BIG FISHES, rizuna ann

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"Where did you get that?" Arisu asked as soon as he saw her approaching him. A ticking sound tasting the floor in front of her feet answered him before her mouth could, "Wait, no, you shouldn't be here."

"Why?" Saki felt his hands grab her arms and tug her to walk back from where she came in the first place, "What are you on, Arisu?"

"I'll explain later, now—" A muffled voice sounded close to them. Saki couldn't tell what it said, but it seemed as if it was of life or death based on Arisu's change of opinion about getting her out of his business, "You've gotta come with me!"

Pressed tightly against his body, he guided her inside a room, closing the doors behind them with caution of making no sudden move that could draw attention from the hallways. Arisu made his way all around the area clearly looking for something; he went past her side a couple of times, opening and closing drawers, breathing heavily until he got what he needed. As soon as he spoke, Saki knew he wasn't informing her about his discovery.

"I found it! What's the password?"

Something wasn't right.

"Can I have context for this whole situation?" Saki waved a hand around her head, using the one that held her white cane to find him farther down into the room.

"I'm supposed to steal the cards from Hatter's safe."

Saki laughed.

"I'm sorry, I thought you said you're stealing Hatter's cards." When Arisu didn't say anything back, she kneeled next to him and grasped his shoulders only to give him a good shake, hopefully clearing his mind in the process. "Are you insane!?"

"Probably," he made them both stand up just so he could find her a place to hide in case things got out of control, "Wait here, please."

"It's 8022." The voice from before talked again.

What the actual fuck?, Saki opened her mouth to speak but Arisu's voice was faster to react than her. He went back to safe.

"Did you see the contents of the letters?"

"No, but Aguni's expression told me everything. I'm sure the contents must be empty."

Hearing it once more, Saki finally recognized it. Chishiya was moving the threads on Arisu's hands, and that didn't give her much comfort if she had to be honest.

However, the second Arisu put on the digits he'd been told and an alarm went off, she couldn't do anything but stay silent listening to her friend desperately call the militant on the radio. Despite his countless tries to get any response from Chishiya, the only voice that granted him one came from someone Saki wasn't really excited to meet again.

"You really came in so brazenly." Niragi spoke nonchalantly.

Out of nowhere, the room was full of people. Saki moderated her breathing, moving carefully to fold the white cane into its smaller form so it wouldn't get anybody's attention even though Usagi's and Arisu's screams were giving everyone reunited there a show.

Saki waited in silence for what seemed an eternity before she crawled out from under a desk, with shaky hands and her leg muscles stiffened. She tried to be as quiet as she could, forgetting her flip flops behind, to exit the room and find the way back to hers without no one questioning the panicked look on her face.

Only when she perceived the familiar patterns of the walls that led her to her room, she allowed herself to slow her pace. At least she did until the white cane touched something on her way. Just as she was about to make a move, someone stole her turn, like a table game made for two.

"Tatta told me he owed you a tea," Ann's voice gave her a chill, "I made you one, you should drink it before it gets cold."

"Ah, I forgot about it," Saki laughed. Swallowing the previous fear, she extended her hands carefully in hope to not crash into Ann's. Her fingertips found their way around the bottom of the cup, flinching for a second at the hot porcelain, but before she could fully round it on her hold, Ann's fingers ran down her wrist in a helpful manner. "Thanks."

It was strange, like the butterfly effect of a first love. Saki hadn't paid close attention to it prior, but then, when her heart seemed to travel all the way up her throat to rest on her tongue and every feeling was savored deeply, she realized how different her words tasted when it was Ann who they were served to. It was strange, and she liked it.

"Would you like to come on in?"

"Sure." Saki signaled to the room, waiting patiently for Ann to get the hint to open the door and invite themselves inside. As they walked in, with one of Ann's hands on her back and the closing sound of the door behind her back, Saki bit her lower lip expectantly. "It's tidy." She commented, more as a confirmation to a previous thought than an observation.

"Just because I'm blind doesn't mean I'm a mess." Saki smiled at her, finding a comfy spot against the bed's headboard.

The mattress sank right in front of her feet.

"I know, but you just gave off that vibe. Like, long, tangled hair and messy bangs."

"They look bad?" Saki's left hand raised up towards her hair almost instantly, trying to comb it, though a pair of cold fingers joining hers made her stop, leaving all the work for Ann.

"You look good, don't worry." She assured her, "It suits you."

They sat in silence for a moment until Saki finally let out what was roaming her mind.

"I've been wanting to talk to you before." She tilted her head, picturing twice what she was about to say, "I thought maybe we could spend more time together, chatting, or playing a game, or anything you're up to!"

"Maybe another day." Ann said, soft-toned and with a smile she couldn't see brightening her face.

When the mattress lost the extra weight, she knew it was time. She didn't need to hear her announce she had to leave; she read the ambience like braille, as if the air was full of dots that were carved into her palms.

The empty cup clinked as Saki placed it on top of a table close to the bed before following Ann's steps to stand up, meet her hand in support, and guide her to the door.

"It was nice," Saki gestured vaguely to their surroundings, "Us talking." Jesus, what the f—, the embarrassment tinting her thoughts stopped suddenly once she heard Ann's voice.

"Be careful, Saki," Her words rushed out her lips, "Don't think they'll forget about what happened, they're just busier with other things now, but they'll try to find you."

Saki drew a deep breath in.

"I know." Was all she said. Ann's hand squeezed hers like a heartbeat resonating inside her chest and then she was alone.