Confession ~Juuzou x Reader AU~

Chapter 17: He'll Fall

~Juuzou's POV~

My hand.

She touched my hand. Even though I've killed people with these hands? And she smiled at me. Even though she saw that? She saw it. I know she did. I was shaking. I tried not to, but I know she still saw. And she still smiled.

What's this strange putter in my chest? I know it's my heart but why is it beating so fast? So hard?

Whoa. I shake my head. Stop that, heart. Knock it off. Focus. I need to focus. I need to shake myself from all this. But...what is this? It feels strange and bizarre, but also...nice. But what is it? It has a name, doesn't it? I feel like it does.

I swallow. Maybe I do know what this is called. This feeling. Though I don't want to say or admit it. But I know. I know.

I grip my chest. I can't feel this. Not now. Not here. Not about her. There are a million reasons telling me why I shouldn't feel this. Firstly, we're not even from the same country. Eventually, I'll have to go back to Japan. That's my home. That's where I belong. Secondly, I'm the TSC officer responsible for searching for the man who almost had her killed and kidnapping her daughter. But beyond that...

I should be the last person who feels this. Feeling something like this for someone. I'm too screwy and looney. A twinge pulls at my chest. Too damaged. Too broken.

I know I am. It doesn't take a genius to see that. Anyone can take one look at me and see that. And because of that...I know it's wrong of me to feel this. To care for someone like this... Well, that's almost like taking my own brokenness and smearing it all over someone else.

Even I know that's not fair. I have a lot of issues and I know it's not right to dump that on someone else. Especially someone who has their own things they're dealing with. Things that I can tell she hasn't digested. Not completely.

Rui's dad - Lucas, I think is what she said - died three years ago before Rui was born. That alone is traumatizing, but then she blamed herself. It wasn't her fault, of course. Freaky things happen all the time. But still...she held onto that, then guilt turned to anger.

In the end, I get it. I understand why she thinks that way. And seeing her brokenness so closely... It reminds me even more of why I shouldn't feel this way. My brokenness recognizes hers and I know two broken people can result in a disaster.

I'm getting ahead of myself. Who's to say anything will even happen? I'm just here to do my job, then I can go home. Then I can... I can...

I can visit Shinohara.

It feels like it's been forever since I last saw him. Not that he's going anywhere. Thanks to new developments in ghoul technology and medicine, he could wake up any day. I hope to be there when it happens. Which is why I need to find Key.

Key. He has to pay for what he's done. For killing those women. For kidnapping all these kids. For destroying lives. All of it. He has to pay.

My pocket begins to vibrate. I reach into it and fish out my phone, answering it. "Ello! Suzuya Juuzou here."

"Suzuya, sir."

"Heyya, Hanbee! What's going on?"

"Sir, we have an update."

I stiffen. Updates can always go one of two ways: good or bad. Obviously, you want good. Who wouldn't? But no matter what, you always have to brace yourself for any bad. Always.

"Okay. What is it?"

"Key," he says, "was spotted by one of our intelligence units."

The hairs on my arms stand. "Did they make contact?"

"No. He was accompanied by several bodyguards. We assume ghouls. So, they thought it best to stand back."

Understandable. The intelligence unit isn't as armed as other units. Their job is to gather information, not take on the target. Though, I wish they could have. At least this time.

"Okay. Do they still have eyes on him?"

"As of now, they are observing him from a safe distance. Do you want them to engage?"

I start to walk, moving fast. "No. No, tell them to keep tailing him but not to engage. Where are they? Which unit is this?"

"Thirteen," he answers.

Thirteen. Thirteen, thirteen, thirteen...

I stop. Intelligence unit thirteen. I had ordered them to...

"He's still in H/P?" I ask, confused.

But that makes no sense. We've combed this whole city. We haven't seen him. Unless...unless he was hiding out somewhere. I wouldn't doubt that. Key has the means to do so.

"It appears so," Hanbee says. "Or he's just coming back. Strange. I thought he would have taken off long ago. Maybe even flee the country."

"Honestly, same," I huff. "I mean, he knows we're after him. So, why stay here?"

"Hmm. I'm...not sure. Do you think he's considering turning himself in?"

"I doubt it." I come to the hotel's entrance and glance outside. I don't see anyone. No one that's not hiding, anyway. I exit, frowning. "Vigilance is gonna have to be upped. We need more officers to guard the kids at the hospital - inside and outside their rooms."

"I agree. There's no saying who could be working for Key or where they could be."

Exactly, and I don't like that. This game of cat and mouse. Especially when I feel like the mouse. But I mean what I said. We will catch Key and we will bring him in. We will.

"What about Y/N?"

I jolt. "What about Y/N?"

"Well, her daughter was just released from the hospital and she herself is a victim of Key's. Should we increase security for her as well?"

Y/N, Rui. They're here, housed at a hotel the TSC has selected, but that doesn't mean anything. If Key's power stretches as far and deep as we believe, it'll only be a matter of time before he finds them. And then...

"Yeah. Increase security for them as well."

Another twinge. I would guard them myself. I would prefer to guard them myself, but I can't. I have a job to do.

"Very well," Hanbee says. "I'll arrange the details."

"Thanks, Hanbee." I keep walking. The breeze feels good. "Hanbee."

"Hmm? Yes, sir?"

"Where at in H/P was Key spotted?"

"According to unit thirteen, in the Eastside."

Eastside. Well, at least that's away from here. It's away from everything - away from this hotel, away from the hospital, even away from Y/N's last hotel and her apartment. But in the end, he's still here. He's still in H/P.

"Hanbee." My throat feels dry.

"Yes, sir?"

I swallow. "We're going to get him. He's gonna pay."

And he is.

**Ello lovelies! Little Juuzou POV for today. Nothing much, but it's something lol. And it seems Mr. Key has been spotted. Any idea what'll happen next? Guess you'll have to stay tuned to find out! Well, I hope everyone is doing good! If not, then I hope things improve for you! As always, thank you oh, so freakin' much for everything! Y'all are awesome sauce! Wuv yous!! <3**

-Noel Ross