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It was late night. The dark sky was clear, but the light pollution blocked the view on the stars. A light, warm breeze danced the leaves and filled the city with the smell of salt and smog, a scent that always lingered in the air. The newcomers may find it suffocating at first but to the citizens it was the smell of home.
This scent brought the same comfort to Akutagawa who was standing on a rooftop, watching the hustle and bustle of the city from above. This warm and just a little bit unpleasant smell was one of his only comforts, when they lived in the slums. The gentle breeze caressing his cheeks and ruffling his hair felt like a mother petting her child. Yokohama was his mother, and he would do anything for her.
He was not a hero, to save the city and the inhabitants, no. He was far from it. His hands were stained with more blood than it’s expected even from a mafioso, but if that’s what is needed for the safety of the city that raised him in the worst place possible, then he will not hesitate to take yet another life.
He can thank his life to Yokohama, and he doesn’t like to be in debt so he will protect the relative peace of the city to his last breath.
Akutagawa didn’t notice when did his eyes wandered from the street below him to the scenery of Yokohama or when did the corner of his mouth quirked up just the smallest bit. He shook himself out of his thoughts and diverted his gaze back to the street, to an alleyway.
The Port Mafia received a leak that some thugs are dealing with drugs in their territory. Akutagawa was the one sent to deal with the thugs and make them understand to not mess with the Mafia.
Three suspicious looking men with a briefcase entered the dark alley where two other people were already waiting behind a huge trash container. It has started.
The thugs started their business and didn’t pay any mind to their surroundings. ‘Amateurs’ Akutagawa rolled his eyes while he quietly lowered himself from the rooftop with the help of Rashomon. His plan was a surprise attack when he eliminates four of them, so the one survivor can tell the tale.
He landed on the ground as noiseless as a cat and approached them, melting into the shadows, not drawing any attention. Akutagawa sneaked close enough to hear everything they’re talking and when he reached the other side of the container, he activated his special ability.
Akutagawa was just about to shoot the blades of Rashomon when his phone rang. The five thugs jumped at the sudden noise and rushed to its direction. Akutagawa cursed himself for not muting his phone and whoever was calling him at the same time. Without checking the ID, he picked up while the thugs already surrounded him.
“What?” He grunted into the phone, clearly annoyed. At the same time the thugs fired their guns, but Akutagawa easily blocked them. Without missing a beat, he also released Rashomon, the jet-black blades piercing one man’s shoulder, another’s leg and cutting off a third one’s right ear.
“Are you busy, Akutagawa-kun?” Asked a familiar voice on the other side. For a moment he froze. He immediately regretted picking up the phone so rude. The thugs also detected his moment of hesitation and tried to escape. Akutagawa snapped out of his daze his head and stabbed both of them.
“No, what do you need?” he asked desperately. The thugs were squirming and groaning on the ground, and one tried to crawl away. The young mafioso kicked his side.
“Great!” came the overly enthusiastic reply, “Because I have a task only you can accomplish.” Akutagawa’s heart skipped a beat and his determination skyrocketed. He almost forgot about the lowly criminals squirming on the ground as he agreed on whatever task he had to do.
“I’ll be there in ten minutes.” he said before ending the call. With a slightly lifted mood he approached the man with the stabbed shoulder and lifted him by his collar.
“Just kill us, hellhound.” The man rasped.
“Unfortunately, I can’t” Akutagawa answered “But I will if you fuck with the Port Mafia ever again.” He all but growled, and the thug knew it was not just an empty threat but a promise. His whole body was shaking both from fear and blood loss, but he still managed a weak nod. Akutagawa dropped the man with a cruelly satisfied nod and exited the alley.
The promised ten minutes later Akutagawa reached the building that became an all too familiar sight in the past few months. He ran up the stairs and busted open the door without letting him catch his breath.
“Dazai-s–” he got interrupted by a fit of coughing. Dazai walked up to him and patted his back.
“You are just as reckless as ever.” The older shook his head. “No one told you not to overwork your body? That slug should take better care of you.” Dazai mumbled the last part. In the meanwhile, Akutagawa recovered and – ignoring the coppery taste in his mouth and the mixed feelings at his past mentor’s words – rolled his eyes at the insult directed towards Chuuya-san.
