Chapter Text
Heart of Ice
AN: Happy New Year, my dear readers! And let's start it off with a brand new story! Yeah, yeah, I know, I have other stories to work on, and I should also focus on those. And trust me, I tried, but god, life has been so hard. I was fired from my job for absolutely ridiculous reasons, and I'm still getting used to my new one. Additionally, I've been dealing with enough stressful things that have distracted me from my hobbies.
Still, when the Chainsaw Man Reze Arc came out, I was able to see it for myself and loved it very much. But to see it become so famous and a huge online phenomenon really surprised me. I've been so into the discussion that an idea brewed in my head, and I just couldn't help but get it out there. I hope you guys like it.
Blue Eyes
Aki found himself sitting at his apartment table, drinking coffee as he read today's newspapers. Now that his shift was over, he thought of getting more time for himself to relax. And now that Power has been taken out of the picture for a while, that seemed like a good possibility.
At least the Shark Devil kept to himself, seemingly.
Now, if only there was a way to keep Denji out of his hair, that'd be great. God, when did his place suddenly become freak central?
The door opened.
Aki sighed before putting his coffee down. Speak of the Devil, and he shall appear. And never has that saying been more appropriate than in this day and age.
Denji walked in, and Aki couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Denji seemed oddly jovial. He walked with a bit of a more spring in his step and he had a pretty happy smile on his face. And also, he was humming some weird song.
If Aki was honest, he was kind of worried. Just what could have gotten Denji so happy all of a sudden, and would Aki somehow end up suffering because of it? It seemed like a headache was always accompanying whatever Denji was involved with.
Aki shook his head. "You know, it's considered polite to greet someone when entering their home."
Denji snapped out of whatever daydream he was having and stopped right next to the table, finally noticing that Aki was there.
"Oh, hey there, Aki! Didn't notice ya," Denji said. "How has your day been?"
Well, the Angel Devil was a far cry from Himeno, that's for sure. "It was fine. Ended killing one devil, but nothing besides that."
"Oh, well, that's nice I guess," Denji said. His eyes then darted to Aki's coffee mug, staring at it for a few seconds before pointing. "Hey, um… can I get some of that?"
Aki raised an eyebrow before looking at his mug. Since when did Denji drink coffee? "Okay, what's going on?" he asked in a more demanding tone. "Suddenly, you're in a good mood, and you're asking for coffee, or 'muddy water' in your words, out of nowhere. What happened during your shift?"
Denji flinched before looking away, his hand finding its way to the back of his head. "Oh, well… Well, you see, I…" His cheeks flushed. "So there was this cute girl I bumped into, and she… Well, she invited me to a café she worked at and wanted to treat me to some coffee…"
Aki was honestly surprised. Denji was this way because of a girl? Seriously? And from the way he spoke and his mannerisms, it was clear that there was something there. That was quite shocking considering how determined Denji seemed about Makima.
Denji continued. "But when I drank the coffee… I didn't like it. It was… it was just bad, man. So I thought that, maybe, if I drank more of it, I'd get used to the taste."
Aki stared at Denji, still shocked about what he just heard. This just confirmed it. Denji was actually interested in this girl. Why else would he suddenly want to get used to the taste of coffee?
Folding his paper, Aki stood up. "Okay, I'll get you some."
Denji smiled and sat at the table. "Thanks, Aki!"
With a slight shake of the head, Aki took a cup, poured some coffee, and offered itto Denji before returning to his seat. The young teen took a breath before taking a small sip.
Denji found himself cringing as he put the cup down. "Man, this'll take a while."
"You know, you can actually make it taste less bitter by putting in some sugar or milk," Aki suggested.
"Wait, really?"
Aki nodded."So just ask for that the next time you visit, you don't have to just drink plain coffee. It won't even cost you more," he explained before standing up. He took out some milk from the fridge and poured it into Denji's coffee. "Try it now."
Denji took a sip. This time, he got a more sour expression, but he looked at the cup more favorably. "Well, it is better. Guess I'll just ask for that next time if they have any."
"Wouldn't be that good a café if they didn't," Aki said before his phone suddenly started ringing. With a sigh, Aki stood and moved away from the table before bringing the phone to his ear. "Yes, hello?"
