Ironic. it was after ume gave him the ok to ruin marins life that he took pause.

Marin Kitagawa.

At first, he wrote her off as another posh, arrogant pretty girl who'd snub her nose at him like every other ridiculously attractive chick hed come across, knowing the world was their oyster…(who could blame them, hes seen his sister unravel hundreds with a single look) but then Marin proved to be problematic:

knocking on their door, calling him "cool" and "handsome", cooking for them, inviting them over, paying for Umes shopping trips and asking nothing in return? Why?

She even smoothed things out with the neighborhood, saying they helped babysit the ubuyashiki brats, defending them from vandalism accusations, saying …. That they were good people. Why?

she converted Ume over, hell, his sister listened to marin more than she did him now with her comments about them being 'separate people'.

For the first time in a long, long time, he felt …he felt inferior! Inferior to a girl armed with nothing but kindness and raw honesty! How he hated her for making him feel this way. So when he finally caught marin in their house he figured it was time to put to the entire thing to bed. Ume gave him the greenlight to test her so thats what he was gonna do.

But...

... something was off.

Yes, an emotional wedge has been driven between him and his sister And while the rage that followed could not be underestimated he knew it was coming- had been for years now. No, there was something else buried in there he didnt want to confront as the shouting match commenced at his neighbor's home.

Honestly, most of it was a waste of time. If she wasn't scared by anything else they did then this was all pointless and He could sense she knew it too.

But then she said something that got him really twisted inside. The proverbial itch he refused to scratch finally bubbling up: "Thats exactly why she left you and came to me in the first place!"

That shouldn't have hit. It shouldnt. But it did. Not for the reason she thinks however. Ume leaving him, was a fear hed long since overcome when they were both homeless and their lives were truly difficult. He was passed giving a shit about his sister leaving him for someone better, he prayed for it for years, actually-many nights he prayed she'd leave . Marin thinking he cared just goes to show how naive she is. He's always known she sought his approval, and prior to Ume handing him that bag she had it! right there in her house that one movie night. but then the damn bag had to happen!

And in that moment he was forced to admit all 3 women were eerily similar. Ume... Marin... and mom. The no-contact ban wasnt just for show, he needed to see how Marin behaved without her fix or if the bag was even hers at all. Before he let his guard down around her he had to know if he would be giving his sister away to someone exactly like their mother to suffer the same fate as her too?

Because in an alternate universe where his sister was born to normal loving parents, in a normal loving environment... he believes she would've turned out exactly like Marin. they shared the same carefree spirit, same energy that made everyone gravitate to them and same impressionable naive mind- which In his mind- means they shared the same weaknesses. Gyutaro allowed many work-arounds when it came to drugs (beggars cant be choosers afterall), he'll do business, he'll traffic, he'll accept money, but he will NEVER take drugs and anyone who offered it to his sister might as well kiss their own teeth goodbye.

"You have no idea what it means to take care of her!" he shouts as the fight commenced. It was true. Protecting his sister was far more than just physical, the real struggle was keeping her from ending up like mom… Fuck what anyone says about his parenting, umes better off with him in that case, he was leagues better than mom ever was!

So why'd he feel so shitty? He was the one who sent ume to investigate. He was the one who allowed ume to continue and discontinue seeing her. He was the one controlling everything from jump so Why did he feel so out of control despite making all the big-brain decisions?! Could he really blame marin? Ignoring his feud withthe neighbor for one goddamn second... Did he not cause the rift?

These conversations with ume started years back when she wanted to branch out into OF only relented because it was safer than what their mother did walking the streets, but still It earned castigation from him. Until he was made to eat his words when she was not only right but successfully out-earning him. He was proud of her success actually. but then problems began when she thought earning more meant calling the shots ... starting with wanting him to quit his night gigs. She began by dropping hints before flat out telling him to stop.

Stop... what? Doing what he was good at? Took pride in? Being what he was?

"You can't hide what we are forever!" hed always yell at her

"What you are" is always what followed.

Damn it all! nobody told him living in the suburbs would be this frustrating! But as he stood there, fist raised but unable to do anything he said the one thing he never ever wanted anyone to know, let alone his neighbor: "SHES THE ONLY THING I HAVE! PROTECTING HER IS THE ONLY THING I KNOW HOW TO DO!" He had to punch something, ended up being her drywall at his own weakness.

