Guilt & Manipulation

Chapter 3
Guilt & Manipulation

Contorting her face, Kujo took a drag on her vice as she glared at the ashtray. "How can you bring that up so easily?"

Shrugging, Himura clasped his hands in front of him. "Maybe it’s because I don't feel guilty about it."

Meeting the man's line of sight, the blonde grit her teeth. "I know what I saw."

Pushing the black locks back off his face, the Officer pointed casually at his company. "You know what you think you saw. No one can just vanish into thin air." He shook his head, refusing to hear any more of it.

"You're a dick." She threw her nose up with a scoff.

Himura placed his hands flat on his desk and stared at the woman. "And you should really see someone about your issues."

Disbelief covered Kujo's face, her mouth hung ajar slightly. "You still think I did something, don't you?"

"Are you being paranoid?"

Back up at the accusations, the blonde’s voice rose. "I have nothing to hide."

The Officer continued to push the female, despite knowing it wasn't one of his better ideas. "Are you sure about that?"

“Are you trying to interrogate me?” Sadness clouded her eyes at the turn in topic. Stubbing her cigarette out in the ashtray, she shook her head slowly, unable to look at him. "We were friends back then and you wouldn't even try to hear me out."

"You were distressed. It's not hard to be confused about what happened." He tried to wave her off.

Becoming wound more tightly by the second, the woman clenched the fist that out of view from her old classmate. "I'm not confused. I wasn’t then – and I’m not now.” Straightening her posture, she prodded the worktop that separated them. “I saw what I said I saw, and no matter how much you or anyone else wants to deny it, it won't change anything. Not even that badge will change it."

"You're right." Himura’s expression relaxed in mock calmness. "No matter what any of us say, Mako won't come back."

"You've got some nerve."

"I'm just stating the truth."

"Oh, truth?" A disbelieving scoff escaped her. Fizzing with rage that would most definitely erupt if she continued to sit there and take his hits without retaliation, the blonde threw her hands up with a snarl. “You've always been the one to run back to your comfort zone. It didn't matter what we were doing: the perfect life that was waiting on a platter called, and you went running. You didn’t help us look for Mako because your parents said it looked bad for your family that you were involved. The entire fuckin’ town was out looking for him, but not you. You didn’t even go to his memorial because they said the same thing about that.  His so-called best friend was too good for that." The words flew from her mouth and the man opposite her looked as if he’d just found out a family member had just died. “If they would have known who’s dream job this was, they would have stopped you from doing this, too.” Heaving a breath, Kujo stood up. “How’s that for the truth?”

"Is that really how you think of me?"

"Would I really be wrong?"

"You're many things, Kujo, but I didn't take you for cruel.” He tore his eyes from hers and bit the inside of his lip as flashes of the past came back.

Lighting a fresh cigarette, the blonde coughed back the emotion. "You've been calling me a liar for eight years. I hardly think being a little mean stands up to that.” She walked towards the door, glancing back for only a second. “I just wanted to piss you off and see you be the one who gets angry for a change."

"You're not even trying." He spoke just as she grabbed the handle.

Shrugging, she kept her eyes on the cityscape past the window as she sniffed her nose clear. "Maybe not."

Pausing for a moment to calm himself before looking back at the female, the Officer’s tone lowered to a barely audible whisper. "You've not changed at all." He shook his head slowly, like he couldn't believe it.

"So I've heard."

Surprised, the man frowned. "You've spoke to the others?"

Eyes on the door in front of her, the blonde took the metal flask from the inside of her vest pocket and unscrewed the lid. "I briefly spoke to Rin last night." She took a few mouthfuls before turning around. "Who else would they call who is stupid enough to travel across the country to talk to someone as morbid and stubborn as you?" Seeing that the malice had gone from his expression, she shuffled back to the work station. “I bet they’re making wagers right now on whether I can bring you back or not.”

"I'm glad you bothered." The man couldn't help but to let go of his glare as he looked at a scuffed spot on the worktop. “There isn’t anyone who speaks to me the way you do.”

