3

Apprehension

Niragi

It was when the pounding on his door started that he regretted his choices. The bottle of whiskey he'd snatched from the bar last night lay on the floor beside the couch. Empty now of course. He could swear it was mocking him for needing every last drop it contained to numb his thoughts, his feelings. And even then, it wasn't enough.

Again someone hammered against his door, a voice yelling his name this time. "Niragi get up now! Hatter wants to see you!"

He couldn't identify the voice. His head was pounding too hard. He groaned reaching for a pillow to bury his aching head in. It was only then that he realised he'd passed out on the couch. Hadn't even made it to the bed, or taken off his boots. This was a new low for him.

"Niragi! I know you're in there. Don't make me drag you out of there!"

"Go away, he's not my boss!" he grumbled, his head buried in the crook of his arm as he lay on his stomach.

"You have five minutes to get your ass down stairs". He heard steps receding down the hall. Whoever had come to wake him was now gone. What was it he said? Hatter had summoned him. Him. Not the Executives. Surely it could wait.

He hadn't meant to doze off again. His eyes snapped open and he watched as the door shook when someone pounded on it. Or was that his head? No, why would the door be shaking?

"Niragi now means now! What the hell is wrong with you? Get up you lazy fuck."

Aguni. It was Aguni. He was sure of it. So he did win the game last night. Well good for him he supposed. Too bad he was still second in command for now.

"Fine! Fine. Give me a minute!" Niragi yelled back. The pounding stopped. He rolled himself off the couch and stood. Nope, he thought and sat right back down resting his head in his hands as he fought the rising nausea. After taking a deep breath, he blinked and rose to his feet. He undid his hair as he crossed the room. Better to have it loose than messy. He sighed as he grabbed the door knob and willed his expression into one of arrogant annoyance. He twisted the knob and opened the door a crack.

He didn't know what he'd expected but it wasn't this. His stomach twisted as a hand grabbed him by the collar and dragged him out of his room. Shit. His gun, where was his gun? He scolded himself for not having grabbed it. His survival instincts kicked in and he readied himself to fight.

"Someone's unusually jumpy today."

Niragi stopped. He recognised that voice. He'd truly believed he wouldn't hear it again after last night. His head snapped to the right and their eyes met. Chishiya smirked at him as he leaned against the wall opposite his bedroom door. If you could call it that. His smirk was so slight most people wouldn't notice it. But he did. He'd spent countless hours watching him. Trying to figure him out.

Niragi tried to hide the surprise on his face but he knew Chishiya had seen it. Had seen his mask slip. So he turned his attention to the person holding him.

"Aguni," he smirked, fighting the rising nausea. Alcohol be damned. "You left us all rather worried last night. Some more than others of course. Thought you hadn't.."

"Save your bullshit Niragi," Aguni cut him off and shoved him into the wall as he released him. The impact made his head throb but he straightened himself.

"Mind telling me what this is about?" Niragi asked, his voice sounding too loud in his own ears.

"I think you'll find out soon enough." It was Chishiya who answered. His tone so casual, even bored it made Niragi want to punch him. He knew Chishiya was judging him with those calculating eyes.

"Aguni," Chishiya began, his expression remaining the same, "perhaps we should give Niragi a few minutes to freshen up. Let me speak to Hatter. He will understand."

Aguni peeled his eyes from Niragi and glanced towards Chishiya. He nodded once then turned and left without a word.

Niragi frowned. What was that about? If Hatter wanted to speak to him so desperately why of all people would Chishiya buy him time. And worse why would he attempt to show him kindness? What did he care what state he was in before meeting Hatter? Chishiya's eyes met his. He couldn't read them. Whatever thoughts were running through Chishiya's mind were masterfully concealed.

"We've all got our demons," was all Chishiya said with a shrug before he headed down the hall. "I hope thirty minutes are enough. And you should eat something. Helps with the nausea," Chishiya added casually. He didn't so much as shoot him another glance as he left.

