The Life Given To You

“Fuki?” Chisato walked towards the LycoReco Cafe early morning with Takina in tow as their living arrangements remained the same.

In front of the cafe was 1st Lycoris Harukawa Fuki, and her 2nd Lycoris partner, Otome Sakura.

“You two finally came.” Fuki stretched her arms forward and went in the cafe. “Hurry up.”

Fuki and Sakura entered the cafe, Chisato and Takina looked at each other in confusion and followed suit.

With all the windows and blinds closed inside the cafe, Mika stood behind the counter with a laptop in front of him.

“We’ve got new orders from the DA. We will be doing a joint operation for this one.” Mika discussed and turned around the laptop in front of him, and lightly pushed it towards Fuki who uncharacteristically almost dropped the laptop. “It’s more or less just asking people around for information.”

Chisato leered at Fuki with doubt. “A joint operation, and it’s only asking people around for information?”

Fuki opened her mouth to say something, but Mika behind the counter caught her attention. “There’s nothing wrong with that!”

“Now, now. Calm down, Chisato. Fuki will provide the details.” Mika nodded at Fuki who only met his gaze for a moment before turning away.

“Th- Thank you, Sensei.” Fuki looked at the laptop intently and clicked on a file. “We’re slowly cracking down on drug trade that even the intelligence division in the DA were having a tough time tracking. We suspect that they’re a hacker, or is in alliance with a hacker who could use dummy footage into Tokyo’s security feeds that lets them evade us.”

Fuki showed the laptop screen. Takina and Chisato looked at each other again before taking a look at it. It was an incomplete document about an unknown trade route. There were no photos, just cryptic details, a few evidences of a newly manufactured product, and a hint towards a person with a location.

“These are the only details we have. We’re looking for an person with the initials I. K. downtown. It’s a place rumored to be the village of gangsters in hiding. They might keep guns in their homes for protection, it would be best to stay protected so we also had vests issued for this mission.”

“You started out with a ‘it’s just asking for information’ to ‘we might need vests for this’ real quick. Which one is it?” Chisato raised an eyebrow at Fuki who only sighed.

“It’s just for caution. There is no real threat, but there is no harm in being safe as well, Chisato.” Mika chided.

Sakura nodded and turned to Fuki with a raised eyebrow. “I thought that Japan was the safest country in the world? We still had places in Tokyo that have hidden gangsters?”

“Gangsters don’t always cause trouble, and without an actual intent to do so, we can’t really do something about them.” Takina answered and Fuki only looked at her and nodded.

“I guess so…” Sakura sighed. “Well, the world would be boring without bad guys anyway.”

“…I understand the lack of details on this file, but why us?” Chisato questioned, confusion evident on her expression. “We don’t usually get stuff like these from the DA.”

“…With the whole issue with Majima, we’re a bit shorthanded.” Fuki looked away and sighed. “We’ve got no choice.”

Chisato made a face at Fuki. “…You had no choice?” She looked at her with her mouth pursed tightly. “…Your last choices are me and Takina? Pfft.”

“Don’t laugh you little–!” Fuki raised a hand at Chisato.

“What? Huuhh? Wanna go at it? Huh???” Chisato got up in her face and looked at her like a gangster would.

“Please calm down, both of you.” Takina pulled Chisato’s arm. “Do we have an exact location into finding this person?”

“No. We’ll have to go and ask door to door in the building specified.” Fuki closed the laptop. “People won’t just give us information easily, so we’ll have to disguise as police officers. Here are your badges and some calling cards for burner phones. We would have to find someone who could contact us for information.” She pulled up a case from the floor and opened it.

“Would these tiny books with badges will really get people to talk to us?” Sakura looked at her own fake badge.

“It would at least make things more ‘legal’.” Fuki shrugged. “We just need to gather information.”

“Okay, I guess.” Chisato sighed and looked at Takina. “Let’s go?” Takina nodded and they all left the cafe and went to the nearby parking lot.

Mika was already on the driver’s seat, with Kurumi on the front passenger seat. Seems like they were able to secure a large van for this mission, with the back filled with weaponry, and inside it was Mizuki typing away information for the DA.

“Kurumi.” Chisato popped her head over Kurumi’s window as she stood outside the car van. “Do they really not have any information about these people?”

