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Haru’s feet pounded against the pavement, his partner, Daisuke, right behind him, hot on the heels of their latest target. He was only known as “Heishi” in the drug world, on account of his former status as a special ops soldier. He’d transferred any skills obtained in the field to his role as a kingpin, creating a tight-knit drug empire which Haru and Daisuke had been working day and night to unravel
They’d nearly caught him in a low-risk environment, but Heishi bolted out of the warehouse they’d cornered him in, onto a street full of pedestrians. Luckily, he didn’t seem interested in harming anyone.
Heishi rounded a corner, heading straight for the sports center crawling with students on summer break.
“Get everyone out!” Haru shouted to his partner.
“I thought you hated my methods?” Haru didn’t have to look back to know there was a smirk on Daisuke’s lips.
“This is an emergency! Get everyone out, now!”
Daisuke didn’t respond, but in a few moments, Haru heard distant fire alarms. When he peered ahead, he spotted Heishi weaving through the crowd that had erupted out the front doors of the sports center. Apparently, he had the intention of hiding out, fire alarms be damned.
“I’m going after him, call for backup!” Haru yelled over his shoulder, weaving his way through the stampede of civilians. His height gave him the advantage of being easily spotted by everyone, so he easily maneuvered around everyone.
Daisuke, on the other hand, wasn’t quite tall enough to warrant the same treatment. It gave Haru some satisfaction to catch a glimpse of his partner struggling through the crowd, unable to bribe people to get out of his way.
Enough of that, Haru had a criminal to catch.
He followed the sounds of doors slamming shut and Heishi’s shoes slapping against the floor, just quick enough to stay on his trail, but not fast enough to catch up with him. It wasn’t until he burst into a locker room that he finally heard silence.
“It’s over, Heishi. Come out with your hands raised.” Haru prowled the rows of lockers and benches, listening for the squeak of a shoe, labored breathing, anything to alert him to Heishi’s position.
He finally heard movement, the only problem being that it came from behind him.
Haru whirled around just in time to get slammed into a locker. Heishi had a hand around his neck, but he didn’t strangle Haru. Haru took the opportunity to kick him in the gut, only for his foot to be caught in a vice-like grip.
He thought he’d gotten extensive combat training in First Division, yet Heishi outclassed him with every move.
In less than a second, Heishi moved his grip to Haru’s calf, twisted, and flipped Haru. He managed to catch himself on his hands, but his head still hit the ground on account of the force behind Heishi’s throw.
That’s going to need another bandage, Haru thought, dazed. He’d been getting a lot of those lately, especially with Daisuke around. Where is that bastard, anyway?
He pushed himself up on his elbows before a large foot planted itself on his back. Haru struggled with everything he had, but Heishi kept him pinned.
“You detectives carry cuffs, right?” he drawled.
Haru bit back a yelp as Heishi freed a hand to dig through his pockets. He found Haru’s inner pocket soon enough, and shifted his weight so he could cuff Haru’s hands behind his back.
“There’s no point in cuffing me,” Haru protested. “My partner has the building surrounded. You can’t escape this time.”
Heishi chuckled. “Neither can you, detective.” He fisted Haru’s hair and pulled his head off the ground, eliciting a growl from the detective. “And I don’t see any partner around here. Maybe it’s because there’s no windows in here, but as far as I'm concerned, we’re alone.”
Haru’s breath caught in his throat for a moment. He forced himself to think clearly. This place is full of security cameras. Daisuke’s probably using HEUSC to keep tabs on us. I’ll be fine.
His silence must have bored Heishi, because he hauled Haru upright and dragged him towards the door labeled “POOL.”
“Oi, what the hell are you doing?
“I’m doing some damage.” Heishi punctuated each word with a sharp tug on the handcuffs. Haru winced, his wrists starting to feel raw.
The emergency lights had turned on, giving the pool an eerie glow. Through the skylight, Haru could see the oranges and pinks of a sunset. He tried to ignore the voice in the back of his head that said this may be the last sunset he’d ever see.
Heishi dragged him to the three meter indicator, the deepest part of the pool. Haru really started to struggle now, but Heishi had at least three inches on him, and twice the muscle mass, rendering his efforts futile.
That bastard had the audacity to laugh at Haru’s actions. “Scared, detective?” he taunted. He gave Haru a harsh shove that would’ve sent him into the pool if Heishi hadn't held on to the cuffs.
Haru stilled himself. The only thing keeping him out of the water was Heishi’s one-handed grip, and he wasn’t about to risk killing himself.
The creak of the locker room door opening interrupted the tense silence. Haru's head swiveled towards the sound, hoping for a friendly face.
“How much?”
Goddammit, Daisuke.
“The hell did you just say?”
Daisuke, with his high-tech glasses and impeccable suit, looked unperturbed. “How much for you to let my partner go free?”
Heishi cackled, the sound grating against Haru’s eardrums. “You think I’m that stupid? Detectives can’t do bribes. Besides,” he drawled, “I doubt you have enough money to even begin to tempt me."
