─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE:
I want us to curse each other.
─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

"I still don't get it." Aki was saying, walking beside Tachihara through the bustling streets of Yokohama, holding a tub of sweet and salted popcorn in her hands. Their movie had finished a short time ago and by the time the credits rolled, Aki wasn't any of the wiser. The movie didn't make sense, she couldn't even begin to explain it. There were aliens? And werewolves? And one guy that used a fork as a weapon? It had no true plot, not in her opinion anyway.

Tachihara threw his hands up, "Come on, man! What don't you get? The alien fell in love with the werewolf and they had little alien-werewolf babies together. It was a happy ending!" He exclaimed, throwing his head back. He was a very expressive person, Aki had realised.

Aki furrowed her brows, looking up at his taller height, a look of pure confusion on her face, "Wait, they had babies?" She asked him, not remembering that part of the movie at all.

Tachihara came to a halt, turning to look at her with wide eyes, "Yeah, dude! Right at the end of the movie! They had super cute little alien-werewolf babies, a whole bunch of them!" He was gesturing like a mad-man with his hands, completely dumbfounded that she had managed to miss so much of the plot.

Aki stopped walking, tipping her head back to look at him, "Confession time... I might have fell asleep halfway through the movie." She exposed herself, tipping her head back, a sheepish look on her face.

Tachihara's eyes narrowed, "What?" He screeched, lowering himself to her height. "How could you fall asleep during that? It was beautiful! Tragic! A true rom-com!" He exclaimed, gesturing at her with a fist.

Aki giggled at his passion and description of the movie, tossing the remainder of the popcorn into a nearby pin, "I haven't watched a lot of movies, Tachihara. But I really don't think that movie would be considered a rom-com." She told him, laughing at his expense.

Tachihara let out a 'tsk' as he turned his nose up into the air, putting his hands behind his head as he began walking again, "Whatever. You just have horrible taste." He said, making Aki scoff at him. She wasn't so sure she was the one with horrible taste—she hoped that if he were ever taking a woman out on a date that he would pick a far more romantic movie. For his sake, and for the woman.

"Anyway, you seem to be really fitting in with the Port Mafia, you little turncoat," He said in a teasing tone, glancing down at her smaller height. Sometimes, he found it hard to believe that she was a cause of destruction—she was so fucking tiny, absolutely pocket-sized. It baffled him. "I thought you would have gone kicking and screaming—refusing to turn your back on the Double A. But you've fit in nicely." He added, watching her as she walked alongside him. Truthfully, he wanted to know more about the assassin dressed up as a daydream. Everyone did. They were all so curious about her, it always felt like she was so close and yet so far away at the same time.

Aki shrugged, "It wasn't really that hard. I despise the Double A," She told him, sliding her hands into the pockets of her long black-leather trench coat. She'd left it unbuttoned and untied, showing off the black dress she wore. "Truthfully, I thought I'd hate it here even more but I don't. It's different here at the Port Mafia. Back at the Double A, we were all against one another, more than willing to stab each other in the back if it meant a rise in position. But at the Port Mafia, you all look out for each other—you support one another. Sure, there's a level of competitiveness, but it's all in good fun, it's actually refreshing." She spoke absentmindedly, walking side-by-side with the redhead, the streets around them bustling.

"So, you think you'll stay here? You're not gonna go back to the Double A, are you?" He asked her, an almost hopeful tone to his voice. It made Aki want to sigh. She would have to return to the Double A—after all, she was only with the Port Mafia on a job, and the moment it was done, she would leave everyone behind. She would go back to a lonely existence with only herself to look out for. It used to be the way she liked it—but things had began to change, she had began to change.

"I would, but you and I both know my time here is limited." Only, it was for different reasons.

"The chip in your head." Tachihara remembered, nodding as he spoke.

Aki returned the nod, "My old Boss could have it detonated at any second—and then I'd be dead," It was only half true. If Aki deflected from the Double A and decided that she didn't want to go through with Mori's assassination, Katsu would surely activate the chip—she wouldn't be worth shit to him if she wasn't willing to finish a job. "And then I'd be dead and it wouldn't matter where I wanted to be." She said, diverting her gaze.

"What if we found a way to get it out?" Tachihara hopefully suggested.

Aki threw her head back, a howl of laughter escaping her lips, surprising Tachihara, "Yeah, good luck with that, buddy. Plenty have tried—and they've died doing so. If that chip even moves an inch inside my brain, I'm as good as dead," She said through her laughter. She shook her head, letting out a sigh, a small smile on her lips. "Though, maybe it wouldn't be so bad. I'd at least die free, right?" She said in a small voice, glancing up at the man who's lips parted at her words.

"You'd be willing to die just like that?" He asked her in surprise.

Aki scoffed, "I've been willing to die for a lot less—the idea of living is dressed up as this glamorous notion. There's nothing glamorous about it," She told him, fully believing her words. But truthfully, she just hadn't found anything to live for. "I think that dying is one of the best things a person can do. I mean, we all die anyway, right? Might as well go out however we want." She said with a shrug. She'd heard those words before—from a man she had met once. It had been fleeting, just a day spent together, but she had remembered his words. They had been similar to one another, both more than willing to die than to live, but only on their accord.

