強い人と弱い人
The Strong and The Weak

Chapter 19 : Life Endangering Heart Palpitationsー

"I didn't think you'd come back without giving us trouble, Suoh."

The blue king greeted the other inside the jailhouse. Reisi unlocked his cell and watched Mikoto walk towards his 'bed'. He laid himself on his back and placed his hands behind his head as a cushion.

The red head snorted and turned his back to the blue. Reisi knew Mikoto was one who kept his friends' word. Friend. The word reverberated through his mind as he shut the cell. The thought of Mikoto keeping the friendship he once had with the king was irrelevant.

Were friends destined to kill one other when it was time?

Amethyst eyes wavered for a brief second before tearing themselves away from the now sleeping form.

"What was that for?!" Haruna wiggled her wrist free from Fushimi's hold and slapped his forehead. The guy winced and shot her a glare.

"How long have you been fraternizing with HOMRA?"

"Why do you care, asshole?"

"I don't care."

"Then why are you asking?'' She retaliated fiercely,"Stop interfering with my business!"

"Betrayal."

Then her mouth dropped before gritting her teeth back together angrily.

"Fraternizing with HOMRA? Betraying Scepter 4? From what I know, HOMRA isn't an enemy. We don't actively seek them out on a daily basis and we only engage in combat when they provoke it. Am I wrong?" She was growing angry with every word,"I gave my word as a member of Scepter 4 to protect this city's peace and order."

Fushimi's lips became a thin line. He looked away and stuffed his hands into his pockets. She was the winner this time. Haruna stomped past him to the Scepter 4 gates and rummaged through her bag for her ID.

"You haven't given your oath to Scepter 4 yet."

"Yes, I have."She responded to him in annoyance and continued rummaging through her bag,"What makes you say that?"

Haruna almost dropped her belongings on the pavement at his next words.

"You haven't become the captain's vassal, have you?"

It was true. On paper and contract she might have sworn oath, but it was entirely different in comparison to being Munakata's vassal. To become a blue clansman meant her own body was tied in alliance to Scepter 4. He didn't say any more. She fumbled with her ID card and swiped it along the card reader of the gate. As it opened up to her and Fushimi, her heart began to quiver. Her steady walk towards headquarters became a hurried stride and the next thing she knew she clutched her bag closer to her body and ran for it.

What was happening to her? She didn't understand why she became so anxious. What she did know, was that she wanted to run. Run from an internal fear.

Reisi heard the door to his office open. He looked up from his work and watched his third in command enter.

"Fushimi-kun."

The king acknowledged his presence, but was surprised to see the boy this evening. He knew Fushimi well enough to know that he wasn't as devoted to work overtime nor show his face on his days off.

"Did you release Mikoto Suoh?"

Reisi smirked at the question, but answered him truthfully.

"I gave him the opportunity to consider the things that matter." He added to relieve the brief shock on Fushimi's face,"He has come back, so there is nothing to be concerned about."

"Why?"

Why indeed, the king said to himself inwardly. The red king could've regrouped with his group of ruffians and not have come back at all.

"Suoh understands the risk of repeating the Kagutsu Crater incident." Reisi answered. He knew as much as he looked at it, it wasn't the answer Fushimi was asking for. Reisi understood the risk, but he understood Mikoto Suoh even more. Mikoto loved HOMRA, as he was willing to risk his life for them. The death of Tatara Totsuka had set him into an act of revenge, a fact that he denies. However, Mikoto knew he was reaching his limit. Would he risk the lives of his family, HOMRA, for an act of revenge?

"Sir, about Haruna Aigasa."

"Hm?" Reisi's thoughts were cleared on the recent matter and a small, teasing smile formed on his lips,"Have you taken a liking to her?"

Fushimi evaded the question and asked another in reponse.

"When will she swear oath to your sword? If she doesn't soon, she'll be swearing oath to another."

The talk of oath reminded Reisi of Fushimi's initiation as his vassal. The youngster denied the word he gave was neither an honor or a vow. The captain's words signified the end of this conversation.

" You may be put to rest with tomorrow's announcements, Fushimi-kun."

As soon as Haruna eached her room, she changed into sleep wear. As she prepared to climb into her bed, she noticed the mirror beside her table and observed her whole reflection. Even during the winter time, she wore a long, grey t-shirt and a pair of shorts with mint green bunny prints to bed. She stepped closer to her reflection and observed her skin for any blemishes. The girl brought her hands to her face and patted her cheeks gently. She was surprised to see her face still fresh with no hints of stress. Her eyes that were the color of warm honey were still bright and youthful.

She shook her head and slapped herself even more in the face. Of course they still looked youthful. She was eighteen years old.

Sheesh.

Haruna's thoughts wandered back to her second, and uneventful meeting with Fushimi hours earlier. She wondered what in the world he was doing there, and most of all, what kind of relationship the fish and the brat had. Whenever Yata had the chance, he fought like he wanted to kill Fushimi. What also surprised her was Fushimi wielding both blue and red auras. Probably she'd never know. It wasn't any of her business. After going through these strings of thought, she noticed she was staring blankly back into her own reflection.

Beginning to feel ridiculous, she laid on her bed and left her bedside table light on. The satin, pastel blue comforters felt so soft on her skin. Once she closed her eyes, she knew they wouldn't open again for the whole evening.

A/N : Question - Do you read fanfiction on your mobile phones/tablets or a PC? If you read from both, which do you read from more?

I felt that this segment was important for me to post. Like Munakata had said, there'll be some huge news next chapter that will probably make Haruna think even harder about her commitments.

Guest: Sorry, no Yata in this chapter! Next chapter will have Yata here, there and every where, haha.

I'll definitely see you guys again next week, after the anime convention and stuff haha. Maybe even sooner. Ahaha, see you until then!