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Atsushi closed the door behind him,
What was he supposed to do after that?
Akutagawa was so nice to him. How was he supposed to go back now after hearing that?
"and... really, really beautiful" Akutagawa's words echoed through his mind.
He thought Atsushi, the one he tried to kill multiple times, was beautiful? Was he seeing things?
I shouldn't have lied to him. I should've just told him who I was from the very start and never had this problem to begin with. But...
"Wow, you are a riot Kaori- san."
"I was going to give you the information regardless, but thank you. Let's make this quick, I don't want to worry the agency into thinking you were kidnapped."
"Would you like me to carry you?"
"I do though, you're funny, smart, loyal, horrible at dancing- and... really, really beautiful."
The memories made his face burn red. He was so enraptured by his thoughts he forgot his surroundings.
"Ack-" He was blinded by light. A chair slowly turned around.
"So where were you?" Naomi asked.
"What?" He looked for a quick lie. "I was with Dazai- san!" She glanced at him like the liar he was, unimpressed.
"Want to try that again?" Another chair turned around to reveal his mentor.
"Where were you, Atsushi?" Dazai asked again.
"I just got the information you wanted, that's all." He pulled out the usb.
"Oh, where did you get that from?" Dazai batted his eyes mocking innocence. He was too excited.
"I- met up with Akutagawa..."
"Akutagawa? How?! Did you seduce that bastard? Is that why you took that long because you.. did the deed?" Kunikida turned pale.
"Oh Atsushi you sly fox!" Yosano teased him.
"What! No! I promise you it's not like that!!" Atsushi's face lit on fire.
"He was- he was actually kind of... sweet."
"SWEET?!" They all yelled at him.
"...yeah... I know- he's the mafia and and tried to kill me but-
"multiple times might I add-" Kunikida said.
"Yes, but he- he didn't know who I was and was really good to me."
"That's because he didn't know you Atsushi, remember that this is Akutagawa. He might have been nice to Kaori but if he knew who you were... I don't want to even think about how badly the mission would have failed." Naomi shook her head.
"C'mon Atsushi, let's get you out of this outfit. You better not have ripped it."
"I wouldn't even dream of it."
She led Atsushi to the infirmary to change and helped him take off his wig and mask. She shut the door turning to face Atsushi but something in her face shifted.
"Oh my goodness! What was Akutagawa like? Was he charming? Tell me!!!" She squealed like a little school girl talking about her friend's crush.
"What? Naomi- san earlier you were telling me that it didn't matter?"
"Well of course I had to say that, Kunikida- san was there. You don't have to be so formal with me Atsushi, just tell me what he was like!"
He smiled at the thought. "Okay then Naomi, he was charming, and kind to me,"
"Ooh, what did he say! What did he do?"
"We danced and he told me he had information so I went with him before he brought me back here."
"You danced?! Oh that is so exciting!" She looked down, "Atsushi, where are your shoes?"
"What?"
He looked at his feet, raising his dress up enough to see... dirty bare feet.
"Oh no,"
"Where are they?" She asked again.
"I took off the shoes because they were too small and hurt but then Akutagawa said I was... never mind that, I ended up dropping the shoes and running."
"Well then just go outside and get them!"
"I can't! Akutagawa might still be outside!"
She sighed, she already knew about Atsushi's antics.
"Just go out there after you change, I don't want you to lose the dress too."
"But Naomi-"
"No buts just do it."
...
After he changed he anxiously walked to the door. He had returned the dress and was scrubbed clean of all makeup, with Naomi's help. He had also given the usb to Kunikida and Ranpo leaving them to finish the mission. But he couldn't shake the feeling- maybe... just maybe Akutagawa was still out there waiting for him.
What would Akutagawa say if he saw Atsushi? Would he really just try to kill him? What if he told Akutagawa the truth, he was Kaori?
No. He told himself, it wouldn't do him good to reveal that, all he needed was to get the shoes.
He made his way quietly down the stairs, trying to be sneaky, when all of a sudden.
"Hey, Atsushi, what are you still doing here?" It was Tanizaki!
"Oh Tanizaki! Thank goodness, it's just you,"
"What do you mean it's just me-"
"Go look outside, is he still there?"
"Is who still there-" Atsushi pushed him down the stairs in a hurry.
"Owww- Atsushi what was that about?"
Atsushi made his way down the stairs looking around wildly before sighing with relief.
"Oh good, he left."
"ATSUSHI! What are you talking about? Who is this person? Why are you still at the agency it's almost one?!"
"I'm sorry I'm just a bit paranoid, I had a mission with Akutagawa, he doesn't know who I am but he knows I work here, he thinks I'm Kaori- san."
"The person we disguised you as?"
"Yes, I just got back here after the mission, I had no idea time went by so fast- wait why are you still here?"
"Well, I got a bit concerned when Naomi didn't get home so I thought she still might be here."
"Well don't worry, Naomi is fine, if not tired, she's just cleaning up in the agency." He reassured him.
"Thanks Atsushi, were you looking for something or?"
"Oh right, the shoes!" He glanced around, not a silvery shoe in sight. "Where did they go? I dropped my shoes here earlier."
"Wow, just like Cinderella! Maybe you forgot them somewhere else?"
"Huh, I could've sworn I left them here. Maybe someone took them!"
"Okay, it seems a bit silly to take someone's shoes but you could be right, however, get some sleep for now, you look exhausted."
He felt exhausted too, he had to walk around and dance in an eight pound dress and small shoes.