But when she begged him for a another chance. he couldnt help but look at her like he just suffered a stroke. in that moment he knew... he knew. Just how wrong he had been and how right ume was. Marin wasn't going anywhere. She wasn't afraid of him. She didnt appear to be using. She passed his test. It just took him forever to realize it. So he took her up on that 'promise' to be better. Plus by accepting her he could now freely indulge in her cooking, which he had to admit was better than anything he could make at home.

In fact the perks of being her friend started immediately when she invited him into her room. He can't recall ever being invited to a girls room before, sure he's broken into plenty, but he's never been invited willingly. All women reviled him. Yet marin wasnt 'all women' he supposed. She treats him– normal. She teases him, asks genuine questions, praises him for the things he does right,chastises him for what he gets wrong, she doesn't mind him invading her personal space or getting her furniture dirty. Even now as she whispered in his ear and he stutters embarrassingly she simply laughs like they were friends.

He hated it. He wanted to run away and hide from her purity before his presence corrupted it like it did his sister. but no sooner had he thought that thought it manifested. to his credit he did try to get her to safety. Too bad he and ume always make it a point to lock their doors. Oh well. After they disarm and throw him and marin in the van, he knew this was gonna be bad. Tally off another point to his sister being right about getting involved in Mukago and Managi's shit. It always came back to bite him no matter the capacity.

But what impressed him most was her. She was obedient when he elbowed her, and surprisingly quick at analyzing the situation, she was also clingy –very clingy. Squeezing his hands tightly. Burying her face into his shoulder not caring that he stunk like sweat and cigarettes.

He felt something…

When bowser sexually assaulted her he felt something...

When she whimpered to talk in private he felt something...

It bothered him; this very protective instinct kicking in. only when she proposed that preposterous plan did he even consider bailing on her. I mean 10k? On top of what he already owed? Was she stupid? Why go through such lengths to help him? The time spent with Ume was far too short to warrant such kindness and he knew for a fact she hated him. So whats the damn catch? Was this it? Was this the moment she reveals she was a snake the entire time? if he proposed the plan to lorelai, and marin cuts and leaves the minute they get back he'd be fucked.

Lorelai would never let it go, there'd be an endless line of her coked-out tweakers coming to his house to collect, but unlike muzans guys these tweakers would not be afraid to cause mayhem in their neighborhood. And he'd lose the delicate life he has now.

Thats when the devil on his shoulder he called 'survival' whispered something truly fucking evil in his ear.

"Sell marin to pay the debts?"

It's certainly the easiest way out of this. Gyokko had a hard-on for her, not like he masked it, and mukago would definitely accept.

But if he sold her, then what? Sure, His sister would hate him. no matter how he lied she'd figure out he was responsible. The community would hate him because– let's be honest– they'd know. he could hear their voices talking about how 'unfortunate' she was to be neighbors with him. Rumors would spread and The police down the street would definitely ask questions. And while yes, these were big fucking problems to deal with they weren't anything new. Being hated was his entire life. He doesnt owe these people anything.

No the biggest issue he had, bigger than anything else that came to mind was how prior to her proposing this insane idea, he promised he'd get her out. Should he compromise his integrity as a debt collector? As a man? On his soul, he would be committing the absolute cardinal sin of not repaying his debt to her. Saving her life would be worth far more than what he owed. She'd finally be indebted to him. Even as lorelai predictably offered to wipe his slate clean (a most tantalizing offer) he still felt he was selling his soul if he accepted. Promises meant something to him atleast. On the fence, but leaning towards saving his neighbor, the clincher was her pathetic wailing begging him to do something.

It was so haunting his chest squeezed as he gott whisked away to in a memory many years ago he's long since buried. He and Ume were squatting in an abandoned building when he got into an altercation with some other squatters. In exchange for letting the two of them sleep there they made a most disgusting offer he had to refuse. Sensing the situation turning south he told her to run but of course, she hesitated afraid to leave him. He got jumped and pinned down while the others grabbed her.

"Help me, gyutaro! Save me, Please! Brother!"

