Don't Dance with Devils

Chapter 4: A "Friendly" Discussion

Suisei, upon walking back to her apartment, came to the crime scene. She was identified as the person who had started to help the wounded man and who ran off to chase the criminal. When she was questioned, she replied with mostly truthful statements.

“So, the witnesses said they saw you run off. Did you find where the criminal went?”

Suisei shook her head. “No. I got to the street a block over and it was too crowded to follow him.” She didn’t include the fact that she was tipped off by her personal devil and then brutally murdered the man.

The officer made a dissatisfied face. “Well, we can only thank you for your quick thinking in your response for saving the man’s life. He’ll survive all thanks to you.”

Suisei allowed herself to breathe, an invisible layer of stress lifting off her shoulders. “Thank goodness. I was really worried when I left. I’m still angry I lost that sick man…”

The police officer placed a hand on her shoulder, patting it solemnly. “Don’t worry, we’ll find the perpetrator as soon as we can.”

Suisei bid the officer farewell and continued her brisk walk back to the apartment. She tried to ignore the gross feeling that was climbing up her stomach. Upon finally reaching her door, she knocked five times in rapid succession. “Aqua-san? It’s me, Sui-chan. I’m gonna open up the door now.”

She carefully turned the key, listening for the tumblers to click inside the handle. Her hand slowly turned the doorknob, pulling the door open. She peaked in to see Aqua, sitting on the couch with the rifle on her lap. It looked like the poor woman’s eyes were practically spiraling with how frazzled she was.

“Oh, geez.” Suisei quickly stepped in, locking the door behind her. She stepped to the woman quickly, throwing the case containing her axe off to the side. Her hands tenderly nudged the gun from Aqua’s grip, holding the illegal weapon close to herself. She moved to the back room, placing the rifle back into the drawer she got it from.

Suisei didn’t even need to turn around to sense Towa behind her. She hesitated before opening her mouth. “So… did you wanna talk alone, or did you want to include Aqua in the conversation?”

Towa simply remained floating a distance away. After a few seconds of silence, she said, “There’s some things we need to talk about alone, but she should know what’s going on if she’s gonna be here for a while.”

Suisei nodded. “It’d give us a chance to get to know her a little better, too.” The bluenette rose from her squatted position, not yet turning around to face the devil. She felt a hand gently, slowly fall onto her shoulder.

“I’m not as angry with you as you think I am, you know. Not that I’m not angry, because I am. I’m… I’m more worried than angry.”

Suisei closed her eyes, letting those whispered, silken words caress her ears. She allowed herself to lean back a bit, somewhat startled when she felt the body of the devil support her weight behind her. “Why aren’t you as mad at me anymore?”

“...You idiot, do you really think I’d still be as upset with you after what happened this morning? I’m angry that you’re letting your problems spiral, yes, but I’m not about to crucify you without reason.”

The arms wrapping around her felt like a soft blanket. They reminded her of the days when she could freely run around in the fields by her home, arms to her side like she was an airplane being carried by the gentle breeze. She remembered that warm golden sun kissing her skin as she would waltz about through the flowers. There was only one single time that Towa had been able to see that meadow…