RED-EMPTION

Chapter 9

I've lost my cool

I'm not sure how to act

Not even sure how I can keep my pride intact

~despair~

~***~

The steam swirls lazily in the air as Josephine turns the water up another notch, relishing in the warmth that envelopes her body. Her shift with Kenji had been a long one. The patrons of the bar didn't seem to want to leave. Josephine felt content, and exhaustion spread through her, making her muscles heavy and her limbs feel like lead. As she lathers the soap between her fingers, she can't help but wonder what tonight will bring.

The bluette hadn't informed Yagami that she was planning on staying the night in his room again. She knew the brunette wouldn't want his space invaded, but Yuki kicking her out of their shared room for the night. Fin didn't have much of a choice. She'd already spent the night in Yagami's bed.

What if he didn't want her there?

What if she'd overstepped her bounds?

She shook her head, trying to clear the thoughts from her mind. She had nowhere else to go, the ex-shinigami was going to have to put up with it.

There was repeated knocking coming from the bathroom door. Josephine frowned, annoyance coloring her features.

"Yuki," she called out, "I'm in the shower. Can it wait?"

There was a pause, and then a muffled voice replied, "Are you done yet."

Josephine's eyes narrowed. "No, I'm not. Now please leave me alone. I will be out in a minute."

She sighed, wishing she could just enjoy her shower in peace. But she knew better than to ignore Yuki when they were in this kind of mood. Reluctantly, she reached over and turned the water off, stepping out of the shower and wrapping a towel around her body. She opened the door, her short blue hair still dripping wet.

"All right, all right," she huffed. "What do you want?"

Yuki rolled her eyes, her own hair tied up in a messy bun. "I just wanted to remind you that you're staying in Asahi's room tonight. I didn't want you to forget." There was a hint of a smirk on her lips.

Josephine narrowed her eyes. "I hadn't forgotten, Yuki." She paused, then added, "I didn't realize I needed your permission to sleep in the room I pay rent for."

"Don't be like that, Finny. I promise. You could bring Asahi here sometime; I will even stay at my mum's when you do." Yuki paused, a smirk playing on her lips.

"Yuki, Asahi is not my boyfriend." Josephine said, exasperated. "He's just a friend." She paused, considering the other woman's offer. "But... if you really don't mind, I could ask him to come over sometime. I appreciate the gesture." She smiled softly.

Yuki was wearing a shit eating grin. "I never mentioned boyfriend, Finny."

"Perish that nickname." Fin fired back, making sure her tone was sharp enough to make her point clear. "It's Fin, or you can face the consequences." She said, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

Yuki tilted her head to the side, a smirk still playing on her lips. "Oh, is that so? And what kind of consequences would those be, my dear?" Her voice was sweet and innocent, but there was an undertone of challenge in it.

"Maybe putting itching powder in your uniform." Fin said with a smirk. "Or maybe just leaving a little something special in your lunchbox."

Yuki's eyes widened in mock surprise. "Finny, you wouldn't dare!" she exclaimed, feigning innocence.