the pact (chainsaw man, aki/reader fanfiction)

chapter 12: what goes around

Note: This chapter is also written from Aki's perspective with an omniscient narrator.

BODY FOUND IN EDO RIVER. The deceased has been confirmed to be Hiroto Yamamoto, aged 21, and is a known associate of the Yakuza. If you have any information that could assist in this investigation, please contact the Tokyo Metropolitan Police at XXX-XXX-XXXX. You can remain anonymous.

"Oh shit..." Aki verbalizes just under his breath and pauses reading his morning paper. Even the smoke of his cigarette seems to stall in the air. His heart drops to his stomach. This is not the way he expected the day to start. A panicked feeling set in as he never imagined the murder he committed weeks ago would come back to haunt him. This is precisely why he didn't get his hands dirty.

Aki paces his balcony out of the sights of Denji and Power, chain-smoking at least two more cigarettes before coming inside and preparing a quick breakfast of rice, eggs, and sashimi.

On his morning drive, his mind constantly flashes back to the day he became a killer. He remembers the feel of the cold steel in his hands and the fear in the man's eyes as his life quickly faded. His hands grip the wheel so tight that the blood drains from his knuckles completely. Much like the day it happened, his commute is a blur, almost as if he teleported to the parking lot of Public Safety.

I need to find more information about this as soon as possible.

Aki comes into the office without much regard for his surroundings. He sits down to sort through some paperwork in preparation for the start of today's mission—the first day of a stakeout with the team from Kyoto. He is overwhelmingly angsty and admittedly not looking forward to having to share proximity with so many people. Well, with [Y/n] being the only exception. She has been quite standoffish with him since their last encounter in the supply closet. Texts and calls were going ignored and she was going out of her way to avoid him, at work and at any other place he might frequent. She has even been rejecting his gifts. This wasn't what they agreed on, and if Aki was honest with himself, a small part of him misses her. Not to mention that she is the only person who can corroborate his whereabouts on the day of the murder.

She's my alibi. I need to make her talk to me.

Just as the thought passes his mind, a few small raps echo off his door and Makima's amber eyes flash around the corner.

"Hayakawa? Can I speak with you for a moment?" Her voice is sweet, but Aki knows the cunning musing beneath it.

"Sure." He responds nonchalantly, too distracted to actually care what she has to say.

"You've been distant lately. Do you mind telling me what's going on? I wouldn't want whatever it is to impact your work here as a Devil Hunter."

If he was honest, he had about 99 problems.

His newest paramour, who knew his double identity, wanted little to do with him. His Yakuza prefecture was running amok. Fear in the city was causing Devils to pop up daily. His contract with the Fox Devil was extremely tense. And now, he was on the verge of being the subject of a murder investigation.

"Don't worry about me Makima. I'm fine," Aki quietly snaps, not even bothering to look up at her.

"I know when you're lying but... I won't push. Just don't let whatever it is affect your efficiency."

"Got it," he grumbles.

"Oh, and Aki? Stop canoodling with your subordinates. It's extremely unprofessional." Aki peers up briefly to find Makima sarcastically beaming before leaving as quickly as she entered. He sighs and rolls his eyes.