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Tofu and chazuke on the low table. Two people eating in silence. While Kyouka savors her food, Atsushi finds this silence deafening. After the events of the Mafia's attempt to target him, he met her on that wild ride. Someone he has reunited with, related to him. Again, It's deafening to him because he hadn't expected to see her again, let alone on that train as an assassin. His heart turned at her chest implanted to a bomb, body drifting out those train doors to save everyone but herself.
He sets down the bowl of chazuke, unfinished. Kyouka stares up from her food.
"Is something wrong?" In a quiet, calm tone. She has matured in some way, it doesn't feel good.
"No.. my cup's empty." Atsushi held his cup to prove it. She only hums in understanding, back to her food. Going to the kitchen for a refill, he pours tea in, drinking a little during his stand. Sighing, he had not seen Kyouka since she was 11. The cold, assassin state he unexpectedly found her in infuriates him, half of him is glad he was associated with this Port Mafia, the other half guilty he didn't check up on her since they were adopted separately. So much for keeping her by his side.
Returning to the table, he completes his dish while she finished hers. Beginning her speech.
"Brother, what happened to you." Eye contact from her.
"My appearance?"
"Yes." Kyouka stands with her cup and bowl, "I almost didn't recognize you." at the kitchen, washing them to leave no dish work later. Atsushi has finished his own bowl, going by her where she'd wash his too. He leans back at the counter, looking out somewhere.
"Remember my tiger transformation?" He earns a nod, on the cups last. "I got that thing from Shibusawa's fortress." He holds up his uneven strand. "My hair and eyes changed colors because of it." A hum from her, the dishes have been washed. Atsushi leans on his feet again.
"And Shibusawa?" Kyouka lightens her tone, she and him did like the albino man. It earned her a flinch, eyes grounded.
"He's gone, because of me." Upsettingly, he raised his hands, replacing bareness with a sudden blood flash, the basement floor, his dismembered body... Everything came of fuzzy, so unpleasant. She hustled in his space to hold his hands.
"Were you hurt brother." Their eyes meet, it didn't come of questionably. Atsushi has left the Zoldyck lifestyle, those teachings, she knows enough that he has changed to better himself.
"I was Kyouka, I was electrocuted by him. I killed him to protect myself." The moment of hand holding ends. He slid them gently, to her shoulders, reassuring a smile. "But, you know me. What's a little torture gonna do?"
"A lot." Her eyes faded, looking spacey. He loses the smile. "I couldn't stand a little torture, but it continued. It got worse from there." His hands twitch, she shook slightly, unable to feel vulnerable. "From that rabid dog..." His hands go firm.
"Kyouka, how long did they keep you there." A hint of contempt at they, but mostly concern for his dulled sister.
"Months. He taught me so many, cruel things." Her eyes began to sting, she tried to blink them away. Atsushi adjusted his arms, reciprocating a hug around her. Gasp. She no longer shook slightly, it increased, so as her tears blur her vision. She shut her eyes and gave in to be emotional, wailing over. He closes his eyes with her, small hands tugging close. No shushing to keep her emotions validated.
"Don't say any more sis, breathe. You're safe now." Soothing her back to comfort.
"I missed you, I wished we were together again. They are s-scary," Muffled hiccup. "I became scary, I ruined p-people's lives." His hand slides up to her hair.
"It's not your fault, I should've looked out for you." His eyes lose its sparkle through a darkened look. "I'll keep you safe this time, from those ba-d criminals... Cutting out a vile word in her presence. Soon, she finds herself able to breathe. Atsushi hugs a final squeeze, before he says. "Do you feel better?" He keeps his tone at ease.
"Yes, brother." He releases the hug, and she wipes under her eyes. He takes her hand.
"Come on, let's get you cleaned up." She gave him a slight squeeze. For her first time here, she smiles.
"Okay." He returns a smile.
Once Kyouka cleared up her appearance, they head back to the agency. On their walk, Atsushi wanted to say more.
"Kyouka."
"Hm?"
"I'm sorry." He keeps his eyes on the streets.
"I know."
"I mean it. I was caught up in my selfish journey, I forgot to keep you beside me." She pauses near the end, he does too.
"You're not selfish brother, don't say that."
"But It's true, I let you join someone else's family and not mine."
"Still, you don't do it on purpose. I know you wanted me to have better treatment." She softens her features. "But you matter to me the most." If Atsushi believed he wanted to cry he would, yet for her, he can't let himself be weak, nor be neglectful, not when he found her suffering days ago. (Or was it just a day?)
"Thank you, sis." He caresses her head. "You matter to me too." 'More than myself', he left unspoken. They appreciated each other then, now they can make up for their separation years back. They walking in motion again.
As they arrive at the Armed Detective Agency, Kunikida was the first to approach them.
"Welcome back, how was your time-consuming discussion." Atsushi raises his eyebrow, though the clock told him enough.
"Oh, it was a bit long. Sorry Kuniki-."
"Sorry doesn't cut it! You have a report due from your mission!"
"I'm getting to that right now four-eyes!" Kunikida's mouth gaps, some background workers found it funny. Kyouka watches her brother go to his desk, while Kunikida decided to jot something in his notebook, probably Atsushi's behavior or something.
"Yo!" She hears the oldest detective call out, Ranpo waves his arm signaling. Kyouka follows his direction, at his desk lowering his arm.
"What do you need, Edogawa." She questions. He just smiles, he grabs a bag scattered by empty candies.
"Show me your hands." Simply asking, she listens to his request. In both of Kyouka's were fresh candies dropped. She doesn't find it strange, to herself.
"Why did you give me these?" Ranpo peeps an eye open at her.
"You were crying, its to cheer you up." He rested it after, Kyouka felt a bit awkward at his knowledge, but more so grateful.
"Thank you then." She politely bows to him, leaving his area at which he decides to willingly take out his trash. Again, odd for the detective, except if you knew what those two had discussed. It doesn't feel great to sit with mixed emotions. On Kunikida's sight, he saw the moment and can assume she had an unpleasant talk. Maybe he shouldn't harass Atsushi for answers on what happened.
Meanwhile for Atsushi, he had a start on his report. When he saw the moment, he can assume Ranpo figured it out when he was with Kunikida. Besides that, he's glad to see his sister enjoying her candy. Hopefully he can heal her from the darkness once more.
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