While Aki was busy with the call, Denji once again took a sip from the coffee. If he was being honest, it did taste better. Maybe he would actually spend time with Reze without making a fool of himself.
That girl… She was honestly something else. She actually found him charming and funny. And she invited him because, what, he just gave her that small flower? Who knew such a little thing could do so much? Out of all the girls he met, she certainly seemed the nicest.
Plus, she was… quite cute.
"…yeah, I'll be there right away. See you soon, ma'am," Aki said as he hung up the call. "Denji, I need go do an errand, so… please don't break anything."
Denji frowned. "Jeez, how old do you think I am?"
"A question I ask myself all the time," Aki said as he got his jacket. "Look, I'll just have an errand to run on the other side of town, and I'll probably be back only until evening. Just take care of yourself." He stopped as he opened the front door. "Oh, good luck with that girl."
Denji blinked. "Oh, um… thanks. But it… it ain't like we're going out or anything, I'm just trying to hang out, ya know."
"Right," Aki said before closing the door. The kid may deny it, but he clearly felt something for that girl, whoever she was. And if Aki was lucky, that would finally have Denji off his back concerning Makima. If only the universe were so kind.
After closing the door to her apartment, Reze sighed as she rubbed her neck. The day went… great. More than great, actually. Not in the way she hoped would turn out, but great nonetheless.
Humming to herself, she put her backpack away and went to take off her shoes before going to her bed and sprawling herself on it. The apartment she had wasn't anything special. Fairly small, having a stove, a fridge, a table, some chairs, a closet, her bed and drawer situated in a corner, a bathroom area, and a small TV placed on a stool. Still, it served its purpose.
She found her mind drifting back to Denji. He was… interesting for sure. Again, not in the way she expected. She thought he'd be someone more… rough around the edges. But instead, he was only a bit socially awkward, pretty blunt, and with a good heart. For some reason, it resonated with her.
The way he tried drinking the coffee she offered him, but ended up gagging instead, was quite amusing. It was clear he tried coffee before and didn't like it, yet he still accepted it because she ordered some for them. It was kind of sweet.
And honestly, she was glad.
There was a knock on her door, interrupting her thoughts.
Reze eyed the entrance curiously. That was strange. The landlord got the rent a few days ago, and she was sure she didn't share her apartment address with Denji.
Slightly tensing, Reze stood up and went to open the door. And the moment she saw who was the one who knocked, her eyes widened.
Standing at her door was a young man, slightly older than she was, but towering over her, dressed in jeans and a simple short-sleeved black shirt that showed he had a muscular build. By his facial features, one could tell that he, like Reze, wasn't a native Japanese, and he sported short brown hair and had bright blue eyes.
Very bright, almost looking like they were white. Despite having a neutral expression, it gave him an almost inherent piercing gaze.
"Y-Yakov?" Reze spoke, her gaze lingering on the tall man. She couldn't believe that he was standing in front of her right at this moment. "What are you doing here?"
The young man frowned. ("No need to use that language with me,") The language he spoke was Russian, Yakov's tone even. ("Forgive my unannounced visit, but you failed to deliver your report. That's not very like you.")
The report! She was so occupied with hanging out with Denji that she forgot about the report!
("May I?") Yakov gestured inside. Reze nodded and let him in. ("They were worried when they didn't hear from you, thought that you may be have been taken out by Chainsaw. But I knew better. No way you'd be hurt by a fledgling fiend.") He turned to face her. ("And? Were you able to acquire Chainsaw's heart?")
Reze was silent for a moment before shaking her head. ("No.")
Yakov's eyes actually widened. ("No? But you said you'd have it by today.")
("My assessment of the situation was wrong,") Reze said, her expression turning neutral. ("I couldn't just straight up go after the heart. I decided to l get closer to the Chainsaw, get his guard down around me, and attack when the time is right.")
Yakov rubbed his chin. ("So that's it. Are you sure that Chainsaw is that much of a threat? Do you need me to take over for you?")
("No, that's not necessary,") Reze replied, a bit too hurriedly if she was being honest. ("I will get close to Chainsaw and handle this mission discreetly and effectively.")