Daisuke gave one of his signature smirks. “I’m no ordinary detective. And I assure you, I have enough funds to thoroughly compensate you.”
For a moment, Haru thought Daisuke had convinced Heishi.
The thought didn’t last long.
“You know what, detectives? I’m going to prison either way, so I’d rather have some fun before I’m locked up.”
Haru gave a shout when a foot hit the small of his back—hard—and sent him flailing into the water. Well, his legs flailed, anyway.
He forced his eyes open, despite the chlorine immediately stinging them. Figuring out which direction was up was his first priority. The second was kicking his legs for dear life in the hopes of getting his head above water, but without his arms, he found it difficult to swim in a straight line. He’d try to get his hands in front, but he knew it was pointless. Even on dry land, his legs were too long to slip his cuffed hands over them.
Haru’s kicks grew weaker, as if in sync with the increasing fuzziness in his head. He’d have to take in a breath soon, if the black spots dotting his vision were anything to go by. Maybe he’d get lucky and pass out before that happened…
Daisuke glared daggers at Heishi, cooly removing his glasses and placing them in his breast pocket. The target sneered back at him.
“It’s a shame he had to go this way. I could’ve had more fun if I had some tools.”
That did it. Daisuke strode towards Heishi, who was most certainly twice his size. Not that it mattered. Five years in the Japanese special forces was no match for the training Daisuke had received in England.
He let Heishi throw two punches, both of which missed their marks, before sweeping his feet and kicking him in the ribs. Ordinarily, he didn’t resort to such unnecessary tactics, but Haru hadn’t resurfaced yet. He needed this fight to be over.
Heishi groaned beneath him. Daisuke pinned him with a knee on his back, calmly handcuffing him to the closest pool ladder and knocking him out for good measure.
“HEUSC, how much time has passed since Katou went under?” he asked, shucking off his blazer and shoes.
“One minute and fifteen seconds,” his butler responded.
Daisuke’s frown deepened as he tossed his waistcoat aside. One minute was about all the average person could endure without breathing. He dove into the pool without dwelling on the implications of the extra fifteen seconds.
He could see Haru, looking as though he were suspended in mid-air. He’d gone still, which caused a spark of worry to flare up in Daisuke’s chest. A few strong strokes allowed him to reach his partner. He looped an arm under Haru’s shoulders as best he could, given his current position, and hauled him up to the surface.
When his head reached fresh air, Daisuke gasped for breath as he readjusted Haru. He hadn’t stirred at all, his head lolling about on Daisuke’s shoulder.
“Shit,” he muttered. He swam to the nearest ladder, and pulled Haru out of the pool, laying him on his back.
Daisuke gave Haru a once-over. His skin hadn’t grayed yet, the only good sign. His chest remained still. As he uncuffed Haru and moved his arms out from beneath him, Daisuke pressed his fingers to Haru's wrist.
Haru still had a pulse, but it was weak and thready. Daisuke began chest compressions immediately. His partner’s prior admonishments that his money couldn’t bring someone back from the dead were correct.
What his money could buy was world-class CPR training, which he could use to save lives.
As if on cue, Haru’s eyes snapped open. Daisuke turned him on his side as he expelled the water in his lungs. He rubbed Haru’s back in what he hoped was a comforting manner. If it wasn’t working, Haru didn’t say anything, most likely due to his heaving chest.
“Ugh...I...wha’...” Haru sputtered between gasps.
Daisuke moved his hand to Haru’s shoulder, gently squeezing it. “You nearly drowned,” he stated.
Haru gave a small nod, closing his eyes.
“Oi,” Daisuke said softly, “don’t fall asleep.” He raised his hand to brush Haru’s soaked bangs back when his eyes didn’t open immediately. “Now’s not the time to be stubborn.”
Haru peeled his eyelids open. “Right. Sorry.” He lifted his head up, squinting across the pool. “Is he—did you kill him?”
Daisuke spared a glance at Heishi’s motionless figure. “No.” That reminded him, he needed to get their backup in here, and some paramedics. He touched his earpiece, waterproof, of course. Suzue didn’t skimp on the details of her inventions.
“Backup is on the way,” HEUSC reported. Daisuke repeated the message to Haru.
His partner sighed in relief, wincing a bit. “Damn, that hurts.”
“I had to perform compressions, though I did take care not to break any ribs.”
“You didn’t give me mouth-to-mouth, did you?” Haru had a grin on his lips. “Usually I’d ask for dinner first."
The joke was terrible, yet Daisuke couldn’t help the smile that formed on his face. “Lucky for you, it wasn’t necessary. We could get dinner, in case it’s needed the next time you almost drown.”
Haru chuckled for a split second before grimacing. “You know,” he muttered, bringing a hand to rest on his chest, “I might just take you up on that.”
“I’m glad,” Daisuke said, and it wasn’t a lie. Despite being half-dressed and soaking wet, he was happy. His partner had survived another day, and they had dinner plans (he’d already made a reservation two weeks in advance at a mid-priced restaurant).
Maybe he could win Haru over after all, though he hoped his future efforts wouldn’t involve near-death experiences.