─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT:
You have to kill me.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

             The car was deathly silent.

            Chuuya was driving his black BMW through the streets of Yokohama, his fingers turning white beneath his gloves from how tight he was gripping the steering wheel. Aki had her face tilted towards the passenger side window, staring out, watching the city pass her by. Mori had been sure that the moment Aki left the Port Mafia Headquarters, that she would be followed. And he was right. A silver SUV had been tailing them the entire time. They had their orders. They were to drive out of the city, to a secluded location, luring the assassins in before being the ones to do the assassination.

                    Chuuya's blue gaze flickered to the rearview, looking at Aki. She was sitting so still, like some kind of gargoyle perched on the top of a cathedral. She hadn't moved an inch since she got in the car, nor had she spoke. He wished she'd say something—anything. Despite them not being on talking terms, he knew that she must have been unhappy with her predicament. She had spared Kana's life once, showing him that she had never wanted to kill her, despite the things that she had said. He wanted to know what she was thinking. He wanted to know how she was feeling—if she was feeling anything at all. Looking at her, it didn't seem like it.

                   "Can you stop staring?" Aki suddenly spoke up, snapping him from his daze, making him shift his attention back to the road. They were driving across the bridge that would lead them out of the city—closer to their mission. Closer to the moment Aki would have to kill her companion.

                     "Out with it," Aki said when Chuuya didn't say anything. He glanced at her, raising an eyebrow. She wasn't looking at him, but after a moment, she turned her body to face him, amber eyes landing on his face with a sigh. "You clearly want to say something. So spit it out already." She urged, an impatient and snappy tone to her voice.

                    "It's just... do you really want to do this? I mean, you spared her life before. Are you really alright with killing her now?" He asked her, his eyes flickering back and forth between the road and the rearview mirror.

                    Aki scoffed, "Does it look like I have a choice? It's Mori's orders."

                   "You've never cared about that before." Chuuya pointed out.

                 Aki sighed, raking a hand through her thick-dark hair, "This is different. It's a test of loyalty—of strength. I can't just not do it." She told him, as if it were obvious.

                   "But you said before that loyalty was like a coffin. You said you weren't loyal to the Double A or to the Port Mafia." Chuuya remembered. He was sure he could remember every single word she'd ever spoke.

                   "Because I wasn't," Aki said, her teeth grinding together. "But if it came down to it and I had to choose..." She trailed off, making Chuuya turn to look at her, momentarily taking his eyes off of the road.

                   "I'd choose the Port Mafia." Her words made his heart skip—and he knew she had felt it by the way she looked at him. He hadn't even realised he wanted such a thing, but she moment she'd said those words, a wave of relief crashed into him. It was something he never would have expected, not for Aki to pick a particular side—but to ever choose the Port Mafia.

                      "Why?" He asked in a quiet voice, his eyes locked on hers.

                     Because of you.

                     Because of everyone.

                     Aki shrugged, "It's good pay." There it was, once again. The moment she had opened up, she closed the door and locked it tight. It made him want to scream. He wanted to see her vulnerability—he wanted her to trust him with it. That's why he had been so angry with her. He'd wanted her to trust him, to allow him to see every part of her. He hadn't properly understood it, not until that moment, but once he did, there was no taking it back. He did want her. Fuck. He wanted all of her. The good, the bad, the downright disgraceful. He wanted her to allow him to see her—to see what was underneath the walls she had built around her to protect herself.

                       "They're closing in. You should speed up." Aki said, changing the subject with a blank expression on her face, snapping Chuuya from his sudden heart-stopping revelation.

                   Chuuya glanced in the rearview mirror. They were off the bridge, driving through a country road—he hadn't even realised they'd been off of the bridge yet. He had been so consumed by her that he hadn't paid attention. It was a miracle he hadn't wrapped the car around a pole. But then again, Aki was always good at that, stealing his undivided attention, no matter the situation.

                  Chuuya listened and sped up, the grey SUV keeping up from behind them. They were the only two on the road, pushing seventy as the cars glided around tight bends with ease, "Take a right here. It leads to an abandoned warehouse." Aki spoke up, sitting up a little straighter. When Chuuya looked at her, he realised she had her game face on. She was ready for what was about to come—what she was about to do. She had her role to play and she had accepted it.

                  Chuuya took the right.

                 The tires screeched as it turned the corner, sliding onto an uneven road. Aki glanced across at Chuuya, "You carry a gun, right?" She asked him, momentarily looking behind her to where the grey SUV was gaining on them. She knew what was about to come. They were going to try and rush them. Soon, bullets would be flying into Chuuya's BMW if they didn't act quickly.