“Nope. I checked already, I tried to do my own thing too. The closest I could get was that there’s a new circulating party drug that overdosing on it causes death, but the number of deaths were too little to make a ruckus. Seems like someone who frequents the areas where the particular drug was being distributed in lived in the downtown building’s 2nd floor, but all these are second hand information.” Kurumi typed away on her portable laptop. “I don’t know how sure DA is with this incident. Seemed to be a natural cause to me.”

“Hm… Okay.” Chisato nodded and went around. She ran into Takina who had just finished setting her bulletproof vest. “Ohh~ Looks heavy.”

“Are you not wearing one?” Takina looked at Chisato as she made sure the vest was tight and snug, and that it isn’t getting in the way of the bag straps.

“We’re just asking questions, right~? I don’t think I’d have to.” Chisato stretched her arms above her head and rested it on her head. “Besides it’d just be heavy and would just slow me down.”

“…We’re still going into enemy territory, it would be best to take precautions.” Takina looked at her with a glare.

“It’ll be fine, it’ll be fine~”

“Haaah…” Takina sighed and walked away to enter the van. “If that’s how you’ll see it…”

Chisato immediately chased after Takina. “Ehh? Are you angry?”

“I’m not angry.”

“Annoyed?”

“……”

“Ah, Takinaaa!”

Mika parked the van a few blocks away from the target complex. With Kurumi and Mizuki as information, the lycoris headed towards it on foot.

“Why aren’t you wearing a vest? That pisses me off.” Fuki walked shoulder to shoulder with Chisato who just raised an eyebrow at her.

“I’m sorry that I do not need it, Fuki-san.” Chisato stuck a tongue out at her.

“At least behave like a normal person instead of like a weirdo so the people would take us seriously.” Fuki huffed and walked ahead of them.

Takina and Sakura just looked at each other and shrugged.

The four of them entered the apartment complex.

It was an oddly lively apartment complex. There were children talking in the lower floor, and people going in and out on the higher floors. It seemed like only the second floor was a little bit isolated with only a handful of people in it, and the eventually the most quiet place.

“It’s the second floor, right?” Sakura asked and received confirmation via their earpiece from Mizuki.

“We’ll start on the other end.” Fuki mentioned and Sakura followed her towards the other end of the hallway. “Don’t start selling your cafe or they’d know where to find us.”

“Shaddup~~” Chisato stuck her tongue out at Fuki as Takina knocked onto the first door to their right.

It was at least a seven floor apartment complex with about six to ten doors on each floor. It sounded like there were more people living in the higher floors than the first two floors. Takina and Chisato gave up on the first door when no one answered the door.

“…It would be nice if everything goes well today.” Takina murmured as Chisato knocked onto the next door.

On the other side Fuki and Sakura finished knocking onto three doors, and the last one opened for them. “We’re with the police. Do you know anything suspicious happening around this area?” Fuki flashed her badge.

“…If you, high school looking police, isn’t anything weird, don’t think there’s anything else. Didn’t know the force hired pipsqueaks.” The middle aged lady who answered the door for them only gave them that remark and slammed the door into their faces.

“P- Pipsqueak…?” Fuki glared at the door and immediately turned her attention at the stifled laughter from the other side of the hall who obviously heard everything. “Grrr…”

“Now, now, Fuki-senpai.” Sakura tried to calm her down as they both went to the next door.

“Ah, excuse me!” Takina ran after a young woman who seemed to had just arrived and was opening the door to one of the ones where no one answered in.

Chisato looked over at Takina before turning back her attention to the old lady in front of her. “If you hear or see anything suspicious, please contact us.” She handed a business card to the old lady who only looked at it.

“Oh, no, no, no, lady. You are kind and charming, but are you asking me to spy on my neighbors?” The old lady shook her head. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can.” She pushed the card into Chisato’s hand again and closed the door.

“Pfft. Can’t even get the old woman to take a card.” Fuki chided from somewhere nearby.

“At least she talked to me a little!” Chisato gritted her teeth as Fuki glared at her.

“Do you know anything suspicious happening around this area?” Takina talked to the lady who had some groceries in her arms.

“I’m sorry, I don’t have time for this, bye.” The lady evaded her question and opened the door to her home.