"I think you're wrong." Tachihara told her.

Aki glanced up at him, arching an amused brow, "Oh? That doesn't happen often. What exactly am I wrong about?" She humoured him.

"You're right about how we all die and that we should be able to choose how we go out—but you're wrong about the living part. There's plenty to live for. I live for this city, for its people, most of us at the Port Mafia do too," He told her. "I mean, I'm surprised you haven't adapted to that philosophy, what with being partnered with Chuuya. It's what he abides by." He said, watching her as they walked side-by-side.

Aki laughed a little, "Truthfully, I don't really listen to a word Nakahara says."

Tachihara scoffed, "That's a lie and you know it," His words had her looking up at him, her eyebrows risen. The redhead laughed at her expense, like she was some kind of idiot monkey. "You hold onto every word he says—I've witnessed it. The others have too." Aki stared at him, her lips parted before she pushed them together into a fine line.

"Is that so?" She prompted.

Tachihara grinned, "Yup. Don't think we don't see the way you two look at each other—"

"Like we wanna kill each other?" Aki spoke over him, grinning with a twinkle in her eye.

Tachihara laughed, "Yeah, exactly. There's a lot of tension in those looks though—more than average to be only thinking about your homicidal tendencies," Aki blew out a puff of air that was supposed to be a laugh. "So, what're you two gonna do about it? Wait to see which one of you commits a crime first or actually accept the fact that you're ridiculously attracted to each other?" He questioned, wiggling his brows at her.

Aki hummed from the back of her throat, "We're a part of the Port Mafia, we're more likely to commit crimes than—"

"You know what I mean, smart-ass," He grumbled over her, earning a grin on her behalf. "I mean it, the sexual tension between you two is driving the rest of us nuts. So just do us all a favour and bang already." Aki threw her head back, laughing loudly.

"Wow, that was such a gentleman-like way to put it," She teased him, making him mock a bow. "But no." She chirped, sticking her nose high in the air.

"You two are far too stubborn for your own good." Tachihara said with a sigh.

Aki narrowed her brows at him, "Isn't there like, a no fraternising rule anyway? Stop trying to be a bad influence, Tachihara, you're gonna get us in trouble." She accused, setting one of her hands on her hips.

"Like you're gonna listen to me anyway," He said, knowing that Aki couldn't be swayed by something as simple as words. "And fuck that rule, who even cares about it anyway? It's not like you'd go screaming on rooftops about your sex life. Mori wouldn't even have to know." Oh, you are such a little meddler, Tachihara.

"You've met Chuuya, right? Dude stresses over thin air." Aki reminded him.

Tachihara looked at her with a grin, "Oh, so you would sleep with him if he wasn't such a stress ball?" Aki froze.

"Stop putting words in my mouth, Tachihara." She said, sticking her nose in the air.

Tachihara smirked wickedly, "I bet that's not all you want to have in your—"

"Finish that sentence and I will murder you."

Chuuya stood by the window of his office, having it slightly cracked open. He was smoking a cigarette, enjoying the menthol freshness hitting the back of his throat with each inhale. He had been stressing himself out. What over? Aki. Because of course it was her. Since the moment she left under Tachihara's arm, he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her—about them. He knew that the fellow redhead was attracted to her, because who wouldn't be? But that made him feel concerned. Had Tachihara treated it as a date? Had their hands brushed as they watched the movie? Had they shared a kiss? He was driving himself absolutely insane.

He had no such reason to be jealous, Aki was a single woman—and Tachihara was a single man. They both got along well, so what if something were to happen between them? How was it any of his business? She was simply just a thorn in his side, a woman he had been paired up with for Mori's convenience. She wasn't anything to him other than a wet-dream. She was insanely gorgeous—heads always turned when she entered a room, and he hated it. He wanted to be the only one that could look at her—but that was crazy, completely illogical. He didn't own her—shit, he didn't even want to. He just couldn't phantom the idea of anyone else being so close to her that they could smell her sweet perfume and feel the curve of her hips.

He took a long inhale.

They had been gone for a long time—way over the movie running time. Chuuya knew that. Like a totally insane person, he had looked up the time the movie began and ended, since he'd previously heard Tachihara mention the name of the movie. It ended over two hours ago. So why the hell weren't they back? His imagination wandered. He could imagine Aki's lips on Tachihara's, kissing him the way she had kissed him. It made him want to throw up. He'd never been possessive over anything in his life—so why her? Why the woman he loathed?

He exhaled.

The door clicked open—and in she came. She froze in the doorframe, clearly surprised to see him. He was surprised too. Like a deer caught in fucking headlights. She looked stunning—even more so since she had left. She had a glow to her, the type of glow that showed she'd had a good time. His heart sank. Had all of those things he'd been imagining truly happened? Had he cursed them into existence?