Dazai led Akutagawa to the couches where the Agency usually greets their customers. On one of them were a box. The older plopped down next to the box nonchalantly and after a moment, Akutagawa also lowered himself on the opposite one.
“So, what is my mission?”
“Your mission” Dazai started with a smirk that meant no good “is this.” And with that he gently placed the cardboard box on the table between them. Akutagawa cocked his head to the side but then leaned forward to open the box. And inside it was...
“A cat?” The young mafioso asked in confusion as he lifted it out of the box. The cat let out an angry hiss.
“Yes.” Dazai said like it was the most common thing. “You have to take care of him for a short time.”
The feline in question had short white fur with a few black stripes, although the fur around its face was longer. It had shining purplish yellow eyes and its ears were rounder than a normal cat’s. Overall, it looked very familiar.
“May I ask, why I am the most suitable?” Akutagawa asked in confusion, his eyes moving between the cat and Dazai.
“You own him that much.” Dazai shrugged his shoulders.
The younger coughed.
"Is this the Man-tiger?”
“Well done, Akutagawa-kun!” Dazai exclaimed with a clap. “You have to look after our dear Catsushi until he’s back to his human form.” The cat in question let out another irritated meow at the nickname, claiming he’s not a cat but a tiger. Akutagawa wanted to protest but couldn’t find the right words to go against his ex-mentor.
“Now that this settled,” Dazai said as he stood up from the couch “Goodnight you two!” Akutagawa also stood up, still without a word, but Atsushi who was still in his hold protested with loud meows and tried to free himself. Instead of helping him, Dazai just scratched Atsushi behind the ears and left, leaving the two alone.
It took him a minute to recover, but then Akutagawa also left the Agency to get to the rooftops and start his journey home. He held Atsushi close to his chest so the cat couldn’t escape as he walked in the relative safety of the darkness.
Atsushi though didn’t stay calm. He was meowing and pawing Rashomon aggressively.
“Stop that in this instant, Jinko!” Akutagawa halted and held the cat further from him. Atsushi meowed again and pointed a paw at his coat. He had a look that almost felt like he was calling him for account for something.
“Calm down, I didn’t kill anyone.” Akutagawa hissed once he realised what was his acquaintance’s problem. When Atsushi shot him another look, he just shrugged his shoulders. “It was not part of the deal that I can’t wound anyone.”
After that Atsushi quietened down and they continued their way until they reached the tall building of the Port Mafia. Atsushi felt distressed at the sight and looked up at the dark-haired man who was still holding him close to his chest.
Akutagawa on the other hand was not worried at all. He already came up with an idea how to get the weretiger – cat – in. So, he opened his coat and hid the feline in it, keeping him secure with a few straps of Rashomon.
And like this Akutagawa easily walked in the building and to the elevators. Atsushi stayed completely still but his little heart was beating so fast, Akutagawa could feel it even through his shirt.
When the elevator door shut behind them, Akutagawa subconsciously started petting the cat trough his coat and Atsushi just as subconsciously started purring softly. It was a sweet moment neither of them acknowledged until the elevator stopped with a ding.
When the door opened, Akutagawa rushed out, his pale cheeks tinted pink just the slightest bit while Atushi was still calm but no longer purring.
Only when the lock of his apartment clicked shut did Akutagawa released Atsushi. The cat jumped to the floor but didn’t wander off, he stayed by the human’s leg.
Akutagawa didn’t notice the cat’s hesitation to explore the clearly empty flat and just started towards his room. However, he barely took a few steps when he felt weak thugs on his coat. Looking behind him, he saw Atsushi playing with the still swaying hem of the fabric.
Catsushi was jumping left and right around the black material, letting out carefree little meows, reaching a paw towards every tiny movement.
Akutagawa stared with wide eyes and hasn’t even noticed, he activated Rashomon. When a black head with glowing red eyes approached Atsushi, he quitted his game and sniffed her instead.
Rashomon booped her nose with Atsushi’s and he meowed happily. The ability also bore a smile like expression on her face and they started playing.
Rashomon stayed low and twisted around like a snake while Atsushi was jumping around her, trying to catch her.
