The Darkness Before Dawn

Scars

As darkness fell outside her window, Shinju stood in front of her floor length mirror, turning this way and that. Her figure hugging dress was offset by dangerously spiked heels and bold, seductive makeup. Gold accessories hung from her ears and around her neck.

Tenno answered the door on the third knock. With an unimpressed expression on his face he opened the door to see Kakuzu. "Oh. It's you" he said dismissively to Shinju's date. Kakuzu narrowed his eyes and was deciding on how to kill the butler when the clicks of her heels on the stair's steps alerted him to her presence.

Kakuzu turned to take in Shinju's appearance completely and he nodded, almost in approval. "You look beautiful" he said while handing her a single bright yellow sunflower. Her dark red lips stretched into a smile as she took the flower, smelled it and let Tenno take it from her hands. "You look pretty good yourself" she said as she leaned into his space, her fingers toying with his silk tie. "Let's go" he said as he took the black stole from Tenno and placed it on her shoulders.

After a quick drive he guided the car into the parking lot of the City's most famous and in demand restaurant. "I've always wanted to try this place!" Shinju said happily, making the usually solemn man next to her give her a small smile. A valet took his car while Kakuzu escorted his date into the establishment. A young and impressionable hostess seated them in a private booth, all the while trying to flirt with Kakuzu but he ignored the woman completely.

After ordering their drinks they got down to the awkward business of getting to know each other, otherwise known as a date. Shinju chatted happily about the food, her day and shared some trivial gossip about living in a house with three other women. Kakuzu talked briefly about his work and his partner but he mostly listened. He enjoyed not having to decipher enigmatic clues or try to bully some results out of his team; he enjoyed her company.

"...scars?" Kakuzu snapped out of his internal monologue and refocused on Shinju. "I'm sorry, what was that?" he questioned. "I was wondering about your scars. If you don't want to tell me, it's fine. I'm just curious." Kakuzu sighed and thought for a bit before telling her his story.

"Do you remember Kurosawa Noritada? 'The Mutilator'? He was a serial killer who was active about a decade ago. He was mine and Hidan's first real case as detectives and we were naively optimistic that I could solve it and we'd nab the bad guy.

Well, after tracking him for weeks, we cornered him in his torture chamber where his latest victim was being held. I chose to take her place and he accepted that. Hidan went mental at having to leave me behind and get the girl out but I figured if she lived, then I had done something right.

Kurosawa was named 'The Mutilator' for a very good reason. To put it simply, I was tortured, flayed alive, for days until Hidan and the SWAT team could get me out. As a result of the torture I have many scars. Perhaps you'll see them, someday, but for now my facial ones are enough. I remember when he carved those lines into my face, how he told me I wouldn't look so morose anymore because I would have a permanent smile; a Glasgow smile. I suppose in some sick way he is right."

Silence stretched between the two until Shinju reached over and put her manicured hand on top of his worn and calloused one, and smiled at him. "I think your scars are sexy. They add an element of mystery and a 'bad boy' aura to you" she said as she leaned a little over the table that separated them, allowing glimpses of her breasts to show from her dress' top.

Kakuzu withdrew his hand from under hers and cleared his throat. Shinju settled back into her chair and sipped her wine, tapping her blood red nails lightly against the wine glass. "I'm sorry," he finally said, "it's been years since I've though of that...time in my life." He raised his hand for the bill and he paid. He assisted Shinju to her feet and put the stole around her shoulders before leaving the restaurant.

Standing at the curb waiting for the valet to return the car, she turned to him, "I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable or possibly ruined this." The valet held the door open for her and she slid into the plush leather seat. Kakuzu got in and began to drive. He drove in silence as he followed the road out of the city and past the city limits where he parked the car at an overhang that looked over the brightly lit city.

After helping her out of the car, he spread his jacket on the ground for her to sit on so she wouldn't dirty her dress. She sat down and he sat behind her, taking her weight. "You didn't ruin anything. I just wanted to be somewhere quiet. Silence can be soothing" he said. Shinju leaned back and closed her eyes, enjoying his firm body against her back and the two continued their date.

Kakuzu scowled as he looked at his watch. "I've got an early start tomorrow so I should take you home" he said as he helped her stand up and did his best to brush the dirt off his jacket.

He parked his car in front of the mansion's entrance and escorted Shinju to her door. "It's too bad about your early morning. I'm sure a late morning would be preferable" she said with a hint of lust in her voice. Kakuzu said nothing but leaned down and pressed his lips to hers, kissing her a little hesitantly at first but when she began to kiss him back, he applied a little more pressure and passion. They broke apart when they heard the front door's latch being opened. Kakuzu pressed a piece of paper into her hand before he turned and left.

"Mistress! Come inside! I'll make you some tea as you prepare yourself for bed." "Thank you Tenno" she replied as he took her stole and helped her out of her shoes. She bounded up the stairs to her room and when she closed her door, she finally opened the paper he had given her. It was his phone number.

Kakuzu threw his keys onto the table in the entrance before flipping on the lights. He made his way to his room where he stripped naked and fell into bed. Shinju's comment about late mornings had stuck with him and made him smile. One day, perhaps, he'll wake up with her in his bed.