There was some silence as Yakov stood there, looking thoughtful. Reze knew he thought he could just handle the whole thing himself; he is certainly strong enough. But no, she couldn't let that happen. Not now.
Softening her features, Reze gave Yakov an almost pleading look. ("Do you really not trust me to handle this? Have I not proven myself enough.")
Yakov bit his lip. He couldn't help it when she used that tone. ("No, no, you're right, you're more than capable. I'm sorry for doubting you.") He sighed. ("Well, I'll go tell Piotr you need more time. How much do you think you'll need?")
("I can't say the exact time I'll need. But I will have to earn his trust, and that might take a little while.")
("Fine. You've been here longer than I, you know best. Just try not to take too long. I don't want to stay in this country longer than necessary. Alright?") Seeing her nod, he smiled. ("Well, I'll be on my way.") With his hands in his pockets, he walked past her only to suddenly stop near the door. ("Oh, I'm not even sure why I have to tell you this.") He turned to face her. ("But please be careful when using our real names… Jane.")
Reze's face lit up in embarrassment. God, she was sloppy today. ("I'm… I'm so sorry.")
Yakov quickly put his hand up. ("No, no, it's fine, just… just be more careful.")
("I will.")
With a nod, Yakov left her apartment. Once the door closed, Reze sat on her bed, elbows to her knees, and her head on her palms. God, why did he, of all people, have to come to check on her? It seemed like every time she had a moment of joy, the world had to remind her of her cruel fate.
She chuckled as she remembered saying she needed more time. Denji could barely read, she didn't need to use many clever tactics to get him.
But she couldn't. Not yet. Just… just not yet.
Aki found himself entering a bar, a small bag in hand that had been given to him a little while earlier. The bar was a pretty standard one, hardly anything that would make it stand out from all the others. But it was the one that was frequented by the person he was searching for.
"Hey, kid!" the bartender called. "He's over there!" He pointed at a person sitting at a booth in the corner.
Aki nodded. "Thank you." Walking over to the booth, Aki sat himself across the man sitting there, laying his katana next to him.
"What are you doing here, kid?" the man asked with a groan before taking a drink from the glass in front of him. Elderly in appearance, the man sported graying hair and beard, a pair of dark glasses on his face. He was dressed in a stained grey shirt and jeans, a disheveled brown coat, and a pair of sunglasses.
"You know why I'm here, mister Mori," Aki said calmly. "Your wife is worried about you."
Hideo Mori, a now-retired Chief of Police, though if you looked at him now, you'd probably think he was just some homeless man with such a dirty and undignified appearance.
Mori scoffed. "Isn't it funny? She used to threaten me about how she'd be glad to leave me. And now that I left, she can't stop bothering me. Or you for that matter. Age must be making her crazy." He downed the glass.
"Look, that doesn't mean she stopped caring you, sir," Aki said before bringing the bag. "Here, she made this for you. Your favorite."
Hideo frowned. "Really? Again?"
"Sir, we both know you couldn't make that for the life of you, and she knows it too. So please, don't argue and take it."
She would also deliver it herself, but after they separated, Hideo was pretty adamant about not getting anything from her. However, after meeting Aki and him offering to bring it instead, Hideo was more receptive to that, so that's how Mrs. Mori was able to always give Hideo his favorite food.
With a grumble, the elderly man snatched the bag and put it next to him. "She honestly cares too much."
"At least you know there's someone who still cares," Aki commented. "Isn't that what everyone wants in the end?"
"Boy, at this point, I couldn't tell ya," Hideo said before taking out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter. "And I still don't know why you care so much."
"I suppose I sympathize with people who want to keep bonds with the people they love," Aki said with a shrug. "Besides, you're good man, sir Hideo. You don't deserve to suffer alone."
Hideo frowned as he lit a cigarette and took a drag. "Good man? Kid, I don't know who you were talking to."
"Pretty much everyone you worked with."
"Yeah… right…" Hideo muttered. "By the way, boy, that hair looks stupid."
Aki's shoulders slumped. "Yeah, sir, you… You said that already."
"And I'll continue saying it until you get rid of it." He presented the cigarette pack to Aki. "Want one?"
