The Knights Himura

Tsukiko didn't speak a word as she led Fumiko back home, but she squeezed Fumi's hand so tight that both their fingers started to turn white. Time moved fast and slow, the journey feeling so fast, but her mind kept slowing her down, all wound up and conflicted and scared.

The afternoon was now dusk, and the sky had become a murky, swampy grey-black. A torrential rain fell upon them, so hard it almost hurt, and the roads at their feet were starting to look more like streams or rivers. Wind tore through the streets, making their teeth chatter in the cold, their clothes completely soaked. Every few minutes the sky would flash bright white, and a deep rumbling rolled over them.

Once at Tsukiko's house, at the old Himura residence, they both fell down onto the first step. Fumi'd stopped crying, but Tsuki hid her face, unable to face her friend. She felt nothing but fear, shame, and self-loathing. She did everything she could to choke back her tears, but failed.

"Are you okay, Tsuki?" Fumiko stepped closer.

"I…" Tsuki tried to speak, but failed, returning to her sobs.

"Hey, calm down." Fumi spoke softly.

"Don't worry about me." Tsuki said through sobs.

"It's alright, Tsuki."

"It's not alright!" Tsuki raised her voice, still hiding her face. "I almost killed him."

"You didn't kill him, Tsuki. That's all that matters." Fumi sat down next to Tsukiko. "He gave you a second chance. Take it."

Tsuki kept going. "I… It was like my brain turned off. I just got so angry, and--"

"He'll be okay! Seriously!" Fumi tried to shake her out of it.

"It's not okay!" Tsukiko shouted. "I hurt you. I made you cry. I made you scared."

"I'm not hurt. It's just a bruise. Bruises heal. C'mon, don't cry." Fumi insisted.

"I don't know what to do."

Fumi sighed. "I don't know what to do either."

Tsuki coughed. "I didn't mean it…"

"I know you didn't." Fumiko stood up, pulling Tsukiko up with her. "Let's go inside."

Fumi stood up and pulled Tsuki back onto her feet, pulling her inside to the warmth awaiting them in the house. She shut the door behind them and it was like they'd been transported into a whole new world. Fumi led Tsukiko over to the kitchen to sit down.

"I'm sorry." Tsuki said out of habit.

"Stop apologizing so much, alright?" Fumi shook her head. "You're just making yourself feel worse."

"I feel like a fuck up right now…" Tsuki sniffed.

"You're not a fuck up. You made one mistake, Tsuki. Just one." Fumi urged.

Tsuki made her hand into a fist. "A really big mistake."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

"It's still just one. I stopped you. Just don't make me have to stop you again." Fumi sat down and put her hand on Tsukiko's leg.

"I'm supposed to be better than this." Tsuki looked away.

"Why?"

"Cuz I have to protect you." Tsuki blushed.

"I'm not that weak, am I?" Fumi chuckled.

"It's not like that."

"Listen, Tsuki…." Fumi put her face close to Tsukiko's. "We'll find the guy eventually, alright? You can't just throw yourself into things alone. I'm here too, y'know? You can rely on me. I wanna get him just as bad as you do."

Tsuki smiled a bit. "Yeah, you're right. Thanks, Fumi."

"I love you, Tsukiko." Fumi said without hesitation.

"Yeah, I-I love you too." Tsuki still felt strange saying it out loud.

Fumi sighed. "They might be criminals, but they have families. They have husbands and wives… kids even. Think about that the next time you start getting angry."

"...yeah." Tsuki didn't know how to respond.

"Think of it this way. I'd rather have you in jail, than dead." Fumi frowned.

Tsukiko shuddered. "...right."

Fumi sighed. "This isn't an eye for an eye. Don't think you have to get revenge for me or something. I just want him in jail, alright?"

"I get it." Tsuki lowered her head.

Fumi leaned in close. "You don't have to do this, y'know."

"What?"

"I… I've got all sorts of things I still wanna do with you. I want a future together. Maybe we could get married." Fumi got intense all of a sudden. "Y'know, if it's ever legal…"

Tsuki turned red. "C'mon…"

Fumi cleared her throat. "If this gets too risky, I won't feel bad if you give up. This is just--"

"I'm not giving up, Fumi. I don't wanna be scared anymore." Tsuki insisted. "I can't live knowing it could happen again."

"So stubborn…" Fumiko smiled, laying her head on Tsuki's shoulder. "There's my knight in shining armor."

"Jeez." Tsuki sighed. "I thought you were gonna rip me a new one."

"Sometimes, I like to imagine myself like a princess in a tower. You'd call me Fumiko-hime." Fumiko spoke in a singsong voice.

"You really can't help yourself, can you?" Tsuki complained.

–

They didn't really mind their sopping wet clothes, they were too focused on one another to care. They spent another few minutes, chatting and flirting, like usual, 'till Haruka burst in through the door.

"Heyyyy, what's up guys?" She stumbled in.

"Oh god." Tsuki groaned.

Haruka approached them both. "I heard what happened."

"What're you doing here?" Fumi asked.

"The Chief sent me to tell you guys something."

"The Chief?" Tsuki turned to her sister. "How do you know the Chief?"

"I'll tell you another time." Haruka laughed.

"So, what did he say?" Fumi stood up.

"He's not mad at you, Tsuki. He just wanted to tell you…"

"Tell me what?"

Haruka took a deep breath. "He wanted me to tell you that he still has high hopes for you. That, and he told you 'not to cross that line'."

Tsuki closed her eyes. "Yeah, I know."

Haruka ran her fingers through Tsukiko's wet hair. "Take a warm bath, alright? You'll get sick wearing those wet clothes."

Tsuki muttered. "Thanks, Haruka."

Haruka looked her in the eye. "Take care of yourself, alright? You've been crying, haven't you?"

Tsukiko looked away.

Haruka kneeled down. "Hey, look at me."

Tsukiko hesitated.

Haruka spoke again. "C'mon. This ain't the end of your life. Take a break, if you have to. Life's tough sometimes."

"I'm not taking a break." Tsuki straightened up.

"...are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. I'm gonna find him. Eventually."

Haruka had pity on her face. "Know your limits, Tsuki."

"What do you mean?" Fumiko cut in.

Haruka stood up, looking down at her sister. "I don't think she's prepared for what's ahead."

Fumi shook her head. "I think she is."

"We'll see."