WhIP

by footfungus

nederlands verhalen over mijn otp

234. Chapter 234

Deal With The Devil

virixe

Summary:

In which reader is an investigator, going in for a sting operation to catch the Fatui in action.

Notes:

i think i'll continue this, but it won't be too long HAHA (?)
was supposed to work on 'charm' but i got.. very very very very distracted.

Chapter 1: Wild Side

Chapter Text

The night is cold and dreary, despite the sounds of loud music blasting from within an inconspicuous building. You prepare yourself, dressed in the most party ready attire you can with your partner, Childe next to you. You blow away loose strands of hair from your face, feeling the chill of the night settle into your bones as the moon presses along your back.

You talk to Childe, feigning idle chatter as you and him slip into the building, accompanying a few men, and when the sound of music explodes in your ears you stop talking to him altogether. With a small wave, you bid Childe adieu, knowing you had work to do. With a pretentious smile, you follow a crowd of people, your eyes scouring the scene as you dissect every action of every person within a ten meter radius from you.

You had been given a description. Male, light blue colored hair– a strange mask to cover half his face– a symbol he so proudly wore as a part of the Fatui faction. You were tasked with bringing him down after months deprived of information concerning the Fatui. Your department had been briefed with an anonymous tip with photo evidence to follow up. Despite the possibilities of this location being a possible setup, the police were forced to play their hand after months without information. The head of the department, Kamisato Ayato, had decided that your team be dispatched with backup in a nearby disguised van. You and Childe took the stage for the night, being the leaders in your team.

This had been aproper,two-month long organized sting operation.For everything, your team had designed a plan b, and even those extra cautionary steps had extraprecautionarysteps to them. Youhadan in and out, andwith one click of your earpiece behind your ear,the whole building would be swatted.

Minutes pass with no signal from Childe, so you continue to follow the crowd, dancing to the beat of the music in search of the masked man,Il Dottore.

Among the sea of people, you catch a few familiar faces. People your department had been on the lookout for–and in specific,another member of the Fatui, regarded in a high position as one of the 'harbingers'– Rosalyne Lohefalter, also known as'La Signora'.She sat among a crowd of people, in the center of a plush, amber hued couch with what you had supposed to be bodyguards.

Carefully, you swing by the area, grabbing a drink one of the masked servers in the party gives you. You say your thanks to the server with dark locks, making sure to stay just in earshot of La Signora's conversation with the woman in front of her. Unable to hear the conversation too well, you pretend to dance with the crowd, swinging by the area where she had been seated once more as you grabbed onto anybody's hand, leading them into a dance with you.

For a brief moment, you make eye contact with Signora, and youswearshe tosses you a small, lopsided smirk before going back to her conversation with the woman before her.What was that?You thought to yourself as you submerged yourself into the center of the crowd, giving space between you and where La Signora had been sitting.Were you overthinking things? No,you think as you dance away, turning your body around when you feel someone grab onto your waist,that wasn't it. You definitely made eye contact with her.

"Having fun, miss?" An odd voice starts, and when you turn to face the stranger, your breath hitches in your throat, your eyes threatening to widen in realization as you feel your muscles tense.

Your eyes trail along his features, a wide, toothy smile peeking out from his pale mask as his blue hair framed his features. Il Dottore.

"Yes, I am," you choke on your response, replying just a second too late to be dismissed of suspicion as he presses his other hand on your waist, his gloved hands pressing uncomfortably into your sides as he pulls you a little closer to him, his smile widening ever so slightly at your delayed response.

"Good, good," he replies with a joyful tone, spinning you around with a twirl before looking back at your expression, a smile hardened onto your lips as you attempt to calm yourself from your whirlwind of emotions. "I was worried tonight's party would be a little boring," Dottore starts, "so I was actually thinking of upping the stakes a little. But if it's fun, then I suppose there's nothing to change then, is there?"

You laugh lightheartedly, unsure of how to respond as one of his hands trail upwards to cup the side of your face, and you let him, casually taking a sip from the drink you had in your free hand. You had to let Childe know that Dottore was here with you. Your mind fires with thoughts as he sways you from side to side, letting out small chuckles of laughter as you nearly trip over yourself from the aggression of his movements, your back meeting another person's own, causing a hiss from the person behind you.

When you attempt to turn your head to apologize, Dottore's hand on your face slowly draws upwards, following your movement as he leans his head down towards you, his eyes wide, gleaming red as an array of lights behind him flashed violently. When his hand nearly brushes by the hidden earpiece behind your ear, you swat his hand away, your eyes narrowed with fire as your façade breaks for a moment.

"Sorry," you laugh, regaining your façade as you fix your hair, taking another sip from your glass, "my ears are really sensitive," you lie as you press your free hand onto his chest.

"Oh, my apologies! " Dottore parrots your laughter back at you, irking you for a moment as he pulls away, dragging you along with him through a crowd, "Come with me, I'll let you sample our newest candy as an apology." As you're being pulled away, your heart beats rapidly in your chest, your eyes wide as you scan the area behind you once more for any signs of your orange haired partner.

Where was he? He was missing for a little too long now?

Before you know it, you're in a small room with dirty mirrors all around you. Hidden only by a curtain. You turn around just in time to see him pull something out of his pocket, his smile wide as he grips onto something before outstretching his hand out before you.Was this it?You think to yourself as your eyes land onto the gloved hand before you, your lips pursing tightly as you keep a smile on your face.

"Here you have it," Il Dottore begins with a smile, "ournewestprototype candy! I'm sure you'll love it," when you hold your hand out before his own, he drops the object into your hand. You blink twice, looking at the pink candy in your hand.

Konpeito?

You are startled by the loud bubble of laughter that escapes the man's lips before you as he claps his hands, your hand wrapping around the hard candy in your hand as you back away, feeling alarmed."That was a wonderful expression! Such an innocent look of shock," he laughs before taking a few steps closer to you, his grin wide on his features, "you can go ahead and take it. It's just as you suspect! Candy! So go on now,take it!"

Your heart is racing in your chest as you scan the room for any means of escape, feeling like a prey trapped in a corner as he takes another step forward when you back away. Something was definitely wrong here– and Childe had been missing for some time now. Was it possible that the two of you had fallen into a trap, after all? Were the two of you purposely separated to make this attempt in cornering you possible? Even so, how did they know who to target?

"The police force is as pathetic as usual," Il Dottore snickers, "all we had to do was lay the bait, and here you are! You police people are always so easy," his lips suddenly fall to a scowl, "and dull," he growls, inching closer once more as you press your back against a mirror, your eyes widening as you reach for your earpiece.

Before you can do anything, the room suddenly goes dark, and in a clamor, people scream and shout from the crowd, as though panicking. The club lights turn on again, and they flash rapidly, only allowing increments of the scene unfolding before you to make itself known with every flash. "The cops are here! Go, go, go!" Someone yells from just outside the curtain, and you hear Il Dottore make an unsatisfied noise, and your eyes grow wide when a familiar server enters the room.

" Idiots ," the server sighs with a snicker, and you keep your back pressed along the wall at his words, a swell of confusion and panic slowly building in the pits of your stomach. You had to find safety. Being cornered by two people nonetheless– this was a bad spot for you.

When Dottore freezes up at the server's voice, your eyes flicker towards the blue haired man's features, noticing that he looked almost displeased to hear the male's voice. "Now then," the server starts, and just before Il Dottore can completely turn around, the masked server covers his mouth, "to get you to safety."

Your eyes widen as you watch Dottore fall to the floor. What was happening? Before you could say anything, the same cloth that had covered Dottore's nose is against your own. You struggle, clawing your hands against his own gloved pair as you let out muffled screams, his apology lost on you as you feel all your strength leave you.

Leaning forward, your eyelids grow heavier, and you hear the man before you huff as your weight falls over him. And then, the room is pitch black.

You awake groggily, barely lifting your eyelids open as you let out a soft groan, your torso bearing most of your weight as you lift your head, attempting to scan your surroundings. Where were you now? Feeling as though you were seeing doubles of everything around you, you took a second, just closing your eyes to regain your composure. Your breathing is slow, and calm, having just come out of a deep slumber, though when you reopen your eyes and scan your surroundings once more, you find that your heart rate is steadily increasing.

You hiss, shifting in your seat only to feel that you had been bound to a chair, your wrists struggling against a cuffs that had been attached onto you. Your eyes fly open as you survey your area once more, realization overwhelming you as you realize that you were in an interrogation room. Why were you brought here, and cuffed up at that?

The sound of a door opening rings throughout the room, followed by a steady pair of footsteps. You swivel your head towards the direction of the sounds, your eyes narrowing as you watch a male, unknown to you emerge into the light. His hair is hued in a shade of navy, his indigo irises bright and stark to couple his pale features. He dons a white button up suit and tie, looking formal as he steps in. The man notices your expression of confusion, and in return, smiles at you.

"Did you have a good nap?" The voice is light, sounding almost playful, as though this entire setup had been an elaborate joke made for his own amusement. "You've been out for about… Six hours, now? Anyways," you keep a careful gaze on him as he seats himself just before you, keeping his hands folded in front of him as he gazes at you, "how are you feeling?"

You don't answer him. "Who are you? Why am I in this room?" You fire off, leaning forward, feeling the metal cuffs strain against your skin, "Where am I?"

"Now, now," the male replies with a soft sigh, looking a little disappointed by your sudden urgency, "calm down. You'll get a chance to ask questions. I don't think you're understanding your position here," he calmly begins, his voice lowering slightly as a false smile imposes onto his lips, " I'll be the one asking questions. What were you doing at the Fatui hideout?"

You huff, irritated as you glare at him, and at the sight of anger in your gaze, the youth smirks, leaning back in his seat as he crosses his arms. "Why should I answer you?" You reply in a serious voice, your eyes scanning his torso for a nametag, or anything of the sort regarding who he was.

The male blinks twice, as though coming to a realization, and he lets out a short chuckle before pulling out something in his pockets. You lean forward, attempting to gauge his badge, as he waves it in front of your face. "I'm an undercover cop, ma'am," he replies with an almost sardonic snicker. Finding it difficult to discern anything properly with all the unnecessary movement he was making before you, you let out a defeated sigh, sinking back into your seat as he puts his badge away. You saw enough of the badge, you supposed that was good enough– and this cop in particular seemed to be hard to get along with anyway.

You narrow your eyes onto his pale features, "I'm an investigator," you plainly reply, "I'm sure you've frisked me beforehand. So why am I in cuffs, exactly?"

"Well, Miss Investigator," the male starts with a smile, "you're under the suspicion of aiding the Fatui in their escape out of the hideout."

You balk."What!?" You exclaim in shock as your heart plummets to the floor, "How did you and your crewcome to such a conclusion?"You look towards the blacked out windows, your eyes wide as you hope foranybodyto come in and help you.You would do no such thing– never!

"All the evidence points towards you," his indigo hued irises narrow onto your form of discomfort as he resumes crossing his arms, leaning back in his seat as he eyed you like a hawk watching its prey, "my team and I found you unconscious by the alarm system, surrounded by broken glass and drugs. Do you have anything that canexplainsuch a scenario?"

Oh great,you huff, as you lean forward, allowing strands of hair to obscure your features,now you have to prove yourself innocent?Still, his method of interrogation was a littleunusual… You shake your head. "You can speak to my department manager," you replied stiffly, "Kamisato Ayato, over at the Inazuma Narcotics Bureau. He canbrief you."In fact, the cop should've done that first thing. Was he trying to have you tell it to him first hand?

The male clicks his tongue, sounding a little impatient as he gets up from his seat, moving towards you in a slow fashion as you maintained a locked gaze with him, "That wasn't myquestion," he sneers at you as he leans on the side of the table before you, crossing his legs and arms, "Miss Investigator."

At the brief sharp look in the youth's eyes, you purse your lips together.Something wasn't right here.You avert your gaze, thinking that you had to play along with him for a little to confirm your suspicions. "..I wasinvolvedin asting operation,"you reluctantly confess, keeping your eyes on the area of the table in front of you unoccupied by the male, "we hoped to arrest the Fatui while they were caught in the act, so me and my partner–"

"Childe,was it?" He suddenly cuts in, and when you nod, he lets out a soft laugh, shaking his head, "Excuse me," he clears his throat, unable to hide his smile as he glances down at you yet again, "please continue."

You eye him once more before continuing, "We dressed up, and I came in contact with the notorious harbinger, Il Dottore. After that, he…" You pause, realizing there was a slight lapse in your memory since everything was a little hazy, "He… Brought me to a room on the sidelines somewhere, and he offered me…" You halt altogether. The konpeito he offered you. You hadn't actually taken it, had you? No, no, of course not– not even for a mission you would do that. "He gave me candy, " your eyes widened as his own narrowed onto your features, looking almost pleased by your confession, "however it was regular candy. I haven't taken anything– basic toxicology reports could show that. I can offer one, if you so wish–"

He bursts into laughter again, and you stare up at him, a little confused and bewildered as you feel your hands grow clammy. "No need to be so panicked, Miss Investigator," he replies smoothly, sounding thoroughly amused by your reaction as he leans down a little, "I hadn't accused you of taking drugs yourself. I was just hoping that you would explain how I found you there, by the alarm– and unconscious. We can submit you for a toxicology report later, since my suspicions have been aroused."

You shut your eyes, taking a deep breath in as you attempt to calm yourself. When you feel a little more clear, you let out the breath you had been holding in, fanning the air out slowly. He tilts his head in response to your actions,"And?Have you come to realize something?"

With your eyes half lidded, you gaze down at your lap, recollecting the events from several hours ago, "I was rendered unconscious by something–one of the servers at the event,he dosed a handkerchief with–chloroform,maybe? Both me and…Il Dottore,"you slowly add on, your eyes widening–"that's right. Il Dottore!Has he been captured?" You raise your head up to meet indigo hued irises once more, "Did we finally get him?" There's a slight excitement to your tone that the male seems to notice.

Pressing a hand by his chin, he offers you a small apologetic smile before shrugging altogether, "Unfortunately,I think he managed to get away somehow.We couldn't find him at the scene," the dark haired male sighs, feigning disappointment as he shakes his head, "he was nowhere near the perimeters. Thatoafescaped," he snickers, "I don'tdoubtthat he received somehelpin doing so."

"What do you mean?" You slowly start, sounding unsure of yourself as you gaze up at him, feeling something burn within the back of your brain as he returns your gaze, his smile ever growing.

He doesn't reply. Instead, he sneers at you, as though you were something stupid standing before him. "No," he finally says, adjusting his seat on the table to sit more comfortably, "that's none of your concern. Let's go back to the topic, shall we?" His voice drops a few octaves when he continues, "What were you doing by the alarm?"

You pause, scanning your mind once more before shaking your head, "I was knocked out, unconscious," you reply with a scowl, "I don't know. It was probably staged– to pit my own teammates against me."

The male doesn't reply for some time. Instead, he sits still, as though gauging your expression and words for a moment, his head tilted to the side when you look back up at him, "Is that so?" He softly hums, sounding almost careless as his indigo hued irises burn into your own.

"Yes," you reassure him confidently, your gaze unwavering, "I swear on my honor and fealty pledged upon the Inazuma Bureaucracy that I'm not lying." His eyes narrow onto your features once more, his eyes looking almost violet under the shadow of the pale lights above the two of you as he leans down further, making you push yourself away ever so slightly in response. "You can check with Kamisato Ayato," you begin softly, keeping your confidence in your tone, "and if not him, you can check with others in my department if you doubt me."

"Hmm," he hums, and when his hand meets the side of your face, your breathing stops altogether. Through his thick eyelashes, he examines your features, turning your head to the side a little to reveal your earpiece, still intact. With a smirk, the male brushes his finger over your ear, and you shiver when you feel the earpiece fall into his hands, "Okay. I suppose your conviction is strong enough," his words spike an interest in you, the suspicion in the back of your mind growing as he plays with the earpiece, surveying its almost clear material before shifting off of the table.

"Let's have a little break and pick up when I come back," he offers you a small smile before turning around, keeping his hands behind his back as he ambles towards the door once more, and before you can say anything, struggling against your cuffs, he speaks up once more. "Oh, and," he tosses you an expectant stare, "you preferred your coffee with two sugars and one cream right?"

Your mind comes to a full stop.

"Yes..?" You slowly retort, your eyes narrowing onto his form as his smile widens, his eyes gleaming at the sight of your expression, "How do you–?"

"I'll be back then," he announces with a wave of his hand, "I'll return shortly. So just sit pretty for me, will you," he snickers as he opens the door, disappearing behind it before adding on, "Miss Investigator?"

You clench your teeth.

Something was definitely amiss.

The moment he enters the room, you quickly start, glaring at him through your furrowed eyebrows, "You're not actually a cop, are you?" You start inquisitively, keeping your lips pursed even as he sets the cup of coffee down before you. For a moment, there is absolute silence in the room, aside from the sound of his clothes shuffling as he leans on the table once more, holding a mug of what you had assumed to be coffee in his other hand.

He raises an eyebrow up at you, his tone derisive despite the hint of curiosity laced within it, "Why do you say that?" You snicker at his tone, his eyes narrowed as though he already knew the answer to your words.

"You already know why," you scoff, a little irritated at the sight of a smile on his lips, "that badge– it's cover is outdated. It's old, at least ten years old or so, and you look rather young. Who really are you?" He lets out a chuckle at your words.

"Are you interested in me?" He replies with a blithe expression, and you recoil in mortification. "I'm joking," he sighs with a roll of his eyes, "relax a little, will you? I haven't done anything to hurt you," you watch as he gets up from his seat in front of you, shifting a little ways behind you before adding on, "yet."

Your shoulders tense at his words, earning another small snicker from him, serving to only infuriate you.

"Don't worry, Miss Investigator," you turn your head to look at him, only to see his arm from your peripheral vision, "I don't plan to hurt you, unless you try to hurt me in return. I've taken a liking to you, in truth," you feel his hand tug against the chain of your cuffs, and you hiss feeling the cuffs restrict along your wrists yet again, "your conviction is strong. Like mine. That quality is the most redeemable aspect in any human being in my eyes."

You don't respond to his antics. You opt to listen to his actions instead, preparing for a hit to arrive from your side despite him telling you to calm your nerves.

"Bingo," he replies, appearing from your side now as he lays the badge onto your lap, leaving it for you to see completely, "it's not mine at all!" You examine the badge before you, your eyes scouring for information as you were starved of any knowledge.

"Raiden.. Ei?" You slowly say, the name sounding familiar on the tip of your tongue, "That's…" Your eyes widen in realization, and you turn your eyes up to glare at him, noticing that they did look somewhat alike.

"Do we look similar?" He questions with a small smirk, leaning on one arm as he places his mug of coffee down onto the table, "Almost had you there, didn't I? I was unaware of the updated badge covers, so I suppose this was a miscalculation on my part ," he sighs with a shrug, "oh well. I didn't play too well as a cop anyway."

You supposed he chose her badge because they looked close to one another. Though with that aside, you now had a new question running forth into your mind. "Why do you have the Chief's badge?" You hadn't heard of it missing, though you supposed even if it had gone missing, it would be kept on the downlow, for only the executives to know about.

The male eyes you carefully, his smile lessening as his eyes narrow, his irises gleaming violet, "Uh-uh," he clicks his tongue, "that's no good. With me, you need to suppress your curiosities, Miss Investigator. I don't like it when people get too chatty. They tend to stepout of their place,and as you can see," he nudges the leg of the chair with his foot, and you follow his actions, "you're still very much my prisoner for the time being. Be obedient. You're good at that, aren't you?" He sneers, leaning down towards you, just close enough to your ear as you turn your head away from his face, "They train you to be good dogs at the police force," he whispers with a tone steeped in darkness, "that must be why you're so good at asking questions despite your position here."

You freeze up, feeling your pulse rise when you feel his hand reach over to your cuffs. You can feel the warmth of his face radiating off of his cheeks, his breath warm on your ear as your eyes widen considerably at the feeling of fear building in your stomach.

"That's why I hate you cops…"

You blink twice, feeling the weight of your cuffs fall off your wrists, and you twist them for a moment, unsure. The moment you feel that you are freed, your hands are quick to find his chest, shoving him away from you roughly, and before you can stand up, he stomps a foot down between your own. The action startles you, and when you turn your head up to look at him, you notice that his cool facade has nearly completely fallen off, a scowl on his features as he glares down at you.

"Don't test me in my own domain," he seethes, pressing his hands on either side of your shoulders, pressing you into the seat yet again as you stare up at him in bewilderment, " stupid woman. Getting too cocky since I freed you would be your first mistake," he clicks his tongue before offering you your own cup of coffee, "I only did it out of courtesy to let you drink some of your coffee. It'd be troublesome if it went to waste so quickly," with reluctance, you take the cup from his hand, settling your nerves with a soft exhale as you maintain a steady composure.

"You're not afraid that I'll hit you?" You snicker, a small smile on your lips.

He returns your smile, "Try me, and you'll see who will win."

After a few seconds, you begin to lean closer to him, deciding to make yourself comfortable since he seemed to be unwilling to let you go. You watch as his features soften, a look of satisfaction overwriting his expression as you start, "Fine," you capitulate, "I won't ask anymore than I should. Then I'll ask what I'm able to," you take a sip from your coffee, enjoying the surprisingly rich taste of coffee on your tastebuds before adding on, "what do you need from me?"

A bubble of laughter escapes his throat at your words, his eyes remaining on your form as he snickers, "I knew my eyes didn't fail me when I chose you," you speculate his words in your mind before he adds on, "you're quick to learn. That's excellent," he huffs before gulping down his coffee, "then, let's get down to business…"

You flinch when he shifts off of the table, his eyes finding your own as he leans down to meet you at eye level, "How about we work together?"

You balk, all the blood leaving your face as your stomach drops, a dead silence flooding your mind as you gape at him in terror.

"In secret, of course," he adds on with a smile that seems a little too suspicious to your liking, "I'll help you take the Fatui down."

You purse your lips together, the corners of your lips tugging into a straight line, "Why should I trust you, and whatever intel you have to offer me?" The male rolls his eyes, scoffing a little as he moves away from you, flipping the chair to your side backwards as he sits on it, leaning on the backrest of the chair to stare at you.

"Us strangers, maybe we could work out. Let's just say," he hums, pondering for a moment, "I'm someone you can rely on…"

"Excuse me?" You reply in irritation at his words, and he swiftly presses on in response.

"You can trust me," he smoothly retorts, his eyes wide as he tosses you a small smile, "I know a lot about the Fatui more than you think. Your crew has been tracking them down for about four years now, correct?"

You narrow your eyes at him once more, "How do you know that–?"

"Like I said," he shrugs, "I know a lot more than you think. I know about you a little, too," he hums, thinking of examples before listing them out, "like… How you like your coffee, where you usually get your hair done–" his smile grows as you pale in fear, "and maybe… I know where you live..?"

"That's not a little," you whisper, unable to hide your terror, "that's a lot," you grit your teeth glaring up at his pleased expression before retorting, "have you been stalking me? You sick bastard!" You hiss, feeling rage build within you as you clench your fists, threatening to lift yourself up to toss him a hit before he scowls at you.

"I had to gather information on you somehow," he says with a casual tone before shrugging, "wouldn't you like to know about the person you want to work with as well to see how the chemistry would be, before working with them?"

"You–!" You slam your fist down onto the table, unable to keep yourself still any longer, "That's it. I'm leaving– and I don't want any part of this–!"

"I don't think you should be saying that so quickly," he begins, "I might have potential information concerning a Fatui harbinger among your ranks," a smile grows on his lips when you halt altogether, your motions coming to an abrupt stop, "I'll tell you who. But if you want to know anymore than a name, then you will have to work with me." You twist your body around to glare at him once more, scanning his expression as he continues, "Knowledge comes at a price, and I swear to you, Miss Investigator, that I won't dissatisfy you."

To you, he looks like a handsome devil, smiling at you as though he had the whole world in the palms of his hands– as though one way or another, everything was under his control – a notion you couldn't quite understand. Nevertheless, he was confident in his approach towards you.

You ponder over his words for a little, keeping your gaze firm on him as you scrutinize his words in search of anything that he could possibly use against you. You decide to test the waters, "What's the name of the harbinger?" You inquire, remaining standing as you glare down at him.

His cool façade remains.

"Tartaglia."

Your eyes widen at the name, and you lick your lip before nodding once, urging him to continue.

He lifts a delicate brow up at your actions before allowing a bubble of laughter to escape his throat, "I thought I wasclear,"his tone drops a few octaves, his indigo hued irises flashing dangerously at your suggestion, "Inamed a priceformore information.All you have to say is 'yes' or 'no'.If you understand, then you know what's on the line. Now then,"he offers a hand towards you, urging you to take a seat next to him, "what's your decision?"

Your eyes flicker from his placated expression, to the outstretched hand before you, and you gulp.

What should you do?

If this were fake information, then you would have to fight your way out of this establishment you had been held captive in. You could search for that earpiece, had it still been available. If you were successful, then it would be simple to call them over–or,if you had escaped, it would be easy to raid the building at a later time.

However,if this was no ploy,then…You really had no choice, did you?You would gain in the end, more than you lost- and after tonight's blunder,this was one of the only options of success you had left.

The navy haired male is satisfied to see you take his hand, a smile wide on his lips as he hums appreciatively at your actions. He leads you down, allowing you to take a seat on the chair next to him before beginning, "Smart girl," he comments, "it would be a waste to let such free information go."

"It's not free," you simply say before placing your hands on your lap, straightening yourself as you glance over at him, "now how equipped are you with your intel?"

His indigo hued irises flash before he smirks, his eyes narrowing over at you, "Are you really sure you want to know who Tartaglia is?"

"Of course I do," you hissed in reply, feeling enraged by his words, "why else would I have sat down here?"

"So be it," he shrugs before tilting his head, resting his head on his hand, "you know him well. Childe– that's the name he goes by around your department," your eyes go wide at the name of your most trusted associate leaving the male's mouth, disbelief settling in you as you turn to look at him. "If I were you," he begins again, "I wouldn't trust him so easily. He's no good, and he will bring nothing but chaos to your department. I suppose it's safe to say all the leads on the Fatui have gone cold as of late, correct?" He gauges your expression before continuing, "For years at a time– and why do you think that is? Has someone perhaps been misleading your group on purpose..?" He offers you food for thought, and you grit your teeth at the sound of the suggestion, your hands clenched into fists as you aim your glare down at your lap.

"..He wouldn't do that," you reluctantly begin, "I've known him for a long time. I choose to trust my partner," you bite your lip, drawing blood forth as you dig your nails into your palms. Childe wouldn't do that, would he?

"I'm your partner now, too, aren't I?" The navy haired male laughs, "Do you doubt me so? Perhaps now is a good time to reevaluate your senses with him. Doesn't he seem a little distant at times?"

You don't reply. The image of Tartaglia, sneaking off somewhere, speaking to what he had told you were 'his parents' over the phone in the distance. You remember the serious look in his eyes when he speaks in his mother tongue over the phone when the two of you were out for lunch one afternoon– the burning fire behind those ocean blue eyes that gleamed and glittered with such pride–...

"See?" The male next to your snickers, drawing you out of your mind, "I'm right, aren't I? Here," he leans forward a little, and you don't react to it, still feeling your mind cloud with several thoughts, "I'll tell you a little more," with his lips next to your ear now, he presses onwards, " he was the one who nearly let you get drugged and kidnapped at the Fatui event. He told Il Dottore of your whereabouts, and had led him to you in secret. Not to mention that I bet while I was busy taking you somewhere safe, he had gone ahead and taken that stupid quack doctor."

Your blood runs dry.You didn't want to believe the man before you, but… Childe had been missing for an awfully long time, and without communication… What was he doing then?

Pulling away, he examines your expression with a small smile, "If you're not careful," his tone is low, almost dangerous as he warns you, "he might put a bullet in your head when you're not looking."

His words send a shiver down your spine, and you roll your eyes upwards to meet his gaze once more, noticing his strange, unreadable expression despite the smile on his face. Snapping out of your reverie, you start abruptly, "How do you know this? Didn't you tell me that I was 'under suspicion' for pulling the alarm on the event?"

"That was a lie, of course–" before he can continue you cut him off, feeling impatient.

"Why in hell would you go on about this in such a roundabout way in the first place!?" You growl, feeling a torrent of emotions well within you, mixed with disbelief, anger and betrayal, "Just to make me look stupid?"

His eyes narrow sharply at your words, "I had to test you before asking you to work with me," he simply says, his tone harsh, "but if you thought it made you look stupid, then we can go with that, too."

Irritated with his behavior, you grab his tie, pulling him forward as you bristle with anger, your eyebrows furrowed as your hand trembles on his tie, rage wracking your nerves. He remains still, to your surprise, a scowl on his lips as he glowers at you from his position, and then suddenly, the edge of his lips curve into a smirk, "Am I getting on your nerves, Miss Investigator?"

You clench your teeth, holding yourself back from punching him in the face. You were better than this, you told yourself as you let go of him, allowing him to fall back into his seat. You huff, shaking your head, "So everything was a lie to test me, then?" He doesn't reply, instead he remains smirking at you. You take that as a 'yes', not wanting to remain on this question any further with how your blood was boiling, "Then where were you at the event? How would you know that my partner– that Childe would do such a thing?"

The male before you hums, "I was there," he replies shortly, "in fact, I was the one who pulled the alarm when the rat bastard got too close to you," he snickers at your change in expression, "you've seen me. Hell, you even bumped into me before– you took a cocktail from my platter." Your eyes widen in realization.

You vaguely recollect the memories of a server with dark locks, his eyes obscured by a mask– although his smile was all the same.

"You were the one who… Who drugged me?" You slowly start, hesitation seeping into your tone.

"I saved you," he corrects with a light tone, "and I apologized for having to do such brutish things beforehand– but you were in serious danger. I'm sure you've heard of Il Dottore and the rumors of him selling people overseas, and experimenting on them. If I didn't step in, then you'd be good as sold," his smile stretches on his lips as terror burns onto your expression, "with the help of your so-called trustable partner, 'Childe'."

At a loss for words, you avert your eyes, heaving a heavy sigh as you relax yourself back into your seat, feeling a little overwhelmed. Of course, you didn't trust him completely just yet– but this stranger's words– they added up. His information just added up so well– the sudden loss of information concerning the Fatui that your department had been struggling with upon Childe's arrival, from tracking them down and pinpointing their hideouts to just information concerning their infamous trafficking and drug rings. The occasional moments of bleakness you had ignored with Childe, brushing it off as something else entirely considering he was one to usually hide things behind a silver tongue and a wide smile.

He was your most trusted associate in the department, and you trusted him with your life on several occasions– and he never seemed to turn you in towards bad hands so easily.

Noticing your downtrodden expression, the male before you speaks up yet again, "Let's stop here for today. We can always meet another day, to discuss more about the Fatui. I've told you a key factor regarding them, anyways," he clears his throat, standing up from his seat, and when he feels your hand on his forearm as he is about to circle around you towards the door, he pauses his motions.

Still looking down, you find the voice in you to speak once more, "What do you gain from selling the Fatui out?" You inquire, your voice lacking strength when you speak.

"Why of course," his tone is honeyed, sounding sickeningly sweet, "for the good of the world! I want nothing more than to see this world clean of filth," he pauses, waiting for your reaction with a smile, and when he gets nothing, he frowns. "Was my answer not good enough?" His eyes wander on your exhausted form before he turns his eyes upwards, towards the tiled roof of the room, "Then… I suppose you can say I have a personal grudge I seek help in fulfilling. Just know I want to bring them down, even if it means that I have to work with the Inazuman dogs I despise the most …" His tone is distant, sounding almost lost when it meets your ears, and you don't dare to question why.

You purse your lips at his words. Despite how blank his tone was… There was an underlying solemnnessto it.

Your hold on his forearm tightens, and you pull him down towards you, "I–" you abruptly start, watching as his eyes grow wide at the sight of you, looking so seriously up at him, "I don't have anything that deep in terms of breaking the Fatui and bringing them down– however," you grit your teeth, "if you have knowledge of their innerworkings, then I will see to it that I use you to your full capacity. I'll be the one to bring them down."

The Fatui organization has been at large for decades now, and members have been caught on and off several times– though since the operation was never plucked from the root, the Fatui only seemed to grow and grow by the day. You were certain that now, since your department was full of intelligent people, that they would get caught sooner or later.

And now, you held a secret trump card– a mysterious man who seemed to know a lot more than he should. Despite being forced to trust him with what information you had at hand, he was your biggest way in and out of anything if his words held any truth to them.

He blinks twice, his expression darkening as he smiles, "Likewise, Miss Inspector," he chuckles, pulling away from you as your hand falls from his sleeve, "we already get along so well. I have high expectations for you," he whispers as his eyes gleam, "don't disappoint me."

Before you leave the establishment, you make sure to absorb as much information as you can regarding your surroundings. Despite the interrogation room– clearly fake, now that you were outside of it, looking in from the one-way windows, everything surrounding the establishment was fairly nice. A part of you had expected to be in some sort of rundown building outside of the city somewhere, you were pleasantly surprised to find that everything was clean for the most part. The residence was well kept, and hidden seemingly at a nook somewhere in the city.

Though the exterior seemed shady, the inside was well decorated.

"Enjoying the view?" The navy haired male's voice booms as he enters the lounge with a coat in hand, "Youmust have weird tastes if you think the neighborhood looks friendly outside of this room."

You shrug, deciding not to say anything more as you retrieve your phone from the countertop. "Your number," you start as he approaches you, your eyes on his form as he loosens his tie, "give it to me."

"How demanding of you," he retorts, sounding a little unamused, "I won't do it if you ask like that," he allows a sigh to pass his lips as he lays the coat down before you, and you shift in your dress, scowling despite your tiredness.

"Please give me your phone number," you stiffly reply, lacking any sort of sweetness or kindness to your tone.

The male raises an eyebrow up at you before holding a hand out towards you, "You're annoying," he remarks as he types his number into your phone, "I hope you lose that attitude now that we're working together. You're practically committing a crime, you know? Sharing top secret information with a complete stranger… I can sell you out if I wanted to."

"You wouldn't do that," you plainly retorted as you received your phone, staring at the name he had entered into your phone, "Kunikuzushi." It was clearly a fake name of some sort, though you supposed you wouldn't complain. You had no need to know his identity for a mission like this, no matter how long term it was. You decide to give him a quick call, watching as his phone vibrates on the table before turning around, "Just like you know that I won't sell you out either, for as long as you give me the information I need."

Before you can leave, he stops you, gripping onto your wrist, and you turn to glare at him before realizing he was holding a coat in his hands.

"Go on now," he frowns, ushering the coat towards you, "take it. Consider it a present for our togetherness today," he studies your expression before adding on, "or you could leave this shady neighborhood looking like a party girl, and get in trouble with a couple gangs around here. Up to you, really."

You take the coat from his hands reluctantly, eying the dark jacket before wrapping yourself in it, "Thanks," you whisper lightly before adding on, "and for helping me out during that dangerous time with Il Dottore too. Thank you," you keep your gaze on his features, expressing your gratitude, and you watch as his eyes narrow ever so slightly.

"..I don't need your thanks," he replies stiffly, though it sounded a littleingenuineto your ears.

For the first time that day, you offer him a small, genuine smile. "Suit yourself, Kunikuzushi," you wave him away as you continue your amble outside, mentally preparing yourself for an interrogation of what would happen when you arrived at work after being missing for so long during such an important time.

Kunikuzushi smiles from behind you, eying you as you walk away.

"I'll see you next Monday, Miss Investigator."

Chapter 2: Doin' Time

Summary:

In which reader is shown proof that Kunikuzushi's intel is trustworthy.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter fornotes.)

Chapter Text

Work ishellishlybusy. For a week, people are hammering at you, asking you what you remembered, where you had been, what had happened to you. You tell them you don't remember much, except that maybe you were knocked out amidst the panic of the crowd, and woke up somewhere strange a few hours later with your earpiece gone. You tell them you got some food and prepared to go back to work to report as per usual.

And of course, if anything, your story arouses further suspicion. You send them to a false location, where they do a thorough search of anything. You're forced to do a physical body check to see if you were hurt anywhere, followed by a toxicology report, all which you willingly do and without a bat of an eye.Anythingto get all this fuss to be over with.

When you receive a text message from Childe, telling you that although he wasn't there, he wishes he were, and that he was glad to have you back, you feel oddly suspicious. Although he had written it in the usual way, with a happy face, and with cheesy finger guns at the end–you couldn't help but feel doubt now,especially with the possibility of him being a harbinger.

Throughout the week, he constantly attempts to ask you to go on outings with him. Naturally, you decline, wanting to put some space between the two of you, despite how sudden it had been–and one day,you woke up to an apology text, saying that he never seemed to get a chance to formally apologize to you for leaving you alone for such a prolonged period of time.

"You would have been safe if I were next to you."

However,was that really true?If Kunikuzushi weren't lying, then…Childe had set you up for this in the first place.You trace your memories, vaguely remembering the small smirk Signora gives you before looking away.They were aware of your presence the moment you stepped in.

You choose to reply to him in the mostcasual, andkindestmanner you can muster, uncaring about how false it seemed. When you arrive to work, however, Childe looks rather chipper, smiling and grinning at you. You return his smile as genuinely as you can, and the rest of the week goes on, with you attempting to keep whatever friendly nature had grown between the two of you for the past few years of knowing one another.You knew better than to listen to a stranger–however it would be foolish of you to completely dismiss his words of warning altogether.

The next week, you are due for another meeting with the said mysterious stranger, Kunikuzushi, as he liked to call himself. Walking down the unfamiliar streets leading to his hideout, you find yourself entering without so little as announcing yourself.

"You're a little early, Miss Inspector," a distant voice calls out as you shut the door behind you, and you freeze up at the sound of it, still not quite recognizing his voice. As though noticing your sudden freeze in motion, Kunikuzushi lets out an amused snicker, "You don't have to be so scared. It's just me, " when you turn around, he's leaning on the side of a wall, a smirk on his lips as he locks his gaze with your own.

You choose not to reply, letting out a soft sigh instead as you mimic his movements, crossing your arms before him. "Anything new to report?" You start with a cool tone, hiding your morning weariness with a scowl as you stare at him blankly.

He raises an eyebrow up at you. "And down to business we are," he sighs, leaning off of the wall now as he turns his back towards you, "I doonce again, hope that you lose your attitude with me. I'm just trying to help you after all," his tone is light as he ambles away from you, and you trail him naturally, "next time, please come in here with a proper greeting…" Your eyes find an opened laptop on the table, looking into a certain location just south of Inazuma– before it's suddenly slammed shut, "Or else," he continues with a rather harsh tone, his irises flashing at the sight of your prying eyes, "perhaps I can offer you a harsher alternative to obtain such vital intel ."

You blink, unsure of what he was getting at. Was he trying to intimidate you? You narrowed your eyes at him, thinking it was better to just cede to him to appease him, "Good morning," you greet with a blank tone.

Kunikuzushi smiles in return, tilting his head slightly at your words, "Good morning," he parrots back, "Miss Investigator."

For the rest of the early morning, he shows you what he knows to be Fatui hideouts– all things that hadn't fazed you in the slightest. This was all public information– things you could simply surf the internet for since these locations were outdated. Unamused, you purse your lips scanning the information before you before shaking your head, clearly displeased.

"Is this all you have?" Your voice is condescending, and you don't care to sugarcoat it. Tossing him a short glare, you notice that his eyes dim with a darkness which quickly disappears when he smirks at you.

"Of course not," he shrugs, "here you go," with one tap, he zooms out, showing you the Fatui organization's hideouts ranging from cruise ships, to underground shops– scattered all over the world. You jump in your seat, your interest immediately piquing as you force your head closer towards the screen, your eyes scanning over the locations that were of relevance within Inazuma. Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow onto your form. He's got you hooked, hasn't he?

"Holy shit," you whisper, eying a few familiar cruise ships that constantly passed back and forth between Liyue Harbor and Inazuma Harbor, "how…" You pause, turning to look at Kunikuzushi in disbelief as he continues to smile at this, "How do you know all of this? Their routes, their everything–!" You revert your eyes back onto the screen, a hand over your lips as you studied the screen before you. Outdated camps were highlighted in red, yellow for uncertain areas and green for hotspots. Kunikuzushi had everything organized meticulously.

"That's not all, Miss Investigator," he sighs, tapping away onto his laptop before opening up a hub of operations that had gone throughout every area, "this should be your main interest," he clicks over a particular file concerning drug distributions regarding Inazuma and Liyue.

Your eyes scan over the words before you as Kunikuzushi speaks yet again. "Do you see how the transactions between the two countries have become more frequent over the course of four years?" He inquires, and you nod in response.

"Yes," you agree slowly, "that's around the same time when the police department really started to focus on the Fatui– or at the very least, they had my department focus on them."

Kunikuzushi hums, "And if I may ask," he drawls, "when had Tartaglia– or Childe, as you may call him– when had he become an official part of the team?"

You clench your teeth, tilting your head from side to side as you give his words some thought. "Around the same time," you mutter under your breath before pursing your lips completely, "he's been using authorized intel to understand routes we watch over, I suppose," you smile bitterly. You really wish this was all an elaborate hoax. You really hoped that Childe was who he said he was– a countryside man, come to the big city to make it big for his family to be proud of him.

Despite Kunikuzushi's snickering, you shake your head vehemently, "Until either of us have hard proof of Childe being a harbinger," you twist your head around to look over at Kunikuzushi, who stares at you with a smug expression in return, "I won't believe you. Right now," you lean back in your seat, pointing at the screen, "the correlations between Childe's union with the police force and all this data– it's all just probabilities. I need solid proof if you want to gain my trust completely."

"Then what about all the data I just presented to you," he snickers derisively, "this is a gold mine for information on the Fatui– all this," he urges towards the screen before crossing his arms, "you would be stupid to dismiss it."

You pause, gauging his expression before nodding in agreement, "You're correct," you huff, leaning forward, "but how would I know you're not making all this up?"

Kunikuzushi snickers, looking annoyed with you, "You're stubborn. I have knowledge of even private intel and you dare still think I'm untrustworthy?" You don't bat an eye. You face him head on, crossing your arms as you relax into your seat, your expression completely still. For a second, you see his expression darken with irritation, though it is quick to disappear, "Alright," he capitulates upon some thought, and his lips curve upwards into a smile as he waves you off, "come back here next week. Since you want hard proof, I'll give you hard proof– but on the promise that you keep your mouth shut."

"About what?" You retort as he gets up from his seat, tossing you an unamused look.

"Exactly," Kunikuzushi shrugs, "I won't tell you, so come and find out," he ushers you to get up from your seat, his eyes flickering towards the clock on the wall before finding their way back to your face, "now get out. I need to be somewhere shortly."

You heed his words, ambling towards the door as you watch him put on a dark trench coat before reaching for a bouquet of pale violet flowers you hadn't noticed earlier. You can't help but smile a little, "Going for a date with your significant other?" He halts, sending you an irritated look before straightening himself up.

"What did I say about your curiosity, Miss Investigator?" Kunikuzushi's tone is light, despite the underlying threat beneath his words, "Stay out of my business, and I'll stay out of yours."

"You're already all over my business though, knowing where I live and all, " you huff quietly, earning yet again a sharp glare from him followed by a click of his tongue, "excuse me," you sigh, showing yourself out to the door.

"I'll see you next week, Investigator," you shiver. You hated how he referred to your title with such a strange tone.

"See you later," you wave a hand towards him, earning a small smirk from him before you disappear into the streets, unable to shake the feeling of impending doom as you thought about Childe and the possibilities of him being a Fatui harbinger.

A week flies by quicker than you had initially anticipated, with your overloaded work schedule. Despite having the weekend off, you were dying the moment you woke up early Monday morning. Just getting out of bed had been a brutal feat for you.

Exhausted, you head out a little earlier than usual, hoping to fill yourself with some food and maybe some coffee to wake up a little prior to your meeting with him. Arriving at the cafe, you're quick to order, hiding a yawn from behind your hand.

"Good morning," you start, uncaring of how tired you looked as you scanned the menu for their breakfast items, "I'll grab a croissant and some black coffee. Two creams and one sugar, please."

"You mean two sugars and one cream ?" At the sound of the voice, you immediately turn your head, coming face to face with none other than Kunikuzushi himself. He tosses you a wave, feigning amity despite his narrowed eyes, "Good morning to you too, by the way."

You blink twice, unsure if you were hallucinating. Was he really serving you right now? "Kunikuzushi..?" You slowly say, and your confused expression earns a chuckle from his lips.

"Not a morning person," Kunikuzushi hums, before totaling your amount, "duly noted. Please wait for your food at the side," he ushers you over with a small roll of his eyes, looking unamused with how shocked you looked to see him.

You lean over the table, hissing a little, "Why are you here?" It was a strange occurrence to have bumped into him – and here of all the places, your usual go-to café.

"I'veworked here for three years,"he replies blankly, staring at you as though you were a bumbling idiot, "whythe helldo you think I know your taste in coffee?" Kunikuzushi lets out a soft sigh at your expression, "Have younot noticed me?" He snickers, "That's no good, Miss Investigator. How are you going to tell whether you've seen someone a suspicious amount of times?"

Without allowing you to explain yourself, he swivels around and gets to work. You think to say something to him, realizing that you would have to meet him in an hour or so to begin your 'briefing' or whatever else he had planned for the day, though you opt to shrug the interaction off entirely, despite feeling a little upset with yourself. How have you not noticed him before? Perhaps he only worked part time?

Shaking your thoughts away, you thank him when he hands you your platter of food, and before you can take it to your table, he asks you to wait.

"Take your time eating ," his indigo hued irises gleam with amusement, "I'm off in thirty minutes. Then we'll get straight to business and begin our journey." You eye him for a moment, scanning his expression before finally nodding.

It was easier this way, like killing two birds with one stone. You wouldn't have to walk an extra fifteen minutes down a shady area to get to his usual hideout.

After the allotted time he had mentioned passes, Kunikuzushi finally seats himself next to you. You turn your head to face him, leaning forward in your seat as you begin, "What did you have to show me today?" You inquire.

Kunikuzushi snickers. You were never one to waste time– a notion he found himself agreeing with, "Actually, I have an offer, first and foremost," he begins smoothly, following your motions and leaning forward himself as he lowers his voice, "you can see Tartaglia yourself, in the flesh. " Your eyes gleam with interest, and his smile widens as a result, "I'm sure you've heard of it on and off– the annual Fatui Ballroom Party," you had heard of it, but you never knew it was an official event. Little information was known about it, and the only information that wasn't regulated was the fact that important members of the Fatui would be present, "it's as the name suggests, a yearly event on a cruise ship at night."

You nod, coercing him to continue.

"I can take you there myself– just me and you on a private mission ," his bangs shadow his features in a way that you can only describe to be ominous, his tone settling low into a whisper as he presses on, "all you have to do is say yes. And I'll set everything up," his eyes are bright, gleaming almost violet when the sun begins to peek through the windows of the cafe, "typically we aren't allowed cameras or anything of that sort, but lucky for you, I have my ways to cheat my way around it. You should be thankful to have me as a partner," he snickers, drumming his fingers along the table as he leans on his hand, keeping his elbow on the table for support, "I'm the best chance you'll ever have."

You pause, running over his words in your mind one more time as you keep your eyes on his expression, watching the slightest change in expression in case he had been lying. Something about what he said didn't seem right to you.

Before you can entertain your thoughts further, he starts again.

"What do you say, Miss Investigator? Would you like to see everything first hand with me? I should mention that you will also have a possible chance to photograph and take recordings of anything that may be of use to you."

Kunikuzushi's eyes are narrowed, his eyes gleaming with a dark sense of joy as he awaits your response. There was something strange about this man. He possessed a natural, dark charisma that allured people, yet his personality in itself would be enough to keep people at an arm's length. You press your lips into a thin line, realizing that you had nothing to lose.

"Okay," you concede. His expression visibly brightens, his smile widening ever so slightly.

"Perfect!" He relaxes back into his seat, getting comfortable once more, "It happens in about five months from now. Almost half a year, so we have all the time in the world to begin preparations," Kunikuzushi surveys you as you run your fingers over your empty mug of coffee, "there's no need to be anxious."

"I know," you reply, though it seems to you more like you're trying to convince yourself. This was your first time attempting to catch a big league– without anybody on your team to support you. This mission was practically going to be off the records– and everything, all the evidence you capture would all have to be private among you and Kunikuzushi to share. Sharing this to the police force would only bring upon suspicion around your circumstances. You couldn't have that. If you wanted to show your peers proof, youhad to be credible in doing so.

You had to bring the suspicion away from you, somehow…

You narrow your eyes onto the rim of the empty cup before you, drawing it closer as you allow your thoughts to run wild. This was all being set up for you by Kunikuzushi all so you could confirm your suspicions with Childe. Going by his words, then you had to find a way to further bring suspicion publicly upon Childe himself. You needed someone else to be in with your plan– outside of Kunikuzushi, so if you were to present any evidence regarding the cruise ship, you would have a good excuse regarding why you had bothered to infiltrate the organization by yourself. Maybe you could even get Ayato's approval to get on the ship by yourself.

Coming to a conclusion, you shut your eyes.

"I wonder what's going on in that little mind of yours," Kunikuzushi begins, clearly amused when you reopen your eyes and glare at him, "care to share?" There's an almost teasing quality to his tone that grates your ears. You lean forward in your seat, keeping your eyes on his own pair as you smile halfheartedly.

"No."

Kunikuzushi scoffs, "As to be expected, I suppose. No matter," he starts, getting up from his seat now, and you follow him, "I have all the time in the world to figure you out." You snicker at his words, unable to hide the derisiveness of your snicker. Your actions incite a short glare from him, a smirk blooming on his lips, "Mocking me? That's okay, Miss Investigator," he retorts, "I'll have you regret that soon."

"I look forward to it," you reply with a false cheeriness.

Kunikuzushi dismisses you shortly after that, upon asking you to swing by Inazuma Harbor in Ritou later after work. He lets you know that he will show you proof of some hidden illegal transactions that you could witness firsthand. On the train ride to your workplace, you mull over your previous interaction with him, still feeling a steady unease growing in your stomach as you replay his words over and over again in your knew too much about everything it seemed.

"All you have to do is say yes. And I'll set everything up. Typically we aren't allowed cameras or anything of that sort, but lucky for you, I have my ways to cheat my way around it." His words echo in your mind, repeating itself like a broken record– and then it hits you.

Who was 'we'?

The implication of you and him, going together or was he referring to something else entirely. Maybe you werelooking into things far more than you should, thinking in the voice of an overthinker.

You weren't sure. Not yet, anyway.

During lunch break, Childe dismisses himself for lunch, saying that since it was a 'bad Monday morning' for him, as he had woken up late and forgotten to bring his food. You wave him off with a friendly smile, to which he replies with a wide grin, offering you back a wave.

And when he's gone completely, your smile falls with a soft sigh escaping your lips. You scan the room around you, in search of two particular people. Now, you have to start planting the seeds of suspicion– just in case anything were to go wrong. There was nothing too wrong about making others alarmed about the sudden rise in drug exportations growing during Childe's arrival. You could brush it off, simply as touching over old reports for the sake of continuity and clarification.

You go to your first option, Sangonomiya Kokomi. A beautiful youthful recruit that had recently shone over the past few years for her genius tactician skills. She was the smartest of all her peers in her year, and she was notoriously known for her amazing executions when it came to planning.

Walking over to her desk, you let out a soft whisper, greeting her with a smile. You watch as she swivels her head, her pale pink hued tresses swaying with her motions, and upon coming face to face with you, she smiles sweetly. "Hi," she begins, her voice soft as she shuffles over in her seat, allowing room for you as you seat yourself on an empty chair, moving towards her cubicle. "This is highly unusual for you to visit me," her eyes gleam, a film of curiosity over her irises now as she continues, "was there something you needed to discuss, perhaps a strategy that you require overlooking?"

You blink twice, letting out a soft exasperated sigh as you press your hands down on the edges of your chair, "I was just wanting to know how your day has been going, at least…" Kokomi lets out a soft gasp before letting out a soft laugh, "I suppose I'm too rigid to come off as friendly, huh?" You bitterly remark.

Kokomi smiles at you warmly, tilting her head, "No, that's not it at all," Kokomi sighs, "in truth, people don't come to me often either unless it's for something regarding planning– not to sound depressing or anything!" She waves her hands before her, and you can't help but let out a nervous chuckle, since her prowess in planning and strategizing had been the reason why you initially approached her anyways. "And you yourself– we're a little similar," she offers you a lighthearted expression, "we're dedicated to our work, so please excuse me for what I had said earlier."

"To answer your question," she starts again, stretching a little in her seat, "I'm a little stressed, especially since that last sting operation we had done failed– but I know I can't let the stress get to me. I need to remain reliable for everyone," her words make you smile in return, your expression softening rapidly at her conviction as she beams at you, "next time, we will catch the Fatui and seize them without failure."

You hum in satisfaction, nodding along with her, "That's exactly it. We'll get them for sure," you let out a soft laugh, and Kokomi lets out an appreciative noise in return, looking a little more energized now than earlier prior to you seating yourself before her.

"Where's your lunch?" Kokomi begins, taking a bite out of her bento box as she ushers to you, her eyes bright with wonder, "Did you forget to bring it? Here, have some of mine." She offers you her tamago sushi, moving her blue hued bento box towards you.

You shake your head, allowing another laugh to escape your throat as you smile at her, "That's very sweet of you, Miss Sangonomiya, but I'm alright, thank you. My lunch is at my table, I just forgot to bring it over," you snicker, watching as her eyes narrow onto your features.

"That's no good," she chides, "you should be eating. It's lunchtime and we're busy, so it's best to get energized now. Go get it– and come back, I'd like to talk to you some more, and have your opinion on a few of my strategies if that's okay." You can't help but hide a snicker.

For someone who was stressed, she did love to talk about work even on her breaks. Then again, you think as you turn around, fetching your food, you could say the same for yourself.

After some time, eating with her and looking over her plans, you find that there is hardlyanythingwrong with her next stratagem on your next operation towards a separate drug ring. Her cunning wasunbelievable–and although that was nothing new to you, it never ceased to amaze you.

"Good work, Miss Sangonomiya," you whisper, thoroughly scanning her work one more time, "I think at this rate, you might become second in command to Ayato. You're the youngest of our group and you havesuch amazingpotential," you praise her with a smile, "you have a bright future ahead of you."

"Thank you," she replies with confidence, her smile wide as she beams at you, "I'll try to keep myself up to everybody's expectations. However,please call me Kokomi.We have gotten closer over the years,and truthfully," her eyes shift over to Kujou Sara, who seems to be drowning everyone out with her earbuds on from across the room, "I've noticed that you don't seem to have much trouble in calling Miss Kujou by her first name. I would like to be treated in the same respect," Kokomi pressed a hand to her chest, her irises, dyed in the colors of dawn narrowed onto your features fondly.

"Really?" You ask, sounding a little incredulous despite the strange warmth blooming in your stomach, "Then…You can refer to me however you like as well,Kokomi."

"Of course," Kokomi cheerily agrees, and she watches as your eyes flicker over to the clock for just a moment. "Was there something else you wanted to bring up?" She inquires once more, and you nod your head in return.

You begin your elaborate scheme, partially lying to her about how you were revisiting old cases and you came across something a little strange. You tell her that you think there might be someone in the department leaking information, since as of four years ago, the Fatui shipment transactions have grown to be busier between Inazuma Harbor and Liyue Harbor. You tell her that the transactions have gone down significantly ever since their business hit a spike, and since then the Fatui have been sneakier in their business. You offer her the idea that someone in your department may be using routes unseen by your usual lookouts.

"That's quite a bold assumption," Kokomi reluctantly begins, pressing a hand to her chin as she mulls over the information at hand, " however you might be right. It's not impossible that there's someone on our team leaking information, but," she pauses, turning her eyes upwards to smile up at you, "may I ask what makes me trustworthy out of everyone in the room?"

Your breath comes to a slight pause, your smile slightly lessening.

"You wouldn't be telling this to just anyone, especially if you have your doubts on people in our department," there's a gleam in Kokomi's eyes, one that you found only shone when she was quickly deducing something before her eyes– and your case, she was deducing your thought process, and depending on what you said in reply, she would only be suspicious of you.

Here we go, you think to yourself as you lean in close to her, your eyes remaining calculative as you whisper, "Because I have a slight idea of who it might be," you confess in a whisper, "and I trust in you," you were being as honest as you could. Her expression remains unchanging, a mysterious smile still on her lips as you continue, "Your stratagems have always worked out, and your work along with Ayato's intelligence puts our sector of the department at the top. I know I can trust you, and although I know you can't say the same for me, I will show my work and prove to you that there's something going on behind the scenes."

Kokomi hums, looking around the room before finally nodding, "Okay," she starts, "I'll take the bait then. I'll do my research on these past events in my free time, otherwise," she leans in once more, her lips pulling taut, "who might you be finding suspicious?"

You choose not to tell her. "I don't want to say yet, until I have concrete proof," you bite your lip, pulling away as you gather your materials.

Kokomi smiles at you in return, her expression softening at your response, "That's a good answer. I'll let you know if I dig up any more files regarding that case, but for now, let's focus on gathering information regarding Celestia."

Nodding your head, you toss her a friendly smile before waving, "Thank you for listening to me, and…" You pause in your steps, "Maybe we can have lunch together again?"

Kokomi beams at you, pressing her hands on her lap before giving you a small nod, "I'd be more than happy to!"

Post work, you'reexhausted,and when you find Kunikuzushi sitting on a bench, wearing sunglasses and all despite the lack of sun, you can't help but cringe your nose.

"You're here," he surmises as he takes a sip out of his pop can. Nearing him, there's an evident smell ofsmokelingering off his body, and you hiss, waving your hand before you.

"Did yousmoke?"You inquire. Kunikuzushi shrugs, standing up and shoving his hands into his pockets before rocking a little back and forth, stretching his legs a little bit.

Kunikuzushi snickers at your disgusted expression, tossing the now empty can into the garbage bin, "What if I did?" He feigns sadness before pointing towards the 'no smoking' sign, "Will you arrest me?" You shake your head in disbelief, watching as his irritating smile grows. This had to be on purpose, you thought to yourself as he clicks his tongue in disappointment upon seeing your lack of words. "What a waste," Kunikuzushi hums, "I thought I'd get to finally spend a night in jail."

"Let's just get on with this," you retort with a scowl as he sticks his tongue out at you, "you're so annoying," you hiss under your breath as you walk next to him, folding your arms as you shivered, feeling the cold winds settle into your bones.

"Call me all the bad names you'd like," he shrugs, sounding taunting almost as the two of you descend down a pair of stairs by the ocean, "you'll regret it in about two hours." Kunikuzushi snickers, "Like I said, you should be a little more grateful," he twists his head to face you as the sounds of the ocean crashing along the shoreline welcomes your ears, "I'm the best chance you'll ever get."

You don't say anything, instead you choose to look at the side of his features, taking note of how the wind caused his cheeks to flush in a light pink color. You avert your eyes when his lips grow into a smirk, his eyes catching your own for a split second before you turn them away. Kunikuzushi scoffs, however doesn't say anything more.

After what feels like forever , the two of you find yourself at a fish market on the edge of the harbor. People bustle around and about, shouting over one another as customers barter away. Kunikuzushi grimaces, disliking the stench, "And we're here," you stare at him in disbelief, and he chuckles in response. "Welcome to the fish market," he begins with a smile, spreading his arms out before himself and just before you can turn around to go home, he stops you, grabbing your wrist.

You glare at him as he leads you down the market stalls, "You're so fun to play with," he snickers under his breath as he drags you to the back of a particularly large building at the end of the stalls, his eyes flickering around to scan the surroundings before pushing you along with him, "fish are obviously not what we're here for. It's part of it, though."

"I'm starting to doubt you more and more," you sigh when the two of you are alone at the edge of the harbor, and when he finally lets go of your wrist, you rub the area, feeling a slight soreness grow underneath your skin as you turn to look at Kunikuzushi, "where do you mean to take me?"

"Just shut up and follow me," he replies as he turns his back towards you, "I'm going to need you to be absolutely quiet when we do this, so we don't get found out," Kunikuzushi nears a ladder, and ushers you to follow him.

Choosing not to reply, you simply watch as he ascends the ladder, and you follow suit when he's at the very top. The two of yourselves now stand on a field of gravel, on a rooftop of what looks to be a corridor that connects to a warehouse. You watch in surprise as he easily opens a door, your eyes catching onto the keyhole of the door knob before he opens it for you.

You purse your lips, as he removes his sunglasses, pocketing them as he smirks at you, "What now," he begins scornfully, "getting cold feet? Hurry up and get in, or we might miss it." You shake your head, remaining silent as you follow him into the dark room, and when he shuts it behind you, your shoulders tense, noticing that you were practically in pitch black surroundings.

"Bastard–!" You start, your voice loud, only to be cut off as a hand covers your mouth. You grit your teeth, glaring up at Kunikuzushi when he lights a weak flashlight in his free hand, pressing you against his chest.

"Careful,"he warns you, leaning close to your ear as he whispers, and you can tell from the sound of his voice that he's clearly enjoying the torment he's bringing you, "I said to be quiet. Or did all the shouting outside make you go deaf?"

You huff, letting out a soft sigh as he releases his old over your mouth, feeling infuriated as you swivel around to glare at him. Kunikuzushi narrows his eyes in response, his lips pulling into a thin line at your bitter expression before he aims his flashlight towards an entrance way, only illuminated by the green light of the emergency lights system. He nods towards it, and you nod in reply, quieting your steps as you follow closely behind him, scanning your surroundings with every inch the two of you proceeded into the dark corridor.

In the distance, you hear a bunch of people talking among each other, their voices distorted as it echoes down the empty halls. Kunikuzushi and yourself turn to look at each other at the same time, your expression growing serious when his indigo hued irises meet your own. In silent agreement, he clicks his flashlight off and you pull your phone out, hoping to record or take photos of what scene would unfold before your eyes.

The two of you slouch down, heading towards the light at the end of the hallway as the sounds of seagulls flying overhead are carried by the wind, followed by the soft sounds of the ocean crashing against the seawall.

Upon reaching the area illuminated by light, you find that you can hear their conversation better, realizing that it was a group of men talking among each other– and from what you conclude to be a drug deal. Kunikuzushi settles himself at the center of the metal walkway, careful not to make any noises as he crouches down, a corner of his lips turning upwards at the sight of the masked men in black trading goods with one another before the both of you. You remain next to him, not wanting to move around too much since the metal walkways seemed to produce much more noise than you had originally thought.

You begin to record the evidence, zooming in on the men in Fatui masks as they hand over a bunch of bagged goods. You clench your teeth, biting onto your lower lip as you narrow your eyes onto them, listening to them talk a little more before they disperse altogether. You stop your recording and tap Kunikuzushi's shoulder, nodding towards the group of Fatui, wordlessly telling him that you hoped to follow them.

Kunikuzushi rolls his eyes before urging you across the platform with him, and before you know it, the two of you are surrounded by darkness again. Turning on his flashlight, he breaks into a light jog, attempting to find the nearest exit, and when he does, he carefully unlocks the door with you behind him, pressing his ear against the door to listen for any sounds of footsteps before heading out.

You pull out your phone a little too late to record the Fatui as they board a fisherman's ship, though you manage to film the ship as it leaves the docks, heading towards Liyue. With a wide smile, you put your phone down, your recording coming to a halt altogether as you turn your head to face the dark haired male next to you, who looks at you with a rather cocky expression. Standing on the gravel roof, you scan your surroundings once more, searching for any signs of people– and when you realize no one's there, you put your hands together in joy.

Wearing a blissful expression, you turn to look at him, unable to keep your cool, "We did it!" You whisper in a loud cheer, "This– this is a huge lead," you turn your eyes over back towards the disappearing boat, letting out a sigh of relief as you relax your muscles, feeling the excitement bloom in your stomach.

"I told you so," Kunikuzushi shrugs, nudging you with his elbow as he smirks at you, his irises narrowing onto your expression of happiness, and for a moment he pauses altogether, a flash of an emotion unreadable to you flickering behind his eyes at the sight of your expression. "Who knew someone as displeasing as you could smile so wide, hm?" He whispers under his breath, lifting a hand to muffle his words. You don't hear him as his words are carried off by the wind, "Now," he starts again, his voice a little louder this time as he backs away from you, "I think you owe me something."

You pause, your smile falling as you watch his eyes gleam.

"An apology,"Kunikuzushi crosses his arms, pressing his weight onto one side of his body as he remains sneering down at you, "Ideserveone,since you clearly underestimated meandmy knowledge."

Blinking, you avert your eyes, realization settling in you as you let out a soft sigh. You press your hands against your sides before formally bowing to him, holding your bow as you apologize, "I'm sorry for doubting you, Kunikuzushi," you had no right to act so prideful before him, especially since he had given you such a large lead on solving one of the many cases involving the Fatui, "I hope you understand why I had my doubts. You've delivered on my request," you straighten yourself up, keeping your eyes on his expression, "I owe you one as well. Let me know if I can be of any help regarding anything."

There's a moment of silence that passes between the two of you, and he just remains staring at you, as though calculating something, his lips curved upwards into a mysterious smile. You blink twice, unsure if you had said anything wrong when he snickers, kicking some pieces of gravel away from him as he stares at you with a ratherstrangelook in his eyes.

"You owe me one,hm,"Kunikuzushi's voice is low, sounding nearly sinister– though you don't understand why. "Then," he starts, his tone suddenly sounding all too happy for your liking, "do me a favor, will you, Miss Investigator?"

"Of course–" Before you can continue, he cuts you off.

"Your cases regarding one– no," he corrects himself, "two of the Fatui harbingers," he coolly continues, his tone sharp as he gazes up at the skies, his smile widening as his irises trace over the stars in the sky, "one you're very familiar with, Il Dottore, and the other being Scaramouche," his smile widens considerably, and your eyes narrow when you notice that there's a swirl of emotions blooming in his eyes, something akin to an bridled rage, hiding behind a sick torrent of joy– "research on them. Tell me what you know next time we meet," his voice sounds much more unkind when he speaks to you now, and you feel that the feeling of celebration that had blossomed in your heart slowly dissipates at the sound of his harsher tone.

Kunikuzushi's eyes roll towards you, his smile leaving his face completely at your lack of response. "You can do it, can't you?" You can't shake the feeling that there's a sense of threat to his words, despite how innocently he had said it, asking it as though it were a simple question.

You purse your lips, "Of course I can." It was top secret information, but so was this. It was a fair trade in that sense.

"Good," he softly replies, keeping his eyes on the stars, and when he sees a few stars falling, his tone lightens, "won't you look at that… Falling stars, Miss Investigator," he snickers, pointing towards the sky, and you turn around to face the sky, your eyes immediately finding the shimmers of light that seem to fall one after another. "Make a wish," he whispers, and his whisper causes you to jump in your spot, "it's not often you get a chance like this, after all." You had been a little too distracted by the beautiful sight to notice his dark being approaching you from behind.

You meet his irises for a brief moment before looking back up at the sky, a strange feeling growing in your chest as you watch the trails of stardust disappear into nothing, making your wish in silence, unaware of Kunikuzushi's stare on the side of your face, and unaware of the growing smile on his lips.

"I have a good feeling about working with you," Kunikuzushi suddenly begins out of the blue, and when you turn to face him, he's holding a hand out as if to give you a handshake, "it's my pleasure to gain your trust, Miss Investigator…"

You scan his body language, feeling a little anxious with how strangely he was acting now. You lift your hand nonetheless, shaking your anxiety away as you lift your hand to shake his own, his hand cold in comparison to your own.

In the shower, you recollect your memories from today, allowing the hot water to run down your body as you look down at the floor, watching the water disappear into the sinkhole.

Kunikuzushi… Was a very mysterious person. He seemed to know a lot about you, yet you knew nothing about him, and when you had tried to pry just a little last week, he was rather harsh in return. You wondered briefly, what he had against the Fatui, or more specifically, Il Dottore and Scaramouche, since he seemed rather angry at the mention of either names, though he didn't display his emotions clearly. You understood from the storm brewing behind his irises– the well of anger that grew somewhere deeper than you could possibly ever comprehend– that his hatred towards the Fatui, or at least to those two people mentioned , was significant.

His connection to the Fatui was imminent, that much was clear– however how interlinked he was to the Fatui was still blurred to you. You press your lips into a tight line, turning the shower head off as you allow pause for a moment, keeping still as trails of water fall from the tips of your body, dripping off of you and gathering in small puddles below you.

There was one thing you couldn't stop thinking about today, however. Not the disdain in his voice, nor the sound of a lingering threat in his tone– but the fact that the entrance way to the corridor leading to the warehouse had remained unlocked, despite it clearly having a keyhole.

Did Kunikuzushi just time everything accordingly? Or was that entrance always open. You would have to figure it out tomorrow.

Before you fall asleep, you receive a text from Kunikuzushi.

"If you can bring any of the documentations regarding either of them out, bring them to me."

You scoff.

"Yes sir."

Your reply was meant to be a little sarcastic, though he didn't seem to pay any heed to it.

And the following day, after work, you return to the same hideout by the fish market, careful to remain unseen.

It was locked.

Your suspicions grow, and in the back of your mind, something begins to click into place. You choose to ignore it. Whatever he was,whoever he was was all none of your business. What mattered was that the two of you shared a mutual interest in taking the Fatui down, andhe wasthe key to highly valuable information regarding their operations.

Notes:

this will have around 8-10 chapters? will have a lot of timeskips, so just a warning ahead of time! might get dark at times if u know me u know me but nothing too horrid.

ALSO this will not be going off the cannon lore or w.e obviously but i hope to make it an interesting read for everybody anyway so please enjoy 3 i have practically everything mapped out already

i am also not a cop so i apologize cuz i have no clu what im doing but roll with it please HAHAHAHA

Chapter 3: She Knows

Summary:

In which Kunikuzushi and reader review over the files of two particular harbingers.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter fornotes.)

Chapter Text

"Good morning," you call out into the hideout as you return for the third time, feeling a little more awake than usual. You await to hear his response, shutting the door behind you, and when you hear nothing, you tilt your head, confused. That was unusual.

Walking further into the hideout, you call out his name, "Kunikuzushi?" You raise your voice a little, your eyes scanning over the minimalist décor around the abode before finally coming to notice a body, slumped over on the couch. Kunikuzushi had been taking a nap, or so it seemed. You approach him carefully, your footfall becoming softer as you watch him breathe in his button up shirt, his head resting on his hand as he leans towards his side.

"Hey," you call out in a kinder voice, feeling your features relax upon seeing his slumbering features, and when you reach out to poke his head, he suddenly awakes– as though just noticing your presence– and in seconds his hand is on your wrist, your arm bending uncomfortably. You let out a soft hiss, alarmed by his sudden motions, though when your eyes meet his own, you realize he's unlike himself. You watch as his irises gleam, realization settling within him as quickly lets go of your wrist, his eyes widening as his lips fall open.

And suddenly, he looked angry at you,"What the hell do you think you're doing?"Kunikuzushi seethes,as though youhad done something wrong. You retract yourself from him, your teeth grit as you brush over your wrist as it felt a little tender upon being released from his bruising grip, "Why can't you just announce yourself before you come in herelike a normal person?" His tone is harsh, as he shuffles in his seat, crossing his arms in irritation.

"I did," you retorted in the calmest voice you can manage, raising your hand up before you to examine your wrist. Thankful it hadn't bruised, you let out a defeated sigh, feeling all your energy prior to arriving disappearing within you, "I was trying to wake you up nicely," you huff, "you didn't have to attack me. " You roll your eyes when he simply averts his gaze, a scowl on his lips as he glares at nothing next to him.

He was so childish sometimes, you thought to yourself as you let out another sigh, backing away from him to open your side bag, where you had kept the files he had requested. "Here you go," you offer him the files, his eyes flickering back over to you, "these were quite a pain in the ass to get a hold of, so please review them properly." You shift away, seating yourself across from him and crossing your legs as you lean forward in your seat, "I'll need them back before I leave, though.

Kunikuzushi doesn't respond to you. With a focus you've never seen before, he begins to scan through the pages, his expression unreadable as he goes through Il Dottore's information files.

Feeling a little chattier today, you begin to speak up, noticing that he was reviewing a few familiar cases regarding the obscene crimes Il Dottore had committed, "I hadn't known Il Dottore was so disgusting," you say in a low tone, a shiver running down your spine as you remember a few of the horrid acts he had committed, "human trafficking and circulating drugs is one thing, but to experiment on humans, brainwashing people and replacing limbs– and it didn't even look as though he were trying to do anything in specific at times. It looked as though he simply did it for the fun of it…"

"Yeah," Kunikuzushi replies blankly, as though none of this disturbing information disturbed him, "he's got plenty of screws loose in his shitty old head," his eyes narrow on the pages he was reading, a scowl ever present on his expression as he continues, "you could've been one of his patients, you know?"

You shake your head, feeling discomfort rise in your stomach as another shiver runs down your spine, "I don't want to think about it," just thinking about it makes you sick. You remember, vaguely, a photograph included in one of those files Kunikuzushi was holding– a photograph of a makeshift family, sitting at the dinner table, disfigured with blood pooling around them.

You shut your eyes, willing that image away. He was terrifying, that man– and to think you could've easily fallen prey to one of his schemes …

"It's useless to dwell on such thoughts," Kunikuzushi starts upon noticing your clear discomfort, "and you wish to put a stop to him, don't you? If you have time to feel terrible, then focus on honing the urge to find him and bring him down." His words are surprisingly easier to swallow than you had thought, and with a nod of your head you look back up at him.

After a few moments of silence, Kunikuzushi pauses, his eyes scanning over a specific page for a little too long as he rereads the entry over and over again. "Say, Miss Investigator," his tone is strange, sounding as though he were refraining something while asking, "have you killed anybody before?"

Your mind comes to a halt at his words. "No," you slowly respond, leaning in a little closer as his eyes meet your own, "why do you ask?"

"Then, have you injured someone with a weapon before?" Kunikuzushi arranges the papers for Il Dottore's files, folding the folder back up and leaving it to the side before opening up the documents regarding the harbinger, Scaramouche, "Enough to sustain a major injury?"

You think not to answer for a moment, feeling like this question felt a little too intrusive, however upon seeing the strange expression on his face, you find yourself conceding to his question. "..A few times," you huff, feeling your heart weigh a little heavily, "I've had to, of course. When people are less cooperative, it makes things hard to work with– and I don't just mean running away when they're told not to by this. I also mean that I've been stabbed, or I've been about to be shot a few times."

Kunikuzushi hums, skimming over the countable pages in his hands regarding the sixth harbinger, "Is that so?" He sounds almost bored when he replies to you, and before you can ask him why he was asking such a thing, he presses onwards, "Do you think you could ever kill somebody?"

Your breathing slows, your eyes trailing down to his pale hands as he shuffles over the papers, "I'm more against it, however," you pause, noticing that an image had been sticking out of Il Dottore's folder. You eye the corner of the photo, realizing it had been a graphic photo of one of Il Dottore's many macabre bodies, "If I have to do it, if my life is on the line– then I'll have no choice but to pull the trigger first. But guys like this–," you tap on Il Dottore's files, "I hope they die horrible deaths one day."

Remaining impassive, Kunikuzushi looks over the files once more, flipping them front and back to see if they had extra information regarding Scaramouche he hadn't seen. "Is this all you guys have on Scaramouche?" Kunikuzushi is clearly disappointed, his downturned lips giving way to his emotions.

"I'm afraid so," you reply as Kunikuzushi tosses the thin file onto the table, his eyes narrowing onto your figure as you pick up the folder, "we didn't have much on this Scaramouche character," your eyes scan over the few pages, searching for any images, only finding one with the male's face hidden from view due to a strange hat he wore, "we only know that he is a harbinger stationed in Inazuma, and that his main deal was more so as a man behind the scenes, orchestrating things from afar. And even then," you scoff, "we only know he's the mastermind behind circulating drug routes because one of the Fatui we had captured disliked him to the extent of selling him out purposely."

"A mastermind, huh?" Kunikuzushi sounds a little amused by your words, a hand pressed to his lips as they turn upwards, forming a small smile, and when you put your files down to look at him, he shakes his head, waving his hand. "Excuse me," he stiffly clears his throat, "just voicing my thoughts."

You raise an eyebrow up at him before disregarding his actions completely, knowing he was a little strange to begin with. "Aside from his strategic expertise," you turn your eyes over to another page, regarding injured Fatuu, "I'm… Not entirely sure what to make of this," you comment with uncertainty lingering in your tone, "he would occasionally kill or beat his subordinates up and leave them askew on the streets. Some reports say he was merely 'punishing the disobedient', while others say he was 'following the Tsaritsa's plans for those who had deviated from her path'. It's unclear whether he killed as his own form of punishment, or whether the killing had been done as an order from his executives. It kind of sounds like he's just a prick, following orders or not," you dryly report before returning the folder back onto the table, "I can't really imagine meeting somebody so dislikable that their own troops would sell them out…"

Kunikuzushi's expression is extremely forced, or so you realize as the edges of his lips twitch, "I see," you don't really understand why his tone is so light until he adds on, "well, even for someone who seems to have a lot of people disliking him, you police seem to have nearly nothing on file regarding his personage."

You don't understand his blistering tone as he speaks, his elbows on his knees as he leans forward, folding his hands before him as a wide smile spreads on his lips. Kunikuzushi shuts his eyes, letting out a pleased hum, though for whatever odd reason, you feel a horrid aura exude from his body.

"That's nothing we can help," you retort, crossing your legs and arms as you lean back in your seat, "the Fatui are tight lipped, and have even trained their lowest members to endure the hell they go through in interrogation rooms."

Kunikuzushi's belligerence doesn't fade, "Or maybe, you guys just suck at your jobs?"

"We're doing just fine, actually," you scowl, narrowing your eyes down onto his form.

"Oh," Kunikuzushi sighs, holding his arms up before himself as though to feign defeat, "you guys were fine? So I suppose I should delete all the information I have regarding the Fatui and ask you to delete the video you recorded last week as well." Kunikuzushi's eyes fly open, his eyes burning holes into your face, "Cut the bullshit. You guys suck, that's why you can't even tell there's a harbinger right beneath your noses. You can't even find simple information regarding the trading routes– without me. That's why you agreed to this whole thing anyway, right?"

Taken aback by his sudden outburst, you glare at him, your tone raising to a whine, "Alright, fine," you capitulate, "we aren't the best in Teyvat, but we try our best! Anyways, why are you so angry with me," you huff, pursing your lips together as you settle into your seat comfortably, "I didn't even say anything to you. Geez," you watch as Kunikuzushi lets out an elongated sigh, his muscles relaxing as he shrugs in his seat.

"Your face just annoys me sometimes," Kunikuzushi mutters under his breath, his indigo hued irises zeroing in on your brooding expression.

"What!?" You toss him a look of bewilderment, "That's terribly rude of you! Stop being so childish," you groan, "and while we're at it, why have you been texting me more lately? And it doesn't even make sense, because when I do reply to your annoying texts properly, you just give me a 'thumbs up'! Stop asking me to buy coffee from the caféevery morning– it's driving me insane!"

Now, it was his turn to look smug. Satisfied by the look of warmth in your cheeks, he crosses his legs, leaning back into his seat, "Is there anything wrong with me wondering when my favorite regular will come back? I think it's pretty clear that you're actively avoiding the café ever since you learned that I worked there. What," he snickers, raising his eyebrows up at you, "are you going to arrest me for promoting my café's coffee?" Before you can speak up, he starts again, shrugging carelessly as a winning smile draws itself onto his lips, " Good luck looking for a suitable warrant, Miss Investigator. "

"You are insufferable," you comment under your breath, shaking your head as you listen to him chuckle in response to your words. Suddenly, your phone rings, vibrating in your pocket. You toss him one last glare, earning a closed eyed shrug from him before answering the call, not bothering to check the caller ID. "Hello," you tiredly begin, your eyes remaining on Kunikuzushi's expression as he snickers yet again upon hearing your exhausted tone.

You wish you could just throw something at him.

"Where are you right now?" The voice in your ear begins, and your eyes widen in shock.

"S-Sir Kamisato?" You straighten yourself in your seat immediately, smoothing out the wrinkles in your clothes as though he could see you before him right now, "I'm just at my home, sir," you reply in a much more composed tone, "why do you ask?"

"Get over here as soon as possible. Celestia is on the move."

Your eyes widen once more before narrowing, your tone growing serious. Kunikuzushi watches you with interest as you respond, "Understood. I'll be there as soon as possible," and with that, you end the call, standing up quickly and gathering the scattered material on the table. "I have to get going," you announce as you stuff the folders back into your bag, "let me know if there was anything else you required regarding the Fatui."

Kunikuzushi hums, sounding disinterested, "I'll see you later then," he waves you off as you head to the doorway, "oh and make sure to answer your texts. Next week we will begin the planning stages regarding the ballroom event, since we only have about four months to prepare."

"Got it," you nod, tapping your shoes to make sure they were on properly, and the moment your hands touch along the doorknob, you pause, your hand resting on the brass handle. "How about you?" You find yourself saying, your eyes remaining focused on your hand on the knob.

You should stop, you think to yourself as he calls back, "What about me?" Kunikuzushi responds, his voice echoing throughout the room.

Don't ask any more than this, you think to yourself as your shoulders tense, your silence going for just a second too long before you find your mouth flying open yet again, "Have you killed anybody?"

Not have you injured anybody, not have you hurt anyone– have you killed somebody. You knew he was capable of injuring somebody already– that fight or flight response you had triggered earlier from just trying to wake him up– he was prepared to break your arm in a heartbeat.

"Do you really want to know?"

His voice came out as a genuine question with the underlying tones of a threat.

Your heart pulses in your chest rapidly. You had to go to work and hurry, you purse your lips. Don't bother getting to know him. Don't respond– just don't. Do. Anything. Don't ask any more questions than you should. He warned you already to keep your curiosities at bay with him– but today you were feeling a bit more chatty than usual.

"Why not?" You curse at yourself internally. You wait a few seconds, waiting for his response in hopes it never comes, and when you open the door, you hear his voice echo throughout the room yet again. You walk through the doorway and shut it quickly when you pass through the door frame.

"I have."

It was only two words he had said, but on the drive to your station, you found that they rang throughout your head. He knew the drug routes everywhere as noted on his map of locations, he supposedly held the keys to suspicious buildings–... You keep your lips pursed as you check your bag once more, making sure you had everything before exiting your car the moment you arrive at the department, your eyes lingering on a certain thin file.

Something in the back of your mind falls into place completely, and yet again, you choose to ignore it. Walking down the hallway to your department's room, going through the necessary scans, you find yourself having an internal monologue with yourself.

It didn't matter who he was, you thought to yourself, he provided you with good information and good leads, and your department was at a standstill regarding the Fatui. He was your key way to bringing down the Fatui completely. For now, at least just for now- you had to keep him close to you. You wanted to squeeze as much information out of him as you could before finding a way to discard of him. You would just have to see how deep his convictions went with this relationship between the two of you.

Still, you couldn't help but wonder– what if you had turned around to look at him when he said those words. How would Kunikuzushi have looked? Would he be wearing the same, annoying smile he gave you from time to time– the same smile he used when he was mocking you or trying to get a rise out of you, or would he have that same look from when he woke up earlier? An expression unlike himself.

You scan your card at the door to your office.

Unlike himself? You find yourself thinking as you notice that everyone in the room is armed, in preparation to head out for the mission. You didn't even know him. How would you know what was unlike himself?

Your squadron gathers carefully, surrounding an abandoned building wherein a few members of Celestia hid within. Upon further inspection, you realize that the walls had been riddled with bullet holes from what looked to be a shoot out not too long ago, fresh bullets lying along the ground where they had clearly missed their targets.

Ayato is at the head of the group, his back pressed against a pillar as he leans over, scanning the area for any signs of people, and when he sees and hears no sound of movement, he signals for Kokomi, Childe and Gorou to head to the left wing while Ayato, Sara and yourself head for the right wing.

Kokomi scans her surroundings, signaling for Childe and Gorou to halt before proceeding any further when she hears footsteps from afar. When the footsteps disappear, she nods towards the two of them, keeping vigilant as she rounds the corner, keeping her gun at her side as the two members rush in before her, their footsteps hushed along the broken concrete floor.

Just as Kokomi moves to follow them, she notices something glinting in the light in her peripherals. Swiveling her head to look at the gleaming item, her dusk hued irises fall upon a broken half of a familiar looking mask.

"The Fatui?" Kokomi whispers to herself. Had the shootout involved the Fatui? She thinks to move towards it until someone's voice rings throughout the vicinity.

"Don't move!" Gorou shouts as he aims his gun towards a member of Celestia, his eyes wide as the member raises their arms in the air in an act of surrender. Kokomi turns her attention away from the mask, duly noting it in her mind before pressing onwards towards the site of the noise.

The mission ends successfully with the remaining members of Celestia rounded up at the center of the building, and with you, Gorou and Sara sustaining minor injuries during the scuffle. While Ayato oversees the three of you, Kokomi parts briefly, hoping to double check the mask she had seen from earlier to ensure that she had seen it correctly– only to find it gone altogether.

Kokomi's jawline tightens as she scans her surroundings, drawing her gun once more. Perhaps the owner of the mask had gone to pick it up from the crime scene. Quickly, Kokomi begins her sweep down the hallways, making sure that nobody was left inside the building.

Minutes pass without sound and without the feeling of being watched, causing Kokomi to wonder if she had even seen it properly in the first place– and then your warning to her from last week comes forth into her mind.

You had let her know that you thought somebody in the department might be leaking information to the Fatui. With that, the cogwheels in her mind begin to whirr. Holstering her gun once more, Kokomi lets out a soft sigh, thinking that this situation was a little bit more stressful than she had originally thought.

Walking back to the center of the room, she eyes everybody carefully, a small smile on her lips as she ambles towards a certain orange haired male. There was only one person absent prior to her departure from the room.

Childe works away, picking up pieces of bullets off the floor with metal tongs and sliding them into sanitized bags as more people from the department begin to pile in, taking photographs of certain areas here and there. Feeling as though a set of eyes were on him, he turns around to find Kokomi, staring at him with a small smile, and he lets out a soft anxious sigh at the sight of the younger woman. "You nearly scared me to death," he sighs with a small smile before nodding his head towards her, "please say something next time. Yet again, however," he hums, returning to his previous task of picking up the bullets off the floor, "your genius mind set us up for success! It's a great honor, really, being able to work with someone as intelligent as you."

"Why thank you," Kokomi responds with a bright smile, "I'm honored to be working with such an efficient team as well! My apologies for scaring you though, I was just wondering what you were picking up off the floor."

Childe turns to her with a grin, "Bullets," he waves his plastic zip lock bag up in front of her face, "the shootout prior to our arrival left quite a mess everywhere, so I guess this is just a part of post work clean up for us," he snickers, "what a great life we live huh?"

"The nature of our job remains relentless," Kokomi agrees before finally asking, "have you picked up anything else that may be of importance concerning what happened here?" She keeps her tone light on purpose, a curious expression on her face when Childe turns to look at her.

Childe blinks before shaking his head, "Not yet, Sir Kamisato just wanted me to pick up the bullets here." His unchanging expression causes her mind to fluctuate just a little before she retreats,however she knows better. IfKokomi was right in her suspicions, thenthis man has been deluding everyone around him for years.

"Good work, Childe," Kokomi says before turning away, "I'll see how the other few are doing now. Please remember to file the evidence away properly, because last time you mixed them up here and there! I don't want Sir Kamisato to come out of his office to discipline us with that scary tone of his again…"

"I refuse to make that mistake anymore, especially after he had spoke to us like that ," Childe surmises quietly, nodding before waving her away with an amiable smile, "I'll see you in a bit then!"

When Kokomi arrives near you, Sara and Gorou, she surveys the three of you, congratulating the three of you for all the hard work everyone had done for today. And when Childe isn't looking, Kokomi returns her gaze onto the sight of the orange haired male's back, and when he moves, she looks back at you as you relax into your seat next to Gorou and Sara. Upon noticing that she had been staring at you, you revert your gaze back onto her own, your eyes wide with wonder.

Kokomi simply smiles.

When the rest of you are back at base, you return your files to Ayato and thank him for allowing you to view the folders. Ayato asks you why you had been curious with one specific file– Scaramouche's file. You tell him that you were going through old cases, and that since Scaramouche was notoriously known for his route organizing regarding drug circulation, you thought you could find something of relevance. Ayato asks if you found anything in particular, his smile gentle as he eyes you carefully– in a way that you found similar to Kokomi's gaze when she decided to dissect your very person before her.

You almost think to show him the recording of Fatui members gathering and trading drugs on your phone. You opt not to, remembering that you had no proper alibi to justify your case just yet. You let him know, otherwise, that you will be revisiting the harbors where there had been a plethora of drug trades four years ago with the means to reinvestigate inactive routes. Ayato gives you the green light to continue your operations, and with his blessing, you leave the room.

Upon noticing that everyone aside from Kokomi and Sara had dismissed themselves for the day, you retreat to your desk, stretching a little before slumping into your chair, wary of your bruises and stitches from the earlier scuffle with Celestia.

A few taps on your shoulder causes you to turn your head. Seeing Kokomi stand before you, you can't help but smile, relaxing into your chair once more as you swivel around, "Kokomi," you begin, "good work today. You and Sir Kamisato are our powerhouses at the end of the day, after all."

"Thank you very much," Kokomi replies with a soft tone before sitting down in Childe's empty chair next to you, shuffling the chair towards you before adding on, "you and Sara did some fine work as well. I'm sure if we keep going at this pace, it'll only take months to take down the largest drug rings in Inazuma." Her positivity was a little infectious, you had to admit as you beam at her. Before you can say anything more, Kokomi's tone lowers into a whisper, "By the way, Miss," she whispers and you lean in close, unsure of why she had lowered her voice until she continues, "I think I have a lead on that person you might have suspected."

Your chest stutters at her words, liquid fire flooding your veins and spreading throughout your system, "What do you mean?"

"Well," Kokomi presses, on pulling away from you now as she keeps a light tone, crossing her arms, "it's all speculation for now, but could it be…" She ushers towards Childe's cubicle, to which you immediately nod. Kokomi offers you a small, pained smile, "I thought as much," she whispers to herself, "let's wait a little longer before we jump the gun."

"What makes you agree with me, though?" You inquire, your eyebrows furrowing downwards as you stare at her.

Kokomi replies with a simple statement, her smile leaving her lips as she narrows her eyes, "During our earlier mission, I was scanning the area for something I had seen when we had initially entered the scene– a half broken Fatui mask on the floor. But when I checked back to see if it was there," she shakes her head, "it had completely disappeared. Almost like someone was trying tohide evidencethat the Fatui was there in the first place–for what reason, I don't know."

"Another thing I must point out is howclumsyhe can be sometimes when it comes to mixing up evidence," Kokomi narrows her eyes, "I'm sure atseveral pointsduring our investigations, he has swapped some items in and out in order to shake us off our leads. Do you remember how Sir Kamisato scolded us as a group last year for mixing up evidence?"

You pull away for a moment, staring at your own screen as you analyze her words, "..Do you really think he's capable of betraying us?" You slowly say, a frown on your lips as you look at a few notes from Childe you had kept pinned onto the sides of your computer screen, "I still want to doubt him…"

Kokomi doesn't say anything for a little, instead her expression softens at the sight of your features, "I know the two of you have always been fairly close," her eyes trail along the small motivational notes on your screen, varying in different sticky note colors, "but it's a possibility that neither of us can deny now. If you have any information related to Childe and the Fatui, please let me know. I will talk to Sir Kamisato about it in private."

