Last of Her Kind

#4: Offer You My Assistance

Scepter 4
Munakata's Office

A man with eyeglasses sat on the tatami mat with a woman wearing the same uniform. They were staring at a weird looking snack. Fushimi entered and broke the silence.

"There was a civillian involved on the mission. Akiyama already instructed her to keep her mouth shut but we can't risk if a word slips from her. I would request if she would be monitored", Fushimi reported. "You got your hand harmed. Akiyama told me that you refused to go to the hospital. Did that woman tend it instead?", Munakata has a great intuition power, greater than women's instincts.

"Then, if you're too worried. Why don't you do the monitoring yourself? I bet you are irritated with the task of taking care of a witness", Munakata smiled. Fushimi sighed and looked at Awashina, the lady with the leader. "Then, why don't you do some work as well?", Fushimi asked. "Excuse me. Fushimi, my hands are full as well", Awashima clarified.

He went out of the office and walked on the corridor. He met Akiyama having a phone call.

Sorry, Riko. I have work until midnight.

"No you don't", Fushimi made it a little louder. "Fushimi.. You!", Akiyama sighed.

See! You're lying again.

University
Laboratory

"That freaking bastard turned me down again!!!", Riko whined. They were peeling some sample brain from a cadaver. "Riko, calm down. We're still having some practical exam", Akihabara wiped her sweat after successfully peeling a thin portion of the brain.

"I'm amazed you're not that creeped out. Look at our classmates. They're all throwing up", Riko sighed. "The same goes with you", Akihabara smiled. They washed their hands and removed their lab gowns. They went on the side of the laboratory since they're done.

"He said he's busy with his work and everything. I think, he's just trying to avoid me", Riko opened. "You haven't yet told me a single detail about him", Aki sighed. "If I do, you might fall for him", Riko punched her shoulder slightly. "I won't. I also have my preference, you see", Aki pouted. "He's my childhood friend. He's 5 years older than me. When he got that freaking job of his, he started avoiding me", Riko broke the pen she's holding. "But then, he's still so considerate of other people.. Other days, he would listen to my requests. He would apologise even without saying the reason. He runs erands of other people even if he's not being compensated for that", Riko smiled while talking about that person. Aki smiled. "You look dazzling when you're in love", Aki chuckled.

Supermarket

Erina and Aki went to buy groceries. "Aki, go look for some condiments. I'd be checking if the meats are still fresh", Erina's eyes sharpened.

Aki walked on the aisle for condiments and saw a familiar figure. The man turned his face and saw her. She has nowhere to hide. She shyly bowed and checked on their condiments in front of her. She aimlessly took something.

"That's way too salty for food, Miss. I would recommend this", Akiyama noticed that she's preoccupied. "Thank you, Akiyama-san", Aki bowed. "This looks unfair. You know my name and I don't", Akiyama massaged his nape. "Ishikawa... Akihabara", she informed. "Nice to meet you, Ishikawa-san", Akiyama smiled. He didn't say anything about her name. "By the way, the prices went up again", Akiyama sighed and went back on checking some goods. "Shall we look around together?", Akiyama offered. Aki just nodded.

Akiyama looked for the cheapest and yet quality food. The dorm house is counting on him to cut costs for them to be able to spend it for vacation and the like. "Is it for your dorm house?", Aki asked. Akiyama nodded and was about to drop another cabbage. Aki caught it. "Thanks, Ishikawa-san", Akiyama smiled. Erina saw her daughter having a friendly conversation with a man. She smiled and bought the condiments by herself. She messaged Aki that she'll be going ahead of her.

They purchased the groceries and went out. The rain suddenly poured down. "I didn't bring any umbrella", Aki sighed. Akiyama pulled an umbrella from his bag and opened it. "Let's go", Akiyama invited. "I can hold the umbrella, please", Aki felt so useless if she'd just stay under the umbrella doing nothing. Akiyama felt that and allowed her to do so. "You're quite tall, Ishikawa-san. 5'4?", he estimated. "Close, 5'5", she answered.

They both entered the bus. "Fushimi-kun? You headed outside? Why didn't you say so you could have helped me?", Akiyama whined. Aki noticed that Fushimi isn't in his uniform. Akiyama also addresses him differently. "Where did you go?", Akiyama asked. They sat at the edge. "None of your business", Fushimi looked away. Akiyama noticed Aki looking at his hand. "How's your hand?", Akiyama asked. "You surely have a lot of questions", Fushimi clicked his tongue.

"Akiyama, that Yoro escaped", Fushimi informed. Aki wasn't sure but she felt scared of that news. Akiyama fully understood what that meant. "I see, so you're going to visit someone", Akiyama looked at the lady beside him. "Here's my stop, goodbye, Akiyama-san. Fushimi-san", Aki bowed.

Street
She went down and felt that someone also came down from the bus. She turned and saw Fushimi. "Hmm?", he raised his brow. Fushimi is really intimidating. She walked in front and felt that he is following her. "So you're visiting someone?", Aki asked. Fushimi just nodded and made a sound. "Then, I'll be on this way", Aki turned to the alley and so with Fushimi.

"Same", Fushimi informed. They were just few feet away. Gangsters were scattered on the alley. It's the fist time that Aki saw them this much. "Sweet. Sister, would you spare us some coins? We need to buy cigarette", they teased. Aki just walked straight.

"She didn't hear us", they blocked her. Aki stepped back and bumped her back on someone's chest. Pair of hands dropped on her shoulders. The four eyes tower over her and also with those gangsters. His eyeglass reflected the light from the streetlight and he has that weird smile. The rest of the lads ran away. He removed his hands and walked in front if her. "Thanks, Fush.. Sir", Aki bowed. "Fushimi is fine", he informed and turned to look at her.

In the shadows, someone called over the phone.

Sorry boss, we can't lay a finger on that lady. It seems that she's acquainted with the Third Man in Command. What should I do?

They're not acquainted. That bastard is just doing some monitoring. He must have guessed that I would go after her.

So, he'll eventually leave her. If he does, I'd crack her neck.

Ishikawa's Apartment

Aki blinked few times to see that Fushimi already entered their apartment. "Oh, Fushimi-san. You are already here. I was about to fetch you", Nobu said while leading the way inside.

"I told you, I am to visit someone", Fushimi said in a soft voice. Aki was bewildered and hid at the kitchen.

"I see, Akihabara led the way", Nobu nodded. They entered his room and discussed some matters.

Aki gritted her teeth as she tries to listen to their conversation. "Interested?", Erina said while cutting carrots. "I thought Father doesn't like Scepters?", Akihabara was reminded. "I don't know. These days, he's been talking about a young lad whom he found favor. He said, he never found someone so precise and accurate with his report and work", Erina informed. "And that is... Fushimi-san?", Aki hummed. "You know him?", Erina asked. "We met few times", Aki nodded.

After sometime, they were called for dinner. "I hope you would like my wife's dishes", Nobu's eyes are sparkling and it's as if he's wagging his tail. "Thank you for the food", he gave thanks and dig in. He munched the food and everyone was looking at him. He was obligated to say something. "It's good", he nodded. They all sighed in relief. They ate as well.

"Fushimi-san is staying here due to some secret ties with have with the national police. There's an empty room beside Aki's room. He will stay there. Aki, please clean his room after eating", Nobu instructed. Aki nearly choke on the carrots. Fushimi passed her a glass of water. "Thank you for your warm accommodation", Fushimi had a sinister smile which Aki only saw since the two are busy talking about how nice it would be to have a son.

Chapter end.