Against All Odds || Fuyuhiko Kuzuryu x Fem!Reader

Missing Memories

You clutch the hem of your hoodie tightly as you step inside your cottage, Fuyuhiko close behind you with a slight frown.

You hadn't been in here for... a while. You raise your hand, gently rubbing the palm of it in memory of your first morning in here.

Damned key... It hurt like a motherfucker.

"There. We're here, so get what you need," Fuyuhiko huffed, quite irritated after you had managed you bug him into letting you do this.

"You're one cranky Yakuza," you smirk, hoping this teasing demeanor would hide your unease.

You liked Fuyuhiko's cottage better.

You scan the room, memories flooding back to you like a dam that had been released. Your gaze travelled to the desk in the corner... where you had... planned to kill Sonia.

You hadn't realized the comforting scent of your cottage. The smell of old books and dim lighting were comforting in their familiarity. Reminded you of home. Off of the island.

It was like being enveloped in a warm embrace from an old friend. You notice the dust that had accumulated on the shelves and tables. You had been gone for too long. Though, just a few days, too long.

You walk over to the bookshelf and run your hand over the spines of your favorite novels, most of which were just books of poems.

Fuyuhiko coughed, pulling you out of your musings. "Are you gonna keep on with all this beautiful mind shit or are you gonna grab your fuckin' stuff?"

You turn to Fuyuhiko, an eyebrow raised in amusement. "It's called nostalgia, Fuyuhiko. You should try it sometime."

He rolls his eyes in response, but you can tell he's not really irritated anymore. He knows you well enough to know that you need these little moments of reflection every now and then.

You trudge across the room, your breathing steady as you grab a duffel bag from the floor and hastily stuff it with a few skirts, more hoodies, and a few meager toiletries.

Strands of hair escape flow astray in front of your face as you throw the bag onto your bed.

As you do, your eyes fall on a small wooden box sitting on your nightstand.

The box is small and wooden. It has rounded edges and a thick band of metal wraps around the entire box.

It's marred by the natural wear and tear of time, but you can still make out the detail in the carvings decorating the top of the box.

The box is made of a dark, and heavily carved wood. It reminds you of driftwood, smooth and polished by the sea, and it is moderately dusty from being on the nightstand.

Fuyuhiko notices your hesitation and steps closer. "What's in there?" he asks, and you shrug.

"I... I don't know," you whisper. "I-it wasn't here last time I was in here."

Well... you weren't one-hundred percent sure...

"I think..." You trail off, your eyes fixated on the box.

Fuyuhiko notices the unease in your voice and places a comforting hand on your shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. We can leave it if you want," he says softly, a nice refresher from his usual foul-mouthed and irritated demeanor.

You shake your head, feeling a strange pull towards the box. "No, I wanna know," you say, your voice resolute.

You reach for the box, your fingers hesitating before finally gripping the metal band and pulling it open.