Hell-bent

[Saturday. 12:49. Forgive Me ]

All good things must come to an end, as the smitten public in this café know all too well; they look on tearfully, sighing with collective disappointment when the dangerously good-looking pair finally take their leave. Though they depart now, perhaps the beauties will one day return to grace the shop once more with their presence...one can only hope.

"Th-thank you for your patronage! Please come again!!!"

Back out on the street, Momoi and Kise get ready to part ways.

"Geez, that Dai-chan...he actually took off," Momoi sighs, shaking her head apologetically. It's not like she hadn't been expecting this, but come on. At this rate, she'll have to leave it to Ki-chan, and though Momoi gets it, she's concerned the model may be too consumed with thoughts of Tetsu-kun and the game to give Dai-chan a proper 'challenge' (so to speak).

...Or not. One side glance at Kise's profile is enough to dispel most of Momoi's worries: yeah, that's a nice expression he's got there.

"Oh, I doubt he's gone far," the model mutters in an uncharacteristically dark tone, staring fixedly on something in the distance. After a pause, he snaps his gaze back momentarily to Momoi and flashes her one last farewell grin.

"Thanks for today, Momocchi. I'm sure we'll talk soon."

"Take care, Ki-chan!"

Momoi waves goodbye, then turns to start walking in the opposite direction.

A large part of her hopes that Ki-chan succeeds in coming through to Tetsu-kun tonight, but....well, realistically....

It takes her a solid half hour to reach her next destination, as she makes a point of dipping through back alleys and secret short cuts to get to the more unsavoury part of this cesspool of a city.

Finally, at the end of a long string of dilapidated buildings and deserted houses, lies an old, rundown Catholic church. Judging from the shattered stain glass windows, the vulgar graffiti splattered across the walls, and the layers of grime that have accumulated around the grounds, it would appear that this church hasn't been in use for a long, long time.

After a quick check of her surroundings (doesn't look like she's been followed), Momoi pushes past the heavy oak wood doors and enters the building.

The air inside is dusty and stale, as expected, the floor littered with dirt, cobwebs, and is...that a dirty condom?  Not to mention the rat that Momoi's pretty sure is crawling out by the long-unused altar...still, she's too struck with a wave of nostalgia to be particularly bothered.

Even all dark and abandoned, places like these always remind her of the old days, with Tetsu-kun and Dai-chan, when the three of them would sneak out and hide between the pews of the orphanage chapel a lifetime ago...

A small cough from the far left side  interrupts Momoi's sentimentality, a signal to the information broker that it's time for an update.

She takes a seat in the confessional booth, and as she does so, the screen between compartments slides open.

"Sakurai-kun. What an interesting rendez-vous point you chose. But did we have to talk through the confessional, or-"

"S-sorry. I didn't want to be followed so I... and, in case anyone sees...in any case I'm really sorr-"

"O-oh, no, no it's fine. So? What do you have for me?"

"Sorry. She ended up taking the bait, but before I could do anything, some third party group moved in and attacked."

Whoah whoah whoah.

What.

"Sor-...I mean, what's this?"

"I'M SORRY. I'm really really sorry."

"No, it's okay, Sakur-"

"-So sorry-"

"It's oka-"

"Sorry. I didn't plan ahead for that kind of situation."

"It's not your fault, you don't need to apolo-"

"SORRY. I DIDN'T CONTACT YOU EARLIER BECAUSE THE INCIDENT MADE ME PARANOID AND I WAITED TO MAKE SURE I WASN'T BEING FOLLOWED, SO I'M SORRY I AM WORTHLESS AND INCOMPETENT"

Having to deal with the likes of Aomine for about two decades has certainly helped Momoi develop a hardy patience, but she isn't sure she'll ever be advanced enough to properly handle the mess that is alias Sakurai Ryou.

"Sakurai-kun, you didn't do anything wrong. Is there anything else you can tell me about what happened?"

"Sorry. There was another guy with her, he looked kind of stupid. Got shot in the right shoulder."

"A subordinate?"

"Most likely."

"How's Aida, then?"

"They clipped her, but she was able to drive away in time."

"And the assailants, what did they look like?"

"They drove past in a black SUV, I couldn't get a proper look. I'm sorr-"

" You did a good job, I'll look into the rest of that later today and contact you after that. Thanks for your hard work!"

Momoi escapes before Sakurai takes the opportunity to squeeze another hundred apologies.

What a troubling development...

Could it be something to do with Muk-kun's news earlier this morning, or is it something else entirely....?

Whoever it is, how dare they get in the way of her fight with Aida Riko. Since Ki-chan's working hard tonight, Momoi must also step her game up.