“Ah…” Takina stared at the door and was about to walk away when she remembered the business card. She knocked on the door and took one from her pocket. The door opened. “I’m sorry, could you at least–“

“Shut up! Both of us didn’t gather any information–“

Three loud shots rang out in the hallway, and then a body thudding onto the cement floor.

Chisato turned around and found Takina on the ground. “Takina!!!” She rushed to her side.

The young woman ran away with a revolver in her hand and went down the emergency stairs past Fuki and Sakura, who immediately ran after her. Fuki took a look at Chisato who wasn’t even paying her any attention.

“Takina! Where are you hurt? I can’t see any blood…” Chisato touched all over Takina’s vest, her shoulders, her thighs. “Takina…!”

“I-I’m fine…” Takina coughed as she struggled. “The vest… Ugh… Chisato… Go.” She grabbed Chisato’s wrist in an attempt to push her. “Catch… her…”

Chisato turned to Takina who struggled to breathe and nodded. She pressed the communicator in her ear. “Mizuki! Takina got shot, but she’s not injured. Please respond!” She stood up and immediately ran down the hallway. “Fuki!”

“We’re on our way!” Mizuki immediately grabbed the emergency bag and ran towards the apartment complex as fast as she could.

“The lady went into the building’s basement parking.” Sakura panted as she continued the chase. “She’s armed.”

Chisato ran down the emergency stairs. She found an open basement window and jumped inside narrowly running into piles of boxes. She coughed as the dust rose to the air and heard running sounds around the hallway near her.

“The basement is dark. Lost sight of them.” Fuki’s voice came into the earpiece.

Chisato narrowed her eyes, straining to see something in the darkness. There was movement near her right side. There was suddenly a flash of light followed by the gunshot sound. She evaded swiftly and blindly shot her rubber bullets in the darkness.

“Ugh!” The lady grunted as a bullet hit her. Chisato reloaded her gun and continued firing at the estimated area of where the lady was at. “Guh…”

“Target is down. Near the basement ‘s storage area.” Chisato spoke into the earpiece and relaxed as she heard the gun clack onto the floor. She took a flashlight from her bag and shone it towards the lady’s general direction. She slowly walked towards her with the BolaWrap gun in one of her hands, and her gun in her other. She kicked away the gun and made sure the lady was unconscious before heaving a sigh of relief.

Fuki and Sakura arrived just in time, turning on the lights. Sakura tied the woman’s hands as Fuki picked up the gun with a handkerchief for evidence. Chisato looked at Fuki who only glared at her and motioned for her to go with her face. Chisato nodded and immediately sprinted up the building, back to the second floor without even catching her breathe.

There was no one there. “Sensei, Mizuki! Where’s Takina!?”

“She’s in the van.” Kurumi answered in the ear piece and Chisato jogged back towards the van.

“Where’s Mizuki and Sensei?” Chisato arrived by the van and Kurumi was starting just outside.

“Mika went to the other two while Mizuki made a call to the DA to pick up the perp and to send in medical personnel.” Kurumi pulled her VR Headset back down and controlled the drone. “Go in.”

“Thank you.” Chisato opened the door into the van and found Takina lying down on a stretcher.

Her upper body was strapped onto the stretcher to avoid moving her body and a drip administered to her arm for some glucose and fluids. “…Chisato.”

“…Are you okay?” Chisato sat next to her as she gently took her hand into her own.

“Yes… I probably have a few broken ribs, I think I’ll be fine…” Takina sighed and struggled to grip Chisato’s hand back. “Did you catch her?”

“Mm… Yeah…” Chisato gripped Takina’s hand as she nodded. “Ahhh… I was so worried. “

“I’ll be fine.” Takina smiled at her. Chisato nodded as they sat in silence.

“Chisato. I need some information from you.” Fuki spoke into the earpiece.

“I need to go. Fuki’s looking for me.” Chisato smiled at Takina wryly, reluctant to go nor let go of her hand.

“…Can I say one thing before you go?” Takina looked at her flatly.

“Yeah?” Chisato sat closer to her.

Takina reached for her face and flicked her forehead with her free hand.

“Ah! Wha? Why…?” Chisato held onto her forehead.

Takina furrowed her eyebrows as her eyes turned misty. “…Next time, please wear a vest.” She closed her eyes immediately to avoid the tears from falling.

“I’m sorry. I will… I’ll wear one from now on.” Chisato squeezed Takina’s hand before kissing it.

