attakai | a. haruchiyo & k. nahoya

33 | i just couldn't be found

"Sanzu!" Hanma's voice suddenly echoed throughout the room as he saw the pink haired man entering his office. "Great work today!" He grins at him before patting him on the back. "As expected from Number two." He adds, fishing out a pack of cigarette before facing it to Sanzu.

Sanzu, who looked like he was out of his wits and face pale like he saw a ghost, slowly shook his head. "I'd like to be alone for awhile." Was all he said before turning around on his heels. Just as his hand clasped around the knob of the door, Hanma's large hand pressed firmly against it, the word punishment flashing right before him.

"Not so fast though." He chuckled softly as he slumped his left arm around Sanzu's shoulders. "The reason why I called you is because I know you're the only one competent for this mission." He says, closing the door in front of them before directing Sanzu onto the couch.

"Actually, this mission is a whole, but I divided it into two parts. One for you, and one for Kakucho." He begins to say, taking out a luxurious bottle of brandy and two glasses, placing it on top of the table before pouring the glass half each.

"Is it traitor's again?" Sanzu asks, taking the glass with shaky hands, the sour but strong taste sliding down his throat. Hanma sat down besides him, taking the glass and swirling the contents slowly.

"Not quite." He replies, eyes trained on the murky liquid. "You see, I've got a vendetta on two people. One whom I can't win against back in my teenage days and the other just infuriating."

"Sounds troublesome." Sanzu commented, leaning on the table to pour himself some more brandy. The color on his face finally returning.

"It truly is." Hanma faked sympathizes with him, outstretching his left hand to give Sanzu a brown envelope.

"Inside here are the details of the person you'll be killing for me." He instructs, watching the pink haired man take the envelope in one hand while the other hand used to drink the contents of the brandy he poured for himself.

"Take as much time as you need." Hanma shrugs playfully at him while getting up on the couch. "But if you ask me, I'd do that in a heartbeat." He adds before walking away from his office.

Pouring himself another glass of brandy, the strong concentrated alcohol was causing his mind to go fuzzy, but nevertheless, Sanzu could still manage himself best. Placing his third glass down on the table with a loud sound, he proceed to look at the printed documents inside the brown envelope.

And that's when Sanzu wished he hadn't. Because if Hanma tasked Kakucho to kill Mikey, then he was tasked to kill Nari.

. . . . . . . . . . ♡

Inside his room, Sanzu kept pacing back and forth. Why...why did Hanma had a personal vendetta on his former best friend and former first love? He joined Bonten just to keep them away from harm, so why go back to their old roots?

Sanzu wished he understood but he couldn't.

If only it was possible, he would take his phone out of his pocket, dial Nari and tell her to get out of Tokyo and retreat somewhere in the province side or out of the country, then he can kill a random stranger and make it look like it's Nari. Simple. But then again, he realizes that he's dealing with Hanma.

He's never went against him. Not even once. But now, the idea of betraying Bonten is floating up inside his mind.

Sitting down on the foot of his bed, Sanzu took his pistol out while his chest heaved up and down, hand gripping on the base of the gun while his back's hunched forward.

"I can kill her. I can kill her. I can kill her. I can kill her. I can kill her." He kept repeating to himself over and over until the words sinked inside his head. And when Sanzu for sure knows he can kill her, he got up on his feet and took the car keys with his free hand.

Parking the car at a closed establishment near the flower shop she worked at, Sanzu looked outside his fogged up window to see if the store was still open - it still is.

Stepping out of the car, he took long strides in front of the shop, bursting through the doors open. He was expecting to see Nari, but she wasn't there despite all the lights were open and the door sign saying OPEN.

Did Mikey know too? Sanzu thought to himself. Did he know and alerted her and that he fell into a trap? God how much Sanzu wished that right now.

And since Nari couldn't be found inside the shop, he took his sweet time looking around the vibrant and sweet smelling flowers that surrounded him. Of course he knew her interest in flowers, he was still part of her life when she told him about her desire to become a florist.

Maybe, if he just wasn't hay wired in the head, he would have loved to bring Nari to a flower field and pass time together there. Nothing but the flowers around them, the sun on their face and their fingers intertwined.

When the wooden and glass doors opened, Sanzu quickly hid behind the brown and red pots. While his right hand held tightly on his gun, he peaked through a small gap to see who had entered - and it was no one else but Nari.

"Maybe I should close up for today" He heard Nari speak to herself. Sounds of footsteps slowly came closer to him until the girl took a turn. She was quiet for a moment before hearing her voice again.

"Hello, mother!" Her cheery voice filled the room. "I hope you've had dinner already! Has the twins eaten dinner already too? Ah, really?! They really like mashed carrots and celery! I'll make sure to give them apples and carrots next time!" He heard her say.

"It's been raining since the afternoon here and no customers have entered since. I guess I should close up early for tonight. I miss my babies too!" She says, chuckling softly. "I've been working really hard, right? Closing the shop one hour early won't hurt! Ah- you didn't have to do that! Nahoya's still working until eleven. I'll be going home with the twins first! Alright, bye bye!" And with that the call ended.

While he could hear shuffling sounds in the background, Sanzu's mind began to continue the mantra he was chanting earlier.

I can kill her. I can kill her. I can kill her. I can kill her. I can kill her.

Slowly, he stood up from behind the emptied, upside down pots and quietly went closer to her, standing right behind her with his hand ready to pull the gun and trigger out. But as Nari turned around and her eyes went wide in surprise from seeing so close to her, Sanzu realized one thing.

"Haru?" Nari asks, her eyes meeting his. That's right, he can't kill her.