‘Traitor’ Akutagawa coughed into his hand as he watched his special ability and his arch-enemy play like best friends in kindergarten.
Slowly, not to disturb the fun, Akutagawa walked to his couch and sat down. He placed his laptop on his lap and started working on his report about today’s work.
It didn’t take longer than ten minutes to be disturbed by Atsushi climbing onto the couch and starting meowing. Akutagawa tore his gaze away from the screen and looked at the cat.
Atsushi meowed while pointed at a small bouquet of plastic flowers on a shelf. He then looked at the older man with his head cocked to the side.
“Gin won’t be back until around 10 am.” Akutagawa explained after he understood the question. “She’s better company, I know” Atsushi meowed almost comfortingly and settled by his side. Akutagawa was completely taken aback as he looked down at the small black and white loaf next to him and could almost feel the heat radiating from him reach his face.
Hesitantly, Akutagawa placed a hand on Atsushi’s back and started petting his soft fur absentmindedly while the other hand was still typing on the keyboard.
Atsushi’s soft purring soon filled the room, serving as relaxing white noise to the working man. Subconsciously Atsushi inched closer to Akutagawa until he was practically cuddling his side.
The horizon was already tinted with yellow and pink by the time Akutagawa managed to finish and send his report with one hand, because burying his hand in the soft fur was addictive and he couldn’t tear his hand away from his nemesis turned into a cat.
He only remover his hand when he put his laptop back on the coffee table and stretched his back, wincing at all the popping sounds it made. At the lack of warmth, Atsushi looked up and also stretched, his long tail flicking in the air.
Akutagawa stood up and started to the kitchen. He stopped though and looked back at the cat on the couch with an expectant look and a cough. “Are you waiting for an invitation, Jinko?”
Atsushi eventually hopped off the couch and followed his enemy. When he got there Akutagawa was rummaging through his cabinets until he found a canned fish. He then opened it and placed it on the floor. Atsushi instinctively took a step forward then halted and looked up at the human hesitantly.
“What are you waiting for, Jinko? It’s not like I’m gonna eat it.” Akutagawa said in his usual neutral tone and stepped to another cabinet. That’s all Atsushi needed to launch himself at the food and Akutagawa would deny it, but a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he watched the black and white furball enjoy his food.
When the cat finished, Akutagawa cleaned up the empty, licked clear can and headed to the bathroom. Atsushi followed him from a safe distance and watched his every move. Akutagawa still wore Rashomon and Atsushi felt more vulnerable in his current state of a tiger cub – because he refused to admit he was just a cat – knowing it would be easier to kill him than ever.
Like he could read his thoughts, Akutagawa turned to him. “Didn’t I tell you to calm down? I’m not allowed to kill you, am I?” He grumbled through his toothbrush.
Atsushi meowed and jogged up to him. He then rubbed himself against Akutagawa’s leg while purring. The cold hearted mafioso almost choked on his toothpaste and felt his cheeks and the tips of his ears warm up.
Atsushi, like he didn’t notice the other’s reaction, jumped on the sink and licked at the running water.
Like cats usually do.
Without consuming even one droplet of water.
If he was any lesser man, Akutagawa would record it for blackmail or just to upload it on the internet. But since he was not a jerk – or he just didn’t know how to turn on the camera on his phone – Akutagawa cupped his hands under the tap and held up the water in his hands to the cat.
Atsushi didn’t hesitate to drink, his tongue tickling Akutagawa’s palms. When he was satisfied, he raised his double-coloured eyes filled with gratitude at the human and started purring loudly.
Akutagawa didn’t say a word, he just coughed into his fist and lumbered to his bedroom, Atsushi following close behind.
The sun was already up, bathing the room in its golden rays. The view of the city from the window was magnificent and Atsushi couldn’t help his curiosity. He padded to the window and watched the warm rays lay gentle kisses on the houses, the trees and everything they reached.
Atsushi’s view was cut short however, as Akutagawa shut the curtains, drowning the room with darkness. The feline let out a complainant meow but got ignored.
Akutagawa changed from his work clothes to some comfy ones and while he saw Atsushi turn his back to him, he could also catch the cat’s glance on him a few times.