Regaining her original self, Kujo made fun of her ex-classmate with a snort. "Have you gained masochistic tendencies?"

"Who said I didn't always have them?" He peeked up and the faintest of smirks played on his lips.

It was a minute detail, a pointless expression, but it had dispersed the gloomy atmosphere which had been growing to the point of choking both of them since the woman arrived. Clearly they had both been right about not changing. It wasn’t uncommon for the pair of them to spat when they were in high school but there was usually a specific someone around to half it before hurtful words could be said.. Thankfully, they usually managed to get over it just as quickly.  

Placing her flask in front of the man, she rested her hand on her hip with a strange expression. "When I hit you last time we spoke, you didn't seem all that jolly."

Immediately dismissing that memory, Himura changed the subject. Picking up the object and inspecting the details of the silver case which filled his palm, he asked the question which had been on his mind since he received his very own e-mailed request last night. "Have you accepted the request?"

"Nah, I came all the way to Tokyo because I love bustling cities in the heat."

“Yet, you’re walking around in dark clothes.”

“I don’t want fashion advice from a guy who had a hime-cut.” Tutting, Kujo flapped her hand in playfulness. “Plus, this was the only long sleeved top I had with me and I didn’t think your fellow officers would let it slide that you hung around with tattooed women.” Resting her elbows on his desk, she leaned forward. Breathing in the humid air which was out of season for spring, the woman looked him in the eye. “Don’t you think this is a sign, Sho calling us all at this time of year? From the look on your face when I walked in, I can tell I’m not the only one having strange dreams.”

“It’s normal to have stress dreams on the anniversary of a traumatic event.”

She wanted to berate him for his dismissiveness, but she knew that he was never good at confronting his problems head on. “We need you on this.”

Coughing a mocking laugh, Himura swigged the bourbon from the flask. "Your flattery is too much for me."

"Fine, be like that. Stay here and keep wondering about the past." Pushing herself up, Kujo snatched the flask from her company's hands and turned around.

Shooting to his feet, Himura held his hand out after his company. "Where are you going?"

This time, she didn’t pause with feeble hope – she marched towards the door without looking back. "To Kanagawa, to tell the others you're most definitely still a self-centred prick."

Turning his head away, the male half of the pair spoke. "And there was me about to ask if you mind me coming along."

Pivoting around and slamming her hand on the barrier, Kujo barked. "Don't play with me, Kaede. If you're not coming, that's your choice, but I won't be dangled on a string."

Himura unintentionally sneered at the comment. "That's rich, coming from you."

"You-" She pushed her tangent aside and threw her hand up. "Y'know what, forget it." Spinning on her heels, the female ripped the door open.

Gathering his stuff as quickly as he could and turning off the electrical appliances, Himura staggered after the woman. "Don't walk away; I'm coming with you." Jacket and bag hanging in his arms, the man struggled to lock the door of the office he had been using. “Hey, Ku-” Halting as soon as he had spun around, the tall male was met by stares from his colleagues.

“I can’t believe you didn’t get a lady like that a rock.” One of the patrol officers hissed as he passed and smacked him on the arm before taking a final look at the woman at the administration desk. “I can see why you kept her out of here though…” He glanced to his fellow employees with their eyes on the bouncy body of the blonde.

Scowling at the men practically drooling, Himura continued towards the female. “What are you doing?” Default, up-tight expression twisting his handsome features, the man glanced between the blonde and the middle aged officer she was speaking too.

“I was just thanking Officer Komatsu for finishing your paperwork.” The woman beamed up at him, but Himura didn’t buy the sweet tone and airy expression for a second.

“Oh, Himura San, what a lovely lady you’ve found.” Slipping a wad of papers into a large envelope, the administrator turned to the man he knew. “You should hurry up before somebody else tries to snatch her away.”

Swallowing hard, all of the colour drained from Himura’s face. “E-excuse me?” He almost choked, but thankfully, the woman had grabbed his arm and gave a taut squeeze.