Tentatively, you swivel around to face her once more, her pale features overwritten with a mixture of worry and seriousness as she examines you. "..I do have some information that I found to be a little suspicious," you open up Childe's ID in your police database and open up a tab regarding the sudden rise and fall of Fatui shipments within Inazuma Harbor as of four years ago. You show her the correlation between the time he had joined, and during the fall of the noticeable cargo shipments from Inazuma Harbor.

"That is a little suspicious," Kokomi sighs, scanning over the information, and after some time, she lets out a belated huff. "Okay," she capitulates, leaning back in her chair, "I'll print these forms out and speak to Sir Kamisato about it. Do you think you can forward them to me through email?"

You nod, and immediately get to work.

Later on, after the sheets are done printing, Kokomi enters Ayato's office with the documents in hand. You catch Sara's gaze from across the room, and you toss her a simple smile.

Things had unfolded quicker than expected. You were prepared to wait months to get a crumb of evidence entailing Childe– however perhaps you had made a good call in letting Kokomi know about the possibility of being infiltrated by the Fatui. An extra pair of eyes on the lookout did you well, and who knows, maybe if you tell everyone else, they would collectively find more dirt on Childe altogether. Of course, between you, Kokomi and Ayato, however, that case of everyone finding out would be unlikely, considering that would cause paranoia.

After some time, Kokomi exits the room. When you turn to look at her, she gives you a small, reassuring smile. You let out a soft, elongated sigh of relief. Now you had the leader on board, too.

On the way home from your longest Monday yet, you decide to go on a short walk around your block, hoping to keep your mind off of things until you receive a text from Kunikuzushi.

"Are you free on Saturday?"

You raise an eyebrow up at his text,"Yes?"You reply shortly, feeling a little strange emotion whirl in your stomach.

"Come in on Saturday. I have a proposition to make."

"Okay, fuck this," you sigh as you decide to press the call button, having enough mental stress in your head to fuel you for days at a time, "hello?" You start when you hear him pick up from his end.

"What do you want?"You nearly balk at his exhausted tone.

"What doyouwant?" You retort apprehensively, "Is it really important that you can't just discuss it over phone?"

"..Just come. Dress well. I'll see you on Saturday."And before you can say anything more, he drops the phone on you. In mortification, you pull the phone away from your ear, your eyes scanning the screen incredulously.Had he really just done that?You shrug, letting out a sigh. He sounded a little more groggy than usual. Maybe he had just woken up from a nap?

Deciding to give him the benefit of the doubt, you shrug him off, shaking your head as you focus on clearing your mind.

And on Saturday morning, you're at his door, dressed nicely enough to be photo ready. Allowing yourself entry, you let out a soft yawn, as you enter the abode, "Good morning," you yawn out surveying the scene before you. Your eyes automatically land on Kunikuzushi, who wore a pair of glasses as he read away at a book on the chaise by the coffee table, dressed in dark clothes.

At the sound of your voice, the man puts his glasses away, a smile on his lips as he narrows his indigo hued irises on your form, "You actually came," he remarks with a sense of snarkiness that isn't lost on you, "with how you were ignoring my texts again, I thought that you'd decided to cold shoulder me."

"I wish I did," you retort as you shut the door behind you, the sound of your heels on the wooden floorboards echoing as you amble towards him, keeping your arms crossed as you felt his gaze trail up your body before landing on your face. Your face heats up when his smile grows, your hold on your arms tightening as you shift in your spot, leaning on a leg as you toss him a short glare, "Now tell me what the purpose of this meeting is. It's on my day off, you know," you lightly whine, "I'm pretty tired too so putting all this on," you gesture towards yourself, "was quite a hard feat, so early in the morning."

Kunikuzushi chuckles at your words, setting his book down to the side before crossing his legs, shrugging his shoulders as he rolls his wrists, "How about we do some relationship exercises?"

Your face falls, your shoulders slumping as you toss him a look of disbelief.

"I'll treat you out today for being cooperative," he smoothly continues, getting up from his seat as he holds his hands behind his back, tilting his head as he approaches you, "and it's been a month since our union. Why not celebrate with something a little fun?"

"What is fun to you, exactly," you huff as he stands before you, keeping your expression incredulous, "and I'm not entirely sure if I want to spend time with you more than necessary. It's my day off–"

"Consider it a team building exercise then. If we're going to be on a cruise ship for a night I need to know how to have some fun with you, especially since we might just be waiting around for the most part," Kunikuzushi cuts in with a smile, walking over to the doorway as he tugs a coat over himself, "now hurry it up. We'll start our day grabbing breakfast together down in the main city," he urges you, his eyes narrowing onto your form once more as you swivel around to face him, "and then we can do whatever you want. I'm not too picky."

You gauge him for a moment, watching as he stands by the doorway, leaning on the wall as he stares at you expectantly, his smile slowly dissipating at the sight of your blank expression.

Was this even worth it? You thought to yourself with a sigh as you ambled towards him, "We aren't spending the whole day together, right?" You keep your eyes focused on expression. When he merely tilts his head in response, you shake your head. You were doomed.

"Oh and, you'll be driving," he suggests the moment the two of you walk out the door. You turn to look at him in disbelief once more, watching as he shrugs, "I don't have a proper license, and I don't want to get caught driving your car."

You bite your lip, furrowing your eyebrows down at him as you unlock the doors to your car, "There are so many reasons as to why I should arrest you," you reply in a low tone, saying it more to yourself than to him, "should I just do it?" You toss him a fiery look, one that he raises an eyebrow upon seeing.

"You can try," he suggests with a rather icy tone in return, "who knows? You might succeed."

You shake your head. He was impossible.

Breakfast wasdead quiet,with neither you or Kunikuzushi being able to make conversation with one another.It was hard, making conversation without bringing up personal lives and aside from asking boring questions regarding the fine weather.Sohardthat when the two of you leave the café, you end up speaking up.

"I don't think this is going to work out if we keep going like this," you blankly point out, tossing a blank stare over to Kunikuzushi, who slowly nods in return, tossing you the same, blank stare back. "We'reteam building, right?"You sigh, capitulating to his suggestion as the two of you begin to enter your car just in the parking lot of the café. If you were going to spend time with him, then you supposed that it would be easier to follow his way of doing things, since he wasrather adamanton keeping it to his level of comfort.

"Do you have any suggestions, Kunikuzushi?" You turn to him, hoping for him to respond as he leans back in his seat, pulling it down so that he was just comfortable enough.

"Hmm," Kunikuzushi remains pensive for a brief period of time before responding, "teamwork is something I never bothered to truly care for,since in most cases,I could handle everything by myself," he comments as he meets your gaze, "I know an easy way to go about it. Anarcade," he offers with a small smirk as your expression turns thoughtful, "how about it? We can blow some steam off while having some fun?"

"An arcade…" You ponder over his words for a moment, a flicker of interest blooming in your eyes, "I… I haven't been into one since high school," you admit a little shyly. You grab your phone and toss it towards him, to which he glares at you in response when the phone hits his chest with a thud. "Look one up for me," you begin as you start the car, "my phone's connected to the car, so just punch in the address. And you can feel free to play some music if you'd like. Don't youdare look through anything else past the music application and the map provided."

"How gracious of you, Miss Investigator," he snickers, crossing his feet on the dashboard as he looks at the home screen of your phone, "look at you, already becoming so welcoming to me after some breakfast together. I can't say I dislike this side of you," he admits with a smile as your cheeks flush ever so slightly at his words.

"Why are we doing all this team building again?" You heave a sigh, brushing your weariness off as you begin to focus on your drive.

"Quit complaining. You're so clearly unenthused it's making the day hard to enjoy," Kunikuzushi huffs in reply, "and I already told you. We might be waiting around during the cruise ship, and that might take a few hours. We'll probably also need to be in close contact often, considering we're going to be dancing together to snoop around the ballroom. It might look suspicious to other passengers if we don't talk in a friendly manner to one another. Just have faith in me," he shuts his eyes, tossing your phone off to the side by the cup holder, "this'll all pay off in the future, so just put up with it for now. Consider it a generous investment ."

You blow a few strands of hair away from your face.Today had better be worth it.

Notes:

next chapter is gonna be more like a date if anything, with some serious parts here and there, but definitely mostly them trying to get more comfortable with one another. the following chapters might just focus a little more regarding their relationship with one another, and how they just get closer before i begin to drop shit LOL! i hope everyone is doing well again, please take care and drink some water 3

Chapter 4: Kickin' Back

Summary:

In which Kunikuzushi and reader focus on breaking the ice.

Notes:

mostly just funsies

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Your experience in the arcade as a naturally competitive person put you in a bad spot against Kunikuzushi. Despite your countless rematches, he would always end the victor, and at some point, he began to make fun of your losses by simply losing purposely– which of course, only served to further agitate you– something that you found he enjoyed doing. The two of you had to admit, however, although you were getting a little bitter with your losses, the both of you had loosened up from the childish competition between either of you.

Near the end of your afternoon spent at the arcade, Kunikuzushi offers that the two of you play more peaceful games, since you had apparently been glaring at him more often than not. Much to your surprise, you have more luck in games requiring such an aspect, causing Kunikuzushi to spend more money than he should.

When you tease him about your wins, he tells you that these silly games were all 'useless' anyway, and meant simply for one to enjoy as opposed to being something that somebody should brag about. Despite this, you win him a little toy plushie of a purple creature with bat wings and a cute face, saying that it was a peace offering.

In response, he only tosses you an awfully irritated look, "Do I look like someone you can please with a mere stuffed toy?"

"I didn't know you were so hard to please," you retort nonchalantly as you start another claw machine game, "you seem to have plenty of fun just getting a rise out of me." Your words elicit a scoff, followed by a snicker from Kunikuzushi.

"It's not my fault you make it so easy to toy with you," he shrugs in response, leaning in closer to you, zeroing in on your focused expression before nudging your elbow a little, just before you can click the red button for the claw to descend on a prize you had set your eyes on. "Oops," he smirks when your eyes flash with anger as you turn to look at him.

You nudge him with your shoulder, keeping your glare on him until your eyes flicker back to the claw machine before you. You let out an aggravated sigh when the claw misses the catch entirely, "You're such an asshole," you hiss under your breath before backing away from the claw machine, "no more for me. I think I'll be sent to jail if you do that again."

"We can't have that," Kunikuzushi innocently replies, holding the hand held stuffed toy he had received from you to his side as he smiles at you.

You scowl, waving him off as you amble towards the exit of the arcade, "Ah, I think I'm starting to regret giving that to you," you huff, "it looks exactly like you. Speaking of which," you scoff, stopping in front of a small gacha capsule machine, "look at that," you point towards a specific gachapon, showcasing the exact toy you had won for him in a miniature, fluffy form. "Decoration for your phone," you toss him a smirk as you pull out a pouch from your bag, "want it?"

"Excuse me?" Kunikuzushi sounds a little offended by your accusation, "I can hardly appreciate a larger version of that stupid thing. You would dare give me a miniature version?"

"For your phone," you point towards his phone in his pocket as you roll a coin into the slot before spinning it, "because it's so plain."

Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at you, "You're one to talk. You don't have anything of that sort hanging off your phone either," he remarks, squishing the toy you had given him by his waist and arm, "and this sort of decoration doesn't suit me."

You hum, not really listening to him as you watch a capsule all in purple roll out, and you let out a small satisfied noise when you pop it open to reveal the phone keychain, swinging it in front of his face as you grin at him, "Looks like lady luck smiles upon me today," you begin before dropping it in his hand, uncaring of the short look he gives you, "this is my thanks for paying for breakfast and the arcade today."

"A measly two dollar keychain?" Kunikuzushi glares at you in disbelief, his voice dropping a few octaves as he whispers to you in return, "I think I'm deserving of a lot more than this, if you were to repay me for today. Your retries cost quite a little bit of money, I hope you know that."

You put another coin in the gachapon, hoping to get the color you had preferred the most, "Is that so?" You reply with a light tone, "What would you prefer then?" You crouch down, waiting for the capsule to roll out.

"Information," he simply responds, eying the keychain you had given him before eying your own similar one, "regarding you."

You halt just as you begin to tie the strap of the keychain on your phone, your eyes flickering over to him as you lean away from him, "Me?" You point at yourself, unsure. When he nods, his eyes watching you as you tie the cord onto your phone, "What do you want to know about me?" You purse your lips as you pocket your phone, your eyes trailing down from his face to his hands as he copies your motions, a small smile playing on his lips as he wraps the dark hued tie in a loop on his own phone.

"Who would've thought you were trying to match with me," Kunikuzushi's tone is a lot more teasing than you had expected, and your face heats up as he waves the keychain dangling on his phone, in front of your face.

"That wasn't my intention," you confess with a soft tone, and when you think to grab the keychain swinging back and forth before you, he suddenly pulls it away from you, his face appearing where his phone had been as he pockets his phone.

"And as for the information regarding you," he continues, his tone sounding sickeningly sweet as your face burns, his eyes narrowing considerably as he takes a step forward, inciting you to take a step back in return. "Hmm," he hums, letting out an amused laugh when you avert your eyes away from him, "I suppose you'll have to give me some time to think about it. How about we go to our next location?" Kunikuzushi offers you smirk as shoves his hands into his pockets, "Or you can just stand there, looking like an idiot at a loss for words."

You grit your teeth, and without another word, you head out the arcade, with Kunikuzushi just in tow, looking as pleased as ever.

You eat a light lunch with him since you had asked him if the two of you could go explore downtown for a bit. It had been some time for you since you had last been downtown in Inazuma, and you had missed passing by a few stores. Passing by a theater, you let out a small gasp, "The movie is already out?" You whisper to yourself as you lean away from Kunikuzushi, who stops just in time to notice that you're looking at one of the showings in the theater.

"What are you looking at?" Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at you when you turn to face him, a glimmer of interest blooming with him at the sight of your expression, holding back an excited look.

You pretend to act nonchalant, shrugging before pointing towards the theater, "Nothing, really," you reply with a refrained tone, "just a movie I've been waiting to watch had somehow released during the time I've been busy. Perhaps I'll go watch it another day," you allow a small to grace your lips as you shift away from the theater. Kunikuzushi remains still, eying the movie as a hum escapes his throat, and in seconds, he's dragged you back to the theater, a small smirk on his lips as he walks up to the ticket clerk. "Hold on," you hiss, tearing your hand out of his grip.

"Two tickets to whatever that is," he points at the movie you had wanted to watch, and the ticket clerk eyes him incredulously before letting out a soft sigh.

"Hey," you softly begin as he hands her over some cash, your eyes narrowed as you lean over to stare at him, and when his eyes meet your own through his peripherals, you continue, "you didn't have to do this you know. It doesn't even sound like you know what it is…"

Kunikuzushi rolls his eyes, pocketing the tickets as he urges you to walk with him into the theaters, a scowl on his lips as he glares at you, "It looked interesting. Twins saving the world?" He scoffs, "Sounds a little cliche, but it'll do for this mission," you continue to stare at him in disbelief, even as he tosses you a small smirk, "right?"

"Right..?" You slowly reply, shaking your head, "I could've really just watched this by myself–" You let out a hiss when he lightly kicks your leg with his own, a small snicker leaving his mouth when he notices that you nearly tripped over yourself as a result.

"How about you stop complaining? I think what you should be saying is ," he corrects you, attempting to help hold you up as his indigo hued irises focus onto your expression, "thank you."

You avert your gaze away from him, feeling a little shy with how close he was now to your face, "T-Thank you," you stutter, pulling yourself away from him before swiveling around completely, "I-I… I'll go buy us some popcorn and drinks," you toss him one last look, your cheeks warm when you meet his gaze once more, "that should suffice for the time being as another way to thank you…" When he doesn't say anything in response, you begin your amble towards the concession stand, brushing off the embarrassment that grew in the pits of your stomach.

During the movie, you toss Kunikuzushi looks occasionally, your gaze expectant during the moments you had considered to be the best of the best throughout the movie. Much to your surprise, Kunikuzushi doesn't seem to notice your stares, as he himself looks rather engorged in the film. You realize, he cares less about the action, though during the most heart wrenching moment in which the twins had finally reunited, his expression had somewhat softened, and for a moment, he just looked like an innocent man, happy to see the twins reunite.

That expression he held, with his eyes narrowed, the corners of his lips pulled into a slight, bittersweet smile– the image etched itself into your mind. It was a meaningful expression– an expression he had made during such a specific part to the movie that it had made you wonder a little if he himself had a sibling he had longed to see again.

Of course, when the movie ends, and when the two of you are out of the theater, you don't bother to ask him such a question, despite how curious you truly were. Outside of the theater now, you ask him his thoughts on the movie, only to find that most of the reactions you got from him were rather mild, ranging from 'it wasn't bad' to short hums in approval.

At some point, you think yourself to be delusional since you had thought he looked rather interested in the movie initially, however when the two of you are settled in the car, Kunikuzushi asks a rather surprising question.

"Will there be a second part?" Kunikuzushi asks as he leans back in his seat once more, and when you turn to look at him, you notice that he's looking up at his bangs as he played with him, tossing them back and forth boredly with his fingers, "About the twins, and what kind of adventures they would go through after all that, since they did just get reunited again."

So he was interested, or so you thought before finally responding, "I don't think so," you softly reply as you turn the engine on, listening to the car buzz with life, "either way, I think it ended just fine," you smile as you listen to a voice send you directions back to Kunikuzushi's abode.

Listening to his address get announced by the voice on your phone, Kunikuzushi pauses, pursing his lips as the car begins to move, "..Wait," he starts as you finally shift onto the road, "can we stop by the grocery store? I'm just going to grab a few things."

"Yeah," you hum in response, "then I'll just drop you off at your place?"

Kunikuzushi doesn't respond. He smiles at you, though you don't see it.

At the grocery store, Kunikuzushi grabs some cans of beer and cider while you look around for a few items for yourself, thinking you might as well do some personal shopping while you were out. The two of you reconvene at a certain aisle, and when you notice what he's carrying, you scoff.

"You're planning to drink?" You begin softly, your eyes scanning the items on the shelf as you wait for his response. Kunikuzushi's reply is short, though it tells you everything you need to know.

"With you," he calmly adds on before turning his back to you and walking off, leaving you to glare at his back as he ambled towards the check out area. You let out a huff before following him. Upon hearing the sounds of your heels clicking along the ground, Kunikuzushi turns his head, a smirk on his lips as he narrows his eyes onto your form, "Did you really think our day together was over? That's a little cruel," his voice lightens, sounding higher than usual as he places his items into the checkout zone, "I'm paying for everything today– the least you can do is grace me with your presence for a drink or two with me."

"I can't do that– hey! " You stiffly retort, only raising your voice when he begins to pile your items along with his own. "These are mine," you hiss under your breath, "let me pay for them with my own money," you shift a little closer to him in hopes to move him away from the credit card booth, and before you can offer to pay for it, he pulls out his bills, a smile on his face as he hands his money over towards the cashier. You stare at him incredulously, feeling a swirl of uncertainty bloom in your stomach when his gaze locks with your own. Picking up the filled plastic bags at the end of the till, Kunikuzushi hums, feigning disappointment as he raises the bags up in the air.

"Well ," he rolls his eyes with a frown, moving towards the exit of the grocery store, "looks like they mixed our stuff up together. Guess we'll have to separate them later," you purse your lips tightly, furrowing your eyebrows down at him as you realize what he's trying to do.

You let out one final sigh. You supposed you'd keep going with him, since today didn't seem all too bad with him anyways.

Back at the hideout again, the two of you find yourselves outside on the rooftop of the building. Uncaring of how dirty your jacket might get, you lay your jacket onto the floor, allowing the chill of the night to settle onto your skin as Kunikuzushi offers you a can of alcohol. You take it, this time without care despite knowing you'll have to drive back home tonight.

Popping the can open, you watch as night falls over Inazuma city, your eyes to the sky as you cross your legs, feeling comfortable in the silence of the night when you hear Kunikuzushi next to you open his lighter. The wind carries away the smoke from Kunikuzushi's cigarette, the wind blowing away wisps of his bangs as he focuses onto the dull scenery before him. You take a long sip, feeling a little weary as you rest your back onto the generator behind you, running your fingers through your hair.

"This sucks," Kunikuzushi snickers, sounding a littletoo amusedfor his comment to be truly genuine, "there's no view to see here, aside from idiots running around and pissing on the walls of buildings. You should go ahead andarrest them." There's a light humor to his tone.

Ignoring his final comment, you smile, "You chose it," you reply with a tenderness to your tone as you shut your eyes, feeling another peaceful breeze pass the two of you as you relax, "and youchosethis hideout,too."

"I guess I did," Kunikuzushi reluctantly agrees, taking another puff from his cigarette and blowing it into the wind as he rests an arm on his leg lazily, his irises flickering over to your restful form, "next time I'll take you somewhere better, for as long as you don't complain. I think my ears are still ringing from all the whining you've done all throughout the day. "

You scoff at his words, "Next time?" When he doesn't respond, you decide to play into his hands, keeping your eyes shut as you rest your hands on your stomach, "What can possibly beat the amazing view of people running around and peeing on private properties?"

"There's one right in front of me," he retorts a little too smugly as he nudges your calf with his index finger, "see?" You let out a soft laugh in response, deciding to take a drink out of your can once more. "Amazing for all the wrong reasons," Kunikuzushi continues, his words lacing with a slight venom as he presses on, "you look absolutely disgusting right now. Be a little more ladylike, won't you?" You open your eyes when you feel him toss his coat over your legs, your eyebrows raised as you meet his bright irises.

You hold your hands up before you, signaling surrender, keeping a can in one hand. You take one, final long sip, keeping eye contact with him as you decide to shotgun the rest of the can down. Finally finished, you wipe your mouth and throw the can at him, who much to your chagrin, catches it with a look of irritation.

Kunikuzushi throws it off the roof without hesitation, and you watch the can as it slings off and disappears beneath the edge of the sidewall on the roof.

"That's littering," you boredly start, "that's about a three hundred dollar fine."

"I've nearly spent that much just keeping your competitive habits alive today," Kunikuzushi scoffs in return, swiveling around to face you as he opens a can of beer, "is that enough to pay it off, Miss Investigator?" You watch as he takes a swig out of his can before laying it next to him. Choosing not to respond, you simply stare at him clad in his dark clothes as he takes one final drag of his cigarette before crushing it on the ground below him.

A few moments of silence pass between the two of you, your mind running loose as a result of the alcohol in your veins as you bring your legs to your chest, allowing Kunikuzushi's coat to fold around you as you wrap your arms around your legs. "This isn't good," you plainly comment, earning Kunikuzushi's attention, "driving under the influence wouldn't be a good look on me," you turn your head up to the sky once more.

Kunikuzushi offers you a simple conclusion to your thoughts, "Just come back for it tomorrow. I can walk you home today, if you think you'll need it," his tone is surprisingly soft when he says this, and when you meet his gaze once more you find some warmth building in your chest.

"Thanks," you surmise with a smile, reaching over for another can as you do so, "I think I'll be okay, but I suppose we'll have to see." Kunikuzushi's eyes remain on you, surveying you as you drink some more. There's a strange look in his eyes, an emotion you don't quite recognize due to the fact that it had been so refrained. You don't bother to ask him his thoughts, though instead, you scoot over for him when he shifts over towards you, allowing him to rest his back onto the generator as well.

"You're letting your guard down quite a bit, Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi starts with a low tone, "have I broken you in successfully now?" He nudges you with his elbow, though you pay no heed to it.

"I'm always like this," you blow loose strands of hair away from your face as a cold breeze billows past the two of you, "so I don't know what you're talking about." You were lying, of course, and Kunikuzushi catches onto it without even trying.

"Liar," Kunikuzushi whispers under his breath, playing with his lighter now, watching as the flames flicker on and off with every flip of the metal cap. He watches the flame dance, his attention only divided for a moment as you start to speak again.

You let out a soft groan, shifting in your seat as you take another swig from your can, "I just want to relax right now," you whisper in reply, "so please don't bother me." Your tone is light, sounding almost strange to Kunikuzushi's ears when it registers in his mind. Feeling the alcohol slowly drown out your voice of logic, you chew on your lip. Kunikuzushi stares at you from his peripherals, tilting his head ever so slightly as he continues to play with his lighter, his irises finding your slightly flushed features.

Kunikuzushi examines you, noticing the heaviness of your eyebags, the weariness of your expression that the bitter cold and night hues only seem to emphasize. You were exhausted, that much was clear. Turning his head away, Kunikuzushi decides to speak once more, feeling a little chattier than usual, "Work can really kill someone, hm?" You heave a breath from your lips, pulling his coat a little over your shoulders as the cold feels a little too much.

"Just a little," you reply softly, feeling your mind wander as you think about the several happenings that had unraveled over the course of the month, and how you've been forced to distance yourself away from Childe as of late. You dwell on your tiresome thoughts for a little, mulling over them in the silence Kunikuzushi allows you to have, and after some time, you utter under your breath, "But today was good," your voice is nearly lost to the winds, but you know Kunikuzushi can hear you from how he suddenly leans in a little more, "I had a good break today, as much as dislike to admit it. You aren't terrible to hang out with," you slouch, leaning in closer to your knees, keeping your eyes trained on your can just a reach away from you.

Kunikuzushi eyes you for a moment, his irises narrowing onto your form as a mysterious smile splits onto his lips, "Well that's a relief to hear, " Kunikuzushi begins, "looks like our mission today was a success then," he turns away, looking off into the skies as he lays his legs out before him, "it would be a pain in the ass to deal with the awkwardness when I teach you how to dance, too."

His words snap you out of your reverie. "Teach me how to… What?" You inquire, a little taken aback now as you stare at him in shock, to which he replies by returning your glance.

"I have to teach you how to dance," Kunikuzushi repeats, "assuming you don't know how to do some ballroom dancing." Your face flushes as you lean forward in your seat, your hands balling into fists as your mouth falls open in protest, "Unless you wanted to look like an absolute moron, I suggest you take me upon my offer. It'd be quite awkward ," Kunikuzushi scowls, "for me to have a partner with two left feet dancing with me. But," he rolls his eyes away, his tone turning derisive as he furrows his eyebrows, a small smirk forming on the edge of his lips, "it would be quite a good laugh, seeing you, Miss Investigator– look so lost amidst the sea of people dancing."

The laugh he lets out nearly causes you to shiver with what sadistic glee seemed to lie beneath it, "Ah, you were talking about amazing views , right?" Kunikuzushi prods you, and you grit your teeth, your face flaming with embarrassment, "That view of you, unsure of what to do would be amazing! I'm sure the hundreds of people there on the cruise will agree with me. "

"You..!" You seethe, feeling your blood boil as his indigo hued irises meet your own once more, "Fine! Fine, fine, fine," you huff, "I'll learn to dance with you– and I'll show you how easily I pick up on it. Give me two weeks, and I'll be a professional," you don't hear his chuckle when you reach over to chug down the rest of your can, feeling fury thrum throughout your veins.

"You're so easy," Kunikuzushi chuckles under his breath, a steady darkness blooming in his irises as he leans forward to catch a better look of you. All he had to do was push your buttons around a little, and you'd play right into it. And the best part of it all was that you never seemed to learn. His smile turns belligerent as you put your can down, though his smile quickly disappears when the metal can hits his forehead with a hollow thump.

You let out a loud 'ha!' before grinning at him triumphantly, "Oh no," you feign worry, "is your head alright? I mean, it sounded kind of empty when the can hit it–!"

"Bitch," Kunikuzushi hisses under his breath, his irises flashing dangerously as he scowls at you, grabbing the can with his free hand and crushing it entirely before throwing it back at you. You let out a laugh, using his coat as a shield, and when he lets out a sharp hiss, you pause altogether, "You stained my jacket!"

Uh oh. You pull the jacket down to examine it, only to notice that Kunikuzushi had been right in front of you, his face inches away from your own. Your eyes widen, your mind freezing when you feel his warm breath fan on your cheeks.

"Just kidding," he whispers, the edges of his lips turning upwards as he grips onto the crushed can in his hand, with hardly any strength, he squishes the can onto your cheek, "dumbass."

You aren't sure if it's the playfulness that was between the two of you, or whether it was the alcohol in your system, but in a matter of seconds you're bursting out into a fit of laughter again, a small smile on your lips as you apologize to him. Seemingly satisfied by your apology, Kunikuzushi pulls back, a crooked smile on his lips as he glowers at you, resting back into his seat.

When you settle down from your fit of laughter, you mimic him, relaxing into your seat as you kick your feet down, dragging your heels along the harsh pavement and listening to it scrape before finally coming to an abrupt stop. There's a peaceful, comfortable silence that washes over the both of you, the night ambience falling kindly around the atmosphere as the alcohol begins to kick in, your features slowly turning more and more red.

Kunikuzushi lets out a small hum of interest before starting again, "What's your favorite color?"

You pause, turning to look at him with an unreadable expression, "What is this, kindergarten?" You snicker at his features, tinging with red as the cold weather bites on his cheeks and nose, his eyes rolling over to you to offer you a small glare. "I don't really have one," you decide to reply, seeing as though he just kept glaring at you, "why do you ask?"

"Information," Kunikuzushi retorts, "as payment from earlier today. What's your favorite type of flower?" His questions are constantly catching you off guard– you hadn't expected him to ask you such lighthearted, innocent questions. You reply to him with something a little more basic, since your knowledge on flowers wasn't quite varied. You admired flowers from afar, but you never bothered to know anything further than how they looked.

"What about yours?" You decide to toss the question back, expecting something completely basic in response.

"A skeleton flower," Kunikuzushi quickly answers, much to your surprise as he crosses his legs, bringing a hand to his face as he leans forward. You ask him what that type of flower was, since you've never heard of it or seen it before, and you're surprised by how informative Kunikuzushi's response is, "It's a flower that grows by the mountainside here, namely more often found in Chinju Forest. Its petals turn transparent when water hits it…" When your eyes meet his own again, you realize there's a slight glimmer of light, a sight that interests you to no end, and just as quickly as that light came, it left.

Not wanting to see it vanish so quickly, you press on, "How did you come to know about it?" Your voice is soft, and pleasing to Kunikuzushi's ears.

This time, he answers with much more hesitation, as though he didn't want to speak any more about it than he should, "Just from a few books I came across when I was younger…" His voice trails off, and you decide to stay quiet, keeping your gaze on him in hopes that he would continue– and he does, without you having to urge him, much to your surprise. "My mom liked to garden in her spare time," Kunikuzushi says with a tone that's unfamiliar to you, "so I would just read books lying around."

"That's cute," you comment. In return, Kunikuzushi glares at you, his irises gleaming dangerously before he quickly turns his head away, leaning away from you as he presses his head on his palm once more. "I don't really like flowers," you offer in exchange, "they die really quickly. I've only received them a few times and I always ended up giving them to my parents at the end of the day."

Kunikuzushi scoffs, "You're really…" You meet his gaze when he swivels his head, his dark locks brushing along his cheekbones as he lets out a condescending snicker, "You're really unattractive, you know that?"

"Really?" You huff, playing with a few strands of your hair, "I don't think I'm that bad…" Kunikuzushi presses a hand to your chin, slowly turning your head. He takes a moment, examining your worn out expression, as you scan his own features, feeling your own heartbeat slowly rise– and when you feel warmth spread to your face, you lightly smack his hand away, your eyebrows furrowing angrily as you back away from him.

"Yeah you don't look bad," he begins, sounding a little annoyed by your actions, "you look awful. Horrible woman," he curses under his breath, and when you nudge him, he tosses you a warning glance.

"So this is what you're really like," you muse, crossing your arms as you smirk at him, watching as he snaps his gaze towards you once more, "I was wondering what was behind all this mysteriousness. You're all cool and composed, and then you end up being a brat behind it all!" You yelp when he tugs your cheek, a blaze of irritation in his eyes as he lowers his tone.

"You're getting on my nerves really quickly today,"he hisses before letting go of your cheek, adjusting his weight so that he could stand up, "come on," his voice comes out like an order as opposed to a request, "we're gonna get you home. It'sgetting late,and I think you drank the alcohol quicker than you could handle."

"No,"you let out a slow drawl, "I'm too tired to walk. Let me sit for just five more minutes," you reach for another can, only for Kunikuzushi's foot to block the way and move the cans away from you, his glare firm on your form as you scowl up at him.

"I'm not drinking with you again,"Kunikuzushi sighs, "I didn't know you'd get so bothersome after just a couple cans–you sound like a child right now,do you know that,Miss Investigator?"

"There you go again," you huff, standing up with a small wobble, "would itkill youto be a little nicer to me? You threaten me forno reason sometimes,and even when you just call my name–it sounds like a threat."

Steadying you, Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at your disheveled features, "Believe it or not, I am very considerate and kind to you , Miss Investigator." His grip on your wrist tightens, his expression slightly darkening, "I can be much more cruel when I have to be," his voice is low, coming out in a whisper that you have to strain your ears to hear. "I shouldn't have to warn you about this," he continues, tilting his head as you take a few steps closer to him, "I told you I've killed people. Would you like to know how many?"

His words bring a sense of sobriety in you. Your lips fall open in protest, though upon seeing the look in his eyes, you purse your lips, your eyes trailing to the floor as you let out a soft whisper, "You're scaring me a little…" The blood rushing to your head, fueled by alcohol as you cement yourself in your steps, your chest feeling unbearably heavy. Feeling a little overwhelmed with yourself, you don't notice tears beginning to form in the corners of your eyes.

Kunikuzushi lets out a rather derisive chuckle. Had you really softened up so quickly to him that you forgot what he was capable of? "I'm scaring you?" He whispers, shifting in his spot to tilt your head up a little, and when his eyes land on your face, he pauses altogether, his eyes widening, "Are you crying?"

Oh god,you think to yourself as you tear your gaze away from him, glaring at the discarded cans of alcohol on the floor as you grit your teeth angrily, your nails digging into your skin.Were you really crying right now?In front of him,andall due to a few cans of ciders and beers?You supposed it was your fault, drinking on a somewhat empty stomach, mixing the two drinks together–you were smarter than this.But you were so desperate to just–

Keep your mind off of everything. Off of the fact the man in front of you right now might be somebody you'd have to catch sooner or later, off the fact that your most trustworthy partner Childe had possibly willingly sold you out to the Fatui, and to Il Dottore nonetheless, the man notorious for taking people apart and putting them back together in unrecognizable, macabre forms.

And now, you had to weave a lie between yourself and your team to ensure that you would be in little to no trouble in the future. You had to maintain your status quo, pretending that you didn't know about the active Fatui hideouts, despite the gold mine of information Kunikuzushi offered.

"Sorry," you apologize in a faint whisper as tears stream down your face. You quickly wipe them away, feeling shame burn in your stomach. What were you doing, drinking so carelessly and becoming a sobbing mess in front of a possible enemy?

He lets out a belated sigh, "And now you're apologizing to me?" Kunikuzushi lets out an annoyed huff before letting go of you completely, leaving you to cry in silence, your eyes blurring with tears. Feeling a weight on your back, you lift your head to notice that Kunikuzushi had put your jacket on your back, his eyes averted from your expression as he carefully places a hand on your forearm, his hold exceptionally gentle, "Forget it. You're too out of it to think properly right now."

You don't say anything as he begins to lead you away, bringing you to the door that leads back downstairs the establishment. Kunikuzushi remained quiet as well, his lips pulled taut, though you could've sworn by the look on his face, he looked a little annoyed with himself.

Before you know it, he's walking you home, his hand still wrapped around your forearm despite how much more sober you feel now. You don't bother to shrug off his hand, still feeling a little too ashamed and embarrassed with yourself.

By the time you're at your doorway, you're completely sober, now just exhausted from your tears and day today. "Thanks," you mutter, his hand leaving your forearm now to rest in his pocket as he leans back on the railing behind him, looking at you with a strange expression, "I'll come by tomorrow and grab all my stuff," you bow your head, feeling a little woozy now. "I had a good day today though, I promise– even though I became a real mess at the end of it," you sharply inhale a breath of air, tilting your head back up to look at him, "so thank you, Kunikuzushi."

Kunikuzushi gauges your expression, his lips still pulled taut as he rests his arms on the railing behind him. "..It wasn't bad," he huffs, a little hesitant to respond, "today. But," he rolls his eyes towards the sky, "I think that we need to work on team building a little more. I didn't get my fair share of payment from you, regarding information anyways." Hearing you scoff, he raises an eyebrow up at you.

"Are you bored or something?" You lightheartedly retort, offering him a small smile, "Sure," you concede, agreeing with him as you lean on your door, "I can make time just once a week, I suppose– but not for as long as today."

"That's fine," Kunikuzushi shrugs, shifting his weight off of the railing. He swivels around, turning to face down the hallway of the apartment, "I'll see you tomorrow then." With a wave of his hand, he begins to walk. You turn around to open your apartment door as you hear him stop in his steps, his voice echoing down the hallway, "By the way, it's the opposite." With the door open now, you twist your body to give him one last look, listening to him as he continues, "I'm not bored."

You tilt your head, unsure of what he had meant by such words.

And in the morning, you arrive at the hideout a little later than you had promised. You let yourself in, announcing yourself, and when nobody responds, you shrug, remembering that he had said he would leave everything at the front for you to take.

You're surprised by how your groceries had been neatly arranged in their own separate bags, and you think to send him a 'thank you' text before shaking your head. No more talking more than necessary, you thought to yourself as you picked your groceries up, not after that blunder last night.

Before you leave, you put down a book you had just bought about flowers on the coffee table, accompanied with an apology note for your embarrassing behavior. With that, you move on with your day.

Kunikuzushi arrives at the desolate ruins of an abandoned building just outside Inazuma City, his eyes watchful as he waits for any sign of movement surrounding the forest around it. Having parked his car in a hidden grove of trees not too far from the location, he examines the exterior of the building, noticing that nothing in particular was out of place.

Yet why the hell did his alarms go off in this building? His miniature traps had caught movement– and not from an animal. It came from a person. Kunikuzushi had initially thought it to be just a few kids, exploring abandoned sites as some occasions had been– however his alarms had kept triggering constantly, as though someone were purposely setting them off.

With maximum alert, Kunikuzushi begins his inspection indoors, roaming past the broken, stone stairwells and shifting towards the center of the building where the roof had been split open by water damage, allowing for plants to grow naturally inside where water had been readily available. Remaining quiet, Kunikuzushi scours the area, his eyes trailing along every detail of the room as he keeps his ears keen for any noise.

Nothing was amiss. That was the strangest fact about it all. If the Fatui had decided to wander back in to inspect the abandoned building once more, then they did an unusually excellent job on making sure that everything remained untouched.

Kunikuzushi pauses, feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket. Turning his screen on, he notices it was a message from you, letting him know that you would be going to the cafe first thing tomorrow. He snickers.

Momentarily distracted, Kunikuzushi doesn't notice somebody watching him from afar, hiding behind the darkness of the fallen debris.

Notes:

next chapter, we touch on the ballroom event prep, some more time skip in between some serious parts
also ill respond to everyones comments when i wake up iM SOTIRED HSJKAHDK

Chapter 5: Suit & Tie

Summary:

In which Kunikuzushi teaches reader how to dance.

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter fornotes.)

Chapter Text

On Monday, you meet him at the café like you had promised, deciding to start your morning with your favorite type of coffee. The rest of the morning with Kunikuzushi goes rather regularly, except instead of meeting up at the base, the two of you decide to sit around and relax at the coffee shop for a shorter period of time.

Kunikuzushi offers that from now on, you start coming to the hideout a bit later than usual, around night time. When you ask him why, he simply tells you that it would be easier for the both of you to end the day off with ballroom dancing as opposed to starting the days off with it. You agree quickly, opting out of less action early in the morning. Kunikuzushi also reasons that he sleeps during the afternoon to prepare for his night shift at the café, and thus he would be much more energized and prepared to teach you.

You point out that perhaps his growth had been significantly stunted due to his improper sleep. He retorts with a threat, saying that perhaps next time, he would screw your coffee up intentionally if you said anything like that again. Nevertheless, when you look at him, you keep your expression blank, sipping away from the coffee mug before you as you hold his gaze.

Work was much more peaceful than you would have thought, despite Kokomi keeping a harsher eye on Childe more than usual. Kokomi was discreet in her actions, and had you not been focusing on Kokomi, you would have not noticed that she had been analyzing Childe. This was all as per Kamisato Ayato's orders, ever since Kokomi had let him know about her growing suspicions surrounding him.

You decide to pass on an email to Ayato concerning the video you had prerecorded with Kunikuzushi beforehand. Your email, coupled with the video you had given to him had set your team straight for the next week, with your gazes set on the Fatui activity surrounding Inazuma Harbor.

After a surprisingly easy day at work, you expect for the rest of the day to go just as smoothly. And of course, with Kunikuzushi, nothing ever came quite easily. In his abode now, you had a hard time just getting comfortable with having his hand on your upper back, just resting beneath one of your bones as you kept a hand on his shoulder. Keeping your other hand in his own, you take a deep breath in, feeling a little stiff as he begins to count to three, moving forward and back.

Not even five seconds later, Kunikuzushi lets out a hiss, and you apologize. Although he reassures you, you feel your face grow hot, feeling embarrassment flood you as he starts from the beginning once more.

About ten minutes later, with little to no progression being made on your part as you were constantly stepping on Kunikuzushi's feet, he finally decides to show his anger and impatience, a smile on his face as he leans in close to you.

"Miss Investigator,"he begins, his tone sickeningly sweet when it registers in your mind, "pleasetry to catch up a little quicker,"his voice drops a few octaves, and you can't help but look up at him in worry as his grip on your hand tightens. "Step on my feet again, and you might look like one of the many bodies I have in the basement of this building," his words cause you to freeze up nearly completely, the blood that had once gathered in your cheeks draining as you let a sharp breath of air into your lungs.

"..Do you really have corpses downstairs?" You ask in a quiet voice, feeling a little scared when Kunikuzushi opens his eyes to look at you.

With a smile still present on his expression, he responds to you in the kindest tone he can muster, "Do you want to find out?" The step forward he takes while keeping you in his arms is a little more aggressive than you had anticipated, eliciting a strange noise to escape from your lips– and quickly, you shake your head, your eyes leaving his face to settle on the seams of his left shoulder. "Then do make an effort not to step on my feet," this time, when he speaks, he sounds a little more amused, as though your reaction had served him well.

Tentatively, you reply, wanting to be absolutely honest with yourself, "..I can't promise that I won't do it again," you bite your lower lip when he takes a step forward again, and you nearly miss a step back in your sway. Tripping over your own foot as you adjust your footing, you huff, about to fall back, although thankfully Kunikuzushi is swift to recover you.

Pulling you towards him, Kunikuzushi lets out a frustrated sigh, his expression looking almost defeated at your abrupt blunder. "You're absolutely hopeless, " he comments with a click of his tongue, allowing you to shift away from him, "is it that hard not to take a step back when I take a step forward?"

"I…" You start, searching your mind for any form of excuse before finally shaking your head, your shoulders slumping as you avert your eyes from his stern gaze yet again, "I'm not amazing at dancing," you murmur under your breath, "I can see that now…"

Kunikuzushi gives you one last long look before letting go of you completely. Feeling his hands leave your body, you take a few steps back, confusion flooding your mind as his folds his hands behind his back. "Maybe we should change courses," Kunikuzushi offers with a small roll of his eyes, clearly disappointed in your lack of talent, "instead of coming in as visitors, we can try to disguise ourselves as waiters. Then, I'd have to change my plans entirely," you watch as he presses a hand to his chin, his expression thoughtful and troubled all at once.

You couldn't help but feel a slight sting in your chest. You disliked being the cause of stress, especially knowing that Kunikuzushi had made plans to get on the cruise ship as visitors beforehand. You purse your lips, your fingers curling into fists at your sides, "Let me have another chance at this," your tone is a lot more confident than before, your eyes brimming with determination as you swallow your anxieties.

Kunikuzushi's irises flicker over to your form, scrutinizing you before allowing a tired sigh to leave his lips, and with a wave of his hand, he dismisses you, "It's impossible. Just forget about it," he surmises with an irritated expression on his features as your chest tightens, "we'll find another way into the cruise ship–" Before he can continue, you cut him off, rushing over to him.

You grab his wrists, dragging them away from his body as you pull him towards the center of the room once more. You lead his hands on your body, resuming your earlier position with one hand in his own, although this time, you keep your eyes on his face. "I won't waste your time anymore," you softly say, listening to the sounds of strings echo in the background as you shut your eyes, angling yourself a little ways away from him, "let's keep at it. This time, I won't disappoint you."

There was a strange charm to your willingness, despite how mildly frustrating you were as a person to Kunikuzushi. He ponders over your words for a few seconds, his eyes scanning your form, feeling your hand on his own as he adjusts his grip on you, keeping his hold on you firm as he begins to sway with you once more.

And for the five minutes he practices the simple steps with you, you finally don't step on his feet. Following your accomplishment, Kunikuzushi decides to further delve into the waltz by introducing promenades, spins and twirls. Spending another hour at his abode, the two of you decide to settle for some pizza prior to you leaving to go home. Chatting over things that you could brush up on, Kunikuzushi suggests that you practice the waltz at home by yourself.

Naturally, you heed his words of advice, and before you go to bed, you practice in front of a mirror, ignoring how silly you looked, dancing by yourself.

As of the next few Mondays, Kunikuzushi and yourself meet at night time as opposed to the early mornings, with him as your ballroom partner. Although you were a quick learner, your progression staggered often between good and terrible, more often than not falling on the better side of the spectrum. While dancing, the two of you begin to casually talk a little more. You ask him for any information regarding the Fatui, to which he replies that he has begun investigating an old unused hideout since there had been traces of movement in the area.

When he asks you how work is going, you decide to speak to him with pure honesty, mentioning to him that Childe had now been under secret surveillance by you and another member in your group for some time. Kunikuzushi asks if there has been anything suspicious so far, to which you shake your head in denial.

"He's just been a little quieter lately," you reply as he twirls you, your expression impassive as you find yourself lost in your thoughts, "I kind of wonder what's on his mind. Childe sent me a text apologizing again, since I've been more distant to him ever since that debacle during the sting operation…" You trail off, reminiscing over old memories with you and Childe, eating lunch together occasionally joined by Kujou Sara, "I feel a little bad for him. Idostill consider him to be my partner at work, despite the distance between us now. I can't help but hope heisn'twho you say he is…"

Not noticing Kunikuzushi's eyes on you, you continue to allow your mind to drift away, focusing in on your joined hands as he surveys your expression, tilting his head ever so slightly at the forlorn look in your eyes. Kunikuzushi hums, his eyes narrowing as the edges of his lips fall.

"Ow," you hiss when he suddenly steps on your foot. Turning your gaze towards him, you expect him to apologize, only to realize that he's donning a strange expression, "What's wrong? You don't really make mistakes…"

Kunikuzushi's expression remains unreadable for a moment, a flicker of irritation flashing in his eyes before he lets out a derisive snicker,"Nothing's wrong,"he admits callously, pulling you away from him, allowing you to twirl, "you were justlacking focus,so I decided to take it into my hands to bring you back from the clouds of your mind." You scoff at his words when you're back in his arms, your eyes narrowing onto his face.

"You could've just reminded me to focus," you begrudgingly retorted, unable to hide the annoyance that laced your tone upon seeing his disdainful smile.

"Hm," Kunikuzushi hums, sounding unsatisfied, "I could've, but…" You huff when he suddenly tugs you closer to him his hand falling from your shoulder to your waist, his fingers trailing down your back in a motion that had your mind reeling to a full stop as he smiles at you, "I was just a little angry with how easily you recall events with Tartaglia in front of me. I'm your partner too, you know," you feel your face heat up with how close he was suddenly to you, his hand remaining on your waist as he continues to dance with you at a slower pace, "in fact, I provide you much more help than he ever could. I believe I'm deserving of more respect. At least enough for you to keep your focus on me while I'm in front of you, especially since we have a big event coming up soon."

You're unable to completely comprehend his words due to the feeling of his fingers relaxing on your waist, flexing and wrapping around the curves of your body as if to make home on your waist– and your face is on fire. "Kunikuzushi," you slowly start, your eyes flickering away from his face, "I don't think… This is ballroom dancing anymore," you tentatively say, as your hands find their place on his shoulders, your fingers trailing along the seams of his clothing, "Is slow dancing also a requirement?"

"Did you evenhear what I said earlier?"Kunikuzushi's words bring you out of your mind for just a moment, and you quickly apologize, keeping your eyes averted as he sways with you, "As I should expect from you, I suppose," clicking his tongue, his irises trail along your flushed features, "but onto what you were saying,slow dancing is a necessity.You can'texpect everyoneto dance so actively all the time."

"Still," you interject, "I don't think I need tolearnhow to simply move back and forth–" he cuts you off when you try to pull away from him, his grip on your waist tightening as a smile blossoms on his lips.

"Is thisuncomfortable,Miss Investigator?" Kunikuzushi whispers, and at your lack of response, he chuckles, "You must learn to get used to this. This is how close we'll have to be," he readjusts your hands on his shoulders, bringing you closer to him, and at this point you know he's up to no good.

You offer him a small glare, "I understand that , " his eyes flicker brightly at your words, as though he had been caught in an act of sorts. His smile only grows larger at your words, "But are you sure this is necessary?"

"You shouldn't doubt me, Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi chides you, his tone low as your heart thrums in your chest, "I've been nothing but honest to you, haven't I? I believe it's about time you play nice and just follow my lead for once…"

You let out a low grumble at his words, but decide not to object to his decisions. You reassure yourself internally, reminding yourself that this was just a significant change of pace, and that being this close to someone had just made you a little more nervous. Allowing your mind to slowly drift as you shut your eyes, listening to the rhythm of the music in the background, your muscles begin to fall lax, and somehow– everything just feels a little easier to do. Kunikuzushi hums, noticing the fluidity of your motions as his eyes narrow onto your form.

"Just like that," he whispers, leading you once more, "just relax… Try resting your head on me, if you think it to be much more comforting. The whole point of this is to get used to one another, after all…" You hum in response, seemingly content as you lean in a little closer. You rest your head on his shoulder for just a little while as though to test the waters, though you are quick to retract yourself, thinking that you were getting a little too comfortable for your own liking. You clear your throat when Kunikuzushi snickers.

A few weeks later, thanks to Kunikuzushi's help, you and your team take down two Fatui infested hideouts by Inazuma Harbor with little to no trouble. With such a grand success on the board, you and your team set out for some celebratory food. Everyone is joyous at the celebration, with Childe getting the most hyped and drunk out of everyone to the point where Kujou Sara is forced to drive him home with Gorou in tow.

Kokomi and you both agree that Childe seems to be quite happy with the takedowns in comparison to the rest of you. It looked almost as though there had been a load taken off his shoulders, and you find yourself doubting your intuition once more. Kokomi attempts to resuscitate your suspicions by reminding you about the missing evidence during the afternoon your team had swatted the Celestia hideout.

That day, you don't head straight home. You order takeout, and by nine at night, you're in Kunikuzushi's abode for the second time in that week. With him awake to prepare for work, you manage to drop off the food for him as an appreciative gesture for all his hard earned efforts. When you offer to drop him off work, he stares at you with wide eyes, though you don't entirely understand why. The two of you had gotten closer, had you not? Therefore it was natural to want to help one another out.

After dropping him off, you head home, and prior to sleeping you receive a small text.

"Coffee for tomorrow is free. Come pick it up before work."

The text arrives from none other than Kunikuzushi himself, and of course, who were you to decline such an offer?

And as if the instances of dropping food off for him and with him returning the gesture by offering you free coffee had triggered something altogether, the two of you meet from twice a week to regularly, about five to six days in a week. Sometimes with the two of you practicing dancing, or with the two of you sharing intel with one another, and other days just having breakfast together, focusing on relaxing with one another– or as Kunikuzushi preferred to call it, 'team building'.

One day, out of pure curiosity, you decide to enter the name he used at the café into your database, expecting to find at least some dirt on him– and much to your surprise, his slate is completely clean.

When the photo of him, clad in dark attire popped up on your screen, you had to be honest with yourself in admitting that you were surprised to even see his face. You hadn't expected anything to pop up in the first place, especially since in your presence, he preferred you call him 'Kunikuzushi'. And so you decided to do some more digging, realizing that nothing quite added up with him. You search for his family members, only to find that his parents were still alive in another district of Inazuma, living average lives, and unsurprisingly, there was no dirt on them as well.

Still, you couldn't help but feel like something was amiss. There was something you weren't seeing that was right in front of you. His slate was too clean– too ordinary for an eccentric male like himself.

Months pass by in a flash, and before you know it, it would only be just two weeks until the grand ballroom event would begin. Ayato had given you a green light to attend, for as long as you knew to keep yourself out of prying eyes, and for as long as you promised to be absolutely discreet. You don't directly answer Ayato about your ways of possibly finding a way in, instead you just ask him to believe in your abilities as someone who has been under his service for a lengthy amount of time.

Thankfully, upon some further interrogation with some Fatui members your team had caught during your break-ins in their hideouts, one of them had leaked vital information regarding the ballroom event. The information had remained disclosed only between Ayato, Kokomi and yourself, since Childe was still heavily under suspicion, and spreading word to the team would only increase chances of Childe possibly knowing something was amiss. So far, with just the three of you knowing that Childe was suspicious, everything seemed to go just swell.

Ayato sends Kokomi with you to go to the ballroom under supervision, though you ask for Kokomi to stay just on land instead, just in case anything went haywire on ship. Kokomi and yourself promise to meet at a certain location a little ways away from the drop off zone post the event, and with everything concrete, you had much more confidence in your plan to go undercover with Kunikuzushi.

Ayato had provided you with a high quality voice recorder to go with your mission– the highest of its caliber all within a small rectangular device. Everything was set in place now, your meet up location with Kokomi, your dancing with Kunikuzushi, the fake backgrounds the two of you had set up for one another in case there would be talk regarding politics. The only issue now was…

You twist around in a dress, a littletootight for your liking, anxiously peering over at Kunikuzushi,"Is this finally good?"Your voice is exhausted, having tried on at least five different dresses prior to this one in hopes to look for the perfect dress.

Kunikuzushi's gaze is blank, his expression placated with a slight irritation, "You looked fine in every dress before this. Why must you be so picky?"

"Well," you huff exasperated as you feel along the pleats of your dress, "if I'm going to be on a cruise ship filled with rich people, I should look the part. And you've been telling me I 'look fine' in every dress before this– I just don't believe you in the slightest," you return to the closet full of fine dresses, thinking quietly to yourself that although these dresses were just for rent, it would put a sizeable hole in your wallet for something of high quality.

"You're ridiculous," Kunikuzushi sighs from behind the curtain, "let the next dress be your last one. I'm not lying to you when I tell you every dress has looked decent on you so far."

You shake your head, slipping out of your dress with an audible hiss. He was just grumpy because you woke him up a little early from his nap to help you. Sliding into your next dress, you couldn't help but look in the mirror and stop, adjusting your hair and the way the dress sat on you. Oh , you thought to yourself with a small smile, this fit you really well…

Flinging the curtain open, you fold your hands before you, watching as Kunikuzushi's gaze shoots upwards, scanning you from head to toe. "How does it look?" You inquire with much more confidence this time, and upon seeing the strange flicker of emotion in his eyes you smile. You've learned to read his emotions as of late, learning quickly when he was enjoying something or when he genuinely showed distaste in things– it was easier than you had thought, once you got used to catching his little hints. Kunikuzushi showed it very clearly in his eyes for even just a moment.

Humming, Kunikuzushi raises a hand to cover his mouth, his eyebrows furrowing downwards as his stare morphs into a glare, "No," he quickly replies to you, much to your shock. You eye him in disbelief as he continues, "You're far too distracting in that dress. The whole point is to steer clear away from attention, not to drag it to you. Go with one of your previous ones," he scowls, pulling his hand away from his face to cross his arms and legs as he cocks his head to one side of his body.

"You can't be serious," you slowly begin, "I actually really like this dress. Besides, I highly doubt that something like this," you pull the skirt away from you, "would attract all the attention. " The dress wasn't super extravagant, it was honestly quite plain in its design– so you couldn't understand Kunikuzushi's distress. Still, you couldn't deny the fact that he looked as though he disliked the dress altogether, though you could've sworn you saw the look of something warm in his eyes earlier. When he doesn't respond, you huff, shrugging at him before shutting the curtain behind you once more.

You come out of the dressing room in your regular clothes this time, your expression blank as you carry your favorite dress in your arms, uncaring for Kunikuzushi as he gets up from his seat. "Where do you think you're going?" His tone is low, slathered in annoyance, "That dress looks awful on you. Return it," Kunikuzushi follows you to the counter, where you proceed to ignore him.

The cashier eyes the two of you with an anxious smile, disliking the tension that had built in the room. You pay no heed to Kunikuzushi, instead you opt to offer the cashier an apologetic smile, taking out a credit card and paying for the dress in full.

You're surprised that Kunikuzushi doesn't argue with you upon the two of you leaving the store, though he seems to notice your constant glances at him as the two of you get into your car. "You won't berate me?" Your tone is light as you nudge him, tossing your bag carrying your dress onto the backseat of your car.

"..I have no need to. You've clearly made your mind up," Kunikuzushi retorts, tossing you a small glare, "just don't embarrass me in front of hundreds of people." You return his glare upon hearing his words, the edges of your lips turning downwards.

"As if I would," you mutter under your breath before driving off to Kunikuzushi's hideout.

With a bout of anxiety flooded in your chest, you arrive at the loading docks with Kunikuzushi in a rented car. For once, he is driving, his mask already fastened onto his face by the time he parks, and he quickly urges you to do the same.

Kunikuzushi escorts you out of the car as a courtesy, a smile on his lips as he gazes at you, waiting patiently for you to take his hand. You do so without a second thought, calming yourself as you watch cars from afar, docking into the ship's internal parking space, and upon further inspection, you realize that people were getting on by showing tickets to somebody just a few meters away from the loading area.

"How the hell are we getting in again?" You whisper under your breath, turning your head to look at Kunikuzushi. Kunikuzushi shakes his head, pulling you closer towards the forest and away from the shoreline. You follow him, allowing him to lead you to a more secluded area.

"We're late on purpose, Miss Investigator," he replies shortly, eying the vehicles from afar with a frown on his lips, "we have to wait just before the gates begin to close. More people will begin to pour out onto the walkway of the loading area, but right now they're focusing on getting the vehicles all loaded in." You watch as he pulls out a cigarette from his pocket, seating himself on a fallen log as the ocean breeze passes through the tree line.

You survey him in absolute silence for a little while, just admiring him as he blows out a puff of smoke from between his lips, allowing the wind to carry away the gray hues of smoke from the air. With your lips pursed tightly, you seat yourself next to him, making sure not to dirty your dress as your heels press into the ground beneath you. Enjoying the breeze on your skin, you shut your eyes, taking a moment to just absorb your surroundings.

"Kunikuzushi," you begin tentatively, sounding as though you were lost in your mind, "I think I should tell you something." Kunikuzushi doesn't respond, instead he eyes you from his peripherals. "I did some research on you, using your name from the café," you admit, keeping your eyes shut as you listen to the ocean waves crashing along the shoreline, "I thought I should at least tell you, since I couldn't quite keep to myself as promised." You had told him that business with him would remain strictly professional– however, as of late, you've found yourself warming up to him– spending time with him, going on small escapades together. Was it wrong that you wanted to know more about him after all?

"You really couldn't keep yourself back, could you? How unusually disobedient of you," Kunikuzushi snickers, sounding amused by your antics, "and? Did you find what you were looking for, Miss Investigator?" There's a strange edge to his tone, almost as though he were daring you to continue with whatever you had found.

"..No," you turn to face him, a slow smile spreading on your lips as you reopen your eyes, "I didn't. That's why I was hoping to ask you instead." Kunikuzushi hums, his irises trailing away from you and back onto the ocean.

"You work with the Fatui, don't you, Kunikuzushi?" Your question is sudden, though clearly not sudden enough to catch Kunikuzushi off guard. The male exhales another puff before turning to face you, leaning forward in his seat now as a small smile spreads on his lips. You don't bother to make eye contact with him. "I suppose that's been obvious for some time now," you sigh, slumping your shoulders as you turn to face the ocean, watching as the waves crash along the shoreline before adding on, "and truthfully, I don't really care that you work for them. You don't seem all too bad to be with, and your efforts are genuine in taking the Fatui down…"

Kunikuzushi lets out a low chuckle, "I was wondering when you would ask that," he retorts with a snicker, "you've been willingly helping me out despite having such a thought in your mind. Are you really a good policewoman?"

"Are you really a good Fatui member?" You contend with a blank tone, "Selling yourself out, putting yourself in the will of someone like me," you decide to return his stare, "in the end, I might have to catch you myself. I'm sure you knew the consequences of partnering up with me, Kunikuzushi…"

"Good," Kunikuzushi replies slightly amused, "I'll have a lot of fun playing cat and mouse with you, whenever 'the end' comes. Also," he leans in a little closer to you, as if hoping to whisper something– and naturally, you lean in, unsure of what he would say, "have you thought about what consequences you would face if I ever sold you out?"

You let out a snicker. "Of course I have," you calmly reply as you tug yourself away from him, "but I don't think you'd do that, not right now anyways. For now, we're in this together…" You find that there's a lightness to your tone, despite knowing that he would eventually have to turn his back on you in the future. You supposed he knew it was the same for you, for one to succeed the other must fail– that's what this relationship was based upon. Both of you knew that. Both of you were willing to take the fall.

Kunikuzushi hums at your response, his mind fluttering away as he looks at the burning end of his cigarette, watching as the material fades into ashes, following the wind, "Together, huh?" He snickers, turning his gaze back towards your profile, his eyes lingering on the mask over your eyes.

"..I'm not a part of the Fatui anymore," Kunikuzushi admits in a low tone, and when you turn to look at him, he presses on, "I left that shitty place a few years ago. I just worked with them as a lowly member for a little while since I thought it would be fun, making money, hustling drugs and all. Turns out it wasn't worth it, hence… Now you have me, Miss Investigator."

"So all this intel then," you begin, twisting your body to face him completely, "is it all you just your accumulated knowledge, digging along, finding and searching things?" Kunikuzushi shrugs at your words, a small smirk on his lips when his indigo hued irises burn into your own.

"They're a lot dumber than what you cops give them credit for," Kunikuzushi turns his head towards the boat, a smirk still present on his lips, "they will find the easiest way possible to go about doing things, even if it means reusing dated plans. I've learned a lot during my years with them, how they operate, how every individual in the upper and lower league works–" he lets out a sardonic chuckle, "they're all pathetic . Every single one of them."

You don't understand the burning hatred in his tone, the fire that ignites in his eyes when his voice dips, lowering a few octaves, turning almost husky as he throws his cigarette onto the floor, his foot crushing what was left of the cigarette as he glares at the cruise ship ahead.

"Why do you want to bring them down so badly?" You whisper under your breath, a part of you hoping he never hears you at all. He hears you of course, his eyes brimming with an emotion unfamiliar to you when his eyes part from the ship to glance over at you for just a second, and you could've sworn that behind his irises you saw that blooming of an eternal storm, raging from within him.

Kunikuzushi keeps his lips pursed tightly when he responds, "They've done me many wrongs," you watch as the edges of his lips turn upwards into a small smile, his eyes wide as he glares at the ship ahead, its brightness illuminating the surroundings. "It's a personal grudge, Miss Investigator," he simply says, his voice smooth, "nothing you need to know about just yet. Perhaps when all is said and done I can share a piece of my mind with you," there's a distance to his tone, his mind fleeting, "but as things are now, all you need to know is that I must take them down. If not them altogether, then at least the pathetic bunch within the Inazuma faction."

"It would be so easy," he whispers, his lips splitting into an eerie grin, "to just light that whole place up, right there," you turn your eyes towards the ship, your lips pursing as your stomach sinks as the thought of it. "Everyone would die– and you know, Miss Investigator," you feel his gaze on the side of your face, and for some odd reason, you can't find the strength in you to face him, "maybe it wouldn't be so bad if they all died. They're all disgusting filthy pigs at the end of the day, don't you think so? Do you know how many drug deals we could stop, how many lives we could save just by killing a handful of people?"

He was entertaining his own dark thoughts, and you figured that he did this from time to time– though he hardly brought you into the picture. You purse your lips into a thin line, a flicker of darkness passing through your eyes when you recognize something strange in his tone– an emotion nearly intangible to you flooding his voice in increments. "You already know I wouldn't agree to that, Kunikuzushi," there's an edge to your tone when you finally turn to look at him, your eyes narrowed as you notice his smile had only grown at the sound of your refusal, "why would you test me?"

Kunikuzushi hums, sounding amused before he shrugs, tilting his head to one side, "No reason, really," he drawls, "I just wanted to see how far gone you were in the head to work with me in the first place. It's good to know you're still holding up well with me, after all these months." He sticks his tongue out, his irises narrowing onto your irritated expression with satisfaction, "Did I happen to strike a nerve with you?"

"No," you reluctantly reply, crossing your arms in frustration, "I'm used to this behavior from you. Getting a rise out of me is always part of your fun," you huff, listening to him laugh as he stands up from his seat, and when your eyes meet his own, you realize he's smiling.

"Yes, yes, you're getting to know me fairly well," Kunikuzushi replies in a chide tone, as though you were nagging him. Outstretching a hand towards you, he presses on, nodding towards the ship, "Now enough chit chat, let's get going. We have a lot of work to do tonight. I hope you're prepared, Miss Investigator…"

You eye him for a moment, gauging his expression and body language before taking his hand. Feeling your gloved hand glide over his own, Kunikuzushi's irises flicker, your fingers curling into his own, "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, I suppose." You simply retort, keeping a smile on your lips as he tugs you up from your position.

Keeping your hands together, the two of you descend from the forest to join the crowd gathering by the entrance.

Notes:

excited to write next chapter tbh cuz romance, some jealousy and more story progression before i kick things up a gear
my brain is kind of scattered right now so im sorry if the writing is weird sgdjhagjhgsd

Chapter 6: Fue Mejor

Summary:

In which Kunikuzushi and reader attend the event.

Notes:

"If I go, don't forget
There are things that are tattooed without ink"

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Infiltrating the cruise ship had been a little bit more rocky than you had initially thought. There had been a checklist at the front, concerning all the guests who would be attending, and of course, neither of your names were on it. Kunikuzushi managed to sneak in somehow, excusing himself as someone a part of the VIP area. Showing a card a little different from everyone else's own, the worker's eyes widened before apologizing and allowing him in.

You thought to observe the card a little further, attempting to scrutinize it with what little time you had. The only noticeable difference was that the black card had gold trimming as opposed to silver– a sign for what you supposed had meant he was a part of the so-called VIP section he had been talking about.

Inside the party now, the two of you link arms, with you acting as his 'darling' for the night. The two of you resumed your act, speaking in a friendly manner to one another which of course, occurred with much ease after all the training over the past few months. The two of you now had to act like a married couple– with your covers pertaining to being a part of an overseas group in Liyue.

You are anxious, your stomach dropping at the sight of all the extravagantly dressed people in masks, speaking among one another. You eavesdrop over a few conversations you could hear, realizing that all sorts of filthy rich people had been lying around and about. Grabbing a drink from the wet bar, you take small sips of your drink, hoping to ease your nerves a little with some alcohol pulsing through your veins.

You reassured yourself, not noticing Kunikuzushi standing behind you as you ambled around the room, keeping a flimsy smile on your lips as you nod to other guests. Kokomi could provide you back up if anything went wrong, and Kunikuzushi and yourself had made preparations for months prior to this event. Nothing could go wrong. Right?

Suddenly, there's a soft string of music echoing throughout the room, emanating from the mini orchestra just at the front of the large room. You gulp, feeling the boat moving now and you eye people around you nervously, scouring them as people begin to mingle with one another in preparation to dance.

Oh fuck, you cursed internally as you took a large gulp of your drink, your cheeks red as you gathered your skirt in one hand. A tap on your shoulder causes you to jump, your eyes wide as you swivel around quickly to face Kunikuzushi, who stares at you, clearly entertained by your reaction.

"Did I startle you,darling?"The nickname was new on his lips, and surprisinglyunpleasantin your ears. It causes shivers to run down your spine, just the sound of the endearing nickname– and suddenly, Kunikuzushi lets out a low chuckle. Your expression further flushes, and you twist your head away for just a moment, glancing over at your empty glass in your free hand. Your teeth chatter nervously when one of his gloved hands gently pry away the glass away from your hand, your lips pursing tightly as your fingers flex to reach for it.

"Drinking a full glass not even ten minutes into this whole situation," Kunikuzushi begins, his indigo hued irises shimmering as he examines your expression, "that's no good, darling. We need you to be focused tonight," he sets the glass down onto a platter when an oncoming waiter passes by his side, Kunikuzushi's lips spread wide as he leans down towards you.

You think to take a step back until you realize what he's trying to do. You shut your eyes for a moment, gathering yourself as your mind whirls with emotions. You allow Kunikuzushi to hold your free hand, one hand on your waist as he twirls you around gently. "Come now," he whispers into your ear as you reopen your eyes, setting your sights on the plethora of people dancing before you, "I believe it's about time you show me how well you've improved over these past few months. Be sure to keep your mind sharp and remember any conversations that might leak through the music," steps forward with you, submerging into the crowd, "I can see as clear as day that you're nervous. Don't be," he reassures you with a light tone as he twirls you around once more to face him this time.

He tilts his head, his tone lowering as he presses a hand on your upper back, and you follow his motions, pressing your own hand onto his shoulder as you let out a bated breath. "I'm here," Kunikuzushi continues, "and for as long as I am on this boat with you, you won't ever come across harm."

His words set your blood ablaze, a warmth tender and kind all at once flooding your chest as a smile grows on the edges of your lips. Letting out one final sigh as he begins to move with you in accordance to the crowd, the symphony of strings echoing in your ears, you reply to him in the sweetest tone you can muster, "I suppose I can rely on you, my dear," upon seeing his cheeks slightly tinge with warmth at the sound of the nickname leaving your lips, your smile widens. "Thank you," you finally say, "it's reassuring to know someone has my back in such an unfamiliar environment. I hope I can return the favor to you as well," when he spins you outwards, you catch the striking figures of people standing up at the top of the balcony, just above the orchestra.

However, it was far too dark to see who they were, their gazes solidified onto the room before them, their eyes surveying, watching the slightest movements.

Twirling you back inwards, you roll your head a little, hoping to relieve the tension in your neck. "You will do me just fine darling," Kunikuzushi replies, his eyes flickering away from you and up onto the balcony above, "just follow my lead. Remember what I said?" You pull your head a little closer towards him, your eyes focusing on a couple not too far from you, "Just relax onto me if you're feeling uncomfortable."

Keeping his words replaying in your mind, you allow him to guide you, swaying with him effortlessly as you relax yourself, allowing your mind to hone in on distant voices that you can hear. "This kind of feels like a movie," you whisper, causing Kunikuzushi to tilt his head towards you to hear you better, "being surrounded by so many gorgeous people wearing expensive clothing, dressed in a dress like this," you feel a small smile forming on your lips, "it's kind of like a dream in a way."

Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow onto the side of your face, his smile lessening at your words, "I suppose it might feel like a fairytale," Kunikuzushi replies slowly, "but this is nothing like that, darling. This is reality," he whispers. Your eyes scan the room once more, the chandelier's light dizzying as you sway in his arms, "Everybody here is a wolf in sheep's clothing. As we dance, people are talking about hiring hitmen on people that oppose them, and at least half the people in the room have done a few crimes they have paid people to hide. This is nothing like a fairytale," when he turns his head to face you, you return his gaze, your eyes locking with his own, "so don't get too lost in that pretty little head of yours, okay?"

You purse your lips, his irises burning onto your own. You were already aware of his words of course, but there was something in his eyes that had reminded you to be extra careful today.

You nod.

Hearing any conversation properly was quite a hard feat, especially with the sounds of the orchestra flowing throughout the room. It wasn't until the end of the third song they played that you finally had a chance to mingle with other people, though to your surprise, Kunikuzushi is reluctant to let you go.

"Hello there, pretty lady," there's a man dressed in all blue standing before you now, with only one eye showing for what you assumed to be style to couple his outfit, "may I have the honor to dance with you for this song?"

You peel yourself away from Kunikuzushi, keeping a smile on your lips as your mind clicks into place, thinking that it was finally time to get some information with clarity. "Of course–!" You are promptly stopped by Kunikuzushi's hand on your waist, and when you turn to face him, your smile is frozen into place, your eyes wide. What the hell was he doing?

Kunikuzushi doesn't meet your gaze as he whispers into your ear, "I knew that stupid dress of yours would attract unwanted attention," he hisses under his breath. Your gaze turns incredulous, and you hope that he returns your glance. Instead, he stares up at the tall male before you, his smile icy as he reluctantly softens his grip on your waist, "Please take care of my wife then," Kunikuzushi's tone is slathered in honey in an attempt to hide the thick, underlying coat of venom beneath it.

Wife? You eye him strangely, only then meeting his gaze as realization sets into you. Ah, yes, you twist your head towards the tan skinned male before you, reaching for the male's outstretched hand. You were pretending to be married for the evening. You had to make sure to remember that somehow. "The honor is yours," you bow your head towards the taller male, allowing him to guide you into a dance.

Kunikuzushi's smile remains stiff on his expression as the tan skinned male twirls you into his arms, and when the man's pale hued irises meet his own indigo pair, Kunikuzushi grits his teeth.

The male with long hair tosses Kunikuzushi a small smirk that only further irritates Kunikuzushi. "Wife?" The man begins, his tone cool as he brushes over your left hand, his smirk only growing into a grin, "I don't see a ring on her, though…" And with that, the man whisks you away.

Kunikuzushi waits for you to vanish into the crowd with the male. And when you're completely out of his sight, he cocks his head to the side, a low hum echoing from his lips as he cracks the knuckles on his fingers, pressing his digits downwards with the force of his thumb. He supposed he should get a drink right now to loosen up while the song continued. At the end of the song, he would make sure to retrieve you from that man.

Dancing with the male–Kaeya,as he had introduced himself,was a lot more fun than you had thought.Despite Kunikuzushi's warning earlier, you felt that Kaeya was justgenuinelyintroducing himself to you. Kaeya was a charming man,entertaining,attractive– and when he had asked you for a second dance with him, you decided to go with him without a second thought. He mentioned for a brief moment that you seemed a little uncomfortable around him, though you quickly told him in reply that this was your first time going to the ballroom event–to which he responded with absolute empathy.

He had let you know that this was his first time as well, since he came from overseas– as a part of a large winery from Mondstadt, invited to secure the wine he had been asked to deliver. At the moment, he said he was simply taking a break, dancing with the prettiest people he could find.

You flushed slightly at the compliment, thinking it was a littleunnecessaryof him to imply that he had found you attractive, but it was a compliment nonetheless. Before he can ask you to a third dance, you get pulled away but a familiar set of hands.

"Darling," Kunikuzushi chuckles lightheartedly, though you can tell by his tone when he continues that he's a littleirritated,"did you forget about me already?" Pulling you to his side, Kunikuzushi keeps his hands on your waist firm, as though you would slip past him at the slightest moment without notice.

"Oh, uh," you pause, "of course not," turning to look towards Kaeya, you offer him an apologetic smile, "I suppose I'll see you later, Kaeya."

"Over already?" Kaeya jokes, raising his hands up in the air as if to surrender, a smile wide on his lips, "I hope I get to have a chance to dance with you again in the future,lady,"he bows to you, keeping his eyes on your form, "please enjoy the rest of the masquerade with yourhusband."Before he turns away completely, he quickly adds on, "Oh,and,"Kaeya tosses Kunikuzushi a look over his shoulder, "little guy,you should put a ring on her fingerif you want to convince everyone she's your wife."

You bite your lower lip to prevent a bark of laughter from escaping your lips. Little guy. You can't help but smile, waving Kaeya away one last time as you hear Kunikuzushi seethe next to you. The moment Kaeya disappears into the crowd, Kunikuzushi immediately tugs you away, pulling you off to the side by an empty area, and before you can say anything, he hisses, "Did you enjoy dancing with him that much?"

You stare up at him, your expression hardening upon seeing his gritted teeth, his grip on your waist harsh, "What's wrong with that?" You retort, a little confused by his anger.

Kunikuzushi keeps his gaze on you, his irises burning brightly behind his mask as his lips fall into a deep frown, "What's wrong with that?" He parrots back, "Everything is wrong with that. Did you even get anything important out of that dog?"

Taken aback by his insult towards Kaeya, you raise an eyebrow, "Dog? You mean Kaeya?" You huff in disbelief, "No. I didn't get anything regarding the Fatui, but I got to know more about what type of people are invited during these events–"

"That's so fucking useless," Kunikuzushi hisses under his breath, sounding severely disappointed in you, "you're here to do your job, aren't you? To investigate the Fatui– that's why we're here in the first place. Not to have some fun–"

"Whoa," you begin, holding your hands up to his chest, allowing some space between the two of you, "I understand where you're coming from, but do you have to be so rude about it? I just want to ease into my surroundings a little more," you scowl at him, furrowing your eyebrows, "is that so wrong? Why are you so mad?"

Your reply sparks fires within him, and you briefly see it pass through his eyes, "Mad? I'm not mad," Kunikuzushi growls, nearing you once more, and when he realizes that you look bewildered, he shakes his head, letting go of you completely, "I just need you to do your job," Kunikuzushi replies sourly, his voice lowering a few octaves, "and that idiot you were talking to– you said his name was Kaeya, correct? Kaeya Alberich?" Before you can answer, he presses on, "That guy is a dog from the Favonius Knights in Mondstadt. I bet his goal here is to gather intel like yourself– regarding the Fatui. Did he ask you anything strange?"

The Favonius Knights? You had heard of them before– they were an organization established overseas in Mondstadt, working in coordinance as a form of government over the free reigning country. Of course such an important figure would be invited to this party.

You ponder over his words before shaking your head, "No," you respond in confidence, "nothing strange. He just told me a little about himself…"

Kunikuzushi's gaze on you turns icy as he crosses his arms, "And? Did he say anything out of the ordinary, then, aside from flirting with you? Or was he just introducing himself to you," he says the last few words as though he were mocking you, somewhat.

"He was just introducing himself–" you reply quickly, your eyes narrowing once more when Kunikuzushi rolls his eyes at your words, "what's wrong with that? It's helpful– for me at least," you hiss, "I'm gathering intel in my own way. Like I said, I'm beginning to understand what other types of people attend such a grand event. Why does it matter if he was flirting with me, anyways, I don't care. I have other focuses right now–"

"Then focus," Kunikuzushi snaps, gritting his teeth at you as he leans forward, and you return his gesture angrily, feeling your blood heat up and course throughout your body.

"I am," your eyes flare with exasperation. You scan his expression for anything else before pulling away, letting out a belated sigh as you press a hand on your hip, brushing your hand through your hair as you turn away from him, "Why does it matter if he was flirting with me anyways? Are you jealous or something?"

The synchronicity of string resound throughout the room, coupled with joyful laughter. You keep your lips pursed, awaiting for Kunikuzushi's response, and after a few beats of silence pass between the two of you, you finally turn to face him again, "Well–?" You halt completely, your eyes widening at the sight of his painfully honest expression. You purse your lips, feeling your heart pound against your ribcage as he reaches for one of your hands, tugging it downwards as he gently pulls you towards him.

Kunikuzushi's expression had remained a little rigid, despite his eyes betraying him. Beyond his indigo hued irises lay a tenderness that you feel has your breath coming to a full stop. Concentrated on his features, you don't notice that he had slid something over your ring finger until he begins to speak, "Keep this on you," Kunikuzushi whispers, his tone laced with an emotion unfamiliar to you, "don't you dare take it off for even a second."

Your eyes trail down his body before landing on his hand, still holding yours– and then you notice it. The weight of metal, the weight of a ring on your finger. It was a little loose on you, but it sat well enough on your gloves to not slip off. Your lips fall open, your eyes wide as you swiftly twist your head upwards, your eyes locking with his own as your cheeks burn, "W-What..?"

Upon seeing your bashful appearance, Kunikuzushi smirks, his irises narrowing as he lifts your hand up, "It's a wedding ring. It was hard to come by," Kunikuzushi scoffs, noticing your expression further turn red, "I had to dance with several women with similar statures as yourself during the time you were having fun playing around with that Favonius dog."

"I-It's stolen..!?" Your hands curl as you stare at the diamond ring on your ring finger. Stolen property was on you– this rascal had stolen a wedding ring from someone–! You quickly move your hand to take it off, only to have Kunikuzushi stop you midway, his grip on your other hand light as he grabs your wrist. Kunikuzushi chuckles, his smirk spreading into a smile.

"Of course it was stolen," he snickers, "I had unforeseen someone noticing you weren't wearing a ring. I suppose that mutt did me a favor by pointing it out," he nods towards the ring on your finger, "at least now we have a cover that can't be blown. After all, what type of married couple would attend such a lavish event, forgetting such an important item?"

You're rendered speechless by his words, feeling torn between reason and emotion as they raged like a storm within your bosom. A new song comes on, as attuned by the orchestra. Kunikuzushi is the first to react to it. Your eyes trail your hand upwards as Kunikuzushi pulls your hand towards his mouth, planting a chaste kiss on your fingertips, causing your heart to stutter in your chest as liquid fire races to your face.

"I'll be taking my leave for now, since you're having such a hard time adjusting to this environment," his irises burn into your own, "I'll go do some investigating by myself. Do remember, however, should anybody approach you again," you let out a strange noise when he suddenly presses your hand against his lips, feeling his lips move against your fingertips, "tonight, you are mine for the taking– you are my wife. Don't let anybody else get too greedy with you, or," he offers you a small smile, allowing your hand to fall from his lips, "I'll take it as an insult to me– that you're ungrateful I brought you here in the first place. Do you understand, darling?"

Still mesmerized by him, you don't reply as quickly as you'd have preferred. Snapping out of your own reverie, you tug your hand away from him aggressively, bringing your hand towards your chest as you return his small smile, your cheeks remaining aflame, "I get it…" Your voice is small, almost inaudible, and when Kunikuzushi tilts his head, pressing a hand by his ear, you repeat yourself, "I said I get it!"

Kunikuzushi hums, clearly entertained by your reaction, "How enthusiastic. I appreciate that you're finally taking me seriously," he turns his body away from you, "Miss Investigator," he sing-songs before finally parting from you, leaving you to deal with your embarrassment by yourself.

You give one last glance at the ring on your finger, brushing your gloved fingers over the resting diamond.

God, you needed another drink.

Kunikuzushi and yourself don't regroup until nearly half an hour later, when the orchestra slowly comes to a sweet pause. By the time you're grouped with him, you've already gotten another drink down in your veins to help loosen you up some more. Keeping you close to him, Kunikuzushi whispers by your ear as the sudden toll of bells ring throughout the room, "Now they'll provide us some entertainment. Begin your recording," you keep your eyes on the balcony overhead the orchestra, watching as it illuminates in gold lights.

You pull the rectangular device from your back, your thumb feeling around for the buttons before finding the appropriate symbol. With that, you click the recording button, keeping yourself completely still while silently urging Kunikuzushi to do the same.

The crowd of visitors builds by the center, some seating themselves by their designated tables while some remain standing on the main floor. A masked man emerges from the balcony, his voice sounding all too familiar .

Your stomach drops as the sea of people quiet, allowing his voice to echo throughout the vast room.

"Ladies and gentlemen!" The orange haired Fatui member exclaims, a grin wide on his face as he beams down at the crowd before him, "Welcome, welcome! I hope all of you have enjoyed our little interlude. Before we resume things on schedule, I would like to introduce myself, and my wonderful colleagues! For those who don't know," the male presses a hand to his chest, "I am the eleventh harbinger, Tartaglia!"

There it was, you thought to yourself as you steady your breathing, your eyes completely zeroed in at the sight of the harbinger on the balcony above as a torrent of emotions blazed inside of your stomach. You knew who that was, underneath that mask. That mask hid nothing from your prying eyes. You've known him for years, after all. Kunikuzushi had been right.

Tartaglia and Childe were one in the same. This was it, the concrete proof Kunikuzushi promised to you– the final straw taken for you to trust him completely. You had hoped so desperately that Kunikuzushi was lying– you had hoped so desperately that your gut instincts were wrong.

Childe had been your most trusted associate for years– you had even let him into your life a little, telling him about your family, your likes and dislikes– you told him things that you had thought to be important to you, and likewise, he would talk to you about his most prized possession. His family.

The fact being presented to you felt like a harsh slap across the face– as you were still in denial, despite all these times, being proven time and time again that Childe was naturally a suspicious character. You just didn't want to believe in it. You wanted so desperately to keep the image of that orange haired male, smiling sunnily at you when you forget to bring lunch to work. Childe's– no, Tartaglia's voice was drowned out in your ears as he continued his speech, thanking all the attendees for attending the annual ballroom event. You are unaware of Kunikuzushi's eyes plastered onto the side of your crestfallen face.

Tartaglia continues to speak, "Of course, this event would have not been made possible if it weren't for my amazing fellow colleagues! " He moves to his side, making room for a woman you recognized to be La Signora, stepping forth next to Tartaglia with an all knowing, devious smile. "Our fair lady, La Signora," Tartaglia announces, and the crowd claps at the sight of her when she curtsies and bows her head. Kunikuzushi and yourself remain unfazed, with you only pretending to clap at the sight of her.

"Hello, and welcome," La Signora smiles at the crowd, her red dress swaying behind her as she swings her arms. When she moves to the side, Tartaglia continues on with his announcements.

"Next, we have our most amazing doctor," your breath hitches in your throat when a familiar pale haired male crosses the floor, a wide grin on his face as he beams down at the crowd before him, "Il Dottore!" You purse your lips, recalling memories of him as shivers run down your spine. You vaguely remember the feeling of his hands on your waist at the party, and when you think about the photographs from the crime scenes associated with him, you think of vomiting. Had Kunikuzushi come any moment later, had Kunikuzushi not pulled on the alarm– you would've easily become one of Il Dottore's many macabre experiments.

"Disgusting," you hiss under your breath as you raise a hand to your mouth, your eyebrows furrowed as you glare up at the blue haired man in anger. Kunikuzushi rests a hand by your waist, pulling you close to him as if to reassure you.

"Hello, hello! It's wonderful to see everybody here," Il Dottore grins, a joyful laugh escaping his lips as he presses his hands down on the balcony railings before him, leaning over to scan the room, "such a beautiful crowd we have this year. Such pretty eyes all of you have– perhaps all of you can lend us some help! Tell me, everybody–" Il Dottore's smile widens eerily, "have you seen a little silhouette of a man?"

La Signora behind him scoffs, hiding her laugh behind a raised hand while Tartaglia continues to smile.

Kunikuzushi freezes in his spot, his smile falling quickly.

"I mean," Il Dottore sighs, sounding a little distressed as he frowns, pressing a hand atop his head, "us harbingers– we're quite troubled. We're missing a certain someone right now– La Signora," Dottore turns towards La Signora, who glares at him as though he were the most disgusting thing to have come to be. Upon seeing her expression, he snickers, "Is it really just the three of us here today?"

The three look around, as though in search of somebody, and you tilt your head in question. Was this the entertainment Kunikuzushi had been talking about?

"Oh, dear," La Signora feigns a gasp, "I do believe we are missing somebody," Signora pauses, surveying the room once more before crossing her arms, a sardonic smile blooming on her lips, "oh Scaramouche! Where are you?"

Scaramouche? You lean forwards, feeling Kunikuzushi's grip on your waist tighten as you keep your eyes focused onto the balcony. The crowd murmurs among themselves for a moment, their eyes scanning over one another as though to help La Signora in her search for her fellow harbinger. This was it, you thought to yourself as you hear the sound of someone barreling down from above the stage, your chance to see the harbinger that has been working behind the scenes. As you take another step forward, Kunikuzushi stops you, keeping you pressed firmly at his side, and when you think to toss him a short glare, there's a sound of a man screaming.

Your eyes widen, focusing on the balcony once more. Your chest tightens with fear as you see a man, wearing a bag over his head, all tied up in thick ropes leans over the balcony. Your eyes scan La Signora for any sign of help as the man nearly tips over the edge, only to find that she's smiling oh-so-happily at the sight. You look towards Childe– towards Tartaglia, in hopes that he'll do something– anything to stop the man from falling.

Tartaglia doesn't. He simply stands there, his lips keeping curled into a flimsy smile.

"There you are!" She jokes, "Scaramouche, Scaramouche, will you do the Fandango," and with one final shove, the man lets out a blood curling scream. You watch in pure terror as the man falls from the balcony, the sound of a rope being pulled taut resounding throughout the silence of the room, followed by an audible snap.

Your mouth falls open to let out a scream, but nothing comes out.

The man hangs from the ceiling, his legs– looking oddly like ball jointed doll legs– a tell tale sign of Il Dottore's tampering on the human body– swinging lifelessly as La Signora smiles sweetly at the sight.

Was she sane? You thought to yourself as a cold feeling washes over your body.

And suddenly, the crowd bursts with laughter. You stare at the body in shock, an unfamiliar feeling crawling up from the pits of your stomach, spreading like wildfire into your mind, as you watch the crowd with blurred vision, watching as they fold over, holding onto their stomachs– laughing away as though it were the funniest thing in this world.

And in your eyes, they all started to seem a little less human.

Bloodlust fueled your body, coursing through your veins with every breath you took as your eyes lit with an untamed fire.

Your hands twitch at your sides, your grip on the recorder tightening, your fingers curling against the buttons, mashing them together. You shove the recorder back into your dress, your hand immediately searching for something– anything on your thigh– for a knife, for a gun, for anything as the crowd roars with laughter, your eyes flickering up to Tartaglia as he remains smiling at the scene before him.

Him too, huh?

Unable to find anything, yet desperate all at once to find something, you quickly turn around, thinking to reach for a glass on the table to break as liquid fire flooded your veins, pulsing throughout your system as your eyes remained wide. Kunikuzushi wraps you in his arms, keeping you completely still as you remain turned around, and you hiss when forces your head against his chest, as though to shield you from the view.

"Move," you hiss under your breath, your nails digging into the skin of his arms,"I can't just sit still– I have to do my fucking job.Thisshitshowis theexact reason why I decided to join the police force."

"Shut the fuck up," Kunikuzushi growls in reply as the laughter in the room dies down. He keeps his voice low into a whisper as his eyes flicker downwards to meet your own, "You're not thinking straight right now," he reasons, his eyes lit aflame with a rage similar to the one that heated your blood now, "your job is to sit still and to gather evidence against Tartaglia," he reminds you, "think with your head right now, Miss Investigator, don't let your idiocy get to you," he seethes, cocking his head to one side as he glares down at you, though you know his anger isn't directed towards you, "don't let your emotions get the best of you. Look behind you once more," Kunikuzushi's tone is low, "look clearly."

Your lip quivers, your teeth grit as you tremble in his arms, rage echoing throughout every corner of your body. You felt as though you were on fire. You bite your lip, your hands balling into fists as you attempt to calm yourself. You heed his words, turning your body around once more while still being in his arms. You feel him press the side of his face onto your head.

"Calm yourself," Kunikuzushi whispers into your ear, "and watch carefully."

"Oh, how unfortunate!" La Signora's voice echoes throughout the room, "It looks like he's fallen over. Hurry, someone pick him up now," La Signora ushers a few of her henchmen away with a wave of her hand, and in unison, they bow before tugging at the rope and pulley system set up onto the ceiling, dragging the body back onto the balcony as the three harbingers stepped forward once more. The henchmen carry the body over towards the trio, unbagging the man's head– only to reveal a clown's mask, stuck onto a doll's head.

"A doll?" You hiss under your breath, feeling a slight relief wash over you at the sight of it.

