The further in we get, the more I wonder what the mans intentions are. As I'm unable to ask a single question, I quickly duck with a spin to face the perpetrator as he fires a shot but misses. Going in for the disarm, I jab his stomach using my other arm to interfere his second shot. However, he releases the firearm with ease and at that moment, I knew something was off.
Though my movements were sluggish as I'm unable to react in time, a long metal pipe appears from the side as I could only block the blow with my arm.
"Arghhhh!"
Kicked against the side of a building I'm left grasping my arm in agony.
"So, the Roach wasn't dead after all. Hmph, well not so surprising."
"...W-What are you talking about you damn lunatic?"
It hurts... It hurts a lot, I might even die here for real.
"This is our turf now, so the hell are you doing here?"
"Your... But, this is the neutral zone... No-"
"So once again you came crawling out of the dozens of holes you've dug up over the years."
Twirling the lead pipe in his hand, he hides it behind his back before pressing the barrel of his firearm against my forehead.
"What the hell having you been doing up until now? Your lots all cornered with nowhere to go, so what are you planning with the big Boss?"
I answer with groans of pain instead, and it's not like I have any understand of what's going on in the first place.
"Tsk, whatever. Not about to start up another war, but what's the difference if I killed a dead Roach?"
This guy... He's part of the other half who oversees the other prefectures... This place should be all green, and yet.
"I'll let you off with a warning. Just because we're old pals. Roach, or whatever you are these days. Don't let me see you again."
"...What are you..."
With the fracture being too painfully immense, he throws a bag against me as buns scatter about.
The man leaves without further word as I'm left lugging myself back.
...
By the time I return, the girl's there to greet me by the doorstep; which really complicates things as I would've preferred her to still be fast asleep.
"...What were you doing?"
"...Food, I bought some food, you said you wanted something hot to eat."
I lift the bag of buns to her, however, she pays no heed to it and instead looks over to my other arm. At a glance, one couldn't possibly tell, especially so if it's covered by the sleeve of a coat, however she grasps against it as I yelp.
"Food, hm. I didn't think buns could do this."
She lets go with a sigh, though her expression doesn't exactly portray concern. But I could tell by the way she speaks that she does genuinely worry.
"What happened?"
"...Sorry, I can't say why."
If I tell her, I'm not so sure what she would do. It's best not to involve her with the likes of a rivaling gang. Though I say rival lightly as I'm not so sure what my place is in the mafia anymore. We shouldn't stay here too long, however, I want to clarify my relationship with Mari.
"Hm, I see."
Taking the bag without a look in the eyes, she walks back to the couch and proceeds to take a bite out of the buns.
"It's warm."
As the lingering pain is enough to fill my mind, I'm unable to muster up a response as I head into the washroom to take a closer look. Swelling has yet to occur, but the blow was enough to break through the skin. If he exerted more force, he would've took my arm, was he holding back?
"Tsk, come on..."
Taking a quick wash up and doing what I can with the things I have on hand; I raise it with an arm sling from leftover bandages in the small medicine cabinet and exit to see her halfway through the bag.
"Is it any good?"
"Not good."
Saying that, she still continues to eat as I take a seat beside her. With what in that parking lot, I can't exactly say I want to try them.
"Well, eat up because it's yours. I'll be turning over for the night."
Gazing at me with a bun dangling from her mouth, I move over to the small mattress beneath the TV stand. With the cushioning mostly gone, it's mostly just foam atop of metal springs; not comfortable. At least with the couch, it's at least softer and large enough for her to sprawl across it.
"The tub's not as big as the lake, but we have hot water. You can use it however you like, the TV also. If you need water, the sink has a filter tap."
...
Waking up the following morning, a strange warmth was wrapped around me as a slight suction's applied to my damaged arm.
"What..?"
Soon realising the girl curled up next to me, a weird creature has its mouth against my wound as I almost slammed my hand against it, but hold back for some confirmation.
"Hey, wake up. What's this thing on my arm?"
Shaking her small body, she wakes up rather quickly though her eyes are frighteningly blanker than usual.
"...Faux. It's bodily fluid seeps through the skin, and can heal bones. But in exchange, it burns the skin. Leaving a mark which lasts for weeks."
"Hmm, I see. But where did you get this..? It's not something that lives in town, right? Unless you keep these around on you..."
No... I don't think she does.
"I went back home. Only small ones are able to heal bones; the larger ones prefer to eat them."
Despite this one being fairly the size of my palm.
"Please don't tell me it's eating me right now."
"...Not."
Burying her head against my chest, she falls fast asleep as I notice her hands dirtied with soil.
"...Forget researcher... If you lived a normal life, you could've been a doctor, or an herbalist."
With the time being half past six in the morning, I decide to let her rest a few hours longer and leave before the afternoon.
...
Exiting the elevator on the 17th floor, a distinguished man in a business suit walks past. With coloured shades and a kempt beard, he seems to hold himself at a high point given the way he strides.
Proceeding further down the floor, Mari's front door's left open with her nowhere in the immediate area as I look back down the path we came from. Though, the man was nowhere to be seen.
"...Mari?"
Slowly pushing the door open, I call out to her numerous times before she finally answers. Stepping into view, she seems to be okay; though one doesn't just leave the front door open.
"H-Henr-... Sorry, you don't want to be called that, do you?"
Greeting me in casual clothing, it seems she took my advice and called in sick.
"Good morning, I didn't think you'd- A-ah, no, I mean... Thank you, for coming..."
She seems to be rather troubled; aloof, as though her minds on a different matter.
"Mari, did someone come visit you?"
"Visit? No, you're the only person I've seen today."
"A man in a business suit, with tinted shades, was-"
Looking to the girl who grasped firmly at my hand, I look back to Mari and decide to drop the subject.
"Never mind, umm, good morning, Mari."
Leading up into the diner, the place is still rather messy and the numerous garbage bags have yet to be taken out. Deciding to run the garbage down for her since she offered to cook something, I look to the girl to tell her to stay, however, she insisted in following along as she grabs a bag of her own.
"You know, you aren't obligated to help out."
Carrying two, she has just the one as it is fairly large.
"I'm not doing this for her. I just don't want to be around her."
"...I see. How come-"
"She's lying."
Stopping in my tracks just before the elevator, she steps in and waits.
"She's lying? About what exactly, being partners?"
I step further in and press for the base floor and look to her in deep thought.
"I can't say for sure, but. She is lying. She lied about not seeing anyone else, but that man's scent was all over the place."
"...All over? So you're saying, he really was there. But why lie about that?"
"She's hiding something."
I pull out the ticket I got from her yesterday as I somewhat think it's related to it.
"...She's hiding something, huh?"
With my mind leaning towards her being unfaithful, it's all just speculation as I don't have any facts to prove it all.
"I have a feeling this won't be as easy as waiting for my memory to gradually return."
"One thing's for sure. That picture, of you and her. It's real," as the elevator stops and the doors open, she steps out first before turning back to me, "But, was that really you?"
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