Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was another sub par, damp, noisy night on the streets of Sotenbori. Majima was dragging his feet to his tiny shit apartment after a hellishly long night at The Grand. He hadn’t made nearly as much as he was hoping to. He had been hoping to pull in a good haul. But it was Sunday night, so everyone probably had already blown through their money for the weekend, making the Caberet just a bit out of their price range. It with the new looming goal of 500 mil that Sagawa had laid down, a slow night meant it would take that much longer to reach it. Majima couldn’t afford slow nights.

He was walking briskly, trying to out pace the dread chasing his heels, but the tourists kept bumping his shoulders and apologizing in sloppy Japanese. And the drunks kept wanting to pick fights. They thankfully gave up when he didn’t even pause to look around at them. Girls dressed in way too small body con dresses waved at him, then, when he turned to look, blinked and quickly looked away when the eyepatch came into sight. That did nothing to improve his mood. He pulled his pack of cigarettes out of his pocket, the smoke filling his lungs helped smooth out his frayed nerves.

he didn’t want to go back to his shit hole of a apartment to have a shits night sleep to start another shit day. Maybe he’d go to his favorite bar and have a few drinks. Hopefully he could get drunk enough to actually sleep the entire night...wouldn’t that be nice. Or maybe he’d go to Gandhara and stroke out his frustrations.

“Well hey tall, dark, and Mysterious. What’s cookin’?”

Majima stopped dead in his tracks. He knew they were talking to him, who the hell else would they be talking to. Everyone that was moving around him were dressed in bright flashy clothes, his black suit stuck out here. So he turned to the sound of the voice, not sure if they were mocking him or not.

He had stopped in front of the narrow mouth of an alley. It was dark, somehow escaping all the bright, glaring neon lights that kept Sotenbori glowing. He peered down it where he thought the voice was coming from, and there, protected from the harsh, radiant lights of Sotenbori, were a small group of people clustered together.

Majima first noticed a small, American woman in a white hoodie that was zipped up rather modestly. She was grinning at him, obviously taking him in appreciatively. She didn’t back down or look away even as he stared at her, trying to get his eyes to adjust to the darkness. Majima thought she was the only one, a strange place for a single American woman to be hanging out, but then the shadows around her began to shift and move, as if becoming agitated, and Majima saw she was actually surrounded by a small group of men dressed in black hoodies. They were all watching him much more carefully than she was. One even darted out a hand to grab her arm when she made to take a step forward out of the alley towards him, leaning forward to whisper in her ear.

Majima tensed, hands balling into fists at his sides. What the hell was this? Was she okay? She didn’t seem worried, only slightly annoyed. His body was tensing for a possible fight, however before he could get too fired up, the woman shook the guy off her. He couldn’t hear what they were saying, but he could tell the little lady was in command of the situation by the way the guys surrounding her all backed up a step and bowed.

She spoke to them quiet enough that Majima couldn’t hear. They were all leaning in to listen almost rapturously. The one that had grabbed her leaned in the closest, bowing while the others kept a respectful distance. Then they were gone. Majima blinked, sure he had missed something. They were all standing there listening to her just moments ago. Where could they have gone? As if he could Spot them Majima’s eye darted around before remembering the American woman. He looked back toward the mouth of the alley and saw she was back to grinning at him, this time quickly stepping into the neon lights to make her way toward him.

Now that the pink and red glare was shining straight on her he could get a better look at her. She was small, maybe just over 5 feet, with round hips and, Majima couldn’t help but notice, a full chest. The zipped up, hooded jacket she wore still managed to compliment Her shape. He forced his eyes upwards. Her hair was blonde, dyed pink in the glow, and shockingly half of her head was cut short, almost shaved, and her eyes caught the lights of the night life. Majima could tell they were blue, but he was sure they were more brilliant under the light of the sun instead of this harsh glare.

He blinked when she stopped in front of him, fluttering her eyelashes. His stomach clenched and he almost didn’t know what to do. He shook himself, standing up to his full height. For some reason she looked even more excited once he was he towering over her.

“Ya make a habit of cat-calling strange men?” He asked. He swore her grin got wider

“Not usually,” Her eyes definitely traveled down before up this time, “only when they look interesting.” She giggled and Majima’s stomach did a flip. Her Japanese was practically flawless, but still clipped and stunted by her American accent.

“My name is Paulina,” she tilted her head up towards the buildings and looked around her dramatically, “and I think I’m lost, I can’t seem to find my hotel.” Majima cocked one of his eyebrows at her, all the while his heart racing with excitement. She didn’t stop smiling at him, even as he tried to look skeptical.

In the end he couldn’t help himself, “where ya staying?”

She giggled and clasped her hands in front of herself excitedly. She told him and he realized she wasn’t very far, but he supposed that wasn’t the point. He agreed to ‘help’ her and they started toward her hotel at a brisk pace. Best not to hang around too long this late at night. It was just asking for trouble. Paulina didn’t seem worried, she kept pace along his long legged stride easily while humming along to a song in her head. She didn’t make much noise when she walked, it was kind of eerie, like she was almost floating along at his side. Majima held out his arm and she looped hers around it. The warmth of her touch reassured him she wasn’t a ghost or something and Majima immediately felt silly for thinking that.