"There you are, Scaramouche," La Signora laughs, "you clumsy buffoon. Be a little more careful next time," her irises flicker towards the crowd, the smile on her lips only growing, "or next time you run in here, you might just crack your skull wide open."

That was a threat.

Kunikuzushi's stomach drops. They knew he was here somewhere.

The crowd laughs again, bubbling with laughter over one another. You scrutinize the scene before you, taking deep breaths to calm your heart now as you focus on the sight of the harbingers, standing atop the balcony– and before you can say anything to Kunikuzushi, you're being pulled away from him suddenly. Kunikuzushi grabs you by the wrist, pulling you off to one of the open balcony windows to the sides.

At the sight of movement from the corner of his eyes, Tartaglia's eyes flicker towards the two of you. Your eyes blow wide when his ocean blue irises meet your own for just a brief second before you whip your head away.

Noticing that he was seemingly in a hurry, you follow him without a word, thinking that now was not the right time to mention such a thing. Shutting the balcony doors behind you as the sound of the ocean waves crashing along the ship become more prominent to your ears.

You let out a breath you didn't know you had been holding in, the cool, night atmosphere settling into your bones quickly as you back away from the door. Turning your head, you look towards Kunikuzushi, who has his back turned away from you, "What the fuck was all that?" You huff, clearly agitated by what you had just seen, "Was that a play or something? That– that didn't seem right to me, not in the slightest–"

Laughter echoes throughout the air, resounding throughout the night as the sounds of strings begin to start once again from inside the ship. Kunikuzushi doubles over, laughter escaping his lips as he holds onto the balcony's railing for support, and you watch him wordlessly, feeling a little lost.

"That's just so interesting, the lot of them. They think they're so fucking clever," Kunikuzushi's tone is flooded with a darkness as he turns his body to look at you, a hand over his eyes as he laughs away, "they must've had so much fun planning tonight's entertainment. A fucking rope and pulley system, too, those clowns had everything figured out from top to bottom. Those fucking idiots– I abhor every single one of them," he snickers, his irises flashing violet as his smile suddenly falls from his lips altogether, "I'll fucking kill them. Every single one of them– I'll kill them all." His hand falls from his face, revealing to you an expression you've never seen before, with his eyes wide with anger.

You open your mouth to say something, not quite understanding his anger as something in the back of your mind clicks into place once more.

At the sight of your strange expression, Kunikuzushi smiles, his irises narrowing onto your form, "Sorry, I was just talking to myself. I mean, wasn't it funny, Miss Investigator?" The way he sounds right now scares you– it's smothering, in a way that's dangerous– honey laced with venom, "That Scaramouche character in that play, I mean? How the doll just fell with a snap, and how everybody in the room laughed?" It wasn't funny to you– not in the slightest. He knew you hated every second of it. You tilt your head at his words, watching him as he approaches you, his amble slow, almost sluggish.

You don't say anything when his arms wrap around your body, his dark locks brushing against the side of your face as his hands press along your back, and you shiver when his gloved fingers feel along the exposed expanse of skin on your back. Your breath hitches at your throat when his hot breath fans by your ear, "I thought it was hilarious, every second of that little piece those idiots showed to us," his grip on you tightens, and you tap his shoulder, reminding him that the embrace was a little too tight to be comfortable, "it made me remember how badly I want to bring them down. I want to kill them all. Can't you say it's the same for you, Miss Investigator?"

You clench your teeth, the darkness of his tone seeping into your skin, falling into your mind. The rapid images of the crowd laughing away at the doll, hanging from the ceiling flood your mind, followed by the images of Childe, standing still, watching everything happen with a small smile.

You remember the feeling of bloodlust pulsing throughout your veins, the heat in your mind when you thought to reach for a weapon– and quickly, you pull away from Kunikuzushi, pressing your hands onto his chest as you look down at the skirt of your dress, your eyes wide, "..It's not the same for me," you reply softly, shaking the darkness in your head away as you let out a bated breath, "I won't kill unless I have to, and," you add on, taking another step back as you turn your gaze upwards to look at Kunikuzushi, "weren't you the one who told me to keep myself rational? Take your own advice."

Kunikuzushi's irises narrow onto your form, the moon beaming down at him from above illuminating his silhouette. He remains quiet for a moment, the sound of waves crashing along the boat resounding throughout the night air, coupled by a cold breeze. As though he is studying your expression, he lifts a hand to feel at your face, his fingers trailing along one of your cheeks before falling to your chin. You flinch at the ticklish sensation, but refuse to do anything more than that, keeping your eyes interlocked with his own.

A mysterious smile grows on his lips, "That's right, Miss Investigator," he whispers, his tone tinged with a forlornness you don't understand, "I suppose we can never arrive at the same conclusion at the end of the day. Your rationality and my rationality are wholly contrasting from one another. We are two completely different people, after all," your eyes soften upon noticing a strange conflicted expression cross his eyes, "and yet, even though our differences set us apart…"

You huff, a warmth spreading to your face when his other hand leaves your body to settle onto your other cheek, "What is it…" Your voice is a little smaller than you had expected. A moment of silence passed between the two of you once more, with Kunikuzushi just studying your face.

Kunikuzushi scoffs, his lips spreading into a small smirk as he tugs at your cheeks, eliciting a soft hiss from you. "Ow, ow," you seethe before stepping on his foot, feeling anger spread throughout your body, "stop it! What the hell is wrong with you!?" You could've sworn Kunikuzushi was just angry not too long ago, yet right now, he looked rather pleased with himself.

Kunikuzushi lets out a soft chuckle before pulling you into an embrace once more, "You're a terrible woman," his voice is tender, despite his words. Feeling you smack his chest with your fists, he only sighs before letting out a hiss at a particularly hard hit you give him, "Woman," he growls, "stop moving around so much!"

"You are ridiculous," you hissed in reply, wrestling Kunikuzushi under his hold before he suddenly freezes up. You pause, your eyes scanning his expression as his eyes go wide.

From beyond the glass windows on the doors leading to the balcony, he could see a familiar shape. A tall person, with orange hued hair, racing towards the doorway in all black. "Tartaglia is coming here," Kunikuzushi whispers under his breath, "fuck!" He curses as he shuffles around, moving you with him to the side of the balcony as panic overwhelmed you.

"Fuck, I forgot to tell you–" Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow at you disbelief as you toss him an apologetic look, "we made eye contact for just a second because you started moving around during the show–"

"And you never thought to tell me!?" He growls, his irises gleaming brightly as he moves himself in front of you, pressing you against a wall now.

"You were in a rush and you looked so serious about something! He's probably looking for me, isn't he?" You bite your lip, your mind reeling to a halt when you hear someone's hands on the doorknob leading out onto the balcony you and Kunikuzushi had been stationed at. You scour your mind for anything before finally deciding with a whisper under your breath, "I'm really sorry for this," your eyes flicker towards the door once more before you set your face on Kunikuzushi's bewildered expression, "I'm going to kiss you, okay?"

Before he can say anything else, you immediately tug him down, grabbing his tie and pulling him towards you, ensnaring him into a kiss as you tilt your head. You made sure to keep all your focus on your ears, forcing your attention away from Kunikuzushi as he freezes up under your touch, your lips on his own. You listen as the door to the balcony opens, and your breath halts altogether when you feel Kunikuzushi's hands on your waist, his fingers prodding against the fabric of your clothing.

You nervously kiss Kunikuzushi some more, not allowing him to breathe as you twist your head, feeling a set of eyes burn on you as you bury your hands into Kunikuzushi's hair. When you attempt to pull away, your teeth accidentally graze over his lower lip, and when he lets out a soft groan, your pulse skyrockets. Your eyes widen when you meet Kunikuzushi's own, his indigo hued irises gleaming brightly, his cheeks dusted with red.

"Oh, pardon me," you hear a voice all too familiar to you speak as you completely pull away, pulling Kunikuzushi's head down onto your shoulder as his hands roam along your back, "I didn't mean to intrude on the two of you…" Tartaglia bows, tossing you an apologetic smile as your face turns beet red.

You swallow the built up saliva in your throat, mustering your best glare as you aim it towards Tartaglia.

"Sir-" You shiver, feeling Kunikuzushi's lips press alongside your jawline, "I'm sorry but," you huff, trying to keep your expression as irritated as possible when you feel Kunikuzushi's fingers dip beneath your dress, "do you think you can leave? We're a little busy at the moment," you want to scream your lungs out, embarrassment racing throughout your body to the very ends of your fingernails. God, what was Kunikuzushi doing right now? Even as an act, this felt a little too real. His fingers running down your back made you feel as though you were on fire.

You hear Kunikuzushi let out a low chuckle at your words, eliciting a choked noise from you. You could only hope your acting was good enough to have Tartaglia leave the two of you alone.

Tartaglia eyes you carefully for a moment, only backing away when he hears you let out a short gasp, his eyes turning wide as he sees you tilt your head. The dark haired male in front of you kisses away at the side of your neck before allowing a smirk to crawl onto his lips, his head tilting just enough for Tartaglia to see the taunting smirk on his lips.

"Excuse me then," Tartaglia bows his head once more, his eyes trailing along your features before he finally turns around to head back out the door.

You wait a little, your heart still in your throat as you listen to the footsteps recede into the ballroom, disappearing into the symphony of strings– and when there's no trace of him, you pat Kunikuzushi on the back, urging him away from you. "You can stop now, " you whisper softly when you manage to find the confidence to speak again.

You watch as Kunikuzushi peels himself off of you, keeping his hands settled by your waist as he leans forward, keeping his face close to your own as the wind brushes his bangs away from his face. You clench your teeth, your skin on fire when you drag your hands back onto his shoulders, applying a generous amount of pressure onto him. "I'm sorry," you whisper, your cheeks still burning as his irises remain locked with your own, "I didn't mean to kiss you so suddenly–"

He scoffs, his eyes narrowing onto your form as a small coy smirk plays on his lips, "That's it?" Kunikuzushi inquires, and before you can ask him what he had meant, he continues, a hand rising from your waist to press onto the side of your face, "The kiss, I mean. That was hardly a kiss at all. " You stare at him, feeling unsure of yourself as your heart pounds against your chest.

"So what?" Your response is plain, a genuine underlying confusion in your tone. You huff when he suddenly grabs your face, pulling you towards him as his eyes gleam with satisfaction.

"If you're sorry, then the least you can do is give me a proper kiss," Kunikuzushi's tone is low, his voice dropping a few octaves as he keeps your body against his own, "or is it that you don't know how to give a proper kiss..?" He was mocking you, you knew that– though you found yourself unable to respond with how your heart had been lurched to your throat.

There was a childishness to his tone, seeping into his words as he spoke to you, his irises gleaming with interest. He was trying to rile you up on purpose– for what? For a kiss? You scoff, there was no way he would be asking for such a silly thing.

You swipe away his hand, glaring at him as your cheeks continue to burn, "Do you think I'm stupid ?" You fire back, feeling embarrassment boil in your chest, "Of course I know how to give a proper kiss. I just– I mean," you hiss, his irises flashing in amusement at your words, "why should I give you a proper one anyway? We were just using that as a tactic to hide from Tartaglia."

Raising an eyebrow up at you, Kunikuzushi continues, "Then, should I just call him over again?" You stare up at him in disbelief as he turns his head over towards the door, "I'm joking, of course. He was looking for you, right?"

"I think so," you sigh, resting your head on the wall behind you, "what did I expect, really? I could tell it was him behind the mask, even with his mask on, and it's not like I'm a superhero from a movie or something, where if I put this stupid thing on," you press a finger onto your mask, "nobody recognizes me. I can't believe he saw us like that too," you could only pray and hope that he couldn't recognize you.

Kunikuzushi hums, feigning innocence as a smile grows on his lips, "You should be okay, Miss Investigator," he snickers, finally pulling away from you, his hands wrapping around your wrists now as he tugs you away from the wall, "Tartaglia is one of the most unreliable sort among the harbingers, next to La Signora. I highly doubt he noticed it was you," his voice lowers, dropping to a whisper, "and I don't believe he was in search of you anyway. I think he was looking for someone else."

His words bring forth a short realization towards you, your eyes widening as you recall the earlier events, with the harbingers appearing one by one, and with them saying they were one short, followed by Kunikuzushi's sudden outburst of anger. "Perhaps," you pause, your words stuck in your throat as you watch Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow onto your face, his smile only widening.

Ah, you wanted so badly to be wrong.

"Perhaps Tartaglia needed some air after all that acting," you huff, allowing the cold air to flood your lungs as you take a deep breath in, your eyes remaining on Kunikuzushi's features as they suddenly soften, "I still can't believe doing all that… The screaming, the doll– and hanging it like that in front of everyone– that was all considered entertainment? They're all so sadistic and inhuman."

His indigo hued irises survey your expression for just another second longer, his smile looking almost weary. He looks almost as though he wanted to say something, though with a small shake of his head, he only replies shortly, "They're all sorts of screwed up, that lot."

Your eyes trail downwards, a nervous smile stretching on your lips as an odd silence falls between the two of you, Kunikuzushi's hands still wrapped firmly around your wrists. Between the both of you, there's an understanding that neither of you want to address, so it lingers in the air, dousing the cool air with a sense of sobriety and solemnness.

Kunikuzushi is the first to shatter the quiet, "Come with me," he urges you with a little nod of his head, "let's get away from the crowd for just awhile longer. I don't believe it's wise for us to bump into Tartaglia again, or you might risk your identity, if you're so afraid of him."

You reluctantly reply, your voice like a whisper, "Right," you heave a soft sigh, "right… Let's get going," sliding your hand into his own, you allow him to guide you away, and back into the crowd inside the cruise. The two of you move through the shadows, your eyes remaining on Kunikuzushi's back as he trails around the room, circling towards the outer level which leads to a pair of stairs leading to the upper deck.

"We should have more privacy here," Kunikuzushi sighs, finally letting go of your wrist now as he examines the ocean view before him, "nobody comes up here around this time. How much have you recorded of Tartaglia's voice?" He swivels around to face you, only to find that you are somewhat lost in your own thoughts.

When his eyes meet your own, you snap out of your reverie, your eyes growing wide as you snap back into reality with a little 'oh'. You press a hand against the recorder tucked onto your back before pulling it out from its secured spot. Pressing the play button, you listen to the voice echoing from the recorder, listening to Tartaglia's voice resound, mixed with the sound of the ocean's waves due to your current environment.

"Just… Enough, I suppose, but," you pause, biting your lip as you shake your head, "I'm not sure if this is enough evidence to really get him jailed or anything. I need an actual photo of him– and to be honest with you, amidst a crowd like that– I doubt I can take a photo without it looking so obvious. We aren't allowed devices into this place in the first place, right?" You look to him for reassurance, watching as he crosses his arms before you.

Kunikuzushi clicks his tongue, sounding a little disappointed as he mulls over your words, "How stupid," Kunikuzushi scowls, "we did all of this work and we can't even manage the final piece of evidence. Perhaps," Kunikuzushi thinks to himself, "I can find my way back into one of the bases of operations the Fatui run, and find a way into their files. Then," Kunikuzushi gestures towards you with a small smile, "you would have no problems, correct?"

"I… I believe that would be the best course of action… However," you halt in your words, your irises scanning his confident, knowing expression, "do you think you can pull it off with minimum damage?"

"Hah!" Kunikuzushi snickers, sounding amused by your words, "Just who do you think I am, Miss Investigator? I appreciate your concern, but it's misplaced," his eyes narrow onto your features, his smile ever growing, "like I've said many times before. The Fatui are an idiotic bunch, and I have my ways of accessing their systems. I suppose the only issue here is," Kunikuzushi outstretches a hand towards you, his irises blooming violet in the light of the moon as it hits the side of his face, "do you trust me enough not to get caught? You see, in my eyes, you and I work quite well together. You do your fair share of work, and I do mine. I see you as quite an ideal partner for me."

You lower your head, tossing him a lopsided smile. He looked handsome in this light, around this moonlit view. "It's really risky of you to do so," you slowly begin, raising a hand to meet his own, "but I have full belief in your stealth and intelligence. Since you put your trust in me," you take a few steps towards Kunikuzushi, resisting the urge to grit your teeth as something in the back of your mind screamed in terror at the sound of your own words leaving your mouth, "it's only fair that I return that sentiment."

Resting your hand on his own yet again felt strangely nostalgic, as though you were revisiting a memory in just doing so, and for a moment, there is nothing but the muffled sounds of music entangling with the ocean waves. When the orchestra begins to play a familiar tune, you can't help but smile fondly. "Our usual slow dancing song," you hum, allowing Kunikuzushi to guide you closer towards him, "that's a weird coincidence," you note as he raises your hand onto his shoulder, and you let your hand fall into place.

"A coincidence?" Kunikuzushi laughs as he wraps an arm around your waist, his eyes glimmering with amusement at your words, "I'm surprised you would call that a coincidence, Miss Investigator," he sways with you to the sound of the music, and you follow him naturally, "considering I usually have plans for everything. I've worked with the Fatui long enough to know what type of songs they play on repeat, and this song just happens to be one of them. "

You hum in reply, not quite wanting to admit that you had fallen into his grand scheme of things. Instead, you opt to comment on the ring still laying on your finger, "We should really return this ring before the night ends," you pull away for a second just to signal the metal on your finger.

"Why of course," Kunikuzushi starts with a roll of his eyes, his tone sardonic as he continues, "why don't we just tell the lady we magically found her ring amidst the hundreds of people, and knew it belonged to her." You cast him a disapproving look at his tone, to which he simply adds on, "Just keep it. Sell it, throw it away if you're so scared of a little dirt on your clean slate, Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi sneers at you, "but we can't ever give it back. I would like to say you should keep it as a gift from me, and pretend that I bought it for you," his hand on your waist tightens as he leans forward just a little closer, eliciting your breath to stop short at your throat, "but that diamond looks awfully cheap on you."

You clench your teeth, your face warming rapidly as you avert your eyes away from him. "We can't have that,can we?You deserve amuch more elegant ring,"he narrows his eyes onto your features as your muscles tense up, your face burning when you feel his breath fan over your cheeks with how close he had managed to get to you, "maybe I should buy you one as a present one of these years."

You let out a lighthearted scoff,"Years?"You reply with a snicker, "I don't think we'd be working for that long–" He cuts you off briefly.

"And why do you think that?" Kunikuzushi retorts with a roll of his eyes, "The police force couldn't even figure out the simplest things without my help and without your undoing," keeping your eyes averted, you lean onto him, sighing as the cold ocean breeze passes over you. "Unless you want to put yourself under further suspicion, I suggest you trust me when I tell you it'll take a few years," his voice lowers a few octaves, a teasing tone lingering in his words, "or is it that you hope to end this relationship so quickly?"

"No," you quickly deny, turning your gaze upwards to glare at him, "it's not like that. I just thought that…" You trail off upon noticing his eyes narrow onto your features, his smile growing on his lips as he tilts his head– and then it hits you. He was just testing you again. With a soft hum, Kunikuzushi allows you to peel away from him, your embarrassed expression burning into the back of his head.

"You just make it so easy to play around with you," Kunikuzushi shrugs as you glare up at him, "you never really do learn , do you? How long has it been," Kunikuzushi pretends to ponder, glancing up at the skies above before trailing his gaze back down to you, "half a year, more or less? You're really dimwitted."

"Shut up," you hiss under your breath, tearing away from him completely as he lets out a chuckle, "enough of this already. I'm going to review the last bit of evidence before I turn it in," before you can leave him to his own devices, his hand latches onto your wrist.

"Why waste the scenery?" Kunikuzushi's voice is smooth, "The moon is out, we're suspended in the ocean for the night, alone on the upper deck–" your heart pulses in your chest as you listen to his words, your eyes staring far off into the darkness of the ocean beyond the railings of the ship, "you would be a fool to not take this one time moment to your advantage. Come," he whispers, "let's share one last dance together."

You want to tear yourself away from him. The weight of his hand on your wrist, sliding down towards your fingers, intertwining them together– it felt like chains, binding you to him. You let out a breath, relaxing your shoulders as you toss him a look over your shoulders, your expression unreadable as he smiled down at you from where he stood.

"You look beautiful," his compliment was genuine, slathered in a honey you only knew would turn into poison by the end of your days with him.

If you indulged in his presence, the fire in your veins– the beating of your chest– would it still continue to burn? You wanted to find out. With pursed lips, you turn around to face him once more, your dress swaying with your motions as you wrap one hand on your skirt. "I won't regret this, will I?" You inquire softly when he moves backwards, gently pulling you towards him once more. There was an innocence to your tone that welcomed Kunikuzushi, his smile slightly lessening upon hearing your words, although as if your words were magic, his eyes softened.

Kunikuzushi's smile is mysterious, and knowing all at once, "I'll make it worth it."

Slipping off your ring, you regroup with Kokomi at the port. Kokomi asks you if you're doing alright, since your head's not quite in the right place. You tell her you're tired, but a part of you knows it's a little more than just exhaustion from the party. In the backseat of her car, resting and splayed out like a mess, you eye the ring Kunikuzushi had stolen with a small frown, your thumb brushing over the diamond once more.

You remind yourself to talk to Kokomi about everything you had found out this night on the following morning. For now, your mind was preoccupied with a certain someone's mysterious smile.

You leave Kunikuzushi alone, and he sits on the hood of his rented car, staring up at the moon while he smokes his second cigarette of the day. In the silence, he shuts his eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh as the image of you pops into his mind for what feels like the hundredth time ever since you had left him thirty minutes ago.

With a huff, he watches the smoke from his cigarette dance in the frigid night air before dissipating with the wind. Replaying over the events of today, he tosses his cigarette off to the side, pushing himself off of his car as he steps on the remains of the burning cigarette.

Tomorrow, he will have a lot of work to do.

Starting the engine for his car he had rented, he's momentarily surprised to hear a 'ding' echo throughout the space. Turning his phone over, he stares at the screen, his lips curling upwards at the sight of your name on his screen.

"Thank you. Good night."

Kunikuzushi snickers before quickly responding.

"Good night, darling."

He shrugged at the sight of your own new nickname, thinking with a scoff he would deal with the repercussions of your whining tomorrow if you had decided to prod on it.

Notes:

yall are so sweet in the comments... my heart UUUUUUUUghguhgughuhghg ahh!
thank you so much 3 i'll keep doing my best for everyone! I hope we're all doing okay!
I'm going to start cranking the gears up a notch, so over the next few chapters it might be a little more serious!

Chapter 7: Arandano

Summary:

In which reader and Childe are called out into a mission.

Notes:

"Let's play our hearts out 'till we drop dead"

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Before the sun rises, Kunikuzushi is off to do some sleuthing. He checks out one of the main Fatui facilities set by Inazuma Harbor, pretending to be a fisherman passing by as he scours the area, taking note of anything he had come across while on a boat he had rented. Kunikuzushi was familiar with this building already, since he had worked in it several times before– and he was sure that nothing of significance had changed over his past few years of not working with the Fatui.

Over the course of the days leading into next week, you let Kunikuzushi know that you would be a lot more busy, and therefore, would be unable to see him. Despite his loss of seeing you, Kunikuzushi still finds amusement in one thing during the time the two of you remain separated from each other. You didn't seem to bother correcting him when he constantly nicknamed you 'darling'.

At this point, Kunikuzushi didn't know if you were just tired of his antics, or if you sincerely just didn't mind. Either way, he abused the hell out of this fact, calling you the endearing nickname at any chance he could.

Over text, you continue to pry him for any information regarding Tartaglia, and likewise, Kunikuzushi asks for any new information regarding the Fatui's movements, seeing as you were more busy as of late.

You tell him that the Fatui have become more aggressive in their actions, getting into occasional fights with Celestia , and now, with the police as well. You let him know that their actions were confusing you and your team, since their activity had gone up at least by three levels ever since the ballroom event occurred. You ask if Kunikuzushi might know anything about this.

He doesn't, of course. But like usual, this situation was nothing he couldn't find answers to.

With that in mind, Kunikuzushi sets off to some work, heading towards one of the main facilities stationed by Inazuma Harbor early in the morning.

Using his many hidden pathways, he crawls through a few ventilation systems, making sure to hijack what cameras he knew would be facing the certain directions he would be heading towards. The only struggles he comes across during his mission is due to the lingering Fatui guards in the hallways and in the rooms, though with a few simple tricks up his sleeves, he manages to distract them by breaking a few pipes away from the location of the central unit of the building.

Upon hearing them talk about having to call for maintenance in the distance, he quickly drops from his spot in the ceiling, making sure to scan the area for any unaccounted cameras before proceeding. The rest was easier than he had anticipated. Using his old keys, he unlocks a few steel bins, and goes on searching for any old records he could find regarding Tartaglia– anything which could possibly link him to the old cases you have been reinvestigating.

With a smile, he scans over a few documents before pocketing them underneath his jacket, securing them into place. When he returns home, he spreads out what documents he had gathered before him, arranging what he thought to be important with gloved hands– until his eyes landed on a rather interesting file regarding ammunition and supplies. Reading over the file, he comes to a grim realization.

The abandoned area he had been constantly monitoring and had visited during the earlier months– according to the file, the supplies would be set there. He wasn't wrong in his guesses that the Fatui had revisited it– however since that last time he had heard of movement in that particular area, his alarms had stopped going off, and he had never bothered to check since he had been busy with you.

And why would his alarms suddenly stop going off?

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, his irises widening as he crumples the paper before throwing it on the floor. The Fatui had been onto him. They couldn't have disabled his alarms, could they? Standing up from his seat, he quickly grabs his jacket and heads out the door. He needed to check.

Kunikuzushi had only himself to blame for his clumsiness.Spending time with you had made him a little too lax for his liking.

After a long day at work, you find yourself at a restaurant with Childe, with a plate of food set before you that you had hardly touched. "I'm sorry this was so sudden, comrade," Childe apologizes, noticing your discomfort as he leans forward on the table, his ocean blue irises gleaming with a rather dejected emotion, "I just… I really needed to talk to you."

You don't say anything, instead you keep eye contact with him, keeping your arms crossed and your lips pursed.

"I know," Childe sighs, throwing his arms up in the air, "I know you're probably sick and tired of me saying this, but I really mean it when I say 'sorry'. We've been so distant since that day all those months ago– and I understand it was my fault, I shouldn't have been so stupid as to stay so far from you during that entire operation," Childe scowls at you, his frown only deepening when he realizes you don't bother to show any sort of reaction to his words.

"I already told you that it was fine," you reply in a rather harsh tone as you pick at your plate of food, "can't we just move on from this? I feel like you're the only one still stuck on it," it was partially a lie, your words– since you were definitely not completely moved on from that situation either. Upon seeing the cases against Il Dottore, you realized what could have happened had Kunikuzushi not chosen to help you out.

You would perhaps end up like that puppet they had used during the cruise, or at least something akin to the many photos you had seen regarding Il Dottore's experimentations. A strange amalgamation between human and doll.

Not entirely satiated by your response, Childe reluctantly nods before moving onto a different topic, "My family," Childe slowly begins, offering you an unreadable expression before finally starting again, "you're the only one who I've really opened up to about them…" You ponder over his words for a little, your expression softening upon noticing his conflicted features, and with a nod, you allow him to continue.

Leaning forward in your seat, Childe tosses you a small relieved smile, mimicking your actions, "They're being put in a really rough spot right now– mostly because of me," Childe laughs, though it's without humor, sounding like a hollow echo in your ears, "so I've been stressed lately. For months, I guess," he bitterly adds on, "prior to our failed sting operation. I guess–" he sighs, sounding exasperated, "I guess the reason why I'm telling you this is because I know I fucked up that night. I was distracted, and I thought I found a lead upstairs but in reality I put you in danger. So I'll say it again," Childe pauses, meeting your eyes, "I'm truly sorry."

You clench your teeth, furrowing your eyebrows at him, "That better be the last time you ever say it," you huff, offering him a small smile, "I… I know I've been distant for some time," you think back to the night of the ballroom event, "but it's not really your fault." You press a hand onto your shoulder, turning your eyes away from Childe as you gaze out the window, noticing that clouds had begun to form in the skies, "I've been dealing with my own stuff, too."

You don't tell him about your deal with Kunikuzushi, or the fact that Kokomi, Ayato and yourself have been investigating Childe behind the scenes. You don't tell him about the turbulence of emotions stirring within your mind at the thought of the kiss you and Kunikuzushi shared several nights ago, nor do you tell him about the suspicions that you keep swallowing down considering Kunikuzushi, burying them deep into your mind.

And you can tell from one look in Childe's eyes that he isn't sharing some things as well. The two of you are one in the same, meeting up in such a friendly manner, only to still hold things back at the end of the day. A part of you wonders if you had managed to escape that night without Kunikuzushi's help, would things still end up this way? This refrained conversation, this refrained sense of friendship between you and Childe…

The two of you smile at one another, albeit a little awkwardly, though when you lean forward a little, you can't help but think that maybe it would be alright to pardon him for just this day. It's been a while, after all, since the two of you had seen each other eye to eye, face to face like this. You could pretend that he was just… An old friend. At least until this dinner was over.

"So," you plainly start with a drawl, keeping a smile on your lips as you offer him a tender gaze, "how are they? Your family back in Snezhnaya, are they doing well?"

At the sound of your lighthearted tone, a flicker of emotion glints past Childe's irises, looking akin to relief and gratitude before responding in a cheery tone, "They're doing better. A lot better, I suppose I should say," Childe snickers, narrowing his eyes onto your features, "now what about you? You've been texting a lot more often at work lately, and sometimes when I look over at you, your cheeks are all puffed up as if you're irritated."

Childe bats his eyes at you, feigning innocence as he prods on, "Could it be that during the time you've been cold shouldering me that you've replaced me?" You sputter, tossing him an annoyed look only to hear him blister with laughter, "I missed seeing that look! I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he clears his throat, unable to keep the smile off of his face as he beams at you, "I'll stop teasing you now, comrade."

"You better stop," you dryly reply, "comrade." You throw the nickname back at him with a sneer, eliciting a huff from Childe.

You and Childe catch up on things outside of your work lives, and you talk to him about the movies you've watched whilst omitting Kunikuzushi's presence entirely. He talks to you about how lively his little siblings have become, and about how business in his family's lumber mill had been going fairly well, as per usual. Childe mentions to you that at some point, Teucer, one of his little brothers may be coming to visit Inazuma for a short period of time, and he asks if you want to hang out with the two of them to explore Inazuma together.

You reluctantly agree, thinking with a smile that surely nothing horrid could happen– especially not around Childe's siblings . He was naturally overprotective of his family, you've been aware of this for the years you've known him. Childe would never put his family at risk like that. He would rather hurt himself than do something like that– he's always been like that. For the rest of the night, everything seems to go just swell, until he receives a phone call just as the two of you head out of the restaurant.

He excuses himself briefly from you, and you let him part, returning back to your old habits and thinking that perhaps it was just his family again. Seconds after he drops the call, Childe rushes to you, his expression dire and unlike himself as he ushers you towards his vehicle. When you ask him what's happening as you're getting in his car, he speaks to you with a confident tone, his voice doused in seriousness as he starts the engine of his car.

"That was Sir Kamisato on the phone just now," Childe starts, turning his head to look at you for just a second before he begins to pull out of his parking spot, "we found leads on a harbinger's location. Outskirts of Inazuma, a little past Chinju Forest," Childe scowls, shaking his head as he begins to race down the road, "we better get there quickly. "

Feeling a little panicked, you huff, your brain kicking into overdrive. You feel yourself for any weapons, only to find that you had nothing on yourself. You hoped the armory van would be there by the time you arrived. "Do we know which harbinger?" You inquire, and when he responds, you feel your heart skip a beat.

"Yeah. Scaramouche."

A flicker of a familiar image, smiling down at you in a moonlit backdrop pops into your mind, and you bid it away. You clench your fists in anticipation, silently hoping, silently praying that you were wrong. For the rest of the car ride, you prepare yourself mentally, shutting your phone off as you focus– though halfway through the ride, you notice something was off.

Why would Ayato call Childe knowing he was under suspicion?

You glance at Childe, quickly turning your eyes away onto the red light before you as his fingers tap along the wheel of the car impatiently. You purse your lips.

Upon arriving at the scene, you and Childe immediately scan your surroundings. You search for signs of your teammates, Kokomi, Ayato, Gorou or Sara– only to find nobody. You grit your teeth anxiously. The two of you should wait. Otherwise, this meant that you would have to go in unarmed. There was no way you would let Childe in by himself– for all you could know, this was an escape plan. You had to keep an eye on him.

You watch as Childe pulls his registered gun out from underneath his jacket. "Our teammates are late," Childe comments under his breath as you continue to survey your surroundings, listening to the slightest snap of twigs from the distance.

"I don't have anything on me," you reply in a low voice, your eyes zeroing in on the dilapidated building before you, "just cuffs." You nearly flinch when Childe unsheathes a hidden military knife from behind his back, and you toss him a short look, "What else are you hiding under that jacket?" Your tone is sarcastic, with an edge.

Childe snickers, his eyes flickering towards you for just a moment until he hears movement from within the building. He gives you a look, as though to tell you to be quiet, and you nod as he slides the handle of the knife into your own hand. You roll your wrist, inverting your grip on the knife. You didn't want to hurt anybody unless you had to, and you abided by your own laws.

In the ruins of the building now, the two of you travel while keeping an eye on one another, and as you inspect the building, your eyes catch light of fresh scratch marks on the floor– as though something heavy had been moved . At a certain section by the stone stairways, you opt to split away from Childe, moving further down to the center of the largest room in the building where the roof had been split in half, allowing the light of the moon to filter inwards.

Your eyes scour the room, scanning over metal boxes– all with strange, illegible letters printed onto them– and then a certain stench hits you. Your eyes widened as you lean downwards towards one of the boxes, the smell immediately registering in your mind.

Gunpowder? You look around once more before finally committing to opening one of the boxes, prying the lids open with a lot more ease than you had expected. "Fuck," you hiss under your breath, noticing that there had been loads of bullets packed in the box. Who the hell needed this much ammunition? You search the box next to it, pausing when you find Fatui gear.

This was a hideout, after all. Piecing things together quickly, you figured that whatever the Fatui had planned with them playing on the more aggressive side regarding Celestia was essentially lying before you now. A full blown gang war.

You flinch at the sound of Childe's voice echoing throughout the air, the sounds of blows being traded resounding throughout the vicinity. You switch around, preparing your knife as you flicker your eyes towards the sound of noise. A gunshot is fired, forcing your attention to the front of your mind.

"I fucking knew I'd find you here," Childe grins, and you watch as him and another figure emerge from the second floor. Just as you are about to call out his name, the smaller figure dressed in all black manages to kick the gun out of Childe's hands, and you race towards the two of them, tossing the knife in your less dominant hand while scooping up the gun with your other.

Finally, you snap your head upwards, where the two of them had remained fighting. The hooded figure is shoved off from the broken ledge, leading to a pool of rainwater that had collected earlier, and you quickly near the form as they try to pick themselves up again, their hood falling off in the process.

"Don't move," you start with a stern voice, your eyes catching light of a familiar pair of indigo hued irises.

You freeze up in your spot.

Kunikuzushi freezes up too, his clothes clinging onto his skin. His gloved fingers grab along his elbow– he was hurt from the fall.

Your eyes leave Kunikuzushi's own to look towards Childe, who stares down at you with an irritated expression as you lower your gun. "What are you doing!?" Childe shouts, "That's him, the notorious harbinger, Scaramouche!" Childe was hurt too. He was bleeding, blood pouring from his shoulder from what looked to be a stab wound.

Oh, you so badly didn't want to believe in Childe's words right now. You wanted to delude yourself further– into remembering moments with Kunikuzushi where the two of you had been more tender with one another, spending days outside, eating together, dancing for days and days and days–

Your jawline tenses, and when you turn to look at Kunikuzushi, there's a flood of fear that overwhelms you. Kunikuzushi had hurt your partner. What did you expect from him, really? He had warned you before that he had killed people.

Your eyes widen as your grip on the gun tightens, and Kunikuzushi attempts to move once more– but you pick up on it swiftly. "Don't," you start, your tone caustic, "move," in your chest swells a mixture of emotions– fear, anger, irritation, disbelief– and relief all at once.

Kunikuzushi's eyes never leave your own, though his lips are tilted downwards in a scowl as he slowly raises his hands to the air. His eyes are wide, though there lingers a look of betrayal at your actions.

Kunikuzushi tilts his head at you, as though in question of your standing.

Your eyes flicker back to Childe, and then back to Kunikuzushi once more. In that moment, you are torn. Childe was your partner for years, your most trusted associate– he had shared so many precious details regarding his life to you. His brother– Teucer, was it? Would visit soon. You would be going with them around Inazuma, as a tourist guide for Teucer.

And Kunikuzushi was…

You keep your aim on Kunikuzushi, though your lips are shut into a thin line.Kunikuzushi was…

"Comrade!Shoot him!He'sScaramouche!"

Kunikuzushi wasScaramouche.

Your lips peel open as you lean forward, aiming at Kunikuzushi's head.

But you knew that. You've known for some time now, but you just never wanted to admit it.Kunikuzushi was Scaramouche, the Fatui harbinger most known for doing all the work behind the scenes–doing executions, planning routes for the drug trades…

And you knew you would have to betray him some day,too.

At the look in your eyes, Kunikuzushi's gaze hardens, all softness and shock disappearing all at once as he scowls at you, his irises teeming with anger at your look of confidence– and you could tell by his expression that he was daring you to pull the trigger. He was daring you to see what would happen if you did, what relationship between the two of you would break, what sort of monstrosity would unravel and bloom where there was once peace.

You keep your breath still, and you press down on the trigger. You shoot.

The bullet whizzes past Kunikuzushi's head, landing a little ways away onto a stone column behind him– and in that second you miss, he immediately gets up and runs off into the shadows behind the pillars.

Naturally, you give chase, and Childe is quick to follow. You shoot and miss again when you see Kunikuzushi curve into one of the corridors, disappearing into the dimly lit setting. You race after him, keeping your knife by your side– and the moment you round the corner, you take a kick to your stomach, causing you to fall back into the stone floor beneath you. The gun and knife are knocked out of your hands in one swift motion, and Kunikuzushi latches onto you, pressing you down with ease as he settles himself above you.

You groan, tasting blood on your lips from where your teeth had nicked your lower lips and you glare up at his form."Betraying me,Miss Investigator? Youmissed your shots,"Kunikuzushi's tone is dark, a sneer on his lips as he continues, "and now you'll regret it!" Before he can do anything else, Childe's footsteps echo behind him. Grabbing onto the gun, he swiveled over to the other direction where he had heard Childe approaching from.

"Look out!" You shout in warning. Heeding your warning, Childe leaps back just in time as Kunikuzushi shoots at where he had predicted Childe's head would be. Kunikuzushi tosses you one last aggravated look, cursing under his breath before finally rushing away from you.

You recover quickly with Childe's help.

"Are you alright?" Childe inquires, scanning the area before retrieving the knife from the floor. You feel around your body before offering Childe a nod, wondering why it was taking so long for reinforcements to arrive. "Good," Childe huffs, "let's get going. He won't leave this area until he's done with it, for good."

You keep your eyes on Childe's infuriated expression before agreeing. With that, the two of you push forward. You quickly take note of the fact that Kunikuzushi didn't shoot you when he had a chance to.

You and Childe promptly bump into Kunikuzushi again, and on a pincer attack, you finally get Kunikuzushi face first in a pile of rubble, coupled with broken shards of what looked to be a mirror. Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, his cheeks scraping across sharp pieces of glass and rocks as you manage to hold him down, pressing your weight atop of him. You kick the discarded gun away from Kunikuzushi's grasp, making sure that not even his fingertips would be in reach of it. Childe recovers himself off from the floor a hiss leaving his throat when he feels the wound on his shoulder worsen.

Childe ambles over to the two of you, picking up the discarded gun from the side. "Well done, comrade! I'll call Sir Kamisato in," Childe's words don't sit with you quite right, though in this situation, with Kunikuzushi trying to fight his way out of your grip below you, you couldn't hone in on the issue too well...

"What the fuck are you doing, Miss Investigator?"Kunikuzushi seethes, his voice low, dropping to a whisper as you continue to press down on him, leaning your body over his own,"He's Tartaglia. Are you fucking stupid? Did you forget that?"

"No, I didn't forget that," you hiss back as Childe continues to speak from behind you– though his words are a garbled mess, and you wonder briefly if it's all due to the fact that your heart was pumping with adrenaline, your ears rushing with blood. "Just shut up, please, " you swallow down an excess build up of saliva in your throat, coming to realize that Childe was on the phone with somebody from behind you. You latch your cuffs by Kunikuzushi's wrists, and his eyes widen when he feels the metal wrap around his wrist, surprised when it doesn't lock into place.

Your mind is in a turbulence, your ears focusing on what you could hear of Childe's conversation, trying to listen for something– for anything you could understand, only to understand nothing.

Nothing made sense. Nothing has been making sense for some time now. Why would Ayato call Childe for an urgent operation regarding the Fatui? How did Childe know that Kunikuzushi was here? Why was Kunikuzushi here in the first place? Where were your reinforcements, and who was Childe speaking to on the phone now? Your hand leaves Kunikuzushi's wrists, his irises on your own as he turns his head to look at you, his dark locks splaying onto his cheeks in a mess.

You glance upwards, staring at the scattered shards of glass before you as you press your hand on a fairly large piece of debris, gathering the large rock into your hand. You eye the movement behind you from one of the larger pieces of glass,watching, waiting…

Childe raises the gun to the back of your head. "I'm sorry for this,comrade,"Childe's apology is empty, his tone dead as he stares down at you, his eyes nearly lifeless.

Your eyes flash. Before he can react, you let out a shout, mustering all your energy to your upper body as you swing, your eyes wide as the rock in your hand meets with his fingers. In slow motion, you see the gun sway to the side, the sound of a bullet resounding throughout the air as Childe grimaces, his eyes burning with pain and shock all at once. His phone falls from his grasp, clattering onto the floor.

Childe pulls back, grasping at his injured fingers as you rise from your place, lifting yourself off of Kunikuzushi's body. Your mind is firing rapidly. Childe draws forth his knife, and you rush towards him, blinded by pure animosity at the memory of him, having pointed a gun by your head not to long ago. You scoop up the fallen gun, and with a cry, you throw the rock in your hand at him, hurling it towards his chest.

The taller male expertly dodges the rock with his free arm, keeping his eyes on you as you lunge at him– when suddenly, you let out a pained hiss. Childe's eyes widen, and he blinks twice as he listens to the sound of your blood pouring onto the cement floor, your eyes remaining locked with his own as you grit your teeth. Pain spreads throughout every corner of your body at the sudden intrusion of the knife bursting into your abdomen, and it spreads like wildfire within your nervous system.

Childe feels his resolve weaken for just a moment, though he is quick to pick himself back up. He attempts to retract the knife from your stomach, only to find that your hand is gripping onto his own, forcing the knife to remain inside of you as you lean forward, letting out another pained whimper as you press your head onto his chest. "You," Childe begins, disbelief tinging his voice as he glares down at you, "what are you doing!?"

Pulling your head up slowly, you hiss at him, readjusting your hold on the gun you had kept away from his sight, "Stabbed me," you huff, letting out a shaky breath as you glare up at him, a hellfire blooming in your eyes, "you stabbed me first," you state with a scowl, feeling blood leak from your wound as you rise the gun, pressing the barrel down onto his leg.

Childe feels the barrel on his leg just a second too late as his mind registers you, smirking up at him as though you had won somehow. "So this is self defense," you hiss, "you fucking harbinger," and with that, you press down on the trigger.

Kunikuzushi watches, astounded by you as Childe lets out a harsh scream, the sound of a bullet echoing throughout the abandoned building coupled with the taller male's pained holler. Hearing his scream, you think to shoot again, not quite through with Childe just yet. Childe gathers his strength swiftly, and before you could do anything else, he shoves you off of him, elbowing the side of your head with full power, eliciting a sharp groan from you as you collapse to the floor.

Your vision doubles, the edges of your vision turning black as you watch Childe grip onto his leg before beginning to limp away. Despite the constant pain throbbing throughout your body, you felt yourself being fueled by pure adrenaline. You attempt to pull yourself up, only to have the knife in your stomach shift its position within you when the handle is nudged by the floor. You let out a soft whimper, refusing to give up as your mind spins, "As if I'd let you run..!"

Your fingers reach for the handle of the gun that had fallen next to you, your fingertips only barely touching the handle before a pair of gloved hands pick it up from the floor. Your eyes avert towards the sky, where you find a blurry figure, staring down at you, holding the gun in hand now.

In a whirlwind of motions, you're sitting up now, your back resting on a slanted, large piece of debris. You listen to Kunikuzushi whisper something to you, though it doesn't quite register in your mind as you watch Childe limp away, disappearing behind a pair of stone columns."Fuck,"you grumble, your eyes half lidded now as you press onto your stomach, feeling the tender area by your stab wound, "need to stop him…"

A small chuckle escapes Kunikuzushi's lips as he presses a hand on your cheek, turning your head away from Childe and towards his pale features, "I'll handle him for you, since you've proven yourself to be loyal to me. Who knew you could be so good at acting… I was wondering if you'd just been too scared to actually kill somebody or not, but in reality, you meant for those bullets to miss, didn't you? " You feel his gloved thumb brush against your cheek, your eyes finally regaining focus onto his indigo hued irises. You realize that for some odd reason, he's smiling– as though he were staring at a present or something.

You don't respond to his words, "Childe…He's escaping,"you huff as Kunikuzushi presses his lips against your cheek.

"I already said I'd handle him," Kunikuzushi tosses you a small smile as he begins to back away from you, "with the injury you left him, he can't go too far. Be a good girl and sit still for me until I come back, okay? " Just before Kunikuzushi disappears from your vision completely, you let out a wail.

"Wait," you start, reaching a hand out towards him, "don't kill him, please."

Kunikuzushi eyes you for a moment, tilting his head to the side at your words before adding on, "Iwon't,"he replies before he checks the amount of bullets left in the clip, "I'm just going to finish what you started," popping the clip back in, Kunikuzushi smiles, his irises narrowing as he sees a familiar limping form at the end of the hallway.

Kunikuzushi aims at Childe, clicking his tongue in disappointment when he hears Childe trip over a few pieces of debris in the dark, "You're getting clumsier, Tartaglia," he snidely points out, "that won't do. The Fatui have never treated clumsiness kindly. Let's retire you early , shall we?"

Just when the light of the moon hits Tartaglia's form, Kunikuzushi presses on the trigger, quickly shifting his aim downwards as he continues to amble down the dimly lit hallway, aiming at Childe's other leg– and when Childe lets out another pained shout, Kunikuzushi can't help but let out a satisfied laugh. Barreling down towards Childe as the male falls over, Kunikuzushi uses the bottom of the handle to hit Childe on the side of his head, his smile disappearing altogether as he glares at the orange haired harbinger, now laying on the side of the wall.

"You'repathetic,"Kunikuzushi comments before kicking Childe's stomach, eliciting a gasp from the male below him. With a soft, annoyed sigh, Kunikuzushi turns Childe around, cuffing him while Childe uses whatever strength he had in his legs to kick at Kunikuzushi. At his futile attempts, Kunikuzushi only grows more irritated, pressing a foot down onto one of his wounded legs as he stands up, "You should be grateful for Miss Investigator over there," he starts with a scowl, "otherwise, I'd have you killed right now. I don't blame you for her stab wound, but I do dislike the fact that you hit her hard after that."

Childe snickers, his pained hisses turning into a bubble of dark laughter, "The two of you were working together," Childe turns around, his expression flooded with rage, "I suppose Il Dottore was right. For how long?"

Kunikuzushi glowers at him, his irises tinged with a heaviness as his bangs shadow his features, "What ever do you mean?" He replies sarcastically with a shrug, "Even if you were right, it doesn't really matter, does it? You're caught, " lowering himself to Childe's level, he continues, "because you have always been unreliable."

"What do you want from her?" Childe manages to growl out, struggling against his cuffs, only stopping when Kunikuzushi points the gun at his lower leg. Ocean blue irises flame with disgust, fuming with anger.

"What doI want from her?"Kunikuzushi narrows his irises onto Childe, a smile blooming on his lips, "She offers me a lot, really," he reasons, "everything I could ask for and more. I suppose you could say I've grown rather fond of her," Kunikuzushi lets out a chuckle, sounding amused as he presses on, "I mean, where else would you find a woman that would purposely get stabbed for the sake of landing a direct hit. Justified, at that. If you ask me, I think she's probably fit to be a harbinger. We all have a few screws loose in our heads," Kunikuzushi spins the gun around in his hand as he backs away, "not that I'd ever let her be one, of course."

"Anyways, what does it matter to you," Kunikuzushi's lips fall into a deep scowl once more, "pretending like you weren't going to just kill her and me altogether. Your pretenses sicken me, Tartaglia."

"I wasn't going to kill her," Childe retorts, earning a hollow laugh from Kunikuzushi, "she's my partner. She's a good person, I don't want her hurt–"

"Sure you weren't," Kunikuzushi plays on with a roll of his eyes, "just like how you weren't going to let her become one of Il Dottore's sick little experiments that night, right?" Upon seeing Childe's eyes widen, Kunikuzushi snickers, "You're a piece of shit. All of the harbingers are. That's been our forte anyway, turning good people into dead people. Or better yet, according to Il Dottore," his tone darkens, his voice lowering, "we keep them as playthings."

"The Fatui is none of your business anymore, Scaramouche," Childe spits, "you left us. You disappeared– so why don't you just do us all a favor and stick to it. Stay out of our business."

Kunikuzushi hums, his irises flashing with anger at Childe's tone, "No." He concludes with a smile, "I don't want to," Childe lets out a groan when Kunikuzushi kicks his injured leg, "I still have unfinished business with the Fatui. Even if it's not directly with you, I thought to myself, hell," Kunikuzushi tilts his head, leaning back on the fallen apart stone wall behind him, "why just stop at one harbinger. Why can't I just tear this whole thing apart? That's why, Tartaglia," Kunikuzushi hisses, "after you, it'll be Il Dottore. I'll kill him, and I'll make him suffer for the things he's done to me, tenfold. La Signora is entirely useless, but if she proves to be a problem, then I'll get rid of her too. "

Kunikuzushi chuckles upon seeing Tartaglia's pained expression as he buries one of his gloved fingers into the bullet hole in his leg, "It really is unfortunate that you just happened to be the first one out. But like I said," digging his finger into Childe's flesh, Childe grits his teeth, "just be thankful to Miss Investigator, because she's the reason why you're alive."

"Kunikuzushi," at the sound of his name echoing from down the hall, Kunikuzushi halts, his smile disappearing all at once as he turns his head down the other end of the hallway. Childe follows his actions, their eyes drawn to your weak form as you lean on the side of a wall for support, a hand still clutching onto your wound as blood spills from it.

You let out a belated huff, your eyesight still blurry, though you glare down at the two when you recognize that Kunikuzushi seems to be putting Childe in more pain than he should.

"Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi's tone automatically lightens as he pulls himself up, his expression turning irate as he waves the blood off of his gloves, "didn't I tell you to stay put?" Kunikuzushi quickly ambles towards you, and you halt him just as he is about to reach out and grab you, putting Childe's phone in front of his face.

"I wanted to warn you…" Your eyes trail upwards from the ground onto his own as you force your weight onto the side of your body leaning against the stone wall, "I called for backup. They're going to be here soon," you lower the phone screen from his face, your expression weary as you meet Kunikuzushi's gaze once more, "so run."

Kunikuzushi eyes you carefully for a moment, scanning your body and injuries once more before moving to your side to help you, "Looking out for me, hm?"

"Wait," you begin just as he tries to turn you around to sit down, "plant… Plant me in front of Childe," you whisper, your face paling as your consciousness wavers, "that way it'll look like I did all of this…"

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, his eyes wide when he looks at you, a smile threatening to break through his serious expression. Wow, he thought to himself with a small sneer as he heeds your behest, you were committed to making sure nobody knew about him. His chest beats with excitement.

"I dislike you taking the fall for me, but I suppose you're doing all this to keep me hidden," Kunikuzushi whispers into your ear as he lowers you onto the floor, and you hiss as the pain in your stomach blooms once more. "Where's his car?" Kunikuzushi whispers once more, awaiting your reply, "I have some presents for your coworkers and yourself."

You send Kunikuzushi to the general direction of the car, and before he leaves, Kunikuzushi tosses you a small look, a smile on his lips as he lowers his voice, "I won't be texting you for a while. Think you can handle it?"

You swat him away, tossing him an annoyed look. This was no time to play around. "Go," you hiss under your breath, earning a small smirk from Kunikuzushi.

"I'll see you on a Monday, Miss Investigator," with that, Kunikuzushi disappears into the night, his footsteps trailing away quickly.

Childe stares at you, his expression conflicted as he sees the knife still lodged into your stomach. You melt onto the ground, keeping your legs flat on the floor as your gaze interlocked with Childe's own.

You offer him a bitter smile.

Childe scowls, his chest blistering with anger.

"How long have the two of you been working together?" Childe manages to huff out, feeling his body grow cold as wounds swelter with heat. You don't respond, instead you continue to smile at Childe emptily. Childe continues, "Why do you know him? Why would you betray your own morals– all for what? How long have you known that I was a Fatui harbinger?"

You keep your lips pursed, though you so desperately want to bark back at him. He wasn't one to talk. Resting your head on the wall behind you, you let out a soft sigh, feeling your consciousness begin to fade yet again, your head still echoing with dull pain from the hit to your head earlier.

"Are you happy?" Childe laughs humorlessly, a part of him thinking that the blood loss was making him lose his mind, "Now you've finally caught someone in the Fatui. Using somebody else who is also a part of the Fatui. You're going to be in big trouble when they find out– when I tell them. Are you scared that I'll tell them?"

You shake your head, not willing to answer. Instead, you opt to say your share of grievances, "I really enjoyed working with you," your voice is void of hatred, void of anything negative as you continue, "it was really nice sometimes, coming into work with a little message on my desk telling me to 'do my best' . Listening to you talk about your family, it was really sweet. The emojis you'd text me– they were so terribly cheesy and exaggerated," you snicker, "the food you'd give me from your lunch– those were so good. I was so envious of you, and I remember at some point during these past few years, I worked hard to try and be a good cook too."

"To me, Childe," Childe's eyes nearly betray him at the sight of your crestfallen expression, "you were a wonderful partner. Competition with you was friendly, and it kept things around the office fun… With you, everybody was always willing to hang around a little longer than their shift."

"Shut up," Childe growls, gritting his teeth as he throws his head up, "shut up!"

"Why did you betray us?" Your voice cracks, your emotions swelling as you hear to the distant sound of sirens, echoing throughout the night.

"Isn't it obvious," Childe laughs sourly, "I am a Fatui harbinger first and foremost. I was just using you, using all of you– to get what I really wanted– and it worked. It worked so well!"

You let out a soft breath, your eyes threatening to fall shut as you see Childe's conflicted expression, your eyes narrowing onto his form, "..I hope it was worth it. All of this," your voice begins to drown in your own ears, muffling into nothing, "gambling it all…"

There's a series of echoes all around you, various noises of different pitches resounding in your mind. The world spins, and everything blurs together as you fall unconscious.

By the end of this, you hoped that everything would be back to normal– that Childe would still be sitting on the chair next to yours, asking you how your day has been going. You and Kunikuzushi would hang around on Monday night, as usual, and in the morning, you would go to see him at the café for some coffee together, and the two of you would maybe share a few lighthearted laughs together.

And when you wake up, you're in a hospital bed. There's a nurse chattering away, asking you how you were doing, how you felt, all to which you had replied with simple short sentences, feeling your lethargy overwhelm your body. You felt as though you had just woken up from averylong slumber.

When the nurse leaves your room, you feel a dull ache in your stomach, and when you feel the area, you notice that it's bandaged up.Right,you had been stabbed.And Childe, and Kunikuzushi–where were they? You raise a hand to your face, feeling at your head as your mind begins to spin– when suddenly, your eyes catch notice of a bouquet of flowers next to your bed.

A blaring array of red roses, flourishing in a pot next to your bed. You can't help but gawk at it, raising an eyebrow at the arrangement as you come to realize that there are a bit too many flowers in that vase.

"I don't think I've ever seen somebody give that many roses to somebody who is in recovery," an unfamiliar voice echoes throughout the room from the entryway, and you turn to look at the doorway, your eyes widening in surprise. Kunikuzushi? No…

"Usually people offer arrangements with peonies and daisies," the woman continues as she gives you a small smile before seating herself on an empty chair by your bed, "but to send a bouquet of a hundred red roses– you must mean a lot to that person. A boyfriend, perhaps?" She lets out a light chuckle at your strange expression before bowing her head, "Excuse me, I don't think I've introduced myself properly quite yet."

"No," you shake your head before quickly moving to bow, earning a strange noise from the lady before you as you move rapidly in your bed, "I know you, of course. Good day, Chief Raiden."

Ei remains seated before you, her pale features illuminated from the sunlight filtering in from the windows. Her lips spread into a small smile, her eyes narrowing onto your form.

Notes:

AHHHHHHHHHHHH next chapter will be the scaramouche unboxing (his traumas and past) boxes addressing unsaid shit on a lowkey. but also on a highkey. will mostly be just, people talking. like childe talking to reader, ei talking to reader, scara talking to reader- A LOT OF TALKING.

Chapter 8: Moonlight

Summary:

In which reader looks into a few things regarding Raiden Ei.

Notes:

"Is even your identity a trick?"

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

You keep still, listening in silence as Ei moves in her seat in the chair.

"Ah," Ei starts, looking a little apprehensive, "please don't concern yourself with bowing before me. I'm here as a visitor today– not as your executive–..." She cuts herself off, noticing that you were still bowing before her. Ei pauses, clearing her throat, "If you could please seat yourself properly…"

"Of course," you quickly reply, shifting in your seat only to hiss in pain as the wound on your stomach aches. Ei offers you a small look of concern before smiling at you reassuringly.

"How are your wounds?" Ei's voice is surprisingly softer than you had thought, and when you turn to look at her, you realize there's a strange look on her face.

"They're fine," you huff, ignoring the sting of pain that echoed throughout your body, "might I ask what the nature of your visit is to me? Is it time for me to be questioned?"

Ei shakes her head, "It's nothing like that. I just wanted to visit you," you can tell she's hiding something from you, though you don't intend to push into it until you're in the position to do so. "You are, after all, the one who captured a harbinger among our ranks," Ei's voice drops a few octaves, sounding a little disappointed, "I suppose our people weren't thorough in their background search. Because of that, we'll need to run some extra precautions on every member in our departments. That includes you, of course."

You slowly nod your head. It would only make sense for the departments to double-check everyone. Still you couldn't help but wonder, "What happened to Childe?" You inquire with a forlorn tone.

Ei is quick to answer, her eyebrows furrowing as she shakes her head with a sigh, "He's imprisoned. There was evidence in his car– folders and files of previous missions we suspect he was going through since your squadron had been reinvestigating old missions." A realization settles within you.

Those files must've been the gifts for you and your team Kunikuzushi mentioned. You nearly let out a sigh, reminding yourself to thank Kunikuzushi for sneaking in the files you had requested earlier.

Ei halts in her motions, keeping her hands firmly placed on her lap as she turns her head up to look at you with a smile, "I apologize. I know I said I wasn't here on business– but I do have some questions that require answering. If possible, I would like to have permission to ask you here– and keep it off the records." You prevent the urge to narrow your eyes upon hearing her words.

Off the records?

"Of course, Chief Raiden," you bow your head, contemplating her words a little further before adding on, "what might you be curious about?"

Ei's eyes tinge with a slight darkness, her lips pulling taut as she maintains a cool composure, "There was another harbinger that Tartaglia had named during his questioning," you force yourself to keep still, "Scaramouche. Did you see him?"

Did you see him? You think back, peering through your foggy memories. You remember that man– Scaramouche, Kunikuzushi– he had commended you for your loyalty with a peck on the cheek. You remember his strange smile when he pulls you up to seat you properly, and you remember the blissful rage on his expression when he sadistically dug his finger into Childe's bullet wound.

"No," you shake your head, shutting your eyes, "I don't believe I saw him," you lie, reopening your eyes before continuing, "Childe had told me that Scaramouche's location had been found through Sir Kamisato, and when we arrived– he attempted to kill me." You press a hand on your stomach, "There was nobody else there, just the two of us. I thought he had purposely lied to lure me out by myself."

Ei's eyes narrow onto your form, the corners of her lips falling into a straight line, "Nobody else was there, you say?"

You blink, slowly nodding as discomfort swells within you.

"Those Fatui members we found around the forest," you grit your teeth as Ei scrutinizes you further, "their corpses at least– you didn't kill them? Did Tartaglia kill them?"

What? This was entirely new information to you. Before you could open your mouth to say anything else, Ei quickly adds on.

"I do not appreciate being lied to," Ei surmises with a small frown, "I ask that you be honest. I will repeat this again," Ei slowly starts, "this conversation is off the records. So please, answer me with honesty. "

Ah, you thought to yourself as you pulled your lips into a thin line, your eyes wide when you gaze into her own, she was trying to grab hold of something. Tentatively, you test the waters, "..What do you want to know, exactly?" You were willing to spin your life into another lie. You had done it for months at a time, concerning Kunikuzushi's teamwork with you– and you were prepared to do it again.

A flicker of emotion passes through Ei's eyes, passing far too quickly for you to register, "I want to know if Scaramouche was present. Did you see somebody else there, or not?" "I didn't," you lie quickly, keeping your tone firm, though Ei is not easily swayed by your words. There's a hint of desperacy that burns through Ei's voice when she speaks, and you don't quite understand why.

Ei takes a deep breath in, shutting her eyes, "Miss Investigator," she begins, "it's important that I know if somebody was there. Once again, we are keeping this conversation strictly off records," reopening her eyes, she continues with conviction, "I promise you that. However, since you are reluctant and telling me the truth, allow me to give my reasoning for asking."

"That harbinger– Scaramouche," Ei pauses for a moment, his eyes flickering to the floor, "he and I… We have a long history with one another. He might be the key to solving a case that's been long standing among others. To be frank," Ei's eyes flicker back towards you, her lips pulled taut, "I'm one of the only people who know what he looks like."

Your breath comes to a halt at your throat. "If so, then," you slowly start, "how come there have been no reported descriptions of him in our files?"

"I left them out." Ei doesn't bother sugarcoating her words, she doesn't bother dodging the question– instead she chooses to give you the cold, hard truth. Her gaze on your form is unwavering, and it causes you to double back over her words for just a moment.

Left them out? You keep your teeth grit as you scan her expression and body language for any tell-tale signs of anxiety, suspicion– or anything of the sort, only to find nothing. "Why would you leave the details out?" You whisper under your breath, sounding thoroughly confused, and Ei retorts quickly.

"I was told that the next time he and I meet, he would give me proper details regarding one of the cases sensitive to me," Ei's voice turns a little softer, sounding almost fragile, "for as long as I kept his appearance out of the books. And so I abided him," she shuts her eyes, "for years now, pushing aside my own moralities and creeds for the sake of finding out. Never once has he shown his face to me ever again, however. So I must ask again," when Ei opens her eyes, she guides them towards your own– and in that second your eyes catch hers, your heart feels torn asunder, "did you see anybody around, other than Tartaglia?"

Her eyes held such a sadness to it that it made you nearly wonder if she were asking if somebody important to her had truly died or not.

"Chief Raiden," you slowly start, keeping your tone firm, "I will say it again, but I do not recall seeing anybody else there. Maybe… Maybe if people were there," you shake your head, "they were in hiding. However I didn't see anybody else."

Ei's eyes harden onto your form, her eyes narrowing as the corner of her lips turn downwards. It seems almost as though the life in her eyes fades at your dismissal, and when she replies, she speaks with a voice void of any emotion, "Is that so?"

You nod. You still couldn't risk selling him out– even if Ei herself had told you compromising facts regarding one of the cases. Otherwise, your injury would have been all for nothing. Still, there was a strange clicking in the back of her head, something that felt strangely similar to your times prior when you were just missing something to piece everything together. Something linking Raiden Ei and Kunikuzushi together– her badge in his hands, and the strange familiarity in their airs–...

Ei lets out a disappointed sigh, "..There had been traces of a scuffle occurring outside the main investigation site. Tartaglia's gun was found discarded in the hands of another Fatui member, but Sir Kamisato believes it to be a way to misdirect our attention from something important at hand," she explains, keeping her hands folded on her lap as she readjusts herself, "Tartaglia says that there was indeed someone else there, and that the two of them had interacted– however I suppose there is no definite proof of an outside party aside from the two of you. They think Celestia's involvement in the matter is a strong possibility. I won't push you any further than I have today."

Getting up from her seat, Ei keeps her eyes off of your form, "If you happen to remember anything, please let me know," she offers you a little card with her phone number scribbled onto it, gathering her clothes before saying her final goodbyes, "I trust that everything today will remain strictly confidential." She eyes you carefully, watching you for any movement, and when you simply nod in response, she turns her head away.

"Pardon me," you quickly interject before she can walk any further away from you, "Chief Raiden," you watch as she swivels around, her irises finding your own, her resemblance– striking to Kunikuzushi's own– and so you decide to throw a shot in the dark. "You said earlier," you point towards the abundance of roses settled in a vase next to your bedside, "about the flowers– what type of flowers would be suited for someone who was just getting better?"

Ei blinks twice, her expression somewhat softening at your words, "Peonies and," she turns her head towards the assortment of flowers, "daisies. Why do you ask?"

"Well," you nervously laugh, "I was just wondering for a little bit– can you please tell me why one would choose peonies and daisies as opposed to…" You usher towards the roses. You wanted to roll your eyes at your own words– of course somebody would prefer anything other than a hundred roses while they were hospitalized. Daisies and peonies seemed indefinitely nicer in comparison to roses. A hundred roses just seemed too much like… A declaration of love of some sort. Your cheeks burn, and you almost don't hear Ei begin to speak.

"Ah," Ei halts, pondering over your words for a moment before continuing, "peonies and daisies link together in some ways in terms of flower language. Together, they would mean something like," the ends of Ei's lips turn upwards, "get well soon, and take care of yourself."

Your mind is clicking. You take a moment before asking another question, your lips turning upwards into a smile as your chest begins to pound, "You seem quite knowledgeable with flowers…" You simply state, and from there, Ei fills in the blanks.

Ei offers you a kind smile, "My sister used to own a flower shop, and I liked to help her whenever I could. I would garden in my spare time."

Your hands clenched into fists, your nails digging deep into your skin as your expression relaxes.

Oh.

There was no way,right?

For your remaining days in the hospital, you are interrogated and brought into further questioning. You lie to them, and insist that Childe had used the name 'Scaramouche' as bait to lure you out. Upon being asked what Childe's gun was doing in another Fatui member's hands, you shake your head, and offer the possibility of internal strife, and suggest the possibility of Celestia's involvement while you had been passed out. Such had been going on and off for some time now, with the tensions between Celestia and the Fatui rising. You had proof of such disputes happening in your own research, along with your fellow peers, thus it had led them off your trail.

Despite all this external stress happening around you, being discharged with the notice that you would be off work for the week until you were able to move with little to no pain, you kept thinking back to your conversation with Ei.

Was it possible? Ei and Kunikuzushi's relationship– was it possible that they were mother and son? Ei looked fairly young– but you knew she had been working at the police department longer than anybody else. Some called her an immortal jokingly. Still, Kunikuzushi himself looked fairly young.

The theory was plausible.

The only way to find out was through asking Kunikuzushi himself, and he hadn't responded to your texts for quite some time now. You'd given up on contacting him altogether after three days of being ignored, remembering his earlier words– that he wouldn't be texting you for some time.

And so, you do some digging.

In the comfort of your home now, you search Raiden Ei's name on the internet in hopes to findsomething– anythingon her.You find nothingfor some time, aside from her public profiles to which nothing seemed particularly amiss. After an hour passes, you finally come across a name of interest while scanning through some of Ei's old photos.

Raiden Makoto.

Ei had a sister she had mentioned, who owned a flower shop. Was it her?

And when you search Makoto's name, you come across a plethora of results– to the extent where you had to wonder yourself how you hadn't heard of her name. Her name was linked to a large case from eight years ago. You blink, opening a few pages and reading through them quickly, only stopping when you come across a photo of Makoto– who is a spitting image of Ei, albeit a lot more cheerful looking. Reading her case, your blood runs cold.

Makoto's deceased body had been found abandoned at a garbage disposal, her limbs and body skew… You grit your teeth, shutting your eyes. You remember vaguely, the image of one of Il Dottore's infamous crime scenes– a family sitting at a dinner table with all sorts of malformations made to their bodies.

Makoto's deceased body was found in a similar way, with a bouquet of rotting animal insides tied to her hands. It was brutal. And of course, the person to find her body in the first place was none other than Makoto's twin sister, Ei herself.

You shut your laptop closed and immediately get up from your seat, thinking that you needed a break. You didn't want to imagine it, or think about– how Ei must've felt, finding her own kin's body like that.

You wanted to dig further, to look into Ei's relationship with Kunikuzushi– but your mind couldn't handle all that right now. You were stressed, exhausted from external resources– your peers had been messaging you nonstop today out of concern for you and you just wanted to be alone.

One last time before you sleep that night, you fire a message over to Kunikuzushi.

"We need to talk."

And of course, he doesn't respond.

The next day, you visit him at the café, only to find out that he had taken the week off. With the remaining time you have left, you visit the usual hideout– only to find the door locked.

Ignoring the swell of uncertainty blooming in your chest, you go to work, even when you shouldn't be. You found it unbearable to sit at home, with your thoughts all clouded in your mind. You need to be busy, to keep your mind off of things.

When Gorou and Kokomi question your presence, you shrug them off, telling them that you just wanted to catch up on work a little bit. They reassure you and remind you that if anything were to go awry with you, that you should leave work early.

You nod.

Kokomi is the first person to mention Childe's absence to you.

"Hey," her voice is soft and faded to your ears, and you remain focused on the set of text before you on the screen of your computer, "I know you must feel a little upset with… With Childe," she speaks his name tentatively, and you don't blame her. Still, you keep your eyes on the screen before you.

Kokomi's irises scan over the computer screen, her eyes scouring over the edges of your screen where Childe's notes of encouragement had remained in an array of colors.

"He was really important to you, and the two of you were really close to one another for years now. Even though we had been suspicious of him for some time, I could tell that you were still hesitant to believe in everything," Kokomi's voice is drowned out. You can tell she's concerned about you, but right now… You just couldn't handle her tone of pity.

Was she feeling bad for you? Why, because Childe was a traitor all along?

You thank her for her mindfulness and let her leave.

Next, Gorou approaches you. His words are a little more tender, offering friendliness by asking you if you wanted to go outside with him sometime later in the week for some lunch– but there's still that strange underlying sense of pity in his tone.

You thank him for his mindfulness and let him leave.

By the end of the day, you decide to stay a little later than usual, and this time Sara approaches you. You don't pay mind to her, and as a result, she flicks the side of her head, crossing her arms and staring down at you as she crosses her arms. "Here," she offers you a wrapped sandwich, filled with healthy greens and meat, "you forgot to eat."

"Did I?" You look at the clock, realizing that the last thing you had eaten was a boiled egg and some coffee, "I… I guess I didn't feel too hungry today," you shrug your own thoughts off, eliciting a stare of disbelief from Sara.

She lets out a sigh, leaning on the side of your desk before speaking to you. "Day one back, and you're not eating, you're clearly stressed– and now you're overworking yourself," her words irk you. You weren't doing that. You were just keeping your mind off things.

Before you even get a chance to retort, she suddenly speaks up again, pointing at a note that Childe had written for you on the right side of your screen, "'Battles can't be fought on empty stomachs'," she quotes before adding on, her honey hued irises bearing down onto your own, "how do you expect to come back and waste your energy like this, exactly?" Sara's tone is sharp, sounding almost irritated with you– a side you saw uncommonly.

"If your mind is like a sword then it needs to be sharp to cut into anything," Sara was saying something along the lines of things Childe would say again, and it bothered you to no end since it didn't sound all too right coming from her, "go home and come back when you're prepared. It's perfectly fine to be upset over someone betraying you," she ushers towards Childe's empty seat, "but ignoring your own feelings and allowing them to fester within you while you work will only bring you closer to death–"
"Sara," you interject with a disparate tone, "please, don't mother me right now. I can take care of myself."

Sara narrows her eyes onto your form before shaking her head, "I apologize," Sara starts, "I don't mean to be bothersome. As a friend," she uncrosses her arms, tossing you a soft look, "I'm just concerned. I want you to know it's okay to feel whatever you're feeling right now. You have a week off," you watch as she pushes herself off of the side of the desk before ambling towards the door, "so just take a break. You deserve it."

When Sara disappears behind the door, you can't help but look at the sandwich she had left on your table. You deserved a break?

There's a trickle of guilt seeping into your mind as you think about Childe's words from several nights ago.

"Now you've finally caught someone in the Fatui, using somebody else who is also a part of the Fatui. You're going to be in big trouble when they find out– when I tell them. Are you scared that I'll tell them?"

Going by his words, and by everyone's reactions around you– you could only suppose that Childe never told them about your relationship with Kunikuzushi. You prod at the sandwich, turning your eyes over to the clock on your computer before finally sighing.

You supposed you would have to ask why tomorrow.

Meeting Childe had been easier than you thought, but seeing him was different altogether. Half of you had expected him to walk into the room with his usual cheery grin, only to find that his appearance had significantly dulled, his eyes lacking the luster it had held only days ago. He seats himself before you, and from across the glass pane, the two of you just stare at each other for a little bit, as though digesting the situation that had unveiled itself in the space between the two of you.

You pick up the phone. He matches your movement, and with a soft sigh, you begin.

"Hey," your greeting is short, your voice smaller than you had intended as you fidget with your free hand, feeling at the skin of your thighs. Your irises interlock with his own, and you fight the urge to avert your eyes. God, it was a little more painful than you had thought to see him like this.

"Hi," Childe's voice is as friendly as it can be, a small placated smile crawling onto his lips, "thanks for visiting. I didn't think you'd want to see me again after…" He pauses before continuing, "Everything."

You nearly scoff, a small smile appearing on your lips as you gaze at him, the weight of his words falling onto you. "Yeah, I, uh," you huff, "I'm here mostly to… Clarify a few things."

Childe's expression slightly falters, and you nearly don't catch onto it– the sudden softening of his brow ridge and lessening of the upward tilt of his lips. Despite this, he continues, "Of course," he offers, leaning forward in his seat, "what do you need from me? I'll tell you," Childe promises, "for as long as it doesn't get you and I killed."

You ponder over his words for a moment, your eyes scanning his expression once more before you nod. You supposed he wouldn't tell you things so easily about the Fatui. He was already banged up from what you supposed was the interrogation process , clear bruising on his cheeks and a few band aids scrapped here and there.

"I'll get straight to the point then," you offer, feeling your chest grow cold, "why didn't you tell them about my involvement with… Scaramouche," it was strange saying his alternate name, since it was very unfamiliar to you.

For a moment, you watch Childe's eyes flicker with torrents of emotions, his eyes narrowing onto you as his frown deepens, and when he responds, his tone is cool and low, "It's simple, comrade," he begins, "you are… Or were, " he corrects himself, "my valuable partner. And I didn't want to drag any more trouble onto you more than I already have," Childe's smile is bitter, "you've done plenty, just supporting me on the sidelines. You don't deserve anymore of this trouble. Besides," he huffs, "he's important to you, isn't he?"

You open your mouth to say something, his words trickling like molasses into your mind.

"I don't know what relationship the two of you have," Childe admits with a strict expression, "neither will I bother to inquire."

His voice stalls your mind, his strange, careful tone edging in your head, "..I don't really get you, Childe," you surmise with a low voice, your eyes dropping to the metal table he leaned on, "I suppose I never really have known you, but you're telling me right now that you care for me– and that since you care for me, you don't want to give me anymore trouble. A couple months ago though," you tentatively trail your eyes back up his form, gradually finding his eyes, "you willingly set me up for failure. The Fatui members, Il Dottore and La Signora, they were aware of me, and Il Dottore actively tried to capture me–"

"I didn't know," Childe quickly interjects, his tone filled with a sense of dread, "that Il Dottore was downstairs. I was to meet him upstairs, at our designated meeting area. Otherwise, I swear I tried," Childe reasons, his irises flashing with regret, "I tried to get him off of you– and it's good he didn't get you."

"Then what about earlier?" You note, "You put a gun to my head. You're telling me you care, but nothing is showing it."

"..I have no excuses to pardon me in that moment," Childe shakes his head, his expression void of any emotion now, "a mission is a mission, and with Scaramouche there, I had no choice but to commit to it– or else," Childe huffs, "it'd be my head, or my entire family's head on the line."

Childe's words weigh on you heavily, and you allow him to continue with a small nod, keeping your composure as you stare at him.

"Comrade," Childe starts with a solemn tone, "can I request you to do something for me?" You nearly roll your eyes at his words. The audacity Childe had, being put behind bars for drug trafficking, pressing a gun against your head– and now he was making requests?

"Fine," you reluctantly agree, "I'll do it depending on what it is."

Childe tosses you a grateful smile before continuing, "I don't have eyes out on the world outside of this place anymore," he gestures to the room around him, "so I was wondering if you could please let me know how my family is doing from time to time. Just…" He huffs, sounding frustrated with himself, though it's masked with a tender tone, "Just check on them every now and then. I'd do it myself but," he snickers, "you know how it is."

You narrow your eyes onto his form, tapping your fingernails against the metal table beneath you before finally nodding. This was the version of Childe you were much more familiar with, this man, obsessed with doing everything and anything he could to support his family. You supposed that despite all his facades, this one feature of him was a part of his core being.

The man by the door tells you that the two of you have five minutes left.

"Let me warn you, comrade," Childe starts, his expression turning serious as his voice lowers into a whisper once more, "your allegiance with Scaramouche has only forced the Fatui's eyes on you. Il Dottore… That man has taken interest in you because of your relationship with Scaramouche ," he scans your expression, a noticeable anxiousness seeping into your features as he continues, "to be short, he thinks you'd make a wonderful decorative piece. Now when I was able to," Childe continues, "I cut him off from contacting you at any point possible. Instead, I've been the one putting myself at risk, doing missions under his jurisdiction, despite knowing I've been under watch– because god knows what he wants to do with you, and it's definitely no better than what he's done to others–"

"Two minutes!" The guard hollers with a small smirk, and you toss the guard a small glare before averting your attention back to Childe.

"My point is that you need to be careful." Childe hisses under his breath, "They'll be after you when you aren't looking. Be suspicious of everyone on the streets, when you're outside– just for your own sake," Childe lets out an exasperated sigh, "watch out for yourself. Just avoid being alone, merge in with crowds if you have to. You have a target on your back."

You swallow a build up of saliva in your throat, your blood running dry throughout your system as you ponder over his words. A gullible part of you think it'd be easy to dodge them– to simply get away, and perhaps if you were cornered you could handle them on your own– but that wasn't true. Who knew what type of people they would send after you, when they would do it and where. You could ask to be put under watch with Sir Kamisato's guidance, but that would only bring suspicion to you since they had no idea of your relationship with an ex-harbinger.

Your eyes trail to meet Childe's own once more, coming face to face with a harsh truth.

If Childe had been providing you cover from within the Fatui, then now, you were truly alone.

The guard begins to walk towards Childe, and Childe's eyes burn into your own as he says one last thing before leaving.

"Are you prepared for your action's consequences?"

You watch as Childe puts the phone back into the receiver, his eyes remaining on you as he frowns at you. You purse your lips tightly, your eyes brimming with a hellfire he knew all too well. He shakes his head, offering you one last smile of relief before turning around.

Of course you were prepared.

When the doors close behind him, Childe forces whatever thoughts he had left of you out of his mind, and when he steps forward, he grits his teeth, keeping a stern expression on his features. Warning you was the best he could do, and now everything was up to you. The outcome of every instance, your own future– he would no longer be there to witness such a thing unfold. Although it wasn't entirely pleasant to know such a fact, he was content in knowing he no longer had to look out for you from his base operations.

With a sigh, Childe listens to the sounds of voices echoing all around him as he is guided back to his cell. Now he just had to put all his focus into himself.

Notes:

im updating twice cuz i wrote like 14k? HELPPPPPP

Chapter 9: Kiss It Better

Summary:

In which Kunikuzushi tells reader about his past.

Notes:

NOTE: I updated twice! so read the last chapter if you havent already
also another note, A LOT OF TALKING.

"What are you willing to do?
Oh, tell me what you're willing to do?"

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Alone in your room, you lay flat on your bed, thinking back to Childe's words today as you listen for any noise in the silence. You didn't want to be paranoid in your actions, being careful in your approach to your life as it was now, but you were better safe than sorry. You didn't dare to take that gamble, although Childe could have been just trying to scare you.

You check the time, noticing that it was past midnight. You check your phone for any notice from Kunikuzushi before finally pulling yourself up with a sigh. You couldn't sleep. You still had so many questions racing in your mind.

Opening up your laptop, you check over Raiden Makoto's case once more before going back to digging, checking through Ei's public profile once more, and you gather knowledge from what little posts you see, since she was more of an introverted person and updated her profile every two years, more or less.

Raiden Ei.

She had been married some time ago, though her husband had died of natural causes. Ei had a twin sister named Makoto, deceased for eight years, and upon further research on Ei, you had come to find that she hadoneunnamed kin. You had only known due to a photo you had found with Ei and Makoto smiling together, linking arms with Ei holding onto a child's hand.

It had to be Kunikuzushi,you thought to yourself as you scrutinized the photo once more, the feeling of a puzzle piece being set into place collecting into your mind. The dark locks, the hue of the child's irises–it was without a doubt, Kunikuzushi.Just in a preschool uniform, donning a cute little yellow bucket hat.

You couldn't help but scoff.

How did such a cute kid end up being the bratty bastard he was today?

You think of Kunikuzushi's smile as he digs his finger into Childe's bullet wound.

Somewhere, somehow down the timeline– he had sided with the Fatui, the very people who killed Makoto– as opposed to siding with his mother, who had been with the police force.

Now why was that?

Feeling restless for the rest of the night, you attempt to distract yourself by watching select videos on your favorite streaming website, gradually falling into a slumber after a few hours have passed.

Days pass, and you make sure to keep an eye out for anything suspicious outside of your windows. Nothing has happened over these few days. They have been far too regular, albeit a little lonelier since Childe was no longer texting you and sending you silly videos. To test your theory of Childe deluding you into thinking you were truly targeted, you went outside– alone to the grocery store, making sure to arm yourself with a taser prior to leaving your home in case any trouble had showed up– and unsurprisingly, nothing happened.

You even went as far as to eat dinner outside that day.

Nothing happened, and nothing was reported to you by your coworkers.

Ultimately, with a shrug, you decide that Childe must've been bluffing. It wasn't unheard of for Childe to try and save his own face during moments like these where he had been put in serious trouble. He had done it before when Kamisato Ayato yelled at your entire team for misplacing valuable evidence, and he had done it in private to hide his own lies from you during one of your meetings with him outside of work.

This must've been one of his attempts. You scoff, feeling your chest sink. Of course you couldn't trust him, he had already betrayed you once, why wouldn't he try to betray you again by making you paranoid and playing with your psyche. He did say he was a harbinger first and foremost as opposed to an investigator.

With that mindset, the next day, you found yourself out and about again. You decided to visit Makoto's old flower shop, since apparently the shop was still being run by people– that is, until you notice something amiss.

You were being tailed.

You turned on your camera to make sure at some point, pretending to take a photo of yourself only to see the hooded figure tailing you from behind. You take a quick photo, eying the picture as you cross a street with a crowd, your frown only deepening as you think back to Childe's words. So perhaps he wasn't lying. Your phone buzzes in your hand, and you swiftly flip the screen upwards, eying the message on the screen.

A message from Kunikuzushi:

"You're such an idiot. Turn right at the end of the street."

You scrunch your nose in discomfort. Was he following you too now? You turn around, eying the distance between you and the hooded figure, realizing that the figure had closed in on you quicker than you had expected. You shake your head, returning your focus back on the sidewalk before you. You couldn't turn right yet– you had to disappear further into the crowd.

When you cross another sidewalk, there's a buzz in your pocket. You look at windows of the shops to your side, pretending to eye the clothing on the mannequins as you gauge the distance between you and the person following you. He wasn't on the same glass panel. Great.

With that, you sped up your walk, your eyes zeroing in on the walk sign before you as the crowd ambles across the pavement. Oh, shit, you thought to yourself as you came to an abrupt stop, you couldn't make it.

The walk sign comes to a halt, the opposing traffic lights turning green, and you grit your teeth, listening to a pair of footsteps approach you rapidly from behind you. You should do something, you thought as you searched your surroundings, you should do something– and now!

Just as you are about to reach into your bag for your taser, an arm wraps around your shoulder, a body pressing onto your side as if pretending to be familiar with you. You immediately freeze up, hearing a voice all too familiar in your ear now.

"Hi," Kunikuzushi begins, an irritated smile playing on his lips when you turn to face him, his indigo hued irises flickering with annoyance, "Miss Investigator. I see that you still have problems with your eyes and ears," you flinch away, a strange noise leaving your lips as he pushes you to move with him in accordance with the crowd surrounding you, "you should really work on getting both checked." His tone lowers, nearing a growl as he trudged down the road with you.

"You–!" You start, only to be quickly hushed by Kunikuzushi as he quickly grabs you by the wrist and throws you off to the side with him, hiding in a dark alley, crouched beside garbage bins. Kunikuzushi keeps a pale hand over your mouth as his irises flicker upwards, scanning the area to the side as he listens for footsteps.

While he is surveying your surroundings, you come to realize that there was a fairly new cut on his cheek that had been scabbing over. You raise an eyebrow in question, admiring his pale features as his dark locks shift, his irises focusing back onto your own. You clench your teeth as his hand slowly drops from your mouth, his face approaching close to your own– and just when you think to say something, his hand shifts, cupping the side of your cheek as he presses your cheeks together towards the center of your face.

"Seriously," Kunikuzushi clicks his tongue, glowering at you, "I sometimes wonder if being your partner is more trouble than it's worth," his tone is cold, and he only lets go of your face when you lightly smack his chest. Backing away from you slowly, he lets you speak, reminding you with a finger pressed to his lips that you should speak in a whisper.

"You have ignored me for nearly two weeks," you explain with a harsh tone, "and you reappear like this!?"

"I just saved your sorry ass from getting caught by the Fatui," Kunikuzushi replies in disbelief, "that's twice now. I think I'm well excused. Your debt is starting to pile up, Miss Investigator," he clicks his tongue in disappointment, seating himself next to you with a huff, "you owe me an arm and a leg. If you're not careful with yourself, you might have to owe me your life."

"Listen," you reason with a scoff, "I didn't need your help just now. I was close to getting away–"

"Oh yeah," Kunikuzushi snickers, rolling his eyes as he reaches for his pack of cigarettes in one of his pockets, "so close– to getting injected with a numbing serum in public, and then getting dragged away in a black van," he retorts sarcastically, "try saying 'thank you'." You watch as he lights up his cigarette, taking a breath in as he turns to face you, a small smirk on his lips as he notices that you had finally consigned yourself to defeat.

Holding his gaze, you feel your phone in your pocket, pulling it out from its spot to check the message he had sent you earlier.

Kunikuzushi:
Terrible woman.

You narrow your eyes at him before finally letting out a sigh, "Fine," you reluctantly say, "I'm sorry for being ungrateful. Thank you for helping me out," at your words, Kunikuzushi lets out a pleased hum, blowing a puff of smoke towards you and listening in delight as you let out a series of coughs, your hand waving in the air between the two of you as you attempt to billow out any smoke.

"You are welcome," Kunikuzushi replies with a sardonic smile.

After about twenty minutes of just staying by the dumps, Kunikuzushi abruptly urges you to stand up and with that, the two of you head towards the direction of his hideout. When you ask him why he opted to take you there, he responds with a matter-of-fact tone, sounding almost in disbelief at your own question.

"What makes you think that heading towards your home after being followed like that is a good idea? You're smarter than this, Miss Investigator." Kunikuzushi's voice is tepid, nearing icy as he tosses you a short glare, "Pull your hood up, and walk with me. If they end up finding out where my base is due to your lack of concern, I might reconsider helping you next time."

With a scoff, you heed his words, puffing a cheek in irritation as you pull up your hood, keeping your pace behind him.

"Are you deaf?" Kunikuzushi scowls, his irises burning with irritation at your actions. You stare at him in disbelief, coming to a halt as you scour your mind for reasons as to why he would be annoyed with you. He swivels around quickly and grabs your hand, and you glower at him as he drags you next to his side, "I said walk with me. Not behind me."

"Okay," you hiss, feeling his grip on your hand lessen as the two of you amble down a street, blending in with a crowd of people, " sorry," you huff, feeling your hand become warm in his own as he tugs you closer towards him. From your peripherals, you notice that there's a small upturned quirk on his lips, and you can't help but feel a little embarrassed as your attention becomes more focused on how his fingers shifted to intertwine with your hand.

A part of you wanted to whine. Was this really necessary? Or was he just playing around with you again, since he had found amusement in your reactions? You opt not to comment on it, thinking that if you had given Kunikuzushi the reaction he had wanted from you that he would only continue his strange bouts of playfulness to see more from you.

When the two of you enter the hideout and settle down on the couches, you make yourself comfortable, bringing your legs up on the couch as he sat himself in front of you. You wrap your arms around your legs, pressing yourself into your seat as you purse your lips.

"I've wanted to talk to you for some time now," you slowly begin, watching as his expression softens for a fraction of a second upon hearing your words, "and I know you've been ignoring me for your own reasons. I assume that you're done ignoring me now?"

Kunikuzushi snickers, pressing a hand on the side of his cheek as he rests his elbow on the armrest of his chair, leaning back in his seat, "I guess you can say that," he answers with a small smile, "it's getting hard to ignore you after the fifteen or so messages you've sent over the past two weeks." You grit your teeth, averting your eyes away from him as he lets out a soft chuckle.

"..In all seriousness, Kunikuzushi," you continue, finding his indigo irises once more, "I have a lot of things I need to talk to you about– and I require your sincerity for this." You press your hands on your legs as his eyes narrow onto your form. With a small nod, he silently agrees to your conditions. Pressing on, you take a deep breath before finally mustering the courage to start with the most pressing topic in your mind first.

"The relationship between you and Raiden Ei," at your words, his eyes automatically harden, his expression falling as his fingers flex, "you are her son, are you not?"

"Of course not," Kunikuzushi replies, shifting in his seat, "why would you think that–"

"Please," you interject with a stern tone, "please don'tlieto me." Your eyes find his own, and you watch as a storm grows behind his cool hued irises, his expression only darkening at your words, "..I talked to her," you slowly explain, "while I was in the hospital. She told me lots of things–and asked if I saw you at the crime scene."

"And did you tell her?" There's an underlying anger to his tone that you don't bother to remark on.

"No," you shake your head in dismissal, "no, I didn't–!"

"Good,"Kunikuzushi scoffs, crossing his arms now as he glares at you, "keep it that way. Keep that woman out of this," his expression is icy, and it causes you to start thinking that perhaps you were barking up the wrong branch–until you notice a strange fragility to his tone,"It's better that way…"

You don't reply. You opt to survey his body language and his features, looking for signs of discomfort. You stare at him, waiting for him to expand on your question, to which he simply pretends as though you hadn't said anything at all. With narrowed eyes, you lean forward in your seat, pressing your feet back down on the ground as you edge towards him. "I saw you in one of Ei's photos along with her sister," you confess, your voice low as his irises gleam with a sharpness, "I was looking through one of her profiles. Ei told me that you are important to her."

