Stitched Together

:Re Chapter 7: Highs and Lows

I yawn wearily and sip my coffee as I shift through documents. It's been a little over a week since the auction raid. There were several casualties, but no one I really knew.  My pen trails off the page as I nod off yet again, only for my eyes to pop back open.  Since my encounter with my unfortunate old friend, I haven't had much sleep.  Every time  I try, I'm interrupted by nightmares.  It doesn't help that I haven't eaten anything for well over a month. My head constantly aches and I've practically gotten used to all the dizzy spells. Even so, I have to keep on working. A hand on my shoulder makes me jump.

"Reina? I didn't mean to scare you. Have you been up all night," Juuzou yawns sleepily, rubbing his eye.

"Oh, sorry Juuzou. I hope I didn't wake you. Uh, no, I just got up a bit early is all," I answer, spinning my chair around slightly to glance at the clock. 6:12, early for Juuzou usually.

"You're lying. You've been doing this a lot Reina. You think I don't notice you climbing out of bed. What's wrong?" He asks with little energy.

"I'm honestly fine, why don't you go back to bed for a little bit. I can wake you up in like a half hour," I smile and suggest. He just bends down and puts his forehead on my shoulder before shaking his head.

"No, I can't sleep when you're like this," he mumbles, not lifting his head.  I'm taken aback for a moment.  I didn't know me acting like this impacted him.  "You've been so jumpy lately, it's not like you. Please talk to me Reina," he adds quietly.

"I'm sorry Juuzou, it's just, well the auction. The clowns were running it and I bumped into one. I-it kinda messed me up. I don't want to remember the awful things I did, how terrible I was.  They know so much about me.  They could ruin everything I've tried to do so easily," I admit with a deep sigh. He remains quiet for a moment before looking up into my eyes.

"But you're not like that any more.  Reina, you're super strong and beautiful and changed.  You aren't who you were then, and you never will be.  You're not your memories," He says seriously with a gentle gaze.  He kisses my forehead before standing back up straight.  I reach out though and pull him back close to me.

"Thank you Juuzou, thank you," I whisper.  We stay like that for a while.  I breathe in his sweet scent that has become so familiar to me and relax. 

"Hey Reina," Juuzou starts, making me pull back a bit.  "So could we maybe go back to bed now?" He yawns.  I chuckle slightly and stand.

"Alright Juuzou," I smile and walk with him back to our room.  He flops face first onto the bed before wiggling back under the covers.  He's most certainly not a morning person.

"Reina come on," he whines, his voice muffled by his pillow.  I climb into bed and lay down.  My fatigue seems to hit me all at once and exhaustion finally sets in. Juuzou snuggles close to me and I bury my face in his soft hair.  I could shut my eyes, just for a while.  Just for a while.  My eyes snap open at the sound of my phone on my nightstand.  Carefully, I reach over and grab it, trying not to disturb Juuzou.

"Yeah, hello?" I answer with a yawn.

"Are you two seriously not up yet!  Reina it's 8:30, we have stuff to do today!" Mizurou's voice says urgently.  I gasp and sit up straight.

"Oh my gosh you're right, we'll be there as soon as we can!" I answer back before hanging up.  "Juuzou time to move, we have to go now!" I shake his shoulder and he groans.  We do this way too often.  We're going to be promoted to special class investigators later today and we still can't even get to work on time.  "Fine be that way," I say, hopping out of bed and grabbing my work clothes from my dresser.  I throw his usual attire at him, making him squirm and complain more.  "Hurry up we have got to go.  Honestly this is ridiculous.  We were awake and everything! How in the world are we getting promoted? I can't believe I fell asleep," I rant as I scurry around, getting ready.