“you didn’t tell me your name.”

“Majima Goro,”

Her hotel was higher end, and Majima raised a brow when he saw it and paused at the steps. Paulina had continued up them and turned around when she noticed he was no longer following her, ‘aren’t you coming up?’

“I thought ya only needed help finding the place?”

She actually stamped her little foot, “I know you didn’t actually believe that.’ She gestured at the front doors, ‘so are you coming up or what?”

Majima smirked, how could he deny her now? He started up the steps and she gave him the most satisfied smile Majima had ever seen on a woman. His heart was pounding in his chest so loudly he swore Paulina could hear it. But if she did hear it she didn’t acknowledge it, much to his relief.

The clerk at the front desk hardly looked up when they walked in and made their way to the elevators. The interior was all marble flooring with plush couches and green plants accenting the place. It was standard hotel stuff, but pretty nice he had to admit.

They rode the elevator up to Paulina’s floor, all the while she had wrapped her arm back around his, holding it close to her body, almost possessively, like she thought he was going to dart off as soon as the elevator doors opened. She had her cheek pressed to his arm, it was kind of sweet, a gesture that was familiar with a long term couple. It was one Majima had never felt before.

They hit her floor and Paulina practically skipped down the hall to her room. When she opened the door she cursed and quickly dove in. Slightly confused, Majima followed to find her quickly gathering pages upon pages of what looked like sketches off the bed. He looked down at the desk to find it equally covered. He tried to make sense of the sketches but to him they were just led scribbles. He could tell they meant something to her, he just couldn’t see where she was going with most of these.

“You an artist?” He asked, coming up behind her to take a look at the ones she was collecting from the bed. They were just more of the same scribbles. One she snatched up as soon as he was looking over her shoulder actually looked nearly finished. It was a sketch of a forest glade with a pool of water in the center. Trees with sweeping branches surrounded the pool. It was a distinct landmark, and Majima wondered where she had seen it.

“oh, yeah I guess.” She placed the pile of paper on the desk with all the others, “I just gotta get the ideas out before I forget them.” She slapped the pile of papers and grinned at him. “Sometimes I still forget what they were supposed to be though.” She looked a little embarrassed so Majima thought he should bring it back around to what they were really there for.

“So ya just bring me up here to show me some art?” He dropped his voice and gave her a sly smile.

Paulina grinned back at him and slipped easily and intimately into his space. Her arms wrapped around him, under his jacket, her fingers fanning out to feel as much under his dress shirt as she could. Paulina was certainly not shy and Majima was loving it. His own hands were running down her sides, exploring the shape of her under her hoodie. His heart was definitely pounding now, he could feel it in his throat. He felt this was moving dizzyingly fast, then felt ridiculous for thinking that. This was a hook up, that’s it, but then Paulina laid her head on his chest, fingers lazily dragging up his abdomen to pull his shirt out of his trousers and undoing the buttons, causing his heart to leap up into his throat. She began tugging him toward the bed, getting his shirt open while sitting down on the bed.

she gasped when she got his shirt open, seeing the full display of his tattoo. He tried not to tense, waiting to see what her reaction was, see her get scared, nervous, something. However, her eyes shown and she reached up to trace the outline of his tattooed nipple. Majima sucked in air through his teeth. She looked almost rapturous, then excited, flicking his nipple with the pad of her finger.

“your turn,” Majima pointed out, feeling his dick twitch in his pants. He wanted to see that hoodie crumpled onto the floor. He reached forward to begin unzipping it, dragging the teeth open, lips twitching into a grin at the first sign of cleavage.

But when she finally did shed the hoodie Majima blink, throat closing almost entirely. She was wearing a tank top under the hoodie, and the first thing Majima noticed were the slashing scars...mostly because they were right above her cleavage, two sweeping upward above each breast, then there was the tattoos. The most apparent one was a cracked white mask sitting on a bed of red roses on her chest, falling down her shoulder, cascading down her bicep. He could see she had some on her back, a glimpse over her shoulder, but when she saw he was staring she leaned back.

he grabbed her shoulders to keep her pulling away any more. “Sorry, sorry, it was just a shock.” He traced the scars on her chest, “Yer just so little, how, why?” He didn’t really know what he wanted to ask. The scars were thick, they had been deep at some point.

She shrugged, “I forgot,” and she whipped her bra over her head and Majima had forgotten what it was he had even been asking in the first place. She gasped delightedly when he pushed her down onto the bed, tugging at his belt, deftly sliding it off his waist in a motion that was way too practiced in Majima’s opinion. He was too occupied with her breasts to worry about her pants at the moment and he leaned down to take one of her nipples his his mouth.

She gasped and bucked up immediately. “They’re sensitive!” She said indignantly. He just grinned around the bud in his mouth and flicked it with his tongue. He held her down with his body, she was squirming and gasping and scrabbling at his back, nails digging into his tattoo. He switched between gently kneading then then sucking each nipple. They really must be sensitive, she couldn’t sit still beneath, and she couldn’t seem to be able to decide between clinging to him and trying to shove his pants down his hips.