Speaking of Ki-chan...Momoi wonders how Dai-chan is holding up...

[Saturday. 13:03. Just So We're Clear, That Is A Gun In My Pocket And I'm Not Happy To See You]

By the time Aomine realizes the warm weather is getting to him, he's already made it halfway home, with his shirt clinging to the sweaty skin of his back, and his head and throat suffering from sharp dehydration pains. Probably should have reconsidered walking home under this sun in a black shirt, but it's too late for regrets now.

For some reason, Aomine was too preoccupied to notice all this until now.

Luckily, an oasis in the form of a vending machine is close at hand. Aomine heads straight to it, rifling through his pants' pockets for loose change. He wants Aquarius, but what kind should he get...

Aomine slips the money through a slot, and presses the button for his desired sports drink, and...

Hm. Presses it again.

....one more time.

.................six more times, very rapidly.

Inhales deeply, then tries another button. Nothing.

Okay. If that's how things are going to be, then it's time to change tactics. Gripping either side of the vending machine, Aomine begins channeling his rapidly- growing rage through his hands. He gets in a ready stance, about to show this damned contraption exactly who it's dealing with.

However, before Aomine even has the chance to engage in battle, a hand suddenly reaches under his arm and makes a selection.

A bottle of mineral water immediately drops down from its holding place, and the difference in change rattles out: transaction complete.

".....................Goddamnit Kise.."

"Hey, Aominecchi~. Long time no see."

Ahh..

That voice...this is a hundred times worse than he imagined it would be.

Aomine turns around, dark blue eyes narrowed menacingly to glower at the real fucking problem beaming back at him.

"'Hey~' my ass. Do you wanna die? You'd better buy me my drink right now."

"Ehhhh?? That's what you have to say aft-...ah ! He walked away! Aoooomineeeecchiiii waiiit!!!"

There's a bench sitting under the shade of a bus stop some fifty meters away, and this is where Aomine waits, legs outstretched, for Kise to catch up.

There's really no chance of running away now, huh...

No non ono . What? It's not like that. It's ..not. Like. That.

Before Aomine has the chance to settle his thoughts, Kise is already bouncing back, equipped with a clear plastic bottle.

"Here!" the model chirps, tossing the drink into the air for Aomine to catch. He remains standing, siding himself next to the bench...close enough that Aomine can smell the faint scent of his cologne.

"Tch. Why'd you get me lemon flavour..."

"You left before telling me what you wanted!"

Aomine freezes. Hearing Kise say those words, even out of context and in that playful, pouty tone, is momentarily jarring, for reasons he doesn't fully want to understand. He recovers quickly by twisting the top off his blissfully cool bottle and drains half the contents in one go.

"Oh, you're drinking it anyways..."

"So?  What do you want."

The corners of Kise's mouth twitch, and he leans his shoulder against the metal post next to the bench before responding:

"....You were there earlier, right?"

Geh.

"This is the first time in years Aominecchi has come close to me, of course I'm going to take the opportunity to see you."

Ah fuck.

Aomine shifts, so that his body is facing slightly away from Kise, and flips the bottle in his hand nonchalantly.

"Ah, that? Don't misunderstand. It's because Satsuki told me-"

A silence ensues, long enough for Kise to move closer to Aomine, tilting his head to the side expectantly for the rest of the explanation.

"-Because Satsuki told me to do it............By the way, what's with the glasses? They look stupid?"

Nailed it.

"Oh, these?" Kise taps the red frames, golden eyes blinking innocently as he tries to adjust to the abrupt subject change.

"My manager told me to try and hide my face when I'm out during the day, otherwise the fangirls get too much-"

"UGH"

God, the earnest way he answered is annoying in itself, but more importantly: what, is he Midorima to seriously think that throwing on a pair of glasses counts as a disguise?

"I want my concern back..."

"Hmmm?! What's this, Aominecchi was worried about me?"

"Huh, who'd be concerned about a fucking idiot."

"sob.....Aominecchi..."

There's a sudden lightness in Aomine's chest, as if a weight has been pried off him. Though he'd rather die than admit it, he wonders if  perhaps this is relief from the knowledge that in spite of everything, Kise's stupid brightness hasn't dimmed out. Even if it's a false light, the familiarity of this banter alone is somehow ....comforting.

Carried away by this rush of this strange new feeling, the (more-or-less unemployed) fighter opens his mouth to speak...

"Kise-"

...only to be interrupted by the untimely buzzing of Kise's phone. Fucking classic.

"Ah sorry Aominecchi, can you hold that thought? I need to take this."

The model steps aside, casting an rueful look at Aomine as he raises the phone to his ear.

