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After the aftermath of their fight with Fukuchi, they both went their separate ways, not seeing one another for a whole month. When they finally crossed paths, it was more by accident than anything else. But here they were sitting across from each other because, once again, the old tea house was packed.
"So, how have you been?" Atsushi attempts to converse with his partner, who is dressed in his civvies.
"Can we not?" Akutagawa went back to his menu. His brow furrowed as he tried to pick something reasonable, a part of him debating going straight out the door. He was not up for whatever stupid was going to come out of Atsushi's lips.
"Aren't you like a vampire?" Atsushi fidgets in his seat.
The mafioso eyed the weretiger much too long before finally saying, "Half vampire."
Atsushi hummed in response, his eyes going down to his own menu. Pretending to read over the contents like he wasn't just going to get tea on rice. He needed some comfort food with Akutagawa sitting across from him. The man can be exhausting. But he needed to talk with Akutagawa about something that was extremely important.
The waitress finally made her way to their table, her kind smile shining down on them. They both ordered one soba, one tea on rice, and hot tea for the table. The waitress took their menus, leaving them with nothing between them.
Atsushi pulled on his tiger for courage as he jumped in, "I have been meaning to talk to you."
"Really, cause I have been meaning to not talk to you," Akutagawa looked over at the other tables over his sunglasses. Seriously, who wears glasses indoors a dickhead does, that's who.
"You're a Vampire now–,"
"Half Vampire," Akutagawa corrected again.
"Thus we need to talk about our branding," Atsushi continued as if he was just cut off.
"Our What?!" sunglasses fall further down the bridge of his nose as Akutagawa's jaw seems to go slack.
"Branding, like we were never the new double black mainly cause I am a detective. But now you are a vampire and I'm a weretiger. We both are mythical monsters."
Akutagawa slowly turned to meet the weretiger's eyes. "Listen to me closely, we're not the same."
"Okay, but even if you go back to being a full fledged human you still dress like a little Victorian vampire."
Akutagawa's jaw tightened, and he went back to gaze at his surroundings, ignoring the Atsushi's dumb face. There was a waitress who seemed to flutter around the place. The loud noise of people conversing. And here he sat with his partner–enemy spitting idiocy. Gods, he was so close to skinning him.
"So, you agree we should find a different name."
"We have a name?"
"Yeah, Shin Soukoku," Atsushi nodded to himself.
"When have we ever been called that. No," Akutagawa paused, rubbing his temple. "Who even knows we team up on occasion," Akutagawa sneered.
"Well, we did save Yokohama in such a flash method last month. There are forums."
Akutagawa was at wit's end." If I hear you out, will you shut up?"
"You got it partner."
Akutagawa waved his hand, saying to proceed.
Atsushi grabbed his messenger bag and quickly pulled out a notebook. Flipping through the pages, he found what he was looking for. Clearing his throat, he began,
"Ebony and Ivory." He glanced up, noting the disdain flickering across Akutagawa's face. "Just stop me when you think it works for us."
"Inkwell and Chalk." More annoyance.
"Grayscale twins?" No response outside of a tightening of the shoulders.
"Tan and Black," Atsushi said, stealing another glance. He noticed slight ripples in Akutagawa's coat. He corrected himself quickly. "You'd be Tan, I'd be Black. Respectfully."
"Lunar Vein," the detective replied, tapping his wrist like he was checking his pulse for emphasis.
"White Knights."
"Pale and Plump?" Atsushi tried again, stealing another glance, Akutagawa had removed his sunglasses.
"Slide and Ghost?"
"Night Howl–?" Atsushi tried again.
"Stop."
"I am little surprised this one the one you settled on–"
"We are done. Every last one of those names are beyond ridiculous."
"Well, I don't see you coming up with anything."
"Because there is nothing to come up with. We are not friends. We're barely partners."
"Hurtful."
"Just eat your food."
"But I got one more,"
"Fine, one more than you shut it."
"Okay," Atsushi closed his book and looked at Akutagawa.
"Monochrome Dou," The detective seemed pleased with himself as he smiled at Akutagawa.
Akutagawa raised his hand, "Can I get the check, please."