"You're right, I better get home, Kyouka might be worried."
He made it home safely and opened the door revealing a sprawled out Kyouka drooling all over the floor, sitting on their table was a small box with a note.
Atsushi, I hope you made it home safely and accomplished your mission, Dazai- san whined nonstop about how there was no one to do his paperwork and Kunikida-san yelled at him a bunch. While waiting for you to get back me and the president went shopping and saw a lot of cats. Naomi- san used all the ingredients to help me make this for your diner and a mission well done.
-Kyouka
He opened it to reveal chazuke and a side dish of small fruits cut into smaller pieces, which he happily enjoyed before tucking Kyouka in bed and going to sleep.
"Good night Kyouka" He whispered
"G'night Atsushi" A voice whispered back, small and sleepy.
...
Akutagawa stared at the pair of glimmering shoes in front of him. They looked expensive. The rhinestones on the shoes were placed in all types of swirling patterns alternating in sizes and shapes. They were tall heels too.
No wonder Kaori- san complained, I have no idea how she was able to dance in these. If it were me I wouldn't even be able to walk.
"Brother please go to bed, it's so late already..." Gin muttered. Akutagawa had just come back from his mission and was now deep in thought staring at the stolen shoes.
"Do you think... she'd remember me if I went back?"
"What are you talking about? Get some sleep, it's like you fell in love with her or something."
"So what if I did?"
"That's ridiculous brother, you aren't the type to just fall in love with some stranger you just met." Gin sat up.
"Well, it's just different. She doesn't feel like a stranger. I feel like I've known her all my life and I feel connected to her like... I don't know but I just know her."
Gin looked at her brother shocked. Well as shocked as her expressions get.
"You sound so- are you crazy?! What happened to my brother? Why are you spouting romantic things with his face?" She pulled the knife under her bed and tried to swipe at his throat. However rashomon blocked it and shattered the knife.
"Oh come on, that was one of my favorite knives!"
"I'm sorry Gin but you shouldn't have nicked me like that."
"You shouldn't mess around like that either. It wasn't funny."
"I wasn't joking Gin, I think... I think I might be infatuated with her. I can't stop thinking about her. Should I ask Dazai- san for a favor?"
"No, absolutely not!" She yelled at him, throwing a pillow at his face. "Go to bed, stop with the nonsense. Just sleep on it and decide in the morning how you really feel."
"Fine... do you think she likes me back?"
"SLEEP!"
...
"I think she might be evil."
"Who do you think is evil?" Tachihara asked. The black lizards were working in the training room. Gin was naturally beating Tachihara at target practice but something seemed off. Right now he was holding her down as she surpassed his high score in sit ups. He had only gotten to 84, she was already at 100.
"My brother met an ADA member on a mission yesterday and now, he says he's in love with her. Can you believe that? Ryuu? In love with a stranger he just met, from a rival organization no less."
"Akutagawa has a crush on someone?" Tachihara found it too much to believe. He was so... brutal and well not the type to fall in love.
"It's terrible, he's like a lovesick teen, talking about her day and night. I think I should just take her out. Maybe then she'll stop messing with my brother's head." She pulled a knife out.
"Wait! Stop! Don't you think that will make him upset?"
"Upset? I'm doing him a favor, beside's I'll do it swiftly, she won't feel any pain."
"No. Usually when loved ones die it can be quite upsetting for the others."
"Oh. I never thought of that." She put away the knife continuing her sit ups.
They sat in silence. Gin wondered what she could do to stop her brother's crush from getting out of hand.
"Best not to tell Higuchi about this." Tachihara added. He didn't want the blonde to get anymore reckless with her pining for Akutagawa.
"Why?"
"Because Higuchi is in love with your brother." He stated as if it was obvious. It was not, however.
Gin was many things. She was a talented assassin. An excellent martial artist. A hard worker. A good sister. She was not however an expert at love or girl stuff. Years in the port mafia made her isolated for society, friends, and affection. To put it simply she lived under a rock.
"WHAT?!" How had she not noticed that? Was she that dull?
"Did you not know? She was so obvious?"
"She was?!"
"Yes, Gin, how did you not- ugh- Gin I have much to teach you." Tachihara sighed.
"Tachihara?"
"Yes Gin?"
"Have you ever been in love?" It was supposed to be a simple question. Meaningless curiosity, nothing more.
"Ehm- what?"
"I asked if you've ever been in love, what's wrong?"
He wasn't sure what to say. Was she implying something?
"I- yeah, I guess I have-"
"Tell me this instance, who is it?" Her eyes twinkled with interest.
Why was she so persistent?
"Um- I- you know her? In some way?"
"I do? I don't know many girls you hang out with. Is it Higuchi?"
"No, why would you think that? I just said she was in love with Akutagawa."
"Well still, you hang out with her often."
"We're a squad, I have to work with her on missions." He reasoned.
"Hmm, let me think... is it executive Kouyou? She would never like you back but she is admirable."
"No, goodness no. She scares me more than anything. Can we stop talking about this."
"I must know who it is!" She pleaded with him. Her head bobbing up and down as she completed sit up after sit up.
"No! stop showing off. I'm leaving." He got up but Gin ran after him.
"I won't let this go Tachihara! You still need to teach me about romance!"
"Don't say it like that!" His ears burned red as he hurried out of the training room.
Ah, those two are always an entertaining sight, so dramatic. Hirotsu watched them from his corner. He was going to gossip about this with Chuuya and Kouyou later over tea.