When he was done, the dark-haired man literally collapsed on the bed. After a minute, he could feel the other side of the bed dip as the cat jumped on the other side. It was a queen-size bed but Akutagawa always slept on its left side, so Atsushi has more than enough space.
Atsushi though – being the cat he refuses to admit he is – didn't stay on his side. Instead, he crossed the space and curled into a ball on Akutagawa’s stomach. In his half-asleep state, Akutagawa laid a hand on his evenly rising and falling back and started caressing the soft white fur. Atsushi’s purring vibrated in the other’s stomach, and it soon lulled him to sleep too.
When Gin got home around 10:30 am, she was surprised that her brother was home and sleeping. He barely slept but seeing his shoes at the door but him nowhere around gave her the surprising conclusion that Akutagawa Ryuunosuke was most definitely sleeping.
Gin couldn’t help the urge to peak on her sleeping brother so she slightly creaked open the door, blessing god the hinges were not actually creaking. But the sight that greeted her made her almost gasp.
Because Akutagawa was not sleeping alone in his bed.
But with the man-tiger.
Who was naked.
And they were cuddling.
The covers were discarded so Gin could see them properly. Akutagawa was laying on his back, Atsushi’s head resting on his chest, buried in the crook of his neck. Atsushi’s arm was hugging the other’s shoulder while Akutagawa’s arm was draped over the younger’s waist and their legs were tangled together.
Gin was surprised to say the least. But at the same time, she was happy to see her brother so peaceful. To see him let his guard down around anyone that wasn’t her or Chuuya.
Gin already suspected there was more between them just by how much her brother always talked about the Jinko. It was so much like Chuuya and Dazai’s relationship that it was only a matter of time before they get together. Actually, there was a running bet in the Port Mafia about when will Shin Soukoko finally form but they don’t have to know about all the money placed on their relationship.
So, she just left the apartment to give them some peace.
It was Akutagawa who woke up first. The first thing he noticed that it was unreasonably hot even for a summer day. He also felt soft skin under his fingertips and when he creaked one dark eye open he was met with a mop of white and a stripe of black hair.
Finally, his brain also woke up and the realisation hit him.
“Get off of me Jinko!” He all but screeched while he pushed the other off of him. Atsushi painfully landed on the floor.
“Good morning to you too.” Atsushi grunted, rubbing his throbbing head. Akutagawa threw a blanket on him and crawled out of the bed on its other side to dig through his wardrobe.
Only when Atsushi untangled himself from the blanket did he notice, he was naked. His face turned bright red as he covered himself. What he couldn’t see from his current position was that Akutagawa’s cheeks were just as red.
Akutagawa threw a few clothes on the bed. “Wear these and leave!”
“After this fall, I’m not sure I can even stand.” Atsushi barked back.
“You survived worse. Want a reminder?” Akutagawa’s pyjama sleeve turned into a blade.
“No thanks, I’m fine without a morning amputation too.” Atsushi’s voice was dripping with sarcasm. It was a side of him, only the mafioso could bring out. Instead, Atsushi surveyed the clothes. They were a pair of black jeans and a t-shirt as well as some underwear he couldn’t look at without blushing.
“Wow, never guessed you have non-goth clothes too.” Atsushi teased.
“If it bothers you that much you can leave naked, Jinko.” Akutagawa replied without missing a beat. This comment though made both of them blush. Akutagawa coughed into his fist and left the room, leaving Atsushi to dress up.
Akutagawa was in the kitchen, making coffee when he heard the bedroom door open and soft footsteps approach him. A few seconds later, Atsushi appeared in the doorway.
“Actually,” Atsushi started, voice hesitant “I wanted to say thank you.” He was fidgeting with the hem of his borrowed t-shirt, looking everywhere but at the other man.
“I just repaid my debt.” Akutagawa coughed and shrugged his shoulder.
“I know but still,” at this point Atsushi was almost stuttering “You didn’t have to be so kind, so-”
“Don’t get me wrong, Jinko.” Akutagawa interrupted him. “When the time comes, I will kill you, but it’s not in the near future.” He said and Atsushi swore he almost saw a smile twisting those lips upwards.