Freak ~Juuzou x Reader AU~

Chapter 30: Swear It

~Juuzou's POV~

They're sending us a message.

A message that is taunting. A message that says, hey, look – you can't get us, but we can get you. A message that is being picked up loud and clear.

But this message also could be beneficial.

I sit, swiveling in my chair as I look over the case notes. The first fourteen women all shared similarities. Not physically. No, they all looked different, but their backgrounds. Estranged from family with few friends. Easy targets. No one would miss them.

But these last three. They didn't fit that narrative. They were all reported to be close to their families and involved in strong friend groups. People that would definitely be missed if they turned up missing or dead. But even more so. All three worked at clubs – two at the very same club as Y/N.

Y/N.

I'm still not entirely sure what her involvement with this case has to do with anything, but I know there's something. Or someone.

Someone, but who? Someone who is close enough to know her – to know those two women from the same club as her. But there's more. Whoever's behind this, they must have crossed those other women's paths before. Those other dancers. Those women that worked in customer service.

The culprit met them before they were killed. I'm certain of it. But who? Who is it?

I scan more through the case notes, searching. What are we missing? There is something we're not getting. But what? Who?

"Squad leader," Hanbee says, his voice smooth and even. "Are you going over the notes again? Sir, I believe we've found all we can from there."

"Yeah, but I feel as though we're missing something. Something that is staring right at us."

"You mean, the perpetrator?"

I nod.

I leaf through the pages, Hanbee standing at my side. He's watching me. I don't care. I want to figure out who this is. I need to. I made a promise.

"Sir, I admire your dedication – truly, I do. But shouldn't you be getting some rest by now? It's late."

Quickly, I glimpse over at the clock. Three a.m. It's late. He's right about that. And my eyes do burn, but they've been burning. And they can keep burning.

I turn back to the notes. "I'll go to sleep in a bit."

It is silent for a moment. Then: "Sir, with all due respect, we've already combed through those notes as much as we can. There's nothing else to gather."

Maybe not. Maybe we have scanned and read all these notes until we memorized them. Maybe there is nothing left. Not directly in the notes, anyway.

"Hanbee, were you ever able to get a list of clients who visited the establishments of each victim yet?"

"Hmm? Yes. It was faxed over today, but we were in meetings all day, so I haven't had the chance to look over it."

I jolt up. "Give it here."

He startles but does as I say, retrieving the list from his case. I take it and begin to scan it. It holds an assortment of numbers and letters. Names. Names I don't know. Names I don't recognize.

But there is a reoccurring number.

"Hanbee, is there a way we can get a warrant to get the name of this cardholder?" I ask, pointing at the reoccurring number.

He looks at it and nods, "I believe so. Not tonight, of course, but I can head to the court to get one as soon as they open in the morning."

"Do that," I say, scanning the page once again. That number. It keeps reappearing, found at each establishment. More than once. "I'm confident about this."

I just wish we could have gotten this list sooner. If the stupid bureau would have granted us permission sooner, we could have already solved this. We could have saved a few lives. Maybe not all, but some. But hopefully, now, we can save any future victims.

"Yes, sir," Hanbee says. "But since there's nothing more we can do right now, shouldn't you turn in for the night?"

Maybe. Maybe I should, but I don't want to. "Yeah, maybe."

His features soften. "Excellent. Well, in that case, I will see you tomorrow morning once I return with the warrant. Goodnight, sir."

"Goodnight."

He turns and goes to his room, and for a moment, I start to do the same. I stretch and shift and stand, shuffling to my own room. But once I'm there, the sight of my messy bed doesn't seem so inviting. Not really. Not like it should.

Not that it seems evil or screwy. I'm not afraid or feel uneasy about it. It's just... I don't know.

Uninterested, I shove my hands in my pockets and make my way to my window. Outside, the sky is black, with not a single star to be seen. Only the streetlamps below break the darkness.

And it looks like home.

Not completely. No matter what, H/P isn't Tokyo. But seeing it at night... I guess I miss it. I miss home. I miss the stray cats I feed. I miss the zoo where I drew the giraffe. I miss the food, the air, the noise. I miss Shinihara.

My eyes squeeze shut, my memory painting him in that bed, the tubes and wires feeding him life. He's alive, but he's not living. Being hooked up to wires and tubes doesn't mean you're living. And maybe it's even cruel, tethering him to his body.

But we're selfish. And we're not ready to let him go. I know I'm not. I'm not ready to let him slip away. They'll find a way to fix him up. He'll wake up. He'll wake up and he'll be fine.

My eyes flutter open. I'm going to make him proud. When he wakes up, he's going to be proud of me. I swear it.

And we're going to save those kids.

I swear it.

**Bello lovelies! How are y'all doing? Enjoy a bit of a Juuzou POV? Honestly, I love writing from his POV. I just find it fun. But now he's onto something it seems. Something they haven't been able to do because of interferences. Any idea what this new information will prove? Are ya ready to find out? I hope so! So, I finished reading E. Lockhart's We Were Liars, and all I can say is WOW. It was so good, and so beautifully written. Like, wow. And that twist at the end? I was shook. 10/10, highly recommend. Well, that'll do for today. As always, thank you so, so much for everything! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross