Chapter 103

The bed is soft, and the warm yellow light creates a warm rhythm.

At the end of the day's 'Little Fox Adventures' and back to the safe house, Ikekawa Na felt like a world away.

The silver bracelet that fell to the ground after turning into a fox was loaded by Shuichi Akai, and now it is finally back on his ankle.

The bell rang softly in the bedroom, and he moved a little to the side of the bed, making it easier for the man who already had a slight line on his eyebrows to treat his wound with alcohol.

Because he suddenly turned back into a human being, he forgot how to walk, and as a result, he fell and broke his knee on the cabinet.

How to listen to how embarrassing......

Even he himself was speechless by this reason for being injured and didn't want to speak, but it was rare that Shuichi Akai didn't laugh out loud, just lowered his head and wrapped the gauze seriously.

I don't know how long it took, but before Ikekawana's eyes were about to close, he heard the other party finally speak.

"Alright."

The man closed the medicine box and looked up at him from this position without getting up.

The hairband that tied his hair was removed early, and he wore his regrown black hair as he had done when he was undercover, but with a completely different look than it had then.

The sharp coldness was diluted by age and soft warm light, and the dark green eyes were illuminated in other colors.

Even though there are already slight fine lines at the moment, they do not look tired at all, but add a mature and charming color to this face.

Why is that gentleman so afraid of aging?

Akakawa Nai looked at him, and an inexplicable question suddenly popped up in his mind.

At least he saw Shuichi Akai ten years later, and he didn't feel that the passage of time on the other party was a bad thing.

In addition to this guy who has lived for more than ten years, he has become especially fond of teasing him!

"Do you want to comb your tail?"

The guy who is particularly fond of 'playing tricks' on people now looked up and asked.

Only then did Ikekawa Nai realize that her tail hair was messed up early, especially the tip of the tail, and the fluff after drying was entangled, losing her previous supple appearance.

He nodded, took the comb handed by the other party, and put his tail on his lap and began to comb it little by little.

“…… You. ”

Half-ringing, Ikekawa Nai looked up a little speechlessly, "You've been staring at me since just now, what are you looking at?" ”

There's nothing nice about combing, right?

Without the slightest panic of being discovered, or rather looking at it openly, Akai Shuichi sat on the edge of the bed with a smile, and naturally took the comb and smoothed out the side of his tail that had been combed for a long time.

"Of course, there are many reasons. The most important thing is that I feel like I'm leaving. ”

The tip of the tail slapped lightly on the bed.

"Like a hunch?" Akai Shuichi lowered his eyes and looked at him, "I thought I would go back last night, but I didn't expect to let me stay here for an extra day." ”

He also went out to steal foxes in the gin safe house, something he hadn't done since he was undercover.

Thinking of this, the man's eyes had a faint smile in his eyes.

"I said before that the whole thing was like a miracle to me, and it was." The light dimmed his dark green eyes, "I've always wanted to see you again at this time." ”

Instead of meeting you, I added a limited label like "this time".

Ina, Ikekawa subconsciously looked to the side, as if she would be burned when she looked at each other: "...... Why? ”

"Probably because I've been thinking about those things over and over again since I last saw you. I thought about it a lot, for a long time. ”

Sometimes I think endlessly.

"Miss you." Feeling some ambiguity, he added, "Something about you." ”

Her furry ears twitched twice, and Ikekawa finally looked up at him: "I shouldn't be a character worth exploring all the time." ”

"Maybe it's because of that time?" Probably because of his age, Akai Xiu has always had a tolerant smile in his eyes.

He knew he was referring to the time when he was still undercover.

"Because we were pretending to be lovers?" Ikekawa raised her eyebrows, "With what I know about you, even without me, you'll find your next target." Looking at it this way, I shouldn't be a special choice. ”

"No, except for this. I kept wondering why someone's eyes were like that. ”

Ikekawa Na does have a pair of attractive heterochromatic eyes, but when many people look at him, they only pay attention to the color of those eyes, and never pay attention to the charm in them.

But it just so happened that he had spent many, many hours staring into these eyes.

When he was Ley, it was a pair of suppressed eyes.

Outside, there was the same indifference as the rest of the group, and he spoke with nonchalant sarcasm. But if you find a quiet place and carefully erase these things that are floating on the surface, there will be a lot of pain and snow-like loneliness below.

It's like going through a slow earthquake, and I don't know what is supporting a crumbling building, maybe it will collapse in the next second.

After that, when everything was over, he finally reused his identity as Akai Shuichi and sorted out those thoughts that he didn't have time to sort out when he was fighting against the organization, because when he met Ikekawa Na, it was when the other party had just walked out of that villa.

He spent his first fifteen years in an area of no more than five hundred square meters, circling around exactly the same thing, and after a brief glimpse of the busy streets, he was locked up in an unlit basement, where he worked as a caged bird for two years.

The cold touch fell on the tail of her eyes, and Ikekawa opened her mouth, but she still didn't wave the other party's hand.

"I've always felt that when we meet again, your eyes will look much better than they did then." Shuichi Akai continued, a bit like muttering to himself.

Since he fired that shot and defected from the organization, Ikekawa has gone to the United States.

Unlike Japan, which always wears the same clothes to look gregarious, the United States is an open city.

He went to school, lived there, and then became an FBI agent, and knew that life and colors there were much brighter than in Japan.

A lively summer festival can dye those alien eyes with color, and perhaps after finally stepping out of this land, the pressure under the eyes will recede a lot.

But it's not what I expected.

The Chaolu Winery hurriedly passed by, too far apart for him to see the other party's expressions. When they met at the manor, he was already disguised as Okiya and saw only a pair of eyes that were somewhat dead.

Even the pain is gone.

At least when those emotions were filled, those eyes, even if they were lifeless, belonged to the eyes of the living. But when everything dies down, the feelings are as thin as machines, even a little darker than before.

"It's not at all like I imagined." Shuichi Akai closed his eyes and told the other party what he had peeled off for more than ten years.

A large number of lost memories consume most of the emotions and make people start to become numb.

Originally, the scenery he thought would light up the other party's eyes again, after washing away his memory, became no different from the villa that had not changed for more than ten years.

"So, I've always wanted to see what you're like when you think about those memories again." The elder smiled and rubbed the tail in his hand, "Sure enough, it's the same as I imagined...... Lovely? ”

The tip of the tail slapped his palm twice in dissatisfaction, which caused the other party to laugh.

It's as vivid as I imagined.,It's back to the appearance that once fell into the sea and couldn't help but laugh because of the shame.。

In his world, when the two last met, Ikekawa Na said that the gentleman had taken a lot of things from him, and he had only retrieved his memories.

Now, he's going to retrieve the rest.

Shuichi Akai lowered his eyes.

He originally hoped that the other party would take his lost emotions to look elsewhere, but when he came into contact with those good things, he was deprived of emotional machines.

When the emotions return to the body, I will soon digest the pain of more than 20 years and face the people who brought it.

"You know what." When he spoke again, the man's voice seemed to sigh, "I really want to take you back to my world." ”

Because he knows what will happen after that, knows the ship, and all the future.

It would be nice if you could take him away, just take him to see everything he wants to see, to live the life he wants to live, instead of watching the other person move towards that future again.

When this thought came to his mind, Shuichi Akai himself was a little stunned.

After half a ring, he shook his head and smiled.

I'm afraid that being taken back directly by myself is not what Ikekawa Na wants.

"Going to your world?" Ikekawa Na repeated this sentence, "Don't you suspect that the 'I' in your world is actually just a fake death and escaped? ”

If you bring him back, you will run into it one day.

Hiss, how strange to think.

"Just a guess." Akai Shuichi smiled and said, "Because I still haven't understood whether your final goal is to be free or to make the boss pay." ”

"There doesn't seem to be a difference between the two." Ikekawa choked.

"Difference...... If it's the former, no matter what, fake your death or not, come out and make peace with us as agreed, at least you'll do your best to get out of that collapsed building. ”

After a brief pause, the man continued, "If only the latter ......"

"Are you afraid that after taking revenge on that guy, I will think that I have achieved my goal, and then die generously?" Ikekawa Nai had a strange expression, "I look like a guy who will end his life hastily?" ”

Shuichi Akai was silent for a while.

Maybe it's because the other party's neck can tell at a glance that it's his own scar, or maybe it's because he just fished someone out of the bathtub last night......

He felt that Ikekawa had been particularly himself in some ways.

This is not a reassuring habit.

"I just wondered if I hadn't made it clear in advance."

Shuichi Akai sighed, he reached out and touched the other party's soft hair, his gaze sliding from the side of his face.

Akakawa Na was wearing a nightgown and did not tie her belt, and the hideous bullet through her chest was faintly peeking through the gap.

The man's finger landed on the scar, and for a moment his expression seemed to be stung by something: "I should have told you this."

I just always thought that maybe it would be better to wait until everything was over in the end, but I never thought that maybe in the end, I would lose ......"

“…… What. ”

Ikekawa was stunned for a moment before reaching out and pinching the other party's uneasy fingers.

His skin was stained with hot temperature, and he really felt that this room was stuffy, and he only reacted halfway, and twisted his head away in a little panic.

"Don't run, don't hide. Look at me. ”

Shuichi Akai twisted the other party's face with a little toughness, so that the pair of heterochromatic eyes met his own gaze, "I said...... I love you.

I once said that I could take you away if you wanted, and this promise still counts, don't talk yet. ”

Ikekawa's eyes widened.

He is no stranger to the word 'love', and has even heard it countless times.

The boss often mentions this word, saying that he is his favorite child, and when people in the organization mention him, they will probably also mention the word "the boss's favorite guy".

But...... Why the word is so combined.

It's so strange that it's even a little scary.

Before Ikekawa could ask rhetorically, the man stopped him.

"It's commitment, and I know it's hard for you to understand this, but I'm going to keep teaching you what commitment is, what love is...... If you have the chance. ”

I didn't expect that one day I would say this kind of sour thing that I sneered at when I was young, Akai Xiu smiled, and fine lines appeared in the corners of his eyes, looking mature and attractive.

"Commitment isn't a deal, love isn't control, they're always a one-sided thing, okay? I love you and I promise you that you don't have to give anything. Just choose to accept or reject, and remember that.

When you came across these two words before, you were all listening to the boss talk, although I know it's hard to get you to abandon your previous thoughts......"

Clearly feeling that time was passing little by little, Shuichi Akai was silent for a moment, and suddenly continued without saying a word: "I hope you are ...... Let's go. ”

"Fake your death or not, anyway, it's really free to go, go where no one can find it, instead of burying that guy, but if you don't stick to it in the end."

He took a deep breath and couldn't see clearly in the blurred light and shadow, "This world is actually very good, there are more beautiful things than endless, how much do you know, don't give up in such a hurry." Hold on a little longer, at least ...... Gotta get out of that building. ”

Ikekawa opened her mouth and didn't say anything.

It was a strange sensation running through his chest, and he reached out to hold it down on his chest, feeling like he was having some difficulty breathing.

I don't know how long it took, but he closed his eyes and whispered, "You...... Why do you talk so much when you're old? ”

Shuichi Akai chuckled, his shoulders trembling slightly.

As the laughter faded out, he turned his head, his eyebrows showing a different kind of softness in the light, and his voice was as soft as a sigh: "Let me ...... Hug for a while, right? ”

Many times, Ikekawa's silence generally expressed acquiescence, so he simply stopped waiting for the other person to speak, and reached out to hug him tightly.

The two were so close that he could hear their hearts pounding in each other's chests.

I don't know how long it was, but the person who made this request suddenly spoke.

"Keep a thought."

"Huh?"

Ikekawa Na had his eyes closed, but when he heard this, he felt himself being let go very lightly.

So he opened his eyes and looked up, and he couldn't stop slandering in his heart.

This guy traveled ten years ago, and he actually had to bring some souvenirs back.

Not knowing what he was thinking, Shuichi Akai lowered his head, and because the distance was too close, his hot breath hit the side of his face.

His tied hair was also lowered at this moment, and the black hair of about the same length between the two was intertwined because of the distance, and it was impossible to tell whose it was.

But Akai Shuichi accurately found two strands of hair belonging to each of them from it and tied them together.

Only then did Ikekawa Nai react to the other party's intentions.

He subconsciously ducked to the side, and couldn't help but take a breath as his hair tugged.

Akai Shuichi neatly took out the small scissors in the medicine box and cut off the two strands of hair that the two of them knotted together, turning them into the 'thoughts' he wanted to take away.

"Leave me something."

Akai Shuichi said, his voice a little low, "I met with the police next door a while ago, and a little girl said about this tradition, which is quite interesting. ”

From this angle, Ikekawa can clearly see the fine lines at the corners of the other party's eyes.

The man in his forties rarely seemed to have any obvious mood swings, and after looking down at the two strands of black hair in his hands, his face was a little obviously complicated.

It's like being happy, it's like being sad, and I can't see what it is.

Ikekawa Na's original words were also stuck in her throat, and she was deflated for a while.

It's just a strand of hair, and he has disappeared in the other party's world for ten years, so it's better to let him think about it.

Seeing that he no longer resisted, and the ears on his head fell softly again, Shuichi Akai suddenly sighed and said what he had said before: "I really want to take you back." ”

"Don't even think about it." This time Ikekawa did not hesitate in the slightest.

There was always a feeling that if he wanted to take it away, he could really take it away, and the man smiled and put the strand of hair in his chest pocket, "Maybe it's a good choice?" ”

"Go back with you, and then, be raised at home by you?" The other party sarcastically said mercilessly.