Niragi took a deep breath bracing one hand against the wall. The world around him was spinning. He knew it wasn't just because of his hangover. What the hell just happened?

He slipped back into his room, slammed the door shut and scowled at the non existent lock. One of Hatters stupid rules. That was why he kept his gun close at all times. Anyone could just walk straight in and take him out if they wanted to. But they'd also be less inclined to try knowing he kept his gun loaded and ready.

Despite all that he was shaking. Chishiya had seen right through him as if he was able to hear his every thought. No lock or gun would protect him from that. What did he know? More importantly how did he know?

Thirty minutes. He had thirty minutes before Hatter expected him. Part of him longed to bury himself in the pillows on his bed and sleep off this hangover. But what good would thirty minutes do him? Besides, Aguni would just drag him out of his room again, probably by his hair this time. Aguni hated him, he knew that much. Everyone did. At least it wasn't for the same reasons as back in school. He flinched at the thought of school, the baseball breaking his nose… "Get your shit together Suguru," he urged himself, his fists clenched by his sides. He flicked his gaze towards the bathroom. A cold shower, yes. That was what he needed. That would clear his thoughts.

Thirty minutes later Niragi stood in front of Hatter. His head was still killing him but at least the nausea had eased and he didn't look like an absolute mess anymore. Aguni had taken his gun away before entering Hatters room. He felt exposed without it, uncomfortable. He didn't know what to do with his hands so he just shoved them in the pockets of his jeans and waited. The other executives were present. Most sat scattered across the room, their eyes focused on him. Except Chishiya who leaned against Hatters office desk in front of him, his eyes studying something behind Niragi.

Hatter shifted in his chair before he cleared his throat. "I take it you don't know why I summoned you here today."

"Nope," Niragi replied coolly.

"You remember the beach's new rule don't you Niragi?" Hatter asked, his eyes fixed on his folded hands before him.

"Death to all traitors," Niragi answered warily. Had someone managed to convince Hatter that he was a traitor? It would explain why they'd taken his weapon away. Was he on trial? All those eyes resting on him were silently judging him. Don't show weakness. He wouldn't allow himself to show his true emotions, so he cocked his head and raised his pierced eyebrow at them before adding, "my favourite rule."

Hatter finally looked up at him, his eyes cold, calculating. Seconds ticked by. Or was it minutes? Niragi lost all sense of time as he waited for Hatter to continue. Waited for him to order his execution. He weighed his options. He could try to fight them all. But without a weapon his chances of survival were slim. Hell. Aguni would likely shoot him with his own gun. He admired the irony. He counted the exits. Two. Only two options of escape. The door he'd come through, now blocked by Aguni, Last Boss and one other member of the militant corps, or the window at the opposite end of the room. They were on the hotels second level. He'd probably survive the fall but he doubted he'd get away uninjured, he'd be likely to snap a few bones. He'd be an easy target then. Escape wasn't an option either. He'd have to use his wits to get out of this one.

"It has come to my attention that you injured someone last night. And on top of that you fucking murdered an innocent member of the beach." Hatters jaw clenched as he waited for Niragi's response.

Niragi shifted his weight to one leg. "Murder? I didn't kill anyone last night." Or had he? Had he been so blinded by his rage last night that he'd forgotten pulling the trigger? No. He'd remember. He remembered them all.

"Perhaps not directly," Hatter leaned back in his seat. "But your actions caused the girl you threatened to commit suicide."

Niragi smirked, shoulders shaking as he released a light chuckle. "How's that my fault exactly? She chose the cowards way out. The girl was weak. I doubt she'll be missed. Now was that.."

Hatter slammed his fist on the table and Niragi fought the urge to flinch. The fact Aguni wasn't objecting told him he agreed with Hatter. He couldn't count on his support in this matter.

"The beach is meant to be a utopia. A safe haven for everyone. I can't have you killing our members. We need every single on of them to finish these games and send someone home. I will say this only once to you Niragi. Anyone else dies and I hear you were somehow involved, you'll be classed as a traitor and I will execute you myself."