"I didn't think you'd be here." Aki told him, stepping into the office, closing the door behind her. Her leather trench coat blew out behind her as she crossed the floor, the tie dragging on the ground behind her. She couldn't help it, for a split second, her eyes raked up and down him. He wasn't wearing his jacket, his cropped blazer, nor his waistcoat—they'd all been discarded over the back of his chair. He was only wearing his shirt on his top half, the first few buttons undone as if to breathe easier, tucked messily into his trousers. God fucking dammit.

"Why wouldn't I be?" He said, arching a brow, already putting on a stand-offish posture. He was irritated from their last conversation and even more irritated at himself for how annoyed he'd been when she left with Tachihara.

Aki clicked her tongue, "Sorry, I forgot for a second there that you're a total workaholic. My bad." She said in a voice that held no sincerity as she walked to her desk, pulling open one of the drawers. She'd left a pile of her snacks in there and she had seriously been craving the sweet goodness since returning to the building ten minutes ago.

Chuuya turned away from her, taking a long inhale of his cigarette. Aki perked up, only just realising that he was smoking—which he only did when he was stressed. She was typically the cause. She pulled out her snacks, dropping them on her desk, "What's got you so stressed? Did you miss me in my absence?" She teased, arching a brow at him, her lips stretching into a grin.

Chuuya scoffed, flicking the cigarette ash into an ashtray he had resting against the window, "It's not about your absence." He lied through gritted teeth.

Aki perked up, a sheepish grin on her lips, "But it is about me?" She asked him for clarification. She walked around her desk, hopping on top of it and crossing one leg over the other. "Come on, patient. Tell Dr Kitagawa what's on your nasty old mind." She teased, patting the desk with the palm of her hand.

Chuuya eyed her from across the room, "If this is some weird role-play kink you have—I'm not interested." He told her, looking her up and down. It was supposed to be a judgmental look, but he wanted to moan at the sight of her. Fucking hell, Chuuya, get a grip, man.

"Then what are you interested in?" Aki prompted, her amber irises focused on him.

He turned his back on her, "Don't start this shit. I'm not in the mood." He grumbled, drawing the end of the cigarette to his lips. He wanted her to go away—he wanted her to leave. After spending hours wondering what she was doing, he wanted her gone.

Aki hopped off her desk, taking a few steps towards him, like a lion stalking her prey, "Kitagawa. I'm not in the mood." He repeated again in warning, making Aki come to a halt, staring at him.

"What crawled up your ass and died?" She demanded, scrunching her nose.

"Nothing—you're just getting on my nerves as usual." He argued.

"I'm not even doing anything." She insisted.

Chuuya spun to face her, "You—" He caught his words in his throat. She was right—she wasn't doing anything. At least, nothing out of the usual. He had wanted her to come back to him quickly, so that they could argue over something stupid, just anything. But now that she was there, he had only wanted her gone again, not because she herself was doing anything, but because her entire presence threw him off.

"I what?" Aki inquired, tilting her head.

Chuuya gritted his teeth together, "You're fucking with my head," He said, making her blink back. He stubbed out the cigarette, leaving it in the ashtray as he turned to face her. "You're all over the place. One minute you're flirting, the next you want me dead. Just like back in the pool—you were all over me and then you just stopped. You wouldn't even fucking look at me. If you regretted it, you should have just said so, you should have told me you hated every moment of it. You should do it right now. Just—just fucking do it, alright? Release me from this fucking torment." He said everything in the one breath, the words slipping from his mouth, completely against his own will.

Aki stood there, staring at him.

Her lips were parted, her lashes fluttering as she blinked slowly, "I..." She didn't know what to say. He had shocked her into a silence. She hadn't expected him to show so much emotion—what she had expected was for him to tell her to fuck off—to get annoyed with her like he usually did. She didn't expect him to beg her to leave him alone.

Chuuya hung his head, "Just do it. Release me, Kitagawa. I don't wanna play this game with you anymore." He said, his voice holding defeat, his hands bunched into fists below his hips.

"I—I don't want to." Aki said, her voice sounding small.

Chuuya looked up at her, "What?" He croaked.

Aki moved closer to him against her own will, "I don't want to release you—and I don't want you to release me either," She clarified. "I don't regret what happened. All I regret is that I stopped, okay? It's driving me fucking crazy thinking about what could have happened had I not left. It's been making me go insane! I can't—I can't tell you why, okay? I can't. All I know is that you have this insane hold on me, alright? I can't stand you, that much is true, but I want to be around you all of the god damn time. I want us to curse each other, to hate each other, to kiss each other. I want all of that. I want it all. So don't you dare sit there and think otherwise."

She was breathless.

As was he.

They stood there, not speaking another word, only looking at one another, their chests rising and falling. They'd both finally said what they had been holding back—it didn't make anything easier, in fact, it only made it harder. Neither of them understood how they were feeling, they were confused and conflicted. Their confessions didn't change that.

Chuuya's chin turned downwards, his eyes darkening. Aki's heart stopped when he spoke his next words, "Come here."

AUTHORS NOTE.

             the next chapter y'all...🫣🌶️

             — taylor xx