“Okay. I believe you.” Takina smiled at her as a tear fell down on her cheek.

Chisato wiped the tear away and smiled back at her, gave her hand one last squeeze before leaving the van.

It turned out that the woman was named Isuzu Kou. The “I.K.” they were searching for, She was the only one producing and circulating the new drug. She had hired a hacker to keep the lycoris and the police off her back for a long time, but one of the men she came into contact with had left her initials before overdosing after testing a ‘new product’ that led to them capturing her.

Chisato and Fuki both got heavily reprimanded by Mika as well after they had admitted to bickering the moment Takina was shot and almost let the person get away. Takina received medical treatment for her bruises and a few broken ribs, was told to rest, but since she’s stubborn and won’t stay still, Mika allowed her to go to the cafe to work menial tasks as long as Chisato was keeping an eye on her.

“Abe-san’s not here today too?” One of the regulars asked as the TV in the cafe suddenly showed a news break of someone getting caught for drug trade and that investigation starts from there. “Is Takina-chan okay? She’s been moving oddly these past few days.”

“Oh, she probably just overdid herself in the gym or something, pulled a muscle, stuff like that. Kids these days like to get buff. They’re weird.” Mizuki shrugged as Chisato was suddenly next to Takina’s side after she had just simply uttered a small ‘Ow’.

“Chisato, you’re overbearing.” Takina sighed.

“O- Overbearing?! I was just worried~ Takinaaaaaa~” Chisato opened her arms towards her and Takina took a step sidewards to avoid it. “Oh yeah.”

“Hah…” Takina sighed again. “I’ll be fine.”

“I’ll be right here where you need me!” Chisato saluted.

“Okay, okay.” Takina laughed. “Ah, ow…”

“Takinaaaa!”

“Ughhh.”  Kurumi groaned as she watched them. “Even a squirrel like me can’t stand to watch all these sweet lovey-dovey banter.”

“Stop being sweet, damnit!” Mizuki downed a glass of sake and slammed it onto the counter.

“Now, now…” Mika sighed as everyone laughed wryly.

Chisato looked at her wristwatch, and her head lifted up with her eyes sparkling. “Sensei~ It’s time so we’ll go home now~” She excitedly but gently pushed Takina from wherever she was and headed towards the dressing room.

“Ah, wait, Chisato. We need to help and clean up first–” Unable to fight back to due her injuries, Takina just let Chisato sway her away to anything she wanted.

“No, we don’t~ Because you’re supposed to be recovering, and I’m taking care of you.” Chisato laughed with a “nishishishi” as they both disappeared behind the dressing room door.

“Chisato, you’re just saying that because you’re lazy–“

“No-no-no~”

Kurumi just hopped over the chair next to the counter and sighed. “Is she really reflecting on what happened?”

Mika only looked at the door. “I’m sure she’s beating up herself over it, more than anyone else.”

After changing back into their lycoris uniforms, Chisato and Takina headed back to safehouse number 1 with Chisato lifting all the groceries, and two bags of lycoris bag packs on her back. Of course, Takina complained that without the bag on her back she won’t be able to respond to an emergency, and Chisato just told her to ‘Leave it to Chisato-san~’

Fortunately, they got back to the safehouse without any troubles, aside for the fact that Chisato won’t let Takina climb down the stairs, so she had to be carried bridal style.

“Chisato… Put me down.” Takina blushed as Chisato looked so proud of herself to be carrying her.

“No.” Chisato grinned at her. “I should have thought of this in the first place. You won’t have to move much, and I got to do all the walking.”

“Please don’t do this outside, it will be embarrassing.” Takina glared at her. “Please, put me down. I promise I won’t do anything stressful.”

Chisato only stared at Takina, who looked back at her with her best glare. “Nope.” She walked all the way to the couch and let Takina sit on it. “You will stay there until I’m done with dinner, or do you want to take a bath first?”

Takina touched her head and shook it. She felt a pang of pain and almost uttered an “Ow” but even if she had successfully held it in, Chisato was still already crouching next to her thighs on the couch, looking at her worriedly.

“I’ll be fine, Chisato. You react to little things too much.” Takina blinked at her before giving her a small smile.

“Okay…” Chisato stood up from her crouch and walked back to the kitchen. “If you need anything just shout, okay~?”