With a flinch, Aki found himself staring for a few moments at that pack. Finally, he answered. "No, thank you. I'm not in the mood."
Hideo raised a confused brow before putting the pack down. "Okay, kid. What happened?"
Aki bit his lip. So the man figured him out immediately. Well, Hideo was definitely more observant than he let on. "There was… an incident," Aki said looking down. "I lost someone."
"Oh. I see," Hideo simply said. "Was it the girl?"
With a clenched fist, Aki nodded.
"So that's how it is. Real shame. She was a sweet kid." With another drag, he put the cigarette into a tray. "Wish I could say something that would make you feel better, but I've got nothing. In this line of work, it's hardly newsworthy that someone died, isn't it?"
"Perhaps. Still," Aki said. "I was at least able to get some payback for her."
Hideo chuckled. "Well, that's something at least. Wish I could've had some for the men I lost."
"I'm sorry if I soured the mood."
"Kid, my mood is always sour. If you need to talk about it, I'd gladly listen."
"I appreciate it, Mister Mori. But maybe some other time," Aki said before standing up. "I'll see you again, sir."
"Just watch yourself, boy."
Aki nodded before grabbing his sword and heading towards the door. He stopped midway and looked back at Hideo. "Sir, I want you to know that you're a respectable man, and I'm thankful for the service you provided for our country."
Hideo's eyes widened behind his sunglasses as he stared at Aki for a few moments before looking away. "For my country. Right."
"See you later, sir."
And with that, Aki left.
("She needs more time?")
("That's what she told me.")
On top of one of the many buildings within Tokyo city, two figures met for a secret talk. Both of them were foreigners to Japan, with one of them being the tall young man Yakov, and the other was a man dressed in a business suit and wearing a pair of square glasses. He was a man in his late twenties with short black hair, green eyes, and a diagonal scar on his cheek.
("She made contact with the Chainsaw, but determined it was too much of a risk to confront it directly at this time,") Yakov said, staring at the setting sun. ("But if we give her some more time, she'll be able to discreetly acquire its heart.")
("Hmm, I'm not sure. That seems a little bit suspicious. From what we've gathered, the Chainsaw shouldn't be at full power after it possessed a new host.")
Yakov shrugged. ("Maybe, but perhaps he is still plenty powerful, and that's why she requested more time.")
("Wait. She didn't tell you why exactly she was delaying it?")
("I… didn't probe her for more details, no,") Yakov admitted. ("But I trust her, Piotr, and you should too. She has never let us down before. And she won't do so now.")
("Still, this mission is indeed very important. It's Chainsaw's heart after all,") Piotr said.
("Yet we still entrusted her alone with it in the first place. Jane knows what she's doing,") Yakov reasoned. ("Besides, if anything else goes out of hand, then either me or Svetlana will step in and take care of it. We hardly have anything to worry about.")
("Well… I suppose that's true,") Piotr said before taking out a cigarette from his pocket and lighting it. ("Still, I think you treat her a bit too softly compared to everyone else. You do realize personal feelings shouldn't interfere with our work, do you?")
Yakov was silent for a few moments before answering. ("Trust me, my feelings are my own. They won't get in the way.") He glanced back at Piotr. ("And I thought you quit smoking.")
Piotr sighed. ("I did, but then I remembered that I'm working with you brats and it all came back.")
Yakov laughed while Piotr chuckled.
("Well, whatever, we'll just have to wait,") Yakov said before looking down at the city below. ("Still, the sooner we get out of this place, the better.")
Aki opened the door to his apartment and sighed. Man, this day was something, that's for sure.
"Hey, Denji, I'm ba-"
"Um, Aki, great that you're back, but I might need some help!"
Aki's eyes snapped in Denji's direction, and he saw that the teen was in the kitchen, with an overflowing coffee pot on the stove.
"Oh, god dammit," Aki murmured before quickly over there.
AN: And that is it so far, my dear readers! Hope this little chapter got you intrigued and gave some of you the post Reze Arc fix you needed. Because boy, I know I sure craved for some as well. Plenty of new players here and we'll get more time with Denji and Reze in the future because man, those two are great together.
And as usual, please leave a review, they are great motivators. And check out my other stories as well.
See you next time!