Finally she got impatient enough to shove him off her breasts, breathing heavily and looking slightly indignant, “pants,”was all she could pant. He could see her thighs shaking even in her jeans. She had managed to get his pants open and he was pushing out of his briefs. She was reaching for him, fingers tracing his bulge before gently palming him. He groaned and rotated his hips before springing up to quickly kick his slacks off, boxers following closely behind. When he went to kneel back over her on then bed, finally naked and cock hard and twitching, he found she had stripped herself along with him.

he took her in, drank in the sight. She was small, but didn’t look delicate. There were muscles lying under her soft, pale skin. Majima ran his hands up her thighs as he knelt in front of her on the bed. This brought a sigh from Paulina and she laid her head back, stretching languidly under him. The scars on her chest were not her only ones. She had lots, flicking and dashing along her skin. One even looked suspiciously like a bullet hole. He would try to remember to ask about them another time...if there would be another time.

For now he ran his lips down the inside of her thigh, drawing another gasp from her. He closed his eye and continued kissing down until he reached the center of her legs. He had been slightly surprised to see that she shaved everything. He pressed his lips to her clit, kissing it before sucking and giving it a flick with his tongue. Paulina arched her back, legs wrapping around his head to keep him in place and her fingers tugging his hair tie out so that she could dig her hands into his hair, tugging.

Majima’s hands held her waist down to keep her from bucking. She squirmed trying, which just made him dive deeper into herself, pushing his tongue in and swirling it around. The noises that pulled from her had his cock twitching against the sheets. She was already hot and wet, and he could feel her twitching whenever he delved his tongue into her slit. His tongue curled and twisted, causing her to become a shaking mess. She was going to be a tight fit, he could tell even with as wet and ready for him as she was. The thought made his heart pound.

“Please,” Paulina begged, her fingers curling tighter in his hair.

Majima drew away, dragging his lips up the soft skin of her thigh as he pulled back, “Ya ready?” He reached down to tug at his leaking dick, pushing it against her opening, but waiting for her confirmation. When she nodded, he pushed in, grunting and placing his hands on either side of her head. He had been right, it was tight. Her opening was a white hot force that pulled him in, drawing him deeper. He had tried to stop to let her adjust, but her feet pushed into his ass impatiently, so he thrust into the hilt.

He started slow, mostly to keep himself from spending too early, before beginning a punishing pace. Her juices made it easy for him to slid in and out. The sound of their skin slapping together was obscene and Majima loved every second of it. Paulina had wrapped herself entirely around him, her arms around his shoulders and her legs around his hips, drawing him down to his elbows to get closer to her. It was like she couldn’t get enough of him, her forehead pressed his his chest, moaning and mumbling obscenities under her breath.

His own legs began to shake with the strain of the unforgiving pace he was keeping up, but from the way she was twitching and clenching around his dick he thought she was close. Paulina had stopped trying to talk and was now just panting. Majima pounded into her, leaning on one elbow so he cloud reach between them, pressing the pads of his fingers to her clit. After a few strokes she was lifting her hips, grinding into his thrusts desperately. It only took her a few more seconds, then she was crying out, her hips losing all rhythm and stuttering against his thrusts. She became impossibly tighter, causing Majima’s own thrusts to start stuttering.

He pulled out at the last second, stroking his dick to spray his orgasm over her flat stomach. Next time he’d get condoms so he could finish deep inside her. Though he couldn’t deny the sight of her covered in his cum was a pleasant sight. He squeezed the last drop out of his sensitive cock before sitting back on his haunches to admire the sight.

Paulina had laid down limp and sated, a small smile on her lips when he had emptied himself on her. Apparently she liked that. Majima got up on shaky legs and stumbled to the bathroom to retrieve some toilet paper. He cleaned up the drying cum off of her stomach. She let him, stretching and getting comfortable. Majima sat there a few moments, wondering what to do. Would she want him to leave? He thought of his dismal apartment and laid next to her.

She immediately curled into his side, laying her head on his chest and letting out a content sigh. “You can stay here tonight if ya like.”

Had she been reading his mind? The way she said it sounded like she was trying to keep some of her own pride, so maybe they had been thinking the same thing, “Yeah, this place is much nicer than my digs.”

Her eyes were already closed and she seemed to be drifting off quickly. She only hummed in agreement, so Majima just reached to the night stand and turned off the light.

Majima closed his eye and let himself relax. He couldn’t remember the last time he had been so comfortable. Paulina was a real cuddles too, even when she was asleep she pulled herself closer to him, burying her face into the groove of his arm and throwing her leg over his waist. She smelled like Lavender, even as the smell of sex and sweat clung to the air. He wanted a cigarette but didn’t want to get up and disturb her, so he just promised himself a smoke as soon as he got up in the morning.

Looping his arm around her and trying to not think about how the next morning would go, Majima drifted off to sleep, breath slowing in time to hers.

Chapter Text

Majima jolted awake. What the hell? Had he slept through the night? He didn’t remember any nightmares, and he usually remembered waking up in a cold sweat, panting for air and looking desperately around, before remembering he was just stuck in his match box of an apartment....but wait a second...this wasn’t his apartment. It was way too nice. And warm.

Then Majima remembered the previous night. He looked at the other half of the bed. It was empty and for some reason Majima’s heart dropped into his stomach. Where’d she gone? There was the panic again. He bolted out of bed, to do what, he didn’t know. He had no idea where she had gone, but if he could find his pants maybe he could find her. He was combing his wild hair out of his face when he heard a giggle by the door. He whirled around, heart pounding, trying to ignore the relief when he saw Paulina standing by the door, fully dressed, hair still damp from her shower.

“Didn’t mean to wake ya up.” She helped him find his pants and handed him a hair tie, “I gotta get to work for the day.” One of her hands reached up to briefly run her fingers down his jaw, before drawing away quickly when she turned back towards the door. “Feel free to stay here as long as you need. Seems like you could use a comfortable place to stay.”

She had her hand on the door knob and was about to slip out when Majima found his voice, “wait!” He cleared his throat, wondering where his cool went since last night, “ya got a pager?”

There was a moment’s hesitation and Majima’s heart definitely stopped beating, but then a smile pulled at her lips and she gave him her number. He hurriedly wrote it down on one of her scrapped pieces of paper.

Once Paulina had slipped out to do....whatever it was she did for work, Majima decided to take advantage of her hospitality and used her shower to wash up. He didn’t need Sagawa digging into him because of the obvious sex musk. The shower still had water dripping down the walls from Paul’s shower, and he couldn’t help but wish she had waken him up to shower with her. He turned the water onto boiling hot, stepping into the steaming spray and sighing as the water ran down his back.

he opted for the cheap hotel toiletries, not wanting to mess with her personal stuff. The sight of it even made him feel weird. She was here for a long stay, there were full sized bottles of shampoo and body wash lined up along the shelf in the shower. It was a very...domestic sight.

He tried to ignore it, using the soap the hotel provided, but his eyes continually drifted back to the line of her shampoos, scrubs, and body washes. One looked like a fancy bottle of lavender, sugar, body scrub. Irrationally Majima pushed the bottles to one side so that they only took about half of the shelf space, then mentally placed his own shower essentials next hers. He only had three; shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. The shelf wouldn’t be too crowded...

He took a way too long shower, relishing in hot water that lasted more than five minutes. He took his time too, dragging the time before he had to go back to work.

When he finally made it to work he tried to forget about it. Forget about her. It was just a one night stand. A whirlwind night of sex, complete with a walk of shame to work the next morning. Nothing else. But the scrap of paper with her pager number on it felt like it was burning a hole in his pocket. He palmed it when he reached for his pack of cigarettes. He’d have to throw it out. However work swept him up and he never managed to take the time it seemed to get rid of it. He had to rearrange the manager schedule to compensate for one of their floor managers taking some vacation time, then there were new hostesses to train, and Majima had high hopes for a few of them.

Still, images flashed unbidden and very distracting through his thoughts; the way the tattoo on her chest moved as she arched her back, pressing his lips to one of the inked roses as he leaned over her. Golden hair falling out behind her in waves, how soft it was when he ran his fingers through it. Blue eyes boring into his one remaining eye, urging him on, demanding more of him. His chest tightened and suddenly he couldn’t breathe.

“Majima-san?”

Majima nearly jumped out of his skin, he had been staring off into space over the shoulder of the girl he was training. She looked very concerned. “Were you listening?”

Majima grunted and straightened up, “of course, now where were we.”

She was smiling at him. Oh god here we go. “What were you thinking about Majima-san?

“Nothin’ to be worrying about.” He waved his hand as dismissively as he could muster, but her smile did not falter.

She giggled and for some reason it sounded foreboding to Majima. She slid closer to him and spoke in a mock whisper, almost teasingly “was it a girl Manager-san?”

“Hey, I’m supposed to be interviewing you here, ya wouldn’t ask a customer about other girls?” He tried to look stern, but he must have missed the mark, because she didn’t look deterred in the slightest.

Mercifully however she slid back to her previous spot and continued their conversation where they had left off, and Majima really did immerse himself in her cooking hobby, of anything to escape the gutter his mind seemed determined to dwell in.

By the end of the night Majima had thrown his pride out the window and paged her. Was he desperate now? Is this when it all went down hill? He hour his elbows up on the desk in his office and rubbed his temples.

Bzzz bzzz bzzz

Majima blinked, pulling out his pager. 18 - 309. ‘Okay’ then her room number. His heart nearly leapt up his throat and out of his mouth.

He finished up counting up their earning for the night and balanced the books. It had been a better night than the one previous. That was encouraging, hopefully they kept having good nights like these. With the books done and the money counted Majima stood, trying not to acknowledge his excitement as he closed up the club.

-

Why was he hesitating? Majima was standing in front of her hotel room door, his hand raised ready to knock, just standing there unable to do the simple task of rapping on the door. Come on already. He took a deep breath and brought his knuckles down on the wood. He swore his heart was beating audibly now, why was he so nervous? This was no big deal. Then the door was opening and his mind went blank.