"This is what I hate about you police people," Kunikuzushi hisses under his breath, "always so nosy, digging into things that don't concern you… I suppose it was wrong of me to think you were entirely different. This is your line of work, after all, " Kunikuzushi frowns at you, a condescending layer tinging his tone, his eyes narrowing into a glare, "..What else did she tell you?" The way he's scrutinizing you makes you feel as though you were a bug, being put under a microscope.

"Enough," you promptly reply, thinking that you don't need to go any further with your choice of words, "it wasn't hard to piece everything together with the information she told me." You would purposely omit certain things to get the answer for him– just as you were taught to in the police department during your interrogations. "So tell me, Kunikuzushi," you start again, your irises teeming with confidence as you notice his faltering expression, "why is it that you and Ei are on opposing sides, despite your blood relations with one another?" You decide to get straight to the point, thinking that there was no real reason to dodge the directness of your words.

The sun was falling from its place in the skies, dipping below the tall buildings of Inazuma, allowing a searing warm light to filter through Kunikuzushi's windows. You kept your gaze firm on his own, despite the sourness of his features. After some time, Kunikuzushi concedes, realizing that you weren't going to give up on prying him any time soon.

"..Miss Investigator," he begins with a chide tone, "I should tell you now that she and I have always been after the same thing regarding the Fatui," the corner of his lips turn upwards, forming a sarcastic smirk as his eyes remained narrowed onto your features, " we both want them gone. The only difference between her and I is the way we go about it, I suppose," he scoffs, leaning forward in his seat, his irises gleaming dangerously, "she would prefer to catch them and interrogate them. Me, on the other hand…" Kunikuzushi's voice drops a few octaves, the sun disappearing beyond the buildings completely.

You eye Kunikuzushi carefully, the room now filtered in a cold hue that you find compliments his overall character.

"I want themdead,"Kunikuzushi confesses, his irises flickering with an unfathomable darkness.

You purse your lips, keeping quiet as you press your weight down onto the plush cushions behind you. His expression now looked nearlyanimalisticin all its senses, his eyes narrowed, his features darkened from the shade of his hair falling over his eyes. You cross your arms, deciding to keep your mouth shut.

Kunikuzushi lets out a breath as he presses his elbows on his legs, his hands pressing together as he starts once more, "I want them all to suffer, " Kunikuzushi says with a smile, "I had told you before, it would be nice to just explode that cruise we were on– and honestly, if you hadn't been there– then perhaps I might've followed through with such a garish plan." You grit your teeth, your fingernails digging into your skin as your heart sunk to your stomach.

This aura he exuded now– it was the same as when he had laughed on the balcony of the boat– the air surrounding him felt thick and poisonous– like miasma… It was horrible. It felt horrible, like the miasma would stick itself onto your skin somehow despite how imaginary it was.

Kunikuzushi lets out a hollow chuckle, bringing your attention back onto him as he grins at you, "Come on now, Miss Investigator. You don't have to look so scared," he snickers, "you've known me to be like this, haven't you? You've expected it," he shrugs, his irises gleaming with interest, "after all, you didn't look so surprised when Tartaglia told you that I was Scaramouche. Who am I kidding, you even took the fall for me–" another bubble of laughter escapes his throat, "to keep my identity hidden, right?"

"I'm just keeping my end of the bargain up," you reason, feeling your muscles tense as his gaze remains on your form.

Kunikuzushi scours your expression, his smile only growing when he notices a look of discomfort on your face. "Very well," he concludes, "I suppose you've earned the right to learn more about me. Your loyalty is proof of your conduct," his tone is smooth when he speaks, the hesitation he had held in his tone earlier completely gone now.

"You're correct," he tilts his head, keeping his eyes on your frame, "I am Ei's child. Her one and only son," Kunikuzushi huffs, his irises flickering with a strange emotion as he continues, "I'm sure you already know of Makoto's death. Her passing, all in all, was the trigger to start this entire thing– the reason for me joining the Fatui. Makoto, Ei and I– we all lived together in a small house ever since my old man died, and Makoto saved Ei from her grief," Kunikuzushi pauses, his eyes widening as he realizes that perhaps he was saying too much, but for whatever reason, he couldn't stop himself from speaking.

"Makoto lit Ei's world up again, as she had done to mine. Makoto was like my second mother, since Ei had been mostly out of my life due to work. We are both indebted to Makoto in that sense," Kunikuzushi scoffs, thinking back to his own fond memories, now shrouded by a layer of darkness, "life seemed to be on track again after a series of ups and downs. Ei was in her prime, closing cases one after another– and then she got really close to shutting down the Fatui operations at some point," Kunikuzushi's tone darkens, "so close that in retaliation, they bit back."

Kunikuzushi's lips turn upwards into a sardonic smile, one that you find is deranged as he continues to speak, "They took Makoto after she had finished closing up her store one night. Ei searched far and wide for days straight with other police officers– and I remember waiting every night until morning for Makoto to just come home for weeks–" he lets out a breath, "then Ei found her."

There's a moment of silence that passes between the two of you, and in the silence, you gather your thoughts, feeling your heart splinter as you see an expression on his face unfamiliar to you. "It broke her," Kunikuzushi's voice is soft, his eyes leaving your own, the smile on his lips falling completely, "and for months, she shut her eyes to everything else in the world and droned on, working away, ignoring even her own basic needs to just find the bastard who killed her. The police could hardly find anything to tie down the Fatui."

"Ei waskilling herselfthrough work, and I got sick of it.I wanted to help too,"he admits, his eyes trained to the floor, "and the police were fucking horrible at doing their jobs, so I decided to do things my own way," Kunikuzushi glares up at you, his irises burning with an emotion unknown to you, "I figured if the police couldn't help from the topside, I might as well go underground and do some snooping myself. So I disappeared, Miss Investigator."

He sneers, "I wasn't with the Fatui at first, I worked with other people in small groups. It wasn't until he found me too," Kunikuzushi leaned forward in his seat, "we were intercepting another drug trade, a Fatui related trade . I think of it as being in the right place at the right time. Lo and behold," he shrugs, "Il Dottore was there– and he seemed to recognize me. He took me away, killed my group…" he trails off, his irises glistening with an unbridled rage, despite the impassive expression on your face, "And he toyed with me for weeks, " his tone is low, nearing a growl, "eventually, he got into my head. You've read a few files regarding his human experimentation, correct?"

You tentatively nod, scanning Kunikuzushi's expression as he adds on,"Brainwashing,"Kunikuzushi snickers, "after long, sleepless weeks of torture, he had successfully broken into me," he offers you a sardonic smile, "I endured it all with the latent thought of wanting to be a part of the Fatui. By the end of the torturous cycle, I forgot about my past, but still clung onto the obsession to be a part of the Fatui. I suppose one can say to an extent, I was born anew. I climbed my way up to be a harbinger, and I began to idolize Il Dottore's works and his way of thinking. Execution– or in the Fatui's terms,'retiring'people," he peers up at you, watching as your face pales, "was my forte, along with planning trafficking routes. I'm sure you already know that though, don't you? It's all in your files, after all."

You don't say anything for a while. You opt to eye him, his smile only growing at the sense of unease that built between the two of you. His words were hard to digest, to say the least, and when you do speak, you find yourself asking a question that had been lingering in the back of your mind, "You quit," you point out, "how did… How did you get here," you keep your eyes on his features as he starts once more.

"..A couple years ago," Kunikuzushi huffs, "on one of my operations, I came to meet Ei. It was supposed to be an assassination– under Il Dottore's orders as a senior harbinger. I guess he thought it would be funny, if her 'missing' son killed her. I killed her group in a shootout, but when I came face to face with her– I found it hard to dedicate myself to pulling the trigger . There was a strange trickling feeling in the back of my head." You figure that this was the same moment Ei had mentioned earlier, in which she had met 'Scaramouche' for the first time.

"And of course," Kunikuzushi snickers, his irises narrowing at his own memories, "she was overcome with grief when she saw me. Ei broke down, standing before me , and she asked if I had remembered her. The stupid quack probably hadn't anticipated that his brainwashing would fade if I came across a familiar face, and when it did disappear, it felt strange. It was quick–" he snaps his fingers, " just like that. It felt like I woke up from a long dream. I didn't remember who she was immediately, but I couldn't bring myself to kill her by the end of it, and neither could she hurt me. So in return, Ei gave me her badge as a way to remember her. She told me to find her, and to never forget her again before letting me disappear prior to backup arriving."

"That same day, I disappeared from the Fatui's ranks, and went into hiding. I thought of looking for her at some point, but I didn't want to see her until I had Il Dottore's head on a platter. It took me a few months to rehabilitate myself from the brainwashing, and I had even gone as far as to buy someone else's identity to go around in public without drawing suspicion to myself. The ID you used to look me up," he gestures towards you, "the idiot I bought the identity from is a druggie who would sell their life for money. I would be a fool to ignore such an opportunity."

Ah, you think to yourself as you let out a sigh, allowing your eyelids to flutter shut. That made more sense to you. You were wondering how an eccentric like Kunikuzushi could walk around with such a clean slate. You don't bother asking how he had come to know of somebody foolish enough to sell their identity– considering Kunikuzushi probably knew lots of people in the underground world. It was only natural for him to have connections, especially since he had worked with the Fatui for a long time.

"Are you satisfied, Miss Investigator?" You reopen your eyes to find Kunikuzushi smirking at you, "I've told you everything you need to know about me. Now you know why I despise the Fatui– for playing me like a fool, and for killing my beloved aunt. Surely," Kunikuzushi sneers at you, "you could now learn to completely trust me."

Satisfied? You mulled over his words, keeping your eyes low as you gazed onto the floor before you. Were you satisfied? As opposed to satisfaction, you felt rather… Sad. Bringing your legs back up to your chest, you let out a soft hum, unsure of what to say.

Kunikuzushi's eyes remain on your form, his smile disappearing completely as he registers the crestfallen expression on your face. "..I don't want your pity over my past," he starts with a scoff, his tone awfully icy, "I want you to see me for who I am now. I'm a latent criminal, a murderer and the mastermind behind the drug trafficking routes. When the Fatui in Inazuma are all gone," he leans in closer towards you, his voice dropping to a whisper, "we'll have to part from one another. The contract between us will naturally dissolve– and you'll have to do your job and hunt me down." You grit your teeth, your heart hardening in your chest as your breath catches in your throat.

"Do you think you can face me with the intent to kill me, Miss Investigator?"

His words hang in the air for a moment, and behind your eyes, a storm emerges. Pressing your arms around your legs tighter, the chill of the room settles onto you, his words lingering in your mind as you think over the information he had just given you. The two of you were enemies by default, working on opposing sides with a clear difference in morality and judgment. You respond with a question, sounding unsure of yourself, "..What if I can't?"

Kunikuzushi offers you a small smile, his expression only softening at the sound of your doubtful voice, though you don't see it.

"..Then I'll have no choice but to kill you."

After some convincing, you decide to stay the night in Kunikuzushi's abode, the two of you coming to an agreement that it would probably be safer to remain elsewhere for the time being since it was dark outside and the Fatui could still be walking around and about your location. He lends you some of his clothes to sleep in for the night, and after a nice, hot shower, you slip into them.

You reconvene with Kunikuzushi at the lounging area, his locks of hair still damp from having just showered. He's smoking by an open window, his eyes remaining on his own body as he wraps a bandage around a healing wound on his upper arm. Kunikuzushi only notices your presence when you take a few steps towards him, your footfall light.

He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow up at you, scanning your attire with a small smirk, "Feeling refreshed?" It's only then when he's completely facing you that you realize he's much more injured than you had originally thought, with a gauze peeking out from underneath his sleeveless black turtleneck, accompanied with wraps around his other arm. He was this injured, and he was smoking?

You don't say anything. Instead, you walk up to him, looking rather irritated as you reach for his pack of cigarettes. Just before he can say anything, you toss the box out the window with a little huff, listening to his growling from behind you as you watch it land on the floor by a passerby.

Kunikuzushi latches onto your forearm, tearing you away from the window with a harsh tug, and when your eyes interlock with his own, he hisses, "What the hell was that for?"

"Smoking," you fire back with an equally harsh tone, "is really not a good idea when you're this injured. The reason why you're healing so slowly is probably because of all of these–" you usher towards the cigarette in his other hand, "stupid cancer sticks you keep smoking every day. At this rate, you'll die before I get a chance to kill you," you rip your arm out of his grip, keeping a firm glare on his features as he scowls at you.

"What I choose to do," he nears you once more, and you don't bother to take steps back, "when I'm injured, and what I choose to do with myself, Miss Investigator," his tone is low, edging near dangerous, "is none of your business. Understood?"

You poke at one of his injured arms, earning a hiss from him as you let out a huff, "I am a part of your business, and as a part of your business," you begin with a light tone, pressing a hand onto his chest, "I would like to say that you're only slowing yourself down and killing yourself by being stubborn," you shake your head, his gaze burning onto your features, "you said you'd kill me if I hesitated. How are you going to kill me if you're dead, Scaramouche?" You shift away from him, seating yourself on the empty spot next to where he had sat earlier as you scan the surgical items on the table, the smell of antiseptic and smoke irking your senses to no end.

Kunikuzushi glowers at you, disbelief and irritation merging into one as he watches you pull out bandages from his med kit, "Are you upset because I said I'd kill you?" He found it odd you were using his harbinger title as opposed to the name he had issued for you to use. Kunikuzushi seats himself next to you, his irises remaining on your features even as you begin to douse some cotton buds with alcohol.

You toss him a small glare, "No," you reply with a scoff, "I just thought you would be smarter than to smoke while you're wounded like this," you outstretch a hand towards him, and he stares at you in pure incredulity. "Give me your arm," you point towards the arm he had been wrapping a bandage around, "there's some bleeding there which means you didn't close the wound properly. I'll do it for you."

He scoffs, raising an eyebrow up at you, "Are you my mom or something?" Regardless, he decides to rest his forearm on your hand, and you begin treatment quickly, unwrapping the bandage from his upper arm.

You choose not to reply, instead you survey his wounds some more as he finishes the rest of his cigarette. "Your wounds," you start tentatively, watching as his irises flicker back onto you, still flooded with an aloofness to them, "were they from the fight outside of the abandoned ruins?" You had remembered the particular detail of Childe's gun being found, planted on a Fatui member, though you clearly remember Kunikuzushi had left with it in hand prior to leaving you and Childe alone.

Kunikuzushi doesn't respond for some time. As though thinking of what to say, he allows a few seconds to pass before finally nodding, feeling a burn race throughout his system as you clean his wound, "Yeah," he replies, "the bastards must've heard Childe struggling over the phone when you had knocked it out of his hands. I knew it wouldn't be that easy. There was a whole crew sent to back him up," Kunikuzushi scowls, narrowing his eyes onto your figure, "different from your stalker earlier. That rat belonged to La Signora's little troop."

You hum, still focused on treating his wound. "It was hard to lie about that," you continue as you begin to wrap up his arm in a fresh new bandage, "because I didn't really know what happened while I was out." Kunikuzushi watches in silence as you tenderly press along his arm, the touch feeling unfamiliar to him as he shifts to move closer to you unconsciously.

You put the metal bandage clips in place before scanning the rest of his body, peering over the injuries you could see. When you find nothing unusual, you let out a soft sigh, your cheeks burning when you notice how intensely Kunikuzushi had been gazing at you. "W-What is it," you start with a shaky tone, feeling a little nervous with how your legs touched his own with how close he sat next to you.

"What about your wounds?" Kunikuzushi inquired with a tilt of his head.

"Ah," you blink twice, snapping out of your reverie as you press down on your stomach, "I can at least shower properly now," you reply with a small smile as you trace the outer edges of your wound, "it should be healed in a few more weeks or so, but the doctors say it might take another month for the pain to completely go away. Thankfully I managed to narrowly dodge any important organs, so I'm doing a lot better than I had initially anticipated. I still need painkillers though." A small smile spreads on your lips as you let out a relieved sigh, your head tilting back upwards to meet Kunikuzushi's gaze– and your breath halts in your throat when you notice how close he was leaning towards you now.

Kunikuzushi lets out a low hum, sounding almost distracted as his irises remain locked with your own, his lips pulled taut into a thin line. He reaches a hand out, his fingertips grazing along your cheek, brushing away loose strands of hair from your face, "Hmm," he begins, "so you're fine then?"

You nearly forget to respond, your cheeks burning with heat as you reply, "Of course I am," you slowly retort, shifting back in your seat as you offer him a smirk, "otherwise I'd still be in the hospital…"

Kunikuzushi pulls away from you, his eyes still on you as his expression turns unreadable, "What about the flowers I sent you? Did you like them?" There's an emotion that feels far too warm and welcoming in Kunikuzushi's eyes that startle you, and you avert your eyes, suddenly feeling like you couldn't look at him straight on despite managing to do so with no problem earlier.

Flowers? "You mean the roses?" You start, feeling a little shy as you shift away from him once more, "I… I guess they worked?"

The dark haired male raises an eyebrow up at you in irritation at your response, "What do you mean 'they worked'?"

"I mean everybody who came to visit teased me about them," you huff, shaking off the nervousness wracking your body, "even your mother thought I was seeing someone…" Upon hearing Kunikuzushi snicker, you toss him a small, embarrassed glare, "I mean it is pretty weird," you huff, "receiving a hundred roses as opposed to a regular bouquet. You wouldn't normally give that to people, would you?"

Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow onto you form, the ends of his lips curling upwards, "No, I wouldn't give that to people normally," Kunikuzushi admits before adding on, "but you aren't a normal case. I suppose you could say that… It was my way of showing loyalty towards you, just as you have shown loyalty to me."

"Excuse me..?" You were unsure of how to perceive his words. Was he being playful again? You heave an exhausted sigh, lifting your hands up in surrender, "I give up," you huff, earning an amused chuckle from him once more, "you're too unpredictable sometimes."

"Giving up already?" Kunikuzushi feigns distaste, "You're becoming a bore, Miss Investigator. After everything I told you today, the least you can do is provide me some entertainment." He watches you as you get up from your seat, completely moving away from him now as you move towards one of Kunikuzushi's larger windows.

You let out a soft sigh, letting out a small snicker as you think to yourself at Kunikuzushi did a horrible job , looking for a home with amazing views. Feeling a breeze billow in from one of the open windows in the hideout, you feel a chill run down your spine. Rubbing your arms, you lean on a ledge by the window, your mind reeling to a slow pace as you smile, "You know," you start, "we don't have to kill each other by the end of this," you offer, turning your head to glance over at him. When your eyes find his frame, you continue.

"..Work is getting a little more lonely lately without Childe," your features are softened, your smile remaining on your lips as you lock eyes with Kunikuzushi's irises, "you could come work with me. You're officially my only partner now. I mean–" you babble before he can say anything, and his eyes widen at your words, "we have a similar goal to take the Fatui down, and you're clearly already capable with weapons and your fists, you have the brains to go about doing this…" You trail off when you hear him scoff.

"No," Kunikuzushi retorts with a snicker, a small derisive smile on his lips as he leans over the couch to look at you from where you are seated, "I told you already. I hate the cops, but," he drawls his irises gleaming with interest, "I think I can counter your offer. Why don't you," he points towards you before flickering his finger back towards himself, "work with me?" You nearly let out a laugh in disbelief at his words, "I'm serious, Miss Investigator," he presses on with a lighter tone, "I'm clearly understaffed, and for these past few months, I've come to accept that we make a wonderful team. As I said long ago," his lips curve into a wider smile, "I knew my eyes didn't fail me in choosing you."

"A compliment," you pretend to be taken aback, "from the most ingenious ex-harbinger himself?" Kunikuzushi rolls his eyes at your words, and you let out a small laugh as you stare at him, your laughter slowly coming to a stop as you ponder over his words just a little longer than you should. "..What would my pay be like?" You decide to play along, ambling back towards him as you readjust Kunikuzushi's shirt on your body, feeling at the edges of his shirt.

"Ludicrous," he simply replies, his eyes on your form as you stand a little ways away from him.

"What's that supposed to mean," you laughter is like glimmers of light to Kunikuzushi's ears, his eyes narrowing onto you as you cross your arms, your hands still brushing along your exposed skin, "am I going to be paid a bizarre amount in a good way, or in a bad way?"

Kunikuzushi takes a moment to respond, his smirk never faltering as he combs through his hair with a free hand, "Guess you'll have to find out?" You let out another small laugh at his words, and he can't help but feel his chest grow warm at the sound of it.

"You suck," you comment, sticking your tongue out at him, "let me guess, I'll have to work with you at the cafe too, just so I can afford my rent?"

Kunikuzushi shrugs, "Information comes at a price, darling," at the sound of the nickname leaving his mouth, you can't help but feel your face heat up in embarrassment, "all you have to say is yes or no," he lifts a hand towards you, leaning forward in his seat as he tilts his head, "what do you say?"

Your smile falters. This felt like an odd deja vu. He had done the same thing when you first met him, all those months ago– offering you to work with him as his partner. These months spent with him haven't been unpleasant… Rather, you dare say they've been your brighter months despite all the stress you had been undergoing– having coffee with him most mornings, dancing with him, spending time together after work at times. It was nice…

Kunikuzushi's smile lessens when he sees your features soften, your gaze finding his own. His fingers flex, his breath hitching in his throat as he sees an emotion flicker in your eyes so warm and so alluring to his tastes that he has to stop himself from reaching forward to hold your hand. He watches as you tentatively reach out for his hand, his pulse rising as you near him once more. When you hesitate, Kunikuzushi's irises lock with your own.

"I'll make it worth it," Kunikuzushi slowly says, his voice coming out in a whisper, "you won't regret a thing…"

You almost let out a scoff. He really was like a devil– handsome like one too, his irises glowing almost violet when the light of the moon hits them, illuminating the side of his face. You offer him a small, forlorn smile as your hand falls, relaxing back to your side before you cross your arms once more. Kunikuzushi stares up at you quizzically, his lips falling open, a strange almost dark emotion swirling in his eyes as his lips pull downward– and suddenly, in a quick motion, you're being pulled downwards, your face just inches away from his own as his hand wraps around your wrist.

"Why do you hesitate?" Kunikuzushi's voice is low, his whisper falling nearly deaf on your ears since you were far too focused on how close his face was to your own, "Have you learned to fear me?" You blink twice, unsure of what he had entirely meant until he prodded onwards, "You weren't so shocked when Tartaglia called me Scaramouche…" He finally says.

Your reply is delayed, your irises zeroing in on his own, "You weren't entirely too focused on keeping it secret, now were you?" Your voice is replied in a mimic of his own whisper. You seat yourself next to him, realizing he wasn't going to let go of your wrist any time soon, and you allow him to run his fingers across the skin of your arm as you shift to face him. "I've known for awhile," you admit, bringing your legs up on the couch, "I just… Don't think I ever tried to admit to it. I was in denial," you let out a sardonic laugh, "I didn't want to admit I was working with one of the notorious harbingers– but I don't think I was ever really scared of you."

When Kunikuzushi brings your head closer to his own, his hand on your chin now as he tugs you closer to him, you can't help but feel your heart stutter in your chest. This level of intimacy was highly unusual for the two of you, though you supposed you couldn't say anything. You had kissed him before, after all, as a cover up or not.

"..Well?" Kunikuzushi's lips are in a thin line on his face, his eyes gleaming as he peers into your own, his hand traveling up the side of your cheek as he presses your forehead against his own, "How about now, since you've confirmed it yourself who I really am?"

You grit your teeth, and Kunikuzushi feels the muscles of your jawline tense under his touch. His breath is hot on your cheeks, his fingers trailing across your skin, leaving a burning sensation in their wake.

"..No," you're breathless when you narrow your eyes, not turning away from him as he moves closer to you, and you lean back into your seat.

Kunikuzushi lets out a chuckle, sounding pleased with your response, "You should be a bit more careful, Miss Investigator," he succeeds in cupping one of your cheeks, his head tilting ever so slightly as he smirks up at you, "I'm still a criminal, no matter how close we may seem…"

God, you hated him so much. He had tendencies lately– to do this, act all flirtatious, and then he would easily sweep it under the rug of 'team building' – which you had found to be absolutely bullshit. Asking you to give him a proper kiss, sending you a bouquet of a hundred roses– and then pulling this– you weren't entirely sure how long you could deal with him anymore.

You can't help but toss him a small glare as you peel yourself away from him in a slow fashion, unable to help yourself from scoffing when you notice his expression had significantly softened. Your chest tightens at the sight, his fingers lingering just a little longer on your cheek before he finally begins to pull away–and you don't let him.

Frustrated, you plant a chaste kiss on the edge of his lips, feeling annoyed as you pull away despite your cheeks burning red, and despite your heart threatening to burst out of your chest. Kunikuzushi stares at you with wide eyes, seemingly dumbfounded, his breath stuck in his throat as you hiss under your breath.

"Bite me,"you huff, pressing your fingertips along his chin before pushing him away from you, "I'mdone being careful,"you retort as you shift backwards, moving away from him, "Igot stabbedandthrew myself under the bus for you.So what makes you think I'm afraid of you in the slightest?" The confidence in your tone only wavered when you stood up and looked back at Kunikuzushi, only to find that his eyes had blown wide, his face red to the tips of his ears.

You tear your gaze away from him immediately, pretending to yawn as your mind screamed in terror at your own actions, "I-I'm going to bed," by default, Kunikuzushi had allowed you to take his bed for the night, "I'll see you in the morning, Kunikuzushi…" Before he could say or do anything else, you immediately raced towards the stairs, heading up to his bedroom. You slam the door behind you and throw yourself onto his bed, not bothering to inspect your surroundings as you let out a huff.

"Am I fucking crazy or something? What am doing!?" You whisper to yourself, punching one of Kunikuzushi's pillows before settling down on top of it, and when you shift to your side, you let out a hiss.

Kunikuzushi's smell was everywhere. On the pillow, on the blanket on top of you– this entire room was flooded with things he called his own.

Oh god you really were going to go absolutely insane– you flip the pillow around, hoping that the scent of Kunikuzushi's shampoo would be gone, and much to your relief, you smell nothing. You bury your head into the pillow, not wanting to think or smell anything other than the soft, lingering scent of laundry detergent.

Your phone dings next to you, and when you look at the screen, your face only burns more.

"Goodnight, darling. I think I'll scold you tomorrow for kissing me without my permission again."

You slam your head into Kunikuzushi's pillow and slide your phone off to the side, uncaring of the thump it makes when it falls to the floor and off the bed.

Tonight,you will have a hard time falling asleep.That much was certain.

Notes:

miss reader fed up with the flirting.

kiss it kiss it better baby!
their relationship will go downhill dont worry guys! LMFAOOOOOOOOOOO /jk (/jk)

Chapter 10: R U Mine

Summary:

In which Kunikuzushi takes matters into his own hands, letting you rest.

Notes:

Small warning. Unhinged, sadistic Scaramouche, but I think we already knew that. and POVs switch from time to time between reader & scara

"In my mind, when she's not right there beside me
I go crazy 'cause here isn't where I wanna be"

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

In the morning, when you come downstairs, Kunikuzushi is already awake, a cup of coffee in front of him as he scrolls through his phone, and your eyes land on the matching keychain he owns. You tiptoe around him, not quite mentally prepared to face him after the sleepless night you endured. At the sound of coffee pouring into a mug, Kunikuzushi perks up, his voice stern as though to scold you.

"You're up pretty late, Miss Investigator," he scoffs, his irises flickering over to your form, focusing in on your back as you jump, startled by his voice. You slowly turn around, keeping your eyes off of him as you give him a small nod, followed by an almost inaudible 'good morning'. Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow, noticing your strange demeanor, "Didn't sleep too well?" He comments as you pass by him, and when you turn to look at him, your face bright red, he points at his own eye bags, "You look tired."

"I slept well," you lie, your voice louder than you had wished it to be as you walk away, "I slept so well," you think back to how you had woken up in the morning, buried in Kunikuzushi's blankets. Your face burns further, and you sigh as you seat yourself across from Kunikuzushi, your lips pulled into a tight line.

Kunikuzushi hums, seemingly unfazed by your words as he continues to scan you, putting his phone down onto the table. With a small smirk, he finally decides to say, "Embarrassed?" Your eyes widen at his words, and he clicks his tongue in response, "What are you," he snickers, leaning forward in his seat, "in grade school? It was just a peck on the lips…" There's a clear mockingness to his tone that immediately has you setting off.

"You're one to talk!" You fire back at him, glaring up at him as you clench your hands into fists, "Your face was so red last night!"

Irked, Kunikuzushi sputters, his cheeks tinging red. Returning your glare, he rebuts, "Of course," he starts, attempting to sound cool and casual when he presses on, "it was such a terrible kiss. I was embarrassed for you." Crossing his arms and legs, he taps his index finger on his bandaged arm, an irritated smirk on his lips as he continues, "I bet you slept well. How was it, sleeping in the room of a man you just kissed?"

Alarmed, you bolt up from your seat, your mind spinning with every passing second as his words echo throughout your head. Heat burns throughout your body, spreading to the tips of your fingers. You open your mouth to say something, only to feel far too shy for your own good. Keeping your eyes lowered, you listen as Kunikuzushi chuckles.

"That's two kisses without my consent," Kunikuzushi feigns disappointment, letting out a small huff of air, "who knew you could be so aggressive, Miss Investigator?"

Having enough of his teasing, you grab the cup of coffee you had set down on the table before leaving towards the lounge, "I-I can't deal with you right now," you retort with a low tone as you stumble into the lounge, keeping your phone at your side.

"It's not a big deal," Kunikuzushi's voice is loud, spilling down from the kitchen area, "unlike you , I'm not all too embarrassed about it."

You shake your head, willing his words away as you focus on the screen of your phone, ignoring the constant beating of your heart in your chest. This type of interaction first thing in the morning definitely wasn't good for you. You could hardly think straight, and besides– nothing about this was right! You've been hanging around him for too long– that would explain your rapid heartbeats, surely enough. After all, there was no way you were starting to like some criminal, right? Surely you had more common sense than this. Your mother did not raise an idiot.

You snap out of your own reverie when your phone buzzes in your hands, and when your eyes zero in on the screen once more, you realize it's a phone call from Kokomi. Feeling your blood drain from your face, you feel a wave of sobriety hit you like a brick to your head.

You pick up the phone quickly, your eyes flickering over to the side to ensure that Kunikuzushi was still far away from you.

"Hello?" Kokomi's voice rings from the other end.

"Kokomi," you start with a low voice, "good morning," you greet her carefully, noticing that there had been a slight tension to her tone. When she returns your greeting, you prod on, "What's the matter?"

"I need to catch you up on a few key things. Have you watched the news lately? Celestia and the Fatui have been brawling and causing more problems around the city," Kokomi's voice is tentative, and you reluctantly shrug her initial words. Their brawling was bound to happen and to get worse at some point. Before you can say anything, Kokomi continues, "And… We have eyes on another harbinger."

You purse your lips, your eyes growing wide, "Who is it?" You whisper to your phone, unable to hide the slight anxiety in your tone. Was it Il Dottore? La Signora, perhaps? Or had another harbinger been sent over to Inazuma during your time away?

"..His name is Scaramouche."

Your heart comes to a halt, all sense of joy dying in your chest as your stomach drops. With wide eyes, you look over to where Kunikuzushi had been sitting down.

Oh, fuck.

"Scaramouche," you slowly say, wanting to make sure you had heard her correctly, "the one that's been missing for a few years now?" You grit your teeth, your chest swelling with uncertainty as you think of what to do. If they had really found Scaramouche, then you were by default screwed too, weren't you? You shoot up in your seat and put Kokomi on speaker phone, racing towards Kunikuzushi as you continue, "What evidence have we found so far regarding Scaramouche?" Upon locking eyes with Kunikuzushi, you press a finger to your lips, reminding him to be quiet as you set your phone down on the table in front of him.

His indigo hued irises glint with amusement upon seeing your serious expression, and with a lean forward, Kunikuzushi focuses on listening to Kokomi's words.

"Through an anonymous tip, we found his base of operations," you turn to look at Kunikuzushi in disbelief, and you immediately begin to move towards the windows, your eyes in search of any sign of movement or suspicious activity outside. You look at Kunikuzushi from where you stand, confusion on your features as you shrug.

"It's a little strange, however," Kokomi sighs, "some areas are dusty– while other areas look as though they had been lived in as of recently. We set up cameras over the weekend and we caught a hooded person, coming in and out of the facility. Over the next few days, we tried to catch them– however I think he caught onto us," Kokomi pauses, her tone tinged with clear disappointment, "he hasn't returned since." There's a brief relief that settles within you upon realization that she had been speaking about a completely different location.

Even so, did that mean Kunikuzushi had been revisiting the said location? You raise an eyebrow at Kunikuzushi in question, to which he simply shakes his head in incredulity at Kokomi's words. So it wasn't Kunikuzushi then?

"..That's a lot to absorb," you slowly begin as you seat yourself at the table, "do we have any information regarding his features?" You shake your head in irritation when Kunikuzushi leans forward on the table, his hands folding to cradle his hand as he raises an eyebrow up at you, his lips quirking upwards into a small smirk. You roll your eyes at his display of playfulness. He knew he looked good, that much was clear.

Kokomi allows another sigh to pass her lips, "That's the thing," she huffs, "we don't know anything. This could be an elaborate set up as far as we know, however with Childe having brought up Scaramouche's name several times during the interview, we have no choice but to follow through with what evidence we have."

You let out a soft breath, feeling relief overwhelm you. It seemed that you haven't been blown completely out of the water just yet. "I see," you capitulate with a smile, crossing your arms as you lean forwards on the table, "thank you for sharing the information Kokomi. I'll make sure to catch up when I get back to work in a couple days. I really appreciate that you'd go out of your way to call me for important things like these."

Kunikuzushi lets a low hum out, noticing your expression had incredibly softened, your eyes remaining on the phone screen before you as you lift it up from the table.

"Ah," Kokomi sounds a little happier than you had thought, "that's not a problem for me. You are an important and respected senior of mine– and a friend at that," your smile lessens at her words, "please take your time in recovering. I hope to see you shortly…"

"Thank you, Kokomi," you thank her once more, "I'll be going then." When you hear her bid you farewell, you finally drop the phone, letting out an exasperated sigh as you ease into your seat. "Who the hell is framing you now?" You let out a disgruntled noise as you shift in your seat, throwing your head back to stare up at the ceiling. Having Kunikuzushi's presence under suspicion would only bring you more pain.

Kunikuzushi scowls, his irises darkening, "One of the harbingers left, no doubt," Kunikuzushi drums his fingers along the table, his thoughts clouding, "this is troublesome. I don't have anything of serious importance back at my original base," Kunikuzushi huffs, "however it doesn't please me in the slightest that my oh-so-precious ex-coworkers are trying to bring me down in such a roundabout way like this. I suppose it's like them to be so cowardly… "

You watch as Kunikuzushi mulls over his own thoughts, until his eyes flicker with delight, a realization falling into his mind.

"What's your plan?" You inquire upon seeing his expression brighten.

Kunikuzushi smiles. "Nothing!" He admits with a wide smile as he shrugs, his irises narrowing onto your form as you toss him a look of incredulity, "Absolutely nothing. Let's face it, Miss Investigator," you watch as his expression darkens with a seriousness, "you could never keep me hidden forever without putting your job on the line. So why not let them try and find me?" Kunikuzushi swirls his nearly empty mug of coffee, his eyes finding the tepid dark liquid in the mug, "Let the vermin take a gander, and if I really want to play around with them, then I'll simply leave them false clues. You police people have virtually little to nothing on me, anyway."

You take a moment to absorb all the information he had told you, keeping yourself still as you mull over his words, "..You want them to try and find you then," you surmise with a frown, not looking too convinced with Kunikuzushi's conclusion.

"They can try," Kunikuzushi offers with a smile, "but who's to say if they'll succeed or not? In all honesty," there's a flicker of something bright in Kunikuzushi's eyes that your mind is just a second too slow to process, "I still have a few cards up my sleeve. It's really up to me if I ever want to go that far though," Kunikuzushi hums, "I doubt I have to, considering the progress between the Fatui cases and the police couldn't have gone any further without my input."

You can't help but feel a little annoyed with his remark. He was right, Kunikuzushi was a key factor to all the information you had regarding the Fatui, and without him… Perhaps you'd find nothing for a long while. "..Okay," you tentatively say with a shake of your head, "I suppose I don't have to concern myself over this then?"

"Not at all," Kunikuzushi snickers, "keep your mind entirely off of it. I have everything under control." His words rung throughout your mind, and you come to a dull realization that he definitely had the most control, even in your partnership with him. As much as you preferred to think that you had leverage, the truth was that if you had sold him out, he could easily sell you out as well– and with his knowledge regarding the underground, he had his ways to run away without a target on his back.

You let out a soft hum, your eyes remaining on Kunikuzushi's cocky smirk before you let out a soft laugh, "I suppose you do," you admit before finally getting up from your seat. "I'll get ready to head home," you say as you stretch a little ways away from the table, "I should be alright now, right?"

Kunikuzushi doesn't say anything. Instead, he surveys you, his eyes running over the curve of your neck, scouring down your body from head to toe as though to memorize you– to burn the very image of you in his clothes into his mind.

And then his breath hitches in his throat.

What the hell was he doing right now?

Kunikuzushi purses his lips, a strange realization dawning onto him as his cheeks tinge with warmth. Placing a hand over his mouth, he acts nonchalant, bringing his hand to his head and running his digits through his hair when you look over at him, "..Sure."

When you're finally gone from his view, he feels choked.

Perhaps it was good you'd leave his house. You were an excellent distraction from his looming thoughts. Any more of this, and he was afraid he would catch your level of stupid.

Kunikuzushi walks you back home, not quite wanting to leave you all on your own again– and while he is outside with you, he scouts the areas for any signs of Fatuu, only to find that nothing seemed out of place for the longest time. Just as he was turning lax, something catches his eye from his peripherals as he nears your home– a dart of a shadow, scurrying away in an alleyway.

Kunikuzushi smiles. That's one rat, he thinks to himself as he adjusts the sunglasses on his face. Now, to drag out the rest of the rats from their hiding holes…

Dropping you off at your doorway, Kunikuzushi questions you with an enthusiastic smile, his hands pressed deep into his pockets.

"How do you feel about dinner around seven?"

And of course, although your reply was tentative, you agreed to it. Walking away from your doorway now, Kunikuzushi keeps quiet, his eyes flickering towards the alleyway when he passes by it once more.

Before he completely leaves your premises, he sends you a short text, reminding you to stay indoors in case anything were to happen. When you reaffirm him, he lets out a soft sigh.

All he had to do now was wait…

Dressing yourself up, you wonder if it would be worth it to put on some makeup despite your tiredness. Sure, you were exhausted but… You wanted to look amazing. Applying powders onto your face, feeling a little too giddy, you think back on the kiss you give Kunikuzushi last night, your face heating up as you hum.

The two of you have gotten… Closer, to say the least… Though you couldn't help but think that perhaps this closeness should be unwelcome to you. Your motions come to a slow stop, your happiness slightly dimming as you purse your lips into a thin line. You eye yourself in the mirror, tracing along your own features as your lips slightly part.

The two of you were natural enemies, and here you were, entertaining yourself by putting some makeup on– and sure, you could tell him and yourself that you did this for you as it usually was for most days, but tonight… Was different. You wanted to look good… For him.

Was that even right of you? Cut from the same cloth, the two of you were traitors to your kind– at least that much was shared in common, and the rest…

The rest would remain far and away from your mind. Tonight, you wanted to at least indulge yourself. A part of you had been wanting such a romantic encounter for some time now, since you had been all holed up at work for most of your years. Perhaps you were growing desperate..? Or maybe it was just because of that devilish charm of Kunikuzushi's that allured you.

You lightly slap your cheeks, bringing yourself back out of your thoughts. "One night to enjoy yourself," you whisper to your own reflection, "you're still recovering from your wounds, you helped shut down Fatui establishments, your team is still finding more and more leads– just one night! You got this," you weren't entirely sure what the point was of hyping yourself up like this, but you were sure that after a few drinks tonight you would be feeling a little less embarrassed about it.

Giving yourself one last look, you head out, feeling excitement pound away at your chest. Kunikuzushi had said he would be paying for your meal at a fairly expensive restaurant. How often did you ever treat yourself out like this? Ambling down the streets to the designated restaurant, you attempt to calm yourself by reminding yourself that this was not a date, and it was in fact another 'team building' exercise.

Distracted, you don't notice a couple that tails you from behind.

And from a distance, a pair of eyes watch the distant hooded figures trailing you from a few meters away. Kunikuzushi hums in a low voice, "Gotcha."

The hooded Fatui members look over at one another as you cross the street, their eyes meeting with one another before one of them finally nods and quickens their pace in a haste to reach you. The woman keeps her eyes on you, waiting for you to pass through the crowd of people as she feels for the medical instrument in her pocket, and just when she is about to reach over, she is suddenly being pulled backwards and dragged away.

The woman turns around, bewildered, her eyes growing wide as she is forced into an alleyway. Kunikuzushi smiles at her, his eyes narrowing as he lets out a soft chuckle, "I found you," he sing-songs, his mood pleasant as the Fatui member attempts to fight back. Kunikuzushi dodges the blade of a knife with a simple motion, his smile only widening when he notices that the Fatui member's expression had dropped.

A scream echoes from the alleyway as Kunikuzushi drags her by her hair, her fingers now broken, scrambling for her strands of green hair as she wails. Kunikuzushi pays her no attention, instead he proceeds to bring her to an empty area. Before he can drop her by the center of the area to interrogate her, backup arrives

Kunikuzushi feels someone kick at his hind legs, causing him to fall over– and he quickly recovers, using the momentum of his sway to launch a hard punch at the Fatui member."You insects do like to struggle,"Kunikuzushi hisses, narrowly dodging the impact of a blade, "all in all, it's futile–" in one swift motion, Kunikuzushi kicks the blade out of the attacker's hand and spins himself around to deliver the attacker another kick aiming up their chin, successfully knocking them back.

Listening to the sound of footsteps, Kunikuzushi hisses when a blade pierces through the side of his coat. Delivering one final blow to the green haired Fatuu, Kunikuzushi growls, taking note of the sizeable tear in his coat before commenting, "I have a fucking date after this," feeling anger swell within him, Kunikuzushi slams his foot down onto the woman's dominant hand, her pained howl echoing throughout the vicinity. "I'll break your shitty hand," Kunikuzushi's voice is low, his irises gleaming almost violet, "since you can't seem to at least aim properly with it," he rests one of his feet on her hand, ignoring her hissing as he slowly applies more pressure onto the heel of his foot, "it's better I dispose of your hand completely."

With a small smile and a tilt of his head, Kunikuzushi raises his leg up into the air and brings it back down onto her hand, his smile only widening at the sound of a sickening crack flooding the air. Seeing that she was now passed out from the pain, Kunikuzushi reaches into her pocket, feeling for any weapons as he had seen her reach into her pocket earlier when she was behind you.

"Hm?" Kunikuzushi hums, his fingers trailing along a syringe as he takes it out of her pocket, "What's this? This isn't the usual numbing serum… Is this one of Il Dottore's new experiments?" His indigo hued irises scan the substance resting in the barrel of the syringe, noticing that it had glowed a strange, sickly green color. Retrieving it completely, Kunikuzushi pulls himself back up. "Well," he starts, his irises still lingering on the sickly green hue of the liquid within the syringe, "I'll test it out then…"

Kunikuzushi moves onto his next victim, the man who he had kicked down from earlier. Kunikuzushi hums, narrowing his eyes onto the man before him as he backs away, whimpering,"Stay back!"

Feeling a wave of iciness fall over him, Kunikuzushi's smile dissipates completely. "Are you giving me orders?" Kunikuzushi starts, taking slow steps towards the man on the floor as he continues to whimper, "You? I suppose La Signora is too easy on you idiots. The people under my dictation wouldn't dare say something as stupid as what you had just said– even as a plea , " Kunikuzushi scoffs, his irises narrowing onto the male's form as he cowers beneath him.

"N-No," the male begins, "I-I didn't mean to order you, sir Scaramouche! Please," he pleads, beads of sweat rolling down his skin as he backs away into the wall, "please don't kill us! We were just following orders!"

With a disappointed click of his tongue, Kunikuzushi lowers himself, and without a second thought, he plunges the needle into the man's neck and presses down on the plunger, watching as the male's eyes go wide, "I don't recall ever asking for an excuse."

When the fluid in the syringe is all gone, Kunikuzushi haphazardly tosses the needle away, tossing it to the side with a slight smile as he awaits for the effects of the syringe. Suddenly, the male beneath him convulses, and strange bubbles begin to appear underneath the skin of his face. The Fatuu hisses in pain, whimpering as his body begins to freeze up, his muscles locking into place as tears start to burst from the corners of his eyes.

"Disgusting," Kunikuzushi scrunches his face as he begins to frisk the man before him, feeling along his pockets and coat, down to his legs before coming across another syringe. Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up in interest, a small snicker leaving his throat, "Were you planning to use these on my partner?" Kunikuzushi watches as the man's eyes roll back, his foam beginning to form in his mouth as the male beneath him whimpers.

"Please," the Fatui member pleads yet again, "please– no more," their voice is strangled, as though he had a hard time just talking.

"Answer my fucking question," Kunikuzushi scowls, his voice deepening as he leans in towards the Fatui member, a hand latching onto the man's collar, pulling him upwards from his seat, "were yougoing to use these syringesonmy partner?"The thought of it made his blood boil, and it took him every cell of his body not to just pummel the man below him into an incorrigible mess of flesh.

"T-That's what our Fair Lady wanted," the man confesses, his tone coming out as a whimper, "we're just following orders!" When Kunikuzushi presses the needle against his neck again, the man hisses.

"What were your orders, exactly?" Kunikuzushi inquires, his irises burning as his smile drops from his face.

"To bring her in alive," the male continues, "to inject her with these serums until she finally spilled your whereabouts and talked–!" His voice quickly trails off as Kunikuzushi abruptly keeps the man still.

"Is that so?" Kunikuzushi feigns curiosity, his eyes narrowed onto the body beneath him, "I wonder just how much of these you can take before your body starts to shut down from the chemical imbalance. What do you think?" Without further ado, Kunikuzushi plunges the needle into his skin once more, injecting a second round of the serum into his body. Kunikuzushi shrugs, tugging the needle out as the body beneath him starts to convulse once more, the male's fingers turning clawlike and locking, "Well, I suppose I'll find out myself."

Kunikuzushi presses a hand on the side of his cheek, checking his phone quickly to see the time, his lips falling into a deep frown as he continues listening to the man before him babble in pain, "You know, I'm going to be very late to a very important meeting with my partner, thanks to you pathetic bunch," Kunikuzushi rolls his eyes, tossing the syringe away behind him as he scowls, his indigo hued irises focusing in on the body of the man before him, now completely unmoving.

Kunikuzushi waves a hand in front of the motionless man, watching with amusement as the man's eyes trail his motions, though he remains unmoving, his mouth locked tight, only whimpers leaving his throat. Kunikuzushi laughs, amused by the turnout of the events, "That quack has done lots of improvements over the past few years," Kunikuzushi thinks out loud, not noticing a figure approaching him from behind. Just as Kunikuzushi is about to stand up, he falls to the ground, his phone clattering out of his hands.

The edges of his vision turn black as he lets out a hiss, pain resounding throughout his body, "Ouch," he growls, his irises blowing wide at the sound of shuffling. His eyes lock with a Fatui member's own pair, and Kunikuzushi tilts his head.Ah,he had miscalculated, he thinks to himself as he begins to rise from his spot on the floor, his eyes remaining on the green haired Fatui woman from earlier. She panics, looking at him, her eyes wide as she struggles to bring her comrade up from the floor, her broken hand unusable as she tugs him up and begins to limp away as quickly as possible.

Kunikuzushi doesn't give chase to them immediately. Instead, he feels at the side of his head, groaning when he realizes there has been some blood leaking from a fresh wound. His eyes scour the floor, his eyes landing on a steel pipe that the woman had used on him earlier before finally finding his phone on the floor. Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow in disbelief.

Had his phone broken from that?He leans downwards, letting out a soft groan as his wounds ache throughout his body. Kunikuzushi picks up his damaged phone, pressing along the screen and buttons on the side to see if it would work–only to find that the screen permanently remained black.For a moment, Kunikuzushi grasps at the matching keychain strap you had given him, his lips pursing shut into a thin line. He pockets his broken phone.

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, feeling a surge of warmth bloom throughout his body as he averts his eyes back up towards where the Fatui members had disappeared to, night falling over him now with the skies transitioning from blue to an array of warmer colors.

Oh, he was pissed now.

You sit alone at the restaurant, ignoring the strange burning feeling in your chest as you drink some fine wine you had ordered for yourself. It was painfully awkward, being surrounded by couples and families alike, all laughing among one another, their smiles wide. In a way, it felt like they were mocking you– as though to jeer at your loneliness.

You bite your lip as a waiter comes by to ask if you were ready to order for the third time that night. You shake your head and let them know you were still waiting.

Kunikuzushi was never the type to disappear on you.

But what if you had scared him with all your strange advances from yesterday, pressing your lips against his skin– or maybe, just maybe, this was his way of telling you that he wasn't interested. By embarrassing you like this– and you wouldn't put it past him. He did tell you that your kisses were of no 'big deal' to him and he had told you a long time ago that he would find the view of you lost amidst a crowd of dancing people entertaining. Kunikuzushi had his occasional spurs of sadism, and perhaps this was just one of them.

Humiliation.

You shake your head vehemently, taking another long sip of the wine you had bought.It's only been thirty minutes–perhaps he was running late? But he hadn't eventexted you–which washighly unusual of him,and he didn't bother to respond to your texts either.Was he ignoring you on purpose?If so, then maybe he wasn't interested in you after all. Maybe you were right when you thought he was just playing around with you, asking for a better kiss, telling you he would buy you a 'less tacky' ring in the future, and then offering you a hundred roses.

Still, you think to yourself, groaning as you feel a wave of dizziness slowly overwhelm you, your eyes scanning the wine bottle once more as you pour yourself another drink, what type of asshole would do all that, just to prove a point of playing around with you?

An image of Kunikuzushi flashes in your mind, his smile careful as he calls you a'terrible woman'.

You purse your lips.

Just ten more minutes,you reasoned with yourself.You would wait ten more minutes.

Kunikuzushi catches the woman dragging her partner down by the ocean line, much to his pleasure. Chasing them down had taken longer than he had thought, since they seemed to make use of any hiding spot they could–however,in the end, he was the victor.

With the steel pipe she had used to hit him, he coolly ambles towards her, now that she was exhausted from having pulled twice her weight along with her. The Fatui member collapses, her eyes wide as she backs into a metal fence, dropping her partner in the process.

"S-Stop," she whispers, her voice hoarse as she avoids leaning on her dominant hand, her hands feeling her pockets for any weapons until Kunikuzushi slams the steel pipe down next to her face, effectively startling her.

"Oh," Kunikuzushi feigns pity, "what happened to all your fighting spirit earlier? Are you all tired now?" Her vision is shaky, her breath uneven as she stares up at his eerily calm expression in terror. Kunikuzushi swings the pole back over his shoulders, turning his gaze towards the man, who had slowly started to gather his strength again. Kunikuzushi could only assume that the effects of the syringe had been wearing off.

"Let's see," Kunikuzushi steps back, "I guess the woman will have to go first," Kunikuzushi scowls, his eyes turning dark as he reaches over to grab the woman by her hood, and she shrieks when Kunikuzushi begins to drag her past the fence, uncaring of the cement and sharp rocks that scrape along her torn clothes. "This is all due to La Signora's incessant need to try and find me," he clicks his tongue, pulling her down by the ocean, and when her face is towards the sea, he steps on her free arm and leans down, burying her head into the ocean waters below.

Kunikuzushi counts in his head, his eyes remaining on her struggling form as she kicks around, her screams drowned by the water, "Three, two, one…" He trails off, pulling her head back up, "Now do you understand what's on line? It'll be your life if you continue to be disobedient."

He allows her to gasp for air, before a string of pleas escape her throat,"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry–!"

"If you're sorrythen show it,"Kunikuzushi hisses under his breath,"dog.Tell me where La Signora is."

She shakes her head, still gasping for air, "I-I don't know," she whimpers, and with a roll of his eyes, Kunikuzushi begins to lower her head once more, "wait! Please,I really don't know!"

"What type of pathetic dog are you, to not even know where your own master is?" Kunikuzushi scoffs in disbelief, "I don't buy it." Before she can say anything further, he sighs, forcing her head down into the icy waters once more as the sun completely falls over the horizon, the sky turning into a deep blue. Kunikuzushi lets her choke on the water a little longer than he should before finally pulling her out again, "Next time, you won't be so lucky. Where is La Signora?"

"I don't know," the green haired Fatuu sobs, "I don't know– she's been missing on and off lately! It's been Il Dottore and Tartaglia that have been active since she's been gone for most of the days–"

Kunikuzushi lets out a chuckle, "Is she taking a vacation or something? Makes sense why Tartaglia had been caught so early then," Kunikuzushi hums, "he's been doing more work than he's able to." Kunikuzushi pauses, "Very well. Where is her base located then?" His eyes shift towards the top of the fence, noticing that the male's body had gone missing from his spot leaning on the fence earlier.

The corners of his lips turn downwards.That wasn't good.

When Kunikuzushi nearly dunks her head back into the waters, she shrieks, "B-By the docks!" She quickly replies, "It's disguised as a fishery– but beneath it is her main base! Tsumiki Market!"

Kunikuzushi whistles, "That certainly brings back memories," he hums to himself, thinking back since that used to be his original base of operations, "I suppose I should thank you, but in all honesty," Kunikuzushi's irises flicker back onto the ocean, his eyes interlocking with her own expression of fear, "I'm pissed off with you. So," Kunikuzushi pulls her head all the way back, his foot still resting on her forearm as she screams in pain, "perhaps it's time for you to join the fish. Ah, and don't worry," Kunikuzushi snickers, "your partner will be joining you soon. I'm not so heartless as to let lovers die without one another," he leans in a little closer as he smiles, "you were ready to trade your life for his own, right? That's why he's not sitting by the fence anymore. Or maybe he just turned tail and ran away from you? "

The laughter that leaves his throat ishorrificto the woman's ears, "Thatsucks,doesn't it?" Without further ado, Kunikuzushi slams her head back into the waters, his coat getting wet since she had been kicking and moving around– and when her motions come to a stop, he finally lets out a huff. Dragging the rest of her body over, Kunikuzushi watches as her body falls to the bottom of the dark ocean below.

Kunikuzushi lets out a sigh, rolling his shoulders as he looks up at the sky. He wasn't used to this type of dirty work anymore. He supposed spending time with you had made him spoiled.

And then it hits him.

Talk about spending time with you, he had no time to be playing around.Kunikuzushi's breath hitches in his throat before he lets out a loud shout,"Fuck!"

He had completely forgotten about that date with you.

In a burst of energy, Kunikuzushi scampers off to find the remaining injured Fatui member. After successfully retiring the last pest, Kunikuzushi reaches into the man's pockets to grab hold of his phone. Checking the time, Kunikuzushi lets out a string of curses. Shattering the phone, he tosses it into the ocean along with the deceased body to his side.

It had been an hour and a half since he promised to meet you.

He was screwed.

Rushing to the restaurant despite his messy appearance, Kunikuzushi asks the servers if they have seen you. Much to his surprise, you had only left forty minutes ago. You had waited for him that long?

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth and races towards your home, his pocketed hand feeling along the keychain you had given him several months ago.

When he arrives at your doorstep, he knocks a few times, calling out your name in a composed fashion despite how breathless he had been from all the running previously. Wiping away the beads of sweat that formed at his forehead, he knocks a few more times, sounding a little bit more impatient now. Kunikuzushi shrugs off his coat, allowing the night air to cool his body, "I need to talk to you," Kunikuzushi huffs by the door.

After a few more knocks, followed by your lack of response, Kunikuzushi lets out a sigh. Where have you gone? You couldn't have gone to the hideout, could you?

Just about to leave, Kunikuzushi is stopped by your rather shaky voice echoing from the other side of the doorway, "What do you want?" Your voice is hoarse, and it causes Kunikuzushi's breath to halt for a moment.

Were you crying?

Kunikuzushi tentatively responds, his eyes wide as he stares at the door before him, "I… I needto talk to you,"Kunikuzushi explains, his tone calm as he continues, his heart stuttering in his chest, "I was busy with work, and–"

"With work?" You laugh in disbelief, and Kunikuzushi grits his teeth at the sound of your sardonic tone.

"My phone broke," Kunikuzushi starts again, "so I couldn't tell you I'd be coming late. Listen," Kunikuzushi huffs, walking towards the door, "if you let me in, I'll explain everything to you. Let me in." His voice is soft, causing you to be taken aback for a moment.

"..No," you reply, your voice low, nearly falling to a whisper, "I don't… I don't want to see you right now. A-Ah," you pause, letting out a snicker, "and the date– I couldn't go anyway, so it's fine. I texted you, but I guess since you broke your phone–"

"Don't lie to me," Kunikuzushi's eyebrows furrow at your words, "I already know you were there for a while, and you waited…" Kunikuzushi's voice trails off. You had waited nearly an hour for him. Kunikuzushi runs his fingers through his hair, feeling irritated with himself. He shouldn't have played around with those idiots earlier. He should've just killed them and got the information as soon as possible. He let his emotions get the best of him…

"..I got rid of them," Kunikuzushi reluctantly admits, keeping his voice low as he presses his head onto your door, "there were people that were tailing you today when you got out for the date," Kunikuzushi explains, "more of La Signora's people. So I got rid of them, " Kunikuzushi lets out a soft sigh, "cut me some slack, will you, Miss Investigator?"

When you don't respond, Kunikuzushi continues, his eyes half lidded as he scowls, glaring at the door in front of him. When he hears a soft sniffle, he shakes his head. You probably weren't thinking straight right now either. "..Fine," Kunikuzushi huffs, shoving his hands into his pockets as he leans back on the railing, "if you won't let me in, then I'll wait here until you do."

He hears you huff from beyond the door, "Just go home," you reply with a disheartened tone, "I'll… I'll find time to see you tomorrow. Just… Please leave me alone tonight." Your tone had caused a discomfort to arise from his chest, his heart feeling a little blistered, as though hearing your words had hurt him somehow. Kunikuzushi shuts his eyes.He wished he could smoke right now.

"Tomorrow, then," Kunikuzushi reluctantly concedes to your words, "I'll buy a new phone, and I'll swing by to grab your number." It was an excuse, if he had to be honest with himself– because he knew your number by heart, "Just do me a favor and stay at home. They might send more people after you," Kunikuzushi kicks himself off of the railings behind him, keeping his jacket tugged to his side, "I don't want to randomly see your face pop up on the news one of these days. You're my darling partner, after all. " Kunikuzushi lets out a soft breath, waiting for your response one more time as he turns away from your doorway.

When he hears nothing, Kunikuzushi decides to depart, ignoring the blistering pain in his chest.

Arriving at the nearest convenience store, Kunikuzushi strolls in. He walks over to the cashier and asks for a pack of cigarettes, followed by some snacks to keep him at bay for the night. Checking out, he halts the cashier before they could scan the pack of cigarettes.

Kunikuzushi vaguely remembers your angered voice yesterday, reminding him to stop smoking since it would have his wounds heal at a slower rate. Kunikuzushi snickers, moving the box away from his pile of purchases. That night, he leaves the store without his cigarettes, thinking that you would probably be mad if you found out he had bought a pack and started smoking again, despite all his new injuries.

You were already sad enough as it was, and Kunikuzushi had yet to make it up to you. Turning his gaze towards the sky, Kunikuzushi ambles home, a small smile appearing on his lips as he lets out a sigh.

Perhaps he could catch La Signora by himself, and offer her to you as a present. You would like that, wouldn't you?

When you wake up, you're not lying in your bed. You're splayed over the couch, an empty bottle of wine placed on the coffee table in front of you with your blanket on the floor. You had been streaming some shows on your laptop late at night, and had fallen asleep while intoxicated.

You groan, feeling groggy as you pull yourself up from your bed, pinching the bridge of your nose as you get up to go to the washroom. Washing your face, you realize that your face had been puffy– from crying last night? You pause, recalling the events of last night as you allow the warm water to run over your hands under the sink.

Oh right, Kunikuzushi had stood you up. No, that wasn't it– he was busy 'getting rid' of a few Fatui members that were stalking you, and by getting rid you presumed that he… You feel a shiver run down your spine. He probably killed them, didn't he? That was nothing new, you supposed, though in the process of killing them, he had broken his phone. You purse your lips, cementing your heart in your chest.

You let out a sigh. You really were entangled with somebody so troublesome.

You understood that he did it for your sake, but you couldn't help but feel a little downtrodden despite his valid explanation. He was forgiven for missing, however the experience you had last night had further fueled your thoughts in distancing yourself from Kunikuzushi.

You had thought about doing so for some time now, since more often than not lately, he had been on your mind. You understood after last night that perhaps you had grown to be a little more fond towards Kunikuzushi– in a way that wasn't so friendly. You had started to like him in a more romantic sense– something that scared you to no end.

He was no good for you, you were sure of it. You didn't have to be smart to figure the basics of that out. Kunikuzushi was an ex-harbinger, a person who has killed before, and someone you were naturally supposed to bring down as a part of the police force. Some distance would do you good away from him, and perhaps the heartache that last night gave you would serve as fuel to implement such a factor into your relationship.

A few knocks come at your door, coming in a pattern you had become familiar with over the past months.

Kunikuzushi was here already.

You open the door, your eyes locking with his own for a moment before your gaze falls to his chest. You couldn't make eye contact with him. "You're early," you blankly comment, rubbing your forearm as you lean onto your doorway, "and? Where's your phone?" You get straight to the point, not noticing his expression darken at your words.

"Good morning to you too, Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi sarcastically begins, sounding a little miffed as he pulls out his phone, "did you rest well?"

"Yeah," your reply is devoid of any energy, "I guess I did," you keep your eyes averted onto his chest, and when he leans down to meet your gaze, his head cocked to the side as though to question your lack of eye contact, you flinch. He offers you the phone as your gaze flits onto the floor. You take his phone, typing in your number quickly before giving it back to him with a bow of your head, "Great," you huff, not wanting to make much more conversation, "I'll head back inside then."

"Why the hurry?" Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at you, pocketing his phone as he takes a step towards you.

You back away instinctively, a small smile on your face as you look up at him, shutting your eyes, "Oh, I was just finishing up a TV show. Resting doesn't sound too bad right now," you press a hand onto your stomach, reopening your eyes as you gaze at him for a moment, "my injury isn't completely healed yet and I think I probably slept on it really weirdly. I'll be taking a break for the next couple of days."

You notice he looks a little forlorn for whatever reason, and you decide to brush it off, thinking it was none of your business anyway. "And thank you," you finally say, your voice soft, "for taking the Fatui off my back. We may never see eye to eye, but I am grateful for you and the things you do for me. I owe you one," you pause, taking another step back into your home as you reach for the door with your other hand, "I'll see you on Monday," with one final bow of your head, you think to close the door until Kunikuzushi speaks up once more.

"Wait," Kunikuzushi halts you, his voice stern– and before you realize it, his arms are around your frame. Your breath hitches in your throat, your eyes growing wide as your chest swells with warmth, "..I'm sorry," Kunikuzushi whispers, "I didn't mean to keep you waiting. I lost track of time," Kunikuzushi admits, sounding a little frustrated with himself. When his embrace becomes a little tighter, your heart stutters in your chest, "..You even went out of your way to dress all nice, didn't you?"

You almost bring yourself to comfort him. It was almost natural for you to do so.

You open your mouth to say something, your mind firing back and forth with thoughts that pass too quickly for you to even register on time, "No– really," you press your hands gently on his chest, resisting the urge to fall into his embrace further, "it's alright. You don't have to push yourself to do all this …" You peel yourself away from him, your eyes meeting his own– and then you freeze up.

Kunikuzushi looked… Hurt?

You take a few steps away from him, your eyes on his form as he tilts his head downwards, his bangs casting an uncanny shadow over his features as he retracts his hands, drawing them into his pockets. The edges of his lips fall bitterly as he speaks, "..Is that so?" You remain still as he begins to back away from you. Kunikuzushi lifts his head, his eyes trailing up your body and stopping at the sight of your strange, almost unwelcoming expression.

Kunikuzushi purses his lips. "I'll see you on Monday, Miss Investigator," he opts to toss you a wave, shutting his eyes completely as he moves away from you, "I'll see to it that I have excellent news for then. I won't disappoint you again. For now," he huffs, "be good and don't step out unless you really have to. To pay for your injuries," he offers you one last glance, a small smile on his lips now when his eyes meet your own, "I'll make sure to do my fair share of work. If all goes well then," he snickers, "I'll take you out on a proper date."

With that, he casually walks away, leaving you to ponder over his words in slight confusion. Exactly what was he planning to do? When you close the door behind you, another one of his inconsistencies hit you. A date? You scoff. He must've meant another 'team building exercise' by that.

After a few minutes, you receive a text from Kunikuzushi, reminding you for what feels like the third time today that you should stay home, and that if anything strange were to happen that you should call him immediately.

You stare at the text in slight disbelief, unable to help the smirk that crawls onto your lips. Did he forget that you were trained to protect yourself or something? You ultimately shrug your thoughts off, thinking he had good intentions with his message anyway. You send him one final message before returning to the comfort of your couch.

"Whatever you're planning to do, remember that you're still heavily injured. Don't overwork yourself, and don't smoke for the time being, or you'll die."

Feeling his new phone buzz in his pocket, Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow. When he finishes reading your text, he lets out a small chuckle. "Or I'll die, huh?" Kunikuzushi mutters to himself, readjusting his coat on his body as he ambles towards Tsumiki Market, "Don't you worry Miss Investigator," he whispers under his breath, "I'll make sure I won't have to overwork myself. In fact, I'll make sure that I won't even have to lift a finger ."

He had made sure to do some research beforehand, looking over the stolen files related to La Signora. Even if the Fatui had found out about him stealing the files, he wassurethat none of the harbingers could have evacuated the premises so quickly.

Kunikuzushi's irises teem with a sinister darkness, his smile never leaving his face as he sets his eyes on the fishery just by the harbor. In his mind, Kunikuzushi thinks that part of the date's failure wasdue to the inference of none other than La Signora herself,and what better to make her paythan by overthrowing her altogether?

It was time to do some work.

Notes:

oh my fuck this fic will be longer than intended. while iwas roughing out the chapters i forgot HOW MUCH I ACTUALLY WRITE [slams head against desk] DAMN YOU, ME! I also like to think that scaramouche isnt just mad bc his phone broke, but he's mad bc he had photos of reader in it.

next chapter will be mostly scaramouche centric, and maybe the chapter after that, too.

i'll respond to everyone tomorrow uuu ;-; please take care of yourselves and drink water!

Chapter 11: Silent Solitude

Summary:

In which La Signora suffers the consequences of her actions.

Notes:

"The voice I heard that day echoes again
Just beyond my memory"

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Rosalyne Lohefalter was a simple woman.

The fair skinned lady checks out of work earlier than usual, her lips pulled taut into a straight line as she ambles down the hallways, heading out of one of her facilities by the harbor, clad in a modest dress, a sunhat on her head to keep the shade away from her face as she dons her new pair of sunglasses. She had only gone in to see if her minions had been working away properly, since a few new recruits had the tendency to slack while she was gone.

It seemed that yet again, two of her underlings had gone off the radar completely– and it was, at this point, nothing unusual. Most of the time, her underlings would come back in a few days time since she would have sent them off to do some undercover investigations regarding the police, however four days had passed since their disappearance.

Things had only been especially outlandish since those specific two nobodies had been tasked to stalk a certain investigator into submission. However, things were still up in the air. There had been no report of their bodies being found, either on the news, or by the scouting group within the Fatui– therefore she had no choice but to think they had eloped. Rosalyne sighs. She should have known better than to not let those two lovebirds go off on a mission together.

Under the Tsaritsa's order, she would have no need to retire them, despite their insolence. That was fine with Rosalyne, she supposed– since ultimately, at the end of the day, she had better things to do than worry about a few loose pebbles in the ground.

Finally away from the harbor, Rosalyne sprays herself with some perfume, making sure to spray around her neck and her wrists as she lets out a disgusted huff. She hated the smell of fish, and being surrounded by it day after day– she could hardly hold the appetite to eat sushi anymore. Before driving away, she rolls down her windows, billowing away some of the excess perfume spray, and when she feels at peace, she lets out a soft sigh.

With that, she drives off to see her lover.

Prior to exiting her car upon parking, she double checks herself in the mirror, making sure her makeup had been done to the finest point, touching up on areas that required extra detail. Applying on her signature red lipstick, she exits the car, readjusting her dress with a few pats before eventually strolling through the doorway.

The ladies in scrubs compliment her, as per usual, telling her she looked as good as ever– and Rosalyne was proud to admit that she agreed with them. She did look amazing– and of course she would look amazing. She was seeing none other than the love of her life– Rostam. Every time she visited him, she made sure to look the absolute best, otherwise what type of lover was she to not put in her utmost effort when seeing him?

Every day for the past two years– she had done the same thing. She would wear the same perfume Rostam loved, and on her lips, she would apply the lipstick she had worn on their first date with one another. Rosalyne made sure to keep her hair neat and tidy, making sure that her hairstyle never changed– since Rostam loved it, and because…

Rosalyne smiles, opening the door to her husband's room . "Hello, my love," she greets with the sweetest, most tender tone she can muster, her irises softening the moment they had landed on Rostam's frame on the bed. "How are you doing today?" She continues, closing the door behind her quietly, and when she's done, she begins to approach him, "It's quite a beautiful day today. I dare say," she snickers, "the summer breeze reminds me much of our honeymoon. Don't you think so?"

Rostam remains unmoving, his chest heaving as the sound of the monitor beeped throughout the room in a rhythmic pattern.

Rosalyne's smile only weakens at the sight.

She had kept herself in pristine condition, so that she would look exactly the same as she had two years ago. That way, when Rostam woke up from his slumber, he would remember her immediately. Rosalyne had kept to a daily routine to ensure that any new wrinkles would be erased the moment she saw it, and to hide any scars on her body from the car crash, she had flown away to Fontaine to afford the most expensive surgeons to perform surgery on her body.

Wearing his favorite colors, adorning herself in his favorite scents– she had childishly hoped that it would help him wake from his slumber sooner than later. Rosalyne dreaded every minute that passed without his kisses, without his warmth on her skin, without his hugs and without the sound of his gentle voice, calling out her name.

It tore her heart asunder to know that Rostam was very much alive, unable to speak, unable to hold her… Unable to live the beautiful life Rosalyne had sworn he was destined to live.

Despite this, Rosalyne did her absolute best. She made sure to keep a gentle smile on her lips, she made sure to bring in his favorite flowers, and she made sure to prepare the mostdelectabledishes at home in preparation for his arrival. Rosalyne never gave up,since she was surehe would wake up soon.

Rosalyne opens a window, allowing the faint ocean breeze to billow in from the windows, and with a forlorn smile, she sighs.She would never let him go,no matter what.

After all,they had promised to be with one another until the end of time. And she was more thanwillingto sacrificeanythingto make sure that her dream with him would be realized from the moment Rostam would wake up.

Seating herself in an empty chair next to Rostam's bed, she composes herself, relaxing her muscles with a soft exhale. Her eyes trail along his form, her smile unfaltering despite his pale complexion, and with a small laugh, she begins to speak about the events that had occurred today.

She talks for hours, greeting the nurse who comes in to check on Rostam and herself, making small pleasant talk, and when the nurse is gone, Rosalyne goes on, speaking to Rostam about nonsensical things. When night begins to fall over the city, dying the sky in an array of warm hues, Rosalyne decides to excuse herself to get some dinner.

She promised Rostam that she would be back, and reminded herself in silence when she closed the door behind her that she would bring him some apples. So she leaves shortly, departing from the hospital to pick up some food.

And when she returns, she is mortified to see a familiar, short silhouette sitting where she had once sat.

"Oh,"Scaramouche begins, his eyes narrowed as he offers her a mocking wave, "welcome back,Rosalyne.Have you been well?"

Her heart sinks to her stomach, her complexion paling as her smile falls into a frown.No,she thought to herself, her arms feeling weak– and with a loud thud, her groceries fall out of her hands. Rosalyne watches as the apples she had bought roll their way down towards Scaramouche.

Scaramouche's smile only widens.

Rosalyne's fires with thoughts.

She could ping an alarm to headquarters, signaling that she was in danger–but she wasalreadybeing put in such a tight spot among the harbingers, since she had been taking time off to care for Rostam.Surely,she would lose her place in the Fatui if she couldn't handle a small fry like Scaramouche.They would jeer at herfor losing to such a pathetic being.

Rosalyne thinks to grab a weapon– to grab anything she could to throw at him, to fight him with– but Scaramouche was sitting right next to Rostam. If she had done anything, she was a million percent sure that Scaramouche would unleash hell onto his frail form.

Scaramouche was like that. Naturally a sadistic, imp-like creature. Set in a place among the Fatui as the Balladeer, with the official duty to execute anybody– and everybody that refused to adhere to the Tsaritsa's will, he had no boundaries. He was unbiased in his executions, killing young and old alike.

She was sure Scaramouche at any given point , had Rosalyne shown any sign of aggression, would kill Rostam and without a second thought.

Rosalyne remains frozen in place, her heartbeat rising as she focuses on the scene that had unveiled itself before her. Swallowing an excess build up of saliva, she calms herself, narrowing her eyes onto Scaramouche, her lips forming a deep scowl as she speaks, "What do you want?" Her tone is icy and unwelcoming, her fingers threatening to ball into fist– but she knows better than to let her emotions get the best of her. Hiding her fearsome anger behind a mask of ice, she completely neutralizes her panic, listening to Scaramouche as he lets out a chuckle.

"You're just as bitchy as ever," Scaramouche comments as he stands from his seat, his pace slow as he bends over to scoop up a fallen apple from the floor. He quickly wipes any dirt on the skin of the apple, "..I just thought to pay you a visit," he feigns kindness, his irises burning with a sick emotion Rosalyne hates to her core, "you know, as a fellow former harbinger. Is that so wrong of me?"

Shutting the door behind her, Rosalyne lets out a scoff, feeling rage burn underneath her skin, "Since when have you ever been the type to simply 'pay visits'," she hisses, "Scaramouche? Cut the crap."

Unfazed by her response, Scaramouche only hums, pacing towards Rostam's bedside table– and it takes every cell of her body to not lunge at him then. Scaramouche was getting far too close to Rostam.

Scaramouche scans the picture frames on the table, his eyes surveying the photos of Rosalyne and her lover, happily smiling away, and despite the smile on Scaramouche's lips, his voice is frigid, "Sit down," his tone is said in a command, as opposed to a request befitting of his supposed 'good natured' visit, "let's talk."

There's a brief silence that overwhelms the two of them, and when Scaramouche's eyes flicker towards Rosalyne, he tilts his head, wondering if she would even listen in the first place. Much to his pleasure, she does. Keeping her purse beside her on the floor, she seats herself in her usual chair, her steel gray irises locked onto his form.

Appeased, Scaramouche hums.

When Kunikuzushi is seated across from La Signora, he starts, his tone cool as the bitter night winds begin to billow into the room, "Let's make this easy, shall we?" He offers, leaning forward in his seat, his eyes on her elegant form as she crosses her legs, awaiting for him to continue. "Call off your troops from my woman's case," Kunikuzushi's eyes flicker with irritation, remembering the events that had unfolded a few days prior, "it's really pissing me off, having to take precious time off my own hands to get rid of a few incessant pests."

"In the span of four days– do you know how many of your troops I had to kill?" Kunikuzushi scoffs in disbelief, "They had been just lingering by her work place, lying in wait– and some even just waited outside of her home. I've killed at least two full squadrons under your liege," he lets out a caustic chuckle, sounding unamused, "in just four days, La Signora. I can't help but think," he pauses, eying her as she glares at him, "are you letting them die on purpose?"

La Signora bristles upon hearing his words, and Kunikuzushi only laughs in response, his laughter grating her ears with how condescending it sounds.

"I wouldn't put it past you–" he comments, before quickly adding on, "they're all so helpless and naïve. So easy to trick, and so easy to bait– but I suppose I shouldn't completely blame them, " Kunikuzushi's irises gleam with satisfaction, "they must've learned from somebody, after all."

La Signora would have no more of his antics, "Enough!" She growls, her façade nearly shattering, "You want me to back off that girl? Fine, fine," she capitulates, "but on the oath that you don't touch a hair on my beloved's body, or my own !"

Surprised by how quickly she gives in Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing on his lips as his eyes flicker off to the side, meeting Rostam's pale features. Jackpot, he thinks to himself, he was of utmost value to her. It was to be suspected, Kunikuzushi supposed– since La Signora had been neglecting her official duties lately to take time off and see him as of late. Kunikuzushi had heard from the nurses earlier that Rostam had finally moved over the past few weeks. He had lifted a finger, fighting against his own vegetative state– and relieved, La Signora must've become distracted.

Kunikuzushi hums, tilting his head. Still, he thought as he clicked his tongue in disappointment, she was slipping up right now, all due to the fact that she was threatened with his presence being so close to Rostam. It was no good for her to be thinking like this and acting like this.

Kunikuzushi was sure to punish her for allowing him to abuse her like this so easily, without putting up the slightest argument.

"..I wasn't done negotiating," Kunikuzushi sneers at La Signora, watching as her eyes harden upon noticing her own mistake.

La Signora grits her teeth, "What else do you want?" The moment the words leave her mouth, she mentally prepares herself for what is to come.

Kunikuzushi's voice drops a few octaves, "Your troops," he slowly begins, idly playing with the apple in his hand, "I want them."

"What!?" La Signora guffaws, her expression mortified as she glowers at him.

"I've been short staffed since I left the Fatui," Kunikuzushi continues with a shrug, "I could really use some help, even from untrained animals such as your underlings."

La Signora shifts in her seat, moving forward as she protests, "Why should I–!?" She is immediately cut off by Kunikuzushi's chide tone as he shakes his head.

"Uh-uh," he tuts, "be careful, " he warns her once more, his eyes narrowing onto her form as freezes up in her spot, her gray hued irises burning into his own, "one wrong word and it might spell the end of your life for your darling," Kunikuzushi gestures towards Rostam, an impish smile on his expression, "you wouldn't want him leaving so soon after he had so bravely managed to move a muscle earlier, wouldn't you?"

La Signora's teeth threaten to chatter, and she grits her teeth to prevent herself from saying anything more as Kunikuzushi continues.

"You see," Kunikuzushi slides out a small device from his pocket, and her eyes widen further at the sight of it, "I have a little something here," he shows her the remote with a smile, "one click is all it takes for the IV bag to start dripping with poisonous chemicals. Consider my little contraption," he grins, "a homage to that filthy bastard, Il Dottore! He taught me a few tricks during my stay in the Fatui," he leans forward in his seat, watching as sweat begins to bead on La Signora's forehead, "would you like to find out what it does to your darling?"

La Signora's breath hitches in her throat, fear owning a vice-like grip on her heart as her mind swells with convalescence.

"Let me give you a hint," Kunikuzushi snickers, shifting closer towards La Signora, his voice hushed as he proceeds, "he won't die quickly. It'll be excruciatingly slow–" the chuckle that leaves his throat is sinister, "would you like to find out what it can do to the human body when injected? I mean," he scoffs derisively, "not that we'll see much, since he's practically already dead anyway–"

"Enough!" At his words, La Signora nearly completely snaps. She remembers a split second before she could lunge towards him that she should remain professional, and proceed with this as though it were a regular transaction between her and a potential buyer.

Letting a shaky breath, La Signora concedes to his wishes, "..I'll do it," she hisses under breath, frustration running rampant in her mind, "I'll do it– just–!" Her tone raises, and she immediately catches it before she yells once more, "Justdon'ttouch him."

Kunikuzushi refrains himself from snickering. Oh, how wonderful it felt to see someone usually so pridefulsubmit to his wishes. Kunikuzushi longed this. He hoped to see the Fatui crawling on their hands and knees for what they had done to him, and his relatives.

"Good," Kunikuzushi huffs, amused by her tormented expression, "as I was saying,I require five squadrons under my control."

La Signora wishes Kunikuzushi could die where he sits. She hopes her burning glare could magically melt him, "How soon do you need them?"

His indigo hued irises narrow onto her form once more. "Now," he issues, watching as she nearly grimaces upon hearing his words, "call them in now. I want them to plant explosives in Il Dottore's facilities by the harbor."

La Signora's blood drains from her face, a cool, unpleasant feeling washing over her as she hisses, "What!?" She scowls, his irises flashing with rage, "Do you mean to make me look like a traitor? You bastard," she growls under breath, unable to keep her composure any longer.

Everything was on the line for her– her job, her beloved's life, and her own life. A mistake like this would not go unseen by the upper echelon of harbingers– they would surely come from their hideouts and kill her themselves. This was by far, as inexcusable as a cardinal sin to a god's eyes.

If she listened to him, she knew she would die one way or another. Either she dies now at the hands of Kunikuzushi, or at the hands of one of her former comrades. She would rather take a gamble at life and hope to see another light of day with Kunikuzushi far and away from her. It was a lot better than dying to him immediately.

"Time is ticking," Kunikuzushi reminds her with a roll of his eyes, "let's hurry up and get this over with. I'm growing impatient," he hisses under his breath, his nails digging into the skin of the apple now resting on his lap.

At her psyche's end, La Signora relinquishes herself to his wishes. She would do anything and everything she could to keep Rostam and herself alive. She could find a way out of this somehow– out of the rut she would be in after conceding to Kunikuzushi's wishes. "..I'll call them," she replies in the most confident tone she can muster, gritting her teeth as she attempts to draw her phone out of her purse.

Kunikuzushi eyes her carefully, pursing his lips, "Remember," he reminds her, "try anything, and your darling dies. I know it's hard for you to do but," he sneers at her as she glowers up at him, "do your best to think properly with that shriveled up brain of yours."

La Signora refuses to reply to his taunt. He was doing this on purpose to keep her on the edge. He was a childish agitator at the end of the day.

Bringing her phone to her ears, she issues his orders to her secretary when they pick up their end of the call, keeping her tone as firm as possible to avoid suspicion, despite how suspicious her actions already were.

When she drops the call, she lets a little sigh escape her lips, "There," she huffs, "I did it. Are you happy now?"

Kunikuzushi snickers,"Very,"he retorts with a smirk, feeling the cold wind flutter past him as he leans back in his chair,"now, all we have to do is wait for the deed to be done."La Signora stares at him in disbelief before letting out a small, exasperated huff.It was only natural he would want to wait for the call back.

After what feels like hours pass in utter silence, La Signora receives a call from none other than one of her henchmen. They let her know that the explosives have been planted, and that they were prepared to set it off under her orders–and of course,under Kunikuzushi's behest, she has no other option but to affirm them.

And outside,after a few minutes of her giving them the green light to explode the armament at the terminals, a pile of smoke can be seen down by the harbors, able to be seen several miles away. Kunikuzushi smiles at the sight, thinking to himself that the hospital room had such a grandiose view over the ocean from up on the hill.

"It's done," La Signora tentatively begins, watching as Kunikuzushi's irises flicker over to her angered features. "You promised to leave my lover alone," she continues as Kunikuzushi shifts away from the windows, ambling his way behind her as she remains seated in her seat, "so leave him and I be. The button," she pauses and Kunikuzushi halts in his steps in reaction, "I want to see it broken in front of me before you excuse yourself."

Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at her in amusement. He raises the switch in his hand, feeling along the plastic material, his expression unreadable–and it brings La Signora a great uneaseto see him eye it so carefully.

For a moment, she thinks he would betray her– and if he did, she would have no choice but to paint the room red with his blood. Kunikuzushi actively tried to avoid being found first by the Fatui– and by the public eye, he wouldn't dare to let that all go over this deal, would he?

With a bated breath, Kunikuzushi drops the switch onto the floor, and in one swift motion, he stomps on the material, a loud crack resounding throughout the room as he presses all of his weight down onto it. Upon seeing the relieved look on La Signora's face, Kunikuzushi smiles, scooping up what was left of the product on the floor before shifting behind La Signora, tossing the contents into the garbage. She doesn't dare move. She refused to be intimidated by him like this any longer.

La Signora nearly flinches when Kunikuzushi places her purse on her lap, her eyes wide as her hands ball into fists, her teeth clenched when his eyes meet her own. "You've kept your word, so I shall keep mine," Kunikuzushi's voice is calm and collected, his hands peeling themselves off of her purse, "it was a pleasure doing business with you, La Signora."

"Fuck off, you little vermin,"Signora hisses under her breath, her expression corroded with animosity at the sight of him. Kunikuzushi simply lets out a huff, shrugging off her insult before finally leaving the room, leaving her to her own devices.

Upon leaving the room, Kunikuzushi hums, putting in his earbuds, the edges of his lips turning upwards into a small mysterious smile,"Now then…"He hums,"What will she do?"Ambling down the hallway, Kunikuzushi presses his hands into his pockets.

"Fuck," Rosalyne hisses as she storms down the stairs, leading to her hideout, "Fuck, fuck, fuck!" She screams, her agitated voice echoing down the empty hallways of Tsumiki Market. She slams the doors leading into her room open, her eyes wide as she grits her teeth, her irises shifting back and forth, scanning the room for any sign of abnormalities.

"How the fuck did he find me," she curses under her breath, her veins running hot as she moves around the room, "how the fuck did he find me!?" There's a clear panic to her tone as she paces around the room, her mind firing back and forth with thoughts. She runs around the room in search of anything that would let her know she had been breached.

"Shit!" She shouts, digging her long, manicured nails into the palm of her skin. There had been no reports of Scaramouche for a while since Tartaglia's incarceration, and there were no reports over the past few months of there being an intrusion in any facility! So how did he know where she was?

Her mind wanders back to the thought of the couple she had sent off to kidnap the investigator, followed by the images of the Fatui recruits she had sent out to stay by the police station. They weren't usually ever found since they were always so well blended into the crowd, but that man– Scaramouche knew how the Fatui worked.

"Those useless nobodies," she growls, her heels impatiently tapping along the hard floors, "they got themselves caught and couldn't even do something as little as report back! That's why I told them to be extra careful and to keep an eye out for that fucking little bastard!" With another frustrated shout, Rosalyne kicks over a metal garbage disposal can, allowing the contents of the bin to scatter around the room.

Signora eyes the pieces of trash, her eyes widening as she thinks about the Fatui troops she had sent to explode Il Dottore's facilities by the coastline. She was screwed. They were going to kill her no matter what now. If not Il Dottore– they would send Pierro from overseas. They were going to kill her.

"Even Rostam's been compromised," she hisses, her chest clenching at the thought of her own words. She lets out a series of whimpers, feeling her head swell with a torrent of negative emotions. She couldn't fall like this. She couldn't let her life end like this– not after everything she worked hard for.

Gripping at the sides of her head, Rosalyne begins to speak to herself in an attempt to relax, "Calm down," she reaffirms herself, "calm down… There's a way out of everything," heaving uneven breaths, she thinks of any possible way to get out of the rut she was in alive.

That's right!She had saved a lot of money.She could get airlifted to another country with Rostam– they could escape to Sumeru,and they could start anew there. Their lives wouldn't be perfect,they would have life no better than sewer rats–but at least they would bealive.A small, decrepit smile crawls onto Rosalyne's lips, a small laugh leaving her throat as she ponders over her plan.

She could do it. There was a way out– and she could do it!She could do it,she could live with Rostam,and when he woke up from his slumber,they could dance together in a field of sunflowers. She could just imagine it,waking up to her lover once more–and oh,theblissit would be to finally kiss him again.

Her smile falls from her lips, his steel hued irises growing icier as a bout of silence floods the room.

But she could've had it easier.She could've livedlife regularlyin Inazumawith Rostam–just like she had originally planned."That worthless runt and his whore," she seethes, digging her nails into her skin, "I won't forgive them." Rosalyne quickly ambles towards her wooden desk, feeling the underside for her gun and ammo. She shoves them in her purse, a scowl on her face as she rotates around the room, shoving the necessary files she had required prior to her departure in her purse.

"Since no one else could do it, I'll kill her myself," Rosalyne huffs, rummaging through her files and stuffing them all down haphazardly into her bag as she flicks a piece of platinum blonde hair over her shoulders, "if it's the last thing I'll do. It serves that brat right," the image of a certain ex harbinger floods her mind, "for trying to take Rostam away from me. Did he really think he could threaten me with no backlash? That runt…"

Storming towards the entrance, Rosalyne blows a puff of hair out of her view, a menacing smile on her lips as she reaches for the handles, "I'll show him not to mess with me."

Prepared to face the world, she pushes against the door handles, hoping to unleash her revenge–

Only to find that the entrance remained unmoving.

Rosalyne's eyes widen, her heart skipping a beat. She pushes again, and to no avail, the door refuses to budge. "What..?" She whispers under her breath– and suddenly, the lights in her room go out. In a whirlwind of motions, La Signora looks around, her eyes scanning the darkness of the room– and then she hears her phone buzz from within her bag. Her breath comes to a halt, her back pressing firmly against the doors as she reaches for her gun with a hand before finally grabbing onto her phone with her free hand.

She answers the call.

"How unfortunate, La Signora,"Scaramouche taunted from the other end of the line, eliciting Rosalyne to take a sharp breath of air inwards, "had you kept to your word,I wouldn't have had to do this, but…You reallyare just an dumb woman, aren't you?

"Scaramouche," Rosalyne starts, biting her lip harshly enough to draw blood as her eyes remain wide,"what have you done?"

There's a disappointed sigh that echoes from his end of the call, "I thought it was obvious already. Have your senses really dulled that much since I left the Fatui?" Scaramouche lets out a derisive laugh, "I suppose it's because nobody else is there to try and sabotage your makeshift plans anymore. You should've been more grateful, senile hag," he snickers, "I kept you on your toes while I was working there. Now look at what's happened," his voice drops a few octaves, his tone mocking as he continues, "you let your own bag get bugged."

Rosalyne's eyes widen further, and in seconds, she has her bag thrown onto the floor, her phone clattering to the floor as she feels around her bag, carelessly crumpling through paper after paper as Scaramouche proceeds to laugh at her attempts to find the bugging device. And then, she feels it– just tucked in her purse's pocket.

A small, circular button.

Rage floods Rosalyne, surging throughout her veins like wildfire as she crushes it in her hands, slamming her fist onto the floor, "You fucking bastard!"

"You can't blame me, can you?" Scaramouche says as he recovers from her spur of laughter, "You're just so easy to predict! Of course you'd flee back to your little hideout, and try to take vengeance. You're La Signora, after all. You would do anything to win," Scaramouche smiles from behind the phone, "and so would I. In truth," Rosalyn pauses as she hears a clamor of noise from outside the door– the sounds of rushed footsteps running above her, filing down the stairs, "I despise admitting it, but I did hold a level of respect for you today. "

Rosalyne eyes shift behind her, and she picks up her gun and aims it at the door, quickly rushing to find cover as Scaramouche presses on, "You would do anything to protect your loved one. I admire that," Scaramouche sighs, his sigh drowned out by the sound of people gathering just at the doorway, "because I'ddo the exact same thingfor thatwoman you dislike so much,"Rosalyne's eyes widen as she sees the beaming, pale lights of flashlights shine beneath her door.

Scaramouche blinks, feeling the bitter night air on his skin as he listens to the sounds of banging from Rosalyne's end. He lets out a soft breath, a smile on his lips as he eyes Tsumiki Market from a building afar. His eyes trail around the surrounding police vans, before finally landing on a particular figure of a woman with long braided hair. His smile deepens.