                    Chuuya nodded, "In the glove compartment." Aki didn't hesitate. She opened up the glove compartment, her fingers wrapping around the handle of the handgun that had been stuffed inside. She took it out, unloading it and then loading it again, her hands moving expertly as she watched the rearview mirror the entire time.

                     She clicked the safety of the gun off—and just like that, a switch was turned. Chuuya watched as a manic smile crossed her face, her eyes lighting up, lips twitching upwards. She truly was the Devil in disguise, "Roll down your window and slow down." She ordered as they came up towards the carpark of the abandoned warehouse. The SUV was gaining on them, coming up against the drivers side of the car.

                  Aki unclipped her seatbelt as Chuuya did what she said, "What're you—" Chuuya didn't have the chance to finish his sentence when Aki lunged onto him, crawling onto his lap and straddling him. He lost control of the wheel for a moment in surprise but managed to get both hands back on the wheel after a moment, his arms around her waist. Aki stuck the gun out of the window, firing two shots at the tires of the SUV. Within a fraction of a second, the SUV began skidding as the left tire blew, a horrible screeching sound filling the air. The driver lost control of the car, moving in zig-zag motions as Chuuya hit the breaks, allowing the SUV to go skidding ahead of them.

Aki had a grin on her lips as the SUV flipped once, and then twice before landing upside down, smoke pouring out of the engine at the impact. Chuuya wasn't staring at the scene ahead of him, and instead, at her. It took extreme accuracy to hit a moving target, whilst also moving. He never failed to be amazed by her. At first, he had started off by being disgusted by the things she was capable of, but as time past, he found himself in awe. She was so dangerous. And so fucking beautiful.

     Aki was out of the car in a second, taking the gun with her. Chuuya got out, following her. She was bounding towards the smoking SUV, the gun held by her side. She stopped a few feet away, "You still alive in there, sweetheart?" She called into the car, settling her other hand on her hip, a grin on her lip. Chuuya used to hate this side of her—assuming it was all an act. And maybe it was, but he found that he adored it regardless. He adored everything she did, no matter her intentions. Good or bad.

                    Fuck.

                   The door to the drivers seat kicked open, smoke pouring from it. The pink-haired assassin fell out of the door, coughing up a lung, blood pouring from a fresh wound on her head. Aki tutted, "You came after me alone? I never took you for a fool, Kana." She scolded, leaning over a little to look at the woman on the ground.

                    "I don't need anyone else to take you down," Kana growled, looking up at her through the blood dripping into her long lashes. "Though, I can't say the same for you, since you brought the Gravity Manipulator as backup." She hissed, her eyes flickering towards the redhead, vengeance in her eyes.

                    "Oh no, he's simply here to observe," Aki chirped, waving her hand dismissively. "This is between me and you, Kana. It's always been me and you—it makes sense that I'm the one that has to kill you." She said, a sweet smile on her lips as she raised the gun, pointing it at the woman on the ground.

                 Aki let off a shot, aimed directly for Kana's head. The woman's hand came up at lightning speed, her hand taking the blow of the bullet instead of her head. The woman fell backwards from the blow, her back hitting the flipped over car.

"Fuck! You bitch!" She screamed into the air, her head tipped backwards, clutching at her bloodied hand. She inhaled shakily through her teeth, looking up through her lashes at Aki with a death glare, seconds before her hands began glowing a sparkling white, along with the wounded spot on her forehead.

                  Aki grinned, "Using our abilities, are we?" She drawled out, dropping the gun to the floor and kicking it away from her. It rolled across the ground, dropping by Chuuya's feet.

                   Kana's ability was that of regeneration, Human Voodoo Doll. It was a crafty little ability which made her almost invincible. Almost. She could still be killed. Aki just had to make it a kill shot—or not give her enough time to regenerate her wounds. Kana could also heal others wounds, at the expense of wounding herself in the process. Whichever wound she healed, would transfer to herself. But the most tricky part of her ability was that she could also inflict injuries onto other people—though, those done by her own hand were two times stronger. A paper cut would become a large gash. A stab wound would become a gaping hole. But one thing she couldn't do, was heal the injuries she gave herself or transferred to her own body.

                    Kana stood to her feet, the skin on her hand that had previously been blown to pieces restored along with the cut on her forehead, "Bring it, you fucking traitor." She growled, taking a fighting stance.

                    "You always were so impatient." Aki tutted, moments before she extended a hand, allowing a wave of seismic energy to burst out of it in a straight line towards Kana. The pink-haired girl ducked, the energy smacking into the car and sending it several feet backwards, crunching against the gravel. But it was what Aki had already expected. Her ability was only a diversion.

