feeling a bit uneasy, glancing at his watch and deciding to go after Kagami when there was a knock on the door. He sighed in relief, opening it and letting Kagami in. The redhead was carrying two cups of coffee, handing one to Aomine as the two sat down on the bed.

"The pharmacy was close," Kagami said. "Thought we could use something hot to drink as well, given this chill."

"You sure it's okay to have this with painkillers," Aomine smirked, sipping the cappuccino.

Kagami shrugged. "Yeah. I'm…I'm sorry I've been a bit weird, Aomine."

Aomine looked at Kagami with warm eyes. "Nah, it's cool. You going to tell me what's up, though? You don't have to…" he added, thinking of his own secrets. He would tell Kagami. He wanted to. Maybe…maybe now was the right time. He took another long swig, feeling the warm coffee slide down his throat and calm his nerves. "Kagami-"

"Aomine, this case is very personal," Kagami said over him. "To an extent you don't know. So…I have to do this." Kagami's voice was strange, strained. His eyes were pained, and he was frowning.

"What do you…mean…? Unghh…" Aomine pressed a hand against his head. Weird. The room was spinning. He drank a little more of the coffee, noticing a strange sour aftertaste in it for the first time.

"So I hope you'll forgive me," Kagami took the near empty cup from Aomine's weak grip, placing a hand against Aomine's chest and pushing him back so that his head thumped gently against the mattress.

Aomine's body felt heavy…he couldn't move… Of course. Kagami had drugged him, and obviously Aomine had never suspected it. So he'll go to such lengths? What's so important to him…about this case…? He closed his eyes. Could he really be angry, after all he had hid from Kagami? Maybe he deserved this.

"See you soon. You can yell at me then," Kagami said softly, and Aomine felt lips brush against his cheek lightly. "But I have to do this. For my mother."

The last thing Aomine heard before he passed out was the sound of the door gently clicking shut.

"You're good at this. And it's only been a week, right?"

Himuro looked up from where he was wiping the drink glasses, smiling. "Ah, Okamura-senpai, you're too kind."

"No, I mean it!" the large man slapped him on the back and Himuro tried to keep in a groan of pain. "You know, I originally became a bartender because I thought it would make me popular with the girls," he sipped the drink Himuro had prepared as a practice run. "But a pretty boy like you has no problem in that area, does he? So what got you into the business?"

"I just like the atmosphere," Himuro said truthfully. "You get to talk to strangers, learn about them, and maybe even make friends. I help people run away from their fears, and sometimes talking to me helps them to face their problems."

"Why not become a shrink?" Okamura grinned.

"I like the outfit," Himuro winked and Okamura guffawed, slamming his large hand on the table. Himuro winced at the sound of glass rattling. Everything was expensive here, at his new workplace. He'd been busy learning the comings and goings, and his long shifts as well as learning on the job left him bone tired. But this place was…interesting.

Yosen, an exclusive club and bar for Tokyo's top one percent. It was new, it had only opened last week, but every night it teemed with the rich and famous and sometimes even the slightly shady. The man who had hired Himuro almost as casually as one ordered pizza was seen very rarely.

Murasakibara Atsushi. Himuro couldn't understand him. At first glance, he seemed to just be a lazy guy obsessed with eating. But if he owned a club as big on the scene as Yosen, he'd had to have something to his name. And Himuro wanted to find out exactly what.

He looked in front of him, where a well-built man was trying to make origami cranes out of the napkins. Okamura Kenichi, big and scary but honestly a softie at heart. The man couldn't hurt a fly. He was the main bartender, and Himuro's mentor in a sense. It was a Sunday afternoon, and the club opened in a few hours, but Himuro wanted to experiment with drinks a little and Okamura was humouring him.

But for all his goofiness, the man seemed to have some wisdom even in his relatively young years.

"Himuro, I'll be honest," he spoke up. "I don't know if you're suited for Yosen." At Himuro's shocked expression, he continued. "You're a good bartender, and a good person. The second part's the problem. 'Yosen' may be new, but the club itself isn't. It's just got a new name and new management."

Himuro leaned forwards with interest, replacing Okamura's cocktail with another one. The man could get talkative.

"I've been in this kind of business, this fancy club shit, for a few years now, and these places are shitholes at the best of times," Okumura's gaze darkened. "And things haven't been all fun and games lately either."

"What do you mean?" Himuro asked curiously.

Okamura opened his mouth as though he was going to clarify, but his eyes met someone else's behind Himuro and he stood up suddenly. "Boss, you're in early."

Himuro turned around to nearly collide into a purple haired giant. "Hmm…" the man hummed, eating chips from a packet. "I just wanted to see how Muro-chin was doing."