"Looks like you're out of time," Rosalyne grits her teeth upon hearing Scaramouche's words, "this is goodbye, La Signora. I'll send your beloved your regards on your behalf. Oh, and…" He snickers, much to her dismay, "Don't worry. He'll be with you in spirit during your time incarcerated, so you won't be so lonely."

Rosalyne shrieks at the sound of his voice, "No!" She yells, her aim faltering as the door begins to collapse inwards from the weight of policemen from the outside, "Don't touch Rostam– don't touch him! Please," she pleads, feeling sweat roll down her skin as the image of Rostam's smile burns in the back of her mind, "don't touch him, don't touch him–!"

"La Signora," Scaramouche clicks his tongue, sounding disappointed, "this is a transaction. Such is business," Scaramouche grins, watching Ei from afar as she scans the area around her before going into Tsumiki Market, "you will pay for what you owe. Farewell."

Rosalyne's composure completely shatters. "No– no, no, no– no!" She shrieks as the door bursts open, and a crew of policemen file in. She shoots immediately, uncaring of who she hits for as long as they hit their marks. Abruptly, two policemen go down from being shot before she is captured, her torso twisted around aggressively as she is put under arrest.

"No," she whimpers, her mind wandering to Scaramouche's last words, "Rostam… Rostam..!" The police buzz around her like flies, and she attempts to swat them away until her eyes find a face, familiar and unfamiliar all at once gazing down at her, "Scaramouche..! That piece of shit…"

"It'sover now,La Signora," Ei keeps her hands folded behind her back, her shoes clacking against the floor as the bodies of the hit policemen are dragged away for recovery. "Detain her,now,"upon issuing her orders, the policemen immediately jump into action. Despite Rosalyne's heartbroken protests, she is escorted out from the room.

Ei's lips curl into a scowl,"Scaramouche…"The sound of the name leaving Rosalyne's mouth causes Ei to momentarily look back as Rosalyne is dragged away.

Keeping her lips pursed, Ei thinks back to the strange phone call she had received earlier today. Ei's gaze turns distant,"So that was…"She trails off, her chest swelling as she remembers his voice, replaying the sounds in her head while ignoring her cacophonous surroundings.

"..Tsumiki Market. Be on standby from the times eight to midnight."

And before she could say anything, he was gone. She had gone to work immediately after that, and tried to trace back the number used to make the call to her home– but alas, she found nothing.

Ei scoffs, a small smile appearing on her lips as she ambles out of the room. So he had remembered the landline number to their home…

"Perfect execution," Kunikuzushi mutters under his breath, a smirk on his lips as he tosses the burner phone to the floor, "I suppose I'll come bearing good news on Monday after all." Lifting a leg, he stomps down on the phone as hard he could, shattering it underneath his feet. Keeping his hands in his pockets, he holds back a yawn, humming quietly to himself as he begins to descend the rooftop, "Now, to deal with that lover of hers…"

Kunikuzushi hums, satisfaction rushing through him. He had won as he had promised you– while hardly lifting a finger. In a way, his childish satisfaction helped fuel his wants to see you. Perhaps he could go to your house now and wake you up before you hear news of his success from your pesky coworkers. If he was lucky, around this time, you'd still be awake.

With a snicker, he quietly concedes to his mind's demands. Perhaps he would go see you after finishing his job off after all.

Kunikuzushi's mood takes a dip immediately when he hears the sound of rhythmic snapping at the bottom of the stairwell. "Well, well!" A voice echoes, causing Kunikuzushi's breath to hitch at his throat– and immediately, Kunikuzushi prepares himself to make a break for it. "As expected from none other than you, Scaramouche!" The male voice echoes, causing Kunikuzushi to grit his teeth as the voice registers in his mind, and just as Kunikuzushi starts to move, he feels dizzy.

"..What the..?" Kunikuzushi starts, listening to the voice holler with laughter, and before he knows it, Kunikuzushi is on his knees, leaning on the side of a wall for support. Through his hazy vision, Kunikuzushi weakly attempts to lift his head up, only managing to see the shoes of someone climbing up the stairs. This wasn't good, Kunikuzushi thought to himself as he fought hard to stay awake, not entirely aware of what was happening to him. He had to wake himself up somehow.

"Shh, shh," the person above him hushes, "it's alright. I'm here now."

In Kunikuzushi's mind, the voice sounds something like your voice, reassuring him– and at the same time, it sounded nothing like you altogether.

"Fuck,"with one last huff, Kunikuzushi's vision turns black, his body growing numb, though his ears remain functional. He listens to the sound of clothes shifting around, and then–

With a loud gasp, Kunikuzushi wakes up in cold sweat in his bed, his arms wrapped around a pillow as his heart races in his chest. He shoots up immediately, his eyes wide as his environment, his eyes only squinting upon seeing the light of the sun filter into his bedroom windows. Kunikuzushi hisses, raising an arm up to block the sunlight as he gathers himself.

Did he just wake up from a nightmare? No– no, it didn't seem like that all. Kunikuzushi swiftly leaves his bed, rushing over to his mirror. With his clammy hands, he feels around his body, feeling for anything around his neck before gradually running his hands downwards towards his chest. He searches for any tell tale signs he had been injected with anything– or if he had been hit at all– only to find nothing.

Kunikuzushi pauses, staring at his own reflection in the mirror in confusion. He jogs his memory, shutting his eyes as he focuses on the events of last night. He had taken the blonde wench down, he remembered that much… And then what?

And then… That's right. He went to the hospital to inject poison into Rostam's body. He had snuck in, wearing a new set of clothes– successfully disguising himself with a wig and everything. Once he was done, he figured he was far too tired and went back home to rest.

And now he was awake.

Kunikuzushi blinks twice.

So it really was a dream, then? It wasn't uncommon for him to have nightmares of his past, and for them to mingle with his current lifestyle now… Kunikuzushi stares at his own reflection once more, his irises narrowing onto his body as he scans himself for a final time before finally heaving a sigh.

There was only one more way to make sure he didn't dream everything up. Pulling a fresh pair of clothes on, Kunikuzushi huffs.

Nearly an hour later, he arrives at Rostam's hospital, his gait slow as he passes through the hospital doors. The sound of people bustling around and about causes him to grimace, his ears slightly ringing from how busy the lobby was today. He directs himself to the front desk lady, asking with the sweetest smile he can muster if he could see Rostam once more, under the guise of being his long time friend. The lady nods, offering him an amiable smile before going to check up on Rostam.

When her expression falls, Kunikuzushi nearly lets out a sigh of relief, "I'm sorry to say but as of this morning, he has been pronounced deceased."

It was a dream after all.

As per usual, Kunikuzushi plays along, pretending to be sad. She gives him her condolences, to which after, he excuses himself and leaves for the day.

Pressing his hands into his pockets, Kunikuzushi thinks with a small smile that perhaps he should pay you a visit since he was already out. He could only hope that none of your coworkers had phoned you beforehand. He wanted to be the one to let you know about his successes.

It was his official apology to you, and a way to make sure outings with you would be comfortable again. At the very least, he didn't want to be the source of your tears again. He would make sure he would fight his way around that. You were, after all, his most precious partner. It was his job to take care of you so that you would stay around and entertain him for a long time.

Notes:

i had lots of fun writing this. ill try to pump out as much chapters as i can before i go on vacation for a week ;-; , and for those who follow me im writing scarareader smut again, so wait on it HAHA

RANDOM AUTHOR NOTE REGARDING ANIME TO WATCH:
i just want to say, one of my favorite animes are coming out again :D
i love overlord! the main character is for once, not some cute/handsome guy- hes a fucking skeleton! and i genuinely love him as much as albedo probably HAHA. its not your usual anime where all the bad guys turn good, its where all the bad guys genuinely want the world to fall to their knees, and they do so unapologetically. i kinda dislike the harem-ey feel but like. i mean. if i were in the anime, id love him too tbh, glory to ainz ooal gown all the way.

if u like dark shit, please also give psycho pass (ONLY SEASON 1 THO) a watch, because that shit was beautiful, and ive rewatched it like maybe 5x LMFAO

Chapter 12: sex, drugs, etc

Summary:

In which Kunikuzushi enjoys monopolizing his partner.

Notes:

Half love, half regret
Dressing up for polaroids and cigarettes

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

When the clock nears afternoon, you start to cook lunch for yourself, thinking to make something simple as opposed to something taxing since you haven't had much of an appetite lately. While you're cooking away, you turn your laptop on, playing idle news in the background as you work away.

A set of knocks catch your attention, bringing you away from your heated pan and stir fry, and you distractedly shout back, "Coming," you announce in a loud voice before casually ambling your way to the door.

You open the door quickly, knowing who it was– and without even greeting Kunikuzushi, you hop back into the kitchen, slightly panicking when you see the flames rise a little too high."Ah,"you pause, turning the heat low as you twist your head towards the doorway, only to find that Kunikuzushi wasn't behind you, "come in! And make yourself at home," you huff, swiveling your head around once more to keep an eye on the food before you, "I'm just in the middle of cooking right now–!"

You nearly flinch when Kunikuzushi presses something cold atop your head. You freeze completely, not wanting to object on your head to topple over,"Uh..?"You slowly start, sounding a little hesitant as the sizzling of your pan calms down.

"Good afternoon," Kunikuzushi snickers, a small smirk on his lips as he places a bag of groceries next to you, the plastic peeling back to reveal a load of snacks, drinks and ice cream, "Miss Investigator. Making lunch for me?" He decides to tease you upon seeing your irritated expression as you pull the steel can of ramune off the top of your head.

"Um," you scowl, tossing him a small look of disapproval, "no… But I don't mind adding some more food if you're going to stay for a little while longer," you reassure him as he continues to gaze at you in a manner you find almost strange, "is there something wrong? Why are you here today," your tone lowers as your mind begins to fire back and forth with thoughts. Kunikuzushi had no real reason to drop by other than to possibly let you know about something regarding the Fatui, and coming to your house in itself was troublesome, considering La Signora's members could probably infiltrate at any point to capture the both of them together.

Kunikuzushi remains silent for a moment, his indigo hued irises scanning over your features as a small mysterious smile crawls onto his lips. He tilts his head, leaning on the edge of your counter, "..You feel any better?" He inquires casually, and you offer him a thoughtful expression in return, your voice softening upon noticing the almost tender look in his eyes.

"My stab wound feels a little better, yes," you agree, "it's not my first time getting stabbed. It's my second, actually," you huff, pressing along your side, "I got stabbed here last time. I suppose I'm quite unlucky," you roll your eyes, moving the pan off the stove, "it's a lot more uncommon than you think, for an investigator to get stabbed…" You trail off, Kunikuzushi's irises remaining on your form as you shift around the room busily in search of plates and chopsticks.

"I wasn't talking about your stab wound," Kunikuzushi slowly admits, pressing himself off of the countertop now as he shrugs his coat off, "but I suppose that's all I needed to hear," your motions come to stop upon hearing his softer tone, his voice low as he continues, "it's good to know you're doing better."

You don't reply to him after that. You simply pretend as though you hadn't heard a thing, setting your items down on your kitchen island before finally seating yourself. "So," you slowly start, "what's the matter, Kunikuzushi?" His irises glint with an emotion you don't recognize, and you eye him as he tosses his coat over his seat before sitting down next to you, his hands casually reaching into his pockets in search of a cigarette, only to find nothing.

Kunikuzushi opens a can, listening to the dull droning of the news reporter on the screen of your laptop. After he takes a sip, he decides to respond, "I have good news," you immediately turn to look at him upon hearing his words, and when he prods onwards, you nearly cough out your stir fry, "La Signora is officially out of the game." He listens to the sound of your chopsticks falling out of your hands before adding on, "As of last night, she's been arrested by the police, and of course, all due to my help."

He says it as though it were the most casual thing ever, his tone cool, his eyes placated on the screen before him as he takes another swig, ignoring your gawking expression burning onto the side of his features. Kunikuzushi smirks.

"You what!?"

Kunikuzushi catches you up on his tactics, skimming past certain actions– such as holding Signora's comatose lover as hostage, and then killing him– for the sake of keeping some secrecy for himself. Despite him knowing you wouldn't run away , had he even bothered to tell you the truth of everything, he still much preferred that he kept whatever good face he had left with you.

When he's done speaking, you're still gazing up at him in absolute awe. He snickers, seeing your expression, and with an amused tone he speaks, "You look like an ugly fish," he comments, eliciting you to shut your mouth and glare at him in response, "don't worry. That dumbfounded look suits you quite well."

Brushing off his rude remarks, you mull over his words, "You did all this," you gesture towards him, "by yourself?"

Kunikuzushi raises a brow at you, leaning forward in his seat, "Don't act so surprised," he retorts with a scoff, as though you had just said something stupid, "you should expect incredible feats from me. I've said this before, but," his lips part into a sneer, "I am somebody you can rely on, and I am the best shot you'll ever get."

You survey his slightly cocky expression with a small smile, unable to help the sigh that leaves your lips as you tilt your head, "I think you've done well in proving that to me time and time again," you admit carefully, your eyes narrowing onto his frame as you snicker, "I think you're deserving of praise in truth," you reach for the can of ramune he had set atop your head earlier, listening to the drink fizz when you open it up with a crack. Kunikuzushi watches you as you tap your can against his own can of coffee, your smile only widening triumphantly as you retract your hand, "Kunikuzushi, you're pretty impressive. "

And as if your compliment blisters him, he grimaces, feeling his face heat up as he turns his head away, his eyes widening onto the coffee can before him. Kunikuzushi lets out a soft hum of approval, pretending to be unfazed by your compliment as he sips away at his cold beverage. He knew he was great. He was aware of that, yet hearing it from you made him feel a little… Uncomfortable in his chest.

You tilt your head in question, unsure of why he was suddenly so quiet before you return back to eating your food, "I suppose there's only one harbinger really left," you muse, "Il Dottore. Speaking of him," you pause, "I heard that there's been less and less traces of him as of late. We think it's because of the Fatui's ongoing brawl with Celestia, but…" You purse your lips together, remembering Kokomi's words from a few days ago, when she had called you right before you had slept, "I don't know," you conclude with a low voice akin to a whisper, "I feel like something… Isn't right."

Kunikuzushi ponders over your words for a moment, "..He's the only one available to control the feuds between Celestia now," Kunikuzushi shrugs, "it'sunsurprisinghe would delve into hiding. If I were him, I would delegate tasks to my secretaries. The drug trades are still mandated by that bastard at the end of the day, but at the moment, things aren't looking so safe for him in the public eye," his pale fingers drum along the side of the dark brown can he held,"thus like any rat,he would turn tail and run into hiding. After the damage I caused to him, I'msurehe's to reveal himself soon."

You feel a shiver run down your spine at the thought of Il Dottore, pursing your lips into a thin line, "Do you really think he's about ready to crack now?" You tentatively begin, "We've put plenty pressure on him, haven't we? His mental fortitude should be shattering under stress at any point now. If I were to think about it properly," you push your plate away from you, setting your chopsticks down to rest, "I believe he would start becoming desperate soon- for relief. Perhaps he would call another harbinger from overseas over? An aide he knows to trust?" You toss Kunikuzushi a look of uncertainty, to which he simply replies with a short nod.

"It'snot a farfetchedidea," Kunikuzushi admits, "but the Tsaritsa has her hands full in other countries at the moment. At the very least, perhaps Pierro would be the one to come down to Inazuma, since by judgement, he was the one to have established everybody excluding myself in Inazuma in the first place." Upon seeing your look of slight confusion, Kunikuzushi narrows his eyes at you, "Have you read his files at all?"

"Notall too well,"you admit, "I've skimmed through his reports, but ultimately I decided since he was overseas that he wouldpose no seriousand potential threat over Inazuma."

Kunikuzushi clicks his tongue in disappointment at your words, his irises darkening with a slight irritation, "It'sreally no wonderhow you police peoplenever progressed an inchregarding the Fatui until I came," he reaches over to flick your forehead, to which you hiss in reply, "among a troop of idiots,we have a bigger idiotwho decides to team up with an ex-harbinger," he reaches over yet again to flick your forehead, and you swat his hand away this time, "and that same idiotoverlooksthe possibility ofother harbingersfrom overseas being a possiblethreat.What can I expect though," Kunikuzushi sighs, feigning disappointment as he smirks at you, "you fools had a harbinger under your noses all along."

When his hand nears your head once more, you swat his hand away with much more aggression this time, your eyes blazing with irritation, "Stop it," you hiss, watching as he retracts his hand with a small shrug, "I get it, we suck. How many more times must you try and flick my forehead as if doing any of that will solve anything?"

"Maybe your brain hasn't been working properly over the past few years," Kunikuzushi offers you with a smile, "I was hoping a few light taps would put it back into place. Feeling any better?"

You let out a soft groan in detest, "I feel worse, actually. Can we please get back to the topic?" You heave a sigh, much to your dismay, eliciting a chuckle to erupt from Kunikuzushi's throat.

"Oh, did I tease you too much?" Kunikuzushi hums in satisfaction when you glare at him in response, "My apologies. I just haven't seen you in some time." After a brief moment passes, he returns his gaze back onto the table before him, his mind wandering before he concludes, "I doubt the other harbingers would bother to check in yet. Pierro and the Tsaritsa especially have high hopes in Dottore," he surmises quietly, "if things were to happen, it would probably occur only if Dottore requests for back up."

Pressing your lips together, you mull over his words, "I see," you conclude, pushing yourself away from the table to lean back in your seat, "I suppose all the concerns we have at the moment still remain within Inazuma..."

"Exactly," Kunikuzushi offers you a small smile before taking a sip from his drink, "don't overwork yourself over the small details right now. We have a big prey to catch before us," he huffs, running a finger over the rim of his drink, "all we need to do is lure him out. Otherwise," he scoffs, his eyes narrowing as his tone darkens, "I'll have to take a few more steps and really make myself known to the world to force his hand."

You eye him carefully before proceeding tentatively, "..Should I be concerned about whatever else you have planned?" You inquire with a sincere anxiousness, earning a small snicker from Kunikuzushi as he offers you a short look.

"Not in the slightest, Miss Investigator," he hums, "you have your business to take care of and I have my own duties. I suggest that if you wish to keep progressing just as amazingly as we have now that you focus on your own duties," he turns to look towards you, ushering towards your wound, "heal up and get back to work. We're still very busy no matter how far we have gotten," there's a flicker of something strange in Kunikuzushi's eyes when he speaks, a flicker you don't bother to address. Remaining quiet, you watch as he rises from his seat, "Now," he huffs, rolling his neck from one side to the other, "I'll start preparations to find the quack-"

"Wait," you start just as he pulls his coat over his shoulders, "I..." You pause, your eyes drawing downwards to your feet before you shake your head and rush towards the fridge. You pull out a container of sweets you had baked for him beforehand, "Please accept these," you say with a bow of your head, your voice timid as you continue, "perhaps I was too callous a few days ago. You did something out of concern for me," you find your eyes trailing up to meet his own, his indigo hued irises burning into your own as his features still, "I made these out of gratitude." Keeping your eyes interlocked with his own, you outstretch your hands to offer him the container of cookies, feeling a little embarrassed when he merely tilts his head, a small, cocky smirk on his lips as he stares at you.

"I'm aware it isn't a lot," you continue as he finally he takes the products from your hands, "and in truth I'm not all too great at baking, but I thought that it would mean more if I had made something as opposed to purchasing it."

"Oh?" Kunikuzushi sounds amused, inspecting the grey hued cookies as his chest thrums with life, "You should know by now that I don't expect anything from you other than a few kind words," he adds on slowly, causing you to avert your gaze as you press your lips together, "but this is a surprise I don't mind." Noticing your flushed features, he decides to prod on with an impish smile, "Did you coat these in venom, perhaps? There's no way someone like you would so kindly just give these to me."

You toss him a small glare, "Do you distrust me?" You inquire with a scowl, "If so, then give it back. I'll gladly take these myself," you opt to reach for the container, only to have him pull back, his expression turning blank for a moment.

"Uh-uh," he tuts with a click of his tongue, "these are mine now. You gave them to me," his expression lightens upon seeing your own irritated features as you huff, "besides, that was clearly a joke. Loosen up, Miss Investigator," he comments before swiveling around, "don't you worry. I'll be sure to enjoy these delectable sweets at home," Kunikuzushi sneers as he nears the door, sliding into his shoes once more, "just be sure to prepare yourself for our date on Monday. We won't meet for breakfast- so just come straight to my hideout after work."

"Um," you near him, raising an eyebrow up at him as he opens the door, "about that," you softly continue, briefly pondering over your thoughts over the past couple days, "perhaps it would be better if we didn't go on a little... Outing," you choose your words carefully as Kunikuzushi swivels around, his irises teeming with emotion as he glares at you, "I'm going to be busy with work and all that, and I don't think seeing you excessively like this is necessary anymore-" before you can add on, he quickly interjects.

"Why is that?" His tone is sharp, his voice lowering a few octaves as though annoyed by your denouement.

You figured he would be a little irritated by your refusal, but still... You press your lips into a thin line, your expression somber as you continue, "..We have no need to, do we?" In truth, Kunikuzushi was a little confused by your distance, his features only hardening further as you press on, "The cruise is long over," you add on with a shrug, "and I think we've grown close enough as friends. I'm afraid if we continue to see each other so often that we will surpass our professionalism in this line of work. I'm sure you can agree-"

"I don't agree," Kunikuzushi flatly rejects your assumption, the corners of his lips downturned as he glowers at you, "this relationship between us has always been somewhat lax, and I'd prefer to keep it that way. As a great benefactor to your research into the Fatui, I expect that you maintain the standards of our relationship." Upon hearing his words, you can't help but let out a disappointed sigh, unintentionally irking Kunikuzushi further.

"What comes across to me as strange, however," you clench your teeth when Kunikuzushi takes a few steps towards you, "is your sudden flip in wanting to keep me at a distance. It's far too late to address such a thing, yet here you are," Kunikuzushi's face is now inches away from your own, and you don't dare to shrivel away under his gaze.

His warm breath fans across your cheeks as your teeth remain grit,"What are you so afraid of,Miss Investigator?" Your breath hitches at your throat as he lifts a hand to brush a few loose strands away from your face, his eyes narrowed with a somewhatsadistic joyat the refrained look on your features, "Whatever it may be you're so scared of,I hope it doesn't restrainthe collective cheer our partnership brings about. It would beunfortunate, don't you think?"

When you don't answer his question, Kunikuzushi takes a moment to just scan your features before finally resigning himself. "With that being said," he starts again, swiveling around once more to finally leave your abode, "I'll see you on Monday. Dresswell,"he waves you off without turning to look at you, leaving you on your own once more as the door shuts behind him.

You let out a bated breath, feeling your hands curl into fists at your side. Of course he wouldn't let you have your way like that, you knew him better than this– yet still, you knew you had to try for your own sake. You turn around, your eyes landing on the grocery bag he had left on the countertop. You purse your lips, ambling over towards the bag with a heavy heart as you scan the contents once more, noticing that he had clearly tailored the groceries to be snacks of your choice. "Ah, shit," you hissed as you picked up the small container of ice cream from the bag, shaking it slightly to feel the somewhat liquid substance inside, "I forgot to put it away…" You quickly stuff it in the freezer before picking out the last remaining contents from the grocery bag and putting them away.

You wanted to avoid your own feelings for him. Time away would do you well, you were sure of it. Even just a little bit more space would help– but of course, he would make it hard for you to have that comfort of staying away from him. You were sure he was somewhat aware of your feelings. Kunikuzushi wasn't stupid, after all.

You supposed he would only keep you around for his own self indulgence– as you were, apparently, a form of entertainment to him. A little miffed, you begin to clean with an angrier force now. As suspected from somebody as troublesome as him.

You figured one dinner with him would be fine.

On Monday, you attend work only to be bombarded by a surplus of information regarding La Signora, and of course, a very disliked harbinger you were very familiar with, Scaramouche. With all this information– came an event you hadn't anticipated.

"Hello again, Miss Investigator," Ei begins as you walk into her office room, feeling your palms become clammy as you come to meet her sharp gaze, "I suppose it's been a little while. Please, seat yourself," from where she sits, she motions to the empty chair in front of her desk, her irises brimming with a sheer delight that has your stomach falling to the floor.

You tentatively heed her orders, attempting to hide your anxiousness behind a kind smile. Before you seat yourself, you bow before her, "Chief Raiden," you start when you're comfortable, "it's been awhile indeed."

"How are your injuries?" Ei's voice is soft, almost motherly as she leans towards you, her expression bright as she leans forward in her seat.

"Truthfully, I'm taking a little longer than expected to heal," you admit with a small laugh, "and how are you?"

Ei tilts her head, her eyes narrowing onto your features– and for a moment, your breath hitches in your throat. God, she looked exactly like Kunikuzushi when she did that. "I'm doing better," Ei hums, shutting her eyes as she folds her hands before her, "we've had tons of trouble regarding the Fatui for some time now, and now we're finally breaking through. It's quite amusing though, isn't it?" When she reopens her eyes, there's a fire that blooms behind her violet irises, "That we're making all these breakthroughs so quickly after a certain failed sting operation from your team. I dare say, it's almost suspicious," her words hold the sharpness akin to a newly brandished blade being held against your neck.

"Is that so?" You decide to play dumb, figuring that it was your best course of action as opposed to having yourself mentally shatter in front of her, and when you think to continue, Ei interjects.

"Weren't you missing for quite some time as well?" Ei prods onwards, her tone never lessening, "And you magically reappeared, unscathed and without drugs in your system. The report you gave was hardly believable. With that being said," Ei's aura is intimidating, swallowing you whole as though she were a snake, coiling around you steadily, "I'll say this as clearly as I can. I was the one who interrogated La Signora alone, and on several instances, she had mentioned you and referred to you as Scaramouche's 'little pet'."

You feel a coolness washing over you, flooding your veins with an icy sensation as you come to realize the true intentions behind Ei bringing you to her office room. You watch as Ei slides over a tape towards you, signed with La Signora's initials, and the date and time of which the tape had been taken. You press your lips into a thin line.

You were aware of the possibilities of being caught out for a long while now, but coming to face the issue was a lot more pressuring than you had initially thought. Despite this, you maintain a cool facade, urging yourself to stay strong although the turbulence in your mind only stirred endlessly.

When you open your mouth, Ei quickly adds on, her irises burning into your own, "All the information recorded into this tape– it's all private– for now. I shall have you know that I have the key to making this information public knowledge, and you can be imprisoned for upto thirty years if you choose to lie. If I were you," her eyes narrow, her tone dropping a few octaves, "I would be truthful. I've already told you how important it is for me to find Scaramouche, and thus if you maintain a good repertoire with me, I might just find it in my goodwill to erase bits and pieces of this tape for your sake."

"..How would I know to trust you?" You tentatively begin, completely understanding that there was no use in running around in circles anymore.

Ei merely offers you a smile that feels strangely akin to Kunikuzushi's own. "I suppose you'll have to take a gamble," Ei keeps her arms folded before her, "just remember, it's your job and it's your thirty years of life on the line."

Ah, you thought to yourself with a small sigh, her look of smug calmness urging you to take your defeat. You couldn't help but wonder if such devious traits ran in their bloodline to make you constantly feel at a loss. Or perhaps, it was your stupidity that had led you to this situation in the first place.

Either way, you had no way out.

And so you roll the dice, and take the gamble, hoping that in the end, everything would be in your favor.

You tell her about the first day the two of you had met, the conditions of your contract with him– followed by the knowledge of the two of them being related, and as though a dam had broken between the two of you, Ei lets out an exuberant sigh of relief. You don't tell her about his whereabouts, nor do you bother to tell her more than she should know. When you're done talking about your relationship with him, you notice that her expression had significantly softened, and that her tone had become much more tender.

For a moment, you wonder if she knows about your feelings towards him just from the way you spoke about him, because she held a strange glint of knowingness in her eyes. A familiar glint– like when your mother had caught onto your lies, or when she had purposely ignored something you were too embarrassed to talk about.

You don't dare to address it, both out of fear and out of genuine unease for what she could possibly say if you had mentioned it.

"..So that's how it is then," Ei's tone is calm, a warm smile on her features as she gazes down at the lacquered desk before her, "you're his partner in crime, and you had even gone as far as to be reckless for the sake of keeping him safe. I'm glad to know I wasn't wrong in my suspicions surrounding your character," Ei turns her gaze upwards towards you, her smile never leaving her face.

"..Right," you slowly say, feeling unsure of what her judgment would be towards you now that you had confessed.

"And what is your plan after the contract is dissolved?" The rigidness in Ei's voice returns far too quickly for you to get accustomed to, "Did you plan to sell him out?"

"That was what I had wanted initially, but…" You trail off, thinking back to the dance you and Kunikuzushi share on the boat before shaking your head, "Lots of things have happened, and I think the best course of action would just be to leave him be after the contract has dissolved." You avert your eyes, staring at a familiar photograph of two sisters, standing next to one another, while a child hides just to the side, "It's a mutual agreement between the two of us. Since I would help him take the Fatui down for his personal vengeance, he leaves me alone and doesn't bother to sell me out for as long as I don't screw up from my end of the deal."

Ei surveys you briefly, "..That's all you've agreed to?" She tentatively says, as though you had done something wrong.

You remain unfazed by her words, "I've chosen to trust him. Ultimately, that trust could be my downfall, however…" You find yourself reminiscing over the embrace Kunikuzushi gives you, followed by his short apology, "I have reasons to believe that I am right to put my faith in him."
Ei lets out a soft laugh, crossing her arms now as she leans back in her seat, "I see," she surmises with a small smile, "in truth, I feel somewhat indebted to you. For taking care of my son for me," her voice drops near into a whisper, and when she realizes you need to strain your ears to listen to her, she raises her voice once more, "and for being a friend to him. I don't agree with his actions, still killing people mercilessly despite being out of whatever spell he had been under while working with Il Dottore… Unfortunately," she purses her lips into a thin line after some time passes, her expression turning void of emotion, "I might have to capture him if I were ever to come face to face with him. Such is our duty, in the end," you watch as Ei's eyelids flutter shut, her features pensive as she continues, "a crime is a crime. But for now, we can let him run freely. Knowing that child, if I capture him now after all his efforts– he would surely hold a grudge against me."

You snicker. You wondered how Kunikuzushi was as a child under Ei's tutelage, yet her words about him seemed very akin to how he was now. You wondered if he had ever changed at all.

"As for your punishment, however, under these circumstances, and under my personal creed, both as his birth mother and as a guardian who had failed to serve him when he needed me the most," she returns her gaze back to you with a small sigh, "I suppose I have no choice but to waive your sentence as an investigator."

You nearly forget to hold back a sigh of relief, your anxiety boiling and simmering into nothing swiftly as you readjust yourself in your seat. You were honestly unsure of what she would possibly do. You knew she couldn't afford to sell her own son out to the police, but you weren't sure where you would lie in her radar of judgment.

"This isof coursewith the promise that you don't mention anything we had just talked about outside of this room," Ei eyes you for a second, as though to scan you for any hints of suspiciousness, "especially since the knowledge shared between the two of us can put us at great risks."

"Of course," you bow your head slightly, "I am indebted to you now as well for everything you're doing now." You and Ei were put on the same boat now, strung along by Kunikuzushi's antics.

After some more small talk, Ei eventually dismisses you from her room, telling you that during her investigation with La Signora, nobody was around to hear her, entailing that you were in the clear for now.

And when you return to your office, your coworkers ask you what Ei had required you for. You tell them a half truth, and with a smile, you proceed to the end of your shift thoroughly analyzing and researching Il Dottore's whereabouts. During your shift, your coworkers talked amongst one another, theorizing about Scaramouche in an attempt to find his whereabouts– and for some reason, it seemed like he was the hot topic of the day.

Perhaps it was due to the lack of information the system had on him, especially since he had been supposedly 'missing' for a few years now. To have him reappear like this, during the most crucial moments in which the Fatui were slowly being picked apart from the seams, one by one… It felt almostcomical.

To your team, however, it wasclearwhat Scaramouche's intentions were.

To bring down the Fatui.Whether or not it was internal strife was dismissed for as long as the police got what they wanted. The drought of information over the past couple years has made everybody desperate–especiallyyourself.

Otherwise, you wouldn't be where you were now. Stuck in the middle of several events, and had there been one wrong turn on your part, it would be all over for you.

Leaving the office, you return home decisively, making sure to change into a fresh pair of clothes before departing to Kunikuzushi's abode. Today would be your final outing with him. You would make sure of it. At least then, you would have some peace of mind. You quietly hoped that this final outing would give you a sense of relief– an escape , and a finality that would mark the end of your affections towards Kunikuzushi.

You didn't want to hold anything sweet for him, knowing none of it would come into fruition in the end. It was useless pining, a useless romance between a detective and a criminal. Logically, you knew better than to fall for someone with a devilish smile like Kunikuzushi.

But logic never quite sufficed when you were in his presence. Seeing him sometimes…Like now,how he was so peacefully napping away on the couch with a hand pressed onto his cheek–it made you feel strange.His moments of vulnerability from behind his naturally collected façade, it was attractive in your eyes. A part of you wouldn't mind watching him for a while longer, and soyou did.In silence, you indulge yourself, seating yourself across from him.

You allow some time to pass before you opt to wake him up gently, calling out his name in a whisper, and when he awakes, he isn't startled. Instead, he glares up at you, the sunlight peeking through the room illuminating the side of your face, and for a moment, Kunikuzushi wonders if he's still dreaming.

"Sleep well?" You offer him a kind smile, unable to help yourself from laughing when he ruffles his hair, his gaze on you softening as you back away.

Kunikuzushi remains quiet, his eyes vigilant as he scans your attire. "Not bad," he comments briefly before stretching in his seat. "Didn't think you'd goall out,but it'sheavily appreciated,"Kunikuzushi lifts himself up from his seat, his eyes remaining on you as you back away.

"Today…" You huff, trailing off as you quickly think over the rest of your words, "I just felt like dressing up today," you surmise, not wanting to confess that this would be your last outing with him until your contract with him was over.

Kunikuzushi hums, pondering over your words with a slight tilt of his head as his eyes narrow onto you.You were thinking about something.He knew that expression on your faceall too well."Spit it out," he urges you, crossing his arms as he shifts to the side to grab his coat, "something's clearly on your mind."

With a short sigh, you concede to his wishes, "..I was hoping for this to be our last'team building exercise',"you conclude with a frown upon noticing his expression fall quickly, "I just don't thinkit's necessary anymore."

There's a few beats of silence that fill the air as Kunikuzushi's expression turns acrid. You purse your lips and await his response.

"..Are you still unhappy with me?" He begins, swiveling around to face you, his icy, pale complexion warm under the light of the falling sun.

"..What?" There was a genuine confusion in your tone that struck Kunikuzushi as strange, "No,no,it's not about that," you reassure him before adding on, "it's as I said.I don't think it's necessary anymore,that's all."

Kunikuzushi eyes you carefully once more, his expression unreadable. "..You'reso stubborn," he reluctantly replies, turning away from you to slide into his coat completely, "I dislike your conclusion, bullheaded woman. It feels as though you won't be appeased until I submit to your request."

You let out a soft breath, feeling uneasy as you follow his lead. You briefly wondered if he would reject your proposition, until he suddenly added on, "Fine. If that's what you truly wish for, then so be it," he retorts with a somewhat harsh tone, "after some thought, this might just be a waste of our time anyway. We could be focusing on other aspects of our mission," he opens the door for you, his hair swaying when a slight gust of wind enters the home, brushing past you. "Come on then," he urges you impatiently with a roll of his eyes, "we don't have all day."

In response, you simply nod, keeping your mouth shut as you exit his abode. When you pass by him, his eyes don't meet your own, though you notice the lack of warmth he held within his irises.

You resist the urge to show your forlornness.

Seated at the restaurant now, you begin to notice something strange about him. His skin had been looking a little paler than usual, his eye bags heavier– and then you remembered how he had been napping.Perhaps he hasn't been sleeping well?You choose not to dwell on it, and for the rest of the dinner, Kunikuzushi and yourself talk about lighthearted things, until you finally decide to drop the big event of the day on him.

"Ei knows about our partnership now," you confess without a second thought, staring blankly at your plate of food as you pick at the pieces with a fork, "she confronted me about it earlier today…" Your eyes trail upwards, merely out of curiosity to gaze onto his own features, only to find that he looked unfazed, "I didn't tell her much, she just knows the basis of our relationship. She promises not to cause trouble for you," you pause, watching as he lifts a glass of wine up to his mouth.

He takes a long gulp before returning your gaze, "I expected as much," he retorts with a steady tone, "there would be no way that crimson wench would let my wrongdoings slide so easily. Well," he huffs, "we'd come to this conclusion one point or another. I do find it amusing thattwo members of the police forceare now willing to cooperate with me now, though."

You remain quiet for a little, mulling over his words in the silence as the cheery atmosphere of your surroundings soaked into you. "..Would you ever be willing to meet her?" You slowly start, your tone careful as you meet his gaze once more. Despite his blank expression, you prod on, "It's very clear she cares for you. I suppose shegave me a slight warningthat if she were to come face to face with you that shewould catch you–but I… I doubt she could execute such a thing unless it had been during the wrong scenario, with cops and all."

Kunikuzushi's reply arrives quicker than you had expected, "I have no need to," he responds calmly, "I have nothing to show at the moment. I'd prefer to meet her when I have achieved Dottore's head on a plate," he says it casually, as though killing him was the most natural thing for him to do. "Perhaps then, if I were satisfied," he continues quietly, causing you to strain your ears, "I wouldn't mind if she captured me. Crime ends with punishment."

You snicker at his words, eliciting him to stare at you in mild irritation, "The two of youare similarto some extent," you comment with a genuine smile, "she had said something similar earlier."

Kunikuzushi hums, a film of nostalgia forming over his irises for a moment upon hearing your words, and briefly, you see what looks to be a blissful relief on his face. It was an expression new to you, seeing his face soften so much– he looked almostinnocentfor a second.

And when the melody of the strings that echo throughout the restaurant change in tune, Kunikuzushi's expression becomes devoid of any emotion whatsoever. Instead, he opts to blank out, his eyes narrowing as though he had been extremely focused on something else entirely.

"Kunikuzushi?" You call out his name, hoping for him to snap out of his reverie, only to find that he was still lost in it. You tilt your head in confusion. This was strange. He was never one to lose focus, especially in public. "Hey," you call out to him once more, waving a hand before him. When nothing happens, you decide to kick his leg from under the table, "Hello!" You raise your voice, earning the attention of others around you.

Kunikuzushi flinches in pain, letting out a dull hiss as he shuts his eyes,"What the hell?"He growls under his breath as he reopens his eyes to look at you once more.

"Are you sick or something?" You retort with a frown, furrowing your eyebrows together in clear concern. He opens his mouth to say something, but quickly shuts it and seethes as he leans forward to feel at his head. You scowl at him, shaking your head as you place down your eating utensils, "Like I thought… Something's wrong with you today," you mutter under your breath, "come on. I'll take you home."

"No," Kunikuzushi quickly retorts, keeping a hand on his head, "no, don't bother. It's just a mild migraine," he narrows his eyes onto the red fabric covering the table, gritting his teeth as he attempts to grasp his cool composure once more with a sigh.

You continue to eye him in concern, scanning your environment once more before coming to a conclusion as you find a waiter approaching the two of you. You ask for the bill, causing Kunikuzushi to lightly kick your leg from below the table. You turn your head to glare at him, to which he responds with a soft hiss.

"I said I was fine," he hisses as he leans towards you, "didn't you hear me the first time?"

"If you have a migraine, " you slowly start, responding in the same annoyed tone that he had used with you, "it would be better to avoid loud places like this. Besides, you're finished eating already," you usher towards his plate, "so let's head home early–"

"I don't wanna," he interjects with a firm scowl, his glare only intensifying when you let out a sigh. Kunikuzushi purses his lips tightly before finally adding on, "This is our last outing before we seriously get back to work again, so," Kunikuzushi huffs, tearing his gaze away from you as he watches the waiter approach with the bill in hand, "I at least wanted to make it long and enjoyable."

You feel your heart stutter in your chest. Was this Kunikuzushi being honest and open right now? It made you a little embarrassed, in truth. He wanted to spend more time with you. When the waiter puts the bill down onto the table, you're first to put your credit card into the check holder. "Okay then," you slowly start, feeling your cheeks sting with a slight warmth, "how about we relax outside for a little?" You place the check holder back onto the table, only for Kunikuzushi to snatch it out of your grasp.

You let out a miffed noise as Kunikuzushi tosses your card back at you, your eyebrows furrowing in irritation as he offers you a winning smirk, sliding in a few bills into the sleeve of the check holder as he responds, "What fool would I be to not accept such a generous offer?"

And thus, the two of you end up at a convenience store. The two of you enter casually, and you choose out a few snacks for the remainder of the night with him. At the counter, Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at you in curiosity when you ask for a pack of cigarettes at the counter, followed by a lighter.

Upon exiting the store, Kunikuzushi decides to inquire, "Have I rubbed off on you too much, Miss Investigator?" He points towards the pack of cigarettes you held in your hand, and you stare at it blankly before shrugging.

"Actually, these were for you," you admit with a small smile, "because you haven't smelled like smoke for the past few days I've seen you. Even your hideout smells less congested," you slowly say as you get back into your car, "so I can't help but think you've been listening to my requests, even if you had no need to."

Kunikuzushi doesn't reply. Instead, he opts to stare at you inquisitively, his eyes wide as he scans your features in silence. "You said you were against this, though, especially since I'm injured and everything," he snickers with a smile, "going back on your word?"

"Just for tonight," you lightheartedly hum, "I'll be a hypocrite. Consider today as a 'thank you' for everything you've done. It's healthy to spoil your teammates once in a while, right?"

Listening to the sound of the car engine starting, Kunikuzushi can't help but quietly mutter to himself, "Teammates, huh?"

And somehow, his words resounded throughout your mind with howdisappointedhis tone was.

"And this is…" Kunikuzushi drones in slight surprise upon realizing the location where you had driven up to. "For the sake of reminiscing?" He snickers, getting out of the car to feel the ocean breeze on his face. He lets out a breath of air, feeling relaxed as he sees the moon above reflect off the waters from afar.

Ignoring the chill of the frigid night air on your skin, you seat yourself on a familiar fallen log just a little ways away from where you had parked. "I thought the view was nice here last time," you comment, remembering the day the two of you had dressed for the ballroom party on the cruise ship, "and I figured that nobody really comes around here. We can talk comfortably while relaxing," you toss him a lopsided grin, "it's not so bad, isn't it, Kunikuzushi?"

At the sound of his name leaving your mouth, his shoulders turn lax, his irises softening as he returns your grin with a smile of his own. Taking the seat next to you, he tears open the cigarette package, a distant look on his face as he gazes off into the endless ocean. "..It's not bad at all, Miss Investigator," his voice is calmer now, almost drowned out by the sounds of the ocean waves lapping up against the shore.

You hum in response, listening to him as he takes a cigarette out, and you await for him to light it. Moments of silence pass before you finally speak up again, "Not gonna smoke?" You push loose strands of hair back, tucking them behind an ear as you meet his gaze.

"Hmm," he thinks, his irises interlocking with your own as a strange smile crawls onto his lips, "I kind of just enjoy the scenery right now," he comments, "it feels just like that night we danced."

"A little romantic, right?" You laugh thoughtlessly, "I think so, too."

"Well," Kunikuzushi snickers, raising an eyebrow up at you in amusement, "I was going to say it was very relaxing, but…" He trails off upon seeing your shoulders tense. He lets out another string of snickers, "Do you enjoy the romantic atmosphere?"

"Please," you feel your cheeks flush with warmth, "forget what I said." You internally yelled at yourself for getting ahead of yourself, thinking to perhaps take a short walk away from him before you said anything else strange.

Amidst his chuckles, Kunikuzushi lights his cigarette, a smile on his slips as he takes a short inhale before letting out the smoke. He hums in satisfaction, watching the smoke disappear into the air as a gust of wind flits past the two of you, carrying with it the scent of the ocean. "I'll smoke just a little bit," he mutters to himself, "just to take the edge off of me right now…"

With your curiosity piqued, you ask him what he had been meaning by such words. "What's on your mind, Kunikuzushi?" You softly start, unconsciously pressing a hand on your stomach to feel at your healing wound.

Kunikuzushi eyes your motions before responding, "..Nothing much," he shrugs, his tone light as he continues, "maybe my body is just taxing on me for all the work I do now," he scoffs, "I've been getting nightmares as of late. Lots of fun nightmares," he sarcastically drones, "lucid ones, too."

"Sounds troublesome," you reply distantly, your eyes zeroing in on the glimmers of light that emit from the rays of moonlight that hit the ocean. You trail your eyes along the dancing lights, thinking back to how he had acted today, "I guess you're not sick then, are you? Other than mentally, I mean." Upon hearing your words, he jabs your side, eliciting a flinch from you.

"I'm fine, Miss Investigator," he retorts with a roll of his eyes, "doing much better than you, at least."

You let out a soft hum, your hands pressing along the gritty log beneath you as you lean back in your seat, shutting your eyes as you feel the sea breeze on your skin, "Good then," you surmise with a smile, "just let me know if I can do something for you. You've done a lot of work," you acknowledge, unknowing of the kindness in his eyes when he peers over at you, "perhaps I can find Il Dottore before you can in return…"

"What," Kunikuzushi scoffs, "is this competitive now?"

"Just a little," you tease with a smile, and when you look back at Kunikuzushi, his eyes are wide, "nothing wrong with a little harmless fun. " Kunikuzushi scans your features carefully for a moment, letting out a short hum before taking another drag from his cigarette, until you suddenly pipe up again. "..Can I try that?" You point at his lit cigarette, and in response, he scrunches his face in abhor.

"Huh?" He scowls, shifting himself away from you, "No. You yourself said this was bad," Kunikuzushi starts, watching as you shift towards him, much to his chagrin, "do you have a death wish or something? Or is it that you ate something weird today? You're acting like you do when you drink… "

"You act like I'm going to die from one puff," you huff, outstretching a hand towards him once more, "I haven't tried anything like this before. Hell, this is probably the first and last time I'll ever do it."

Kunikuzushi lets out a disgruntled noise before offering it to you, "Whatever. Do it at your own risk," Kunikuzushi watches as you take the cigarette from his fingers, a small smirk forming at the end of his lips as he watches you hold it between your fingers strangely, "idiot."

"How do I do this?" You inquire, and just as he starts to speak, you press your lips onto the orange tip and take a quick breath in– and in seconds, you start coughing uncontrollably. Kunikuzushi laughs at you, tearing the cigarette out of your hand as you recover from your series of coughs.

"Moron," he snickers, "you should've let me finish talking you through with it, though," he eyes you as you toss him a teary eyed glare, "I think that was entertaining to watch." With a snide grin, he leans the cigarette towards you, "Want to have another drag?"

You glare up at him in disbelief, "No." You stiffly reply, clearing your throat as you crinkle your nose in disgust, "God, what's so good about smoking?"

"Nothing," Kunikuzushi shrugs before coming to an abrupt pause, taking a look at the mark your lipstick had left on the cigarette with a small smile, "well… Maybe it has some benefits," he whispers more to himself than to let you hear, and when you turn to look at him in question, he simply shakes his head. "No, it's nothing important," he snickers, eying the stain on the filtered end of the cigarette before pressing his lips on it. He takes one last drag before putting it out, a satisfied smile on his lips as he watches you shift back in your seat, looking carefree.

The two of you allow a few minutes of silence to pass, comfort settling between the both of you as you hum a tune unknown to Kunikuzushi. For a moment, Kunikuzushi finds himself memorizing your peaceful expression, your eyes shut as the sound of waves crept up on the shoreline– and then he realizes that perhaps, he won't see you like this anymore.

Tentatively, he speaks up, his voice quiet, almost inaudible, "..Since we won't be able to see each other like this," he starts, "we should at least have coffee every morning. Who knows," Kunikuzushi understands his words are ultimately redundant, and he doesn't truly understand himself as to why he was making excuses, "we might end up working together for a long time if Il Dottore isn't found any time soon. In the case that he isn't found then…" He trails off upon seeing your look of slight bewilderment. He clicks his tongue before shaking his head, "Forget it. I think the migraine is getting to me."

"Coffee…" You slowly reply, throwing your head back to look up at the leaves that rustle above you, "I won't mind," you affirm with a smile, "as long as it remains free for me."

Kunikuzushi scoffs, a clear irritation in his tone as he starts again, "..Fucking brat," he curses under his breath as he shifts in his seat. You hum in acknowledgement when you realize he doesn't bother to deny your proposition. You turn your head to look at Kunikuzushi as he gazes back at you, his eyes narrowing onto your features as you offer him a small smile. The snicker that leaves his mouth is derisive in nature, but coupled with his handsome smirk, you can't help but think that it's meant to tease you.

"You must be satisfied," Kunikuzushi huffs, turning his gaze away from you and back onto the ocean view, "I've repaid you for your injuries, and despite your annulment with our nightly meetings, you still win by getting free coffee from me." The muscles on your face relax when you scan his expression once more, a nostalgic sensation blooming from within his indigo hued irises, "I'm willing to give you that much. But in truth," he stretches a hand out before him, his smirk falling from his lips gently, "I would have much preferred to keep nights like these as opposed to hectic mornings with you. These moments feel strangely close to eternity," he whispers, and you listen to him intently as he continues, "stretched to infinity, and seared into my memories."

"These moments feel tangible," Kunikuzushi's voice is soft, sounding akin to glass with the fragility of his tone, "they help bring me out of my momentary stupors. In a world where things seem to freely slip from my grasp, at least I have…" He stops altogether, his voice dying in his throat as his hand falls back to his side.

And then his expression is blank again. As though he were having trouble understanding his own feelings. You couldn't help but scoff a little.

"I didn't know you could say suchcheesy, poetic things,"you jeer, hoping to see him toss you an irate glare, only for him to remain impassive.

"..It's the migraine, I suppose," Kunikuzushi snickers, brushing off all sentiment of your playfulness.

It was a see through lie, his words to you. He was showing vulnerability, and it made you wonder, considering that his past had once been filled with such blissful familial happiness in comparison to the cold reality that he lived in now, just how painful it must've been for him throughout all these years. You couldn't relate to him. You could probably never come close to even understanding an inch of his anguish.

His honesty threw you off guard, and it nearly tore your heart asunder. You were used to seeing a more arrogant side of him, a more cruel, sarcastic mask. He was by all means, a hard worker, someone who would dedicate themselves to one task, one who took every move into calculation without fail. Someone who would sacrifice so much to bring himself relief.

And seeing this side of him… It made you want to let loose a little, too.

"Ah, I'm getting a migraine too," you feign distress despite your unenthused tone, and Kunikuzushi tosses you an incomprehensible expression. You turn your head away, rubbing your hands along your arms as the chill of the night settles into your bones, "Truthfully," you start, "I don't mind these long nights. I'm just afraid of…" You pause, thinking over your next few words abruptly. You decide to cover your own thoughts up, not wanting to expose yourself out of embarrassment, "The risk from my gamble, being your partner. I don't want to lose my job," you scoff, "if anybody found out, I'd be imprisoned."

Unfortunately for you, Kunikuzushi is sharp. "You were well prepared for such a thing, weren't you? You knew the risks of partnering with me. You've known for months now, and you knew even before you agreed to this entire thing," Kunikuzushi raises a brow at you, watching as you continue to shiver from this cold. His eyes narrow, "Be honest with yourself, Miss Investigator. What are you really afraid of," he hums, as he shrugs off his coat, "it's obvious that your intentions have been set to avoid spending more time with me. Are you regretting your choices now?"

You take a moment to analyze his words, your mind reeling to a harsh halt as your lips fall open, "I suppose some regret linger here and there," you admit quietly, not noticing Kunikuzushi shift closer to you, "but it's really not all that–'' You feel the weight of his coat fall across your shoulders, his arm outstretched before you as he pulls the other end the coat to hang over your shoulder furthest from him, "Bad…" You trail off, as he adjusts the coat on you, and in response to his antics, you swivel your head around to face him, your eyes wide with wonder as your lips pull taut into a straight line.

"I've had enough of your teeth chattering occasionally when you speak," he confesses with a scowl, his eyebrows furrowing as he leans closer to you, causing your breath to stop at your throat, "and let's see…" He tilts his head, "What is it exactly that you regret about this?"

It takes some time for you to respond. Your legs are touching his own, and it's not a new sensation– but with how close he was to you, his hands still tugging on the front of the coat as though to shield you from the cold.

You purse your lips and reply with a blank tone, "The relationship aspect…" You mindlessly say, as though he had hypnotized you somehow with his bright eyes. You think to yourself that perhaps he really was the devil. Handsome, charming– come to this land to bring you pure chaos and mischief. This scenario– it wasn't good.

The corner of his lips turned upwards into a small smile, "What about it?"

You shift backwards, though his grip on the coat doesn't let you– and you wonder if he had known you would try to pull away from him ahead of time. You wonder if his intentions were to shield you from the cold, or if they were truly meant to just keep you from straying away.

Distracted, you respond, "I… I think a few months prior to all our dancing, and all of the…" Your eyes are still wide, your heart beating rapidly in your chest as Kunikuzushi's smile widens, "And all of the unnecessary intimacy," you prod on, "we had a level of professionalism to a certain extent. Now, I feel like it's all gone, and–" You break out of whatever charm he had held over you, shaking your head as you nervously laugh, "Excuse me, I–"

Kunikuzushi interjects, "And what, Miss Investigator?" You grit your teeth, your jawline visibly tensing. There it was again. That tone of voice, the dangerous honeyed tone when he mentioned your title. "Are you afraid of what it's growing into? This relationship, I mean," Kunikuzushi's smile falls as he nears you once more, and you freeze up completely, your hands near your chest now as you shrink under his gaze, "because I was looking forward to whatever change it'd bring."

"I was hoping," his voice is akin to a whisper, "that you'd play a little longer and find out with me."

Was he flirting with you?

You can't breathe. Nor can you speak, with how little room there is left between the two of you. He has such a grip on you, like a snake, wrapping around its prey before feasting. You gulp, and your anxious gulp is so loud it causes Kunikuzushi to chuckle, his eyes narrowing further as his lips spread into a grin. You curse yourself internally.

"Did I make you nervous?"You didn't want to respond to his teasing anymore. This was going too far. With a sharp breath of air, you regain the voice to speak.

"Kunikuzushi," you start, your tone surprisingly firm despite the torrent of emotions that raged within you, "I can't move." And he laughs at you as though you were stupid.

"That's the point, idiot," he huffs, pressing his forehead against your own as your cheeks burn, "you've been making bold moves on me, kissing me without asking–" you squeak as his nose brushes against your own, "I think it's about time I got my revenge."

You purse your lips, feeling fire burn throughout your system in the form of liquid, raging throughout your body to the tips of your fingers– and suddenly, you feel something wet trail along your lips. You remain absolutely still as he slowly pulls away to gauge your reaction, satisfaction riddling his expression upon seeing you self destruct before him.

You slowly raise a hand to your lips, adrenaline pumping through your veins.

"Did you just lick my lips?" You ask it with genuine curiosity, along with a spark of embarrassment. You gasp when his smile widens, quickly averting your eyes away from him as you rub your lips.

"It's a technique," he nonchalantly retorted, an impish smile remaining on his features, "I heard it helped people become warmer quickly, and you were shivering, chattering your teeth and all…" Kunikuzushi lets out a soft chuckle, "Well? Are you warmer? I already gave you my coat, just as I have accepted the fact that you would like to see me less and less," your eyes widened upon hearing his words, "if you insist, I can continue. I can make your migraine go away by making your mind melt. In other words, I can show you what a real kiss is like."

You instinctively back away from him, and this time, he lets you with a smile on his face, the moonlight across his features only making his irises seem as though they were glowing violet in the atmosphere of the night.

"Kunikuzushi," you hiss, your mind running in circles as you grit your teeth, "just what are you doing, playing around like this..! Do you think I'm so stupid as to really think that you were merely showing me a 'technique'!?"

"Of course," he replies far too quickly for your liking, "I do think you're that stupid. You're naïve enough to throw yourself into a pit of fire to protect my identity. I think you're an idiot for wanting to run from me," Kunikuzushi raises a brow at you, keeping a calm façade, "and I think you're an idiot for thinking I'd let you ."

"And without you knowing," he sighs, content with himself, "I've taken advantage of your kindness. Now you'll see me daily, correct? For coffee, " Kunikuzushi sneers as realization dawns upon you, "as long as it's free. What a small price to pay!"

You grit your teeth, backing away from him once more, "You are the worst kind of guy," you hiss under your breath, "what do you gain from seeing me daily?"

Kunikuzushi's expression turns unreadable, his smile lessening as he tilts his head slightly to the side, "What do I gain, huh? " He hums, his eyes trailing off to the floor, where his cigarette he had crushed had been discarded.

"The answer is simple. The relationship you're so scared of seeing progress between us and the changes it'll bring," Kunikuzushi hums,"I get to find out."

Returning home was hellish. Especially since Kunikuzushi was adamant to see you back into your home, telling you that he would rather walk home to soothe whatever had been left of his migraine away.

He drops you off at the front of your apartment door, his eyes narrowed, his smile much more devilish than it had been before as he bids you farewell and goodnight. And when you're inside your house, you collapse onto the floor with exhaustion.

Too much had happened today.

Your mind could hardly comprehend the intimacy between you and Kunikuzushi today. You shake your mind, wanting to scrub away the feeling of Kunikuzushi's tongue trailing mischievously up your lips. To think he would do such a thing– and to think he somehow got you to have coffee with him every morning. You had coffee with him often back then, seeing him up to five times a week– but this time, it would be every day. He was torturing you for wanting to stay away from him. He was being petty, albeit in his own childish way– he was definitely doing this to spite you.

You grit your teeth, feeling your chest burn as you replay the moment he had put his coat around you in your head.

Was he toying with your emotions, then? Knowing you had held some sort of affection for him… Or was he planning something else entirely?

You never knew what to expect with him. He was naturally…Unpredictable.

That's what made him dangerous.

You purse your lips into a straight line. But you supposed… That's also what made him so appealing in your eyes. Shaking your head once more, you rush to the shower to get rid of the grime that had collected on you for the whole day, thinking quietly to yourself that you would have to get up a little earlier than you had anticipated in order to meet Kunikuzushi for breakfast.

You supposed meeting with him in the mornings wouldn't hurt. If your heart continued to beat the same way it did today, then perhaps you could learn to steady yourself properly…

Arriving home exhausted from his day, Kunikuzushi is quick to get himself ready for bed. In the shower, he ponders over the feeling of your lips on his tongue, followed by your sweet, embarrassed expression. Unconsciously, he finds himself licking his lips, a smile blooming on his features. After seeing such an expression… How could he bring himself to stop seeing you?

Kunikuzushi hums, feeling satisfied with himself. He could make it easier for you. He could be a little less playful, be a bit more serious when he spent time with you… But that would be no fun. He enjoyed his games, and in you, he found entertainment. It was selfish of him to keep being childish like this, teasing you– it was all worth it in his eyes. He felt alive, seeing you, normally so composed, burning warmly under his touch.

Coming out of his shower, he decides to treat himself to some of the homemade cookies you baked for him, enjoying their flavor, akin to earl gray tea. Kunikuzushi spends some time relaxing on his phone, treating himself to the cookies you had made for him, along with a few other snacks you had bought for him at the convenience store. After his fourth cookie, he can't help but grit his teeth. His migraine was back.

With a sigh, he cleans up, trudging his heavy body up the stairs with much work. With every pair of stairs he climbed over, he felt his weight becoming heavier and heavier. "Fuck," he curses silently. Did he over exhaust himself?

Barely managing to drag himself into his room, Kunikuzushi topples over his bed, his teeth grit as he struggles to keep awake. His phone is ringing– and it's playing a familiar, ear-grating tune. He reaches over to answer it, but finds himself unable to do so.

Suddenly, a wave of memories crash into his mind all at once– the blurred image of you as he collapses on the floor upon descending from a stairwell, a distorted voice telling him that everything would be okay.

Was that really a dream?

His vision is hazy, the edges of his vision turning black as a numbness settles into his body. Kunikuzushi tries to fight against it, feeling unsure of what was happening as the world spun around him. He kept trying to fight it despite his exhaustion, feeling like something was off about this migraine–

And when he came to, it was morning. He was lying in his bed as he would regularly be, under the comfort of his blanket.

But that wasn't right. He hadn't fallen asleep like this.

Kunikuzushi shot up immediately and scanned his surroundings, feeling alarmed, and when he found nothing unusual, an eerie feeling crept up on him. Like a familiar darkness, pulling him back and away from the light he bathed in.

His phone rings, and he reacts swiftly, "Hello?" His tone is groggy, though it was nothing you were unfamiliar with.

"I thought you wanted coffee. Are you flaking out on me?"Your voice echoes from the other end of the phone, and Kunikuzushi's eyes widen in response.

He checks the time, his blood draining from his face as he notices that he had slept in. "I'll be there shortly," Kunikuzushi quickly replies, and before you can retort, he hangs up and gets ready for the day. Despite the dull ache in his head, he is swift to clean up.

As Kunikuzushi prepares to leave his house, he passes by your container of cookies– and comes to an abrupt halt.

The image of your blurred figure rings back to the forefront of his mind, and with that image came a seedling of doubt.

Kunikuzushi turns his head to stare at the cookies, his lips pulling into a thin line on his face as his eyes narrow. Around the same time he started to get vivid nightmares, you had given him these cookies. The source of all his late night troubles... Couldn't have been your doing, could it?

Notes:

i didn't mean to write this much.
kunikuzushi is... smitten.
but yes, flirting. this will probably be the last time they flirt (maybe? HAHA) so i hope this was enough to feed everyone...
also... i will respond to everyone tomorrow... im exhausted [cry]

Chapter 13: Working For The Knife

Summary:

In which they learn to live with one another for just a little while.

Notes:

I start the day lying and end with the truth
That I'm dying for the knife

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

"Hello?"

Kunikuzushi doesn't understand it. What's been happening to him for the past few days? He hasn't taken anything strange aside from your baking–which wasn't strange in the slightest, in fact he thought it was just fine–

"Uh? Are you listening?"

What wasmaking him like this?Sleepless nights, nightmares–was he sleepwalking too?Waking up in a completely different manner… He presses his hand against his lips, the aroma of coffee wafting in the air."There is definitely something wrong here,"Kunikuzushi whispers to himself,"just what am I not catching onto?"

"Oh,I don't know?"You start off sarcastically, rolling your eyes in annoyance as you lean forward in your seat, "For starters you're ignoring me." As though he had awoken from a stupor, Kunikuzushi snaps back into his senses, his eyes narrowed onto your own as he lifts a brow. "I get I asked for us to see each other less," you grumble unhappily, your eyes flickering over the clock to the side before reverting your gaze back to his own features, "but you don't have to be so rude as to ignore me. You were the one late, too…" You huff, "I should be upset if anything…"

Kunikuzushi lets out a reluctant sigh, his lips pulled taut to one side of his face as if to express disapproval, "I already apologized, Miss Investigator. It was unintentional," he proceeds with a frown, "you must already be aware of how I am when it comes to tardiness. I am hardly ever late."

"Yeah, yeah," you shrug with a frown before getting up from your seat, eliciting a somewhat alarmed look from Kunikuzushi. When you meet his gaze once more, you raise an eyebrow, "Sorry, I've gotta get going though. At this rate, I might be late to work."

Kunikuzushi scowled up at you, his eyes flickering off to the side to measure the clock, and with a small nod, he can't help but feel a little defeated. He had hoped to spend a little more time with you, however…

His eyes remain on the clock, the sound of ticking ringing throughout his ears, the rhythm in itself almost intoxicating his mind.

He supposed he had other business to attend to.

"By the way, Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi starts just as you are about to grab your bag, "have you been sleeping well?" You turn around to look at him, your eyes inquisitive as he awaits your answer.

"..No," you confess with a scowl, "I mean– how can I," you huff in despair, your breath bated as you continue, "I just got back to work and I got rained on with work. It's hard playing catch-up when there are constantly new cases here and there popping up…" Your eyes flutter shut, an exasperated expression shining through your usually collected features.

Kunikuzushi hums in response, his eyes softening upon seeing your eye bags, "..Your makeup isn't hiding it too well," Kunikuzushi's voice is surprisingly tender, "take care of yourself, Miss Investigator. You might end up looking like Madame Ping in the next few months if you don't take care of your stress levels."

His joke missed the mark with you, that much was clear from the moment you reopened your eyes, revealing a look of disdain. Nevertheless, Kunikuzushi only smiles in response.

"..You too," you gradually say as you pull your bag over your shoulders, your eyes refusing to meet his own, "you've been spacing out lately. And," you usher towards your own eye bags, "your dark circles are getting worse," you blink twice before remembering you had brought something for him today. Pulling out a small pill bottle of painkillers, you place it down on the table before him, your voice careless as you swivel around, "That's for you," you begin with a small smile, "don't go dying on me just yet, Balladeer."

Kunikuzushi feels his chest lighten ever so slightly, noticing your teasing tone, and with a smirk, he responds, pressing a hand to his cheek, "How kind of you. Is it poisoned too?"

"What?" You eye him in a bewilderment, "What do you mean by that?"

The male with the electric gaze hums, his eyes only narrowing upon seeing your confused expression, "..I'm not all too sure myself," he admits before adding on, "did you put anything in particular in the cookies you made?"

When you attempt to retract the pill bottle from him, Kunikuzushi is swift to swipe it off of the table, your fingers just seconds away from touching the lid once more. He quickly pockets it, keeping his smirk steady as your eyes burn with an irritation he has become all too familiar with.

"Of course not," you scowl, clearly offended, crossing your arms as you pull away from the table, "why, are you blaming my cookies for your loss of sleep?" You had sincerely hoped he was joking, but by the look on his face, you could tell he was somewhat serious.

In truth, it had sunken your heart a little bit. Were you that horrible at baking?

"..I figured," Kunikuzushi replies with a sigh, sounding a little tired as he averts his gaze once more towards the clock, the ticking of the clock continuously ringing in his ears, "you wouldn't bother exhausting me like that," he confesses with an honesty, before his words turn scornful, "you do far more than enough just by sticking around me."

Having had enough of his playfulness, you finally turn around, walking away with him with a small wave of your hand, not bothering to give him a proper goodbye. For whatever reason, he was being a little bit prickly despite being the one late to the morning coffee meeting, so you'd let him be.

Kunikuzushi watches as you depart, his smile quickly fading as he eyes your back, his left hand still wrapped around the pill bottle. He gives it a little shake before examining it, his eyes searching and scouring the pill bottle for any suspicious information, only to find that it had still been sealed with plastic just perfectly. He purses his lips into a thin line.

It was a genuine gift– Kunikuzushi was aware of it. You were an honest person when you needed to be, and you were never one to go out of your way to cause such trouble for him– however something just didn't sit quite right, and for as long as he couldn't figure out what it was, he refused to do anything that would potentially put him at risk.

He scowled, looking down at his mug of coffee.

That of course, included drinking his favorite cup of coffee here at the cafe. For as long as he hadn't made the food or beverage with his own hands… He would have no choice but to discard them. In utter silence, Kunikuzushi rises from his seat, his eyes refusing to linger on the enticing cup of coffee for any longer than they should. With that, he hauls himself out of the café.

His first mission of the day would then be to investigate what was wrong with him, starting with surfing the web at the public library. He couldn't possibly risk doing any research on his phone, considering last night… He had heard a particularly strange yet familiar tune that had burned itself into his mind. There was a possibility his phone was bugged somehow through unseeable means. Through Kunikuzushi's searching, he finds nothing out of the ordinary– the usual odd possibilities of 'cancer', or things like insomnia– none of which seemed to particularly click well with him.

Instead, Kunikuzushi looks for triggers. Scouring his mind, looking for things, remembering smells, to sounds and voices– triggers that would cause him to have such a horrid experience. There are a few he takes note of: the sound of rhythmic ticking, an oddly familiar tune, and… Perhaps the taste of your cookies? He sends you a text, asking you for the ingredients you had used to bake.

The text you send him back has him nearly chuckling.

"Is this really necessary? I told you already, I didn't poison you! If it was that bad then I'll just cook something for you next time…"

He replies shortly, without any humor to keep his sense of seriousness intact:
"Just send me the ingredients. Brand name and everything. Photos of the original packaging would be appreciated."

When you don't reply back, he assumes you're busy with work, and continues thinking of any possible triggers. After another hour of searching, he eventually gives up.

In truth, he already somewhat understands what's happening to him. He just refused to admit it quite yet– not until he had the most probable truths and facts to back his experiences up.

His experiences right now vaguely reminded him of the times he had been under hypnosis– a time that he hadn't quite enjoyed, his mind from then, and memories associated with them fragmented like shattered glass.

Late in the evening, Kunikuzushi receives a text from you regarding the brand names of the ingredients you had used to make his cookies. He scans through them abruptly, figuring that nothing you had listed had put him off. They were all regular items for the specific cookies you had made for him, and upon further research into the ingredients, there had been nothing out of the ordinary as well.

With the possibility of your cookies being poisoned crossed off the list, Kunikuzushi presses onwards.

At night, Kunikuzushi doesn't do anything further. He opts to make sure his phone's location is turned on, and in the silence of his room, he waits patiently for a call, or for anything to set his mind off. Tonight, he would make sure to at least figure out if he did unconsciously begin to move about. If he had been under hypnosis yet again, then he would at least take a gander and find out who did it with his phone tracking him.

A familiar headache blooms from within him, signaling the departure of his waking senses. He decides to text you on his phone prior to sleeping. Kunikuzushi rests that night, knowing that neither of you would see one another in the morning for coffee as he had requested.

In the morning, Kunikuzushi wakes up regularly, his alarm on his phone ringing, beckoning him forth back into the waking world. He breaks through the morning, tasking himself by checking his recent locations on his phone, his eyes gleaming with interest upon noticing that hehadindeed disappeared somewhere for four hours.

Kunikuzushi leaves his home to investigate the saved locations on his phone, noticing that he was walking down a somewhat familiar route. He mulled over his thoughts while pacing down the streets, his eyes narrowed as he eyes the street names, taking note of the environment around him. Everything was relatively friendly upon first glance, however… Upon retreating to an alleyway, he comes across a mildly suspicious pair of slash marks on the walls.

This was certainly strange.Kunikuzushi tilts his head, leaning downwards as he runs a finger over the scratch on the wall.Had someone attacked him? Or had he brawled with somebody?It did mention on his phone that he was stuck in this one area for two hours.

Kunikuzushi raises his hands to his face, eying the whites of his fingernails carefully. No sign of blood, or grime– or well, anything? He takes a small sniff, smelling his hands before quickly retracting his face in disgust. Aside from the faint scent of his hand soap, he smelled something akin to rubber– however whatever he had held or touched was gone by the time he had woken up.

Narrowing his eyes onto the scenery before him, he examines the scratch marks a little further, trailing them down the alleyway to a dead space between two buildings. He purses his lips tightly together, unsure of his own situation.

There was nothing else to be found. Not a shoe mark, nor a centimeter of blood. Aside from the scratches on the walls– seemingly fresh– there was nothing. Kunikuzushi hums, eying the corners of the buildings with a newfound idea. Perhaps you would serve him well had there been CCTV cameras lying around…

And much to his chagrin, there had been just one, facing directly down the alleyway. Relaxing his muscles, Kunikuzushi lets out a soft sigh, blowing wisps of his dark hair away from his features.

Oh, how glad he was to have you.

He sends you a text message, asking you kindly to check the CCTV around the area if you had access to it. Promptly, he returns back home, thinking to himself that he deserved a nap for all his hard work bright and early in the morning. Kunikuzushi was exhausted, and perhaps if he slept early he would be able to fight his sleep tonight. Tonight, he could test his limits– just to see how far he could relent against his twist of fate.

Upon having a long, healthy nap, Kunikuzushi installs cameras in his home just around his house before the day ends, and when he sleeps that night, he keeps his phone off. Caffeinated with his home brewed coffee, he stays up that night, reading and researching from night until morning, all while monitoring himself and his schedule. When morning breaks over the horizon, and when the sky is painted in a harmonious blue, Kunikuzushi feels relieved.

His experiment hadworked.

Eliminating any possibilities of distractions, of anything that would cause his mind to wander– remaining focused, even on small tasks while caffeinated– he had managed his first twenty-four hours awake.

Now comes another issue.His scheduled coffee mornings with you.Since he was already awake, he arrived at the café early, seating himself at his usual seat, albeit far more tired than usual.

Breakfast with you is oddly silent, with Kunikuzushi feeling a little more comfortable to speak about random, mundane things to fill the gaps of silence between the two of you. You opted to remain quiet most of the time, allowing him to ramble as you distractedly gazed upon his weary features.

"What's wrong with you," you finally say, unable to hold yourself back any longer as you narrow your eyes at him, furrowing your eyebrows in concern, "you… Look a lot more fucked up than usual."

Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at your words, looking mildly irked before crossing his arms, "That's terribly rude of you, Miss Investigator," he chides, feigning disappointment, "I suggest you check the mirror before saying anything next time."

There it was, you thought to yourself with a scowl, the usual bitter attitude that lay within him, coming out for a bite. He was horrible, and for whatever reason, you seemed to secretly find comfort in it. He wasn't entirely wrong however. You had been lacking sleep. Kunikuzushi examines you as you play with loose strands of hair hanging just a little ways away from your face, framing your features, "..Forget me," you mumble under your breath, "I want to know why you've been strange lately. You keep telling me it's migraines but…" You trail off when you notice that Kunikuzushi's face has visibly hardened, "That's not all, is it?"

Kunikuzushi remains quiet for a moment. Absorbed in his thoughts, he leans back in his chair, the sluggishness of his mind settling further and further with every second he remains unmoving. His eyes trail along your features, your eyes softer than usual– and Kunikuzushi nearly smirks in response. You had truly become much more kind to him, haven't you? Kunikuzushi thinks to ignore you, though upon seeing your somewhat downtrodden features, he decides otherwise, "..It's nothing you need to worry about," he responds shortly, shutting his eyes, "I've got it under control. I figured out a way to counter my current situation," and before you could pry any further, he diverts the topic completely, "and? Any recent news on the Fatui?"

You furrow your brows once more, keeping your lips tight in a thin line, "..Not really," you confess with a huff, "there's been other things going around though. The Fatui, whatever they may be doing– they're keeping a down low and playing it smart. The drug routes– we've been researching have been inactive over the past few days, so we're trying to track them down through other means…"

"What about that CCTV I asked you to check for me?" Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at you, his eyes stern as you tilt your head in question. With a roll of his eyes, he scoffs, "Did you not see my message, Miss Investigator?"

You blink, pulling your phone out of your pocket with a small frown. You had honestly completely forgotten about his request. You were swarmed with work. "I might've forgotten to check," you slowly reply, biting your lip when Kunikuzushi tosses you a deadpan expression.

"You're getting clumsier," Kunikuzushi sighs, feigning disappointment, "well whatever. You're not this terrible often. Just check on it today–" he notices that you are still unfocused, your eyes flickering onto your phone as the screen lights up. Someone was calling you. Before you could pick it up, Kunikuzushi breaks the silence once more, "..Or is that you've been purposely ignoring me because you have someone far more important to attend to?" He had meant to say it in a slightly teasing way, hoping to at least light a little fire in you to wake you up a little.

"What..?" You snap your head up, your eyes narrowing onto his features as you hiss, "Of course not–!" You come to a halt, noticing that his indigo hued irises had been gleaming with a strange mischievousness.

Stupid devil, you cursed internally. He was purposely trying to get a rise out of you. You let out a huff, leaning back in your seat with a scowl, "I'll check, I'll check!" You concede with a slight tinge of warmth to your cheeks, slightly embarrassed by your earlier words before you opt to glare at him, "Please don't bother me right now. My senior is calling me."

You pause for a second, feeling your phone ring wildly in your hand. Kunikuzushi keeps his eyes shut, allowing you to answer your phone with a small nod of his head, though the winning smirk on his face never falters. You answer your phone with a stern tone, greeting Ayato with a firm voice, "Good morning, Sir."

"We need you in now."Ayato's voice is chilling, a sense of urgency echoing throughout his tone as he continues,"We have new information on Scaramouche,"he continues, his words causing your eyes to widen for a fraction of a second. Your eyes trail downwards towards Kunikuzushi, your teeth grit as you notice his relaxed expression. He looked as though he would fall asleep.

"Understood,"you reply,"I'll be right over,"in seconds, you're up from your seat, gathering your items onto your person. Your sudden motions elicit a blank stare from Kunikuzushi, his gaze interlocking with your own as you shove your phone in your pocket. "Gotta go," you say with a short bow of your head, "we apparently havenew informationregardingyou."

"Oh?" Kunikuzushi snickers, sounding amused by your words, "How exciting for you. You get to learnmore about meduring your time away from me. Learn all you can, Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi leans forward in his seat, cradling his head between his hands as he continues to smirk at you, "anddoentertain me with the misinformation they spread."

You can't help but return his snicker, feeling a weak smile bloom on your face, "Then I'll make sure to stop by later," you offer, and when Kunikuzushi's irises interlock with your own, the two of you come to a mutual, unsaid understanding. You turn your back to him, humming as you walk out the door of the café, the sun greeting your skin and illuminating your form before the door shuts behind you.

Kunikuzushi remains quiet for a little, his lips quirking upwards into a knowing smile. Looks like he would have time with you in the afternoon.

Until then, Kunikuzushi made preparations for his meeting with you. Checking up on his laptop in the comfort of his own home, Kunikuzushi skims through any new information regarding his miniature traps he had set up in most of the Fatui facilities, making sure none of them had gone off unnaturally, much like it had then with Tartaglia's interference.

He's surprised to see that none of the usual have been going off, aside from a few locations placed more so in the inner city of Inazuma. It was weird that the harbors were becoming less active. Was this also a result of the brawls between Celestia? The male lets out a soft, defeated sigh, sounding irate as he leans towards the side of his couch, pressing his hand on his face. The Fatui's movements were changing, and of course, he had his own actions to account for that, having gotten rid of La Signora, and with your help in Tartaglia's case.

Predicting them would be…

Kunikuzushi purses his lips, his eyes narrowing and darkening upon seeing a green light flicker on one of the locations by the harbor's edge. None of these movements made sense. If that were the case, then they were definitely plotting something right under his nose. It was uneasy, knowing that things were just calm before a storm. Feeling a sensation of something ominous bloom within him, he can't help but let out a scoff, gritting his teeth in irritation as he comes to a conclusion, feeling a wave of sleepiness fall over him, "That shitty old quack…"

His job had become just a little harder.

Kunikuzushi wakes up to the sound of you shouting his name. Annoyed and startled, Kunikuzushi groans, peeling his eyes open slowly as he opts to glare at your form, standing just a few feet away with him– and were your shoes still on while you were in his house? "The hell do you want," he hisses, your voice ringing in his ears and echoing throughout his mind as he shifts in his seat, feeling the heat of his laptop on his lap burn against his thighs, "and take your fucking shoes off…"

"Who cares about that, Kunikuzushi–" you sound desperate, as though you were suffering somehow– and Kunikuzushi can't understand it, "what the fuck is wrong with you!"

Feeling a bubble of rage burn in his stomach, Kunikuzushi glares at you, his indigo hued irises flickering with a fire that rivaled your own, "Mind your tone," he replies with a voice laced in venom, finally pushing his laptop off to the side. Running a hand through his hair, he scowls up at your form as you approach him, "What's your issue, Miss Investigator?" It was easy to understand that you were terrified by something just from the look on your face, your eyes wide, flooding with a mixture of anger and distress.

"My issue!?" You scoff in disbelief, blinking twice as your rummage your bag for a particular file as you near him, and when your hand flitters over a familiar manila envelope, you immediately trudge it out, "You," you growl as you halt to a stop just before him, peeling open the envelope to reveal a bunch of papers, stapled into a booklet, "are my issue!"

Kunikuzushi stares up at you, feeling too tired to slap your hand away from his face. His eyes travel down to the pieces of paper you had presented before him, his eyes scanning through the page with an empty wonder. He grabs the paper out of your hand, tugging it down just below eye level as he sifts through the information, page by page.

It was information regarding him, old and new blended together form a coherent paper. "Interesting," Kunikuzushi sarcastically replies, "the same bullshit all over again–"

"The last few pages, Kunikuzushi," you respond sharply, tapping your foot against the floor impatiently, "did you think I wouldn't find out?"

"What are you talking about," he scoffs, clearly unamused by your antics as he breezes towards the last few pages, his sneer completely fading upon seeing new information regarding a few murder of Fatui members. He had suspected the murders to be the ones from La Signora's group, though this entirely had been an addition of three new people, supposedly killed by his hands. In Fatui terms, these members had been executed for their failures. Kunikuzushi pauses, his eyes scanning over the page, reading over the affiliates of the last three people he had supposedly murdered.

He sneers, a bubble of laughter erupting from his lips as he reads over the information at hand.So he had a copycat!

Sure,if Kunikuzushi squinted his eyes,he could see the similarities between his executions andthis imposter's executions,andsure,in a formulaic sense, their executions were similar,but still…

"Come on,Miss Investigator,"Kunikuzushi starts, clicking his tongue, "thiswasn't done by me."He tosses the papers off to the side, his hands grazing over his temples, "This is the work of anamateur,"he drawls, his eyes interlocking with your own as he frowns, "do youreally thinkmy work isthis sloppy?I'mbetter than that.Itpains me that youthink I'd go out of my way tobother you like this."Kunikuzushi leans forward in his seat, pressing his hands together as he puts on a somewhat mysterious smile, "If I were to give you a present akin to this, you probably wouldn'tnoticeuntil I told you myself.Just like with La Signora's troop,"he watches as your eyes flicker with familiarity,"remember?"

You hold your ground, your teeth clenched as you seat yourself across from him, "You swear to me you aren't lying?" You slowly begin, your tone cold as you glare at him from where you sit, "You didn't even check the last page."

He lets out a snicker, a sardonic smile appearing on his lips as leans back in his seat, "I don't need to," Kunikuzushi huffs, "from just the pages I've read, I can tell that this is some copycat that Il Dottore hired. I bet he's trying to throw me out and into the public as a last resort distraction."

You stare at him in absolute silence, mulling over his words as a cold feeling washes over you. You reach over to the table, pressing your hands against the booklet before flipping it over, "Look again," you suggest, your voice low as you open to the final pages of the document.

Kunikuzushi rolls his eyes before conceding to your words, seeing from your overall aura that you weren't going to change your mood if he didn't do something. His eyes flicker from your own back to the paper.

It was a photo of a person, dressed in all black, standing over a body that had been clearly slashed and tortured to death. Kunikuzushi's breath halts for a moment. That most certainly did look like him.

"This was…" You start, keeping your eyes on the pixelated photo of the male, standing overtop a stranger's body, "Retracted from the CCTV footage you wanted me to check," there's a clear disgust in your tone, followed by an anger that Kunikuzushi is unsure if he's entirely warranting of, "this is what you wanted me to see, correct?"

Kunikuzushi's breath stalls in his chest.

Oh, fuck. Was that actually him after all?

Kunikuzushi quickly swipes the file from off the table, his eyes wide as he grits his teeth, his jawline tightening as he releases a shaky breath. His pulse skyrockets throughout his body, every cell in his body pumping with vigor as he examines the photo closer.

The image of the male, holding a knife above a body, all the while tilting his head to look at the camera,almost as though to make sure he had been recorded properly.

Kunikuzushi breaks out into a wide smile,disbelief echoing from within his mind. A dark chuckle escapes his throat, his eyes narrowing onto the sheets of paper before him as he throws it back down onto the table.

That waswithout a doubt,him.

Ah, Kunikuzushi thinks to himself as a darkness raged throughout his mind, he was being used again in the end… Being set up like this so purposely in front of a camera . It didn't take Kunikuzushi a second to figure out who had been screwing with him. Of course, it was none other than Dottore. All these tricks and gimmicks…

This image and the knowledge it brought in itself had Kunikuzushi's mind reeling. For just how long had he been under Dottore's possession again?

The iciness from within your chest blooms when you hear him chuckle, "You're disgusting," you hiss under your breath, "you were doing all of this behind my back?"

"No," Kunikuzushi replies, his tone light, almost carefree as the reality of the situation dawns on him, "not intentionally, anyway." Before you have a chance to ask him what he had meant, he let out a sigh, "Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi's voice is low, almost dangerous and it causes every hair on your arm to stand upright, "I'll be curt," he offers, his irises teeming with a strange sensation of rage, "since this whole fiasco might just be a waste of our time. I'm going to need you tocalm down, and listencarefully."

You refuse to speak, listening intently as you keep your mouth shut. He was dead serious right now, his expression told it all– his aura exhuming an echoing danger that lingered in the air for just a little too long , much to your discomfort. "Il Dottore has gotten a hold on me again," Kunikuzushi says his words with such rancor, it nearly causes you to shiver as you interlock gazes with his own, "I suppose I misjudged him," Kunikuzushi continues, "he has always been akin to a blight– a disease so hard to rid of . My elusivity meant nothing to him," you watch as his expression darkens, a storm brewing from behind his richly hued irises.

"..When you say that Dottore has his hold on you again," you slowly begin, not quite understanding what he had meant, "what are you entailing, exactly?" You swallow an intake of saliva, your eyes scouring his features for any telltale sign of anything horrific, "You couldn't… Mean that you're under his control again, right?" In your mind it was a long shot. There was no way he was under his control again somehow– and without Kunikuzushi knowing either?

It wouldn't make sense. Yet at the same time, with all his dizzy spells, all his moments of blanking out– his exhaustion over the past few days and paranoia over your baking… You don't allow yourself to think any further.

Kunikuzushi offers you a smile, as though nothing was wrong with what he would say, "Exactly that," he replies in a much more happy fashion. His sudden change in temperament throws you off, his smile only widening into something much more eerie upon noticing your puzzled features. "Don't fret about it," Kunikuzushi starts again, his voice much cooler now, "I already have a plan inlaid that I've confirmed to work," you eye him as he stands from his seat, casually stretching a little before attempting to amble off somewhere.

You follow him, naturally, "What's the plan?" You inquire, keeping your eyes on his form as he scatters about, brushing your presence next to him off as his eyes travel around the house, seemingly fixated and in search of something unknown to you.

"I stay awake," Kunikuzushi retorts, unfazed as he begins to open whatever cabinet and cupboard he could find in hopes of finding evidence, "it's that simple."

You halt in your steps, your eyes hardening as you set them on his form, watching as he scours his home before coming to a pause. "It's that simple," you shortly respond, your tone curt, "you'll just stay awake. For how long?"

"Days if I have to," Kunikuzushi is distracted, his eyes sharpening, zeroing in on a panel just underneath his floorboards that had been nudged just a little ways upwards, "I've gone several nights without sleeping before for the sake of my missions." Aha, he thinks to himself as he shifts towards the spot. He had solely acted on his gut feeling, searching for something– any sort of evidence of something amiss. Taking the panel off of the floor, he cringes his nose, a scowl evident on his lips when he smells a heavy scent of iron.

Just as you are about to speak, a putrid smell makes itself known to your senses, eliciting you to step backwards as you pinch your nose in disgust. Kunikuzushi pulls out what looks to be a pair of bloodstained clothes, his frown only deepening upon noticing the amount of filth on the items, his fingers delicately touching the clothing. His eyes spot a certain pair of rubber gloves that immediately has him recalling the stench on his hands earlier during the day, "Great," he hisses under his breath, "that explains a lot, and… " He trails off, pressing a hand onto a black pullover that had been stained to no end, "Of course my favorite hoodie would be ruined."

"That–," you let out a string of curses, noticing he had taken out the murder weapon from beneath the floorboards, "that's your issue? Do you not understand the gravity of this situation?"

He snickers, "Are you stupid?" Kunikuzushi tosses you a small glare, as though annoyed with you, "I know better than anybody how much pressure is being put on me right now. But," Kunikuzushi grunts as he carries the blood stained items in his hands, shifting the paneling on the floor with his foot, "I already said you don't have to worry. I can deal with this."

"Yeah, by not sleeping?" You return his sarcastic tone, irritation shining through your voice as you cross your arms in disbelief, "I understand you've been without sleep before for nights long– but you're only human. What if you do fall asleep?" You nearly shriek when he throws his bloodstained hoodie at you, your eyes wide as you catch it in your hands before allowing it to drop to the floor.

Kunikuzushi clicks his tongue, "Stop being so useless, and help me out," Kunikuzushi retreats upstairs, "help me wash these clothes." And somehow, you find yourself heeding his behest, your teeth grit from the nearly moldy smell of the clothes, followed by the stench of dried blood.

You tail Kunikuzushi upstairs, watching as he begins to dump his clothes into an empty tub, now slowly being filled by cold water. You huff, tossing the rest of the clothes into the tub before seating yourself next to him. You eye the strange, muddied residue on your palms with terror, a sudden realization dawning over you.

What the hell were you doing, helping him get away with murder? You thought to yourself as your heart began to pound in your chest, a wave of anxiety flooding you as you watched the blood begin to pool in the tub. No, you thought to yourself as you gulped down a build up of saliva, this was your job. To help him, to make sure the Fatui saw their end– but this experience in itself was different.

You never thought you'd be handling his own dirty work, the direct result of his own murders.

You felt sick.

As though to distract you from your own thoughts, Kunikuzushi starts again, pulling you away from the tub with his hand latching around your wrist, "If I fall asleep," he hums, shutting the bathroom door behind him, "then you'll be there to wake me up. I can build an immunity quicker that way."

You tear your hand away from his grip, your eyes only widening as a wildfire of sheer shock fell into your mind,"What?"You look taken aback. Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow onto your form, his gaze steeling onto your own.

"Just live with me for a little while for as long as he has full control of me. To put a time on this would be premature but I would say at most… Two weeks give or take ," he says it as though it were the easiest thing in the world, "I'm in the process of snapping out of it already anyway. it's either that or I go on another killing spree unconscious," Kunikuzushi's lips quirk upwards into a small smile, "would you prefer the latter?"

"No," you snap, "no of course I wouldn't prefer the latter! I don't want any more people to get hurt." Kunikuzushi blinks, noticing that you seemed to be a little more panicked in comparison to your earlier demeanor, and he continues to further examine you as you back away from him. "This entire situation–" you stress, "is a mess," you were losing your composure, you could tell from the moment you started to break into sweat just staring at the muddy residue on your palms, "we have Il Dottore with his claws sunken deep into your skin–"

Kunikuzushi's expression hardens, "Hey–"

"The police have new evidence on you– and with that stupid camera you told me to check, now we have your face– or at least half of it–" You couldn't think straight, everything in your mind was a jumbled mess.

Kunikuzushi stares at you in disbelief, "Miss Investigator–" He's yet again, cut off by your strange voice.

"To be honest, I'm not even sure if I can 'erase' that image of you from the database. And now I'm helping you clean up after a murder–" you let out a gasp when you feel Kunikuzushi's hands press against your shoulders, your eyes flickering up immediately to meet his own. Upon seeing the emotion of annoyance bloom behind his eyes, you freeze up, your breathing uneven as your eyes scour his features, wandering from the rich hue of his irises, to the paleness of his skin. "I'm helping you clean up after a murder…" You whisper under your breath, your fingers twitching as you suddenly feel as though the grime from the clothes he had told you to carry had turned into something thicker.