But there was nothing he could do. Instead it was a random act of God that saved her from getting raped that night, or maybe a bystander who wanted to remain hidden (ume was screaming so loud it was more plausible) he remembers a massive explosion followed by a fire starting which caused police to head over. When they saw the red and blue lights flashing coupled with umes blood-curdling screams they spared her – spared them both really.

So when he heard it again, his body moved on instinct. This time he had the power to stop it and he wasn't compromising his integrity, especially not to fucking addicts. Even disarmed his reputation was suchthat he could still make credible threats.

But then...

"You know what a meth cocktail is, sweetheart?" BIG mistake! Not only was the punch in the dick warranted so was the chair he broke over his skull for slamming marin into the wall. Bowser tried grabbing him by the throat but he broke free punching him square in his nose.

Her goons began to swarm but she held her hand up to stop them. " wait I wanna hear his explanation." Thankfully she was the smartest addict in the room as predicted. Obviously, Managi was pissed, "I outta fuck her bloody for that!' He threatened nose bleeding, the PCP probably muted the pain.

"Gyutaro if you wanna save that girl I suggest you talk quick." She motions for bowser to go ahead as he drags marin off. well, he already had his pitch prepared, just needed him out the picture, he held too much sway, with him gone it's easier to sell the idea."Shes muzan's accountant, She has the money, so Ima need her free and unharmed," he emphasized

"And the gardener bit?"

"She is my fucking Gardener, that's how he keeps tabs on us. If you let her go now, her dignity intact, Muzan won't send someone after you."

"By someone you mean you wont snitch on us, right?" She eyes him, but his poker face took years of mastery. He wasn't giving anything away to this droopy eyed bitch. He runs to the hallway before she even OKs it swiftly kicking down the door and pushing marin out the apartment before any other foul ups occur.

"Haha shiiiiiiet gyutaro, why didn't you just say all that? in fact you're right, I'm sorry, I'll deduct an extra 200 for emotional damages, how's that sound?'

By 'damages' she means 'don't tell muzan'. But even that pissed him off almost enough to make him double back around. Its 5% for normal fuck ups 'oops wrong neighborhood' type shit, colossal fuck-ups are easily 10% minimum. The fact she had the nerve to only take 200 off when it should've been 1000 pissed him off so much he was seething with rage the entire drive home, not even marin falling asleep on his shoulder could calm him down.

But his night wasnt done yet, next came the fallout. She never failed to impress, not only did she hold her own during negotiations, but that slap had power behind it. he could've mistaken it for a punch. And the scream that followed? Perfectly justified. But the full body embrace and words of gratitude that came after that? No words, none. But he couldnt dwell on it Next he had to think of a way to force marins hand into fulfilling her end of the deal. He decided blackmail was probably the best option as he rummaged through his dresser for the bag of drugs he found. Right as his sister entered.

"Did you just get back?"

"Y-yeah"

"Brother what're you doing?" Just by her tone he knew. "Look some shit happened last night, the lorelai type." As if struck by a sudden migraine ume rubs her temples with both hands. "Tell me you didnt…"

He stops rummaging to ask her in very precise detail what he needed to do to ensure marin paid up. But ume was completely useless on that front, "if she said she'll pay, then she'll pay." Was her response. He almost collapsed to his knees in disappointment. All those years teaching her how to survive, preserving her braincells, and that was her answer? To put his faith in some girl who doesn't understand the ways of their world? Not a chance.

So blackmail it is. After concluding their petty argument he shoved her out his room, grabbed the bag of drugs, threw open his front door and…

How in the hell?! He couldnt help but look at it slack-jawed, picking it up slowly. did she have this hidden in a mattress?! He took the envelope, counted the money and barely had time to take his morning shit before she delivered the rest of it. With that problem fixed, he was able to sleep for the first time in 2 days before heading back out in the morning…Or so he thought...

Barely 4 hours had passed before he heard his sister cursing loudly through their paper thin walls. He knew it was coming. He fucked up. She warned him. He didn't listen. So he got up and opened his bedroom door to the shouting match. "Gyutaro what the fuck happened?! Marins not answering her phone or her door or her window either! I threw rocks!" She showed him the bowl of gravel giving it a shake. He could hear how even as her shrill voice screamed, it shook. So he told her... the whole truth. How after their argument they were taken because the money was 9000 short, how bowser assaulted marin in more ways than one, what their plan was and how she hit him for selling her out.

