"Yuri, what do you want?"
Alois and Catherine immediately readied themselves, a tense look on their faces. Catherine brandished a sword she'd had sheathed to her waist, and it glimmered menacingly in the light. Thunderbrand, the name of Catherine's fearsome blade...they didn't call her Thunder Catherine for nothing.
"Just to talk," Yuri said, but he moved his hands slightly upward. In a flash, Alois had Yuri pinned to the wall behind him, no trace of Alois's usual jovial smile. Yuri just sighed. "I mean it. I don't have my men with me. And even if I did, I know better than to challenge your two bodyguards..."
"What do you want?" Claude narrowed his emerald eyes. They had been filled with such glee and excitement earlier; now, only fury and wariness could be found in his steady eyes. "Don't even think about doing something stupid. You're outnumbered!"
"Relax. I'm just here to talk," Yuri stared right back at Claude. The mafia boss wasn't even fazed by Claude's intense glare. Yuri's gaze shifted to Byleth, whose mostly minty green hair was on full display. "So, I hear you've been uniting the companies..."
"That's-That's none of your business," Byleth subconsciously began to play with her hair. "It's not like I did anything, anyway. It's all Claude...and it's something that doesn't concern you. How do you even know about that, anyway?"
"Oh, it was a guess. Thanks for confirming it," Yuri couldn't resist the urge to smirk. "I saw you two in the bar yesterday. Your hair is so vibrant, I couldn't help but notice."
"Stop talking to her like that! You have five seconds to say what you wanted!" Claude threatened. Claude's eyes were brimming with fear and anger. Byleth could clearly remember just how stricken he had been in their last encounter with Yuri...Byleth reached for his hand, finding comfort in his warmth. She hoped it would help him calm down.
"Right. Sorry," Yuri apologized insincerely, making Claude's eyes narrow even more. Yuri just shrugged, indifferent.
"Now that we've got you pinned, you're going straight to the police!"
"You want to unite the companies, right?" Yuri blurted, making Claude stop in his tracks. "Do you really think it's going to be so easy to get those corrupt officials away from Adrestia and Faerghus?"
"How do you know about those-"
"The answer is no. I can help with that. My mockingbirds and I will march right over to them," Yuri said. "We'll..take care of them."
"...Cut it out. What do you want?" Claude said. "You can't bribe us with anything. Get out of here!"
"I'm not here for that. I'm here to return...a favor to an old friend. Your friend's hair makes it clear enough that this is what should be done. I know it's hard for you to understand that a guy like me would want to help..but I do."
"You tried to kill us. We can't trust you."
"...So, Claude, what do you plan to do with your musical career? Are you just...giving it up for the company?"
"What gives you any right to know?" Catherine snarled ferociously, bringing her glowing sword closer to Yuri's neck. "I'll tear you in half!"
"If you're staying with it, and pawning the company off to your lady friend here, I could help you with some musical stuff. I know I don't look it, but...I know a thing or two about music," Yuri carried on, not even fazed by Catherine's threat.
"Why are you interjecting yourself into situations we don't want you in?" Claude growled.
"I'm just trying to help. But whether you want it or not..." Yuri's smile finally disappeared, revealing a tired guy underneath his smug facade. "I'm going to take down those who messed with Adrestia and Faerghus. If I had found out earlier about them, they would have been done for a long time ago."
"I don't believe a word that's coming out of your mouth."
"It doesn't matter if you believe it or not, it's happening," Yuri shrugged. "I have to admit, you always seemed like a pretty reasonable guy. I expected a little less hostility from you, Claude."
"When you hurt Teach, you don't get second chances," Claude said. "...Nice try, but you're not getting a second chance on killing either of us."
"That's not what I'm here for. If it was, I would have betrayed you already," Yuri rolled his eyes. Upon seeing how unconvinced they still were, Yuri sighed. "Rhea. Rhea wanted me to assist you."
"...The Archbishop asked you?" Alois couldn't help but voice his confusion.
"Well, we're not friends per say, but...she did help
me out a long time ago. It was a debt I needed to repay," Yuri said vaguely. "After our...first meeting, I reported your friend's hair to her...and she told me to help you. You don't have to believe me, but..like it or not, it's the truth."
"You're lying."
"How else would I know about the hair?"
"...Claude, I think he's telling the truth," Byleth said quietly. "...Maybe we should give him a chance."
"Teach, we can't do that," Claude frowned, his glare still focused straight on Yuri. "He's just plotting for something new, something dangerous!"
"He already knows everything. I don't think that we should trust him, but...Claude, maybe-"
"I can't risk him hurting you," Claude shook his head.
"I won't hurt either of you," Yuri said. "Whether you want me to or not, my mockingbirds are already going to take down those influencers. It's just a matter of whether or not you'll let me join my crew."
"...I think we should trust him," Byleth said, even though she knew she was in for an argument. Claude frowned.
"Teach, the second Catherine lets go of him, he's going to lash out. Besides, he's a damn mafia boss!"
"I know, but...why would he go through all of this trouble? If he wanted to kill us, he would have had all of his men here. But he came here alone. We have Alois and Catherine...he won't even get to lay a finger on either of us. We'll...We'll be okay."
"...Teach..."
Byleth set her other hand on his shoulder.
"Claude, don't be scared...It'll be okay."
"Just say the word, and I'll rip his throat out," Catherine snarled, placing her sword against Yuri's throat. The mafia boss's face remained stony, even in his precarious situation. Claude sighed.
"Take them down quickly," Claude protectively stood in front of Teach, gesturing for Catherine to let Yuri down. Claude narrowed his eyes. "Don't think this means you're off the hook. I don't care that you're good with music or that you're helping the companies, if we see you anywhere else, I'll call the police."
"Yeah, yeah. They'll be gone rather swiftly," Yuri adjusted his purple coat. "...Best of luck."
He disappeared, leaving them alone. Byleth took a deep breath.
"He's telling the truth...we'll be fine."
"...I hope so."
YOU ARE READING
Race Against Time
Fanfiction"BYLETH, YOU'RE DYING." Those were the words Byleth Eisner had heard her entire life...but it had never rang true. She had always known that the doctors were wrong, that she was going to keep living, but the fear of death was constant. Born with a h...