" Heyaaaaa P-chan <3.  It's so unusual for you to call me!!"

.............Who is he talking to? 

Aomine looks away and swallows the rest of his sports drink, ignoring Kise as he chatters away into his phone. No, no, no, the false light is flashy and annoying, after all.

Hpmh.

"Ehhh? Right now? Well, if it's P-chan it's okay, but you'll have to take me to karaoke to make up for it! Ok ok, see you soon."

The model hangs up with a small sigh, then perks up again, raising two fingers in a V.

"Sorry, Aominecchi, looks like I have to go~. Let's catch up another time?"

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Bye."

Kise turns to go, and as he does so, the silver chain around his neck lifts up from the movement, and the cross at the end catches a flash of sunlight.

"Ao...minecchi?"

By the time his mind catches up to his body, which moved of its own accord, Aomine becomes painfully aware that he's gripping Kise's wrist.

Ahhh.......no going back now, huh.

[Saturday. 14:00. ..........]

"....................................-"

"Mi.....tobe?"

"!!!!............."

"AHaa aww hey...so it must have been you I heard calling out to me..."

"......................."

"Hey, hey, don't say that. This is nothing, I'm totally fin- *cough* - fine. Oooh that smarts..."

"................................"

"'You should've been there' ..?  Oiii. Riko gave you an important mission, right, so like, there's no way that's tru-"

"................."

"Mitobe..?"

"........"

"Yeah....me too."

[Saturday. 14:10. Obligatory Indirect Kiss Moment]

"Aaaaah, all that hard work today's made me hungry. Let's stop in here, Muro-chin."

Himuro isn't sure what part of curb stomping a couple of two-bit thugs, sleeping for another six hours, then dragging said thugs halfway across the city to go appliance shopping constitutes as 'hard work', but it's fine. At least that business is done and over with (the installation people are coming tomorrow to restore peace to the Araki safehouse once more).

He follows Murasakibara through the convenience store entrance, pretty worn out himself by the events of the past 24 hours; all he has to show for today's efforts are a massive bruise and a deep sense of dissatisfaction.

Well, not everything is bad; spending time with Atsushi outside like this is nice in its own way.

Murasakibara's fearsome stature attracts attention no matter where he goes, but he's especially eye-catching when in the proximity of snacks. It takes under a minute for the killer to burn through half the store, returning to Himuro already cradling an obscene amount of food in his right arm.

"Was it really alright that we left those two guys like that in the end... you know, you're too brutal, Atsushi" Himuro scolds, accepting the bag of potato chips Murasakibara is trying to place into his hands (what's this? He needs help?? There's actually a limit to how much food Atsushi can carry???) as they head towards the freezers.

"Ehhhhhhhh, isn't Muro-chin way more violent than me?" Murasakibara drawls, extracting four boxes of popsicles at once with his free hand.

In light of today's events, and the events of many a time in the past, Himuro finds himself unable to deny this; Atsushi makes a fair point.

At the cashier, they encounter a dead-looking employee that doesn't so much as flinch at Murasakibara's mountain of snacks. Himuro can't help but feel impressed by the youth, whose dull eyes have seen Too Much from working in convenience store retail.

Ten plastic bags later, and they're out the door again.

"So, about that...." Himuro starts, speaking over his shoulder as Murasakibara comes up behind him, rustling through his purchases to open a bag of candy.

"I did something unnecessary, right? It feels like my meeting with Haizaki Shougo somehow set him off..."

Murasakibara rips the wrapper off a lollipop with his teeth, sucks on the candy pensively for a moment before taking it out of his own mouth and slipping it between Himuro's unsuspecting lips.

"Mmmmm, I think that guy getting involved was pretty inevitable. Anyways, it's Kise-chin's problem now, so Muro-chin definitely shouldn't worry about it."

Strawberry flavour. Still warm from Atsushi's mouth- ah, no, focus, Himuro. Focus.

"Kise...oh, Ryouta. He's another one of you 'Miracles', yeah?"

"Mmmhmm. He'll probably be first coming after your Kagami Taiga, so if you want-"

A shadow crosses over Murasakibara's abruptly displeased face, and the veritable giant grabs Himuro's hand and begins to pull him into a quick pace away from the convenience store.

"Atsushi? What's wrong?"

Murasakibara checks his shoulder, then mutters:

"If we stay any longer, we're gonna run into someone reeeeally annoying. I'll tell Muro-chin everything, so let's just get out of here."

Himuro doesn't have a single complaint with this arrangement.

[Saturday. 14:24. Someone Reeeeally Annoying]

"Don't laugh, Takao!"