"That was her screaming?"

"Sure was" he figured it woke the entire neighborhood. They sat in silence for a long time after that, before she finally broke it again, "Do you think we scared her off?" He laughed bitterly, before sighing, "honestly, i dont know anymore. She handled it well but…"

It seemed inevitable to him atleast. Something they would do would be bound to scare her off. Maybe she would slip up and say something and they could finally, comfortably, drive her away. But this? It would absolutely be her right to move far away from the two of them, to get away from whatever fucking fate might lay in store for anyone who got too close to their business.

"We'll ask or... you ask. You're better for it." It seemed strange that this made Ume finally break down, he embraced her as she collapsed to the floor. Hours later, when she was calm enough, she got marin's attention. He leaned against the wall, hidden and listened. Her voice was tired, the kind of exhaustion when adrenaline had stripped you bare. He knew that sound well. He listened to the back and forth, Ume trying to make light of it all and marin taking the bait for whatever comfort it provided.

But it wasn't until she said she thought she pack up and leave that the surprise in his sisters voice mirrored his own at her answer. A resounding no without any hesitation at all. Followed by a why? Ume even mentioned how he tried to sell her, the noise she made in response was... weird but not as batshit insane as her wanting to apologize... What the fuck!?

"What's wrong with you? It was his fuck up." Even his sister doesn't get it.

"Yeah but he did warn me, plus, its not like I mean much to him as a fake you," was her reply …"but i had faith he'd save me."And thats not all, she went on to say what she really thought about him. some parts, he didn't like– downright hated, but the rest especially the part about seeing 'potential' in him. Almost made him jumpout from hiding to curse at her for being so naive. Only reason he didn't was because she acknowledged she was stupid too. And also because of what his sister said.

"Marin, You actually keep promises. You're like tthe most loyal person ive ever met,you actually care about people." And there it was the moment that changed his opinion of marin kitagawa forever. Shameful how his little sister understood it well before he did especially after all the grief he gave her But she wasn't wrong. It's very possible he could do his worst and marin would probably still be here. And all she asked in return was an apology.

"You are so weird!" He knew his sister well enough to hear those words as a relieved compliment. That's when she grins and hits him in his sternum demanding that he apologize. Marin – ever the idiot – apparently had no idea at all he was there as her face turned cherry red and she hated him all over again.

... so she can feel shame… he thought as his sister bickered at him about not listening.

He rode out next day back to the apartments and dropped the money on the table so it purposefully unraveled on the floor (even the minor inconvenience of them having to pick it up gave him pleasure)

"8500" he said holding up another roll of cash- the missing 900.

"I said 200." She retorts. "That wasn't just any fuck up and you know it. 10% cut." She stared at him listless from the same couch she sat in 2 nights ago. "I have a few questions, its about your little story," his poker face never falters but the grin she had on was unsettling. "Now I'm not you, I'm not a 'professional"She rolls her eyes at that, "but I do find it interesting that you had one of muzans VIPs in your presence and didn't say anything at all."

"You shouldn't. You're a piece of shit lorelai, everything you do is sloppy, your entire network is sloppy. Why would I tell you shit?"

"Yeah but that's what I find so funny, i didnt think you had such a big heart, gyutaro, I thought you hated us and muzan, so why not keep quiet and let us destroy eachother in the crossfire? Not like his men can touch you. You're too valuable to kill, at worst they'll twist your arm using your sister but they won't end you like they would us. What do you make of that, bowser?"

Bowser- his eye black, swollen shut, brace on his nose- smirked "you don't wanna know what I think, because if it's true I wanna know how you did, gyutaro. And this? He grabs a fistful of cash, "this all her doing too?"

She chuckles, "look, we don't need to know all the details of your relationship to that girl. I'm sure you won't give us anything Anyways. I only let you go because of your reputation as being reliable, however I will be taking all that money in your hand, or we'll be forced to pay you another visit."

Gyutaro is quiet for an uncomfortable amount of time, not because he thinks it'll make the situation better or worse but...

"Oooh that's a scary look" bowser cackled.