Paulina opened the door, dressed only in a bra and a pair of shorts. He barely got to take her in before she was dragging him into her room by his suit jacket.

Soon enough he was pushing her into the mattress, finally getting a good look at the tattoos on her back, two owls sweeping over her shoulder blades. They shifted along the muscles of her back when she braced herself against the bed to push back into him, begging him to go harder, faster, deeper.

He finished on her back, jerking himself to completion and splattering his cum all over the pair of owls that guarded her spine. He swore they looked smug when he squeezed the last drop of his orgasm out. Paulina was panting, lying boneless on the bed. Majima palmed her ass affectionately before going to get a towel to clean her off.

The next morning Majima stirred as soon as Paulina got out of bed. They showered together this time, and Paulina wasted no time lathering him up in her body wash. He was going to reek of lavender. He found it hard to complain when she was grinning up at him, wrapping her arms around his soapy, slippery body. He washed her hair for her, combing the conditioner through with his fingers. It made her hair silk soft, the tangles melting away with each pass of his hands.

After their shower, while Majima was taking his time getting dressed, Paulina dressed in record time, apparently she was behind, but before she left she held something out for Majima. He looked up and blinked. It was a key to her hotel room. Majima took it, a bit hesitant, watching Paulina’s face. She just grinned at him and brushed her fingers under his jaw.

“So you can come any time,” she winked at him, then swept out the door.

Majima looked at the key in his hand. She trusted him that much? He had to admit he knew very little about her, and she knew maybe even less about him. He tucked the key in his breast pocket, deciding on safely ignoring any questions what they were doing brought up. He had other things to worry about

-

“You haven’t been home in a while.”

Majima sighed audibly and looked up from the clubs books he was trying to balance, “what are ya talking about?”

Sagawa was lounging on the couch in the back room. Majima had not been able to guess why he had decided to impose his presence on him while he closed up for the night, but now it seemed like they were finally getting to it. Majima laid down his pen and smoothed a hand over his hair.

“Your apartment, you haven’t been back the past few days”

Majima would need a drink after this conversation. “Tech, so? I haven’t left the city. That apartment’s a shit hole. Maybe I needed a decent bed for a few nights.”

Sagawa chuckled, he always seemed to enjoy Majima’s moxie, “it’s part of your punishment you know.” He straightened and leaned forward, “but that’s fine. I know why you really haven’t been home.”

He leaned back and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it and taking a deep drag. “She’s very pretty, and an American?” He laughed again, “never thought you’d go for the foreign.”

Majima’s jaw flexed. He was being goaded he could feel it. He had no come back so he decided to just play along, “ya, and? I ain’t allowed to have a little fun once in awhile?”

“You seem to like her.” Sagawa had that smile on his face...the one that said Majima should be looking for a threat somewhere. He couldn’t think where there would be a problem for the Omi patriarch, but obviously there was something going on.

“She does a lot of slinking around you know? Slipping around all over the city, not doing much of anything and somehow looks very busy at the same time.” Sagawa stubbed out his cigarette in the crystal ashtray before looking Majima carefully in the face, “got any idea what she’s up to?”

Majima’s back tightened. “Nah, we don’t know each other like that. She does whatever she does and we meet up at night.” Majima picked his pen back up, looking back down at his numbers.

He heard shifting as Sagawa lounged back against the cushions again, “heh, alright Tiger, but we got an eye on that hotel of course, since ya like spending so much time there.”

Majima just grunted his reply. He just wanted to finish crunching these damn numbers.

-

“You’re being watched.” Majima didn’t bother to open his eyes as he said it. They were lying on the hotel bed, naked and sated. His hair was out of its usual tight pony tail and his eye patch was sitting on the night stand. His head was resting on her chest, the rest of his body lying along hers. She seemed to like his weight resting on her. He had given up worrying about crushing her a few nights previous. She pulled him down on top of her every time, maybe she liked the security.

Paul hummed, She was running her fingers languidly through his hair, occasionally tracing her finger tips across his brows and along his jaw. He was practically melting there under the attention.

“I know.” She didn’t sound at all worried. Majima hadn’t figured she would. She didn’t seem like the type to spook easy. “It’s always, like, the same five guys.” He felt her chest rise and fall in a huff. “Amateurs.”

Majima chuckled, “just figured I’d make sure ya knew.”

She brushed the pad of her thumb along his lips, “You gonna tell me why they’re so interested?”

He opened his eye and looked up at her, chin resting between the mounds of her breasts, “it’s a long story.”

“Oh really?” She laughed and nudged him, “they’re watching me!” Her tone was playful at most, and Majima caught himself grinning, despite what the question would bring up.

“Arlight.” He brushed his lips along her skin, making her shudder, “if I tell ya then you gotta tell me something about yourself.”

That made her quiet for a few, very long, seconds. He smile had faltered for a split second. She was thinking about it very carefully before agreeing.