                    She was already running at the woman before sliding on her knees, pulling out a knife she had stuffed in the back of her skirt as she went. The blade cut directly through the back of Kana's knee, making her let out a cry of agony as blood spurted from the wound. The moment a white glow began manifesting, Aki flipped the knife in her hand to get a better grip, "No you don't." She chirped, stabbing the knife directly into the back of Kana's thigh, making her crumble onto one knee, her ability cancelling out last minute, the white light shattering into pieces as if it were glass.

                    Kana let out a growl of frustration, swinging her fist around to connect with Aki's face but she dodged effortlessly. Kana kicked out last minute, her foot connecting with Aki's ankle, making her stumble forward a few places. Kana kicked her in the back, making her go stumbling into the car, the knife slipping from her fingers. It was in Kana's hand within a second. She swung, bringing the knife down but Aki rolled against the car, getting out of the way just on time, the knife lodging in the metal of the car. Aki brought her leg up, high-kicking Kana right in the face, bursting her nose upon impact. Kana retaliated by throwing a powerful punch, one that landed right on Aki's jaw, sending her hurling back several paces.

                   Chuuya watched, his eyes wide, body stiff, the gun by his feet. The women were absolutely annihilating each other. Nothing was out of bounds. They were kicking, punching, biting, slashing, pulling each others hair. They were brutalising one another, going-hand to hand in lethal blows. He was amazed—seeing two Double A assassins in action was something most people didn't get to witness. It made his stomach weak, seeing just how brutal the women could be to one another. Aki classified Kana as a friend, and yet, they were destroying one another. It made him realise just what being with the Double A could do to a person. Suddenly, he understood Aki. He understood all of her.

                  Kana jumped into the air, spinning around before kicking Aki in the face. She went flying into the toppled car, using it for support as she threw her head back, laughter howling from her lips, blood pouring from her nose, "You hit like a fucking girl, Kana." She mocked through her laughter, just as the pink-haired girl threw a punch.

                 Aki caught her hand, deflecting the punch and diverting it into the car door. Kana's bones broke under the impact, giving Aki enough time to grab onto her, knee her in the ribs and then head-butt her. Kana fell onto her back, her head rolling on her shoulders, eyes blinking to stay awake. Aki stumbled back a little, her hand reaching up to grip her head as it spun. Fuck. That really hurt. More laughter spilled from her mouth, pure mania coursing through her body, giving her the strength to do what needed to be done.

                 Collecting herself, though she stumbled a little, she crouched down and grabbed the knife on the ground. She stalked towards Kana, blood dripping from her nose, into her mouth. Kana tried crawling away but Aki stomped a foot onto her chest, making her cry out in pain, "I already told you before, Kana," She drawled out, crouching down, perching herself on top of the woman. "You can't kill me." She laughed again, her shoulders shaking, the corner of her eyes crinkled.

                    "Then just fucking kill me!" Kana screeched, her voice breaking. Her eyes were watering, but it wasn't from her injuries—she could easily heal them and she would be unhurt. "Kill me, Aki. Just kill me! I'd rather be dead than be at the Double A without you!" She was sobbing from beneath her, the tears spilling form her eyes, face contorted.

                     Aki tipped her head downwards, cascades of black hair wrapping around her, "I'll make it as pain free as possible." She told her in a soft voice as Chuuya watched—rooted to the spot. This is wrong. This is all wrong. Why is Mori making her do this? Why am I just standing back and watching? And then he saw it. The tears. Not in Kana's eyes; but in Aki's.

                  Kana nodded, her hands coming up, wrapping around Aki's that held the handle of the knife. She brought the blade to her chest, holding it right over her heart, "Do it," She urged her, her tears mixing with the blood on her face. "I don't want it to be anyone else. It needs to be you. I'm not strong enough to kill you. You have to kill me. Do it, Aki. Please." She pressured her, her voice breaking as she spoke, her body rattling with each sob that left her lips.

                   Aki's hands were shaking.

                  "I don't want to." She croaked like a terrified child, the tears slipping from her lashes, dripping onto their enclosed hands around the knife.

                   Kana smiled through her tears, "It's okay." She assured her softly, nodding her head.

                  I don't want to do this.

                  Why am I doing this?

                  Aki's hand tightened around the handle, the tears pouring from her eyes. She pushed the blade, breaking through Kana's shirt, piercing her skin ever so slightly, "I'm sorry." She cried, ready to bring the knife down, right into the heart of her best friend.

                   A shot went off.

AUTHORS NOTE.

aki crying for the first time and it being over kana? god, i love them🥹 they're my fave complicated besties!!

— taylor xx