"What's wrong with you?" Kunikuzushi grumbles, a snicker leaving his throat when he realizes that a flicker of fear had passed through your eyes, "You've always been helping me with shit like this. What makes now different? You've cleaned blood before–"

"This is different," you retort, your throat constricting with guilt, "I… I was always on the opposite side of crimes like this. Helping the victims," you pause, your pulse regulating as his grip on your shoulders soften, " I was never one to help a murderer. And I've never helped you directly like this– having to help you mask this all with my own hands, " your tone is itchy when it meets Kunikuzushi's ears, though his irritation never fades.

"What?" Kunikuzushi scoffs, an eye narrowing onto you as he scrutinizes your fear-stricken expression once more, "Don't give me all that bullshit now, Miss Investigator," his voice is laced with a thick venom, "you agreed to do this willingly. It came with our agreement," he presses his forehead against your own, eliciting a muffled noise to escape your throat, "you'd help me catch the Fatui, isn't that correct? You knew what you were getting into from the start."

You take a deep breath of air in, your eyes still focused on his own.

"Directly– or indirectly," Kunikuzushi continues, pulling himself away from you slightly, though the iciness that reflects in his eyes is unchanging, "you were always prepared to help me despite knowing I was a criminal. That, Miss Investigator," he sneers, "is what makes you just as rotten as me. I should remind you, by the way," Kunikuzushi tilts his head, capturing your eyes as you avert them, "I have been a criminal from the start. Seeing it now doesn't change a thing. You've seen my files, you're aware of what I'm capable of."

You refuse to say anything, allowing the deafening silence to ring in your ears. Kunikuzushi's lips quirk upwards into a small, condescending smile, his hands feeling at the skin of your wrists lightly. He tugs you closer to him, "I'm on your side," he confesses with a low hum, "I've protected you haven't I? And I'll keep doing it for as long as pests linger around and about you."

"I don't doubt that," you dig your nails into the palm of your hands, your eyes remaining wide as your blood froze over throughout your body, his words hitting you heavily as you purse your lips. Your gaze flits downwards, your eyes landing on his collar bones as you let out a shaky breath. He was right. Regardless of knowing who he was, you helped him– no matter your 'original' morals. It was a little pathetic of you, thinking of backing out now , but the image of him on the screen repeatedly driving his knife into another person's body– remembering it scared you, and you scared yourself knowing you were helping him. You weren't used to seeing him violent, and Kunikuzushi did his best to keep it that way.

The version of Kunikuzushi on the screen you had seen was an echo of something that was dormant from within him. A sadistic creature, stripped of all its finesse. A product of many unfortunate events, leading to the loss of his sanity.

"..What if they find out that I help you?" It was an ingenuine set of words that left your mouth, formed out purely out of fear and stress. A part of you wanted to stay far away from him, unknowing of when he would revert back to such a state. If he did, then… What would become of you? Would he harm you? Could he kill you?

Would he kill you?

To Kunikuzushi, however, your words sounded akin to a selfish concern, befitting of a 'police dog' like yourself. A matter that Kunikuzushi couldn't help but snicker at, especially with your grief ridden expression.

"You were prepared for this, were you not?" A low, amused chuckle leaves Kunikuzushi's throat, his eyes narrowing, admiring your conflicted expression. "Don't worry. It works both ways, doesn't it? You help me, and in return, I help you," his voice incites something strange in you, as though a blissful light had shone over a dark part of your mind, "I kill whoever they send for you, and in return, you hide my tracks. That's how it's always been, right?"

You stare up at him wordlessly, his expression unwavering as you take a few more steps away from him, allowing a space to fill between the two of you. This was a part of the agreement, you said to yourself, feeling a tinge of guilt grow in the pits of your stomach as you look off to the side. This feeling of fear for your own life, you purse your lips tightly, your lips forming a thin, straight line on your lips, you would make sure to remember it dearly.

"..Sorry," you begin, "I think I was just… Thrown off. A lot of information bombarded me today." At least, in front of him, you would force yourself to be strong and unafraid. Kunikuzushi had not been killing intentionally, after all.

The male scoffs, "Hm? I don't blame you for your little sporadic moment there, though it does interest me that you think of yourself as someone who still stands for all that is good. Are you trying to seem innocent in front of me?" He leans backwards on the wooden railings, the light illuminating his form as he smirks at you.

You trace the glimmers of golden light around his body, purposely distracting yourself and ignoring the spur of terror in your stomach, "It's not like that. I just… I can't help it. I've never seen you…" Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow onto your form as your irises flood with a darkness he had never quite seen before, "I've never seen you… Like that."

Kunikuzushi's silence urges you to continue.

"Holding a knife over somebody like that," you elaborate, pressing a hand to your elbow and rubbing it awkwardly, momentarily forgetting the dirty residue that had been on your palms, "I just thought it was a little… Scary."

Kunikuzushi pales, his mood souring further as he grits his teeth. He felt a mixture of emotions bloom within him all at once– irritation, mingled with anger at your own ignorance, since you should have anticipated this. You were scared of him now? You had known him for months now, enough to admit that his existence was something that screamed danger. Perhaps he had blindsided you to an extent, not allowing you to see him do his executions, killing those Fatui members Signora had sent for you.

Among those emotions, he felt… Disappointment? Fear? He couldn't exactly tell. All he knew was that he disliked seeing your hand tremble ever so slightly. You were genuinely afraid of him. His irises trail up your form, focusing in on your expression which had been blank, an expression he realizes to be a facade of coolness. You didn't need to be afraid of him, however.

He opens his mouth to say something, unsure if he should comfort you– or if he should berate you for how pious you had been acting, though he finds that he can't even find the voice to speak up. Instead, he settles by shutting his mouth, opting to offer you an unamused glare instead.

It's only when you finally return his gaze that he replies with a few words that echo throughout your mind.

"I revoke my earlier words. You're disappointing, Miss Investigator," Kunikuzushi's tone is icy, his eyes unwelcoming as he shifts off of the railings to move away from you, "I was sure you had much more backbone than this. You can't regret your decisions now, however," you allow him to press a hand on your shoulder, his touch firm, almost as though to warn you, "it's far too late to rethink anything. I think I've spoiled you by being nice around you. I did warn you, didn't I? On the rooftop," his lips are inches away from your ears, his breath warm on your skin, "I told you I could be cruel–"

"I–" you cut him off, twisting your head to look over at him, your eyes bright when you come face to face with him, "I knew that. I knew, but I still…" You blink twice upon noticing his expression soften, the corners of his lips turning upwards into an amused smile.

"Then get it together," Kunikuzushi whispers, his irises sparkling with a sinister emotion that nearly causes you to freeze up yet again. You allow him to brush past you and back into the bathroom, the door behind you shutting completely with a click.

You swallow anxiously, your eyes finding peace upon seeing the remnants of light flickering over the railing, the golden lights illuminating the room surrounding you. Get it together, his voice reverberated within your mind. You tilt your head downwards, shutting your eyes as you begin to steel yourself, gathering your thoughts amidst the silence around you. When you feel recomposed, you reopen your eyes, your vision blurring for just a moment until it zeroes in on the fabric by your elbow.

You frown. The unpleasant residue had left a mark on your clothes, or so it seemed. You allow your thoughts to drift, your hand reaching over to play with the muck on your shirt as you think back to the earlier events.

"You were always prepared to help me despite knowing I was a criminal. That, Miss Investigator, is what makes you just as rotten as me."

His words had struck a chord in you somehow, because you believed him to be right. Whether you had done it for the 'sake of work' or not, you had done everything under your own volition. This strange relationship between the two of you was the definite result of you following your own selfish wishes, coerced only by honeyed words of trade.

Coming to a conclusion, you twist around.

Kunikuzushi is surprised by your sudden intrusion into the bathroom, though he refuses to turn around to fully acknowledge you, still burdened by the task of cleaning his blood soaked clothes. You take a seat next to him, your eyes focusing on the filthy water before you before you dig your hands into it and begin to rub away at whatever article of clothing you could find.

"I'll live with you for two weeks," you concede, your voice tender as you douse your hands in the water, uncaring of the crimson dye your hands held as you pull them in and out of the water, "I'll do it if it means this won't happen again." You found yourself constantly having to adjust yourself for his sake, having to learn to dance for him, learning to betray your own thoughts and feelings for him. You were being cheated constantly, yet all the while…

You eye him from your peripherals, his pale features illuminated by the light of the room. You find yourself quickly growing fond of his weary expression, his eyes a little sunken, his lips pale as his irises brimmed with focus. He was so painfully handsome– and it was terrible of you to think this while the two of you were cleaning blood from his clothes, but… Your heart makes you waver sometimes.

And if you knew this entire situation – pairing up with him like so– would happen in the future long ago, then perhaps back then you'd have rather throw your heart away altogether. It was troublesome, being acquainted with someone so dangerous. But this was your choice in the end. You signed up for this. You knew that.

Nevertheless, this was the best you could do, both as an investigator and as his partner in crime. You could keep him safe, and by keeping him safe– you were keeping other possible victims safe. Perhaps, on your end, you could do things to divert attention away from Kunikuzushi. You could pry further into other trading routes, and maybe focus on the conflict between Celestia and the Fatui. The area by the CCTV camera Kunikuzushi had requested you to check had been close to Celestia turf, and perhaps you could make an excuse for his behavior by pinning it on the Fatui's involvement with Celestia entirely.

But now they had a semblance of what Kunikuzushi looked like, so even if you did all that… Would it really even matter in the end?

Kunikuzushi's voice shatters whatever peace of mind you had left, "Quit mumbling."

You halt your motions, twisting your head to toss him a strange look. "I didn't quite catch that," you slowly begin, your eyes plastered on his side profile as he swirled his clothes in the water with a detached expression.

"You're mumbling," he points out with a flat tone, uncaring of your slight embarrassment when you clear your throat in response. When you go back to cleaning the dirty clothes, Kunikuzushi starts again, "..Sorry," he grumbles under his breath, and you have to strain your ears to hear him, "guess they have my face now. We're gonna have to be much more careful than usual," there's a strange egotistical side of him that wants to say that he wouldn't be found, but even if that were the case…

He averts his eyes to gaze at you from his peripherals, noticing the dark bags under your eyes, and your unhealthy complexion.Your makeup did nothingto hide howill you looked,and he understood from your earlier anxiety that this situation just stressed you out further. He preferred it when you werecomfortableandheadstrong.You were always the type to be determined to bring something to the table, and ever since you've been injured, your poisefluctuated.

You had hurt yourself and brought yourself down so he could thrive. Because of that instance, he felt obligated to make sure you would successfully and fully recover from your setbacks.

When your gaze locks with his own for a moment, he tilts his head forward, reverting his gaze back onto the filthy water in the tub. "You're a troublesome character," you comment without a care, "and I suppose I am too," you shift over to the side to drain the water from the tub.

Kunikuzushi can only eye you in silence as you drain the contents from the tub, a strange feeling of fascination blooming in his chest upon hearing your words.

"I'll go grab some bleach," you huff, flicking the rest of the dirty water from off of your hands before removing yourself from the room completely. He scoffs in reply, watching as you disappear from around a corner.

He wondered just how far you would be willing to go for him.

You return to the hideout with four luggage bags full of clothes and personal belongings, and when you begin to unpack, Kunikuzushi can't help but raise an eyebrow up at you.

"Did you pack your whole house in there?" He cringes his nose upon seeing a few clearly unnecessary items as you take them out of your bags. What was this rice cooker for, exactly? Especially when he had his very own for the two of you to use.

"Shut up," you huff, "jerk. If I'm going to live here because of you," you point at him, tossing him a look of thorough disgust which only irks him further, "then I'll live to my utmost comfort." Amused by your vicious reaction, Kunikuzushi leans on the side of his couch, crossing his arms as he eyes you carefully. "When did you get caught out by Il Dottore anyway," you inquire as you zip up one of your luggage bags before moving to the next one.

Kunikuzushi ponders over your words for a little, his lips pulling downwards into a small frown, "Probably around the same time I got rid of the crimson wench," Kunikuzushi retorts, "since I vaguely remember a series of strange events happening after that. Prior to that event, everything was just fine," his irises gleam with interest upon seeing a familiar jacket in your bag. He snickers and tilts his head, his frown quickly disappearing into a sneer, "Nice jacket," he comments offhandedly, causing you to freeze up.

You stare at the dark jacket he had given to you during your initial meeting with him, "..It's comfortable," you respond in a low voice, "I like it."

"Of course you do," you nearly jump when you hear his voice just behind you, and when you swivel around to look up at him, he's wearing a daunting smirk, "you like me and my style, don't you?"

"You're getting ahead of yourself ," you huff, fighting back the rush of blood that threatened to rise to your face, "liking your clothes is one thing but you..?" You find your throat running dry when his eyes only narrow down at you, as if quietly asking you to continue. "At least I don't get embarrassed by a little peck on the lips!" It was a childish retort, but you just wanted to throw the attention away from yourself and onto him.

This childish distraction doesn't work a second time. Kunikuzushi only snickers, letting out a string of derisive laughter as he lowers himself to your level, holding your gaze with a bright expression, "Just admit it already. You have a little crush on me, Miss Investigator," when your face lights up in a bright red, Kunikuzushi allows a prideful smile to bloom on his lips, "see?"

You laugh lightly at his antics, though those feelings slowly dissolve all together when you begin to see that he looks genuinely exhausted.

Keeping your expression impassive, you stare at him blankly, your eyes wide, mirroring Kunikuzushi's own. You lift yourself up, bringing yourself closer to his features as you examine his weariness. "Consider yourselflucky,"you retort, your voice low as you press a hand, still smelling like filth and blood onto his face, pushing his head away from you, "you have me to help you out. I'll be here for a while," his indigo hued irises are glittering with a foreign emotion you don't bother putting a name to, thinking it was justpleasantto see in his eyes. "Go take a break. You look tired," you offer with a small smile of reassurance when he swats your hand away from his face, cringing his nose upon smelling the hints of metallic scent.

Kunikuzushi doesn't say anything for a moment. He just looks at you, examining you,observingyou and how you were acting before finally coming to a conclusion. With a huff, he shuts his eyes and moves away from you, running his fingers through his hair, "..Whatever," he concludes, "do what you want," he replies dismissively, though you understand from his next few words that there had been a tinge of warmth in his tone, "when you're done, there's food in the fridge. Just heat it up yourself," with that, he dismisses himself up the stairs, "I'll be moving stuff in my room if you need me."

You watch as his figure retreats upstairs, yawning from your exhaustion.He wasn't too bad,you had always thought that of him.He could be nice when he wanted to be.He just…Opted to be annoying and rude otherwise.

When you're done setting everything down where they should be, you feel a little strange. It was as though you were moving in,and though you were–it felt kind of like…A partner moving in with their significant other.However, it wasn't like that at all.

You look over at the newly washed knife just sitting by the countertop, laying on a pale towel Kunikuzushi had laid down earlier. That knife had just been recently cleaned, since it had been covered with a victim's blood earlier. You scowl. Looking at it gave you the creeps, flashbacks of the CCTV footage you had found racing throughout your mind.

A part of you wondered if it waseven safefor you to stay here.What if Kunikuzushi were to accidentally fall asleep?What ifhis body failedbuilding immunity to whatever spell he had been under? If so, would Kunikuzushi just kill you then, for being in Il Dottore's way

You shivered. You didn't want to wake up to Kunikuzushi standing over you with a knife to your throat.Still,you thought to yourself as you gazed outside the window, the moonless sky dark and cloudy, stirring much like your own internal thoughts.You had to believe in Kunikuzushi.If hesaidhe could do it, thenyou would support himand make surehe woulddo it.

That's why you were here after all.

"Catch," Kunikuzushi's voice echoes from above the stairwell, and you turn around just in time to latch onto what seemed to be a bunch of blankets. You blinked twice upon receiving the blankets, anall too familiar scent hitting your nostrils all at once–and immediately, your face is bright red.

They smelled just like him.

"Take them back," you huff, glaring up at him, "I brought my own, so I'm good, " as he descends down the stairs, he tosses you an impassive expression, looking annoyed with your rejection.

"No," he stiffly replies, keeping his hands in his pockets as he moves towards the kitchen to pour himself a cup of freshly brewed coffee, "I had a hard time taking them out from the storage area, and I'm not going to just put it back. That took too much work," he takes a sip from his coffee, keeping his eyes on you as you dig your nails into the blanket in frustration, "just use them."

"Kunikuzushi," you begin, your tone low, "I already have my blankets. Please, just–!" You cut yourself off when he walks over to your folded, thin blankets, his eyes remaining on your own as he picks one of them up with a gentle touch.

"This thin thing?" He waves it in his hand for a moment, keeping his coffee cup steady as he examines the material. Kunikuzushi scoffs. There was no way you were actually planning to sleep in these thin blankets. It was cold in his house at night time, since his home was very much under the shade of buildings.

As though to test you, Kunikuzushi takes his coffee mug and leans it over ever so slightly, allowing just a little to dribble onto the blankets, inciting a gasp of terror from you, "What the hell!"

"Well," he haphazardly brings your blankets to the floor, purposely dragging them around as he flees from you in your attempt to chase him, "they're dirty now. How unfortunate Miss Investigator," he stops just at the top of the stairway he had once descended from, feigning sadness as he frowns down at you, "I suppose you'll have to take my generous offer to use my blankets. Besides," he snickers, "they're much more comfortable than these shitty paper thin sheets."

You could only stare up at him in disbelief as he disappeared from the top of the stairway. He really was such a pain in the ass, this man…

Having given up, you retreat to the sofa– also known as your new bed for the next two weeks. You rest for a little, just plopping down on the couch and sinking into it while allowing your mind to run amok. You had plenty to ponder over, from Kunikuzushi's situation at the moment, to how information of him had been newly found. You wondered if they would trace you down eventually, especially with Il Dottore playing around with Kunikuzushi's mind. There were bound to be traces of your handiwork somewhere– and you were fully aware of that. You weren't perfect. You were sure you've already slipped up unnoticeably, and if Chief Raiden could put two and two together, what was stopping the brilliant minds in your own division from assessing you altogether?

Engrossed in your thoughts, you decide to give yourself a little break. It was late into the night, and you had to be wary of Kunikuzushi in case he had somehow fallen asleep. Upon brushing your teeth and taking some painkillers for your healing wound, you wind up back on the sofa, now clad in comfortable, loose clothing.

Kunikuzushi descends from the stairway once more, probably to grab himself another cup of coffee. Staying caffeinated was key, apparently. You listen to the sound of liquids pouring into a cup, followed by a pair of footsteps that near you with each passing second. You turn around, your eyes locking with Kunikuzushi's own.

"Don't sleep tonight," you blandly begin, your tone blank as you gaze up at him, shifting a little so that your hair wouldn't obscure your vision as he seated himself across from you, "if you do then we'll both be in trouble."

"What do you think I'm trying to do, Miss Investigator?" He scoffs, glaring down at you as he sets his mug down on the coffee table before him.

You find yourself a little too sleepy to reply in the same sarcastic tone, so instead, you remain staring at him.

Kunikuzushi cringes his nose as he shuts his phone off for the night, "Stop staring, will you? It's creepy," Kunikuzushi feigned disgust as he tosses you a disgruntled expression.

You pointedly ignore him, feeling a weariness overcome you as you thoughtlessly speak, "Don't kill me either," you groan as you shift in your seat, pulling Kunikuzushi's blankets over your body, "if you end up under hypnosis… Don't kill me," Kunikuzushi's expression softens as he watches you ball up, wrapping yourself in his blankets.

"Won't happen," he shortly replies without a second thought, shutting his eyes as he feels a familiar headache begin to bloom rapidly in his head, "I couldn't do that, especially since neither of us have followed through with our deal quite yet. Wouldn't wanna halfass our own deal," leaning back in his seat, he began to massage the sides of his head, "would we? I took a nap earlier anyway."

You let out a low hum of approval, your eyelids getting heavier as you watch Kunikuzushi from where you lay, "Will you be okay?" Your voice is strangely soft, nearing sweet– a notion that causes even Kunikuzushi to nearly shiver, "..If something happens to you tonight, I'll be sure to stop you," your exhaustion from today's events are running you through, and you find it hard to even keep your eyes open at this point.

You shut your eyes, allowing your weariness to slowly overtake you. Kunikuzushi doesn't speak for some time, and when he finally does, you're already half asleep. You register his voice to be light, almost spoken in a whisper, though in his tone is an underlying taste of honey, "I'll be fine," he whispers, "goodnight, darling."

You swear that you could feel his fingers tracing the side of your cheeks, brushing away stray pieces of hair, though you couldn't open your eyes to confirm such thoughts.

"Sleep well."

Notes:

I KNOW IT TOOK ME FOREVER TO UPDATE but hear me out:
i received 2 injuries (that literally prevent me from writing) lost all the notes to this fanfic so i had to start from scratch 3 i love tht for me
so like... getting back into a normal life rhythm after was kinda hard too LMFAOO i should be ok for now tho?
i also havent responded to anybody like i said i would and is2g i'll get there

ayways i'll try to actually make a schedule for updating so i dont... OVERUSE MY ARM... cuz thats why i had to take a long ass break in the first place... i literally wrote too often and drew too often :D

Chapter 14: Hide And Seek

Summary:

In which reader is in the eye of the storm.

Notes:

It's always the fools that provoke tragedies.

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

You had set alarms for yourself throughout the night, just to make sure that he hadn't moved from his spot, and each time you had checked, he remained the same. Reading a book, sometimes improperly with his legs swung off to the armrests of the seat he was in. His position had only completely changed by the time your final alarm clock had rung.

Kunikuzushi was fast asleep, the book he had been reading placed flat on the coffee table with his legs propped up next to it. He was wrapped up in a light blanket, looking akin to a cocoon–which strikes you as something unlike his cool self.It was acuterside you haven't seen before, and you dare say this was the most debauched you've everseenKunikuzushi.

And then it hits you. He was asleep.

He was asleep.

You immediately pull yourself up, your eyes wide as you let out a soft, disgruntled hum."Kunikuzushi,"you call out, your voice itchy having just woken up, and when he doesn't react, you opt to do the next best thing. You toss your pillow at him, aiming carefully at his face– and when it lands, Kunikuzushinearly jumpsfrom his seat.

"What thehell!"He growls, his eyes snapping open to glare at you, a familiar rage sparkling from behind his indigo hued irises, "What do youwant?"

"Youwere asleep!"You exclaim, feeling a little annoyed with him as sunlight begins to filter in through the windows, "Youpromisedyouwouldn't sleep!"

Kunikuzushi stares at you as though you were the most hideous thing he had ever seen in his life, "I took a small nap, you idiot," he growls, his fingers clawlike as they latch onto the pillow you had thrown at him earlier, only to throw it back at you. You react a little too late to dodge it, feeling the plush cushion embrace your face before plopping down to the floor. "Don't throw things at me again to wake me up," he warns you as soon as he catches sight of your face, "be a normal human being next time and just call my name out gently. Or I'll actually kill you."

You ignore him entirely, still focused on the main topic, "How long did you nap for?" You grumble, shifting out of the comfort of your borrowed blankets, shivering ever so slightly when you feel the slightly chilly morning air hit your skin.

He pauses, looking taken aback by your question before he finds the nearest clock. "Not that long," he replies with a soft hiss, "maybe for an hour and thirty minutes or so?"

You balk at him, feeling disbelief flood you as you lock gazes with him. "That is more than enough time for you to go out there and do something!" You complain, standing up from your seat to approach him at a rapid pace. Kunikuzushi watches you, clearly bewildered by your actions as you peel the blanket off of his body to examine him.

"What are you doing?" Obviously disgruntled by your sudden inspection, Kunikuzushi holds his hands out before him, forcibly creating a space between the two of you.

"Doing my job," you retort, taking the time to examine his hands now to make sure there had been no lingering traces of dried blood or dirt underneath his fingernails, "investigating you."

His irises flicker with something akin to annoyance, "Are you serious?" He starts, his voice low, a little deeper than usual having just woken up, "Nothing happened to me, Miss Investigator."

"You wouldn't know that though," you surmise with a finger just under your chin, your eyes finding his own, "you could've been hypnotized to think you didn't do anything." You understood you were being far too antsy, and maybe a touch too paranoid– but it was better safe than sorry. So far, you didn't find a hair out of place on him, his nails clean, his features if anything looking just a little more weary than yesterday.

Upon realizing that you simply wouldn't give up until he gave you proper proof of his actions, Kunikuzushi lets out a defeated sigh, his irises brimming with irritation as he rises from his seat to grab his laptop. You watch him carefully as he opens his laptop to open a program, crossing your arms as you await for him to say anything in response to your words. "Here," Kunikuzushi finally says, sounding tired as he turns his laptop over to reveal what looked to be footage from cameras hooked up all around his home.

You lean forward, feeling your heart race as you search the cameras for any unusual activity over the past few hours only to find nothing strange. Noticing your resolute expression, Kunikuzushi narrows his eyes onto your features, slamming the laptop shut to make direct eye contact with you as you jump ever so slightly from his sudden motions. "And?" He scowls at you, glaring you down as though you had accused him of something horrible, "I'm deserving of an apology for such a rude awakening."

You press your lips together tightly, a wave of relief washing over you. You let out a soft sigh, backing away from him before bowing your head, "I'm sorry," you reluctantly replied, not wanting to fuel his anger as he leaned back in his seat, "in my defense I was just doing my job and making sure everything went swell."

"So you're not sorry?" Kunikuzushi retorts, his tone smug as he raises an eyebrow up at you.

"I am," you huff, recomposing yourself as you back away from him, turning away from him completely to fold up the blankets that had been laying where you had rest, "for waking you up. For throwing the pillow, though…" You slowly turn around, revealing a small smirk that had crawled onto your face, "I had wanted to throw something at you for a long time now!" He had deserved it, being rudely awoken like that. He's caused you tons of trouble lately, teasing you and whatnot.

"Well?" Kunikuzushi quickly responds, shooting up from his seat and immediately managing to intimidate you, "Did you want to try that again?" His voice is much more clear now, his tone sharp as he narrows his eyes down onto your features.

"N-No," you let out a small nervous laugh, "not really,no,"you keep your tone light as you place the folded blankets by the side of the sofa. You pick up your phone to check the time once more, groaning when you realize you had to hurry up or else you'd find yourself late. Hastening your pace, you begin to ignore Kunikuzushi as you dart in and out of rooms, changing into your clothes haphazardly in the washroom and brushing your teeth.

Kunikuzushiobserves youas though you were some sort ofwild animal,running around and about his home, his glare extra sharp as he remains standing by the doorway leading to the door. He crosses his arms expectantly when you brush past him, ignoring his presence completely as you scamper to grab your shoes. "..I think you're forgetting something, Miss Investigator," he suddenly starts as soon as you lunge for the door, and when you turn around, he's facing you with an almostangryexpression.

You didn't bother questioning it, realizing that hewasa moody person at times. "Uh," you respond, rolling your eyes to the side as you struggle to put your shoes on, "no, I don't think I am?" You sound unsure of yourself, your eyes refocusing onto Kunikuzushi as he slowly approaches, "Do you mind refreshing me?"

Kunikuzushi scoffs, nearing you and narrowing his eyes onto your features. You back away when he comes a littletoo close for comfort,though he doesn't seem to care in the slightest for it. Instead, he opts to place his face closer to your own, his breath warm on your cheeks as he brushes his thumb over the corner of your lips, and just as you are about to protest, he snickers.

"Did you even wash your face?" Kunikuzushi muses, his irises gleaming with a strange delight, "You have drieddroolby your lips," and he watches with a smirk as your face burns with embarrassment, your lips pulling taut as you glare up at him,"gross."

You casually swat his hand away from your lips, moving backwards once more. You trail over your lips with your sleeve, uncaring of his growing smile as he lets out a derisive chuckle.

"You can be such akidsometimes, you know that?" He comments, leaning on the side of the wall as he crosses his arms once more, maintaining a cool composure.

"And you can be anawful brat,"you retort with a puffed cheek, turning your head away from him as you twist the doorknob leading out of the hideout. You pause just as you take a step outside, the sunlight greeting you and illuminating your form much to Kunikuzushi's pleasure. "..Oh yeah," you start again as though you had come to a realization. You twist your torso around just enough so you could see him, a small smile on your lips as you wave him off,"Good morning,"you greet, your light hearted voice earning you a raised eyebrow from Kunikuzushi, "that's what you wanted, right?"

You stare at him, waiting for him to say something, and when he doesn't, you speak once more, letting out a small scoff, "Good morning and good night, I guess?" Your laughter sounds warm, akin to a ray of light. When your laugh greets Kunikuzushi's ears, he feels as though something within his chest would collapse altogether. "I'll see you later," you wave him off once more, unable to stop yourself from smiling when you notice that he's unable to hold eye contact with you, a slight warmth crawling up onto his features.

"..Hurry up and leave, you horrible woman– or you'll be late to your valuable presentation about me ," Kunikuzushi clicks his tongue, feigning disappointment. Just before you get into your car, you hear him call your name out. Momentarily startled upon hearing your name leave his lips, you freeze up, your mind coming to a full halt as you hear the rest of his words.

"Good morning," he returns your greeting upon clearing his throat before adding on, "be sure to be home straight away. We have a lot of work to do."

You pretend to shrug him off, replying lazily with a few nods before you slam your door closed and ignite the engine. As soon as you're out of the driveway, you find yourself mulling over his words. Home, huh? You thought to yourself, feeling something burn within the pits of your stomach as a small smile crawls onto your lips.

It had been awhile since you've last lived with… Anybody. It was a little strange to have him call his house a home for you as well, but to you, it felt a little… Welcoming. You had been a little nervous when you had received his offer to sleep at his house, knowing you had grown feelings for him– your goal was ultimately to avoid him more often than not, yet for some reason, fate would always have it otherwise.

This situation was nothing that could be helped, aside from how things were being dealt with now. This was the only reasonable way to go about doing things, especially since your relationship with one another had been kept secret. It wasn't as though he could simply burden someone else with the task of watching over him… It was your duty in the end.

And you were sure you'd see it through to the end. That's what you had promised him, anyways, for both the sake of the general public and himself.

Now, you would have to deal with the struggle of balancing your stress at work and your stress at 'home'. Having to juggle working with the police in search of the Fatui and Kunikuzushi was hard on you enough, since you purposely had to recede away from vital information regarding spots Kunikuzushi could have possibly been.

The largest downside was masking it all, weaving lies over one another to make an impenetrable fortress meant to protect you and Kunikuzushi. You could only hope Chief Raiden would help make sure that those threads of lies would remain intact, because at this point, you were unsure if you could completely keep everything together.

And over the course of the next week, you find your mental state wavering. At work, you are much more preoccupied, despite the terrifying absolute silence over the Fatui as they had been on the downlow. Traces of Kunikuzushi, due to his absence from the general outdoors, had all gone cold.

Making sure Kunikuzushi would remain awake for the most time had quickly been killing you from the inside, your lack of proper sleep followed by the slight pain of your abdomen injury, all coupled with the stress of work and revelations that had unraveled over the past few days wore you out.

Your colleagues had noticed it. You supposed they must've voiced their concerns to Sara, since she was usually the only one who intimidated you enough for you to properly listen to aside from Ayato. After work, she asks you what was wrong, a clear suspicion in her eyes when you adjust to a new tab upon reinvestigating Kunikuzushi's murder cases over the past few days. You calmly smile and tell her that it was work and exhaustion from your body healing, to which she responds with a slow hum.

"I won't pry," Sara starts tentatively, shutting her eyes as he crosses her arms, her demeanor– natural charming, and cool– "but I'll be here whenever you need me." Her offer is sweet, a friendly exchange that briefly reminded you of the days just a year ago when Childe, Gorou and her would hang out a little after work, just venting to one another before eventually getting scolded by Ayato for loitering during after hours.

The memories warm your chest for a moment, your features noticeably softening as you smile up at her, "Thanks," you reply with a kind tone, "I'll keep you to it." In all truth, you had been wanting to talk to someone over the events that had transpired over the past year. It's been a long, long year for you, days feeling oddly extensive ever since Kunikuzushi's chaotic being had approached you. It was hard , having nobody to talk to about such experiences– and there had been several times where you had just wished to call somebody– anybody to talk about your turbulent emotions.

Nevertheless, speaking to anybody about this was impossible. The only person that would probably understand would have been Chief Raiden, an option that was hardly viable to you since you were highly uncomfortable with speaking to someone who could possibly hold authority over you.

Sara hadn't quite left you yet, and you didn't notice until she started speaking up again.

"..The Fatui organization are quite a troublesome bunch, aren't they?" Sara sighs, folding her arms as she remains pensive, seating herself just next to you, "Causing all this havoc with sometyranton the loose, and suddenly they disappear altogether," there's a slight concern in her tone that you catch, figuring to be something of her regular disposition since shewaspassionate about her work.

"That's right," you hum, pushing back in your seat as you glance over at Childe's empty seat, your eyes trailing over to the monitor screen which had been kept nicely along the edges. It made it look as though the crew were keeping the belongings of someone who had passed, though Childe was stillvery much alive.It was out of pure courtesyfor you,and you knew that.

You press a finger along one of the stickies he had given you, reading:

"Take care as always, comrade!"

You purse your lips together, disappointed as your hand falls from the sticky note. "The Fatui aretroublesome indeed,"you agree, "they're always offsomewherecausing trouble for whatever their Tsaritsa requires. Though with how quiet they've been over the past few days," you pause, feeling an unease churn in your stomach as you ponder over Sara's earlier words, "I… Ican't helpbut think somethingbig will happen soon.You know," you turn your head over to look at the woman with honey hued irises, "like acalm before the storm."

Sara scrutinizes you carefully a moment, her gaze lingeringjust a little too longmuch to your comfort before she finally replies, "I think so too," her voice is soft, the ridges of her brows relaxing gradually as she frowns, "all we can do is keep giving it our all."

You turn your gaze away from her once more, your eyes flickering over to a message from acertainex-Fatui harbinger on your phone,"That's all we can do…"

Over the next few days, living with Kunikuzushi had become somewhat… Organic. Everything flowed with much more ease, with the two of you either picking fights with one another out of sheer boredom, or caretaking for the hideout. At some point, it started to feel like the two of you have lived with one another for ages now.

It was a fact you refused to admit until you found yourself comfortable enough to tear up openly next to him, blankets overtop either of you as the two of you watch a heart wrenching movie. An amazing movie you admittedly had forced him to watch with you. However, while you openly cried a little, Kunikuzushi's reaction is quite the opposite from your own. Annoyed and in disbelief over your reaction, proclaiming that it was 'just a movie' and it was 'nothing to cry over', Kunikuzushi throws his blanket over your face. You accept the blanket with open arms, hiding your face away from the world as the ending credits roll on your laptop screen.

And when he suddenly leans on you, pressing his weight onto your body from your side, you stop crying altogether.

"It was a horrible movie," he starts, his voice echoing throughout the room as he crosses his arms. You wipe your tears as he presses on, "The acting sucked, the characters sucked, the plot was contrived…" He trails off, and somehow, you can understand through just the tone of his voice that he was sounding almost… Hurt. Having your eyes blocked out, with only your ears to rely on– you sensed pain in his tone, and it automatically had you thinking.

Was this blanket to hide your face, or was it to hide his own?

Letting curiosity get the best of you, you lift the blanket up ever so slightly, shifting your head carefully as Kunkuzushi's leg brushes against your own. From the opening you create, you examine his features, your eyes widening rapidly as your breath catches in your throat.

He was tearing up, too.

You nearly gasp in shock. Kunikuzushi kept his face forward, examining the screen with such a cold hearted expression you would have never thought him to be crying in the first place had it not been for the liquid trail that had rolled from the corner of his eye and down his cheek. He really was something else, calling a decent movie horrible for making him tear up.

Quietly, you put the blanket back over yourself, your lips pulled taut into a thin line as a gentle warmth blooms in your chest. "..Downright horrible," you agree, your voice shaky as he pretends to clear his throat next to you.

Without a doubt, the two of you had gotten much closer than you would have preferred.

And somehow, you didn't entirely mind that.

The next day, during the weekend, Kunikuzushi adjusts himself to sleep at night, keeping his phone off and keeping all possible distractions back on. The two of you ate fairly unhealthily that night, binging on pizza and celebratory soda cans as opposed to alcohol, since the last time you had drank with him, he had severely complained about your misbehavior.

That night, you remain awake, watching over him as he rests comfortably where you had usually slept. While he slept, you took your time to go over every last detail regarding the Fatui, just in case you had missed something. You look over their members, their plans they had gone through, along with additional information provided by Kunikuzushi's experiences. Before you knew it, the sun had risen over the horizon.

When Kunikuzushi wakes up, the two of you make eye contact with one another and smile triumphantly.

The mission was a success.

For dinner, both of you go to the same restaurant the two of you had gone to last time. It was Kunikuzushi's first time going out in weeks, and it was also another little experiment on him, since he wanted to make sure the sounds of rhythmic ticking and certain instruments didn't affect him anymore. The dinner is fairly light hearted, with the two of you just enjoying the food, though you can't help but ask him every ten minutes if he had been growing a migraine at any point. Noticeably, he wasn't spacing out unusually either.

After weeks of hard work and stress, the results ended up like magic. They seemingly worked without a hitch, and with no interruptions from Il Dottore or anything. You had figured that Dottore had given up over his hypnosis on Kunikuzushi, since there had been no evidence proving otherwise.

Kunikuzushi thought otherwise, suggesting that Dottore was probably waiting for the most opportune time to track him down yet again. You ultimately trusted Kunikuzushi's judgment. He was, after all, one of Dottore's closest colleagues prior to Kunikuzushi's departure.

The rest of the night goes swell, with the two of you exploring the bay at night despite the chilly temperatures, and before the clock strikes ten, both of you are back at the hideout to rest.

When morning arrives, you begin to pack your belongings back into your luggage cases and car, feeling a wave of relief wash over you despite the slight sting of sadness. It was surprisingly comfortable, living with Kunikuzushi for a little while. Having him around made you feel significantly less lonely than usual, since you were so used to living by yourself. Kunikuzushi served as a distraction from other things that had been recurring in your mind, such as Childe's total absence in your life now despite having spent years just sitting next to him. You tried often not to think about where he was now, and you avoided thoughts such as his request to keep track of his family for him.

You did heed his request. You were checking on them, however you just… Never reported back to Childe. You had other matters on your plate, regarding work and your hectic balancing between life and such.

Kunikuzushi distracted you from all those things. You were made to focus on him, to regulate your life around a web of lies designed by yourself and him– a chaotic spiral made to confuse everyone else around you. It was a pleasant distraction, you think to yourself when you notice that he's watching you carefully from beyond his dark eyelashes, a small smile on his lips as he sticks his middle finger up at you nonchalantly.

You can't help but snicker, returning his uncalled for action by sticking your tongue out playfully.

It was a pleasant distraction.

And at night, after Kunikuzushi helps you settle back into your home, the two of you go on a short walk. As the chill of the night presses against your skin, you stand next to him ever so casually as he smokes for the first time in weeks. The moon is in the shape of a crescent, much like a smile in the sky. You don't see the stars in the sky, light polluting the environment all around you from light post to light post, then from building to building.

You let out a short string of coughs when smoke billows over to you, urging you to back away from Kunikuzushi a little. Upon noticing your antics, Kunikuzushi reluctantly tears the cigarette away from his lips, his eyes narrowing onto the lit end of the cigarette before he ultimately decides to throw it onto the floor to put it out. You stare at him blankly when he looks up at the night sky, his hands shoved in his pockets as he leans on the wall behind him.

"You didn't have to do that, you know?" You begin, your tone plain as you mimic his actions, "It's fine. I'm getting used to it," you shrug.

Your words earn you a glare from him, "No, you're not," he points out before pushing himself off of the wall, keeping his hands in his pockets as he starts to amble his way to your home, "don't lie to yourself. Besides," he huffs, pausing in his steps for a little, "I'm a changed man. I don't smoke for long anymore."

You forcibly withhold a snicker from leaving your lips. A changed man, was he? "Oh wow," your tone is sarcastic as you catch up to him, a smile wide on your lips, "you are so cool, Kunikuzushi!"

"Shut the fuck up," he retorts with a small sigh, "annoying woman…" The two of you maintain a steady pace walking next to one another, a bubble of laughter leaving your throat upon hearing his words.

The rest of the way home is mostly quiet, though the atmosphere between the two of you is warm and comfortable. You had gotten used to his childish banter, making fun of you at any chance he could. You returned the energy at times, but now… You wanted peace.

"Everything here is so quiet," you comment as the two of you enter the vicinity of your apartment, "where you live, it can get noisy– you know," you twist your head to look at Kunikuzushi for a brief moment, "with how drunks around the neighborhood yell at each other."

"And the occasional police sirens," Kunikuzushi adds on, not quite looking at you as he stares off into the distance in front of him, "the location is terrible, but a hideout is a hideout," you want to ask him what he's thinking about, looking so concentrated on matters that lay within his mind, and you're just about to until you realize that the two of you are already at your home.

Your heart slightly sinks.

Perhaps you should've asked him to take you to the harbor. It was a longer walk than your tired self would have preferred, but at least you could talk to him a little longer. With a shake of your head, you brush your thoughts off, thinking to yourself that this was no way for you to behave. It's not like he would be going away anytime soon– and you knew that if you so wanted to see him again, you could.

Still, you didn't want him to go home yet. Perhaps you'd make an excuse– you could tell him that you needed some help unpacking further, or maybe you could tell him something stupid like how your couch was falling apart and–... Oh, you were being unlike yourself.

"..Tomorrow?" Your tone is low, almost tentative– as though you were unsure– and Kunikuzushi raises a brow in response. "Café," you continue, "shall we meet tomorrow?" You feel at the metal knob, pressing your keys into the hole before allowing yourself in through your doorway.

"Obviously," Kunikuzushi retorts, shutting his eyes as he scowls, backing away from you, "it's free coffee, remember? Take advantage of it, Miss Investigator," he shrugs, his eyes reopening to zero into your own expression, "it's a gesture of generosity towards you." His indigo hued irises narrow onto your own, the corner of his lips threatening to curl upwards into a small smirk. Your heartbeat is quickens.

You return his remark with a smile, feeling a lightness bloom in your chest. That's right, you thought to yourself. You'd always have tomorrow. "Don't be late," you teasingly reply, tilting your head as you shift backwards into your home.

Kunikuzushi opens his mouth as though to say something, his irises brimming with a strange emotion you don't quite understand, and upon seeing your look of confusion, he shuts his mouth. Your heart threatens to leap out of your chest.Just what was that expression?You found it to be a mix of conflict, along with something a little more…Endearing.Offering you a half smile, Kunikuzushi snickers and turns away from you, "I'll see you tomorrow, Miss Investigator," with a wave of his hand, refusing to look back at you, he leads himself down the hall.

Unable to stop yourself from speaking up, you suddenly start, "Wait!" You call out to him just as he is by the stairway leading away from your home. Kunikuzushi's pace stutters to a halt, his head rising ever so slightly as though to urge you to continue, "I-I look forward to it!" There's a clear shyness in your tone that feels strange, even to yourself.

Nevertheless, Kunikuzushi enjoys every second of it, your voice echoing in his mind. You don't see the smile on his face when he agrees, "Sure," his tone remains composed, though his expression is warm, "I'll see you then."

When he completely disappears from your line of sight, you shut the door behind you, feeling a sensation of relaxation wash over you. You gaze down the end of the hallway, your eyes landing on a calendar hanging on the wall just a little ways away from your bedroom. You let out a soft breath, slumping your shoulders as you kept your back pressed against the door.

You were home.

You were trulyhome. And for the first time in two weeks, you can sleep tonight knowing you wouldn't have to worry about disturbing someone else, knowing you wouldn't have to wake up during odd periods of time to check on Kunikuzushi.You were at peace, finally.The sound of your hanging clock echoed throughout the silent halls of your home, bringing you an utmost tranquility that surged through your veins smoothly.

You smiled, ambling down the hallway, keeping your eyes on the calendar before you. You stop just in front of it, tracing along the days you had been gone and noticing how much work had been done in just two weeks. The past two weeks had beenquite hellishon you, having to juggle so many things in such a little time frame all while maintaining yourself.It was a good thing you were away from Kunikuzushi now,you thought to yourself with a small smile.You could relax. It was time to take a break after all your hard work.

Your moment of peace is shattered when suddenly, a pair of knocks come at your door.

You let out a sigh, feeling a little defeated when your moment of peace is taken away from you, though you are quick to recover and react to the sound. Usually, you'd check the peephole to see who it was, though knowing how late it was and knowing who hadjust recently departedfrom your apartment, you figured it was Kunikuzushi.

He probably had forgotten to tell you something.

The pair of knocks arrive again in an unfamiliar fashion, and in response, you let out a soft groan, "I'mgoing,I'mgoing,"you whine. You feel a strange unease within you when there is no response, although you opt to brush it off, not thinking much about it. You open the door, pulling it inwards towards you, your eyes immediately landing on a dark figure before you.

And then you freeze up.

Oh no,you thought to yourself, blood draining from your face rapidly upon noticing that you had been staring up at a figure muchtallerthan Kunikuzushi. Their shoulders were broad, their skin fair–and last but not least…

"Hello there," the man smiles down at you, his irises bright with glee as they scan your mortified features, "Miss.Didn't your parents ever tell you not to open the door at night for strangers?"Through a mask, you can see his crimson hued irises.

You grit your teeth, disbelief and fear wracking you as you attempt to shut the door, only to find his foot stuck just in between the doorframe and the door. He clicks his tongue–a habit that Kunikuzushi usually did, though you supposed he picked it up from someone else–in disappointment, "Don't be so rude," you're taken aback by the sudden strength when the door is forced open with a shove, and immediately, you back away, feeling yourself for any weapon and searching your room for anything– for something as the man with light blue hair intrudes into your home.

Your breathing is uneven, oxygen hardly traveling to your brain properly, enough to cloud your mind in a haze of fear and confusion. Think, you thought to yourself desperately, think, think– think!

"You've already caused me trouble by pushing back my plans," the male coolly starts, a smile wide on his face as he tilts his head, "and now, thanks to the two of you," there's an irritation creeping up in his tone, an impatience that follows quickly as he continues on, "I'm forced to play my hand. You have such a lovely grip on that silly boy, in fact, I dare say you've made him happier lately, " he tilts his head as he moves towards you, "so I decided… Why continue pursuing him? If he's learned to outsmart my methods, if he's learned to deviate from my control… Why bother controlling him… When I can snuff out–" you let out a shriek when he suddenly takes another quick step towards you, "the star that illuminates his nights."

Overwhelmed with panic, you don't notice that he had already injected you with a substance. You only notice it when you feel something in your neck, your eyes wide as you let out a choked noise. Your vision doubles and blurs– and suddenly, you feel sick. Like there had been rampant poison shuffling through your veins, shutting down everything it had come in contact with, starting with your legs. You fall to your knees, wavering off to the side as you feel a sensation of paralysis take control of you.

Oh fuck, you thought to yourself as your eyes flickered upwards, your vision still blurry as you let out another choked noise, oh fuck, oh fuck– oh fuck!

Il Dottore smiles from above you, keeping his hands behind his back as he hums in satisfaction. "I've been watching you for some time," he admits, his tone casual, "you're quite the hard worker. I cansee why that boy would take a liking to you. Your existence to me, however,is an eyesore..." He pauses when you look up at him, confused, "You must remind him of better days. But you remind me of a womanthat had flown far too close to the sun. That's howshe died," he thinks to himself for a moment, "she was meddling in affairs that weren't hers to start with."

And just before your consciousness vanishes completely, a series of thoughts hit you all at once. You think of Il Dottore's case files, the sorts of sick things he did to people under his jurisdiction, and to innocent people all alike. Were you going to be one of them now? You remembered the things he did to Ei's sister, Makoto– and then you think of Kunikuzushi. You remember that he had a specific knocking pattern, and you remember that earlier, prior to you opening the door, there had been no knocks in that specific pattern. In fact, there was even no response to your impatient words.

In the back of your mind, alarms fire back and forth. Everything in your mind is a jumbled mess, and you can't tell if it's because of how your body feels as though it were on fire, or because you were far too scared to think straight. You should've known something was bound to happen. The Fatui were quiet, Il Dottore had been missing in action for a few weeks now– and everything was far too silent.

Not a trace of a trade, not a hint of anyone else dying. Everything was perfect. Kunikuzushi was an amazing distraction.

You want to scream– to fight, and you want to plead for anybody– for somebody to help you. But there was no one there. You stare up at the light of the moon, laying in the shadows of the man standing before you. The crescent moon smiles down at you. You wish Kunikuzushi was here.

You let out a soft whimper, feeling your blood boil as it races throughout you, your body on the floor, writhing occasionally.You should've checked the door.

Dottore crouches down to your position, his eyes remaining on your features as tears begin to spring out of your eyes, "Don't you worry," he coos, feigning kindness with his gentility. He fails to mask the layers of madness hidden in his tone as he grins down at you, "I'll make sure you turn outjustright."

Notes:

im NEVER gonna write a reader or character who hasnt gone through traumatic experiences. dont you know that trauma makes you sexy / thats why im collecting them like pokemon cards personally 3 /jk

i'll try to pace myself better with writing! i'm going to start working soon so i'll try to make a schedule to update every thursday at least! might update once or twice, depending on the mood! i hope everyone is doing well!

Chapter 15: Wonderland

Summary:

In which reader is left alone, and is forced to ponder.

Notes:

Find me in your wonderland.

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

In the morning, Kunikuzushi immediately clues in that something was wrong. Seated in his usual spot at the café, he waits for you patiently, having paid for you coffee ahead of time as he sips his own from his mug. At first, he believed you were a little late and had laughed it off, thinking that it was ironic of you to point out that you didn't want him to be late.

But after thirty minutes had gone by, with still no trace of you, he started to become a little more… Worried. After departing from the café, he sends you texts, asking you where you were and if you had simply 'forgotten' about the meeting you were oh-so-excited to go to.

He waits some more, thinking you were at work. He waits an hour, then two hours, and then ten hours altogether, and by the time night is falling on the city, he stares out his large window with wide eyes.

Something was horribly wrong. He could feel it in the pits of his stomach, and the feeling stuck to him like gum at the bottom of a shoe. It was a persistent, unwavering feeling– one he felt the need to act on, and so he did. Kunikuzushi hops on the train and walks to your home, knocking on the door just in case you were ignoring him for whatever reason, and when he calls out your name to receive no response, he finally opts to break in.

Breaking in wasn't hard. In fact, it seemed that the door had already been unlocked in the first place. Twisting the door knob, his breath leaves him all at once when he opens the door to reveal… Nothing. There had been nothing but your ordinary home, no food wafting in the air, no telltale signs that you had been in the home in the past twenty-four hours. Nothing was touched, and nothing was misplaced upon further exception– but that's exactly what had set him off.

It looked as though you had never been home in the first place. As though Kunikuzushi never dropped you off, as though your enthusiastic voice upon bidding him farewell yesterday was nothing but a dream.

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, his eyes blowing wide as a sensation of darkness blooms in the pits of his stomach, bursting forth throughout his mind, trickling down his spine. Where have you gone? In a fit of panic, Kunikuzushi begins to scour the home, looking for clues as to where you had gone, if you had left voluntarily or not. He pulls apart your home, and finds that as he is doing so, his mind is about to split wide open– anxiety, fear and terror ping ponging back and forth within him so rapidly it nearly makes him want to hurl.

Where did you go? You weren't here. And if you weren't here… Kunikuzushi gazes outside once more, his eyes meeting the moon's cat-like smile, the moonlight beaming down onto him and spilling from the doorway. Where else could you have gone without as little as texting him back?

Amidst his feelings of panic, a part of Kunikuzushi's mind is so terribly clear, as though the fear and panic had caused him to unearth a truth that was far too obvious to ignore. You were relatively liked, he could tell from the way Tartaglia had spoken about you, despite his pathetic attempts to 'protect' you. You couldn't be a victim to a random kidnapping. Whoever had done this had caught you off guard. For you to disappear like this, so cleanly out of nowhere– there was only one possible person he could think of.

"That fucking quack,"Kunikuzushi whispers to himself as his mind crescendos, his ears ringing as he glares up at the moon. In seconds, Kunikuzushi is flooded with a venomous sensation, and it surges throughout his mind, spreading through every part of his body– an emotion Kunikuzushi could only recognize aspure, unfiltered rage.

Thatpiece of shit had you.

Dottore had done it again.He had taken away something precious from his life once more, and under his very own nose.Memories of Makoto billows past his mind, the woman, so careful and gentle as she took care of her flower shop. Kunikuzushi remembered how she had delicately tended to chrysanthemums, and in his mind, she was shining brilliantly.

Suddenly, those memories are soiled in mud. He remembers Ei's breakdown when she returns home from Makoto's funeral, how she loses her nerves and allows a potted plant to slip from her grasp and onto the floor. He remembers Ei overworking herself and forcing herself to sleep less, the pursuit of revenge slowly overtaking her. He was neglected, much to his chagrin, and at the time it was a hard pill to swallow . Ei was never quite the same around him anymore, in their home filled with memories of Makoto. He remembers how much pain he had been in, yet seeing Ei go through it, watching Ei scream and bawl her eyes out– someone as strong as herself… He couldn't ever find the time to cry, let alone grieve for Makoto aside from the funeral itself.

He never fully understood Ei's lack of concern for him at the time. How she drowned herself in work, how she refused to keep her eyes away from newspapers and research all day and night, killing herself slowly. But he could understand now, the panic, the anger, the worry, because right now he felt it in waves, overtaking his mind like venom to one's body.

Kunikuzushi clenches his hands, balling them into fists at his sides as he glares up at the moon, a slow, decrepit smile crawling up onto his features. A violence that had been subdued resurfaces from the pits of his stomach, a low chuckle leaving his throat as he presses forward towards the door. Kunikuzushi had been spoiled, his time spent with you far too sweet and kind. He would find Dottore. That was his goal, and it remained unchanged. And when he did, he promised he would tear his mouth from ear to ear, he would carve all his hatred into the man's body.

He would kill him. No, he would do much more than that– he would hurt him, over and over again in the worst ways he could imagine, he would let his blood run dry and sew him up again just to tear him apart.

As though awakened from a blissful dream, Kunikuzushi lets out a soft sigh, a violent storm raging from within his mind reflecting from his eyes, "Miss Investigator," he murmurs to himself as he turns his gaze downwards, aimed towards a particular mark he hadn't seen earlier. A dark mark– the scrape of a shoe's sole just along the wooden floor tiles. He leans down, pressing a finger along the rough edges of the trail, "I swear to you that I'll find you," he hums to himself, "and I'll be sure to end this sick comedy of his... " He pauses as his finger stops at the end of a trail, his eye catching onto another small detail he realized he might've missed during his state of dismay and panic.

Kunikuzushi's eyes linger around the dark small splotch on the floor, dried. When he touches it, pressing a finger around it, he finds that it is blood.

Rage burns in him further, a scowl quickly descending onto his lips as he furrows his eyebrows. Letting out a shaky breath, he feels his pulse rise, all the colors around him suddenly becoming all too bright all at once– and when he shouts, he slams a fist down on the floor.

Kunikuzushi had to get to work as soon as possible. Any second he wasn't working was wasted, and any second he wasn't working meant that you were a second closer to getting hurt– and possibly… Killed.

He thinks back to the image of Makoto, her malformed body and broken fingers holding a bouquet of rotting animal insides, tied to her hands with a rope so tight her skin had been rubbed raw.

He clenches his teeth. He couldn't have that happen. Not again.

With classical music in the background, the strange doctor hums, a smile on his lips as he works around the dingy, dark basement of a building. For a little while, he is examining the drugs as they are produced, his workers shouting and yelling over one another to make sure the drugs had been made up to speed, and of highest quality.

When the first batch is done, a worker brings Dottore the translucent looking pill, looking akin to a water drop. Dottore examines it, through his mask, his eyes narrowing upon putting the pill up to the light to further inspect it. Every final product would greet his eyes first thing, as he would rather not export damaged goods to ruin the Tsaritsa's reputation.

He preferred everything refined, andperfectto the maximum degree–therefore experiments had to be donein order to make thingsjust right.Trial and error, trial and error–such was his lifestyle,from his executions, making them picture perfect–to his drugs.Everything that would be broken and remade under his touch wassureto flourish.

All his'candy'would beamazing.And in response to his candy being amazing,he was allowedto have more fun with his experiments, as the intake of money would beplentiful.

Dottore smiles up at the translucent drug between his index finger and thumb, rolling the drug ever so slightly before he allows the drug to fall to the floor. Dottore raises a foot and crushes the pill underneath his sole. Next to him, his subordinate withholds a shriek of terror.

The light blue haired male turns towards his subordinate, his mask obscuring his features, "Rookie, bring me the head of quality control, will you?" His demeanor is calm, his lips falling from a smile into a thin line.

"O-Of course, Sir," the subordinate responds with a salute, followed by their quick departure. Dottore shakes his head in annoyance as he seats himself down on his desk, inspecting the recent paperwork that had been given to him.

It seemed as though his colleagues wished for Pierro to be sent to Inazuma.

"That's no good," Dottore clicks his tongue, eying the paper once more. Dottore could finish the job here, he had no true need for La Signora, or Tartaglia. Both of them were just fodder , no matter how useful they had claimed to be, and it was clear that neither of them could pull their weight in the Fatui, getting caught out with such ease.

If he bothered to care, then perhaps the night Signora had been captured, he would've helped her, despite her shortcomings. But he was far too amused , seeing his loose, smart little labrat– Scaramouche– outsmart her. If La Signora and Tartaglia could be outsmarted by a mere lab rat, then perhaps they were no better than dirt on the bottom of his shoe. Nevertheless, Dottore held some respect for Scaramouche due to those instances.

However Scaramouche could never outsmart him in the end– even with all of Scaramouche's best in attempting to elude him. There would be no losing when it came to Dottore's principles. No matter the situation, he was sure to win one way or another. He was, after all, always one step ahead in this little game of hide and seek they played.

He raises the paper to eye level before tearing it up completely, allowing the paper to fall to the floor. He supposed he would get one of his aides to clean this mess up.

Upon tearing the paper up, Dottore hums, confused when he sees the sight of two people standing before him– the previous subordinate who had been next to him, and someone who looked vaguely familiar to him. Dottore supposed this being was quality control. Dottore's lips form a scowl, his foot tapping impatiently on the floor, "I asked for the head of quality control," he starts, his tone showing clear disappointment as he lifts himself up and off of his desk.

Dottore ambles over to the side of the men, heading towards a multitude of items arranged semi-neatly on a table.

"This is the head of the quality control department, sir," the subordinate responds, keeping his tone policed to be as neutral as possible. Dottore lets out a huff, scouring the objects on the table before he finds a certain large shiny object.

Dottore swivels around to turn towards the two gentlemen, and just before the other male can say anything, Dottore cuts his life short. In one swift motion, Dottore cuts through the male's neck with a butcher's knife, watching carelessly as blood sputters from the man's severed head, his head rolling to the floor.

The subordinate, far too shocked to say or do anything, remains unmoving, his eyes wide as he stares at the body next to him fall to the floor with a thump.

"Wonderful," Dottore replies, his tone bored as he looks to the side, cleaning the knife with a cloth, "though you did misinterpret what I had meant. I meant it in a literal sense – his head," Dottore kicks the ex-subordinate's head on the floor, allowing it to roll before shaking his head, "now clean it up and get back to work. We have a new batch to work on."

The subordinate takes a few seconds too long to respond, earning him a frown from Dottore as he tilts his head, "Oh," Dottore's eyes search for the other's gaze, finding it to be resting on the lifeless body on the floor, "don't worry. I don't bother expending my resources like this until I'm forced to. I've warned this feeble being twice now to keep a good eye on how the facility had run– and after that, I had promised no further warnings. You're new here, aren't you? I shouldn't have to say this but," Dottore's eyes interlock with the other's, his frown only deepening as a result, "if you refuse to listen to orders, then you will end up like that. Now clean it up," Dottore backs away from the mess as blood begins to pool onto the floor, "before the mess gets any larger. And find another replacement for him," he ushers towards the male on the floor once more before excusing himself, leaving the rookie subordinate to mull over Dottore's words in sheer shock.

Dottore allows a sigh to fall from his lips as he washes his hands, staring at an image of himself that had been reflected from the mirror.Was everyone around here just so… Disappointing?Unable to perform even the mostbasicof tasks–they were all just pathetic excuses of humans,coming and going for the sake of a paycheck. Had they nopassion? No drive to even do the slightest thing right?

Dottore's mind pauses, his lips pulling taut into a thin line as he checks the time on his watch.Six in the morning.With a hum, he wipes his hands clean before making his way towards the caged little bird he had captured yesterday.

Approaching you, he realizes you look just as angry as ever, glaring at him and cursing at him to let you out of your glass container. Dottore absentmindedly notes that you were a little moreresistantto paralysis drugs for whatever reason. You were up and about by three in the morning, attempting to escape from your cage despite your handcuffs– and of course, Dottorecouldn't be botheredto give you another dose of his paralysis serum. Instead, he let you tire yourself out–though much to his chagrin,you werestillenergetic enough to throw a slew of curses at him.

"Has Scaramouche ever told you thatyou're veryunladylike?" Dottore starts, pulling a seat up just in front of the well lit container cage before frowning. La Signora had quite a mouth on her when she was pissed, but he had to admit, her insults were nowhere near as colorful as your own.

"Go fuck yourself!"You hiss in reply, your eyes brimming with rage, earning a sigh from Dottore as he shakes his head, expressing a clear disappointment, "Let me out of here, you perm hairedfreak!"

Dottore balked.On second thought,he didn't understand why the boy– Scaramouche– had taken a liking to you. When you were sleeping, he thought you looked like a caged little bird. Now, you looked like a wild animal, trapped in an enclosure with how wildly you were swinging your fists around and about.Perhaps he should gas you to put you to sleep again?He had a few of those left in his arsenal. It looked as though you would be hard to handle, and hedoubtedhe could keep you still if he had gotten into your cage to drug you up.

He opts to try and calm you down, "Now, I know you might be upset with how I treated you earlier–"

"Earlier!?" You cut in, glaring at him in disbelief, "You kidnapped me and drugged me. I'm not upset, I'm pissed off!"

Feeling his patience wear thin, Dottore clears his head, "I understand you are unhappy–"

"Fuck you!" You curse in reply, pressing your hands against the window, only to jump back when Dottore suddenly stands from his seat and rushes to you.

"Silence!" His voice is so loud it echoes throughout the room, almost nullifying the sound of classical music that had resounded throughout the establishment. Taken aback, yet still angry, you glare up at him, your hands clenched into fists as you take a step forward towards him. From beyond the glass pane, you glare at him, spitting at his face, watching as he flinches.

"Vicious mutt," Dottore hisses under his breath, "it's clear that you don't understand where you stand right now. The issue with police dogs is that they are always in over their heads, they forget what we criminals could do to you when captured like this– since all of you are always hiding behind the government's back. That shouldn't be the case, should it? You lot should be much more aware than the average person concerning what we can do. I should filet you like a fish for your ignorance," he backs away from the glass pane, keeping his hands behind his back before he relaxes himself, letting out a staggering breath, "but I won't. At least," he pauses, looking up at you with a smile, "not unless you choose to be disobedient."

You keep your jawline tight, your lips shut as you back away from the glass pane, "..What do you want from me?" You reluctantly start, knowing well he was just keeping you alive for his own selfish reasons. You were under his mercy, naturally. You await his response, only to earn a chuckle from him, his chuckle derisive and mocking.

"Who are you to ask such a thing from me? Do you really think I'd just tell you? " Dottore retorts, sounding unamused with your behavior. He shifts over to the table, reaching for your personal belongings, and when his hands find your phone in the depths of your bag, he hums. Turning the screen on, he lets out a small snicker when he finds that Scaramouche had been texting you, his texts born from concern– and then devolving into threats aimed towards none other than Dottore himself. "Just settle down and do as you're told," he swivels his head around to look at you, "understand? It's busy enough around here."

You stare at him in deadpan. He was acting as though you had brought yourself here willingly– as though he didn't just kidnap you from the comfort of your home. "If I'm so troublesome," you cross your arms, keeping your tone nonchalant as you continue, "you could always just let me go."

Dottore pretends not to hear your words, seemingly a little too focused on your phone's screen. Upon further thought, Dottore walks up to the cage, unlocking the door and shutting the door behind him. Clearly startled, you backed up into the corner, noticing that there had been syringes peeking out from beneath his coat, "What are you doing?"

He doesn't respond, settling with a frown as he pulls out one of the syringes from beneath his coat. You attempt to fight him off, though you are unable to successfully do so. You manage to kick his leg, nearly landing a punch onto his face before succumbing into a weariness when he injects the contents of the syringe into your bloodstream.

"Calm down, calm down," Dottore attempts to reassure you, watching as you fall to the floor, a soft breath leaving your lips when your pupils begin to dilate, your legs giving way just beneath you. He tugs out the syringe, keeping it in his free hand.

Youhated this.You felt soweak,so powerless in these cuffs, put under by these drugs flooding your system. "Get away from me," you softly whisper, furrowing your brows as you maintain a blurry focus on your cuffed hands.

"It was a necessary precaution, concerning how rowdy you've been for the past few hours," Dottore confesses, looking unamused as he tugs your hair, forcing your head to tilt upwards. He puts your phone to your face, allowing the facial recognition function on your phone to do its work. When your phone is done recognizing your features, it buzzes in his hand, signaling victory.

Dottore grins, a nearly wicked chuckle leaving his throat as he begins to scroll through your list of calls, "Now, if you don't want to get hurt, I suggest you listen carefully. Call your superior and tell them that you will be taking some time off due to injury," his ruby hued irises meet your own for just a moment before you turn your head to look at your phone screen.

When he says your last name, you're pulled out of your short stupor. "That is your last name, correct? Strange," he hums more to himself, his voice dropping low into a whisper, "I feel like I've heard that name before."

Just as you are about to ask him what he had meant, he continues on, "I wouldn't want to hurt you more than I should," Dottore shakes the phone in front of your face, "so let's make this easy for the both of us. You'd like that wouldn't you?" His voice in your ears sounds as though it were nearly underwater, a ringing accompanying his every word as the drugs in your veins swim throughout your system, "a win-win situation for the two of us."

You look back towards Dottore, feeling your vision double–feeling a sickness swelteringwithin your stomach, threatening to escape through your throat– and then you look back at your phone screen.You didn't want to do this.Sweat begins to bead at the top of your head, your eyes narrowing to just get aclearervision on the screen.You didn't want to do this.

"They,"you start, licking your lips, "they won't believe me," you opt to start, thinking that in truth, youhadalready used most of your time off from your work related injuries.

"Yes they will,"Dottore offers you a small, vicious smile– and it causes your pulse to rise in terror, "because youwill sell it to them.Here," Dottore presses the used needle just above your stomach, resting on your abdomen and your eyeswiden as you realize what he's about to do, "allow me to provide you some assistance."

The pain of the needle tracing along the scarred skin of your stomach is dull, but only burns into something worse when he adds more pressure to one edge of the scar. Your mind is set into a frenzy . "Stop," you immediately find yourself pleading, raising your hands automatically to push him away from you, "stop it, stop it!" It hurt. The pressure on your stomach– the feeling of the sharp needle constantly tracing back and forth against your skin, rivulets of blood forming where every thin cut is made. It made you feel as though you were on fire.

Dottore's eyes narrow onto your features, pressing the phone close to your face once more as an eerie smile spreads on his lips, "Then do it," he observes your expression of pain with a sadistic glee, and when you finally nod, he clicks Kamisato Ayato's phone number before pressing the phone to your ear. "Any funny business and I promise you that you won't make it out of here alive," his threat to you was genuine. You could tell from the wild look in his eyes when he spoke, by the spark of madness that lay beyond his ruby hued irises– and his words sent a ripple of shivers down your spine.

A bead of sweat rolls down from your temple. You wondered if Kunikuzushi had to endure this, too.

You had to play along, at least for now until you found a loophole. You had to be patient, especially around Il Dottore…

After a few rings, the other end of the line picks up. Ayato's voice is as calm as ever,"Yes?"He replies shortly– and his voice nearly makes you break into a sob, fire fueling your veins as you keep your eyes interlocked with Dottore's own pair. When you don't respond quickly, Dottore taps on the syringe he had in his free hand– a sign you recognize to be a threat.

"Sir Kamisato," your voice is torn, and Ayato is quick to notice it. When he asks you what's wrong, you simply let out a soft laugh.You wish you could truly tell him,"I… My injury on my stomach reopened. I thought it had healed completely, but," your voice is low, nearing a hiss when you feel Dottore's fingers press onto your abdomen. You glare up at him, your breath labored as the drugs within youcause your mind to swirl.

"..I understand,"Ayato sighs, sounding a little disappointed, and a part of you wondered if he would still feel disappointed if you had told him about your whereabouts,"we did tell you not to come in that early since your wounds needed to heal. You've become a little more hard headed lately,"he replies in a chide tone, and you can't help but feel downtrodden upon hearing his words,"take two weeks off. Check with the doctors regularly, and make sure you take care of yourself properly this time."

"Sir Kamisato," you slowly begin, your voice becoming faint as your head throbs with pain, your vision doubling once more, "thank you… And I'm sorry for the trouble."

Dottore looks satisfied with your words.

"..It's fine, Miss Investigator. Things have hit you in a spiral, haven't they?"Oh, if only he knew,"Take care."

When the end of the line rings dead, Dottore drops the phone from your ear, allowing it to clatter on the ground with a triumphant laugh as he backs away from you. "That was easy, wasn't it?" He laughs, twirling the syringe between his fingers. Through your blurred vision, you can see him pull out another syringe from within his coat. You watch as he uncaps it, opening your mouth to say something in protest, only to find that no sound leaves your throat. You felt tired, dizzy and sick all at once, exhaustion hitting you in waves.

The last thing you hear is him humming, a dull ache on the side of your neck echoing throughout your system as he speaks, "Don't worry," he reassures you, "just as we had agreed, I won't hurt you too much. You won't even be conscious for half the time."

And he was right, you supposed. Your time spent with him was strange, with him refusing to answer your questions whenever you had any, and with you being put under heavy sedation. The only times you were really awake for decent periods of time were when he remembered to give you food, when you used the washroom, or when his surprisingly kind subordinate slid snacks through a slot in the glass container. The food that was provided to you was strangely healthy, something you supposed was to help 'detoxify' the drugs pumping through your veins..

Otherwise, for the most part, you were unconscious, the sound of baroque music resounding throughout the building accompanied with people shouting over one another and the smell of chemicals being mixed with one another.

However, the times you were awake– you wished you weren't. You'd seen Dottore kill one of his 'failed couriers' in front of you, since you were encaged in what looked to be an open area within the dark, gloomy building. The other courier had gotten his nails plucked out, before one of his fingers had been chopped off. You wished you hadn't heard those deafening screams. You desperately wished to bleach your memories of seeing a murder take place before your very own eyes.

It was different, on the job– you were usually able to do something about it. In this enclosed space, you were merely the experiment, trapped in a cage. You loathed not being able to do anything, standing still, cursing and nearly going mad from anger.

You remember the stench of iron, heavy in the room surrounding you, the loud bang of a gun and the sound of a glass shattering when a bullet nearly pierced through the layers of bulletproof glass you had resided in. When you looked, there was brain matter on the walls, blood coating the floor and wall.

The first time you had vomited, you nearly had a panic attack to accompany it. What Dottore did, hearing him speak about others as though they weren't human, as though these people didn't have feelings or have families outside of work– and they all served as just toys for him to play with… To Dottore, humans were entertainment for him. His existence was putrid to you. You hated him to a molecular level. Every moment he had stepped into the room, you wished you had been put to sleep by one of his syringes. He held no regard to human life, and if that wasn't already obvious when you had read those files regarding him, then it was made obvious to you now.

He didn't care whether they were a part of the Fatui or not, for as long as they were under his jurisdiction… They were his playthings. His minions. And if his minions refused to act accordingly, then after a warning or two– a warning usually meaning that they would lose a limb– it was immediately punishable by death. To Dottore, people who served underneath him and couldn't pull their weight were hardly creatures that required attention. They were a waste of his resources, something you pinpointed to be of ultimate value to him.

Everything and everyone required a purpose, and if they were by any means without one, or served none, then they were useless.

You had spent a lot of time alone in your glass cage, seconds turning to minutes, to hours and to what felt like eternity with just yourself and your mind. At first, you were headstrong, feeling just fine– but as soon as Dottore would walk in to feed you whatever drugs he had been pumping into your veins, your brain felt overstimulated.

Under the fluorescent pale lights that hung over you, you vaguely feel nostalgic, reminiscing on memories far too old to your liking. You weren't sure if it were due to the fact that an infernal loneliness had been burning in you in addition to these drugs in your veins, however you had started to think about your parents again, or at least what it was like to live with them. Perhaps you were remembering these memories because of the sight of needles being strewn around and about just outside of your enclosure, broken glass scattered and ground into fine particles, or perhaps it was because you wondered if this strange fleetingness you felt was just like how they felt during their waking days with you.

You remember coming home from your part time job in high school and quickly putting money away underneath your bed. You remember that sometimes, that money would go missing, and you would have to find another hiding place. At the dinner table, when you asked where your money had gone, your parents would just smile at you and pretend as though nothing was wrong. Of course, you'd pretend along with them, and dinner would go on as usual.

You never had a choice but to do so, so you acted like nothing was wrong and set your goals on leaving your home as soon as you could. You loved your parents– you did, and they did their best for you, or whatever was left of their best as their time wasted away underneath their skin.

These were all memories you didn't want to think about anymore, since they weren't all too pleasant. Although they were of your family, these memories felt painful to think of. You had truly wished they had stayed in the subconscious, eternally in the back of your mind for the darkness to hold.

Willing your memories away, you are reminded of Dottore's way of life– his way of judgment towards others surrounding him and himself. Everyone had a purpose to fulfill. You wondered if your assistance towards their addictions at any point during your years with them had helped them at all. A part of you wondered if they ever even tried to get better.

Dottore made sure you understood his way of life. He talked to you every now and then, speaking to you as though you were just a boring little pet at first, and after some time his curiosity morphed. He spoke to you as though you were an interesting specimen to behold, asking you how you had felt when he injected whatever hellish serums he had been plugging into your blood. Apparently, he had liquified an old drug he had been producing and had been giving it to you, making you into his guinea pig.

Aside from auditory hallucinations, you felt as though you were on fire, and constantly. Like your brain was burning, like your blood was boiling, as though you were always feverish. You became hypersensitive to noise, received headaches frequently– nothing which struck you as unusual since your body was being forced to take all these drugs all at once. Nothing felt amazing, there was no mind-blowing experience that you had heard several people talk about– it just felt like you were stuck in limbo between hell and an empty void.

Although Dottore promised not to hurt you too much, you figured that if you died during his experiments on you that he wouldn't care. He probably wouldn't have bat an eye if he saw your lifeless form before him. Despite his promise, he was eagerly toying with you, as though his intentions were to kill you in the first place. He made sure to fill your blood with just enough toxins that they wouldn't kill you. You figured the only reason why he had kept you alive anyway was to bait Kunikuzushi out, seeing as how the doctor had referred to you as the 'star' that supposedly illuminated his nights, and you supposed Dottore merely tormented you for fun.

It seemed that Dottore never really cared if you had heard about his plans, and because of this, a part of you wondered if he would simply kill you anyway, much like he had with Makoto and several before her. From what you could understand, this base was temporary, only to be used for the manufacturing of this specific new drug he had been testing.

Sometimes, when you were awake, he would sit himself just outside of the glass container and talk about certain events in his life. Certain murders he had committed solely driven out of whatever sadistic joy he gained from doing such activities. You came to understand after some time that he was just enjoying tearing what was left of your mental sanity apart, showing you commemorative photos he had taken of the said murder sites, and when you refused to look, he would simply come in and peel your eyes open forcibly. He had brought a strange contraption specifically for it, making you look at the morbid photos as he described every procedure he took in order to achieve his perfect, desired results.

You remember wishing you could tear his lips off of his face. You remember wishing you could give him a taste of his own medicine, you wish you could drug him and kill him and torture him the same ways he had killed all those people he had shown you.

One day, during one of these 'talk sessions', he asked you out of sheer curiosity just as he was about to put you under once more, "Why did you choose to make a deal with Scaramouche?"

Your mind falters when the memory of your first meeting with Kunikuzushi is mentioned. Why did you make a deal with him? Why of course… "To get more information on the Fatui," you decide to reply honestly, watching the fair skinned male as he taps the syringe's plunger, "we had run dry on information…"

Dottore looks unconvinced by your explanation, "Therefore you sided with a suspicious character? Out of desperation?"

Out of desperation. Yes, that's what it was. You were desperate. The Fatui had been running rampant around Inazuma, selling drugs to old and young alike– and you simply wanted to put a stop to it. You wanted to help put a stop to people becoming addicted, you wanted to be useful, you wanted to help children who couldn't grow up in a safe environment by tearing one of the largest organizations in the world out from their roots.

Your narcotics team had been bled dry of information due to Childe's infiltration, and you were so desperate for information that you made a deal with the devil. You weren't like Kunikuzushi, you weren't hellbent on revenge, you weren't looking for salvation elsewhere. You just wanted to help your country get better from a sickness that had run rampant far too long.

At least, that's what you told yourself.

"Yes," your answer is plain, "I had no choice but to give into his offer since I had screwed up my previous mission," your words lacksubstance.When he delves the needle into your skin, your body, now fartoo weakto fight back in your current state, you don't make a noise. You simply shut your eyes and waited for what was to come.

Dottore hums, a small smile crawling onto his lips as he watches the liquid disappear underneath your veins. If he had learnedone thing about youduring his small talks with you, was that you had the tendency todelude yourself–and you wereterribly good at it.Although a truth so obvious lay before you, you pretended to not see it. You'd avert your eyes if it meant you would get a moment of peace. This moment seemed like one of those moments.

Perhaps Dottore had grown far too bored with his other lab rats, or perhaps he had grown far too bored with his environment, but either way he had come to a single conclusion. In an environment where people lived from paycheck to paycheck, what drove you to this far corner to even make a deal with Scaramouche? Surely, your answer wasn't as simple as you said it was.

Dottore grins as he pulls away, your arm falling limp to your side as you fall into a short slumber. You would wake up shortly again, he was sure of it. In truth, he was looking for your source of drive, your motivation– the last push to get past whatever barriers you had put up in your mind. A finality that made and broke your core sense of self . He had spent time prodding around, prying here and there, and you never seemed to shatter completely. Perhaps… The answers to breaking you were related to the ambiguity of your response?

Either way, when he departed from you to return to his office, he felt giddy. Scaramouche was already going out of his way to search for you in other old abandoned hideouts, a sign of his plan going well. He had greatly disapproved of Scaramouche becoming softer, as it was against Dottore's programming on him. He missed the simplicity of his executions, the brutality of his torture methods– and last but not least, the rage that had burned behind his eyes. Dottore dare say that Scaramouche's motives began to mirror his own. It was wonderful, really, and Dottore couldn't help but wish to reclaim him back into the Fatui.

It was entertaining to Dottore, knowing that Scaramouche had been tearing one area up after another for any clues regarding you. Scaramouche shouldn't have to look too hard, he would figure it out sooner or later, and until then…

Dottore lets out a deranged snicker, opting to turn on the screen to his monitor. He had some research to do on you. After all, your name in itself was interesting. It sounded familiar, and it sounded… Old. In his mind, there's an audible click– the sound of a puzzle piece falling right into place, and with a wide grin, he's off to his cabinet, dusting off aged files.

Kunikuzushi could only do so much by himself, searching for one person in a crowd of millionshad been tough on him.The weather, as though in accordance with his emotions, had turned gloomy. The weather reporter had said it herself on the television screen he passed by while searching for you, a storm had arrived unexpectedly. Right now, despite his anger and grief,he had to stay focused.

Kunikuzushi had busied himself day and night in search of any traces of you, limiting himself to only four hours of sleep before he would be back up and looking again.He couldn't afford to lose any time, lying in wait for a missing poster or an announcement on the television to appear.The thought of losing you, of failing you– it echoed throughout his mind along with a familiar decrepit feeling from years ago, from when Makoto had passed.

Kunikuzushi forced himself into a meditative state for an hour each day, hoping to scour what was left of his unconscious mind since his hypnotized self had apparently met with Dottore and carried out duties for him. If anybody knew where Dottore was and had been, it was the unconscious part of himself. Through several tries of not remembering, Kunikuzushi nearly drove himself insane, feeling a sensation of worthlessness worming its way into his mind as he thought of you. He didn't want to fail you. He had already failed Makoto, siding with the scumbag who had murdered her, under the influence of hypnotization or not. He had nothing to show Ei, nothing to prove just yet until he found and killed Dottore.

In the darkest of nights, sometimes he finds himself back at your apartment, sitting on the floor now clean of your blood. He sits in the silence, thinking of where Dottore could have taken you with what evidence he had, and despite his desperate attempts to piece things together, his conclusion sums to zero. He so badly wished you would just appear out of nowhere, though he knew that would never happen.

He tried to keep himself sane by delving into old stacks of paperwork concerning Dottore and Fatui related facilities all throughout Inazuma. In four days time, he had read six, heavy files with twenty still left to read, and upon reading his seventh file, he felt as though his sanity had slowly depleted again. This was all taking too much time, and there was nothing useful contained in all the data he had read. It was all redundant information, the same shit over and over and over– with no new buildings to mark on the map.

Ah, how badly he wanted to just camp out at a Fatui hideout to kill and interrogate everyone on sight. But that would attract all the more attention to him, and right now, he was supposed to stay underneath the spotlights.

Scanning the Fatui's locations day by day, visiting all the warehouses he could find related to the Fatui and searching in plain sight, he looked for any trace of you– and if not you, he searched for any sign of Fatui and Dottore. Much to his chagrin, the Fatui were doing an amazing job staying on the down low, with not even one member spotted in public.

There was no way he could rely on the police either, seeing as how they were blissfully unaware of your disappearance. It was extremely suspicious how there had been no reports on you for a few days now, nothing released to the public– he couldn't help but wonder what actions they had been taking under discretion. It wouldn't be unnatural for them to keep it under covers for a while, concerning your line of work, but it had been some time since your disappearance. They should have been taking action now. Kunikuzushi spied when he could, keeping an eye on the ins and outs of the members from your team though nothing seemed amiss. Whenever he saw any of them, they looked… Normal, to say the least, and they lived life as though nothing was wrong aside from the weariness of work.

It hit Kunikuzushi as something that was obviously strange, how casual they seemed from what he had seen with no anxiousness or worries. During your time with Kunikuzushi, he had learned that your officemates tended to your care more often than you liked– simply out of concern. This fact along with his new findings just… Didn't add up. If they were naturally so concerned for your being, wouldn't they look even an inch woeful? He didn't understand why they were acting as though nothing happened, and then he comes to realize that perhaps they didn't know something had happened to you to begin with.

And if that were the case… Then they really weren't even bothered to look for you, were they? Reality crashed on him like lightning falling from the sky, despair growing in his chest as he realizes that nearly a week has passed with no leads on you.

He needed help. He couldn't do this alone.

And so one terribly rainy day, Kunikuzushi decides to swallow his regrets. Jumping onto a train in the early afternoon, he decides to see a familiar face for the first time in a long while.

Notes:

the next chapter is practically almost done already! i'll probably post it as soon as im done :)

Chapter 16: Pride

Summary:

In which Scaramouche teams up with a familiar face.

Notes:

Love's gonna get you killed
But pride's gonna be the death of you, and you and me

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Ei is reviewing files regarding Celestia before a pair of knocks arrive at the door. Taking off her reading glasses, Ei hums, "Come in," she nearly lets out a sigh, feeling her weary bones shift when she adjusts herself so that she's sitting straight. Her bright irises meet a steel hued blue, her pale hands crossed before herself as she leans forward, "Sir Kamisato," she starts with a careful smile, "what business do you have with me today?"

Ayato lets out a little laugh as he closes the door behind him, keeping his eyes on Ei's form as she smiles, "You canrelax a little,Chief Raiden," his voice is light, though the emotion in his eyes arepreparedandcalculative,"I'm only here to update you on recent information regarding the Fatui."

Ei shuts her eyes, her expression calm as she nods, permitting him to continue.

"We've recently found new information regarding building purchases that were illegal and kept secret for some time," Ayato offers to her a small file, the paper sliding with ease onto her desk, "Gorou had found them through thorough investigation around the murder sites Scaramouche had partook in," remaining calm, Ei reopens her eyes, her hand landing on the file before her.

She opens up the folder and begins to scan through the contents as Ayato adds on, "These locations were purchased under the harbinger's domains, using money from a bank that had been under Tartaglia's legal name."

"I see," Ei hums, her eyes narrowing upon seeing the new information presented to her, "and has your group investigated the sites already?"

"We have," Ayato nods his head, folding his arms as he smiles, "though they appeared to be already abandoned. We couldn't find anything much further than just old traces of people having been there, but it is a start. Their operations have significantly lessened ever since the downfall of Tartaglia and La Signora," the male turns around and stares out the window from her office, "they're choosing to play it smart. But with just a little push from Celestia, I do believe they will be forced to take their turn."

Upon flipping to the next page, Ei momentarily freezes up, seeing a familiar figure of someone just standing over a body.Her son…She frowns, her eyes narrowing onto what she could make of his features from the darkness of the camera.

"Is something wrong, Chief Raiden?" Ayato keeps his hands folded before him, a glint of interest shining in his irises upon seeing her strange expression.

Ei doesn't speak for a little, instead she scans the next page as though engorged with whatever she had been reading, "Not at all," she shakes her head, meeting Ayato's eyes once more and locking gazes with him, "I just think that your group has done an amazing job. It must be your intelligence that guides them," Ei offers him a small smile before handing the folder back to him, to which he retorts with a smile of his own.

"It's an honor to receive a compliment from you, Chief," his eyes remain calculative as he retrieves the file from her hand, "ever since Miss Sangonomiya opened up research in old facilities, we've been able to track them with much more ease than usual. Although I can't help but wonder," Ayato pauses, opening to the specific page she had stared at for much longer than usual, "this Scaramouche character and his eccentricness– he plays such a critical role despite his lack of actual scene presence. His name has been thrown around here and there– though we never seem to quite catch him. It's like he's some sort of ghost," Ayato's irises flicker upwards, "haunting us constantly, hovering just around our shoulders and almost guiding us to the Fatui's destruction."

"Scaramouche is quite the mysterious character," Ei agrees, "I believe that it's wise we remain vigilant for him. Although his goals align with ours, an enemy is still an enemy." Her unwavering gaze causes Ayato to double back on himself for a second, enough for him to let out a little laugh.

"Of course. We must make use of the leads he gives us, and all in due time," Ayato responds with a close eyed smile, "I believe everything will fall right into place. For now we just have to all play along, correct?" Preparing to dismiss himself, he ambles towards the doorway before remembering a vague concern one of his coworkers had, "By the way, Chief Raiden," he twists his head to get a better look at her once more, "have you heard anything from our dear injured team member?"

"Hm?" Ei pauses, mulling over his words before shaking her head, "I don't believe I've heard anything regarding her. May I ask why you inquire?" Ei usually only heard about you from your colleagues or during reports, otherwise the contact was minimal.

Ayato hums, "No, it's probably nothing pressing, but… A few colleagues have voiced concerns regarding where she's been as of late. I believe she's just overwhelmed and taking a step back," he pauses, his voice lowering as he continues, "it's only been nearly a week since her absence but her lack of response to messages has been concerning."

Ei blinks twice, her eyes narrowing upon hearing the information, "If I recall, her absence is due to her wound reopening, correct?" Mulling over Ayato's words for a little, she comes to a conclusion, " I shall give her a call later on to ask how she is doing. If she responds, then I shall let you know how she is doing at my earliest convenience." Ei's irises are brimming with a sense of resolution, one that Ayato finds himself admiring.

With a smile, Ayato thanks her and excuses himself.

Raiden Ei leaves work late that night, exhaustion bearing down on her bones as she exits the main building to head to her car. With a sigh, she relaxes her shoulders, looking up at the moonless sky as a downpour rains down on the city. In the dark of the night, she feels chilly, taking some time to just rest in her car for a little while as she attempts to call you, only to find that every call has been redirected to voicemail.

Had you turned your phone off,or was something much morestrangeoccurring here?

Worried, Ei readjusts herself in her seat before twisting her car keys, her car coming to life with a deep purr before she begins to drive off to her home. She makes sure to wear glasses in the car, her vision slightly weary from the amount of rain that had fallen from the skies. On the way home, she thinks about other ways to reach you, thinking of contacting your closest family member when time would permit it.

Passing by the forests and crossing over a bridge, she finally arrives at her delicate, aged home settled by Chinju Forest. Upon parking, she exits her car, making sure that her umbrella had been ready to cover her body from the rain. Gathering her items before she leaves the car, she shoves everything into her purse before finally exiting her vehicle, careful not to drop anything.

The sound of heavy rain greets her ears, spilling from her home's parking lot and down into the streets to gather at the drainage systems. Tired, she drags herself to the front of her home, shutting her umbrella as she presses her keys into the keyhole of her home.

She doesn't notice a figure, clad in black slumped over just the side of her doorway.

"Yo, old hag."

Ei freezes up immediately, her shoulders stiffening as her eyes grow wide. Slowly, she shifts her attention to her left side, finally coming to see a small figure of a man just a few feet away from her, his face hidden from her view with the black cap he had been wearing–but she didn't need to see his face to know who it was.

When he looks up, her thoughts are only confirmed, Ei's eyes only growing wider with shock as she keeps her purse held tight, her hands almostshakingwhen a familiar pair of indigo hued irises meet with her own."K-Kunikuzushi?"She can't stop herself from stuttering, her voice akin to a whisper as he tosses her a small, unenthusiastic peace sign, his expression deadpan despite his irises shining with amusement upon seeing her shaken features.

"I'm home."

Kunikuzushi is dizzy from everything that has happened in the past fifteen minutes. At first, when he had seen his mother, she had quite literally sized him up, feeling his body from head to toe as though to check if he were real , and upon confirmation, she hurriedly pushed him inside her home and settled him down by a kotatsu– which she still had set up for some reason, despite it being summer.

Kunikuzushi is immediately given the freshest towel she could find to help him dry off, and before she can take her coat off, she is off making a fresh pot of green tea for him. It wasn't hard to tell , despite her obviously refrained expression, that she was extremely excited to have him home. So excited that she quite literally could not settle down and take a breath.

"Hey, old hag, you can settle down you know–" Kunikuzushi starts as he finishes towel drying his hair, only to be cut off by Ei herself.

"Are you done drying your hair?" She quickly shoots back, ambling over to him as she ties her apron at her waist, her eyes inquisitive though her expression remains light, "Here, give me the towel."

Kunikuzushi just stares at her for a second, disbelief washing over him as he looks up at her, before looking at her outstretched hand. It felt like she was trying… So hard to make him feel welcome. When she shakes her hand, signaling that he should hasten his pace, he finally returns the towel to her, and before he can say anything further, she's off yet again. "I'll go find you a fresh pair of clothes," Ei calls out from the other end of the hallway, a hallway he realizes looked so strange for him to see now.

He remembers Makoto's belongings all over the hallway, from her hanging plants, to her bookshelves that he would occasionally run into once in a while due to how poorly they had been placed– and now it was…

Empty.

His eyes wander around the room, as thoughpurposelylooking for items related to Makoto to bring whatever dull ache he had felt in his chest to crescendo. This home–it was bittersweet to be in.Just looking around, he could remember a plethora of old scenarios from when he was a child.He had grown up here, after all.

Kunikuzushi feels his heart quiver in his chest, his teeth gritting as he continues to stare off to where Ei had disappeared to, only snapping back to reality when the loud sound of a tea kettle echoes throughout the home.