“Oh come on.” Majima raised his head enough to ghost his lips over one of her nipples. She gasped and wriggled under him, giggling, “her askin me a big question, the least ya can do is share a little in return.”

It took her several more seconds to reply, still running her fingers through his hair oddly as she mulled over his conditions. In the quiet moments it took her to decide Majima felt a sudden pang in his chest. He wondered what it would have been like if they had met before, in a world where things hadn’t gone wrong. One where he still had both eyes. Would he have even met her? He sure has hell wouldn’t have been I. Sotenbori. The thought for some reason made his throat close, so he pressed his lips to her skin, relishing in the warmth of her body as it reassured him.

“Alright,” she consented at last.

Majima shook himself from his thoughts. He knew he couldn’t explain everything. It was too much, at least for now. So he parsed through the truth, deciding on what to tell her.

“I got in trouble a while back. Some pretty serious trouble. So I got sent here and those guys baby sit me, make sure I don’t go outside the city.”

“In trouble? With the Yakuza? With your family?”

Majima lifted his head in surprise, “how’d ya know?”

Paulina was staring up at the ceiling, still toying with his hair as she answered, “when I first saw you, one of my...associates told me.”

Majima remembered one of the men in that alley. The one that bent down to whisper in Paul’s ear, “oh.”

“What’d you do?”

“I disobeyed orders.”

Paulina hadn’t looked down from the ceiling, “they must have been some pretty big orders.”

He nudged her, “alright, I told ya somethin, now you gotta tell me something.”

She stayed quiet for a time, probably trying to decide how much to actually tell him. “Well obviously I’m from America...I’m here to help...organize a group of people.”

“Like a cult?”

She laughed and finally looked down at him, fingers moving from his hair to start tracing his jaw line again. “Nah, not like a cult. More like a syndicate.”

He snorted, “really?”

She huffed at him, “yes, really. There are groups of us all over the world.”

“What do you actually do?”

She poked him in the forehead, “these are a lot of questions you know. Your answer left much to be desired.”

He couldn’t help but laugh, “alright, alright! Ya got a point.”

She wrapped her arms around him and he buried his face in her neck, closing his eyes. He heard the click of the bedside lamp plunging them into darkness. Paulina’s breath slowed and deepened within a few short moments. Majima listened to her breathing, mulling over their much too short conversation. It felt wrong somehow, like they were circling around each other, untrusting, but pretending that neither of them were dancing back from the other. It was probably pathetic to see.

Majima rolled off of her, laying instead at her side. They had known each other a week at most, how long did it take to trust another human being? Majima didn’t remember how long it took him to trust Saejima. Had it been months? Years? Or had he trusted him from the moment life had thrown them together? Did Majima even remember what trust felt like?

He found her fingers in the dark and brought them to his lips. This was a mess, and Majima knew damn well he wasn’t going to back away like he should. He loved punishing himself it seemed.

Chapter Text

Majima's gut felt like it was twisting itself into a tight knot, squeezing the life out of him. The Sake in his stomach didn't help much either, curdling inside him as it sloshed around with his quick paced footsteps.

He could do this...he'd been ready to do this for so long, ever since he first took his oath. He knew it was a part of being a Yakuza. Shit he had been ready to do it just a few years ago, eager even to prove himself. But this time it wasn't Shimano who was giving him the order, and anyway he didn't quite look up to the older Yakuza like he used to. He'd been so eager back then, but he was beginning to feel seperate from that younger version of himself. As if they had never been the same person, as if that had been another life entirely.

Could he really do this? Could he really kill someone? Could he have done it when he was that little shit barely out of his teens, gawking up at Shimano following his every beck and call? He clenched his fists, coming to a stop in an alley not far from his apartment. He had to. If this is what it took to get back into the game, then he had to do it. And this was much faster than earning money for the Grand.

He was so caught up he didn't notice a shadow move. He was too focused on trying not to start panting, eyes cast down to the pavement on his way back to his apartment. He'd just go get some rest. He'd need it...

Then the shadow moved in front of him, directly in his path. He started, almost leaping out of his skin. He felt strong eay too tight, and his fists clenched automatically "Goro?" Majima blinked, hands automatically relaxing at the sound of the familiar voice. He shifted so that a light behind him could shine through to illuminate the person in front of him. Paul stood there with her hood up, the peak pulled low to hide her features. He had. ever seen her like that before, so secretive, so guarded. She moved back into his shadow so the light wouldn't blind her. He thought he saw worry there, but it was gone.

"Ya following me?" Majima tried to sound like he was teasing, casual, but even to him it didnt sound right, and Paulina wasn't playing along.

"You alright?" She stood still as a statue, but lowered her hood so he could at least see a little of her face in the ambient light. She had one brow raised up in inquiry. The wrinkles around her brows showing the fading worry lines, her face going smooth again. She must have seen that he wasn't immediately hurt. "You were walking so quickly. And you look like you've seen a ghost."

Majima had been trying to ignore how clammy he felt. He pulled out his cigarettes, sticking one in his mouth and offering Paulina one. She took it, allowing him to light it for her, taking a long drag while she watched him carefully, waiting for an answer.

