Stitched Together

Chapter 14: Piecing it together

"Another typical day," I yawn and set my head on the desk. I glance over at Juuzou who is drawing all over some papers with a crayon. "Hey, stitches, gimme some paper," I flail my arm and demand. He blinks at me, but hands me a sheet. I sit up and grab a pen. For a moment I sit poised, but flop back down onto my desk. "I don't know what to draw," I whimper and blow a piece of hair out of my face. My energy is so low right now, I haven't slept correctly in a week and I haven't eaten anything for nearly a month.

"Draw me, and I'll draw you okay, like a little contest," Juuzou speaks up with a smile. I remember the drawing of me I found on his desk a while ago and smirk a bit.

"Pfft, too easy, I've got this," I shoot back up and start scribbling. Things have been kind of quiet recently, for us at least. Though, I suppose once you've lead a full raid on a ghoul stronghold everything seems sort of average. My eyes wander over to Juuzou, who's sticking his tongue out in concentration as he runs his crayon across the page. He catches me looking and slides his paper away.

"Hey no cheating," he says, making me giggle. I don't see how one could cheat with this but whatever. It's not like I'm an artist but I'm not exactly unpracticed. Back in the academy I grew bored easily in classes so I picked up the habit of doodling all over my notes. I haven't really drawn anything since, but I'm sure I'll win this. "Okay, all done!" He announces with a satisfied nod.

"Alright, on the count of three, two..." at the last second we both flip our pictures around. I burst out laughing at Juuzou's. I'm scribbled on there with a big goofy smile and flowers sprouting from the ground.

"Why are you laughing? It looks just like you," he puffs his cheeks out irritably. "Yours doesn't look anything like me," he turns his nose up and huffs.

"What, seriously, no way, this is exactly like you," I point at the sketched monochrome image.

"Nah-uh, that's too boring to be me," he shakes his head.

"Well that's too happy-go-lucky to be me," I retort back. We glare at each other for a moment before both breaking out into laughter. "Okay okay, we both win," I manage to say through my snickers. "Here, gimme that," I outstretch my hand and take Juuzou's picture. I grab a pin from inside a drawer and put it on the wall behind my desk. Juuzou nods with realization and does the same with my picture. "Perfect," we both smile at our handiwork. "But you know..." I start with a grin. "Mine was better."

"Oh yeah, say it again and I'll get Jason," he grins playfully.

"You wanna fight stitches, bring it," I chuckle. He and I have actually been sparring a lot recently. The CCG isn't all paperwork, we are an active organization and have to keep fit and trained. We both reach for our cases just as the door clicks open.

"Good afterno-" Shinohara stops and we both try to act natural. He pinches the bridge of his nose and sighs heavily. "Please tell me you two weren't about to practice in the middle of the office, again. My desk suffered enough last time. There is a reason why we have a training room," he scolds. Last time I kinda dodged and Suzuya sorta maybe cut Shinohara's desk in two. "Anyways I need you two to come with me, I've called a meeting."

"A meeting?" Juuzou and I both tilt our heads and say.

"Yes, I'm sorry I haven't communicated with you very well recently but I've been on the edge of an important breakthrough," he nods his head to the door and we follow him out to another office room. We find Akira and Amon as well as Hide talking. I hear Hide was promoted to an investigators assistant, so he must be assigned to these two. "Hello everyone, I have something I'd like you all to hear, in regards to the binge eater," he announces. We all stop to look at him, with the exception of Suzuya, who's staring at his arm and fiddling with his stitches. The binge eater, there isn't anything left that they could've figured out... right? "I've been looking through many theories and for any tracks left behind, and I came across something unsettling. The same October she disappeared, a girl was involved in an incident with falling I-beams," Shinohara explains. I freeze up, entirely surprised.