Turning to face her year-mate, a dark shadow cast over Kujo’s eyes. “Yes, honey.  I just can’t wait to hear your explanation as to why we’re not married yet.” The huskiness of the woman’s usual tone was replaced by a sugary sweet higher pitch and a charming eye-smile.

Himura glanced left and right, oblivious to how nobody could see the black fumes radiating from her. Apparently, they only saw the false backdrop of sparkles and flowers. That, or they were just struck dumb when they noticed thick thighs and the fullness of outrageously large breasts.

“Enjoy your time off, Himura San.” Brought back by the words, the addressed blinked in a daze.

“Huh, pardon me?” Taking the piece of paper that was wafting in front of him, the brunet didn’t even have a chance to ask questions before it was accepted with a cute bow from the woman beside him. In almost the same beat, he was pulled along by the blonde.

“Have a nice day, gentlemen~” Waving delicately, the woman bid farewell. A chorus of cheerful replies followed the pair out into the humid city air as they made it into the street.

As soon as they had rounded the corner of the police precinct, Kujo let go of her extra. “I can’t be-”

“What the Hell was that?” Himura, just now coming to from his daze, sighed exasperatedly.

“They thought I was your fiancée. I have no clue where they got that idea from but-”

“What did you do?”

“When I asked if you were in earlier, they presumed I was you’re fiancée.” Pushing her hair off of her perspiring face, she itched the back of her neck. “I just played along and got you some time off.”

“You impersonated someone you don’t even know, and spoke on my behalf. You lied to an entire precinct of police officers.”

“When you say it like that…It’s-”

“-A felony-”

“-I was going to say quite impressive, but that too. I'll give you that.”

“Not only that, you just assumed that I would agree to return to Kanagawa.”

Looking left and right briefly, the woman walked across the narrow road of a side street. “We may not have seen each other in a while but you should know by now, Bocchan,” Striding over a low metal barrier that surrounded the car park, the blonde pulled out her flask. “I always win.” Expecting an outburst - the blonde had even planned a counter argument – she wafted her hand in wait, but the shouting didn’t happen. Turning around, she saw her company just standing in the middle of a side road. Back-tracking, she stood on the curb and reached out for his arm, only to be smacked away.

Features twisting and teeth bared, the Officer’s voice came out low as he stared at the heated tarmac. “You manipulated me.”

Huffing a sigh, the woman pushed the hair growing damp with sweat off of her face with the wrist which held her booze. “Ah,” her tone was flat, as if she was free from having to play any more. “you got me. I did it. Lock me up.” She held her wrists together and shoved them in front of him.

Seeing the complete turn in her personality, Himura recoiled internally. Looking at the woman’s face, he was met by a bored expression. Chest tightening, he grit his teeth in order not to cause a scene in the middle of the busy area. “W-why are you like this?” The words fell from well formed lips in a dulled whimper. Hejust now remembered why they often clashed. It wasn’t just down to that incident which had caused a schism within their group. It was much older than that. Had they ever truly gotten along, or was it just because she played the part he enjoyed being around when it suited her?

“I’m like this because none of you can be.” She shot and immediately regretted it when she received a look she couldn’t read from the man in front of her. “Imagine if we were all soft-hearted and easy to give up. How pitiful would that be, aye?” Hearing a low rumbled from her left, she heaved a deep breath only to sigh it out just as quickly. Her attention regained its focus on the police officer and her tone was snappy again. “Get out of the road, Himura.” She scooped her hand at him, but he shut her out. The man’s expression grew deeper as he remained still. The sound of a car rattling down the alleyway made her try again. “I won’t say I’m sorry for what I do.” She threw the gauntlet down.

Knowing it was more than dangerous to call her bluff, especially when it was his life on the line, the brunet shook his head. “Tell me why I should move.”

“Hah?” More annoyed that anything else, she pointed off in the direction of his impending doom. “You mean other than the fact you’re going to be run over?” The vehicle came into view through the shadow of the high-rise buildings and citrine eyes shot to the man a few feet from her. “Get off the road.”

 

Updated: 8th April 2018 - 22:55