"You have found true talent," Okamura nodded. "Well, I think that's enough for today, Himuro. I'll start getting the rooms ready for opening."

"We still have time…" Himuro trailed off when Okamura left without another word. Weird. He glanced at Murasakibara, who was sitting at the bar.

Magenta eyes met his. "So…how's work? More fun than that other place, right? Also, can you make me something sweet to drink?"

"Of course. I am enjoying myself quite a bit, Atsushi, thank you," Himuro started making a mocktail. Everyone had been scandalised to hear him call their boss by his first name on his first day, but in America where he had grown up, he had always called his bosses by their first names. And Murasakibara didn't seem to mind at all. Plus, that surname was such a mouthful. He handed the drink over. He was getting faster at making them.

"That's good," Murasakibara mumbled, but Himuro was unsure if he was talking about the drink or Himuro's mood. "Muro-chin, we're going to have someone important over tonight…"

Himuro looked up at the unexpected information. They had someone important over almost every night, from politicians to celebrities. For Murasakibara to mention a person specifically, they must've been very important.

"So be on your best behaviour, okay, Muro-chin?" Murasakibara's gaze was sharp, contrary to his relaxed pose. "Aka-chin can get really cranky, and nobody likes it when he's cranky."

Himuro swallowed at the words. He had no idea who 'Aka-chin' was, but it didn't sit well with him. He wiped his hands on the towel.

For some reason, they had started sweating.

Momoi took a deep breath, staring up at the tall, sail-shaped building that rose above her. The clean glass façade reflected all the other buildings around it, the afternoon sun causing the pointed tip to shine like a beacon that stung her eyes. It seemed to stand out in a sparkling and untouchable kind of way. The building didn't even have a name on it. Everyone knew what this building was.

Momoi tucked a stray strand behind her ear and marched forwards, head held high. Her knuckles were white where she griped her purse.

The woman at the front desk looked up, her mascara lined eyes bored and her red lips pulling into a service smile. "Welcome to Akashi Enterprises. How may I help you today, ma'am?"

"I'm here to see Akashi Seijuro," Momoi said simply, pulling her shoulders back.

The woman's smile wavered a little. "Do you have an appointment, Miss…?"

"No." Momoi knew she'd be told to wait for a response if she called and asked to set an appointment. A response that would never come. "Just tell him Momoi Satsuki is here and I'm sure he'll be happy to meet me."

"That's not how this works, Momoi-san," the woman said calmly. "Akashi-sama is a busy man, and I need to set an appropriate appointment-"

"Momoi-san, long time no see."

The cool voice was nostalgic to Momoi's ears, and the face of the woman in front of her paled even more than the makeup she was wearing on it.

The receptionist bolted up and bowed lowly. "A-Akashi-sama…I didn't know you knew her…"

Momoi turned around to meet that unsettling dichromatic gaze. Akashi smiled at her, his hair combed cleanly and his suit pressed. He looked so professional, so different from their childhood that Momoi had to blink a little to get used to it. But those eyes were the same.

Akashi ignored the receptionist, keeping his eyes on Momoi. "This is unexpected, but not unwelcome. What brings you here?"

"J-just wanted to talk." Momoi hated how she stammered, but Akashi…he was different. He looked calm and approachable, but there was an aura around him that Momoi couldn't find the words for. It made her feel a little suffocated, like she was being assessed.

"Of course. Let's go to my office, shall we?" Akashi turned around. That was when Momoi noticed another man standing beside him. He had pale hair and emotionless eyes that made Momoi shiver with discomfort.

He reminded her of Kuroko…but the feeling was wrong.

Something was off. She could feel it in her gut. But she pushed down her instinct to run and walked beside Akashi to the executive elevator at the back, feeling the other man shadowing them.

She turned around in the elevator, Akashi on her right, the taller man on her left.

And then, she remembered this feeling. It was like when they were back in middle school, after Akashi's mother had died, and everything in their lives shifted in some invisible way that Momoi could never pinpoint. When Akashi had changed.

This feeling, Akashi's aura…

It was oppression. Fear.

Momoi was scared, and Akashi was the cause.

As the elevator doors closed in front of her, she closed her eyes.

She needed answers, and she was going to get them one way or another.

PLOT YES? Is it getting faster? I hope it's getting faster.

Don't worry, nobody's dying. Yet. NO I'M JOKING, I would have put in a warning if people were dying. Relax guys. It's cool.

I'm a slut for comments.
Yes, I did just say that.
No, I don't regret it.
Yes, I am sleep deprived.

For tons of AoKaga drabbles and shit, visit my tumblr at theeventideabyss! For my personal tumblr, go to thetranscendentabyss!