...but... because he didnt forget. In this moment, in this shitty apartment he didnt see Bowser standing in front of him. No. what he saw were those fucking meth-addicts from years ago that never paid for their transgressions. It wasnt fair. He suffered for years because of that night but they got off scott-free? NO... fuck that. He takes a few steps forward, dragging his eyes off him and back to lorelai, "fine it's all yours but on one condition."

"What?" she asks

He gives bowser a steeltoed kick to the groin then punches him in the face again as hard as he could without breaking his own hand. then he presses his face-broken nose and all- neatly into the floor with his boot, "If I see your fucking face around my block again, I will blind you." before throwing the rest of the money at his head. The death glare wasn't just for theatrics, had to make sure bowser wasn't on pcp like last time so he'd feel it.

—-

Riding back home he saw marin squatting in his yard …pulling weeds? "You know I was joking about the gardener thing right?"She was still upset about the eavesdropping, He couldnt help but ridicule her for it.

"Shut up, It's not funny." she whined looking at face was positioned in such as way her blush stood out prominent, and her hair glowed rose-gold with the light of the sun in the background, the look in her eyes pained and vulnerable contrasted her floral outfit which seemed to embody the livelihood of summer. He stopped laughing immediately wondering what sorcery this was. She was insanely beautiful even better than the frame on her wall. Her proving her loyalty almost made her ten times more attractive in his eyes.

For all the gripe he gave about her being selfish and dishonest, he knew most of it was projection. She was too honest... and remarkably easy to please, he could tell by the way her eyes lit up at his knife tricks, like a dumb little girl. Made worse by the fact she had no issues touching him. She enjoyed it, He'd argue. Poking his navel, holding his hands, hugging him; She did at his doorstep, she did again on his bike and again in the van and even now as she jumps up and down trying to grab the knife from his hands, chest-bumping into him. He could feel the air in his lungs constricting at her closeness. Giving her the plastic knife was a good way to get out of that situation.

Yes she made him feel normal. Something hes never felt. Which is why despite not liking how she invaded his personal space…he never stopped her. Couldn't say no to her. It was comforting, like a mother embarrassing her child in public by kissing him too much or smothering him in public affection. It was a good embarrassment, not at all like the feelings of rage hed usually feel when humiliated.

Angry people made fun of his face and birthmarks…

Angry people made fun of the way he talked...

Angry being called 'stupid and worthless' by people more stupid and worthless than himself...

Angry seeing kids his own age fretting about what clothes to wear when he was stuck wearing the same ragged attire for weeks…

Angry that despite all his hardwork one wrong move and it can all unravel and he'd have to start over again from zero...

Even suburbia angered him, all these damn people living privileged middle class lifestyles judging him for his lack of social etiquette? The fuck? He did this entire neighborhood a favor by ignoring them... and that's how they react? Oh how he would like nothing more than to drag those people out of their little bubble by force to his level. By doing that he'd finally feel that fairness hes yearned for his entire life. Like David battling Goliath over and over again, getting just a little bit wiser, a little more cunning, a little stronger with each victory.

In fact he's too good at it... he began not fearing anyone at all because no matter how big their physique, or how deep their pockets. He learned there was always an angle he could exploit. There wasnt a single rich asshole waving money in his face that he couldnt make beg for his life after breaking that same hand. Even strong men with larger builds them himself relied too much on their size instead of their brains. He cant count the amount of gym rats who cockblocked his boot with their groin and face-blocked his punches with their nose. It never fails!

Well, until marin anyways…

If gyutaro could honestly say he had a weakness, it would be his inability to be normal. Normalcy is the one thing hes always yearned but could never have. Trouble followed him everywhere. Which is why Marin's personality is such a monkey wrench to him... but not to Ume; the beauty to his beast…the sweet to his sour….the classy to his crafty…

Ume could do it- live a normal life. No matter what he told her, the only reason hes able to exist in a neighborhood as nice as this despite dropping the overall marketability of the housing was just as much her doing as it was his. It was no wonder she fell for Marin immediately, And yet, he also admitted it felt pretty good. To not lie as much... or scheme... or threaten... or collect and be collected on in general. Surely couldnt be all bad to start over and be nice, right?