"Kuni,"the nickname is unfamiliar to him now, though his chest echoes with a forlornness at the sound of it leaving Ei's mouth from the distance, "I'm sorry, but can you please get the kettle?"

And somehow, a part of him feels like a little kid again. His chest aches as he rises from his seat. Was this a bad idea after all, coming to see Ei face to face after all these years of waiting to see her, avoiding this home at any cost? After all, he wasn't a kid anymore. Was it okay to go to her for favors like this? Or would he be seen as irresponsible… And then it hit him. Was he concerned of how Ei would perceive him after all this time spent apart?

It was as though a dam had broken within his mind, a strew of nonsensical things falling into place all at once and mixing together, becoming a jumbled, incoherent mess within him. Originally, these thoughts had never once occurred to him, and he honestly wasn't sure what the cause of all these random thoughts was. Mindlessly, he pours the hot water into a pot with green tea, flinching and hissing when the steam hits his fingers. Quickly, he puts the kettle back down onto the stove, and upon hearing his hiss of pain, Ei rushes to his side.

Kunikuzushi's blood is pumping throughout his body, his breathing uneven as a surge of confusion fires through him. He didn't feel… Right. He didn't even feel like he should be here right now. Maybe it was a mistake to seek her help after all.

"Are you okay?" She inquires, reaching for his fingers soaking under the cold water, her arm nearly resting on his own. Kunikuzushi's breath catches at his throat, his teeth grit as he pushes her away from him.

She was getting far too close to him,"Getawayfrom me!" It doesn't occur to him that his words could hurt her until after he has said it. It only registers to him that he had hurt her when he sees a flicker of pain fly past her eyes, her expression still as the water continues to run in the background.

There's an iciness that blooms and quickly spreads throughout the atmosphere surrounding Ei and himself, one that causes a short disconnect between either party.Kunikuzushi's heart beats rapidly in his chest,feelingstung– as though he had done something bad.

Ei opens her mouth to say something, and Kunikuzushi waits patiently for her to say anything to him. Kunikuzushi watches as her lips fall shut, her expression becoming impassive, albeit a little hurt , before she finally shuts the tap off, shutting her eyes completely. "..I have clothes prepared for you sitting on the kotatsu," she slowly starts, her tone light and warm despite his earlier rejection, "if you'd like, please change into them."

Immediately, Kunikuzushi is flooded with a sense of guilt. A ball forms at his throat, a voice of an apology echoing throughout his mind as he watches her retract her hand from the handle on the sink, allowing it to rest on the kettle so that she could pour the rest of the tea. Kunikuzushi notices as she twists her body to the side, her hair covering her face– that she wears a pin in her hair, adorned with Makoto's favorite purple hued flowers.

Ei clears her throat, "If you require band aids for your fingers, then there are some in the washroom in the usual cabinet…" She pauses, putting the kettle back down onto the stove, "If you… Remember where that is."

Kunikuzushi takes a moment to respond, "'Course I do," he replies informally, "I'm not stupid…" His voice is low as he grits his teeth. With that, he trudges towards the washroom, his eyes catching sight of a familiar set of clothes resting on the kotatsu. He opts to glare at the set of clothes before dragging them along with him to the washroom.

When he returns to the kotatsu, Ei is already settled down, a fresh cup of tea poured for him placed neatly next to what looked like quick scrambled eggs over rice. Ei glances up at Kunikuzushi, scanning his clothes up and down before letting out an almost sad sigh, "It's just as I thought," she bitterly begins, "these clothes don't fit you that well anymore."

Kunikuzushi's reply is harsh, "Well duh," he retorts, crossing his legs as his eyes fixate on the fresh plate of food before him, "it's been a long time after all…" His icy response causes her expression to fall once more, and after some time, an awkward silence floods the space between the two of them. Kunikuzushi presses his arm against the table, laying his cheek on his palm as he averts his eyes off to gauge the rest of the room. "It's been awhile, but it doesn't feel like much décor has changed around here," he slowly starts, his eyes lingering a little too long on a photo of him as a child, still hung on the wall.

He was grinning so happily in that photo.

Kunikuzushi snickers, playing with his bangs as he blows out a puff of air from his lips.He looked like such a brat back then.

"I… Didn't want to change things too much," Ei slowly begins, "in case you had decided to come home one day. I wouldn't want you walking into an unfamiliar household–..." She trails off upon seeing Kunikuzushi's irises ignite with a dark emotion. Digging her nails into the skin of her thighs, she withholds a sigh, "I'm sorry, I just didn't want to… Just in case…" She trails off once more, and she can't help but think she soundspathetic.

Surprisingly, Kunikuzushi offers her a few kind words, "You have nothing to apologize for," he murmurs under his breath, hiding his face from her as he runs a hand through his damp hair.

Ei is quick to react, "I have plenty of things to apologize to you for," her voice is soft, sounding kind yet beneath her tone lay a sense of anguish. Keeping her eyes on Kunikuzushi's hidden features, she only manages to see his frown deepen upon hearing her words. When she doesn't receive any sort of acknowledgement, she opts to shut her eyes, keeping her tone firm when she speaks up again, "I know you wouldn't just come to me for nothing," Ei confesses, "so why have you come back, Kunikuzushi?"

Allowing his hand to fall from his face, Kunikuzushi reveals his still expression, his eyes empty as he starts, "..She's been kidnapped," his tone is low, a faint echo of anger laced into his voice, "that idiot from Kamisato Ayato's division."

"What!?" Ei exclaims, her eyes growing wide before she recomposed herself, her tone serious now as she furrows her brows, "By who?" Her temperament flared at the realization, Ayato's words resounding throughout her mind.

"A few colleagues have voiced concerns regarding where she's been as of late."

This realization coupled with the Fatui's absolute radio silence as of late, a foretelling of doom– and then this… It all linked together. You were a likely suspect for kidnapping among the Fatui, especially since you held clear ties with Kunikuzushi, a former harbinger. And with all the other harbingers in Inazuma being locked up, Ei could only draw one simple conclusion as to who the kidnapper was.

Ei visibly pales, her irises glowing almost violet underneath the light of the room.

Kunikuzushi lets out an annoyed sigh, "It was the same son of a bitch who took Makoto, Ei," he groans, "the same asshole who tore this family apart, the same psychopath who's been doing all this fucked up shit for years–" he snaps, "and as if he hasn't already done enough damage, he's going after her now to get back at me." The rage in Kunikuzushi's tone was clear, his irises burning with a hatred that almost terrified Ei to her core.

"So I need help, Ei," Kunikuzushi backs away from the table, causing Ei to look up at him in concern– and when he suddenly bows, his head nearly meeting the floor with how far he had bowed, his hands pressed firmly against the wooden floorboards of her home, Ei freezes up in her seat.

"Please, lend me your strength," Kunikuzushi pleads, eliciting Ei's eyes to widen in shock, "I want to find him at all costs, and as soon as possible. I've been searching day and night for even a crumb of anything– for something, and I feel like I'm going to go insane–" Kunikuzushi's laughter is broken, a mild hysteria settling into his tone, "searching this whole country for that piece of shit all by myself. I need to stop him before he… Before he…"

Before he can complete his sentence, he feels a hand on his shoulder, the hand feeling light and gentle, and when he looks up, he realizes Ei is right next to him, pulling him upright into a sitting position. "Enough of that," she whispers, her eyebrows furrowed, "don't bow like that in front of me again. I am your mother," her words cause Kunikuzushi's expression to falter ever so slightly, "you don't have to beg me for anything. I will help you," just like she had always been. Helping him from the shadows, making sure he was never found, erasing any trace of him– even though it was against her line of duty…

She loved him after all.

There's a gentility in Ei's eyes that touches Kunikuzushi, and immediately, he finds himself growing warm, his lips forming a thin line on his face as he looks at her with wonder,"..You'll help me?"

His words sound almost as though he waslost,much like a child– and it brought a sense of confusion into Ei's mind.What was so baffling about Ei agreeing to help her own son? "Why wouldn't I?"She responds with a featherweight tone.

In truth, he had thought she would reject him. He thought that because of who he was now, because of how he has been, how he has brought nothing back after all his years being out and rebelling against her wishes– he thought she would turn a blind eye to his problems. Or at least, if she heeded his request, it would have to be with proper evidence provided upfront.

And yet, right now, she was blindly accepting him. Blindly agreeing to help him, blindly willing to sacrifice the possibility of being caught working with him. There was a likelihood that she could be imprisoned for accepting his request, and if not imprisoned, she would surely be fired and shunned by society for helping a notorious criminal.

This compliance was all he needed to be convinced to trust her without a second doubt.

Suddenly feeling a little ashamed of himself, Kunikuzushi roughly removes himself away from her touch, feigning a bothered expression as he huffs, his cheeks slightly warm, "..Whatever, just let go of me…" Despite his cold response, Ei lets out a soft laugh, her voice sounding sweet to his ears as she returns to her seat at the kotatsu.

"You never change, do you? That's right," Ei starts, her tone soft as she narrows her eyes onto his features, "it's been a long time. Even so, you haven't grown much taller, Kuni," her tone is teasing, and Kunikuzushi can't help but feel embarrassed upon hearing her words.

"And you've gotten uglier, old woman," he snidely comments, a scowl on his lips as his cheeks warm– and when he sees that she's laughing again, he can't help but feel that the earlier iciness between the two of them had completely left altogether. It was like magic, how easily she dispersed the strange energy between the two of them. Last time he remembered, she was much more callous, and a lot colder than now. Now, it felt almost as if… A part of her had adopted Makoto's happy spirit.

Soshe had changed a little.That…That was a relief to hear.

Unable to help himself, he allows a small, half smile to show on his face, his expression softening slightly upon seeing her happy expression. His change in demeanor causes Ei's chest to swell with warmth.

Over dinner, the two of them talk to one another, occasionally making lighthearted chat though most of the chat is focused on catching up with one another, and talking about recent events that had happened relating the Fatui and themselves. Kunikuzushi learns from this that during your time kidnapped, you had managed to make a call, excusing yourself of your duties due to your abdomen injury, hence why nobody had been searching for you as a missing person. In their eyes, you weren't missing at all.

You were just taking time for yourself, tending to your wounds. When Kunikuzushi asks where the phone call had been made from, Ei replies that she would have to find out in secret at work tomorrow morning. For the rest of the night, after cleaning up, Ei offers that Kunikuzushi rest at her home for the time being, since it was late already.

Initially, Kunikuzushi is extremely hesitant, going as far as to say he would usher himself home because he hadn't brought his equipment with him. His reasoning was that he had to check on the Fatui locations at any time he could, just in case there were signs of movement. It is only after an earful that Kunikuzushi is forced to concede to his mother's wishes, having to rest the night off at his childhood home.

Arriving at his room, Kunikuzushi notes that nothing had been out of place. Even his old textbooks that remained scattered on his desk from his younger days, remaining open to the same page they had been on the day he left. Aside from nothing being touched aside from his bedsheets, everything remained relatively clean, only a few specks of dust here and there. Kunikuzushi supposed that Ei had cleaned his room whenever she had time to, though this thought led to another.

How was Makoto's room like?

Stepping out of his room, he kept his footsteps light as he ambled over to the room just to his right, being careful not to alarm Ei of his presence. It was eerie, staring at the door to Makoto's room, knowing well she wouldn't be there. Upon opening the door, he finds that everything had been mostly packed up, save for a few books and glass decorations. All of Makoto's belongings had been put in cardboard boxes piled neatly around the room. The boxes were all marked with what they had contained– typical of Ei to be organized in such a fashion. The room was clean, but it wasn't clean like his room was.

His room was clean as though it was ready to be lived in. Ei had been just… Waiting for him to come back, all these years of him missing and out of her sight. Kunikuzushi pursed his lips. It seemed that his mother had her fair share of grieving and had gotten over it, enough to at least pack her things away. On the other hand, his room… Keeping it tidy and all of the sort… It felt almost like Ei had still been grieving over him.

Kunikuzushi feels his chest grow heavy at the thought. Ei had been waiting all these years for him to come back, even if he had nothing to prove just yet. After some thought, it seemed like it was an expectation he had set upon himself as opposed to something of her influence on him, the need to prove something to her. He just felt that… If he had been gone a long time, then he might as well have been the one to put a conclusion to his family's suffering. Especially after siding with the criminals who had torn his family apart themselves.

He was reluctant to see Ei again, to come home – of course– because of what had happened to him, because of who he had become, and yet aware of that… Ei still chose to clean his room in preparation for his arrival one day.

Kunikuzushi shakes his head, returning to his room promptly after coming to that realization. When he rests that night, clad in his old attire, his blankets wrapped around his body as he gazes outside from his window, he drifts off thinking about the light of the sun beaming down on him. In his dream, he thinks of going orange picking with his Ei and Makoto, still wearing his white sunhat, his grin as wide as he could remember.

In the morning, he wakes up to the sound of pans clattering in the kitchen, a sign of Ei's diabolical cooking in progress no less. When he gazes out the window once more, he realizes the weather is ever unchanging, remaining stormy as rain falls harshly against the rooftop of the home.

He frowns.

He might've overslept upon having such a good dream for the first time in a long while.

During the morning, Ei talks to Kunikuzushi about a few suspicious coordinates they had found by the area of his killings, and immediately, alarms in Kunikuzushi's head go off. He hadn't known about abandoned bases being anywhere in those areas.

In terms of matching up with his locations– where he had walked off during his time under hypnosis– it added up just perfectly. Drinking coffee across from Ei, he lets out a soft breath, his eyes growing wide as he purses his lips. Ei notices his sudden strange expression. Reaching over, she tenderly places a hand overtop his own, reassuring him with a stern gaze that they would find you. When she sees hope bloom in the pits of darkness of his irises, she allows a small smile to appear on her lips.

"That feeling you have in your chest," Ei slowly starts, retracting her hand now as she eyes him, "make sure to treasure it dearly. That feeling will take you far and wide."

Kunikuzushi snickers, letting out a small derisive laugh as he crosses his arms, turning his head away, "What are you, Gandhi now?" When she doesn't respond, Kunikuzushi's eyes find her own, interlocking with them once more before he averts his eyes, feeling a slight warmth burn in his cheeks, "..Fine."

When the two are finished eating, Ei drops Kunikuzushi off at the train station while she goes to work. After work, they meet back up at her home to do some more research, connecting the dots one last time before setting off.

"That alleyway," Kunikuzushi starts, tapping at a spot on his laptop, "that's where I was found killing one of the Fatui. I think that somewhere in this alleyway, there's probably a way into one of the hideouts."

Ei simply nods, understanding his words as she begins to stand from her seat, placing her cup of tea away into the sink. Kunikuzushi eyes her in confusion, "Where are you going? We're not done yet," he hisses, pointing at his laptop screen once more as he watches her amble off towards the exit of the house.

"Let's get going," Ei surmises as she slips on a pair of comfortable shoes, slipping on a baseball cap as she prepares to leave the home, "we have no time to dilly dally. If you're certain there's something there, then we should get going as soon as possible. Every second we spend talking and waiting could be more potential danger for her," she swivels her head around, only to find that Kunikuzushi is staring up at her with a small smirk.

"I couldn't have said it better," he muses, shutting his laptop closed before following her lead, "I guess we really are related, huh?"

Ei watches him as he slips into his shoes, opening the door for him to exit out of with a composed expression on her face. Noticing it was raining outside, she flips his hood on, earning a short glare from him, "Of course we are," Ei responds with a small smile, patting his head a little before moving on towards her car. A slightly annoyed Kunikuzushi follows suit, keeping his hood on as she had instructed. Ei ushers him to sit at the back of the car in case anybody had recognized her and himself, to which he listens to with absolute respect.

The car ride at night is a lot more chatty than Kunikuzushi would have preferred. Ei is asking him a bunch of weird questions regarding how he has been over the past few years, and when she's done asking that– she jumps to a much more irritating topic.

"Have you and Miss Investigator kissed yet?"

Kunikuzushi is taken aback, sputtering his sip of water out, "Excuse me?" He wipes his mouth, keeping his glare on Ei's reflection on the dashboard mirror, "Mind your own business, woman. "

"Do not call me 'woman'," she huffs, "I am your mother," her voice turns light as she scrunches her lips to one side of her face, not noticing that Kunikuzushi had been staring at her through the reflection of the mirror, "is it wrong for a mother to worry about her child's relationships? I haven't heard about your life in years, and if I did hear anything, it would've been on the news. During your life as a Fatui harbinger." She plainly replies, keeping her tone tight, "There's no need to be shy. It's quite obvious that at the very least– you are smitten with her. Otherwise, we wouldn't be doing all this, would we?"

"..We aren't even like that," Kunikuzushi confesses with a sigh, rolling his eyes as he leans back, crossing his arms, "we're simply partners in crime. She's been captured, and it's my duty to retrieve her stupid ass from being flayed alive…"

Ei hums disbelievingly, twisting her head to get a better look at him. Upon noticing his pensive expression, she relaxes her shoulders and focuses on driving once more, "..I wonder if she has a boyfriend then," Ei returns her gaze onto her mirror, watching as Kunikuzushi's expression visibly hardens upon hearing her words, "someone had generously bought her a hundred red roses during her time in the infirmary. It was quite impressive, really. Even the nurses would swoon every now and then, wondering who the 'mysterious' man was. "

Kunikuzushi lets out a loud'ha!'followed by a snicker, looking proud of himself as he gazes outside the window, crossing his arms, "Yeah, that was me," he proclaims haughtily, " who else would do such a thing, especially for a silly woman like her?" He trails off, feeling Ei's gaze glue themselves onto his face. Promptly, he keeps his mouth shut, listening as Ei hums in satisfaction. He was only proving her point by admitting his actions. Pressing a hand to his mouth, he reluctantly starts again, turning his body outwards as he glances at the passing lights, "..Quit being so bothersome, old hag."

Upon arriving at the location, the two step out of the car donning sunglasses and baseball caps, wanting to keep attention off of them despite how suspicious they looked. Thankfully, around this time at night, it seemed that hardly anybody was even in the area since all the shops had already closed hours ago. Preparing themselves, they open the trunk of Ei's car, revealing a few ammo cases and pistols with attached silencers.

Ei could only look over at Kunikuzushi disapprovingly, a scowl on her features, and when he returns her look, he offers her a small shrug, "What? I have worse things at home." Ei's gaze only sours further, causing Kunikuzushi to stick his tongue out playfully at her.

Ei shakes her head before arming herself, and Kunikuzushi is quick to follow suit, keeping his pistol hidden nicely underneath his coat.

"Let's hurry up and get this over with," Kunikuzushi starts, adjusting his gloves on his hands before Ei waves an arm just in front of him, telling him to step back. Raising an eyebrow, he looks up at her, mildly annoyed by her actions.

"Stay behind me," she speaks as though she were talking to a fellow colleague, her professionalism showing as she readies her pistol, walking down the dark alleyway, past a few scurrying rats and just past a few garbage bins.

Kunikuzushi scoffs, pressing ahead of her with a wave of his hand, "I'm fine, thanks," he retorts sarcastically. It felt almost like she was trying to protect him– when in reality, he was perfectly fine managing himself. "You must forget," Kunikuzushi's tone is cool, his irises glowing bright despite the darkness of the alleyway, "I was a Fatui harbinger before. I can take care of myself."

"And I am your mother," Ei fires back, not hesitating to move ahead of him as they checked from corner to corner, looking up and down for an entrance leading to anywhere, "I've let you do whatever you've wanted all these years, but right now, I would like for you to listen to my one request," she twists her head ever so slightly, allowing Kunikuzushi to gaze at what was illuminated of her side profile, "please, stay behind me. Since you have come home to me now, it is my duty as your mother to protect you. I have failed you before by not watching over you when I should've, by purposely turning a blind eye to your actions, by letting you run off on your own and not giving you the attention you required as my child in grief, " Kunikuzushi's breath comes to a halt at his throat, his eyes growing wide as he registers her words into his mind, "so I refuse to fail you again, do you understand?"

Kunikuzushi is at a loss for words, his mind rendered dull for just a few beats, a strange warmth flooding his chest as he relaxes his shoulders. It is only when Ei spots something ahead in the distance that he snaps back to reality, "Ahead of us, there's a dim light coming from underneath the door," she remarks before lowering herself, keeping her guard up as she looks around.

With a quick shake of his head, Kunikuzushi huffs, a little bit more upbeat than earlier as the two of them steadily make their way to the door. Kunikuzushi looks for anything on the door, any way to signify that this was indeed a door leading somewhere to a Fatui run facility. He finds what he's looking for scrawled in a paint so similar to the wall's tiles that it's nearly invisible– the Doctor's symbol.

Kunikuzushi's demeanor immediately neutralizes, his expression turning serious as he lets out a soft huff,"Bingo."

In seconds, Ei is taking out a familiar set of tools used to break into buildings, earning her a strange look from Kunikuzushi. "What?" She innocently mimics his response from earlier, earning a scoff from the male next to her. When she hears the locks click and open, she lets out a satisfied hum, keeping her gun close to her as the door swings open, revealing a pair of old, dirty staircases, the fluorescent bulb above flickering on and off without rhythm.

Before she can descend down the stairs leading to the establishment, Kunikuzushi forces her to stop, tugging on her forearm just before she can proceed any further. "Is something the matter?" Ei's voice is spoken with a genuine softness, her rigidness despite her expression gone from her voice as she turns to look at him.

"No, I just…" Kunikuzushi blinks twice, feeling unsure of himself before his eyes gaze back down onto the stairway, "Thanks. For doing this with me," his tone is refrained, as though he were scared to show that he was grateful for whatever reason. Nevertheless, Ei only returns his words with a small smile.

"You need only ask," Ei replies, her tone kind as she nods at him before reverting her gaze back down the stairway, "let's focus now, shall we?"

With that, the two of them descend down the stairway, allowing the door to fall shut behind them.

Notes:

he is still very loved, and he is happy to know it, despite being extremely embarrassed.

yall are so sweet tho thank you for all your compliments uuu [cry]

Chapter 17: Bones

Summary:

In which reader unravels.

Notes:

There goes my mind
'Cause there's magic in my bones

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Kunikuzushi feels like he might just go insane, checking on the fifth unreported Fatui facility for the week with Ei only to find thatthere were still no traces of you. It had beendays since Ei and himself had teamed up, and just when they thought they would finally find you-with everything pointing to this singular location they had just visited- you were nowhere to be found.

Ei only reminds him not to lose hope, as there were still three sites left to visit, though they had been kept last on the list of places to visit due tohow unlikely it was that you would be there. The remaining places on the list were mainly in the central areas of Inazuma City, tucked away underneath large warehouses with legal permits to sell all sorts of items. Nevertheless, Ei and Kunikuzushi made sure to leave no stones unturned.

Kunikuzushi could only hope that they found yousooner than later.

If there was a god out there, you could only pray for whoever they would be to bless you and set you free from your hell.

You felt like you were going insane at a rapid pace, your mind becoming much more accustomed to the horrid stench of blood, mixing with sweat and chemicals. Members of the Fatui would occasionally come by your enclosure, eying you as though you were a wild animal in some sort of screwed up zoo. Calling you all sorts of names was one thing, but there were all sorts of threats being thrown around that had you feeling sick to your stomach.

While most threats were aimed to hurt you, the thing you hated the most had been accidentally catching sight of one of the male members in the drug production group– only identified by some sort of cyan hued armband– piss all over your enclosure. It was disgusting and degrading all at once, being stuck in this hell hole seemingly with no escape in sight. Their actions only served as fuel to your anger, your soul feeling as though it were escaping you with every passing second in this establishment.

The only person who seemed to understand that things were terribly wrong in this facility was Dottore's supposedly new subordinate, someone who had watched you be tormented by Dottore's antics. He had taken initiative to clean your surroundings of any filth, and from what you could tell, he had a fairly decent personality. He accompanied you to the washroom, keeping guard of your stall in case you had tried to escape. Perhaps, if you weren't feeling so drowsy all the time, you could take him down and make a break for it. The male acted like a servant of some sort to Il Dottore, constantly at Dottore's beck and call– like a dog, almost. You could tell with what little time you had spent with the subordinate that he was just as afraid as you were.

During your times out of the cage, like when you had your washroom breaks, you looked for any sort of item along the way that could possibly help you in your escape, keeping note of every hallway and room that you passed. You realized that due to the dilapidation of the building, workers would occasionally place their items carelessly where they could, gloves laying on areas where the wall had broken enough to show the room on the other side.

In the washroom, you immediately note that you could hide things just within the space above the toilet paper inside the container. Knowing these slimy bastards, one of them would forget something one day. Until then, you'd have to keep an eye out.

After some time, not knowing what day it had been or how many days had truly passed, you begged the new subordinate to let you go, seeing that he was one of the only people within the facility with a stable mind. The male, despite his face of anguish, only shook his head in was scared, just like you.He couldn't betray Dottore, and neither could he betray the Fatui.You were already aware of what his answer could be. Even so, you begged repeatedly, feeling your mind burn with desperation as you thought of everybody outside of this hellhole.

You pitied yourself, thinking of days where the sun had shone so brightly and glazed over your skin in a heavenly glow. You missed the warmth of the sun, the smell of fresh air–you missed the cool nights,the early morning coffees and reminders from Sara that you needed tostop overworking yourself.You missedKunikuzushi'sannoying expressions, his rude remarks towards you, the tenderness of his hand when he reaches out to you.

Desperate to live, every second you had been awake, you searched for answers, for a means to escape. You didn't care if you had to lick the bottom of someone's shoe. There were bruises on your arms and around your neck from injection sites, all from your 'treatment' during the time you had been unconscious. Aside from a few bruises by injection sites, you were constantly nauseous, having drugs pump in and out of you.

With no way to tell night from day aside from the food that had been provided to you, you felt your mind slowly slipping. Spending time there, constantly being put under and surrounded with people who you knew only held malice for you, you felt consumed. It was as though everything was eating you alive. Nowhere was safe, and this glass container they held you in was only ever a false sense of security to you. Anxiety was always flush in your chest, followed by an unknown emotion that felt akin to something feral. Lately, your head had ached plenty, and you began to feel hyper aware of your surroundings.

One day, things start to change a little. The blue haired man– Dottore walks in with a casual chipper tone, a smile on his lips as he approaches your weary and worn form, carrying your usual food tray with him, "No, really," he starts as he slides the platter underneath the slot between the floor and the glass screen, "why did you decide to work with Scaramouche, hm?" He sounds…Happier,for some odd reason, and you don't understand why.

You're irked, though you're too tired to show it, "I already told you," your voice is low, devoid of any joy and life, "Ihad no choice."You watch as his smile only grows, a snicker leaving his throat when he pulls away from the glass container. When he starts to walk away, you amble over towards the plate, only to hear him speak yet again.

"I bet you've convinced yourself that youtruly had no choice,"Dottore hums, a spark of interest in his tone as he folds his hands behind his back, sauntering towards the hallway to the left– which you had gathered after time to be connected to the laboratory, "but when has that ever been the case for humans, Miss Investigator? Humans havealways been grantedthe free will to choose," you don't get what he's getting at. You opt to stare at the platter of food before you instead.

"You know what I think, Miss Investigator?" He pauses just at the doorway, "I think you enjoylyingto yourself. Youenjoypurposely blindsiding yourselfso you could liveasignorantas possible. After all,ignorance is bliss, correct?"You grit your teeth, letting out a soft annoyed sigh when you hear him snicker, "You see,I know about you, or at least about your family.Your last name soundedso familiarto me,and I knew that somewhere in my lifeI'veheard it before."

Your breath halts in your throat, a shiver running down your spine as blood withdraws from your face. You keep your eyes on the platter, refusing to show him any reaction.

"Your parents were one of our most loyal customers, did you know that?" When your shoulders visibly stiffen, Dottore finds an excitement growing in his chest, "When the Fatui were just branching out to Inazuma, they helped provide a stable foundation for our business to flourish with their lovely expenses on our candies."

Your blood runs dry all throughout your body. You didn't want to hear this. Your eyes find Dottore's reflection on the glass, skewed from the perception of the light against the clear tiles.

"I'm surprised they let you into the police force, concerning your family history," Dottore sounds unamused despite the offsetting grin on his face, "what did you do to get in? Although the Inazuma Bureau are horrid at their work, I don't believe they'd be that stupid to let you in."

You don't say anything.You can't say anything.A part of you had been stricken with fear and anxiety, a strange darkness creeping forth from the back of your mind, reaching forth to the front of your head with every passing second.You didn't want to think about it,your childhood and how it was spent in a household that wasnever that pleasant.Your parents cherished you, they loved you at any chance they could–but they loved the feeling of needles in their veins more,the feeling of a tablet dropping just under the tongue.

You remembered coming home from elementary school with friends visiting, just to find your father talking over to a few strange men, your mother casually making lunch, even though it was already five in the afternoon. It was strange, living in a household like that– because when you had thought it was normal to have a family with its quirks much like your own. But you've been to your friends' houses, long enough to understand that nothing about your living situation was natural.

Feeling tremors build within you, you imagine yourself capturing all your bad thoughts into a bottle before allowing it to sink to the depths of your mind, sinking into a pit of darkness. Dottore's onslaught is relentless, since it seems like he only wants to delve further into knowing you were, "I can't help but wonder if being a police woman in the narcotics section was just retaliation towards your parents. It must've been painful," his words are vicious, "seeing them like that as a child. Poor you, hm? Whatever happened to them, anyway?" Dottore inquires, sounding disgustingly cheerful as he shrugs, "Did they die or something?"

Your lack of response, accompanied by your still expression answers it all. Dottore almost grins, just seeing your expression, void of any happiness.

"Did they really succumb and overdose on drugs? That's a laugh," he snickers, "but worry not," you try to drown his own voice with your own thoughts, "I believe they passed happily with their pea sized heads in the clouds."

Something in you awakens at the sound of those words leaving his mouth, something you had hoped to keep within you, a rage emblazoned into your very heart that you constantly ignored. Digging your nails into the palms of your hands, you finally turn your head up to look at Dottore,"Speak anymore and I'll kill you."Your voice is low, your body trembling with anger that is only soothed by your own inner consciousness reminding you to calm down.

Dottore shrugs off the rest of your words, his eyes narrowing onto your features as he straightened himself once more in preparation to leave the room. He had spent a little too much time today poking at you, and now he had to get back to work. "I'll look forward to it," Dottore starts, turning his back towards you now as he walks away, "though I doubt you could ever bring yourself to kill someone."

"I'll kill you," you shout from your cage, watching as he slowly disappears down the hallway, feeling a burst of rage burn within you,"I'll kill you!"You scream once more, slamming your hands against the glass wall of your cage.

Leaving you to your own devices, Dottore wonders if all that poking was enough to break past that last barrier you had in your mind.He had hoped to shatter your defenses completely,and as of now… He frowns as he watches his subordinates work beneath him, watching as the crowd diligently mixes the concoctions in their pots.It looked like he had chipped into you.Nevertheless,damage had been done.

A twisted sense of joy blossoms in the pits of his stomach. He wondered just how you would look, broken and battered, sitting at your utmost worst. He wondered if you would end up just like Scaramouche, with his mind so torn and weak he became easy to manipulate, he became so easy to nurture. He couldn't wait to see it happen…

Dottore checked up on you regularly after that, constantly reminding you about your parent's expenses, constantly urging you to speak up about them despite your clear disapproval. All the while, you believed he had upped your dosage to a much more dangerous level now, coming in twice a day to inject you with what devilish concoction he had created.

As a result, you weren't even sure how you felt anymore. You were sleepy, yet awake, the blood in your veins feeling akin to gasoline fueling you, all the while you burn under your own skin. Far more weary than usual, you don't even note that the new subordinate had been giving you a granola bar yet again, and when you realize he was even talking to you, his words were blurred from existence, the sounds leaving his mouth sounding as though they were being spoken in some foreign dialect.

Before you know it, you're falling asleep as he speaks to you– and you manage to understand a few words leaving his mouth. Sorry and stay strong.

In your dreams, you're reliving your past, although you could've sworn you had thrown away such memories long ago. As though unearthing themselves, your memories blur in and out of existence, and when it comes to a full clearing, you find yourself coming home from elementary school to your parents lounging carelessly in the living room. They welcome you home with an array of slurred voices, clearly out of sorts as you steady them. Laughing gently, you ask them if they had been drinking, though you know that's not the case. Nevertheless, seeing as they were far too debilitated, you make dinner that night using one of the cook books your mother had on the shelf. When you're done, they thank you and praise you, telling you that you were the best thing to have ever happened in their lives.

You can't help but think thatmore great things would happen in their lives,had they not been sounder the influenceoften.

During high school,'friends'that had visited your home during elementary school spread rumors about you. Rumors about your living situation, about your relationship with your parents–and eventually,all of that led to you just being'weird',and therefore, someone who was labeled as someone who should be avoided at all costs.

You didn't blame them for thinking you werestrange,although it was hurtful to you. Coming home to your home was strange, with strangers occasionally coming by for tea, and with your parents giving them money for a supply of whatever 'medications' they had required.

You were rejected by several people, and even your home room teacher had to sit you down one day to address these rumors. The rumors never really bothered you at first, as despite your loneliness, you were fairly happy. You werefar more responsiblethan the average kid your age, you made a living for yourself working at a part time job, and you knew how to find good sales at markets. You collected stamps to earn prizes, and you knew how to take care of your parents. They took care of you too, they made sure you ate well, and helped you whenever they could.

Mother always took care of flowers that were given to you, and things she wasawareyou couldn't handle, she would always step forward and take her place there. Father worked as someone who helped people move from one home to another, so hewas quite busy,but when he wasn't, he would take you out with your mom.

It was imperfect, but it was a family nonetheless. You didn't expect perfection from them, and they didn't expect perfection from you. Even so, you tried your heart out to be somebody capable of shouldering all their burdens. You were amazing, a hard worker– someone people would usually look up to.

Your memories string together, your mind whirring as the flood gates within you open completely.

But somehow, that wasn't enough for you. After all, you were just a little girl at the end of the day, pretending that she could handle everything by herself. You yearned for friendship, you wanted to know what it was like to be in a relationship with someone– how it was like to go to cafes after school with friends. Instead, you were always taking care of your parents, defending them at any chance you could. You were usually justfine,being told you were a'good kid',and that you should justknow that you were 'loved'.

You felt as though… You didn't deserve this. If you were such a 'good child' then why did it feel like everything was against you? Time after time, rumors and loneliness ate you up from the inside, disintegrating your mind– and with no one to talk to, you felt you had to take action into your own hands.

Upon reaching a breaking point one day, you arrive home a little earlier than usual, just before your parents could come home. During their time outside, you discard their pills and their drugs, you drown them all under a running faucet. You shatter all the needles you could find, crushing all the glass underneath your feet as you dance around in happiness. Finally, you thought to yourself. At least your family would no longer be tormented by their addictions. Naively, you thought that perhaps your undoing would bring forth good tidings to your family.

Your mother is the first to arrive home, and upon noticing everything on the floor, she rushes to the kitchen to meet you as you make dinner. Your actions reward you with a slap in the face, along with the crass, shouting voice of your mother as the oil in the spot simmers. You don't understand what you've done wrong, or what you did to deserve this– you thought you were doing something good. And when you reason to her that it was finally time for the family to move on from this endless loop of suffering, your mother pushes you to the floor, knocking the pan to the floor with you.

Oil burns one of your feet, and it was only when you let out a cry of pain that your mother realized what she's done. Either way, it was far too late. The damage had been done.

You remember the look of mortification on your mother's face when you scream at her, telling her that you hated her, and before she can chase after you, you hurry away. Ignoring her endless apologies, you clean yourself up and pack whatever necessities you require into a bag. Stealing some of your parents' money and taking your own hard earned cash with you, you run away from home.

You were tired of doing 'the right thing'. You've always done 'the right thing'. What you needed, what you vied for– it was not complacency. It was change.

You arrive at your aunt's home by midnight, and she allows you to settle in after interrogating you a little. You stay with her for a day, tending to your wounds, and quickly, one day turns into ten, and then into twenty. While staying with her, you come to the conclusion that you were feelingguiltyfor running off like that, especially since your parents were actively trying to contact you through your aunt's phone. They always asked how you were doing, and your aunt had spoken to you several times during dinner thatperhapsit was time to return home and apologize to them.

At the end of the day,they werestill your parents,and you had lashed outas opposed to talking to them. You were beingimmature,and youhated it.You could do better than this, you weresure of it.

After twenty-five days, on the day you are packed up and prepared to go home, an apology ready in your mind as you brush your hair, your aunt bursts into your room, her eyes flooded with tears. Quickly, all the hopes you had in your chest died in your throat.

You silently wish that your memories stop there, however much like a flowing river– your memories keep playing. As though to remind you who you truly were, as though to remind you that your past was inescapable.

Your parents were found dead in your home. A neighbor had reported that at night, a few men dressed in strange attire had barged in, and in the morning, when they had come to check on them, they were hung from the beams on the ceiling, a makeshift rope tied to their necks.

Their cause of death was labelled to be suicide.

But you and people close to your family knew that couldn't have been the case. You knew your parents were never the type to give their lives up so easily. They taught you to be strong, to be fearless and to overcome obstacles– they were never the type to bite the bullet. The police knew, too, yet for the sake of keeping your neighborhoods sanity in the clear, they labelled it to be suicide. Perhaps they would rather have two suicide cases as opposed to the possibility that a crime organization had been circulating drugs within the area. But it wasn't like nobody knew what your parents were up to, the three of you were shunned equally from gatherings and all of the sort. It felt almost degrading to simply brush this off as a suicide… Yet…

It wasn't like you could do anything. Powerless, and a child. That's all you were.

You sat at the front of the funeral, dressed in a black kimono, your expression worn from the heaps of tears you had shed prior to arriving, your soul sucked out of your body. You looked like a zombie. You could overhear the policemen– investigators overseeing the funeral talking among one another in vague whispers.

Apparently it wasgang related.Your family had run short of cash, and had been saving up to pay back whatever debt they had that was due.You feel your features pale when you think about the money you had stolen.The policemen spoke about something along the lines of a famous underground corporation that had been slowly spreading East, towards Inazuma, and this was one of their first official cases regarding the corporation.

And from behind you, you can hear rumors begin to spread.

"Did you know that their daughter ran away just recently?"
"Oh no, during such a dire time for her family? What a horrible child…"
"Apparently her mother was found with a photo of her daughter in her pocket… She must've been stricken with grief when her daughter ran away."
"When they needed her, she ran away…"

You want to vomit. Was it your fault after all? All these days they had been begging for you to come back– you should've at least stayed with them, even if you were acting like a spoiled brat. You could've tried to protect them from whoever did this to them. At the very least, you should've never stolen money from them. You should've just kept yours, but at the time you thought it was fair since they had taken money from you without your permission, too.

In the end, they never even asked for the money back through their phone calls. They only desired your presence to return home.

Feeling your mind spiral into an unseen darkness, you could only listen in silence as rumors spread, one after another, and it felt as though everyone's eyes had just been burnt onto your back. Far too afraid, you refuse to turn around to look at them.

So instead, you stay in the same spot despite how badly you had to use the washroom until the end of the ceremony. When everyone was finally gone, it was only then that you mustered the courage to walk up to the front of the small podium to cry.

After the funeral, despite your young age, you inherit your home along with a small sum of money. For days, your relatives quarry over the inheritance of the home, saying that you were far too small of a child to even carry such a burden– though you knew well that they had not truly wished to relieve you of your burdens. Your relatives had never bothered to care for your family, and none of them have bothered to check in during all these years– saying that 'it was better to avoid trouble than to be in it'. They simply wanted more land to claim as their own.

And so you decided to sell it, uncaring of what everyone thought of you. You sold it to the government, earning a large sum of money as a result, and you pooled your money towards a low-rent apartment in Inazuma City, and ever since then, you've been on your own. Living in Inazuma City, you decided to start anew, cutting off everything and everyone. Living a lie, spinning lie after lie to create this 'new personality' of yours, adopting a far more serious personality, becoming just a little bit more callous– you changed your field of study to aim towards narcotics to save yourself, and to save what happiness that had remained in your mind in forms of memories with your family.

At some point, lying to yourself became easy, it almost became second nature.

And of course, when you heard about the Fatui's uprise, you jumped right on board with anybody that could provide information. For as long as you wouldn't get ousted, you would do it–for yourself,for the sake of preserving memories, for the sake of reclaiming your parents lives, because it felt like their suicides, their lives– their names–it felt like they were all owned by the Fatui.

You hoped to erase the Fatui, if not from the whole world, then at least from all of Inazuma. The last thing you remember before waking up is the feeling of dread that comes around during spring, the memory of your parent's deaths nowfreshin your mind.

And when you wake up, the world isdifferent.You feeldifferent.

The colors you see when you wake up are far more vibrant than usual, despite how dull your surroundings were. Your ears were ringing, the sound of alarms blaring all throughout the facility, panicked noises echoing from one end of the hall to the other. The next thing you know, there's a sound of tapping against your glass container, and when you look to the side, you come to notice that it's Dottore's subordinate– the one that was far too afraid to act on his own accord. According to him, Dottore had ordered everybody to evacuate the premises, and he had ordered to burn the facility and everything within it.

There had been an unauthorized entry. A break in.

The subordinate was here to aid you in your escape from the cage. But you just didn't feel right for some reason. Like something had attached itself to your brain, like there was a parasite swimming in your veins, running up and down your body, causing your vision to double and blur.

What is happening to you right now?

You couldn't tell. You felt sick to your stomach, overstimulation settling into your mind as loud noises blare all throughout the room, echoing from hallway to another as people scamper around and about.

The door to your cage opens, and the subordinate's hand outstretched towards you. You stare at it, your eyes bleak as you come to a realization that had been clawing away at your mind. You should take your chance now and run while you can now. Everything was a mess, and you could definitely find a way to escape before they began to burn everything down. You just had to get past one obstacle…

You lift your gaze to meet the subordinate's own, your eyes locking with his. You reluctantly lift your hand, allowing it to meet his gloved palm. He looks at you,relievedfor just a moment until you use the weight of your body to throw him to the ground, forcing yourself to trade places with him despite your lethargy. You grab his holstered pistol with your free hand during your rise up and immediately have the male cornered, your finger prepared to squeeze down on the trigger as you aim at him.

"What are you–!?" He starts, and you shut him up quickly before he can move another inch from his seat.

"I'm leaving," you reply, your voice low and itchy as if you hadn't spoken properly in days. You back away slowly, your attention spanning all over the place as you focus in and out of reality, your eyes flickering from his betrayed expression, then towards the two hallways, one that led to the lab– and the other, you supposed, to the exit. While you are distracted, you hardly notice that he has shifted his position, now standing with his hands up in the air, "Stay the fuck down!" You shout, unafraid to raise your voice as you grit your teeth, "Or I'll shoot!"

"Listen," the male calmly begins, "I can't let you go. If I don't take you to the Doctor, he's going to have my head and yours on a plate! This is the only way we both get out alive–!"

"Since when didyou ever give a fuckabout me?" You retort, your ears ringing further as your legs begin to weaken, your mind spinning in circles in your head, "I begged you to let me go,and you were too scared to do shit!"

"Ofcourse I was scared,"the male replies, his voice exasperated as he continues, though you arefar toodistracted by the loudness of your surroundings to examine his pained features, "you've seen what he could do!He's done it to you, and I–..."

When he trails off, you let out a derisive scoff, backing away from the glass enclosure once more, "You didn't want to end up like me," you respond for him, turning the corner away from your enclosure as you keep your gun pointed at the subordinate, "I get it. Self preservation is what keeps everyone going, so if you want to live, then I suggest you run the hell away from this place too. I'm going to leave by myself– without that sick freak next to me!"

You let out a pained groan as your heart rate quickens, blood pumping in and out of your system at a rapid pace– and for a moment, you swear you could hear your own heartbeat despite the constant eruptions of loud noises all around you. You felt sick, you needed to rest somehow–!

"What is going on here?"

Dottore's voice elicits a gasp from you, and when you look up to your right, you see Dottore with his arms crossed, looking impatient as he scowls at you, and then his subordinate, "Are we serious? Hurry up and fetch her, you useless mongrel," he curses as he begins to back away towards the lab. Behind him, there are another group of Fatui– bodyguards, you supposed, that have gasoline cartridges in their hands, pouring the liquids onto the floor as they depart.

This was your chance to bring Il Dottore down. That's what you had thought anyway, until you were tackled to the floor by the subordinate, your gun falling from your grasp with ease. "No!" You shriek, in terror, reaching for the gun with your free hand before it is grabbed and pressed onto your back, "No, no, no!" Your mind is swimming, fear and anger melding into one as a strange, indescribable sensation floods you.

You didn't want to remain captured. You wanted to go home– and you didn't want to lose this chance.

The feeling flooded your veins and resounded throughout every crevice of your body, your vision and mind becoming a unified blur as you felt your consciousness slipping away, feeling akin to sand filtering past the gaps between your fingers. In seconds, your mind erodes.

Upon hearing a shrill scream leave your throat, Dottore pauses in his steps to turn around, his eyes wide with wonder as he watches you thrash underneath his subordinate's hold. Noticeably, the subordinate–as though shocked by your sudden display of strength–latches onto you tightly, pressing all of his weight down onto you.

"Is something wrong, Sir–" Dottore quickly silences one of his bodyguards with a rough hush, pressing a finger to his lips to shut him up effectively. Dottore pushes another one of his bodyguards away to unveil the scene before him, his lips falling open as he watches you shove the male above you off of you, using the momentum of your rotation to force his body off of yours.

You move in a rush, reaching for the gun that had left your grasp, and in seconds, you had it aimed down at the man you had toppled over. Mindlessly, you press the trigger, and let the bullet fly into the man's head. You do it once, and then twice, and then three times– and when you come to, there is blood splattered on the floor, a gun in your hand, and a dead man before you.

You blink, feeling your mind swell with a sudden clarity.

The gun falls from your hand.

Just as one of the bodyguards begin to move forward to grab you, Dottore forces them back, a grin wide on his lips as he tilts his head, "Well won't you look at that," he hums to himself, "she can kill someone if she put her mind to it." He watches as you let out a gasp, your nails digging into the skin of your head as you move away from the dead body, your legs giving way below you causing you to fall to the floor. Dottore allows a laugh to leave his throat, his laughter sounding sinister and joyful all at once, "She, too, is successful!"

Oh how happy he was! His plans on you didn't work the way he had wanted them to, however progress was progress. He didn't know his endeavors would be so fruitful, having only tested on you for nearly two weeks.

When Dottore hears a familiar voice call your name from the other end of the hallway, he instructs his bodyguards to light the area before him, a smile remaining on his lips even as fire blooms from all around him. Dottore manages to catch a familiar, hate flooded gaze amidst the growing fires in the hallway.

Kunikuzushi finds it hard to process everything that has been displayed in front of him. To his right, he sees a ring of fire, and behind it– the face of the man he had dreamed to kill for many years now. In front of him was– you.

And for a moment, Kunikuzushi is torn. Unsure if he should chase after the figure he's longed to kill, hidden in the shadows behind the surge of flames– or if he should stay with you, someone he had fought to see for several sleepless days and nights.

A flood of rage roars within him upon hearing a familiar eerie laugh echo throughout the room, almost drowned out by the sirens, and instantly, Kunikuzushi's eyes lock with Dottore's own pair.

Dottore stood amidst the growing flames, a smile on his face as he waited for Kunikuzushi to make his decision, remaining unmoving as though taunting Kunikuzushi to make his move now or never. With every second Kunikuzushi was wasting, the flames between the hallway and the room would only grow larger, therefore closing off any means of chasing after Dottore.

Kunikuzushi clenches his fist, taking a step forward, preparing himself to barrel through the infernal blaze, his teeth grit as he glowers at the obscured image of the blue haired male. This was one of his only chances to chase after Dottore. One of his only chances to get a clean sight on him, to finish him off.

A whimper just a few feet away from him catches him slightly off guard, enough to take his attention away from the mad scientist, his irises traveling south to rest his eyes on you. Kunikuzushi's heart stalls, his eyes widening at the sight of you. You were usually socomposed,someone usually so steadfast and prepared–yet what was he looking at right now?

The you he was looking at was a battered up, torn version of you, screaming at the top of your lungs, your eyes wide as you stare down at a Fatui member's lifeless body, a gun just inches away from you.

You don't seem to notice his presence. All you notice is the brain matter that has splattered onto the wall and floor in a messy fashion, the gun just inches away from your feet as you pull yourself back.

Kunikuzushi curses underneath his breath, reason abandoning him with slight reluctance as his irises flicker back towards the fire, finding a set of shadows in the burning haze. The moment Kunikuzushi moves towards you, Dottore hums, shifting away from the scene, looking satisfied by the outcome of his decisions. Kunikuzushi shakes his head, dismissing every murderous thought in his mind as he focuses his attention on you.

Even when you feel somebody shake your body, you don't bother to check who it is. You don't feel right, not in the slightest. It felt like you weren't even in your own body anymore, it felt like you were just living in a strange shell that looked similar to you. Your ears are ringing, and your reality is crashing onto you all at once. Did you just kill him? Your breathing is uneven, your hands trembling, your fingers keep flexing as though you had wished to desperately grab onto something, so you hold onto yourself despite feeling another pair of arms wrap themselves around you, pulling you to the side. You didn't mean to kill him. You felt as though you had lost all inhibition– you could hardly even remember pulling the trigger– or maybe it was because you were in the heat of the moment–

You hear what sounds like a woman's voice calling your name, though her voice is muffled. Her voice is drowned out by your own thoughts as you feel your mind disintegrate.

Did you really kill him? He was just as afraid as you, he also wanted to run, to leave somehow– but he was scared. He was just following orders. People like him were exactly the reason why you wanted to join the narcotics team in the first place. You wanted to help people from getting stuck in situations like these– yet you killed him.

You killed him.

You killed him.

You killed him, you killed him, you killed him–

You don't even notice you're crying until a pair of gloved hands brush away the tears that fall from your cheeks, your head being forcibly tilted to the side, your teary gaze meeting a pair of indigo hued irises which you'velonged to see.Your breath hitches in your throat, your eyes growing wide as you realize you're looking at Kunikuzushi.

And just behind him, you see Chief Raiden, looking over at the body of the deceased Fatui.

Feeling a swell of panic bloom within your stomach, you find yourself speaking, making excuses like a child refusing to get in trouble–"N-No,"you sob, shaking your head, "i-it wasn't me.I didn't do it,I–" you catch your breath as you sniffle, "Ididn't kill him. I didn't mean to, I wasn't thinking, I wasn't–!"

Kunikuzushi shakes his head, unsure of what you were getting at. It was clear that you were losing your mind, and a part of him didn't quite get why you were so antsy until he remembered how you had reacted while helping him clean up his blood soaked clothes. Pursing his lips, he hushes you, causing you to shut your mouth as you pant, your vision blurry as you turn your head downwards.Killing somebody was the last thing you had wanted to do.

But somehow, when you think about it– it didn't feel like the first time you've killed somebody. Didn't you kill your parents too, taking money that wasn't yours in the first place?

Voices from the past haunt you, crawling from the depths of your mind forth to present themselves in a slew of torturous words. Horrible child. Coward, always running away. The voices resound within your mind, feeling akin to an echo chamber. You hardly notice Kunikuzushi scooping you into his arms, your body still slightly numb as a byproduct from all those serums that had been swimming within your veins. You can hear Chief Raiden shouting at Kunikuzushi, directing him to leave the area because smoke was quickly filling the hallways. Pressing yourself against Kunikuzushi's body as he carries you, you peer over at the body of the deceased male as the flames begin to spread.

Kunikuzushi watches you from his peripherals as your sobbing comes to a dead halt, a void of emotion flooding your eyes as tears stream down your cheeks, illuminated only by the flames that raged behind him.

Ei remains silent as she checks the dashboard mirror of her car, her eyes flickering towards two figures slouched in the back. Kunikuzushi had kept you wrapped in his arms, your face buried into his as he pressed your body against his own. His eyes are focused solely on the bright passing lights outside, his lips pulled taut into a thin line.

Gritting her teeth, she turns her eyes towards the road once more as she presses on the gas pedal just a little harder, making sure to remain steady despite the heavy rain outside.

They arrive at Ei's home quicker than usual due to Ei's efforts. Ei receives a call from her deputy chief shortly after ushering the two of you inside, asking her to go to the Fatui laboratory she had just departed from due to a 'sudden fire outbreak at one of the abandoned facilities' . Without a second thought, Ei agrees to help investigate the area, thinking quietly to herself that she should discard any possible incriminating evidence of herself, Kunikuzushi and you from the scene. Ei supposed she would have to change into her work clothes and call in Ayato's squadron to complete her absolute pretense.

Despite being called into work, Ei prepares a warm bath for you, helping you work into the bathtub. Ei notes that your gaze is empty, your expression surprisingly blank as you undress yourself, uncaring of Ei's presence. "Will you be okay?" Ei manages to ask, keeping her eyes off of your body as she grabs a towel, placing it just in front of the bathroom mirror. From her peripherals, however, she sees numerous bruises scattered around and about your arms.

Your voice is small when you respond, maintaining a neutrality that seems almost eerie due to how unnatural it comes off, "I'm fine."

Prior to leaving the house, Ei tells Kunikuzushi to make use of whatever was in her kitchen, though upon noticing his troubled expression she comes to a pause. Ei tilts her head to get a better look at Kunikuzushi as he slumps down by the kotatsu, his features worn, "..I know you're worried about her," Ei slowly begins, keeping her tone soft as she speaks to him, "I am, too. For now, let's just do our best to make sure she feels better."

Kunikuzushi scoffs, a clear distaste in his tone as he retorts, "And what? She'll go back to work as if nothing ever happened? How the hell is she going to do that?" There's a sense of challenge in his tone that Ei notices, causing her to back away as he snaps his head upwards, "Didn't you see her? I hardly know who that is anymore! She's gone," he hisses, slamming a fist down onto the table before him, "that fucker got to her like he got to me, and we were a week and days too late to stop him–!"

"Kuni," Ei starts in an attempt to calm him down, though his onslaught continues.

"He's broken into her, with those filthy fucking claws of his," Kunikuzushi shouts, anguish burning in his tone, "that fucking bastard, that unsightly piece of shit! And I couldn't get her back in time…"

"Kuni," Ei starts once more, her voice slightly inclined, earning his attention as she crouches down towards his level, "no more. I understand your anger, but right now– what is more important? We have her back, and she isn't with him anymore," Ei reasons, "so let's focus on that."

Kunikuzushi shakes his head, bringing a hand to his face as he shields her gaze away from his features, "..You just don't get it, do you?" He replies, his voice torn as he presses on, "She might not be with him, but now he will always be in her head. Living within her, always– like some filthy parasite. Just like he was in mine…" Ei opens her mouth, a gut wrenching realization settling within her as she continues to observe Kunikuzushi, "The only relief to this all, the only way to make it better, mom," Ei's heart stalls in her chest upon hearing him speak, her eyes widening as Kunikuzushi slowly lifts his head to look at her once more, a sorrowful smile on his lips as darkness clouds his eyes, "is to kill him."

Ei feels a familiar haunting feeling bloom in her chest, akin to the harsh coldness that spread within her during Makoto's funeral. Kunikuzushi's voice echoes in her mind. The only relief would be to kill Il Dottore himself. For Kunikuzushi's sake, for your sake… And for Makoto's sake.

A moment of silence passes before Ei responds, "..I'll find him." Her reply is stern, her expression lacking any emotion as she stands from her seat– a reply said in a tone that echoed her icy demeanor long ago– and it causes Kunikuzushi to freeze up in his seat. "I promise you, Kunikuzushi," she continues, her tone much softer now as she gazes down at Kunikuzushi from where she stands, "I'll find him, and I will make him pay for everything he's done."

Without further ado, Ei leaves the vicinity, refusing to look back even once as she drives back to the laboratory.

The crew is already there when she arrives, Ayato talking away to an investigator by the name of Heizou while the rest of his squadron patrols inside the facility. A familiar pink haired lady swivels around upon hearing a familiar set of heels clack against the wet pavement, and with a smile, she turns around.

"Oh dear,"Miko muses, "did we catch you on a bad night? This is the first time you're late,Ei."Ei only tosses her a scowl, earning a light hearted laugh from Miko as Ei stands next to her.

"For the sake of professionalism,please call me Chief Raidenas we are on the job," Ei replies with a somewhat harsh tone, earning a raised brow from Miko, her pink lips remaining upturned as she narrows her eyes.

Miko knew that look in Ei's eyes.Miko lets out a soft hum, "Won't you answer my question, dear Chief Raiden? Your complexion looks significantly off," her voice lowers to a whisper, "this is the second time in about a month I've seen you so serious. What mischief have you brought into your life this time?"

Ei refuses to say anything, choosing to ignore Miko as she begins to amble towards the burnt down building. Miko follows her shortly, her smile only growing upon Ei's lack of response.

Notes:

I GOT THIS FEELING YEAH YOU KNOW, WHERE IM LOSIN' ALL CONTROL, CUZ THERES MAGIC IN MY BONES

next chapter will probably be shorter! i've spoiled everyone with updates because im gonna be working ~

also i want everyone to know i made scaramouche purposely fucking OOC right at the start because i rlly wanted to make a super self indulgent lighthearted fic but i apparently don't know myself? and now everything is dark again. [shrug] like what was i thinking tbh, ME? A HAPPY STORY? never. maybe one shots, but i promise u ANYTHING LONGER THAN A ONE SHOT WILL TURN DARK at some point.

Chapter 18: Bad Habit

Summary:

In which they hold one another.

Notes:

Can I bite your tongue like my bad habit?

I know I'll be in your heart 'til the end
You'll miss me, don't beg me, babe

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

After a refreshing bath, you find yourself wandering towards Ei's kitchen to prepare some tea, hoping to have something hot to cleanse this filthy iciness that grew steadily within you. You don't give Kunikuzushi much attention as he enters the room, leaning by the doorway as he stares at you.

You toss him a small look, keeping your arms out of sight, though it was probably too late. He's probably already seen the bruises. "Hey," you greet him politely, not wanting to spare much small talk as the edges of your lips lift upwards forcefully, "thanks for… For getting me back there," you tilt your head to the side, shifting away from him as he takes a step closer to you.

Upon noticing your reserved nature, Kunikuzushi pauses, a frown firm on his face as he gazes down at you, his expression remaining nearly unreadable. You avert your eyes, watching as the kettle over the stove begins to let out steam, "..Did I worry you?"

"The fuck do you think?" He retorts nonchalantly, still keeping a steady gaze on you, causing you to freeze up slightly. You let out a light nervous laugh, your mind still spinning as the kettle begins to shriek.

"I'm sorry," you halfheartedly apologize, ambling over towards your mug and wrapping a hand delicately around the handle, "I didn't mean to worry you. Or anybody, really," you take a deep breath in, calming your nerves before exhaling, "but I'm fine now," your tone becomes lighter, a smile on your lips as you swivel around to face Kunikuzushi.

"Don't bullshit me. You're not fine," Kunikuzushi replies, his tone edging towards irritation as he observes you, "you can't be seriously playing this game with me right now."

When you take in his features, you notice that he looks much paler than usual, as though he had been worn and tired from lack of sleep. You immediately avert your gaze when his irises meet your own, feeling a sting of guilt hit you as your purse your lips, "I'm not playing any games. I'm fine, and I mean it," you were fine, it's not as though you were the one bleeding all over the floor with three bullet wounds to your head. You were still alive, you were still breathing, your bruises would heal sooner or later– you were fine. Your nerves were calm, your mind straight– nothing bothered you in the slightest. You were fine.

"Nothing really happened to me anyways," you shrug, revealing your bruised arms to Kunikuzushi as you pour hot water into your mug, "he wasjusttesting drugs on me. But I'm fine now," you aren't sure if you're reassuring him or yourself, "because I'm out of that hell hole."

Lifting your mug, you think to amble over towards the kotatsu until you realize your grip on the mug is far too shaky to keep it stable. A little panicked, you turn your eyes downwards, watching the liquids slosh around from within the mug before it falls from your grasp altogether, crashing onto the floor and shattering into pieces. You hardly recognize the heat of the liquids pooling at your feet, how a few shards had pierced your foot, and you can't help but wonder if it's because your nerves had been damaged around that area due to that oil incident long ago.

Despite not feeling an inch of pain, you find that you're tearing up, your gaze focused on the warped image of yourself that is reflected from the liquid contents on the floor. Kunikuzushi clicks his tongue, promptly shooing you away as he begins to pick up the ceramic shards off of the floor, scooping onto a damp cloth before wiping away the tea. "Just what do you think you're doing?" Kunikuzushi hisses under his breath, his indigo hued irises meeting your own for just a moment before he shakes his head, "Stop forcing yourself. It's stupid, and you're only going to get yourself even more hurt in the process."

You refuse to say anything back, wiping away your tears with your hands before you join Kunikuzushi in picking up what was left of the ceramic shards. He swats your hand away with ease, a scowl on his lips as he speaks again, "Forget it. I'll clean up," Kunikuzushi retorts, "don't bother trying to help, you'll only be a nuisance."

Feeling a little irritated with his words, you decide to bark back, "I made this mess anyway, so isn't it fine if I take responsibility and clean it up?" You return to your previous actions, attempting to pick up the ceramic pieces once more, only to have him swat your hand away yet again.

"I said," Kunikuzushi hisses, "forget it!"

Angered, you respond with grit teeth, "What's so wrong with me wanting to help? You don't have to be so mad at me!"

Your anger fueled response causes Kunikuzushi to snap, "That's not the fucking point," he hisses, grabbing onto your wrist to keep you from pulling away, "the issue is not you wanting to help, the issue is that you're clearly not as okay as you make yourself seem, and yet for whatever fucking reason–" a ball forms at your throat upon hearing his words, your eyes widening as you peel yourself away from him slowly, only to be kept in place, "you're acting as though an hour ago, you weren't just sobbing and screaming at the top of your lungs!"

Enraged, you attempt to tear yourself out of his grip, only managing to fall back onto your behind, "Leave me be!" You shout, feeling your bottled emotions slowly bubble, threatening to burst through as you try to tug your wrist out of his grasp once more, "Just stop it already," you continue, "and don't–don't yell at me,okay?" You watch as Kunikuzushi's eyes soften, his irises remaining glued onto your own as his grip on you laxes.
When you can, you roughly tug your hand away from him once more, cradling your wrist to your chest as tears stream down the sides of your face, "What matters is I'm alive, right?" Your voice is shaky, and you can't force it to be strong for some reason, "So I'm fine! I'm–" you pause, your breath shuddering as you pull your legs closer to your chest, "I'm just, fine."

One look at your face, and Kunikuzushi found his chest bursting with annoyance. He hated it when you looked sad– it didn't suit you, you looked uglier, unlike when you were neutral or smiling. He preferred you smiling.

"Don't give me that pathetic bullshit," Kunikuzushi replies, crawling towards you, causing you to press your back against the cupboards behind you in fear, and before you know it, his hands are gripping onto your shoulders. You nearly flinch when his nose bumps with your own with how close he is to you, his hands snaking upwards to cup your face. When he tugs on your cheeks, he presses on, "Don't lie to me to my face ever again, understand?" He sounds almost as though he were scolding you, and with your whirlwind of emotions blurring in your mind, you're unsure of how to respond to his childish antics, "You're the furthest thing from fine right now."

You huff, still feeling unsure of how to react until he tugs on your cheeks just a little too hard, "Ow, ow, ow!" You whine, patting him lightly, "That hurts!" You glare up at him through your teary eyes, surveying him as he lets go of your cheeks completely, his expression turning forlorn as he pries himself away from you, opting to continue picking what was left of the ceramic shards. You keep a steady gaze on him, remaining unmoving as he shifts around the room with his back turned away from you, "Just…" Your voice breaks, causing Kunikuzushi's chest to tighten, "Leave me alone for a bit, won't you?"

You rise from your seat, letting out an annoyed sigh as you brush off any dirt from your bottom. He truly was such an exhausting person to be around, always pushing you to your limits and beyond… You just wanted a break right now. You turn to leave the room, uncaring of Kunikuzushi's gaze on your back as you sit yourself before the kotatsu, feeling the warmth of the blanket warm you as you lay your head down on the table. After a few minutes pass, you hear Kunikuzushi's footsteps behind you, approaching you in a slow fashion, and suddenly, there's a light clattering just in front of you.

You open your eyes, blinking twice when you see another mug filled with tea set before you. Pulling yourself up slowly, you eye the steam escaping into the air from the mug while Kunikuzushi sits next to you, refusing to sit at any other spot around the table. Just as you are about to thank him, you feel his arm reach from your side, careful not to apply too much pressure onto your bruised arms as he forces you to lean over, your head finding his shoulder with ease.

You grit your teeth at the affection he shows you, wanting nothing more than to tear yourself away from him, yet at the same time you had yearned such warmth, such kindness from somebody–anybody.Your heart had been torn asunder along with your mind, and right now, you were just… Scrambling to get the pieces together. Kunikuzushi saw past you, you knew that, but still…

You couldn't rely on him for something like this. A part of you was irrationally afraid that he might die too, if you had relied on him, if you had bitten more than you could chew. That's how your parents died, after all.

You feel him rest his head atop your own, his cheek pressing onto your hair as his hold on you tightens ever so slightly, causing an inkling of warmth to seep into your chest. "..I searched for you every day," he begins, his tone soft as he continues, his thumb brushing against your upper arm as your eyes grow wide, "I didn't stop once.Fuck,I hardly even slept," the laugh that leaves his mouth is sardonic, almost bitter, "I knew that every second I wasn't looking was more time you were either getting hurt, or closer to getting killed. After a week of looking for you and finding no traces of you or Dottore, I nearly lost my mind…" He trails off, his voice dying near the end of his sentence.

You couldn't help but wonder how he looked while speaking. Curiously, you tilt your head upwards, peeling yourself away from him despite his heavy hand on your arm constantly weighing you down towards him. His expression is… Odd. He looks almost conflicted, as though he were in immeasurable pain, yet at the same time he looked so placated, as though he were combating his pain through another extreme emotion unknown to yourself.

"If I didn't ever find you," he starts again, his voice low, his irises remaining focused on something distant, "I'm not sure what I would've done," Kunikuzushi lifts a hand to his face, pressing a hand just over his lips as his eyes darken, "I probably would have…" He trails off again, his grip on your arm only becoming tighter as he hones in on something nonexistent, his mind reeling to stop only when you rest your hand onto his own, your hand warm on his cold hand.

Noticing the darkness in his eyes, you hope to alleviate it with a few kind words.

"You even went as far as to ask Ei for help," you slowly begin, scanning Kunikuzushi's features as he aims his gaze down at you. You allow a careful smile to grace your lips, your heart heavy as you lean on his shoulder once more, "For that, I must thank you. You worked really hard–" He cuts you off quickly.

"I don't want a 'thank you'," Kunikuzushi interjects with a harsh tone, "I just want to make sure you don't try and disappear on me again." You're a little shocked by how genuinely scared he sounded, a tinge of worry lacing his tone as he glares down at you, his irises betraying his scowl, flooding with a warmth that you find causes an eruption of warmth to spread in your own chest, "Next time you disappear, I'll find you and I'll kill you myself," his threat his half hearted, only said as way to ensure that you wouldn't dare to do anything risky again.

You tap his cheek, pursing your lips as you toss him an apologetic look. He was always a little protective of you, you've noticed– he often went out of his way to make sure you were safe and sound. Your kidnapping must've been a total nightmare to him, unsurprisingly. Kunikuzushi scoffs upon seeing your guilt ridden expression, nudging you forward slightly, "Don't pay mind to me, and drink your tea while it's still hot," he huffs, turning his head away as he scoots away from you, retracting his hand from your arm, though you do notice that the ends of his fingers linger on your skin a little longer than they should before departing completely.

You lean forward, cupping the mug with your hands and blowing away at the steam as your mind slows, feeling hazy in a rut with your own emotions. Your lips fall open, and before you can stop yourself from saying anything, you hum, "I missed you."

The room goes quiet as the two of you register what you had just said. You feel your chest warm with embarrassment, though you are far too strung up and in your mind to truly feel such bashfulness to its full extent, "I hate to admit it, but," you let out a soft laugh, your laughter sounding like starlight to Kunikuzushi's ears despite the grimness of your words, "I missed you so much," there's a slight strain to your voice as your mind wanders backwards in time, remembering all those horrid times where you wish Kunikuzushi were there to at least make light of the dark situation. Your mood lowers, a frown on your face now as you take a sip from your mug, "I kept thinking about you during my imprisonment… During all that hell I went through– I just thought about how nice it would be to have some coffee with you again…"

You receive a lack of response from your words, Kunikuzushi's silence nearly deafening you as you place the mug down onto the table. Feeling a little downtrodden, you shut your eyes, allowing the void of noise to swallow the two of you whole.

Then, you feel a sudden shift in the room. Kunikuzushi moves himself closer to you once more, his arms snaking around your waist to pull you closer to him, eliciting a strange noise to escape your throat. Was he hugging you? You shiver when he drags a hand down your arm, tracing over your bruises before stopping just at your wrist, his hair tickling the side of your face as he rests his chin on your shoulder. This was an unnatural amount of intimacy, even more strange especially since Kunikuzushi was initiating it all.

"Say, Miss Investigator," he whispers, his voice low, almost husky as he turns your wrist over, facing your palm towards the sky, "if I asked, would you quit your job for me?" You blink twice upon hearing his words, not quite sure how to answer as a strange emotion bubbles within your stomach.

"..I don't think I would," you reply hesitantly, your eyes remaining on his hand as he intertwines your fingers together with his, your breath hitching in your throat as your body stiffens.

Kunikuzushi hums in disapproval, sounding a little disappointed by your words, "That's too bad," he continues, and your eyes flicker towards what you could see of him through your peripherals, "I had come to a conclusion after hearing you say such sweet things."

Unable to help yourself, you reply, "What conclusion did you come to?"

Kunikuzushi tilts his head, letting go of your hand as he inspects the rest of your arms, realizing that perhaps there were some ice cubes he could wrap and place on your arms, "I suppose you'll only find out if you go ahead and retire for me," he starts as he gets up from his seat, sauntering over to the kitchen and returning with what looked to be an ice pack.

Taking another sip of your tea, you eye him carefully, watching as he sits down next to you once more. "I can't just leave my job," you huff quietly, reaching for the ice pack only for him to grab hold of your arm, keeping your hand steady as he presses the ice pack on your arm, "ouch," you hiss, feeling the soreness of your arms burn throughout your system.

"The offer stays on if you ever decide to retire," Kunikuzushi nonchalantly replies, scanning your arms up and down with a sour expression, "what did he dose you with? Do you know?"

You reply tentatively with a shake of your head, "He never told me, but…" You purse your lips, "He said it was an old drug that he somehow liquified. That's all I know," just when you think to allow your mind to dwell on the past, a shiver runs down your spine. Memories echo throughout your mind, your time spent in that hell as Dottore describes to you some of his 'perfected' murder scenes, and then you think of the brain matter that splatters onto the walls and floor from the first time you manage to shoot a bullet through someone's head.

Your heartbeat races anxiously, your lips falling into a deep frown as you mull over your own thoughts, feeling as though you accidentally jumped into the deep end of a bottomless pool.

"Sorry," you quickly apologize, turning your head to the side to hide the expression of fear and anguish that built within your irises, "I don't… I don't want to think about it anymore." You couldn't afford to think about today's events anymore, afraid your mind would only fragment further.

"It will be rough," Kunikuzushi replies with a soft voice, "the withdrawal stage after being drugged so often…" He trails off, eying the injection sites around your arm, his jawline tightening as a darkness swells within his chest. Dottore didn't even care to be careful not to break any blood vessels around his injection sites, which came as no surprise to Kunikuzushi. Dottore never cared for human life like that, not ever valuing mortality until it morphed into something that would work in his favor.

Swallowed by his own anger, Kunikuzushi nearly doesn't hear you speak, "I think I can handle it," you retort with a halfhearted smile, though you should know by now that such smiles don't work on Kunikuzushi. In honesty, you thought you could deal with it. You were naturally headstrong after all your trials and tribulations, you were used to pain at this point and used to dealing with things yourself. Kunikuzushi's shoulder had been nice to lean on, you had to admit, but there were far more serious things to deal with now.

A hiss leaves your throat when Kunikuzushi suddenly applies more pressure to your bruise, as though annoyed by your words. He leans in, his eyes narrowing onto your own, "You won't be able to take it," his tone is slathered with impatience, "I will help you through the withdrawals. Believe me," he shuts his eyes, moving the ice pack to a different location on your arm, "you need someone there for you when you go through it, especially sinceyouaren't used to it."

Your mind slows when you register his words. You had witnessed people going through withdrawals before, how they had shut down so quickly, how they had tendencies to hurt themselves. It was hard on them mentally and physically, and knowing that you were going to go through it too…

Could you truly handle it right now, had you experienced it by yourself? After everything you've been through lately, you couldn't help but digress from your own thoughts.

You purse your lips, the truth feeling a little hard to swallow as you gaze down at Kunikuzushi's pale fingers wrapping around the ice pack. Maybe you did need him. He was offering, after all. "Is it okay…" You slowly start, feeling his focus flicker from your arm to your face, "If you stay with me and help me through it after all?" Your eyes meet his own for one moment, though when you see his eyes widen, your eyes flit back towards his fingers on your arm, "I think that… Maybe you're right. Maybe I can't take it all right now," you admit with a small nod.

For some time, Kunikuzushi doesn't respond, and when he does, his voice is odd, almost pained as he starts, "..This is all I can do for you for now," Kunikuzushi tentatively replies, "I need to make sure you're okay before I get back to finding that piece of shit."

You sense that underneath Kunikuzushi's tone, there's a genuine agitation towards your situation, his eyes tracing along the skin of your face as though to inspect you for further injuries before letting out a sigh. You don't bother to ask why he looks so upset, knowing he was probably only going to respond with something sarcastic. The two of you spend some time in silence, waves of drowsiness hitting you left and right though you fight it back with much fury, not wanting to go to sleep quite yet. You were afraid that if this were all a dream then you'd wake up to much more dreadful reality.

If you woke up from this peacefulness to find yourself in Dottore's laboratory once more, you wouldn't know just how much you could take before self combusting. You had already done that earlier today, and you had taken someone's life as a result, your mind out of control, slipping from your grasp with ease in such a dangerous situation.

Kunikuzushi notices your reluctance to relax, a frown on his lips as he shifts forward, gaining your attention successfully, "Ease up a little, just relax," Kunikuzushi whispers, "you're with me now. I'm not going to let a single rat put their filthy paws on you," he pauses, noticing that you were rubbing your eyes, your eyelids turning half lidded before you shake your head. "Sleepy?" He assumes, putting the ice pack down onto the kotatsu, uncaring of the droplets of water that began to pool on the table, "You can use my bed if you want."

"Your bed?" You reply much slower than intended, feeling your mind begin to spin as you scan your surroundings once more.

"This is my childhood home," Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow up at you as your eyes hone in on a photo on the wall. He trails your gaze, feeling a little bothered when he notices you're staring at a photo of him from when he was much younger, grinning like the brat he was. With a light nudge, he urges you to stand up with him, "Come on. I'll take you there," when he entangles his fingers with your own, you don't think twice to squeeze down on his hand, wanting to memorize every ridge on his hand with your own. Surprised, Kunikuzushi looks at you from his peripherals for just a moment before pressing onwards, taking you towards his bedroom.

When you arrive to his room, you are immediately hit with an unfamiliarity. There are old high school textbooks scattered on his night table, along with his laptop that he usually leaves at his home. There's a shelving unit filled with some manga and collectibles that vaguely interests you, but otherwise… It looked like a boy's bedroom. This was definitely his childhood bedroom, left completely untouched. You turn to look at Kunikuzushi, a little charmed by how cute his room looked, only to find that he is glaring at you, his cheeks a little pink from embarrassment.

"What?" He scoffs, "Got a problem with something?" His defensive stance almost causes you to erupt with laughter, a sense of relief hitting you as you smile up at him.

You had missed this, spending time with Kunikuzushi. It felt nice to experience it again, no matter how small the moment. This happiness, accompanied with the fear that you would be pulled away from this sensation yet again causes fear to thrum within your chest. Afraid to let go of him, you squeeze on his hand just a little tighter, turning your head away once more. You feel his thumb brush against your hand as though to reassure you, though you don't buy his reassurance in the slightest.

You let him lead you towards the bed, and when he lets go of your hand, you refuse to return the favor, your lips pulled taut into a thin line as you glare down at the covers of the bed. Letting out a sigh, Kunikuzushi decides to inquire what had been resting in your mind, "What is it?"

Unfazed, you decide to respond openly, and honestly. "I'm scared," you plainly reply, your tone lacking emotion as you let out a breath, feeling your anxiety burn in your stomach as you continue, "I'm scared that if I sleep, I'll find myself back in that hellhole. One way or another it'll happen, won't it?" There's a darkness seeping into your tone, a shadow of fear in your eyes forming as rapidly as thoughts cloud your mind, "If I sleep, I'll dream about it. And if this whole thing– being taken out of that hellhole by you and Ei– if this is all a dream, then I'd rather not wake up."

Kunikuzushi's eyes widen when he notices that your eyes are tearing up again, your expression crestfallen as you glance up at him, "Let me hold your hand just a little longer, please…"

He opens his mouth to say something in response to your sad tone, his mind firing back and forth as he scours every crevice of his brain to find a way to reassure you, and when he can't think of anything, he shuts his mouth. He could understand how you felt, how relieved you were to be finally out and about after weeks enduring all sorts of torture. He had been through it himself, his once pristine mind scattered and destroyed by Dottore. He understood you better than anybody else, how anxious you felt, how scared you were to 'wake up' and find yourself there in that place yet again.

With a tenderness to his touch, he rests his hand on your shoulder, lowering you slowly until you are just sitting on his bed, "Go ahead and sleep," he urges you quietly, "I'll just wait here until you fall asleep." He averts his eyes away from you, his chest feeling heavy as you reluctantly allow your head to meet the soft cushion of one of his pillows.

"Will you be gone when I wake up then?" The fragility in your tone never leaves, causing his heart to splinter further as he scowls. His pained expression causes your grip on his hand to fluctuate, and when you attempt to pull away from him, his grip on your hand tightens.

"..I'll stay," he replies softly, his eyes remaining off of your form as he stares off at the cabinets across the room, "go ahead and catch some sleep," his legs were quickly growing sore from the hardness of the floor beneath him, though he decides to bare it. Your gaze remains on him for a brief moment before you tilt your head upwards, staring up at the blank ceiling before you as you let out a breath, sounding exhausted.

You feel as though your mind had been glazed over, your senses severely dulled aside from the warmth that radiated from your hand interlocked with Kunikuzushi's own, "..I'm sorry," you apologize for what feels like the umptieth time today, "I know I must sound like a child right now, asking you to stay with me, but in truth I…" You trail off, rolling your eyes upwards as you come to terms with yourself, "I don't evenfeellike I'm alive right now. As depressing as it sounds," you let out another soft breath, "I feel like I'm just floating. Everything feels imaginary to me, like my surroundings, my feelings, my thoughts, my memories… I don'tfeel… Real."

Emptiness lingers in your tone, your mind reeling towards a steady downward spiral, only strung together with the strand of hope that stems from Kunikuzushi's hand being on your own. "The only thing really keeping me from losing it completely is probably just your presence here," you continue, uncaring of Kunikuzushi as his grip on your hand only tightens further, "and I'm…" You scoff, "I'm scared. I'm scared that you'll just disappear, that you'll leave me– that if I close my eyes for far too long that I'll wake up with a needle in my neck," your tone quietens as your voice cracks, a flood of emotions building from within you, threatening to release in a form of torn sobs and tears, "that I'll be with Dottore again, in that glass cellar."

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, his breath hitching in his throat as he feels your hand tremble on his own. His face is contorted with anguish, a hand raising to his temple as he brushes away his hair, uncaring of how messy it looked as a sensation of resentment towards the Doctor tore through him.

"It's soirrational,I know," you laugh as tears spill out of your eyes, your vision blurry as you glare up at the ceiling before you, "I know that you're right next to me, that you wouldn't just randomly disappear because you're holding my hand and comforting me, but–!" Your lips fall open as your mind unravels further, revealing a weak side of you that you had long left hidden from the prying eyes of people around you, from family members that attempted to contact you in prayer of your downfall, from people that had even vaguely noticed you from your school years– and suddenly, it feels as though all your memories were eroding,"I'm scared,"you whisper.

In your mind, all events of terror are rewritten to take place all in the hands of a certain dangerous self-proclaimed doctor, contained within a familiar glass enclosure. Your pulse rises as you find yourself sitting in a glass cellar once more, though this time you were young again, and watching your parents hang from the ceiling. Your stomach churns as you shake your head, fear encroaching you, wrapping around your heart and instilling a deep sense of loss within you.

Kunikuzushi's hand resting atop your own feels a little more invisible now as you travel through your shattered mind, unable to pull yourself out of your hellish mindscape,"I'm so scared,"you whisper one last time, almost submitting to the crestfallen nature of your thoughts until you're harshly pushed off to the side.

You blink twice, clearing the tears from your eyes as you find your hands at either side of your head. The eccentric male scowls down at you, gritting his teeth as though angered for some unknown reason, "Move." He orders you harshly before quickly nodding off to the wall next to the bed, gesturing to you to shift towards the wall.

Not entirely understanding him with how panicked you had felt from within, you scour his expression, feeling anxiety swell within you as your breaths only quickened, becoming uneven. Kunikuzushi notices your hesitancy and without a second thought, only proceeds to plop down right next to you, adjusting your arm so that he wasn't squishing it before settling next to you and pulling the covers over the two of you.

It takes you a while to notice that he is embracing you, his arms wrapped around your form as he buries your head into his chest, warmth radiating from his body and warming your own– a sensation that provides you with mental clarity. You slowly start through your tears, your voice hoarse, "W-What are you..?"

"Stop talking," he hisses under his breath, further pulling you closer to him as you tremble under his touch, "and rest. Don't think about any more useless things," Kunikuzushi's whisper hits you as something said with forlornness, "And if you can't stop thinking about those aggravating thoughts, then…Stop trying to rationalize everything.Every hint of pain, all that suffering you endured," your eyes widen as you breathe in his comforting scent, "justcry it all outuntil your throat bleeds. Until you can finally relax and sleep," your chest warms at the sound of his voice, "I already told you I won't leave," his hands press against the large of your back, "so just let it all out."

Your heart wavers in your chest, feeling uncertain and relieved all at once. Your lips fall into a deep frown, a shaky breath escaping you as you start, "..Are you sure about this? Your shirt is gonna be a complete mess," you reply with a voice so quiet, Kunikuzushi has to strain his ears to hear it, "I'll blow my snot on it and everything," you wanted him to tell you to suck it up, to move on, to push it all down like you had told yourself your whole life. At least then, maybe you could try your hardest and maintain the status quo.

"I said what I said," he shortly responds, his eyes blank as he stares off into the space just above your head, ignoring your loose wisps of hair, "I'm a man of my word, aren't I? Go ahead. Cry," Kunikuzushi's words feel sweet when they register in your mind, despite the pain hidden within his words, "I won't look at you until you're ready."

And for a moment, there's a deafening silence in your ears, your mind buzzing with thoughts as your chest swelled with emotion, tears falling freely from the corners of your eyes as you come to realize that he had purposely cocooned you between himself in an attempt to make you feel safe.

Your heart feels wounded, as though he had driven a knife into it– and for some reason it feltgood,like a release from a curse of sorts. A few gasps of air escape you as you find yourself desperately clawing at his back, your fingers running through the fabric of his shirt as you push yourself against him, feeling all inhibition abandon you as you let out soft whimpers.

You didn't want to cry, you hated crying in front of people naturally. Instead, you preferred to bottle your emotions until you were in the shower, or until at least you were in the comfort of your own bed– and even then you had a hard time justlettingyourself fall apart.

But right now it feels different. It feels almost as though it were only the two of you left in the world, alone in the dark of the night entangled with one another. Kunikuzushi was making it easy for you, wrapping around you like this, saying such kind words with a soft voice, his hands on your back occasionally rubbing gentle circles as though to reassure you and comfort you. Your heart trembles in your chest, blooming with a multitude of emotions spanning from needs and wants, to sentiments of pain and relief all at once. With an abrupt sob, your walls come crashing down, falling into pieces within you.

If you couldn't stop thinking about those terrible memories, then at least you could cry about it. You could grieve until there was nothing left to grieve, you could lament over your days spent wasting away in that hellhole, you could shed a few tears from the harshness of your upbringing, and after crying…Ah, what would happen after that…

Who knew? It didn't matter right now, didn't it?Kunikuzushi gently rakes his hand through the ends of your hair, as though reminding you to relax, to stop overthinking, and it works.

Kunikuzushi listens in silence as your hands and arms rest along his back, a feeling of wetness apparent to him as you begin to sob, your whimpers turning into gradual heartbreaking wails. His lips part to say something briefly as he feels your nails dig into his back occasionally, wanting to protest– but he quickly finds himself shutting up, surmising to himself that he didn't really care if he was hurting or not.

You were in much more pain than he could ever feel right now, and that part of him, somehow remaining untouched by all the muck he had been through growing up, had shone through more recently with his time spent with you and Ei. In what little sunshine left he had in his mind, he hoped to comfort someone as sincere as yourself, believing you were deserving of it.

So he remains silent for ten minutes, for thirty minutes, and then for hours on end until your sobs begin to quiet down, his gaze remaining on the wall just behind you as he finds himself playing with the ends of your hair. By the time you are done, your eyes are half lidded, your irises dark as your mind exhausted itself of what horrid thoughts fluttered around and about. Your hands are limp on his back, your other hand pressed close to his chest as you lean on it, feeling weariness overwhelm you bit by bit. You wonder briefly if Kunikuzushi had fallen asleep amidst your tirade, still afraid to look up to look at him directly as your face had probably been stained with snot and dried tears.

To alarm him, you decide to test the waters, "Kunikuzushi?" Your voice is nearly invisible, spoken with such a delicacy and softness that Kunikuzushi has a hard time just hearing it.

The eccentric male hums, a clear sign that he was indeed awake. You let out a sigh, his hands resting on your body now as you shift just a little ways away from him, enough to make some space between the two of you for you to breathe with much more ease."Thank you,"you continue, allowing your eyes to fall shut as drowsiness hits you in waves, "you're the kindest person I've ever met," Kunikuzushi's eyes widen for a fraction of a second upon hearing your words, "I'll remember this moment and cherish it for the rest of my life… Thank you,"you are unsure if its due to the nature of your weariness that you've given up with such ease on your fears of looking up at him, but when your eyes meet his own, you tenderly place a hand on his cheek, your thumb swiping across the expanse of his cheek.

His indigo irises scan your expression as his heartbeat rises, and when your eyes finally fall shut, he lets out a soft hum.

It is only now as you are drifting off to sleep that you realize your whole life has been spent practically alone from the start of your birth until now, shouldering the burdens of your neglectful kin and your parents. You wonder for just a brief moment what would have happened if you had met Kunikuzushi long ago, the two of you coming together to offer one another understanding and comfort, and perhaps the most beautiful friendship would be born.

When you're dead asleep in his arms, Kunikuzushi presses his lips atop your head for a few moments, whispering to himself as his hands press loosely along your back,"I won't let anyone hurt you again."

Your words echo in his head repeatedly, sounding akin to a broken record.

"You're the kindest person I've ever met."

Your words only cause him to grit his teeth as he shakes his head, nearly letting out a derisive scoff as he shuts his eyes, "If you think I'm kind, just what sort of terrible people have you surrounded yourself with, Miss Investigator..?" He was a notorious killer, known for being among the Fatui until recently. How was it that he was able to provide you even the most simple comforts, enough to make you give someone like himself such a grand compliment in return in comparison to the plethora of others around you?

Kunikuzushi decides after a few seconds to let his thoughts pass, thinking it would be useless for him to mull over questions he had no answers to. All he understood within himself was that he had wanted nothing more than to tear Dottore apart, and he understood that bit by bit, he felt a creeping darkness beginning to echo throughout his system.

He didn't want you to get hurt again, and after hearing you sob like that tonight, he promised himself internally that he would make sure that you always remained in his sights. At least then, he could protect you.

Kunikuzushi's peaceful rest with you in his arms ends no sooner than two hours later, when he wakes up to you suddenly rapidly moving away from the warmth of the bed. In fluid motions, you rush upwards and race towards the washroom. Kunikuzushi is quick to follow, and upon walking down the hallway, he hears you retching and vomiting. He jumps into action, grabbing a fresh glass of water for you before easing you in as you puked until you cried, feeling feverish with how your body went in and out of hot flashes.

You feltsick,like a virus had been swimming within your veins, and it felt absolutelyhorrid.You hadn't gotten this sick in a long while, feeling the need to sit by the toilet in case you had vomited any more. Despite your weakness, you manage to wipe the sludge from the vomit away from your mouth, your eyesight blurry as you fixate on Kunikuzushi's form just in front of you, crouching and inspecting you. When he offers you water, you shake your head, pants leaving your lips as you brush away his outstretched hand, feeling as though your head was constantly spiraling.

Suddenly, you're puking into the toilet bowl again, your hands gripping onto the ceramic sides as you desperately cling for something to secure you. Kunikuzushi rubs your back, brushing away strands of hair that had gotten in your face as you leaned downwards into the bowl. You felt like you were dying, puking your intestines out and what not– though clearly, that wasn't true. It was just your body reacting to the lack of drug intake, you understood that, yet nevertheless…

It felt tormentous, what little energy you had left leaving your body as soon as you're done expelling what felt like two days worth of food and water from inside you. Kunikuzushi is kind enough to carry you to your bed, knowing you were far too exhausted to do anything further than just puke again, and in his arms you find yourself whispering, "..This is nothing."

To you, itwasnothing in comparison to being degraded in that glass cellar, from seeing brain matter on the walls, from having the constant fear of the Doctor coming in to 'check up on you', knowing well he had just meant to inject you with higher doses of his drugs.

"I can do it," you whisper again as Kunikuzushi lays you down onto his bed once more, "this is nothing," you were unsure if you were convincing him or yourself at this point, your mind blurring as weariness overtakes you once more. Kunikuzushi can only stare at you as the sunlight begins to filter in through the windows of the home, thinking to himself that he wanted nothing more than to pluck what seeds Dottore had sowed within your mind before it could grow. Morning arrives home along with his mother, who is far too tired to even announce that she is home. She crashes down onto the couch, and by the time Kunikuzushi had gone out to check up on Ei, she had already been asleep.

Tired, Kunikuzushi sighs, noticing that his mother had kept her heels on, her legs dangling off the side of the couch. Amidst the silence, Kunikuzushi peels off her high heels before pulling a blanket over his mother's limp form. When Ei shifts in her sleep, humming in comfort as warmth surrounds her, Kunikuzushi lets out a scoff, his eyes narrowing onto her peaceful expression,"Good night, mom."

Your second night experiencing withdrawal symptoms, you had nearly gone insane, hitting your head with your own hand in order to feel something external aside from the sensation of being burned away from the inside, screaming and shouting until your voice became hoarse. You pushed him away from you several times, telling him to leave you alone, and at the same time during that night, you had begged Kunikuzushi to punch you hard enough so that you would just pass out. Of course, he never agreed to such a thing.

By the end of the night, you had only slept for a good thirty minutes in the puke-smelling washroom before morning light filtered in through the window blinds, your arms bound together by the weight of Kunikuzushi's own as he rested on the wall just behind you, feeling akin to a cage that strangely felt a little more dangerous than Dottore's own enclosure for you with how comfortable it was around you. Wiping the drool away from the side of your lips, you wonder if you'd even sleep well, knowing that in your dreams you had remained in Dottore's lab.