Dinner went by peacefully. Chisato was still following her like a worried dog, while Takina would admit that everything is painful, that walking takes all of her energy, what worries her was how Chisato was treating her. She couldn’t bring up the topic because she felt like she’d just avoid talking about it so she thought of a way to do so.

Chisato sat inside the bathtub as Takina sat in front of her. Chisato’s were arms wrapped around Takina’s waist, her face resting on that exposed nape. Neither opened their mouth to say anything. This happened because Chisato won’t let Takina take a bath on her own because “What if you slip and get injured?!” and Takina simply did not have the energy to retort back.

“I’m really sorry.” Chisato whispered.

Takina felt the chills as her hot breathe touched her skin, but the comfort of the slightly tightened hug around her waist assured her.

“For what?” Takina answered as she grabbed the little ducky slowly making its way towards her from the other end of the tub.

“…Everything.” Chisato rested her forehead onto Takina’s shoulder. “Not wearing a vest, bickering with Fuki, getting you shot, everything.”

“What got me shot was not your fault, you know?” Takina turned her body slightly to be able to face Chisato. “It was because the other person wanted to take me in surprise, and that’s why I got shot. It happens. I let my guard down.”

“I should have been by your side, and not by someone else’s.” Chisato intensely stared into Takina’s purple eyes. “I should have seen it. I could have prevented it, but I…”

“Chisato…” Takina lifted her hand from the water and touched Chisato’s head. “I knew you could have, but it’s already in the past. I’m still alive, we completed the mission. We’re both still here.”

Chisato’s amber eyes stared into Takina’s with so much intensity, so much words. What those passionate eyes told her were so much more than the words she heard. ‘I’m sorry. I won’t do it again. I’ll protect you. I love you.’

“You can’t be the only one protecting me. You have to let me protect you too, Chisato.” Takina responded to those unspoken words that caught the other girl by surprise, but what even surprised her further was what happened after it.

Warm lips gently touched Chisato’s own. It was sweet, and maybe a little wet from the water. Their lips separated almost immediately as Takina turned her back to her once again without saying anything.

“Takina-san…?” Chisato called for her, but the extremely red ears in front of her made it obvious.

“…We should get out before we get dizzy.” Takina touched Chisato’s hands that were still around her waist. “Chisato?”

“Eh? Ah, no… I was just thinking if you were trying to seduce me, or forgive me…” Chisato blinked as she slowly stood up from the bath, carefully helping Takina up with her… marveling at that nicely naked body in front of her.

“…S- Seduce??” Takina flushed beet red as she covered her body from Chisato’s gaze. “I was just, it was just…”

“I- I mean, I’m to- totally up for that! I’ll be gentle!” Chisato took Takina’s hand as she assisted her outside the tub.

“…Are you really going to take advantage of an injured person?” Takina glared at her as she wrapped a towel around her body.

“Of course not! I was just confused, so I thought I’d ask???” Chisato watched Takina walk past her.

“…I think there are things that you shouldn’t be asking anymore.” Takina grabbed another towel and threw it over Chisato’s head. “…Idiot.”

Chisato’s eyes caught her red cheeks and shy expression just before the towel covered her view. What???? What does that mean???? Whaaaaaat??????

Takina touched her chest as she felt her heart beating quickly in her ears. She wasn’t sure either why she did what she did. It wasn’t like she and Chisato weren’t already in that kind of relationship. Still, it wasn’t the first kiss they shared and she did it because she felt like, she wanted it too…

“…It’s probably because of all the movies we’ve been watching.” Takina shook her head and started putting on her pajamas. “…Or it’s just the heat of the bath getting to my head. Yes, definitely that.”

“Wait, wait, wait! We still need to bandage you!” Chisato ran after her and slipped onto the floor almost colliding with the wall.

“Don’t look.”

“Eh? But I’ve seen you naked before–“

“Don’t look!”

“Y- Yes ma’am! How am I gonna bandage you without looking though?”

“…Do your best.”

“Eeeehhh? Are you still angry??? Takinaaaaa!”

“I’m not angry.”

“Annoyed?”

“………”

“Ahhh! Please, not the silent treatment again, Takina-samaaa!”

About how Chisato still followed Takina around even after completely recovering from her injuries is a story for another day.

(END/The Life Given To You)