Dirty, Dirty Liars [Mature]

[39]三 十九

A/N: Same chapter as posted May 18th, with heavy edits.

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I startled awake, my heart pounding as I tried to figure out if I had been dreaming or not. A sandpaper tongue licking my cheek brought me back into my body.

Susu laid next to me on the pillow. Jiji was in full loaf position on my chest. I petted them both to make sure they were real, thinking I was back at the hotel with them until I looked around. Large windows with latticed screens overlooked a garden. I had never left the mansion.

My suitcase stood against the wall by the door. I was still dressed, the scarf from my bag wrapped around my hair. Ryuzo's work.

The only thing more uncomfortable than the situation were my wrinkled clothes and unwashed body. The shower called my name.

Susu and Jiji watched closely while I grabbed new clothes and toiletries from my suitcase, ignoring the box next to them, and sat in the bathroom with me while I showered, brushed my teeth, and redressed into my comfy sweater dress.

Feeling almost human again, my thoughts were clearer. What Ryuzo told me was heavy. Knowing he lived only so he could let me decide his fate was not the poetic justice he believed it to be. But, it was very on-brand for him.

When I left the bathroom, my besties stood next to the bedroom door, waiting to be let out. I slid it open, and they trotted out of the room and started up a hall. Nervously, I followed them. It was night, but how late, I didn't know. The moonlight shone through the leaves of the swaying trees outside the windows. Between time zones and sleepless nights, my circadian rhythm was shot.

Their tails disappeared through a doorway. I crossed my arms over my chest, holding onto my anger, knowing what I would find in the next room.

As expected, Ryuzo was inside what looked to be his office, redressed in a suit but missing the jacket. He crouched in front of a desk, pulling Susu and Jiji into his arms, a smile on his face. He was happy to see them as much as I wished I could be to see them together again.

"You went to my hotel."

My voice made him flinch. When his eyes settled on me, he stood and gawked as if I walked in naked, but hid it by clearing his throat. "You gave me the key. You said you didn't want them to be there alone."

"I don't remember that."

"I'm not sure you were completely awake. You fainted. I was worried you hit your head when you fell, but you seemed okay, just exhausted."

I knew he wasn't lying, but it felt like he was meddling yet again. "How long was I asleep?"

He glanced at the clock on his wall, Susu rubbing her head under his chin the whole time. "Ten hours."

Shit. "Well . . . Thanks for getting them. I knew they'd want to be with you."

"They stood by your door begging to go in so they could sleep next to you," he said with a hint of a smile. "You've grown very close."

I shrugged. "We bonded over missing you."

The look of surprise on his face pissed me off. "You missed me?"

"Of course I fucking missed you," I snipped with contempt.

His eyes lingered on me, making my truth more painful. I looked at the door, trying to force myself to walk through it, to leave with my dignity rather than breaking down in front of him again.

"Do you still want to leave?" he asked.

"Yeah," I answered quickly, knowing damn well I didn't know where to go.