Obsession (Ayano x Budo)

Chapter 40

Info-chan was silenced mid-sentence.

What sounded like a furious smash of thunder echoed throughout the air of the room.

Ayano jumped back in surprise. Her jaw dropped and she whipped her head to the side. Budo - staring down at Info-chan with absolute detestation - was standing right besides her. He was breathing hard, and his hand was clenched in a tight fist. All at once, it was clear what had happened: Budo had struck Info-chan across the face.

"I'm sorry, Ayano, but she was insulting you," came Budo's stone-cold voice. He sounded as if he'd wanted to more than just slap her. For some reason, Ayano couldn't look away. Her throat was clogged.

"Don't do that again," Budo added, addressing Info-chan. And then Budo's head turned, and he looked at Ayano.

Their eyes connected. For a second, the darkness she saw plunged deep, rooted in them, was horrifying- and then, just as quickly as it had arrived, his fury melted away into something much softer, lighter. His voice lost all of its harshness as he spoke to her. It was like a pot full of viciously boiling and bubbling water, suddenly evaporating into a warm cloud of steam. "I'm sorry for interrupting, Ayano. I'll try to control myself. You can continue," he said apologetically, and took a few steps backwards. He didn't move any further away than that - He simply stood there and watched Ayano.

Ayano slowly moved her head forward and looked at the girl before her.

What had just happened?

Ayano felt the incredible urge to laugh - just so that she could release the feeling of shock that was wedged within her. Strangely, although his attack had been sudden and ruthless, she was more bewildered by his reason for her action. Did he really hit her because she called me an idiot? Ayano would have understood if he'd done it because Info-chan wasn't answering any questions, and yet... his anger had erupted over something much simpler. It was almost ridiculously simple: He'd defended her honour. He truly is absurd.

With Budo standing just a few feet away, Ayano could sense his presence burning into her back. He was still breathing heavily, but she could tell he was trying to calm down. She should have felt fear after having witnessed such a violent display, but strangely... She felt comfortable with him closer. It was a strange inner reflection - one that made her decide to contemplate their relationship later, when she had more time.

But as for right now...

Ayano's eyes bore into Info-chan's skull, watching with interest as her red hair fell away from her face, revealing a cheek that was pink. She began again.

"So, Info-chan, why did you send the delinquents after Taro?"

Ayano heard Info-chan take in a small breath and saw her eyelids open. She looked like she was collecting herself, trying to recover mentally - like a castle that had been shaken, now smoothing concrete over the cracks in the walls. Her fortitude humoured Ayano. It won't last the night.

"The delinquents made a mistake," Info-chan said, in that smooth voice that dripped evenly and dispassionately, an attitude that was beginning to infuriate Ayano."Remember? I messaged you about it as soon as it had happened. I even punished the leader-"

Crack!

Ayano's hand throbbed fire-hot, as if bees were running through along arm and circling around her fingertips. Her expressionless eyes stared at her open palm. The pain felt good. Had Budo also felt this good after hitting Info-chan? Eyes still fixed onto her own hand, she breathed, "You're lying."

Ayano's eyes darted away from her hand to the girl. Info-chan's head stayed low and she was dead quiet. There wasn't a sound in the room, except for her and Ayano's breathing . When she lifted her head, slowly, Ayano saw flaming red welts streamed across her face, in the pattern of her fingers. I hope it hurt like hell. 

"If... I may explain," Info-chan said, her voice now subdued, and Ayano smiled at the discernable change of tone. The girl waited, presumably for Ayano's or Budo's interjection, and then continued, "I have evidence."

Ayano waited, her curiosity piqued.

"My phone. He took it from me." Info-chan lifted her head slightly and nodded towards Budo's frame, but Ayano's eyes remained resolutely upon Info-chan. "You can see my messages on it to the leader of the delinquents. It should show that I was telling them to beat up Budo Masuta, not your beloved."

"He's not my beloved anymore. And yes, I've already seen those messages." Ayano shrugged, her interest quickly fading away as the woman's words became evidently worthless. "Funnily enough, they contradict everything you say."

At first Info-chan had looked like she was going to comment on Ayano's earlier statement, but now her attention was taken by the latest piece of news. An indiscernible expression fell across her face.

""Contradict"? How can that- May... I see it?" 

"Why should I?" Ayano queried, and was met with a look of held-back frustration.

"Because there is a misunderstanding. I am not responsible for Taro's paralysis."

Ayano sighed. This conversation was running like a circle. "Then, simply tell me who is, and I'll  let you go."

Ayano gave her a few seconds to respond, and during that time the air was dead. Info-chan's lips were tightly closed as she stared intently at the ground. What wasn't she saying? If she can't answer that, then it's a silent confession. She knows it'll only make me angrier if she says it out loud.

With that thought, all at once, Ayano was very aware of the weight in her right hand. It's cool temperature felt electric within her grasp. The temptation was rising. The longer she waited, and the more she looked at that stupid face of hers, the more her time was wasted, the more she remembered why she was here, and the more she couldn't hold back the anger.

Interrogate. That was what Budo had said they would be doing. And yet... 

Finally Ayano understood: that was just a cover. A facade to reason the violence they would deal. Looking at this woman before her, she wasn't thinking about "the truth". The only thing running through her mind was how much she despised her. How much she wanted to kill the hell of of this woman who'd ruined her life.

So she stopped asking questions.

Ayano reached forward with her left hand, grabbing a chunk of the red hair. She felt its soft strands curl around her fingers, and then she ripped her hand away with a single crude pull. With a whoosh, off came the entire head of hair, and Ayano was left holding a cascade of flames in one hand. A wig.

From beneath the hot flames, a waterfall of cool pale locks rushed down from where they had been held in place, tumbling over her shoulders in long silvery strands. Ayano took it in. A fringe. Straight long, almost white, hair. The woman smiled grimly to herself in empty humour as she looked at Ayano. 

"So, do you recognise me?" she asked softly. Did she? Ayano's narrowed eyes moved from her hair to glare at the face of the woman. Maybe, but she didn't care enough to try. What she wanted was much more primal. The knife in her hand was burning and her blood was screaming through her ears.

"I don't care about any of that," she uttered impassively, and then stopped resisting her true nature. "I just want to see your face more clearly when I do this."

Without another word, Ayano brought the tip of the blade away from Megumi's throat.

And instead, plunged it into that silver eye which widened in realisation.