"Yeah yeah I'm fine. Just some trouble at work. Ya know the real boring stuff." He forced himself to smoke casually instead of sucking down the entire cigarette like he wanted to.

She cocked a brow at him, searched his face, then shrugged. "You're full of shit." She said, and Majima choked on the smoke he had just inhaled. "But it ain't required you tell me." When Majima had composed himself enough to look her in the eye again she stared him down. "But don't you lie to me."

The claminess went away as heat rose up his neck to color his cheeks, he looked away, down and at the ashes that were falling to the ground as he flicked them away, "I'm gonna have to sleep at my joint for a few nights. I got some things I gotta take care of that'll keep me pretty busy." He muttered all this. He couldn't tell her the truth still. This didnt need to involve her.

She nodded, flicking her cigarette down into the wet pavement and crushing it under her shoe. "Alright," he looked up and she was smiling at him. "You can always page me if you wanna come by, but also..." Paulina reached out and took one of his hands in both of hers, "if ya need any help" her thumbs brushed over his knuckles and his chest went tight, but he held fast. He couldnt tell her. She squeezed his hand then let him go.

"Get some rest. You look like you need it."

Majima slept like shit. Of course he did. He had grown accustomed to sleeping beside Paulina most nights in a warm bed and her small framed stuck to his body. He had mostly lain awake, contemplating the work ahead, and how he should go about tracking information on Makoto.

The next morning dawned and he thought the sun might be mocking him. It should be raining and gloomy, not shining and warm for once. The streets would be crowded with excited tourists and people out enjoying a nice day, making his job that much more unbearable. Sagawa had told him to try the telephone clubs, but he'd have to wait closer to evening to get far there. Walking the streets it was then.

He got dressed, dread pulling at his limbs, making them heavy and sluggish. He had to get this done. But he was afraid he wouldn't find anything out tonight. He wanted this over with as soon as possible.

His fears were confirmed to his annoyance. None of the woman who called in sounded even remotely college aged. And he was not going to waste his time vetting every call. He'd just have to become very familiar with the red light district.

It became his regular haunt for the next couple of nights, but he still didn't get very far. Most of the girls that might be even close to fitting a description got scared off as soon as he mentioned Makoto. Or agreed to meet him and flaked, leaving him standing around looking like a fool.

Frustration was just boiling under the surface of his skin. He was considering meeting Komeki at the park to work some of it out. He was just turning away from the harsh pink lights of the red light district to head toward the quiet park when a pair of hands reached out of a dark alley and yanked him into the darkness.

Majima swung his fist, but his knuckles just swished through empty air. He blinked several times, trying to get his eye to adjust to the darkness. He had gotten so used to the always lit streets. But when his eye began to adjust there was no one in front of him. What the hell? He whipped around, staggered a bit.

But then he heard a giggle, and a pair if arms wrapped around his middle, pushing him deeper into the alley. Relief pushed the breath out of his lungs as a flash of blonde hair he caught in the shadows reassured him as to who had accosted him.

"The hell are ya doin?" He scoldedn or tried to scold anyway. Paulina was too busy pushing him against a wall and stroking the inside of his thigh.

"I've missed you." She whispered against his neck, grazing his skin with her teeth. The hand that had been petting his leg began palming him gently through his slacks.

Majima groaned, already straining against his pants, "I can't tell."

Paulina giggled again, palming him a little more roughly, smiling against his neck when he grunted. "Guess I'll have to show you then."

She undid his belt and slipped a hand through his zipper, running her fingers along his already stiff cock. She carefully pulled his length out of his slacks and knelt down in front of him. Majima's breath caught in anticipation. He already had a hand in her hair, getting a careful grip. He wanted to thrust into her mouth and of course Paulina was in no hurry. She looked up at him and smiled, pressing a kiss to his painfully hard dick, dragging her hand up and down his shaft in languid strokes.

Majima moaned, tugging slightly at her hair, "c'mon." He panted shuddering when she lapped at him with her tongue "ahhhh suck it..." he saw her shudder at the sound of his demand and her eyes closed. She took him into her mouth, bobbing her head slowly and taking more and more of him until her nose touched his navel. Majima could feel her swallowing around him and he almost blew his loud right then, but he tugged at her hair and got her to pull back a little. She pulled off him with the sloppiest sound he had ever heard and was panting to catch her breath, hand working him in her mouth's absence.

"How 'bout now?" She practically purred, stroking him much too slowly and looking way too pleased at the sound he made.

"Maybe a little more." Majima tried to sound disinterested, but he was way to breathless to be convincing. Paulina saw straight through him, smiling up at him as she licked at the head of his cock then swirled her tongue around him, careful not to close her mouth around him. Ooohh he'd get her back. She had it coming to her.

Majima tugged at her hair, not too roughly, but enough that she'd notice. "Please..." he was panting now, desperate to cum. He wanted to finish in her mouth so badly...

Paulina mulled his words over for a few more arduous seconds, then wordlessly swallowed him to the hilt again, gagging a little, but then regaining her composure and swallowing around him. Majima's legs buckled and if he hadn't been leaning against a wall he was sure he would have collapsed. "Yes hhaaahhh just like that."