On the third day, you are much more panicked than usual, clinging onto Kunikuzushi for dear life as you sobbed in his arms again, sweat building on your forehead. He holds you, making sure to keep just enough space between the two of you to make sure you would get the air you needed as he reassured you, reminding you to take deep breaths. That night, you had further roused something dark within him when you had gripped onto his shirt as he tried to leave to get you some more water.

"Please don't leave," you plead as you stare up at him, your eyes wide and flooded with torment as you cling to him, "please, stay with me." Kunikuzushi gazes down at you, his chest trembling with a tumultuous sensation as he grit his teeth. "I need you," you whisper, "I need you with me, so please don't go," your voice was fragile and light, sounding akin to a voice in his head from long ago that heknewhe had sought to protect, as nobody else would.

In the depths of his mind, fear and doubts swell, negative feelings blooming over one another before finally crescendoing– and just as he feels a darkness about to overwhelm him, you gently wrap your arms around his form, holding him in a sweet embrace. "I'm sorry," you apologize, "I know I'm being unreasonable, like a child… But just for now," you whisper, "let me be selfish, please?"

His heart swells as he feels your tears dry into the cloth of his shirt, his eyes wide as he reluctantly wraps his arms around you, his thoughts racing back and forth far too quickly for him to process. A part of him had given up in totality, feeling as though you had defeated him simply by saying those words, and before he knows it, all reason had abandoned him, "I had never thought once to leave you," he responds in the same fragile tone you had used, "so don't be so stupid as to think I'd just leave you alone. I was just going to get some water," his fingers run through your hair as your heartbeat slowly calms itself, embarrassment flooding you upon hearing his words.

"O-Oh," you pretend to not know the true intentions of his actions, realizing that perhaps your emotions had far gotten the best of you, "I knew that, I just…" The truth spills out anyway as you grip onto his shirt tighter, keeping your gaze averted off to the side even as he looks down at you. You refuse to elaborate further, pursing your lips tightly together.

Kunikuzushi tilts his head, his eyes narrowing upon seeing your flushed features as he comes to a resolution within himself. If being with you meant that you would be able to make such expressions, then perhaps he'd have you stick by his side forever.

On the fourth day, things for you are eerily calmer. Although your head was in the clouds for the most part, you had spent your whole day in bed with Kunikuzushi reading manga on the floor next to you. At some point in the afternoon, you make it a point to let him know that you were grateful for him, "..Thanks," you start as you stare at the top of his head blankly, zoning out at the image of the wall behind him, "for everything. I mean it," you slowly add on as Kunikuzushi turns the page in his manga, refusing to make eye contact with you, "I won't forget a single thing you've done for me, sacrificing all this time to make sure I'm doing okay, cooking for me and sleeping next to me even though I'm all gross…" You feel your cheeks warm at the last part, your hand gripping onto the blanket overtop of your cold body, "What could I have done without you, really? I'd probably be dead," you joke lightheartedly.

There's a few beats of silence that pass before Kunikuzushi responds, his tone cool and casual as he shuts the manga in his hands shut, "..You'd die without me," he replies, his hair obscuring his expression for just a moment as he places the book down next to him. He shifts in his seat, careening towards you as you stare at him quizzically, your gazes locking with one another, "You do understand that, right?"

His serious tone when he speaks hits you as vaguely strange as you pull away from him slightly, "I suppose you're correct," you blatantly admit.

There's a flicker of an emotion that is remarkably dark behind his eyes for a brief moment, though it disappears quickly. "Then," he starts again, nearing you once more, causing you to shrink back further as he rests his face on the edge of the bed, "you owe me your life this time around," he continues, his tone smooth as his irises gleam, the sunlight casting a heavenly glow around him as he smiles, "are you prepared to commit such a thing to me?" His voice is light, and you think him to be joking until you realize he is being serious.

"..Sure," you reluctantly retorted, keeping yourself still as you ponder over his words for a minute, "I'd even go as far as to die if you needed me to," you pause, mulling over your words before quickly adding on,"probably…"

The laugh that erupts from Kunikuzushi surprises you, since it sounded so light and carefree, his smile only widening as a slight flush welcomes his cheeks, "Probably?" He inquires with a snicker, leaning forward on the bed once more. His weight on the bed causes you to shift, your eyes remaining on his own as your slight fever swells, your head becoming fuzzy as you gaze up at him, "Really?" Behind his irises there's a softness you don't entirely understand, his lips pursing into a tight smile as he stares down at you, seating himself on the bed now.

You turn ever so slightly to get a better look at him, allowing your hair to scatter all over the pillows as you stare up at him, "Really," you reassure him with a serious expression, all happiness void from your expression as you lock gazes with him.

The two of you allow some time to pass between the two of you, the sound of cars passing by resounding from behind the glass pane as you both remain still, and when the moment passes, Kunikuzushi snickers, lifting a hand to flick your forehead, causing you to flinch. "Idiot," he remarks with a huff, sounding all too pleased with your answer, "you should put more value into your life. Dying for an asshole like me," he looks outside the window, casting his gaze aside as he sneers, "is that really any way for a woman like you to go? A pretty investigator like yourself dying purposely for a criminal like me is pretty unheard of."

You realize that there's a bitterness to his tone, as though despite how happy he had sounded when you first admitted it, he had felt a sense of guilt behind his words somehow. The guilt, you figured, had not been something of your doing, but rather had been an echo of some part of him that had hurt from the past, echoing to the present. You lift yourself up from the bed carefully, not wanting to have blood rush suddenly to your head as you keep your eyes on the side of his face, "..But I was serious," you start again, your tone a little sleepy as you speak,"probably."

You think that your emotions are out of sorts because you were far too exhausted to really register anything into your sodden mind, and so when he turns around to glare at you, you don't feel fazed in the slightest.

"Make up your mind," he huffs once more, "MissInvestigator." You don't reply, only opting to stare at him blankly as you let out a belated breath, feeling relaxed as the sun soaked into your skin, and when he opts to rest his hands at either side of your face, you don't pull away.

Feeling his fingers press lightly against the sides of your face, you aim your gaze downwards, staring at his collarbones now as your lips fall open, "..If I were to die for you," you begin, "I don't think I'd entirely mind. I wasn't lying when I said I thought you were a very nice person," you blank out, unrecognizing how his grip on your face had become much more firm, "I seldom let myself go like that. The only other person I don't mind speaking to would probably be my coworker, Sara… Otherwise," Kunikuzushi's breath hitches in his throat when he notices warmth flooding your eyes, "I've only really ever let myself cry around you or when I'm in the comfort of my own room, even though I hate it…"

Kunikuzushi scours your expression for any sign of deception, of dishonesty– of something that would snap him out of his reverie as he zeroed into you, feeling bewitched by your blatant honesty. His chest feels like it would explode, and suddenly he finds himself very aware of the fact that the two of you were alone in his room, causing his muscles to tense as he leans down, pressing his forehead onto your own.

"Don't die for me," his voice is soft, akin to a whisper as he caresses your face, brushing away strands of hair as he continues, "I would rather you live for me. Even if your guts all came spilling out, even if you only had one moveable limb left in your body," he doesn't understand his own visceral words, his mouth moving far too fast in comparison to his mind, his brain begging him to slow down as he processes the heat that is rising to his cheeks, "I want you to live. Do you understand?"

You blink twice, meeting his gaze once more as his hot breath fans along your cheeks, "..Right," you slowly respond, feeling your mind grow hazier with each passing second you remain sitting up.

Kunikuzushi can't tear his eyes off of you, feeling his heart thrum rapidly in his chest as he leans a little closer to you, wrapping his arms around you now as his lips rest beside your ear, "..I like you a lot," his voice is tentative, albeit slathered with a saccharine that causes you to tense up as his hands press along your back, "if you disappear on me again, I'll go insane. Even just now, I'm having a hard time…" He pauses, letting out a shaky breath as a strange, dark feeling blooms within him, though he tries his absolute best to suppress it, "You understand what I mean, right?"

"I think so," your tone remains blank, your eyes distant as you try to brush off your brain fog, hoping for it to gradually disappear as his words register in your mind slowly, though the weight of his confession doesn't make its mark on you.

You hear Kunikuzushi take a deep breath next to you, "For as long as I am next to you, I promise to kill anybody who hurts you, and in return, you will live for me," he pulls away, your eyes locking with his indigo hued irises once more, "that sort of trade should suffice then."

Kunikuzushi didn't want you to leave him, just as he promised you that he would stay by your side since you had said youneeded him.Perhaps it was due to the abruptness of your kidnapping, due to the insanity that had nearly driven him up the wall, or the nature of his protectiveness towards you, but for some time now, he had felt shaken. As though your entire existence had held him in a vice-like grip, and you clearly weren't aware of it with how openly you seemed to throw your life on the line for his sake.

He couldn't have you act so brashly anymore, and in all honesty… It would probably be better if you remained in his sights forever so that he could prevent anything further from happening to you. Kunikuzushi rolls his eyes upwards, his mind becoming flooded with all sorts of unpleasant thoughts that burn away at him, mixing together with a desperacy to protect you as he was unable to before, and when his eyes meet your own once more, he seems to have come to a conclusion.

A strange soberness overwhelms you when you notice a satisfied look in his eyes. You refrain yourself from shivering, and somehow, his hold on you feels a little less sweet, and feels a little more desperate to keep you still. Despite your nervousness, you hold still, offering him a smile, "I understand," you retort with a light voice, "then, I'll do my absolute best to fight tooth and nail to live. That way it becomes less troublesome for you and I, right?"

In response, Kunikuzushi hums, sounding content as he leans into you once more, wrapping his arms around your form, "You've gotten smarter, Miss Investigator." His words earn him a few light jabs on the side, though he only snickers in return. He would gladly accept any sign of energetic behavior from you, as he had missed you for some time now.

Notes:

mental disparity from kunikuzushi next chapter, probably him being more clingy (the yandere factor is happening..!)
ah, i thought this would be 18chapters long but im pretty sure its gonna be a lot more than that... the ending is sure, the timeline is there..
also i'm updating on my birthday... and for my birthday i hope everyone remembers to kiss themselves in the mirror (self love! i dont care if its narcissistic!)

Chapter 19: All For Us

Summary:

In which happiness is fleeting, but reader makes sure to feel every single second of it.

Notes:

I hope one of you come back to remind me of who I was
When I go disappearing
Into that good night

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

On the fifth day, Kunikuzushi woke up bright and early in the morning, initially panicked since you were out of the bed, only to find that you were eating breakfast with his mother. Much to his surprise, you had been laughing at something Ei had said, a smile wide on your lips as you nearly dropped your chopsticks in surprise, "I had no clue Kunikuzushi was so bratty! I guess he hasn't changed at all then, hasn't he?"

Ei only offers a small hum in reply, her eyes sunken, her complexion pale as she smiles over at Kunikuzushi.

"What sort of things have you been telling her," Kunikuzushi grumbles, clearly annoyed by his mother's betrayal, divulging secrets about him while he had slept, "old hag?" He doesn't think twice to seat himself next to you at the table, glaring ahead at his mother as you turn to look at him in slight embarrassment.

Ei clears her throat before beginning, "..I don't think I'll respond to you properly until you address me by my name," she retorts before huffing, her eyes averting towards your figure as you sip away at your coffee, "isn't that right, Miss? A son should call his mother'mother', after all."

"Of course," you naturally side with her, shuffling away from Kunikuzushi as he tosses you a halfhearted glare, "you're correct, Ei."

Kunikuzushi raises his eyebrows further upon hearing your words, his glare souring as his chest sinks,"..Ei?"He sighs, pressing his elbow down onto the table and scowling at his mother, earning a scolding from her that he firmly ignores, "Looks like the two of you have gotten closer while I was asleep. Care to share what the two of you have been talking about?"

"Are you feeling left out, Kuni?" Ei's voice is light, holding a note of teasingness, causing his cheeks to burn red as he scowls at her, "I was just talking about our dearest Makoto, and of course," Ei pauses, lifting up a purple book which Kunikuzushi immediately recognizes and pales at the sight of, "I wanted to show her some of your baby photos!" She beams with happiness as she shows off Kunikuzushi's photos as a child, sitting on a chair naked while crying while Ei attempts to bribe him with food.

Kunikuzushi quickly lunges for the book, his face beet red as the tableware clatters when he slams his hands a littletoo hardon the table,"Mom!"He shouts, causing you to erupt in laughter next to him as Ei gazes at him quizzically, though when his words sink into her mind, she feels her face warm slightly.

"What is it," she starts, her tone flooded with warmth as she smiles, "my dear son?"

Feeling his mind bloom with warmth, the male only sits down, keeping his teeth clenched as he glares at her,"..It's nothing, you old hag,"he hisses under his breath, listening to your incessant laughter to his side, "just let her mind her own business. Don't show her anything unnecessary."

Ei tilts her head, her eyes narrowed onto the scene before her as her gaze flickers from Kunikuzushi's form to your own, her lips pulling into a taut line, "Isn't it fine? She's your girlfriend, right?"

Now, it was your turn to choke on your spit, your laughter sputtering to a dead halt as you cough, your blood set alight as Ei continues, "The two of you have been sleeping in your room together," Ei stares at Kunikuzushi incredulously, "did you think I wouldn't find out?"

"T-That's not because we're together though," you lamely begin, wanting to get yourself out of this rut as Kunikuzushi only eyes you blankly in return, "it's honestly because of my withdrawal symptoms. I can't catch a break, and Kunikuzushi is there to help me," you clear your throat when Ei only continues to stare at you, her lips remaining pursed into a thin line, causing you to feel intimidated. At some point, you twist your head to look at Kunikuzushi, "Help me out a little, won't you?" You nudge him, watching as his expression quickly sours.

"No,"he simply replies, crossing his arms as he reaches forwards, grabbing some food to put onto his empty plate, "you were laughing so happily earlier, so I guess this is revenge," his tone is plain, void of any emotion as you grit your teeth next to him, your hands balling into fists as embarrassment burned within your stomach.

Seeing as how Kunikuzushi wasn't willing to help you, you turn to look at Ei once more, your eyes wide as you awkwardly rubbed your arm, "..Please believe me," you frown, feeling at your healing bruises while holding Ei's gaze, "I swear it hasn't been anything strange. I've been leaning on him for support and he's been kind enough to shoulder me," your voice is small, a genuine concern in your eyes as you lower your gaze, "that's all…"

Ei can't help but smile, furrowing her eyebrows upwards as she sighs, "Pardon me, I was just trying to make a joke," she apologizes with a soft tone, "I'm aware of your circumstances. I've been checking in with Kunikuzushi to make sure you've been taken care of while I'm flooded with work." You examine her peaceful expression as she shuts her eyes, her lips falling into a small frown as she huffs, "The Fatui have caused another uproar with Celestia lately, so aside from tracking Dottore, I've been dealing with that. I must apologize," her demeanor shifts ever so slightly, donning a serious façade as she rubs her temples, "I've been a little more absent at home lately, though I'm confident in my son's caretaking skills. He's been helping Makoto since he was young," Ei sounds pleased upon remembering her own memories, "tending to the flowers, helping them bloom. Without a doubt, I'm sure that he's been tending to you just as well."

Upon hearing her kind words, your shoulders sink, a smile overwhelming your lips as your cheeks warm, "He's been doing amazing," you agree with a short nod, letting out a short laugh when you hear Kunikuzushi snicker derisively next to you.

In return to your response, Ei only continues to smile. She was glad that at least parts of Kunikuzushi had remained intact throughout his harsh years. In seconds, the room is flooded with laughter and smiles again, echoing throughout the halls of Kunikuzushi's childhood home as he eats away, catching himself thinking hopefully amidst the joyful atmosphere.

Kunikuzushi finds himself wishing that everything would remain as it were, with you laughing without a worry in the world along with Ei, though he knows that his wishes would only remain a dream.

Reality crashed down far too harshly on him when Ei had just begun preparations to leave for work. As he is returning from grabbing a coat for his mother, he overhears you talking to her about how Ei probably wouldn't see you in the house as you would be leaving back to your home. At first, Ei and yourself are oblivious to Kunikuzushi's presence from behind the wall at the other end of the hallway, talking to one another with Ei mostly asking you if you were really alright to be living on your own again especially after the recent events that had transpired.

You insisted, letting her know that you were capable of taking care of yourself and that you would proceed with utmost caution. Even so, Ei is hesitant, knowing well that the Fatui wouldn't give up on you so easily since you had such vital ties to both the police force and to the former sixth harbinger himself, and when Kunikuzushi reappears, she finds her worries have been absolved. "Kuni," Ei calls out to her son, her tone steady as she narrows her eyes, noticing a strange look in his eyes when he looks up at her, "can you continue to look after Miss Investigator for a little while longer? Just for a few more days, at least until the withdrawal symptoms are completely gone."

Kunikuzushi's eyes brighten at her words, a small smile appearing on his lips as he tilts his head.

The train ride to your home had been long and arduous, rain pouring from the skies and onto the streets of Inazuma city. Kunikuzushi had kept your hand in his throughout the whole way, heading back towards your home to pick up your car and a few of your personal belongings so that you may continue your healing process at his abode. Being in the public again, you had felt a little nervous, feeling as though everyone's eyes were on you for whatever reason.

You felt paranoia settle in the depths of your stomach, thinking to yourself that at least five people in each crowd you passed through had been a part of the Fatui, and at some point, you had passed by somebody who lookedjustlike the soldier you had put three bullets into.

Of course, when you turned around, that person was nonexistent. They were just another bystander, turning to look at you weirdly when you let out a sharp gasp of surprise, earning Kunikuzushi's attention as well as he tugged you along. Even as you keep staring at the man disappearing into the crowd behind you, Kunikuzushi pulls you forward, tugging down his hood when he notices that there are a plethora of cameras around,"Let's go,"you hear him mutter under his breath, his composure serious as he scans the crowd for any suspicious members.

When the two of you arrive at your house, you're still shaken, your hand intertwined with his own trembling in his grasp as your mind reels backwards in time. Kunikuzushi's grip on your hand slowly lessens, and immediately, you snap back into reality, reaching for it once more as his hand retreats back to his side, "D-Don't," you huff, your eyes wide as you gaze into his own.

You notice that he looks confused by your actions, and you only purse your lips in response, not wanting to speak any further. "What's wrong?" He inquires gently, narrowing his eyes onto your form, "We're here. You have your keys with you, don't you?" You reach into your pocket, searching for the keys Ei had swiped from one of the rooms they had infiltrated with a pom-pom attached to it, though when you look at it in your hand, it is but a figment of the glory it once was. The pom-pom had been singed, the keyring slightly bent due to the heat of the blazes that had set off within that laboratory. You grit your teeth, steeling yourself as you let out a breath, reaching for the key that had led into your house– and clumsily, it falls to the floor.

You gulp when Kunikuzushi lets out a sigh, reaching downwards to pick it up before choosing a particularly worn out key, "This one, right?" He huffs, his irises gleaming with a strange emotion as he presses the key into the keyhole, unlocking your apartment door. With a hand in his pocket, he allows the door to slowly open, his eyes remaining on what lay before him as he scowled.

Anxiously, you look inside in search of any signs of break in, only to find that nothing had been out of place, and when the scent of your home floods your nostrils, you nearly whimper.You had missed your home so much.Your home meant a lot to you, it was a place of comfort and a significant marker of your successes and tribulations– and now, it felt somewhat desolate of feeling, as though all the happiness and comfort in the home had been sucked out.

Or maybe it was just your imagination, playing tricks on you ever since you had been kidnapped. You couldn't tell.

"Want me to come in with you?" Kunikuzushi offers, his expression remaining still and calculative as he examines you.

You nod.

Picking your items up wasn't as much of a hassle as you had thought, since your items from before were still in luggage bags close to the doorway due to your previous stay at Kunikuzushi's home. However, as you were still a little anxiety ridden, Kunikuzushi was forced to drive you back to his home, though he does so with little complaints. In fact, as the two of you traverse by car, he remains quiet most of the way, only speaking when you become much more fidgety next to him. You sigh, wishing you had your phone with you. It had been left in the trunk, along with your other baggage. You were beginning to realize that you were so used to having your phone with you to keep you distracted that you could hardly just stand being in the silence anymore.

As you gazed out the window, you wondered if your matching keychain with Kunikuzushi was still attached to your phone. You hadn't bothered checking in on what was happening on your phone for a while, still feeling in and out of sickness, still feeling hungover from recent traumatic events. You were focused on getting back in tune with yourself, attempting to bury all your anger towards Dottore back within the depths of your mind despite his words constantly haunting was hard to feel 'normal' again.

It was clear he had known about your family, or at the very least, your parents. It was clear he didn't care for what they were doing, what sorts of pains they had gone through along with you for as long as they kept purchasing his goods. You couldn't blame him, although you so badly wanted to. He was doing business, laying bait for foolish fish, and your parents just happened to be one of them.

And now their foolish child was hunting the hunter down, getting in trouble and attracting it all alike, although… You stare at Kunikuzushi's hardened expression as he begins to park the car a little ways behind the hideout.You supposed you weren't alone in your ventures.

Kunikuzushi and yourself settle into the hideout fairly quickly, with you making home on your usual sofa, your arms wrapped around your legs as you stare at the reflection of the ceiling encased in the coffee table's lacquer. "How long do you think I'll have to stay here?" You inquire Kunikuzushi when he sets down a mug of coffee for you at the spot you had been staring at, your eyes rising along with the steam before flickering towards the male's pale features, his lips drawn into a thin line.

He opens his mouth to say something, though he quickly rolls his eyes to the side, looking almost avoidant as he lets out a soft sigh, "..Who knows?" He replies, seating himself across from you, "Maybe you'll be over it soon, or maybe it'll take a few weeks longer. The after effects of the withdrawal from Dottore's drugs vary from person to person, not to mention we don't even know what he's injected you with," you realize that when he looks at you, he holds an odd expression, mixed with a temperament of some sort.

You sigh, reaching for the handle of the mug before bringing the coffee to your lips, "I dislike this feeling," you whisper under your breath, "like there's some sort of parasite inside me, swimming within my veins… It makes me feel gross," you huff, keeping your eyes on Kunikuzushi's form as he stares at you.

"Deal with it for now," he suggests, as though that weren't your only option, "I'll be sure to help you every step of the way." His bangs frame his face in a way you can only describe as handsome as he offers you a small smile, his eyes narrowing onto your expression as a hint of warmth greets your cheeks.

His smile only widens when he sees a burst of gratefulness bloom forth within the depths of your eyes, "Thank you," you retort with a kind tone, "I'll be sure to keep giving it my all then."

"..Take your time," you don't notice the iciness that lays behind his tone when he replies, his irises turning dark as he eyes you, "I don't mind keeping you a little while longer. Heal properly, otherwise," he snickers, crossing his legs as he leans back in his seat, "you might get hurt again. And if that were to happen then I…" He trails off, his mind straying for far too long, eliciting concern from you as you speak.

"Kunikuzushi..?" You start, tilting your head as you survey his tensed posture suddenly relax, his eyes meeting your own once more.

"Forget it," he retorts with an odd smile, "I suppose we'd never find out, because I'd never let it happen again."

You feel your chest grow uneasy at the sight of it.

At night, things are somewhat awkward between the two of you, with you kindly ushering yourself towards the couch as Kunikuzushi eyes you from the top of the stairway leading to his room. "I can sleep here tonight," you point towards the couch, "I think it's better if I try to become less dependent on you, but if I need you I'll–" You pause, watching as Kunikuzushi descends down the stairs rapidly, "I'll come get–you..?" You eye Kunikuzushi incredulously as his hand latches around your wrist, his expression deadpan as he stares at you, his lips pulled taut into a frown.

"No," he starts before reasoning as he tugs you along with him, dragging you upstairs despite your weak protests, "it'll only be more bothersome for me. How am I going to sleep in peace knowing well you'll barge into my room in the middle of the night?"

"W-Well," you huff as you trudge up the stairs, glaring at his back, "it's notguaranteedI'll come see you, over the past day or so I've been better at handling myself!" You protest as you are dragged into his room, feeling embarrassment flood you when you tear your hand out of his grip.

Kunikuzushi lets out a sigh, shaking his head when he swivels his head to look at you, tossing you a glare, "You just don't get it, do you?" He scowls, his irises gleaming with irritation, "And what happens if you relapse? What happens ifI'm not therethe second you need me, how much moretiringdo you think it becomes for both youandI if you completely lose your mind, hm?"

You momentarily shrink back, surprised when he shows you such vehement adamancy, backing away towards the wall when he continues pressing on, inching forwards, "I know just how well that Doctor has picked your brain," he whispers, sounding anguished, "and Iknowthat you're still recovering from all that bullshit you went through. Don't try and run away from me right now…" Your back hits the wall, his words cementing within your mind as you feel that you're unable to argue back, "Understood?"

You are rendered unable to speak, his eyes on your own as he presses a gentle hand on your cheek. You scour your mind for thoughts, your chest sinking slightly when you figure that his true intentions to you have bloomed from nothing but relentless kindness and understanding on his part. "I get it," you admit, feeling your cheeks slightly flush as you avert your eyes to the side, your heart palpitating in your chest, "I know that you're looking out for me, but… In truth I feel as though I've been attached to your hip for the past week," you let out a soft breath, "and I just don't want to trouble you any further than I have."

Kunikuzushi's eyes soften upon hearing your words, his fingers trailing down your cheek before tucking a few loose strands of hair behind your ear. You wereadorablewhen you were honest. "Trouble me all you want, silly woman," he snickers, sounding amused by your words as he backs away, "we're partners, aren't we? And you make it sound like we haven't been confiding in one another for the past few months, with both troublesome things and mundane things…" You find your eyes flickering back towards him, a pleasant atmosphere surrounding the two of you as he tilts his head to the side, staring off into the distance now, "So why bother changing it now? I've been bothering you purposely to find out what sorts of things unravel before us. Good or bad."

Upon seeing his expression, your chest tightens. "Well it's that, and um…" Your mind grew hazy as a silence befalls the two of you, with him waiting patiently for your response, "I apologize, but I can'tstayin this room," you finally confess with clear embarrassment in your voice, "do you think we could sleep downstairs again?"

Intrigued, Kunikuzushi raises his eyebrows at you, "Why is that, when we have a perfectly good bed here," he gestures towards his large bed, "and we won't be so cramped compared to the bed we slept in at mom's."

Your face was on fire now, your eyes wide as you feel anxiety build within your stomach, mixing with the embarrassment you felt, "I'm not sure, I just don't think I can sleep here–" Your remark immediately causes Kunikuzushi to hiss in irritation, leaning closer to you once more, and when his nose is just brushing against your own, you let out a small squeak, causing Kunikuzushi to pull back in retaliation, his gaze on you turning quizzical as you ousted yourself, "Everything smells a lot like you," you start, your mouth flying open faster than your thoughts could process in your mind, "your pillows smell like your shampoo, and your blankets smell like you, and I can't take it!" You shove him off of you, your mind ablaze, "How am I going to sleep?"

Kunikuzushi blinks twice, his expression brightening upon hearing your words despite his quizzical gaze, "How is that an issue, exactly? You and I have slept together in the same bed for a few days straight, andonly now you're having a problem with it?"

That wasn't the issue. The issue was that last time you remembered sleeping in his room, you had hardly slept at all, your mind flooded with his intoxicating smell, followed by the lingering thoughts of the kiss you had planted on the edge of his lips. The issue wasyou were surewith how quickly your heart was beating now, you would feel the same way again.

In the end, you were enamored with him, charmed by his smile, charmed by his sweetness, his occasionally egotistical words.

"You don't get it," your tone raises slightly, your cheeks burning at your plethora of thoughts, "you just… How can I stay in a room with youall alone?At least at your other place, Chief Raiden was there to check up on us…"

Upon hearing your words, Kunikuzushi bursts out into a fit of genuine laughter, holding his stomach as he backs away from you with a grin on his face, "What are you, a teenager or something?" He jeers, his eyes narrowing onto you as you clench your fists, "Ah, I didn't know you had such mischievous thoughts in your pretty little head," he hums, drawing closer to you as you step towards the doorway, "I can't help but wonder, Miss Investigator," you gulp when you find him in front of you, "just what kind of things have you thought about? Would you like to tell me?"

You balk, your face paling as you press a hand onto his chest, "You're so full of yourself…" You hiss under your breath, "Let's stop here, please," you plead, averting your eyes off to the side, "I won't sleep in bed with you, but I'm fine with sleeping downstairs together."

Kunikuzushi's teasing continues, much to your chagrin, "I don't know if I can let such information go with ease…" When you opt to glare at him, he can't help but feel somewhat relieved. He had missed playing around with you like this, especially since your mind had been gone in the dark for so long.

"Then," he starts again, brushing past you with a smile, "I suppose we'll have to sleep on the couch. I guess it shouldn't be so bad in comparison to that cramped bed we had to sleep on, but," his smile turns mischievous, earning another glare from you, "if it gets too uncomfortable, I'm going to bring you to my bed. You're not the only one catching up on sleep, I miss sleeping properly too," he replies with an innocent facade, despite his smile. You only huff in reply, turning your head away from him as you begin to head downstairs.

You knew that Kunikuzushi was torturing you on purpose, bringing his unwashed blankets and pillows downstairs for you to use, claiming that the other pillow cases and blankets were still'in the process of being cleaned'.Despite this, you had found yourself bundled up into his blanket with Kunikuzushi next to you, the two of you relaxing idly to a macabre horror movie that didn't scare either of you. You realized it was just something Kunikuzushi had put on to help pass the time, since you weren't so interested in charging your cracked phone just yet.

By one in the morning, the two of you are silent, enjoying the comfort of one another's presence as you rest your head on his shoulder, slowly being lulled to sleep by the sound of him playing a game on his phone. After some time, you found yourself intoxicated with his scent, only to find that the once embarrassing feeling that had flooded you upon inhaling his scent had gone completely, replaced with something that spurred the utmost warmth and relaxation within you. You hum, clearly satisfied, earning a snicker from Kunikuzushi.

"Sleepy?" He inquires, surveying your weary expression from his peripherals, "I'm not a pillow, you know. You have one behind you," with a small shove he gives you, you allow yourself to fall to your side, your head landing directly onto a pillow as a result. You only groan in return, feeling your head ache from the sudden motions. Your body trembled, iciness flooding your veins as you let out a belated breath. Were you still sick after all? Then again, you couldn't have expected a speedy recovery after days spent in a cellar, constantly being drugged up.

The cushions on the couch didn't support your body temperature, the blanket overtop of you only managing to cover what felt like half the problem.

You gaze off into the distance for some time, listening to him play on his phone before finally coming to a conclusion, "I don't like this," you whisper tiredly, your voice only inclining further in complaint, "I can't sleep. Is it okay if we head upstairs after all?"

"..Weren't you against it?" Kunikuzushi balks in disbelief, "You can be so fickle sometimes, it's almost vexing."

"Sorry," you halfheartedly apologize, tugging your blankets closer to you as you let out a huff, "I think I'm not completely recovered yet… The cushions on the couch aren't making me any warmer," you confess as you hold back a shiver, listening to Kunikuzushi's phone shut off with a click as he shifts in his seat.

Standing up, he ambles towards you, "Will you be fine with it, though?" He offers you a short look before smirking, "Or will you be having all sorts of intrusive thoughts?"

"Can youshut upabout that," you whine, groaning when you lift yourself up from your position, allowing the blankets to slide off your body, "I'm too tired to care about stupid things like that," Kunikuzushi's eyes narrow onto your features when he sees your cheeks warm, feeling his chest swell triumphantly at the sight, "and I trust you won't do anything weird…"

"Are you serious? I won't," Kunikuzushi retorts, rolling his shoulders as he swivels around, "don't take me for some sort of perverted lowlife who takes advantage of people during their weak states," sounding offended, he allows a scoff to leaves his lips, waiting for you to completely stand before trudging towards his room, "do I look like Dottore to you?"

The way he had worded his words slightly bothered you, and unable to help yourself as you grabbed the blankets and pillows, you retorted, "..What if I wasn't recovering from all this?" Your voice comes out small, a part of you wishing he hadn't heard it at all. Kunikuzushi stops moving, refusing to look at you though you could tell from the tone of his voice he seemed amused by your words.

"I'm not too sure, Miss Investigator," he begins, pressing his index finger to his lips as he sneers, his eyes shifting to the side, "but right now, shouldn't we be focusing on your full recovery as opposed to entertaining such thoughts? I could be wrong, but," his smile only grows when he notices that your face is bright red, "it sounds to me that you almostwantto find out?"

You make sure to kick his leg as you pass by him, ignoring his hiss of pain as you swiftly move away from him. You almost let out a laugh when you hear him curse under his breath, a feeling of lightness flooding you as you rush upstairs. Exhausted, you throw a pillow onto a spot you had claimed as yours, making sure to leave ample room for Kunikuzushi as you rolled over to your side. You listen as Kunikuzushi shuts the door behind him, letting out a loud sigh before plopping onto the bed, "It feels great to be in my own bed again," you hear him hum in satisfaction.

You smile, shutting your eyes as you pull the covers over your body, feeling cold as you crouch into a fetal form, "Isn't that great?" You reply in a whisper, your tone kind as you relax into the bed, feeling Kunikuzushi's body not too far from your own with his back towards you, "I hope I can feel that sort of relief soon, too…"

You hoped your symptoms wouldn't last longer than a week, though your muscles felt significantly more sore than the start of your symptoms. Aside from soreness, you supposed it was the hot and cold flashes and occasional mood swings you had as a result of such strange conflicting occurrences within you.

Kunikuzushi doesn't respond to your words, opting to remain silent as the chill night atmosphere settles into the room, the sound of sirens blaring from afar faint as cars pass through the roads just outside of Kunikuzushi's abode. The darkness felt comforting, a notion you found was mostly due to Kunikuzushi's presence just at your back, the heat of his body radiating off from his back.

Mustering the courage to speak up, your soft, weary voice resounds throughout the room, "Does it still feel nice being with me?" You inquire with a genuine curiosity as you think back to his words weeks ago, "At night, I mean… You said that spending time with me around night time feels something akin to eternity, right?"

The male hums, "..Something like that," he replies, his eyes zeroing in on a spot on the wall as he feels you shift next to him, "I still like it. I could do with less of your tears," he snickers when you nudge his leg with your own, "but I would never sacrifice these nights for anything else." He allows his voice to trail off as his eyes narrow onto the empty space before him, "What about you?" He knows there's no real reason to ask this question, other than to satisfy his own personal greed, his wants to hear your sweet words that he knows that you would give him.

When your answer arrives, it's laced in honey, followed by a swell of warmth in the room that blooms from your words, "I think I've come to agree," you whisper, "sometimes, time with you feels like I'm somewhere far away from the reality of the world we live in, yet I know I'm there all the same."

Kunikuzushi feels his breath hitch in his throat, his mind traveling back in time as he thinks of the several nights he had spent outside with you, moon gazing.

"It's funny," you huff, "I remember I used to dislike days spent with you, and there were many times where I've wanted to just leave this all behind and run… And a part of me kind of wishes I did."

There's a forlornness to your tone that causes the dark haired male to feel a sting in his chest for just a moment, his chest tightening as you press on, "But I don't regret any of this. I think that I've found value where I had initially lost hope, since you changed my mind. You have a way of doing that to me," you admit with a smile, "and as a result, I find that I'm truly grateful for your kindness towards me. Lately I've been looking forward to sleeping with you," your laughter sounds heavenly to Kunikuzushi's ears. He grits his teeth as his heart pounds against his ribcage, "Is that weird to say?" You finally say, sounding carefree as though you hadn't nearly choked the breath out of him just from speaking.

"Itisweird," Kunikuzushi scoffs in retort, sounding amused by your tone of voice as he finds himself shifting to look at you, his eyes grazing over your silhouette as moonlight filters through the windows, "I dare say it's almostcreepyto say, especially since you," you huff when you feel Kunikuzushi jab your side, causing you to reflexively hiss, "don't usually admit these things to me."

You hide your face, burrowing into the comfort of your pillow, inhaling Kunikuzushi's scent as your muscles tense. You felt his arms snake around you, wrapping around your form as though to embrace you, causing your breath to hitch despite the familiarity of this action.

"But we've gotten closer, haven't we," Kunikuzushi's breath is hot against your ear, his fingers pressing along your ribcage, his cheeks burning with warmth, "Miss Investigator? So I suppose things like this will happen more often, the two of us speaking with complete honesty with one another," you tense under his touch, your cheeks burning with warmth as you register his gentle voice, "will you welcome it?" He continues, his hand slinking down your arm to rest atop your own before intertwining your fingers together, "Or will you reject it?"

Kunikuzushi felt his heart thudding wildly against his chest, awaiting for your response patiently as you sucked a deep breath in.

"..That's silly," you reply, humming in contentment as you squeeze his fingers between your own, "it's a bit too late to ask me that question. I told you I'd give you my life, didn't I? So it's only natural that I don't mind getting closer." Weariness begins to dawn on you quicker and quicker as you feel him caress your hand intertwined with his own, sleepiness falling into your mind.

There's a warmth that spreads throughout your body when Kunikuzushi holds you, warming your sickly, cold nerves. It's a sensation that brings your mind peace, and you wonder for just how long you can be distracted by Kunikuzushi's presence before you're brought back to reality.

He pulls you just a little closer to him, your body snug against his own, "..Don't ever forget what you just said," he whispers, his voice sweet, yet daunting all at once, "and whatever happens onwards, don't you ever regret it."

"I won't," your mind is drifting off into the land of slumber, the warmth radiating from Kunikuzushi's body comforting you as you melt in his arms for the umpteenth time in the week.

In the morning, Kunikuzushi wakes up to your exhausted expression staring back at him, rubbing your eyes as you offer him what looked to be a wooden cutting board being used as a makeshift tray with a plate of food placed atop of it. With wide eyes, he stares at the tray in shock, his gaze flickering back and forth between you and the tray.

"Token of appreciation," you shortly start, brushing back loose strands of hair from your face as you smile up at him, and when you realize he's donning a strange expression, you pause altogether.

Still sleepy, you tilt your head, confused as to what he had been so surprised about until you realize, "Oh right," you yawn, "your coffee. I'll go get it," you promptly respond before disappearing back downstairs.

Dazed, Kunikuzushi stares at the tray before him on the bed as though it were an alien, dissecting each part of the portion of food before realization dawns onto him.

Did you really just make him breakfast in bed?

He felt his cheeks slowly burn, his eyes narrowing onto the plate of food once more before he pressed a hand to his chest, feeling at his heart pounding away at his ribcage. When you burst into the room, he doesn't bother hiding his troubled, flushed expression.

"Did you get sick too..?" You squint your eyes onto his features as you place the mug of coffee down onto an empty spot on his nightstand. Ambling closer to him, you careen forwards, outstretching a hand to touch his forehead until he latches onto your wrist, eliciting a miffed noise to escape your mouth, "What's wrong with you?"

"What's wrong withyou,"Kunikuzushi snaps back, his cheeks still red as he glowers up at you, "why are you acting like this?"

You're taken aback by how annoyed he sounds, and you frown in return, "Uh?" You huff, "Like I said, Kunikuzushi," you scrunch your lips to one side of your face, "it's a token of appreciation. Think of it as a physical way of saying'thank you'I guess?"

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, his eyes adjusting to the morning light that filters in through his shutters. His grip on your wrist lightens for a moment as everything hits him all at once, the exhaustion in your eyes, the addictive smell of your hair, the touch of your warm skin–

You hiss when his grip on your wrist suddenly tightens, and just as you are about to protest, he's pulled you down towards him, causing your heart to crescendo. "You don't have to push yourself," he whispers as he pulls you into an embrace that feels more possessive than kind, his voice sultry in your ears, "as I'm taking care of you, I'm also taking my payment by holding you close to me like this," you could've sworn you felt his lips graze against your ear for just a second before he added on, "so don't bother giving me 'thanks', because I might take it the wrong way next time you do something appreciative like this."

You pause, blinking twice when your mind fails to register the true intention behind his words, "I'm perfectly fine with showing you at least this much appreciation, Kunikuzushi," you retort, attempting to pull away only to have him hold you firm, keeping your head next to his own.

You feel the heat of his face radiate inches away from your ear as his voice turns more hoarse, sounding almost a little panicked. "Whatever," he hisses under his breath, "just stay like this for a little, okay?" You freeze up when you feel his arms slink around you form, "I just…Want to feel youright now."

Opening your mouth to protest, you find that no noise escapes you as you're made to straddle him, resting on his lap as he embraces you tightly. With your chest pressed onto his own, you wonder how he had been feeling for his heart to be pacing so quickly, seconds turning into minutes as you slowly relax in his hold, keeping quiet as he holds you.

After some time, he relaxes his hold on you, letting out a sigh as he finds an apology tumbling out of his mouth, his voice sounding strange even to himself as he speaks, "..Sorry," he whispers, his eyes resting on a spot by the window just behind you as you finally retreat, "I needed to calm down. For today," he continues, "I'll accept your gift of gratitude, but this is extremely unnecessary. You're still recovering, and it'd be bothersome if you strained yourself to do this. Don't do this for me anymore, understand?"

You tilt your head, feeling your cheeks warm when you see how embarrassed he looks, avoiding your stare.Oh,he was beingvery cute right now..You find yourself growing amorous as you admire the dust of red that glazed his cheeks, the urge to tease him impossible to withhold. Your heart thrums in your chest, a small smile on your lips as your gaze on his form lightens, "I might accidentally do this everyday," you lean backwards, standing straight as your eyes narrow onto his expression. When his eyes meet your own in a glare, you feel a pang of happiness bloom in your stomach.

"Just what type of accident occurs daily?" He glowers at you, sounding unamused by your words as you begin to move away from him.

"I have many things to repay you for," you respond with a tentative smile, "and although you dislike receiving my gratitude, I like to repay my debts. With our daily free coffee then," you hum as you pass through the doorway, "I'll make sure to deliver you free breakfast as well." It was a proposal you knew Kunikuzushi couldn't turn down, especially knowing how persistent you could be.

When he doesn't say anything as you disappear down the stairs, you know you've won him over. Today, your heart races a little faster, your mind blissfully unaware of the swell of emotion that blooms in Kunikuzushi's eyes as he watches you descend the stairs.

Throughout the next couple days of your recovery, you indulge yourself in your pleasant feelings despite the burning hatred that ate away at your insides, all born from Dottore's existence. Waking early to make breakfast and coffee for Kunikuzushi and yourself, you feel that just as things are correcting themselves within your mind, things outside of your control have begun to shift in balance.

It seemed that you had grown a little anxious about being separated from Kunikuzushi for long durations of time, and when you started to become independent again, sitting away from him or spending time alone without him despite being in his home, he would actively try and keep an eye on you.

Kunikuzushi keeps you home out of your own safety, and you don't entirely mind since you're still a little sick. He had warned you about taking unnecessary risks, and stepping out of the house was one of them. You couldn't afford to lose your mind again after just barely sobering up, therefore you'd rather stay at the hideout until youknewyou were prepared. On the other hand, he steps outside occasionally to speak to Ei about occurrences happening surrounding the Fatui, Celestia and the narcotics bureau, and together, they keep you in the dark, seeing as how you were still a little sensitive to receiving information.

Sometimes, when he steps out of the hideout, he comes back a little later than usual carrying grocery bags with him, and you figured something was definitely amiss when you coincidentally came across a little plastic bag containing a few electronic devices meant to bug someone. Initially, you figured it was for another culprit, had Kunikuzushi come across somebody of high regard, though after spending some time paying attention to Kunikuzushi's behavior with you, you realized that the items might have been meant foryou.

You couldn't blame him for wanting to monitor you, since you were just about ready to leave the hideout at any time now and he was naturally concerned for your being. Nevertheless, you chose not to bring it up, though you keep the devices in mind.

Nights with him slowly grew more bearable by yourself, with you politely asking for space for the sake of relearning how to sleep by yourself. The first two nights you asked him for space, you found yourself craving to be held by him, and after those two nights, you were accustomed to embracing a pillow in his stead.

After four days had passed, you eventually got to charging your phone, finally feeling prepared to step back into the online world as you ease yourself back into reality. Immediately, you received a string of messages: overdue bills to be paid in your emails, and messages from your coworkers asking you how you had been doing. From what you had gathered, Ei had told your coworkers that you had a family emergency to attend to, and therefore were absent.

Amidst the sea of concerned messages, you came across Kujou Sara's deadpan text simply asking one thing.What happened?

You smiled at the message, feeling a little guilty. Sara was the only person you had ever told about your family situation, how you had purposely estranged yourself from your kin in order to adopt a new life as someone else entirely. You had felt comfortable opening up to her as she had to you regarding her own familial circumstances, with both of you sharing one thing in common. The two of you had your parents pass tragically in their own different ways, and you had helped Sara through her roughest moments over the past years as her close yet somewhat distant friend, hoping to pull her out of her grief as her parents passed away, with Sara's mother passing first and her father to leave her shortly after.

Sara, out of everybody, definitely knew something was amiss concerning your situation.

You chose to reply to everyone kindly, though when it came to responding to Sara's message, you found yourself lying through grit teeth. Lying to her was the best option you had left, seeing as how you couldn't tell her about how you had become severely traumatized, and turned into a murderer over the past week or so. How you had with little to no hesitation blew three bullet holes into the skull of another human being, how you had been captured and held under the management of one of the Fatui harbingers the police had been in dire search of.

And it wasn't like you could tell her that you were residing in the ex-harbinger, Scaramouche's home.

You couldn't tell her a single thing. So you chose the next best option, to lie and make a believable story up about how your aunt had wanted to see you in another prefecture.

You wait the whole night for Sara to respond, and when she doesn't, you figure that she's either too tired to deal with your bullshit, or had seen past you completely and was now ignoring you as a result. Either way, you supposed you had deserved it, betraying your own coworkers and line of work for the sake of personal glory.

That same night, as you lie in bed with Kunikuzushi, he lets you know that he'll be gone for most of the day tomorrow since an alarm at a Fatui hideout had supposedly gone off. He would go investigate it, remain there for the night and would return early in the morning.

He doesn't tell you when he leaves in the morning that he was actually going to stakeout at your house, nor does he bother telling you about the miniature camera he had implemented at your door, giving him notice on his phone that a hooded figure had been at your door last night. Kunikuzushi spends the night there, patiently waiting in an old car he had finally gotten out of his storage warehouse as of a few days ago. Much to his chagrin, nobody appears at your door throughout the night.

Feeling chipper in the morning, you sit yourself on the couch, watching as Kunikuzushi descends from the staircase donning his usual dark attire in preparation to leave. "Good morning," you greet him, your voice light, "there's breakfast on the table for you. Are you going off somewhere?"

Kunikuzushi seems hesitant to reply, "..Just going to reinvestigate the location from last night," he shortly responds as his eyes land on the plate of food at the table, "sorry, can I ask you to wrap this up for me? I'll eat it later, but I have to get going now," he huffs, dropping a heavy bag onto the floor by the doorway, causing your eyes to flicker to the bag for just a second.

"Sure, I don't mind, but…" You trail off, watching as he leans down to drag his shoes on, "I was actually going to let you know that I'll be going home today."

In seconds, the atmosphere surrounding you feels icier, his bangs hiding his face as he pauses for just a moment, his fingers resting on the back end of his shoe for a little too long before he finally straightens himself back up.

"No,"Kunikuzushi retorts, his voice harsh and cold as he turns to glare at you, "you're not."

He slings his backpack over one shoulder as you narrow your eyes onto him in confusion, "Why can't I?" Your voice is still light, despite how uncertain you sounded, "I'm fully recovered now. I can handle myself," you stretch in your seat, "and I feel a lot more energized, so I can probably go back to work now, too–"

"You're not going anywhere!" Kunikuzushi's abrupt yell startles you, his irises gleaming violet as he scowls at you, "You're staying here." You return his glare as you stand from your seat, your expression turning grim as you clench your hands into fists. Kunikuzushi presses a hand to his mouth, feeling his stomach churn at the thought of you walking around and about, "Listen, Miss Investigator," his eyes flicker downwards to the floor as he grits his teeth, allowing his hand to fall from his face, "I can't risk you getting hurt again. It's not safe out there yet," his mind is slowly turning into a jumbled mess as he thinks of the hooded figure just outside your door, "I can't let you go yet."

You eye him in disbelief, "Well," you start, "it's not like I can just sit here until Dottore is dead. I have a life to attend to," you take a step forward, pressing on, "I have a mountain of work to catch up on, people I have to see again," you reason, maintaining his gaze as his eyes harden onto your own, turning almost bitter upon hearing your words, "and I've been gone for nearly a month. I'm okay now, I can take care of myself. I don't need to rely on you anymore." You offer him a small smile, although there's an anxiousness that feasts on your confidence within you. You step closer to him, reaching out to latch onto his wrist as you maintain a composed sense of self, "I can protect myself."

Kunikuzushi's lips fall open upon hearing your words, his expression sullen as he shifts in his spot, the light coming in from behind him shadowing his features as he starts, his voice akin to a whisper as a darkness bursts forth from within him, "You can't protect yourself," Kunikuzushi retorts quickly, his eyes wide as words roll out of his mouth, "that's how you had gotten kidnapped in the first place."

You stare at him in shock, your hand reeling away from his own, though he doesn't let you. "You need me," Kunikuzushi whispers, his hand latching onto your own, "and with me, I'll protect you. You won't have to be afraid of anything," his grip on you feels strange, his tone laced with something unhealthy as he draws himself closer to you, "stay with me. I'll keep an eye on you at all times and ensure your safety."

You purse your lips into a thin line, his touch scorching you, "Kunikuzushi–"

Your eyes blow wide as his hands rest on your shoulders, and in a whirlwind of motions, you're pinned against the wall, his nails nearly digging into your skin as his breathing becomes uneven, "I–" He interjects, his eyes gluing onto your own as he huffs, "I bugged your place."

"..What?" You reply, reaching a hand up to put some distance between the two of you as he gazes down at you, looking almost panicked.

"Someone was at your door last night," he confesses, "I couldn't tell who they were because of how they were dressed, but it might've been another Fatui member." He watches as your eyes widen with fear, and a part of him thinks he should stop himself from scaring you anymore, but instead, he opts to continue, "They're waiting for you to come back."

You let out a shaky breath, feeling anxiety swell within you as you tear your gaze away from Kunikuzushi's face, your eyes scouring the floor beneath you desperately as though you were looking for answers, "Okay," you sound breathless, your mind working overtime as it attempts to calm your senses, "then what should I do? I can't just sit here," you repeat your words from earlier, gulping down your nervousness, "I have to go to work and whatnot."

Kunikuzushi lets out a bated breath, his grip around your shoulders weakening as he moves to wrap his arms around your form, embracing you tightly, "..Can't you quit?" He proposes, feeling you fall limp in his arms, "They can't do anything for you, but if you work with me, if you live with me and stay with me then I can provide you everything you need," he rests his forehead onto your own, his voice strongly laced with hurt and anguish.

You must've meant a lot to Kunikuzushi, enough to see him make such a torn expression while looking at you this closely. You felt your own heart shudder in your chest as he continued.

"You were hurt," Kunikuzushi adds, "and so was I. I could hardly live with myself those days you were gone, knowing that whatever he was doing to you was probably the same as he had done to me years ago,or worse.I couldn't sleep," he hisses under his breath, his grip falling to your waist, his fingers digging into your skin, "all I could think about was you,you, you–you!" There's a spiral of something dismal within his eyes that causes shivers to run down your spine, "These weeks were painful for me, too. Have you not given thought to me? Even after I had confessed to you?"

You open your mouth to say something, only to find that you can't with how tightly he's holding onto you. You were unaware of how much torment he had been going through himself, far too absorbed in your own swell of pain to recognize his own pain.

"All I ask is that you return the favor and listen to me too," he whispers, the sun on his face casting a strange shadow on him, "just as I had listened to your pleas. Listen to mine, anddon't leave this place.At the very least," he sighs, knowing he couldn't possibly hold onto you forever, despite how badly he wished he could, "not until I find out who's been loitering around your place," he leans in just a little closer, his nose bumping into your own, his breath fanning across the heated skin of your cheeks, "and maybe then, we can come to terms with sending you back without fear."

It was strange, having someone go so far for you, having a person you cared for continuously trouble themselves, despite being the type of character to shrug things off with ease. Once again, you found yourself wondering justhowimportant you were to him, enough for him to hold you in such a way that felt a little less sweet, edging towards obsession and possessiveness, akin to a child holding their prized toy, afraid that if he were to let you go, you'd disappear forever.

You gulp. You were aware you were far more than a toy to him, far more than someone to simply obsess over, he had made that clear over your time spent with him. He was much more than a simple friend to you as well, and you knew he had understood that from his usual teasing and musings with you.

"I won't quit my job, but I will wait," you conclude without blinking, keeping your eyes on his own as he lets out a relieved breath, "however, youmusttell me when the problem has been rid of… Okay?" Although you are nervous with how his eyes glimmer in satisfaction upon hearing your words, you allow his head to fall next to your neck, cradling him gently in your own arms as he sinks into you.

"After that," you start again, patting his back, feeling his muscles tense and tremble under your touch, "I will return home with caution. I'll let you keep an eye on me if it makes things easier for you. I promise, Kunikuzushi," your voice lowers into a whisper, "I won't let myself be taken again. Just as I had said I would, I will fight tooth and nail to get out of any situation that compromises my safety."

He doesn't respond, but the hand he presses gently on the side of your face is confirmation enough.

Your heart flutters in your chest when you feel him press a soft kiss to the side of your neck, and when he straightens himself out before you, you find yourself reaching up to press your lips against his cheek. The male sounds breathless when he speaks, his dark hair brushing against your face, "..You need me," Kunikuzushi repeats yet again, and you begin to wonder if it's a chant he has been telling himself over the past weeks you had been mentally gone, "you need me…" You peel yourself away from him for just a moment, long enough to see the strange spiral of darkness in his eyes merge with an unrelenting, rosy hued light from within him, "So don't you dare think of leaving me."

"I need you," you decide to remark, knowing well that you had just satisfied an odd craving from within him upon saying such words, "andyouneedme, so I wouldn't even think of leaving you."

There's an unsaid exchange of emotions with one another that is traded off when the two of you remain still briefly, your eyes fixated on one another's expressions. The exchange causes your pulse to rise, his hands on you only cementing, and when he begins to lean in, you find your heart growing fickle. You shake your head once, a notion of rejection that Kunikuzushi isn't entirely bothered by. He forces himself to remain still, his irises scanning your own for just a few more seconds before he pulls away, retreating away from your form.

Before he leaves, he says something that catches you a little off guard. "I told you I liked you, didn't I?" His expression is neutral when he opens the door to allow himself out of the home, turning over his shoulder to toss you a look, "You do understand I was serious, right?"

"Oh," you shortly retort, pressing a hand to your elbow as you lean on a wall, eying him carefully in confusion, "yeah, I understand, of course." You don't really understand why he stares at you for a long period of time after that, with you only shrinking slightly in return to his blatant stare.

"You reallyarejust an unattractive woman," Kunikuzushi starts again with a sigh, turning his head away from you now, "you can at least pretend to be cute and act embarrassed." He waits for you to say something, and when you don't, he steps out the door with a sigh, "I'll see you later."

With that, he's gone. The door shuts behind him completely, and you listen in silence as he footfall retreats away from the abode, blending into the sounds of cars passing just outside the home.

You stare blankly at the door, feeling your heart grow heavy at his words. You were aware of his feelings for you, and you were aware that you reciprocated them, but… You grit your teeth, digging your nails into your skin as your mind finds itself attempting to wander down into the depths of the glass cellar you had been caged in. You were far too troubled with your own mind to even pay attention to whatever had been blooming between the two of you, and in truth, you weren't sure if you were entirely interested in moving forward aside from being just… Whatever the two of you were now.

You wanted to love, and perhaps when Kunikuzushi was present with you, touching you, holding you endearingly, you could feel affection to its maximum extent… But right now,you felt a void within your chest.You were mourning your own death the moment you had pulled the trigger on the gun.

You could only vividly remember the feeling of a gun in your hand, the weightlessness it had as bullets flew out of it with ease, plunging themselves deep into the skull of a Fatui soldier that in all earnesty, had been wanting to do nothing more than live.

You could vividly remember the sharp projections of needles digging into your veins, how bruises bloomed from where you had been injected, the feeling of something parasitic flooding your veins, invading your mind– the echo of flies buzzing in your ears whenever Dottore spoke, and at last, you remember the vibrant colors when you awoke from your long stupor, being drowned in the abyss of your own memories you had wished to forget.

You remember that you lost all sense of self in that moment you had killed the soldier, and ever since then, you would never be the same. You had taken a life, and that was permanent. From that day onwards, no matter the excuses you made for yourself, the ugly truth would never be overwritten, your actions engraving themselves into the skull of another being that had perished in the fire, your murder thrown under the guise of Dottore's insanity, letting loose on his own subordinates.

No amount of hugs from Kunikuzushi could mend that fact, and no amount of tears you shed could undo the past. You adored the comfort you felt, receiving his affections, you adored how your heart felt so very alive when you saw his cheeks filled with rosy colors, but you felt as though you couldn't pursue the extent of your feelings with him, especially with all the world bearing down onto you. It felt almost as though you weren't allowed to feel infatuated, as though you were undeserving of it.

Kunikuzushi was a wonderful distraction. That's what he has always been to you. A distraction, a way for your heart to breathe in a world it always felt too stifled in. You wanted to indulge in your feelings some more, despite feeling undeserving of it, so you would allow Kunikuzushi to spoil you. You would let him protect you, as you had sought to be protected all these years. Seeing the darkness in his eyes, if he saw nothing but victory at the end of his path, then you would help him to fulfill your own ends.

You had been caught up in the chase, dragged far and wide until your lungs had hurt from screaming and crying, until the hatred and anger in your heart had rekindled. Right now, more than anything, you wanted to see Dottore fall to his knees. You wanted nothing more than to kill him, to relieve yourself of your sins, to save what dignity had been left of your deceased parents. You wanted to reclaim all that had been taken from you by taking the harbinger's life. You weresurethat when you killed him, all your sleepless nights, plagued with nightmares from long ago would become nonexistent.

Only then, when he was dead, could you sleep like a child and without a worry in the world.

Your breathing came to a halt when the sunlight burned onto your cheeks, flooding your skin with a warmth that brought with it, a realization. Dottore had wrought forth from within you the same thing he had wrought forth from Kunikuzushi: the thirst for revenge. You turn your back towards the light, allowing a soft, broken laugh to escape your lips as your eyes darken, your gaze fixated onto the floor as you smile. You remember vaguely telling Kunikuzushi that you were not in this relationship with him in pursuit of revenge, though you supposed Dottore had won in the battle of psyches and had ultimately changed that.

But you would make sure that your undoing would be the death of him.

All alone now, you sit on the floor, keeping your knees to your chest as you wrap your arms around them, your back hunched forward. In the silence, you mull over your own thoughts, allowing your mind to melt away as you await Kunikuzushi's arrival.

Remembering the kiss he plants on your neck, you can't help but wonder if things would only continue to grow steadily between the two of you. Lost in your thoughts, you begin to wonder how far you could let your frail heart wander before he or yourself shatters it. You wonder just how much more of yourself you would lose to people around you who seemed to only take and take, never giving anything back.

You don't want to find out, but you let your heart wander anyway.

Notes:

i hope the conflicting emotions were ok, cuz its probably gonna be a lot of back and forth of that for a little while.

virixe is very busy this month, ive had to attend about 5 different birthday parties and events (all of which are in my family) and it's a nightmare having 5libras in one household. everyones okay with everything, so nobody can actually decide shit!

im so sleepy... i'll respond to everyone properly tmorrow! goodnight...!

Chapter 20: Ghost Food

Summary:

In which an unlikely visitor knocks at the door to your home and is immediately met with a knife.

Notes:

"Speaking little is the way to go
Getting better at just making excuses
Time with nothing in it is passing by
Pretending to really notice
When you actually don't notice at all"

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Kunikuzushi returned home empty handed that day, and from thereon, every moment spent together afterwards felt colder, as though whatever warmth that had grown between the two of you had splintered off into nothingness. Over dinner, you hardly speak to him, keeping yourself distracted by peering through your phone, catching up on life and what you had last known of it since your kidnapping.

You refused to tell him about how your heart had been reinvigorated with flames of hatred, and you refused to speak about how squandered you were, keeping yourself at a slow pace when you moved and spoke so that any possibility of your relapsing would remain out of Kunikuzushi's mind. When he stared at you, there was a longing, a kindness that caused the flames in your chest to become asphyxiated.

And when you return his stare, you wish for nothing more than to melt in his arms, allow him to shower you in embraces and kisses, in warmth and affection. However, you are shackled to your burdens, shackled to your regrets, shackled to your miscalculations from long ago, shackled to the Fatui and to Dottore. They weigh you down even as Kunikuzushi tries to lift you up, and you know that these shackles would never unhinge themselves from off your ankles and wrists until you laid rest to the founder of the source of your pains.

From the day Kunikuzushi had saved you, you were offered two paths: one which you understood to be for the better, and one which would redeem all your sleepless nights and sorrows from years ago.

In bed with him, even as Kunikuzushi murmurs gentle words to you, speaking of old memories from distant, pleasant days, you find your mind disappearing off into the darkness. And when he falls asleep, you start an internal conflict with yourself, one side bellicose while the other yearned for peace. You let out a breath, collapsing into an impasse with yourself as your tired mind drifts off into sleep.

Kunikuzushi spends most of his time on his laptop, idly researching, keeping his mind preoccupied by keeping any possible tabs on Dottore's whereabouts, or if there had been any other disturbances caused by the Fatui by Inazuman waters. When you finally ask if there has been any news regarding Dottore's appearance, Kunikuzushi only keeps his eyes hardened onto the screen, willfully ignoring you.

You don't bother asking him anything further, knowing well that he was still keen on making sure your mind had been emptied of what thoughts you had left on the Doctor.

The following afternoon, Kunikuzushi departs once more, leaving to your home to inspect it and rid of any suspicious characters lingering around and about your house. By night time, you receive a text that instils fear within you, and in seconds, you're racing out of the house wearing improper clothes, not even bothering to pull a jacket over you as you jump into your car and drive off.

Kunikuzushi finds himself playing with a switchblade, his feet on the dashboard of his beat up car as he leans back in his seat. He waits in the silence for something to happen, making sure to note every passerby that shifted past your apartment doorway. Nothing had happened for days straight, but he knew better than not to become complacent just because of the lack of activity. The Fatui were out to kill himand you,and that fact in itself meant that they would use any method of service to bring upon harm, whether it come in the form of a harmless delivery, or from a dog, or a child.

To Kunikuzushi, everybody was an enemy until they were considered safe by his standards as an ex-harbinger himself.

Remaining seated for hours at a time, Kunikuzushi analyzes every person that he sees standing or staring at your apartment door for seconds too long, his mind drowning in a tepid darkness he had grown accustomed to in his years spent alone, as someone constantly on the lookout, escaping and killing when he had to.

When night falls, Kunikuzushi's attention is drawn to a dark vehicle that parks just outside of your apartment, and a figure of a woman emerges from the car, exiting it slowly, taking something out of their pocket before placing it back into it. Kunikuzushi hums, his eyes narrowing onto the figure as they begin to amble up towards your apartment door, leading up the stairs, and Kunikuzushi istrulyset off when he receives notifications on his phone, signaling that whoever that person had been had rang your doorbell.

Steeling himself, Kunikuzushi feels an iciness flood his veins, his expression's natural warmth masked by a killer's harsh facade as he pockets his switchblade and pulls his hood on. He kicks his door open with a huff, sighing when the cold night breeze settles into his bones. Briefly, he scans the area, in search of any sign of life, and when he notices nobody is there, he prepares himself with a small smile. Watching the woman descend from your apartment floor, he cloaks himself in the shadows, listening to the sound of her footsteps approaching her car at a steady rate– and when she's just a little ways away from him, Kunikuzushi lunges forward.

The woman lets out a startled cry, taken aback as she is forced to quiet, the blade of a knife pressed against her neck causing her to freeze up entirely, her breath stalling at her neck as an unknown voice registers in her ears.

"Move and I'll kill you," Kunikuzushi whispers by her ear, holding her steady as his eyes widen, "do as little as make a small noise and I'll slit your throat wide open. From now on, only do as I say if you wish to live," his voice turns treacherous,"nod if you understand."

The woman's dark hair peeks out through her hood, her breath shaky as she grits her teeth, nodding once when she feels the blade pierce the skin of her neck slightly, causing a rivulet of blood to form from the nick. The aura the male exudes behind her terrifies her to her core, like a darkness grasping her and smothering her, threatening to swallow her up if she refuses to abide his demands.

"Good," Kunikuzushi hisses before pushing her slightly, "now open the door and get in," he ushers her to move quickly when he sees a pair of headlights from the distance moving towards them.

With no choice, the woman is forced to obey, moving inwards into the car before being shoved in, and just when she moves to grab something out of her pocket, Kunikuzushi clicks his tongue, pressing his knife at her jugular once more, causing her honey hued irises to widen considerably. The passing vehicle illuminates his features for just a moment, though it is long enough to have her realize who she had been looking at, her chest constricting with fear and shock all at once.

Kunikuzushi moves into the car, forcing the dark haired woman to move into the passenger seat. His eyes narrow onto her features, his motions stuttering for just a second as he realizes who he was looking at, too,"You're…"He trails off his voice laced with irritation as he readjusts the blade of the knife on her neck.

Just as he is about to continue, he hears what sounds to be your voice calling his name out from the distance.

The second he is distracted, the woman fights back, causing his motions to shift into defense as she expertly knocks the knife out of his hands, allowing it to clatter onto the floor as she attempts to knock him out. Kunikuzushi's elbow slams onto the center of the steering wheel, causing the car to honk when he moves to block her attack, attempting to regain control of the situation by grabbing the knife on the floor, only coming to a dead halt when he hears your voice again from behind him, having opened the car door.

You eye them in complete disdain, feeling panic thrum throughout your veins when you see Sara look at you in disbelief. Kunikuzushi returns your stare with a bewildered yet guarded expression, "What are you doing here–!?" He is cut off by Sara completely swiping the knife away from his reach, only to punch him in the face, his teeth cutting into his lip. You gasp when he lets out a groan.

"Grab him!" Sara instructs you with a shout, "Now!" Your mind is sent into a frenzy, your eyes wide as you find yourself latching onto Kunikuzushi, listening to him huff angrily in your ear as he glowers at Sara, his consciousness fading in and out with his ears ringing loudly.

"Sara," you slowly begin, dragging Kunikuzushi out of the car slowly with your arms hooked around his torso, "I need you tocalm down,"your eyes never leave Sara's own as she looks at you in confusion, her eyebrows shooting upwards in confusion before your betrayal registers in her mind.

"What are you doing!?" Sara shouts once more, reaching over to grab onto Kunikuzushi's legs in an attempt to keep him in the car, "You want me tocalm down?Do you not know who you're holding right now?"

"I know who he is," you reply as calmly as you can, "he's someone dear to me, so please…" You hear Kunikuzushi mutter a curse under his breath, and you lean downwards to whisper by his ear, "I've got you," you say as his eyes flutter shut, "I have you, I swear on it."

Upon seeing your brief exchange with the former harbinger, Sara's eyes widen, his teeth grit as all color drains from her face. Wordlessly, she glares up at you, her heart stilling in her chest as she scans your expression for any sign of remorse, only to find nothing as you embrace the notorious killer's unconscious body. Your betrayal causes her stomach to burn with acid, her nails digging into the skin of her flesh as she pulls herself out of the car, slamming the door shut behind her.

Sara thinks to call in Ayato and the rest of the team.

You glance up at her once more, slinging Kunikuzushi's arm over yourself so that you could carry his weight up to your apartment, "..I'll tell you," you start, feeling anxious with how firm her glare was on your face, "I'll tell you everything that's happened. Please, just come with me–"

"How can I trust you?" Sara opts to retort, her reply short and cold, causing you to shrink back further, "After all ofthis," she points at Kunikuzushi, furrowing her eyebrows together in anger, "how am I supposed to believe you?

"Because," you offer her a small, sorrowful smile, "we've always trusted each other, haven't we?"

Your words plunge deeply into her mind, Sara's lips pulling taut into a thin line as she stands still for a moment, pondering over your words before adding on, "..I'll give you ten minutes–no,"she corrects herself, scooping Kunikuzushi's other arm up so that she could aid you in bringing him up to your apartment, "five minutes to buy my interest and warrant my care, and if I deem that this situation is not worthy of my countenance, then Iwillreport youand himto the police."

Allowing a nervous laugh to escape your lips, you barely manage to swallow your fears and anxieties.Oh, what a mess today was.

You lead her into your dusty apartment, allowing Kunikuzushi to rest his head on your lap as you sit before Sara, who only seemed to glare at you in return. By the time you're fully settled and prepared to talk, her finger is tapping on her arm, her scowl ever growing, "Three minutes," she retorts bitterly.

"W-What!?" You huff, your eyes wide as you meet her gaze.

"I started counting by the time we got in here," she remarks quickly.

"You're not beingfair,"you regret spewing such words the moment you see irritation flare in her eyes, bursting from beyond her honey hued irises.

Sara's voice is relentless, "You want to talk aboutfairness?Do youunderstandhow it feels for me to come here after work for two days now, being ignored when I knock on your door? Does itrequirea text from me so that you even botheransweringyour door?"

You zip your mouth shut, allowing her to vent her frustrations as she glowers at you, "You're capable of handling your own issues, but as a friend I couldn't help but be concerned, and my concern rewarded me with a knife to my throat. Where is the fairness in that?" She muses with a hint of sorrow in her tone, "My concern towards you led to me finding out that you're what–" Her eyes flicker downwards towards Kunikuzushi's form on the floor, "Colluding with the Fatui? Have you been working with Childe all along? How long have you been deceiving all of us..?"

When her voice trembles upon saying the last few words, the weight of your actions feel greater than ever. Your eyes darken, your lips falling open as you find yourself unable to meet her harsh gaze, "No, I've never worked with Childe. I'm sorry, Sara," you apologize, your voice soft, "I know I haven't been truthful to you, or anybody for that matter, and I promise that I have my own reasons for being in this situation. If you could just lend your ear to me, I…" You trail off, feeling Kunikuzushi shift his head on your lap.

Sara only continues to eye you with disdain, calculating you in search of any suspicious note in your tone and body language before finally conceding, "Go on then," she crosses her arms, shutting her eyes as she patiently waits, "I'll listen."

You bite your tongue, gulping as you wrack your mind for anything, realizing that youdesperately neededto get her on your side so that Kunikuzushi and yourself would be safe. Right now, you had to decide between being absolutely truthful, or whether you could deceive her with whatever lies you could come up with. You were good at lying, it was second nature to you– to falsify everything, to hide the truth in layers of words, just as you had your personality, your background, your everything.

You could do it again, couldn't you?

All resolve and hope in deceiving Sara dies in your throat when you come face to face with her, her eyes peering into your own, and for a moment, you're scared that if she keeps looking at you, she'll find something unpleasant to pick at. Your pulse rises, though you maintain your breath by attempting to keep a level headed mind.

You would tell her the truth, you decided as your mouth flies open, words spilling out of your mouth as you count down seconds, to minutes in your head. The truth was what she deserved for being an amazing friend, for being there when you needed her, and likewise, the truth was required in order to maintain what purity your friendship had with her.

In your mind, you count that a minute has passed, and she has not stopped you yet in your tracks. You take it as a green light to continue, and so you tell her about how Kunikuzushi and yourself have been using each other for information, trading on the Fatui in hopes to bring them down. You tell her that the two of you act purely on revenge, and you tell her that Kunikuzushi had been brainwashed for some time, his mind melted from countless nights tortured in Dottore's lab.

She didn't seem to care much about Kunikuzushi, and so you decided to throw yourself at her mercy, telling her about your time captured by Dottore, the sorts of pains you've experienced, and to prove that, you show her old injection sites, not completely healed just yet. You needed her onyour side,no matter what sorts of truths you would have to unravel from within you, though you doubted it would be much as she already knew you for the most part.

You only tell her what she needs to know, refusing to tell her that Chief Raiden was also a recent, new part of this collusion between you and Kunikuzushi, and neither do you tell her anything regarding Kunikuzushi's background.

By the time you're done speaking, an hour has passed. Sara, despite her slight incredulity and suspicion over your words, did her absolute best to hear you out, remaining quiet unless she had a burning question. Sara folds her arms, her gaze on you blunt as she pulls her lips into a thin line, "Then, this man and you have been uncovering the Fatui from behind the scenes," Sara starts, "even so, although the work is appreciated–we are taking results by an unnecessary, dirty means!"

Ah, you had nearly forgotten about Sara and her strong sense of morality, "At the end of the day," you begin to reason, "although underhanded, what chance did we ever have against the Fatui if this man," you usher towards Kunikuzushi, "hadn't helped me and told me about Childe's infiltration? We had a spy under our noses for years, deceiving us. How were we to move forward?"

"There is no'we'in this equation, Miss Investigator," Sara corrects you with a huff, "our unit never agreed as a whole to allow this uncanny relationship to even occur. Don't try to lump everyone with you," she shakes her head, disciplining you with a motherly tone, "we were content with the information we had as we had obtained it by appropriate means–"

"Appropriate means?" You snap, feeling as though your mind were wavering with her tone on you, "That's what you care about? We would've been left dry for years longer, with the Fatui only expanding their reach from the underground. How many more lives must we have lost by then? I was next to go," you pressed a hand onto your chest, finding it difficult to maintain a steady tone as irritation seeped into your voice, "Childe–no,Tartaglia was prepared to kill me. Who knows who would've been next in our group, and if not in our group– how many other civilian lives would need to be sacrificed?"

Sara shuts her eyes once more, shaking her head as she rests her hands on her lap. There was no argument to be made, as at the end of the day, you were safe due to the unconscious criminal resting on you.

Upon receiving her silence, you decide to throw your last gamble, "You must understand how vital he is to us now. He will provide us help from the sidelines, provide us with intel. Behind the scenes, we can all work together in order to keep civilians unharmed. Would you care to join us, Sara?" You watch as her eyes grow wide in disbelief, and before she can say anything, you start again, "We need all the help we can get, securing information, and if you don't want to work directly with Scaramouche himself, then at the very least, it would be amazing if you can do me a favor and keep quiet."

You hear Kunikuzushi let out a slight scoff upon hearing your words, eliciting a bubbling irritation to rise from within you as your muscles tense. You nearly roll your eyes, and it takes you every ounce to remain unfazed in front of Sara as she ponders over your words.

Sara is first to move, standing up from her seat while keeping her eyes averted off to the side, her gaze distant, "Will you give me a moment?" She doesn't even wait for your reply. Disconcerted, she makes her way outside of your apartment, and you don't dare stop her, deciding to trust your gut when it tells you that she just required a breather to think things through as opposed to calling reinforcements to arrest you and Kunikuzushi.

When she's out, you decide to smack Kunikuzushi's head, uncaring of the hiss he lets out when you do so, "Iknewyou were awake," Your tone is cool, and casual, your blank expression remaining on the door from where Sara had departed from, "I knew you wouldn't be driven unconscious from a punch to the face."

Kunikuzushi lets out an undignified snort, "I decided to save usboththe awkwardness and embarrassment by faking unconsciousness," he confesses, rolling around to look up at you properly, "I couldn't imagine how the talk would have gone had I remained 'awake'. Besides, I've enjoyed the laziness of being carried up to your home, and I do quite enjoy the warmth of your lap as well," the hint of playfulness is not lost on you, though you do ignore it.

"Stay awhile longer," you mutter, brushing your hand through his dark locks, "just until she leaves. Sorry if I spilled too much information," your eyes retreat downwards, finding Kunikuzushi's own orbs as you continue, "I need her to understand my reasoning. The last thing I'd want is for her to be hurt due to misunderstandings– which by the way," you pinch his cheek, a surge of anger flaring behind your irises briefly, "I saw the cut on her neck. I resent you for that. If I didn't check my phone in time, who knows what sort of brawl would have unfolded between the two of you."

"One where I'd triumph," Kunikuzushi retorts without hesitation, his tone a tad too prideful, "she could never hope to win in a fight against me–!" He's cut off by the sudden pain that blooms in his cheeks when you tug on his flesh once more, his expression lightening upon seeing your irritated features.

"You are such a child sometimes," you comment, "perhaps in a close range fight you would win," you opt to entertain him, narrowing your eyes in glee when you see a flicker of doubt in his eyes, "but in far range combat with guns, she would most definitely win. Sara scored the highest in accuracy and second in swiftness of reaction time during our tests. She's smart and has the eyes of a hawk."

Kunikuzushi raises an eyebrow mockingly, his tone nonchalant as he returns your banter, "Hm. I should've asked her to be my partner instead," he muses, shutting his eyes as he allows a smirk to grace his lips, "at least she doesn't let herself get damaged in order to land a direct hit." He doesn't bother reacting to the pinch you give him, though he does decide to start again, "Who had won first in the test of motion sensitivity?"

Now, it was your turn to snicker,"Me."

When Sara returns, Kunikuzushi is silent again, feigning sleep as your hand comforts him. You brush his loose strands of hair, aiming your gaze at Sara. She doesn't bother sitting down again, instead remaining by the doorway with her hands in the pockets of her jacket, her nose stung red from the cold winds outside, "I can't join you," her rejection does not come across as surprising, though it does sink your heart a little "I refuse to join hands with a criminal," her tone turns darker, almost bitter with bits of anger seeping through as she licks her lips, "if you wish to go down falling, siding with a criminal, then go by yourself. All I can offer you is my silence," Sara pauses, her gaze flickering to the floor for just a moment before they find your own once more, "I will pretend that I hadn't heard a single thing today. I'll pretend I didn't come here at all."

Your brief sensation of gratefulness goes unrelinquished as she presses on, "However, if evidence is found and gathered against you, then I…" Sara's irises gleam with a sharpness that nearly splits your resolve, "I won't actively go against it." You watch as she turns around to leave, her hand finding the handle of the door, "However, I wanted to… Apologize, somewhat," her apology confuses you, throwing your mind into a loop, "I hadn't known you had been so lost in your path of revenge. I was aware of all your grievances regarding the Fatui, and I had complete trust in your better judgment…" She trails off, her muscles visibly tensing, "Perhaps I've been negligent with our friendship. Perhaps I mistook our distant, comfortable relationship as a sign of closeness where we could confide in one another with ease."

You nearly let out a guffaw upon hearing her words, her kindness prickling you with the sharpness of a thousand needles as guilt reached forth from the bellows of your stomach, "You have no reason to apologize, Sara," you reply with a tempered smile despite her back facing you, "my actions will and have always been my own undoing. Ultimately, I don't think this outcome could have changed," you suggest, your smile quickly dampening, "Scaramouche had information I wanted, and my life was on the line. If I were to choose between keeping a strong sense of justice or my life, I would choose my life over and over again."

Sara doesn't say anything more regarding your words. She simply opens the door, allowing the cold air to flood into the room, "I'll be going now," she comments plainly, "it's getting late, and I got all the answers I wanted. I want you to know that although I don't approve of your methods, I trust you won't do anything illogical… I'll see you later then," Sara steps out of your home, and just as she closes the door behind her, she hears your parting words.

"I'll see you later, Sara. Thank you for understanding me."

And when her footsteps finally fade into nothing, you speak up yet again, your expression neutral as you relax yourself, "..I'll be staying here as of today, Kunikuzushi."

Your words cause Kunikuzushi's mind to spur into action, his eyes narrowed into a firm glare as he looks up at you, keeping his head rested onto your lap.

"Everything is okay now, right?" You continue, glancing down at him, meeting his glare with an expression of tranquility, "We found the person who was knocking on my door, and as promised, I will be extra cautious when moving about." You wait for him to remark, knowing how badly he wanted to say something right now just by the look on his face, and when he says nothing of the sort, you can't help but huff in relief. "I'll pick my stuff up from your place tomorrow," you add on, allowing him to shift off of you as your eyes remain on his form, watching as he sits straight, "will that be alright?"

"It's not alright," he bitterly murmurs under his breath, rubbing his eyes and feeling at his bruising cheek, feeling a stinging sensation echo beneath his skin from where Sara had punched earlier, "but I get it. You're a hard headed fool, and you would probably kill me if I tried to make you stay with me any longer," Kunikuzushi's irises have a strange sheen to them, looking almost as though he were reminiscing a few memories, "you already kick me in your sleep as though you wish to rid of me."

Quietly, you stand, rubbing your hands together as you make your way towards the door, waiting for Kunikuzushi to follow you. The male doesn't for some time, instead remaining seated as though he had been glued to his seat, his eyes surveying your form, scanning your figure up and down as though in search of something. He had been looking for excuses, something that would forcibly bind you to him once more for just a little longer, a wish born out of selfishness and possesiveness.

Finding nothing, he gives up altogether, knowing it was better to acquiesce to your terms despite the slight anxiety that pitted at his mind and stomach. As he ambles towards you, his mind fires with thoughts. What if you had randomly gotten kidnapped again? What would happen if he weren't there to protect you, to help you, to lend you that shoulder you desperately needed to rely on? Sliding his shoes onto his feet, he gulps, swallowing down the darkness that bloomed from his guts, threatening to spill out in an unpleasant form of attachment.

Your hand on his shoulder causes his gaze to lock with your own, his eyes slightly widening as he notices the edges of your lips had turned upwards.

"I'll be alright," you made sure your attempt to reassure him had not been without backing, as when you pulled your hand out from behind you, you had been holding what Kunikuzushi automatically recognized to be a small bugging device, "I brought this with me just in case. I knew you'd probably want to keep tabs on me," your hand wraps around it gently, "for my own safety. Aside from this, you'll have other ways of keeping surveillance on me right?"

Kunikuzushi doesn't understand you, how you were sofinewith him just having eyes and ears on you. You had exhibited clear discomfort towards him earlier when he had told you he had bugged your house, yet now, you were willingly playing along with his schemes. A part of him had known that keeping you to himself, selfishly hoping you'd live with him, selfishly hoping you would stay with him…

A part of him knew it was wrong. He knew he should trust you, much like Kujou Sara had put her faith in you, leaving you to your own devices despite having a notorious criminal underneath the touch of your hands. Nevertheless, his chest had burned to keep you by his side, his mind scattering at the thought of you disappearing without a trace again. He would rather die than let that happen.

Seeing a kind smile on your face as you held onto the device meant for him to spy on you scorched his insides. It rendered him guilty.

Kunikuzushi grits his teeth, feeling his chest constrict as the weight of your words fell onto him, "How can you be sofinewith this?" He whispers, his voice hoarse, "This is…What I'm doing, going this far to micromanage your life– isn't it repulsive?" In truth, a part of Kunikuzushi had thought of it as something disgusting. It was almost as though you were someone in captivity, being held actively under inspection, and he couldn't help but correlate the thought with your horrid time spent with Dottore.

You tentatively respond, seeing his expression grow sullen, "..I'm okay with it because I trust you," you slowly start, offering him a small smile, "because you told me you liked me." Kunikuzushi's breath hitches in his throat, listening to you intently when you add on, "I like you too," your smile slightly lessens when his eyes brighten, "so if keeping tabs on me will ease your burdens, then I'll gladly do it like you have done for me many times before. Just as I was hurt, you were also hurt, right?"

Kunikuzushi is speechless, his mind coming to a full halt upon seeing your innocent expression. An iciness floods his veins, pumping throughout his system as he allows himself out of the door, standing just outside of your home now, feeling his phone vibrate at his side from the signal his motion detection systems send to him, and for a moment he just stands there. Wide eyed, he gazes up at the bleak sky, mulling over his thoughts and feelings in the utter silence, the cold night air soothing the ache on his bruising cheek.

"Are you sure you don't want me to stay with you tonight?"He finds himself asking, despite knowing the answer, and when you reject his offer, he isn't in the slightest fazed.

"I'm sure," you reply with a firmness to your tone, reassuring his mind yet again as it is sent into a frenzy, and when he comes into terms with his own emotions, Kunikuzushi finally turns to look at you, his expression unreadable.

"The bug," he holds his hand out, "give it to me."

You blink once, and then twice, hesitantly flipping your hand over to allow the small, round device to fall out of your hand and into his own. There's a flicker of fire behind his violet irises as he lets the small device clatter to the floor, and you watch in shock as he steps on it before grinding it into particles. Kunikuzushi lets out a somewhat defeated sigh, pulling his phone out of his pocket and revealing the application on his phone that had sent him notifications of whenever someone had been at your door.

"That's done," Kunikuzushi whispers under his breath, talking to himself as he clicks away, deleting the application on his phone, "andthat'sdone now, too. There," he shows you his phone screen, surveying your features as they soften and relax. He shuts his screen off before pocketing his phone once more, "Don't worry," he huffs, "I'll still ensure your safety, but I trust that you'll call me or give me a text when you need me…" Allowing a half smile onto his lips, he straightens his back, tilting his head to the side.

You don't say anything. You remain looking up at him, your chest growing warm upon recognizing his actions.

He leans forwards slightly, allowing his forehead to bump into your own, "I trust you," he whispers, his voice tender as his eyes narrow, "and I want to believe in your words. Are you prepared to keep your promise to me," his breath is hot on your cheeks, though it isn't unpleasant, "to fight tooth and nail to live if something were to happen when I have my eyes off of you for a second? And of course, likewise, I'll keep my end of the deal," his words ignite a fire within your chest, the flames of something sweet licking away at your heartstrings, "I'll kill anybody who hurts you, physically or otherwise."

You afford a snicker, leaning forward until your nose bumped into his own as you feel your cheeks warm further, "Is killing really necessary? I understand why you'd do it if the pain inflicted were physical but…"

"For you," there's a flicker of something dark in Kunikuzushi's eyes when he speaks,"yes.I wouldn't settle for anything less."

You felt yourself grow weak, and suddenly, all the walls you had tried to gain around him fall apart altogether. The temptation to give in only grows further unbearable within you, a tempest blooming in your chest as you find yourself craving to be held by him.

"You're terrible," you scoff, drawing your hands forward to hold his own, feeling your fingers intertwine with his own, "..Thank you," you whisper, "it makes me glad to know that I'm just as trusted. It means a lot more than you think, coming from you."

Your words spur a swell of emotion from within Kunikuzushi, "..You like me, you said?" His throat had run dry, causing his tongue to poke out of his lips for just a second, swiping across his upper lip as he held your gaze– and suddenly, the night air felt just alittlewarmer, "Then, there'd be no problem if I kissed you, right?"

Your heart flares with affection, your stomach churning when he leans in just a tad closer, testing the waters and awaiting for your signal. You nod once, your head naturally tilting as your eyes fall shut.

In seconds, his lips are on your own, melding with one another with the two of you holding your breath, embracing every sweet second of the kiss you share. There are many things left unsaid, tender words yet to be exchanged, yet with the touch of your lips on his own along with how one of your hands reaches up to cup the side of his cheek, everything is said without words. Unable to help himself, the dark haired male hums, his hand falling to your waist, his fingers needy, desperate to hold onto you, and so they grip onto the fabric of your clothes, tugging at you.

You want to laugh when you pull away, thinking to yourself that you could've sworn that just last night you had been thinking of a hundred and one ways to run away from having this sort of intimacy with Kunikuzushi, yet here you were, going in for your second kiss that night.

The second kiss feels less innocent, and more fueled by passion, his lips moving against your own as his hands grow mischievous, running up and down your sides, feeling you– and you return the favor, feeling him shiver under your touch when you decide to run your hand south down his spine, his body pressed against your own. You smile, feeling that he has lost his nerve when his tongue licks your lower lip– and before he can do anything further, you pull away from him, a small smile on your lips as you maintain an innocent facade.

A facade that causes his expression to further darken with emotion, a facade that has him using all of his will power not to pin you against a wall, his heart racing erratically in his chest. You tap on his bruised cheek, "Getting too greedy," you comment with a light tone.

His eyes darken. "I can be worse," Kunikuzushi retorts without shame, reluctantly peeling himself off of you to recompose himself, "but don't get too cocky now, Miss Investigator. You've had a crush on me for some time now, after all."

"So have you," you remark with a scoff, inching back into your apartment. Your remark causes Kunikuzushi to snicker, amusement clear in his features as he swivels around. Realizing he is about to depart quickly, you offer him a suggestion, "Coffee tomorrow?"

Kunikuzushi lets out a loud hum of approval, though doesn't say anything further as he departs from your apartment. He doesn't even say as little as a few parting words, causing you to momentarily be stunned. You wave at him when he turns around for a second, though he doesn't return it. For a moment, had you been in someone else's shoes watching the interaction between the both of you, you would've thought he wasdesperateto leave your side. You allow a soft sigh to leave your lips, your fingers brushing along your warm cheeks as your heart thrummed with life.

In the car, all alone, Kunikuzushi finds himself reclining his seat all the way back, unable to leave your vicinity just yet, and when he lays on the driver's seat, he feels his mind wander without permission. He thinks of the touch of your skin, how soft your lips were on his own, how he had nearly lost control when he felt your hands run down his spine, causing his muscles to ripple–

And then he slaps himself, shocking himself out of his stupor as he stares at the ceiling with wide eyes.Oh,he wasfar gonefor you. Did you know that?

He remembers your so-called innocent smile when you pull away from him when he attempts to push the boundaries of intimacy between the two of you, feeling his cheeks burn with his blood, akin to liquid fire bursting throughout his body.

You had known.You had made it clear you had known,you sly thing.

Kunikuzushi lets out a laugh, though it is void of humor, the sound echoing throughout the car. Kunikuzushi wonders if he has been defeated by you long ago, and if he had been, then he wonders if such a thing occurred during the time the two of you had been on the cruise ship, as he vaguely remembers an inkling of jealousy burning within his stomach upon setting eyes on you, dancing with a particular tan skinned male.

Whenever such a thing had occurred, sweeping him off his feet, he figured that he was far too gone to go against the tides.

At night, he is unable to sleep. All he thinks about is the feeling of your skin on his own, how your breaths shorten when he deepens the kiss, and he thinks of his fingers, roaming your body as you lean in just a little closer, pressing your body onto his own. And he sears those feelings and moments into his mind with a delighted sigh.

Notes:

next chapter im introducing heizou

also my favorite holiday is cming up (halloween) what r ppl curious to read abt (reader x scara only bc i need my word count to hit 1mil for this bastard!)

Chapter 21: I'm Yours

Summary:

In which reader is forced to wear her best lies.

Notes:

We're gettin' closer, inches away
Lose composure, favorite mistake
Friendship's over, won't be the same
(Baby, I'm yours)

(See the end of the chapter formore notes.)

Chapter Text

Surprisingly, when the two of you meet at the café the morning following your response to his confession, everything feels as though nothing had changed. Kunikuzushi reminds you that he will start work part time at the cafe again now that cases concerning him had died down, this time to align with your schedule so that when you were at work, he would be at work too– a notion you found to be quite sweet. Over coffee and breakfast, he holds your hand, allowing you to ease up upon being in the public again.

Your anxiety quietens when you recognize the kindness he held for you in his eyes, your heart growing weak at the sight of it. You could only hope that he could see that you were just as enamored with him as he was with you.

When you part from him, you make sure to reinforce the fact that things between the two of you had changed. Pretending to forget something, you give him a peck on the lips, your eyes narrowed onto his heated cheeks when you pull away. Shyly waving him away, you exit the café heavily distracted, with your chest bursting with warmth.

In the car, he sends you a text before you can drive off:
"I'll pay that back tenfold when I see you next time, so prepare yourself."

With his words repeating within your mind, you drive off to work, your heart pounding erratically against your ribcage.