After finishing speaking, Ikekawa Na glanced up at the other party's expression, obviously the sarcastic words just now hit the guy's heart.

This guy!

In a fit of rage, he slapped the other party twice with his furry tail.

Shuichi Akai squeezed out a laugh from his chest, with a charm unique to a mature man, "If you move in, the room will probably be covered with a thick carpet." ”

He didn't even break this guy's fantasy time, which could even be called a little chattering.

"The curtains are changed to gauze, and the sun is more. Work can be concentrated in the first half of the month, and the second half of the month will take you out for a trip. ”

"Do you all have any assumptions about your wife?" Ina, who didn't want to stop him, had a tic-tac-toe on his head, and looked up at each other.

Shuichi Akai just laughed.

If this is the case, then the bed in his apartment should be replaced with a larger and softer material, after all, the other party is very picky about the furnishings of the bed, which can be seen from the fact that the clothes are custom-made fabrics.

I have to find a way to customize the clothes he likes to wear, change the curtains to a more translucent type, let the sunlight into the room, and place a night light with warm light at the head of the bed in the bedroom, which should be used at night.

Maybe he has to learn to cook, or find a housekeeper, after all, his current cooking skills, with the other party's picky personality, should not be able to eat half a bite.

Take it back and hide it.

"Would you like a late-night snack?"

“…… Ay? Ikekawa couldn't help but raise her voice, not figuring out how the topic had come to this.

But I really didn't eat much today.

I had breakfast in a hurry in the morning, and when I came back, I just padded my stomach with the snacks sent by Katori's assistant, and I didn't feel anything just now, but now when I mention supper, I'm suddenly a little hungry.

But why the hell is this topic changing so fast.

As she waited to sit down at the table, Ikekawa didn't even understand how the other party had transitioned from those visions of decorating the room to a late-night snack.

He held his hair for a while, waiting for the man to come out of the kitchen, and then set a bowl of noodles in front of him.

It's a very ordinary noodle, because there are so few ingredients in this place, you can't even garnish it with chopped green onions on top, or nest an egg.

It doesn't look good......

Ikekawa reached for the edge of the bowl, and the temperature came from her cold, numb hand, and stretched to her limbs.

A soft towel fell on his head, and Shuichi Akai stood behind his chair, wiping his still wet hair with a towel.

Without affecting the other party's eating, he gently wiped the ends of the other party's black hair with a towel.

From behind, he saw that Ikekawa was silent for a long time before picking up the chopsticks.

When he picked up a small chopstick of noodles, he leaned over and sniffed it as he had done at a summer festival many years ago, and then put it in his mouth, without making a sound when he sucked the noodles.

"I'm sorry." Ikekawa Na suddenly spoke.

When he turns his back to others, he is more able to say things that are rarely said from him.

After saying that sorry, he smiled, "Maybe this is really something I can do?" Pretend to be dead and leave the place. ”

There are no bonds, no shadow of the past, this is true freedom.

But I can't imagine that in that world, there will be people who still think about themselves for ten years.

It's not that he can't feel Shuichi Akai's emotions, the more he is like this, the more ...... he becomes Don't dare to face each other.

"Really? If so......"

It's not the expected blame, Akai Shuichi lowered his eyes, and in the light, even the fine lines under his eyes looked gentle.

"That's great."

It's quiet.

Ikekawa Na lowered his head and ate the bowl of noodles, only the sound of even breathing came from behind him, he lowered his eyes, I don't know how long it was, and suddenly the sound of a towel falling to the ground suddenly came from behind.

He finished the last bit of noodles and was silent in his chair for a moment before turning his head to look.

A few minutes ago, the moment the hands turned to twelve, the man in this bedroom had disappeared without a trace, not to have appeared in this plane in the first place.

There was a deathly silence in the safe room again, and the light at the dining table stretched his shadow wide.

Ikekawa Nai was stunned for a moment before he remembered the other party's sentence 'eat at least a little bit of vegetables', and he touched the bowl again, and the extension of the bowl had already become cold along with the noodle soup inside, but he withdrew his hand, which was finally a little warmer.

Swallowing the last bite of the vegetable, he pushed away the bowl in front of him.

Why are there such people.

Ikekawa opened her mouth and exhaled, and many faces suddenly flashed in her mind.

Leave Japan, leave all the familiar places, go wherever he wants, and at the same time leave behind all the people he knows now.

This was his original plan, and it was his ultimate goal.

But now, he was suddenly a little reluctant.

(End of chapter)