Apologies and forgiveness for something unforgivable

Thoughts about the past

After Akutagawa and Atsushi finished washing themselves they changed into their Pyjama's. Atsushi wore a light blue shirt and pants with the same color and pattern: little kittens holding ice cream.

"Pfhh...what a silly thing..." Akutagawa murmured. His Pyjama was black with white margins. Simple but it still looked good on him and seemed to be much more comfortable than his usual outfit at work.

"Hey, Akutagawa, can you control Rashōmon in those clothes too?" This question was bothering Atsushi since their second meet.

"Yes, it's cloth-manipulation so I can use it as long I'm dressed."

"Kinda creepy though. He could kill me easily when I'm asleep",Atsushi thought. His trust in Akutagawa was very limited.

As if he could read Atsushi's mind Akutagawa reassured:"Don't worry, I won't kill you when you're asleep. That would be pathetic and way too easy."

"Damn, this guy can read my mind"

"Uhh...yeah it's just I'm still a bit nervous...you know?", he said out loud.

"Aha."

When they laid down on the bed while trying not to get too close to each other, Atsushi noticed that the space around Akutagawa wasn't devoured and Akutagawa's facial expression showed a sort of insecurity.

"Is he afraid of something?"

After half an hour the weretiger still couldn't fall asleep but Akutagawa was awake too so he didn't mind much. The black haired was reading a book about the city Yokohama that Atsushi has never seen before. It looked quite old.

"Akutagawa, where did you get this book from?"

"It's a lecture from the Mafia. If you want to work as a successful assassin you need to know your territory well. Secret tunnels, dead ends, other criminals headquarters, passages that lead to a hideout and the shortest way to another place are important in my profession. I got it from D-...my former mentor."

He almost told him but his tongue stopped moving midway. Ryūnosuke didn't like to talk about this part of his past full of agony and humiliation. Even though he would like to tell the weretiger that he's not the only one with trauma he would rather stay silent than mentioning Dazai infront of him.

"Your former mentor? Who was it?"

Akutagawa rolled his eyes.

"I-I know you're probably annoyed but we need to know each other as partners. And the Port Mafia, especially you already know everything about me ,so it's my turn now."

"If you mean so. But only three questions", Akutagawa finally agreed, still a bit reluctant. Talking wasn't his favorite employment.

"Okay...how about... where do you and Gin come from? No lies."

"I don't break promises so I'll just answer without any long and dramatic explanations. Gin and I grew up in the slums until I was fourteen. The dirtiest, poorest and most dangerous area in Yokohama."

Atsushi was clearly surprised and asked himself :"What?! I always thought he lived... well, actually I don't know what he did before the Mafia..."

"Hmm... do you have friends in the Mafia or had some before that?"

The tiger could hardly imagine this uncaring and cold natured man having friends apart from Chuuya-san and Gin-chan.

"Chuuya...