"Ahahaa I'm cr-..ahh, Shin-chan, I'm crying ahahhaaa. That thief just ... ahahhaa...to you of all people...and took your bag...do they know they fucking stole a stuffed mouse like.. what're they going to do with that? .... i can't.....owww my stomach hurts."

"Don't be so loud. And this is a serious problem, my life is in danger if I don't have my lucky item with me, this is no time to be laughing!"

"Aha, I know, I know. Let's stop in this store first, I'll call someone to deliver you a new taxidermy    mouse..... I can't believe I just said that out loud, I'm gonna pee my pants..."

"TAKAO!!!"

"Ooh, watch your step, Shin-chan, you almost walked right into that pothole. Jeez, you weren't kidding about the bad luck."

"I am not in the habit of 'kidding'"

"Haha ohhh Shin-chan."

[Saturday.15:01. Pure]

What's Riko supposed to do when she's hard-pressed for information on a large, mostly unknown enemy, but the person to whom she delegated the task of finding certain crucial facts is currently kneeling at Koganei's bedside, fingers intertwined with Koga's own as the two of them snooze together peacefully in spite of the urgency of the situation?

 [Saturday. 18:33.  Resolve]

Kise shivers.

Carefully, so as not to rouse the peacefully-sleeping P from her slumbers, he stands up from the edge of the bed and checks the time: still a bit too early, huh?

The model sighs and looks down at the inside of his right arm; the place where Aomine had grabbed him to pull him back still burns with the memory of the touch.

In the end, the other man had just hurriedly scrawled a 7 digit phone number onto Kise's forearm and sauntered off with the flippant parting words: "I guess I can take one for the team and listen to you ugly cry after you fail tonight. See ya."

How very like Aominecchi, this brash, roundabout kindness. Kise had thought his original intention in approaching Aomine was to force him into acknowledging him, but now the model is not so sure. Rather than settling a score or being noticed, this is more like...

Kise presses his hand against his chest and takes a deep breath.

This feels good: whether it's playing with everyone again, this business with Kurokocchi, that business with Aominecchi, his modeling, his other jobs, even the lovely P-chan over here... there's a thrill here, a sense of life.

That's why he's not going to let anyone take this feeling away from him.

Not again.

[Saturday.19:11.  Jealousy Is An Ugly Thing, Dorothy]

Haizaki Shougo is in what some people might refer to as a 'bad mood."

He shakes his right hand out, flicking off some of the blood dripping from his scraped knuckles. Seems like the usual form of stress relief isn't working.

Meeting Atsushi's Ichimatsu doll has lead him to some pretty annoying information (...and speaking of which, as if that fucking one-eyed doll had the nerve to leave without putting up a proper fight? The fuck, so boring.) and now Haizaki has to take care of this shit all over again.

Isn't it embarrassing, the way the so-called 'Miracles' are all still repeating the same bullshit as when they were brats? Playing their shitty 'games' again, hyped up on a sense of superiority while hiding from how fucked up their lives really are...it's pathetic.

And then there's that fucking Ryooooouta.

Haizaki licks off some of the blood off his thumb, smiling a little in spite of himself.

There's no doubt in his mind that the new development has caused that bitch to get ahead of himself again.

If it isn't Haizaki's job to put him back in his place, then what is?

 [Saturday. 19:25. Danger: Do Not Cross]              

"Uhhmm, Seijuro-kun...haha.. this is not.. what we agreed on.."  Client Xy stutters with an unpleasant laugh, openly agitated. He mops a bit of sweat off his forehead with the white handkerchief crumpled in his hand.

Akashi closes his right eye and regards the man in the seat across from him with a silent, piercing golden-orange gaze. His legs are crossed, and the only movement he makes is the tapping of a closed folding fan rhythmically against his knee.

Pitiable, how little it takes for Xy to start snapping under the pressure.

"I mean, really, Seijuro-kun, I thought the Akashi syndicate wasn't affiliated with the yakuza? If I'd known, I never would have...I have a hard time believing your father would-"

Akashi gives one final tap before holding the black fan out in his slender fingers in gesture.

"My father," he begins softly, with eerie temperance.

"No longer has any control over my business."

He does not elaborate, and Xy is at least wise enough to let that one go.

"It's just, n-no one told me you were going to get the Araki clan involved in this," he continues, trying to speak indignantly, which would be more convincing if he wasn't covered in nervous sweat.

"Is that why you sent me such a pleasant surprise last night?"

"W-what are you talking about?"

"Oh? Perhaps your men were the ones from last Thursday, my mistake. It is difficult for me to keep track of all the disobedience."