Niragi scanned the room, tried to read the other executives expressions. His eyes locked with Chishiya, who studied him like some animal in a cage. But there was something different about his usually bored expression. Was that… understanding flickering in his eyes? No. That was impossible. No one was able to ever understand him, understand what he was.

"Will that be all?" he finally managed to ask, tearing his gaze away from Chishiya. The all too familiar feeling of rage overcame him, burned through his veins, quickened his pulse. He forced himself to appear calm, to show them he didn't give a single fuck.

"Yes that'll be all," Hatter vaguely waved towards the door as a sign of his dismissal.

Niragi remained rooted to the spot. He hated these people. He'd kill them all if he didn't need them to win all the games. He hated that they hated him, hated that they were scheming against him. Most of all though, he hated that he'd been humiliated like this and that the whole executive board had witnessed it. He could tell they were feeling smug. They looked at him like he was some mutt who'd finally been leashed. And that this somehow gave them control over him.

Niragi forced himself to move. He had to get out before he did something he regretted. No. Not regretted. He wouldn't regret a thing. He had to leave before he did something that got him killed.

Niragi stopped in the doorway and turned to Aguni, "I'll take my gun back now."

"The fuck you will. You'll get it back when you've earned it," Aguni hissed.

Niragi's eyebrows shot up. Just as he was about to raise his fist, that itched to connect with Aguni's dumbass face, he felt a hand resting on his shoulder. He tensed at the touch and inclined his head toward it.

Chishiya gently pushed him out of the room and ordered, "come. There is a matter I would like to discuss with you."

Niragi struggled to find some smart ass comment to throw in his face but it was as if his brain was paralysed. Paralysed by confusion. What on earth could Chishiya possibly want to discuss with him. For all he knew Chishiya had been the reason for that little meeting.

"I believe the words you are looking for are 'thank you'," Chishiya mused after a while removing his hand from Niragi's shoulder, as he led him through the hallways of the hotel.

"The fuck did you just say?" Niragi growled and stopped to grab Chishiya by his hoodie.

"Ah. There he is. I thought you'd never recover from your shock." Chishiya just stared at him. If he was somehow scared or nervous he didn't show it one bit.

"We've arrived by the way."

"Arrived … what?" Niragi suddenly realised where they were. Chishiya had led him to the elevators. It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense. Was this Chishiya's idea of a joke? Was he just toying with him?

"Something told me you'd want to sleep off that hangover of yours. I can practically hear the throbbing inside that thick skull of yours." Chishiya looked up at Niragi, a slight smirk painted on his lips.

"Stop that," Niragi seethed at him, releasing his grip and pushing him away.

"Stop what exactly?" Chishiya barely raised an eyebrow. All his expressions were always so subtle. As if he only ever dared to hint at what he felt.

"Stop being nice to me."

Chishiya laughed at that. Actually laughed.

Niragi grit his teeth and hissed, "why?"

"Why am I being nice to you?"

Niragi held his breath as he waited for Chishiya to continue.

"Because we are not so different you and I."

"You are so full of shit."

"Am I? Then correct me if I am wrong. You won't let anyone close because you despise who you've become. Who they have forced you to become. You'd rather take a bullet to the head than let yourself feel all the guilt you've buried somewhere deep down. Every night you drink yourself to sleep so you aren't reminded how lonely you truly are." Chishiya's eyes softened slightly as he spoke. There was no malice in his tone. If anything it was understanding that he carried in his voice.

"I don't need your pity," was all Niragi mustered. He'd been right. Chishiya could just see through him, read his every thought, every intention. It had been a long time since he felt so exposed. And it frightened him. The more Chishiya knew about him, the more power he had over him. And that realisation chilled him to his very core. He could feel the dread weighing heavily in the pit of his stomach.

"I don't pity you," Chishiya replied. "But that place in your mind, the one shrouded in darkness and horror? I've been there. I know exactly what it's like. Now. I think you should get some sleep. After all we have a game to play tonight." And with that Chishiya wandered off and didn't look back once.