Twisted Fate | Akutagawa Ryūnosuke ✓

11 | One Good Reason

"Oi, focus."

You deepened your scowl at the red-head, eyes shifting into focus as you analysed the male in front of you; legs spread apart, fists clenched tight, facing you with a narrow frown. Without warning, he lunged forwards, swinging his fist at your face. You caught his arm clumsily, the impact driving you back a few inches, heel scraping against the dirt.

"What the fuck was that?" He growled, eye twitching.

You shot him a deadpan look. "Four years out of the game. I'm trying, okay?"

Chuuya rolled his eyes to the low-hanging ceiling, cracking his fingers along his thigh. "Well try harder. C'mon." Curling his lip, the male launched forward again, driving the heel of his shoe into your shin. Knocked temporarily off balance, you squatted - knee barely grazing the floor - and managed to block his punch with your elbow. Rolling back onto your feet, you delivered a short blow to his cheek and caught the back of his shin with your foot, making him go down onto one knee.

"Oh, Chuuya, I'm flattered," you muttered, readying another punch when he called a time-out, climbing shakily back to his feet.

"Better," he muttered, brushing his coat down. "But still crap."

You shot him the finger, sucking in your cheeks. "I'm taking a break."

Chuuya scoffed. "Pussy."

Unfazed by his comment, you rolled down the hem of your sleeve and used it to dab your forehead. Rivulets of sweat traced your spine, and you tugged at the collar of your blouse, undoing a few buttons to allow you to breathe more freely.

"So you came back."

"So I did."

Chuuya was watching you carefully, aqua eyes ablaze with curiosity. "Why?"

A sigh parted your lips as you watched dust particles crawl across the rim of his hat, stalling for time. "Because it's all I'm good at. Akutagawa said I was born a killer, and maybe he's right."

The male hummed under his breath, taking his chin between his fingers. "I suppose we all are. You don't get into this kinda business without being ruthless. A bit... insane," he added with a devilish smile.

"You're fucking mental, that's for sure," you murmured, shaking your [h/c] fringe at a jagged angle across your eyes. "That was awful what you did to me."

"And you deserved every bit of it," he retorted quickly. "There are people in the mafia that disapprove of you still breathing. But apparently the President's perfectly content with turning a blind eye."

"Are you one of those people?" You mused, stretching your arms back, wincing as you unsettled your old bruises.

Chuuya's teeth sunk into his lower lip, eyes settling on the space just above your shoulder. "I couldn't give a shit whether you live or die. But I guess it's always useful to have another ability-user lying around."

"Hm, I'm touched," you deadpanned, fluttering a hand to your chest.

Unamused, Chuuya backed away to the middle of the room, beckoning you with a quick gesture. "Come on, I haven't got all day. Don't know why they stuck me with this damn job anyway. I'm an executive now, y'know. More than you and that shitty brat Akutagawa will ever be."

You smiled dryly. "Shall we just get this over and done with, then?"

Swathed in tight leather gloves, you curled your hands into fists with a satisfying crunch, bending your knees slightly.

Drawing his lips into a fiendish smile, he mirrored your stance just as the choppy rhythm of heels striking stone drew your attention to the door. Chuuya growled under his breath, and you allowed a fleeting smirk to touch your lips.

Higuchi walked in a moment later, eyes seething.

"Why is she still alive?"

Chuuya straightened his posture, keeping an air of intimidation about him. "Because nobody's killed her yet."

Higuchi's sharp features narrowed further. "I don't think you need to see this," she told him cautiously, aware of the fact she was talking to a senior.

Chuuya's gaze slid between the two of you as he clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth. "She's right. You two have fun," he said offhandedly, throwing you a wink before backing out of the room.

As soon as he was gone, Akutagawa's bodyguard turned on you with flared nostrils. "You left twice - you're a traitor. Give me one good reason I shouldn't paint this floor with your blood."

You rolled your eyes. "Because then you'll get axed for killing one of your own. Whether you like it or not, we're on the same side."

You didn't see her fist until it was right upon your nose, a gruesome crack ringing through your ears as blood sprayed your face.

"Bitch," you barked, moving your hand in a short arc. Shadowy figures dived forward, hitting her square in the chest.

Her back struck the wall, hard, knocking the oxygen from her lungs. "You're pathetic, you know," she wheezed, back on her feet in an instant. "Akutagawa doesn't give a shit about you, so quit following him around like a lost sheep. Keep away from him, you hear?"

Your lips painted a grim smile. "I think you're mistaken. It's him who can't keep away from me."

Higuchi's eyes sparked threateningly. "You-"

"Higuchi, leave us."

The two of you recoiled in surprise, wheeling to face the doorway. Akutagawa caught your gaze briefly, before pulling away.

"Aku- Y-yes, sir," she stuttered, fixing her blazer and glowering at you as she passed.

Then it was just you and the silent dog.

"Akutagawa," you said simply, ignoring the blood streaming down your face.

"Get cleaned up. You've been assigned your first mission."