This is Akashi's idea of a joke: he doesn't make mistakes, and it's not difficult for him to keep track of anything, because he is perfect.

"Now l-listen, I don't know what you're insinuating, but if it's the case that others have been retaliating, maybe you shouldn't be so full of yours-EEP"

Xy's blathering is cut off quite suddenly as Akashi flicks his fan open, revealing it to be an ornate tessen.

"Do you understand, Mr. Xy, that the only reason you are still breathing is because I am gracious enough to allow it? You are useful to me, but not so useful that I will tolerate any more insolence from you or anyone else."

It's unclear whether Akashi's surprise weapon or his unyielding glare is more threatening. Either way, Xy looks like he's about to pass out.

"Though it may not be to your liking, I believe you will find I am complying with every detail of our arrangement. Should you test me, or question my methods again, I will not show mercy a second time."

Mercy isn't exactly the right word, and Client Xy gets that. He really does. Akashi Seijuro has a role for him to play, and he's in too deep to back out now, for fear of ending up having to choose between dying in the ocean or the mountains. Or whatever happened to the 'pleasant surprise' he actually did send out to Akashi the other day.

Fucking kids these days are horrifying.

Naturally, Xy stumbles out of Akashi's residence as fast as his legs, jellied from fear, can carry him, leaving Akashi alone in this cold empty home once more.

After sitting in silence for a couple minutes, Akashi blinks several times and pulls out a shogi board from the living room table.

[Saturday. 20:07. A Date...???]

"Kagami-kun," Kuroko begins, regarding the heir's handstand pushup routine with an inscrutable look in his eyes. The consequent reveal of chiseled abdominal muscles from gravity pulling Kagami's black shirt down is not going unnoticed.

How troublesome.

"Not that I am complaining, but you have not expressed a single wish to go outside today."

"Yeah, so?" Kagami grunts, tucking his right hand against his back and balancing his whole weight on the left. A bead of sweat rolls down his temple.

"Not like I have anything to do out there, anyways."

"Is that so? You were pretty adamant about being 'freed'. Are you sure there is no one you would like to visit, at all?  I can always make arrangements..."

"Who would I even visit?" the heir mutters, slowly returning his feet to solid ground, and straightening himself back up to a standing position. His cheeks are still a little red from all the blood rushing to his face.

"I've only been living here for a couple of months, it's not like I really know anyone besides Aida's men... and you, I guess."

"...................."

".....w....why are you looking at me like that?"

"How sad. That the young master is unable to make any frien-"

"Sh-shut up, Kuroko!"

Oh dear. Teasing Kagami is far too easy. Truly, the young heir is a pleasant surprise in many ways.

"Then, did you want to go out anyways?"

"Huh?"

Kuroko gestures to the door with his thumb.

"That burger place we went to yesterday....I liked the vanilla shakes."

Taiga stares down at Kuroko for a few moments with his double-brows furrowed, as if processing the bodyguard's words, then grins.

"Fuck yeah, let's go."

It's almost certainly too dangerous to be wandering about at night in these trying times (Kuroko has no doubt at least one of the main players will make their move tonight), but the bodyguard finds that, aside from the initial objective of wanting to bait the enemy, he there's also these knew sentiments coming up: Taiga clearly doesn't have it easy, but he's so strong-willed and bright that Kuroko can't help but want to see him shine brighter.

His determination is now absolute: Kagami Taiga will be protected, at any cost. This does not impede Kuroko's initial objective; rather, it serves to strengthen his will with no regrets.

"Yes, let's go."

 [Saturday. 20:10. Hello?]

"I'm going on ahead," Kagami calls over his shoulder, shoving his hands into his pockets as he heads towards the elevators. He presses the down button and waits, feeling strangely excited.

Honestly, he had thought that this personal bodyguard bullshit was just Aida making him suffer, and even though Kuroko is still infuriating and a little spooky, Kagami finds himself thinking it might not be such a bad arrangement after all. He's interesting, to say the least. And it's true, Kagami hasn't spoken one on one with people outside Aida's circle lately, so it's ...well. Fun.

The light above the elevator lights up with a PING, and Kagami steps forward as the doors slide open.

But he can't move.

Every nerve in his body tenses up, as if to brace itself from the sensation of overwhelming bloodlust suddenly aimed directly at him. Something like a glint of gold flashes by him, and the sensation fades just as quickly as it had appeared.

Heart pounding in his chest, Kagami looks around, alarmed, but is only surrounded by empty halls.

The elevator doors close shut.

Kagami's trained ears hear nothing save for the sound of his own breathing. And yet, he's sure there was something...someone there.

What the hell is this? Could it be-

"Kuroko-?"

"Guess again <3"