She set a steady pace, bobbing her head up and down messily. She freely let saliva lube his cock for her hands. She was a sloppy head giver and Majima was finding that he loved it. She slipped his balls out if his pants and rolled them carefully. Majima's other hand went to her head as began thrusting shallowly. He was so close...just a bit more.

Then she swallowed him whole again and with a strangled cry Majima came down her throat. As soon as he had stilled her hands went to his hips, holding him in place as she swallowed. She wouldn't release him until she had swallowed the last bit and he began softening in her mouth.

"Fuck." He moaned weakly, scrubbing a hand over his face, "alright I believe ya missed me now."

She giggled and shot up, pressing her still wet lips to his. He could taste his own cum on her tongue, but he kissed her back vigorously, thinking the taste made it that much better.

He went for the button of her jeans, more than ready to pay her back. He swore he was going to finger the life out of her right in this dirty alley when he heard something not quite right...

"No, please! You have to let me in to see my daughter! I just need to talk to her."

They both turned to the far end of the alley startled. That end had been completely quiet when Paulina had pulled them into the shadows, but now an older woman stood there pleading with two people who looked like they were dressed for bed.

Majima was tucking himself back into his pants, already embarrassed even though it didn't look like any of them had seen what had just happened.

Paulina didn't even look phased as she pulled out a cigarette and lit it. But she was staring intently at what was happening, so Majima watched as well. He'd have to get her back later.

"Please, just let my daughter go! Give me my Iori back!" The woman was sounding desperate now. Both Paulina and Majima were inching closer to better listen in. This sounded serious...

"Let her go?" One of the strangely dressed people spoke, a woman. Her voice sounded mechanical, but dreamy and lost as well. "Iori is here with us of our own free will. You make baseless accusations."

The woman wasn't having it. "You took her! She wasn't my Iori when she left. You people did something to her!"

The man spoke up now. His voice was much like his companions, but now had a clear edge of annoyance to it. "If you continue to make these blasphemous assumptions we are afraid that Iori will have to pay with atonement for the sins of the mother."

Majima and Paulina exchanged perplexed looks as the mother gasped in shock. What the hell was going on here?

"We are a peaceful congregation, but sometimes atonement is a necessary evil. Now if you are quite done with these meritless blasphemy we must get back."

And with that they turned away, going into the building the three of them had been standing outside of. Paulina and Majima shrunk back into the shadows, as they had crept quite close by now, but when the two weirdos were gone they stepped out of the alley.

"Should we ah...check on her?" Paulina whispered, looking at the poor lost mother. Majima couldn't stand the look on the poor women's face, so he nodded and approached her.

"Hey ah...we were just passin by here and couldn't help but over hear your conversation with those two screwballs." He looked back at Paulina, rubbing the back of his neck she waved her hands in a 'go on!' Fashion and he turned back to the older woman, who was suddenly looking hopeful, "and we were just wonderin if everything was alright?"

The women's eyes immediately widened hopefully and she leaned toward him with her hands clasped in front of her hopefully. Majima tried to lean away as politely as possible.

"You're just passing by? Not one of them? Maybe you can help then..." she murmured the last part more to herself. Then she looked around as if spooked. "We can't speak here, follow me."

Majima looked back at Paulina who only shrugged unhelpfully, so he followed the older woman to a bench a few blocks away with Paulina trailing slightly behind. The woman sat down and explained to them what was going on.

"Soooo." Majima rubbed the back of his neck. He looked at Paulina whose brows were raised almost incredulous. He elbowed her gently and she shook herself, clearing her face of any expression. "You're daughter joined this cult?"

The woman nodded, dabbing at her face with a napkin, "but it's not just that. They're...doing something to her. She wasn't herself when she left. She was distant and almost...blank! That isn't my Iori." She looked up tearfully at the pair of them. "But you are an outsider, you can join them and get inside. They already know me they won't trust me, but you're a new face!"

"Uuuhhh." Majima really didn't want to get involved with any sort of cult, but he could hardly say no to this mother morning her child. "Of course we'll do it. Can't let an innocent girl like that be taken advantage of. You just wait here. We'll take care if it."

She sobbed her thanks and Majima spun on his heels and marched back to where he had last seen the cultists.

__________

Paulina barreled out of the building and almost tumbled to the ground, laughing so hard she was gripping her stomach, doubled over as she tried to catch her breath between peels of laughter. "His face!" She wheezed, leaning against a wall to support herself. "Man...I barely...held it together in there!" She had to gasped between words she was laughing so hard.

Majima wasn't far behind her with Iori, who looked slightly perplexed at his American companion, but was quickly distracted when her mother ran up and wrapped her in her arms. Majima bowed slightly and joined Paulina.

He had never seen her laugh, and this was bordering on hysteria, but Majima was grinning while she tried to get herself under control. It was infectious, and it had been pretty ridiculous in there.

"You really handed his ass to him on a plate." She was finally standing straight and getting herself under control.

Majima snorted, "he wasn't shit. It was too easy, poor guy." He shrugged and lit a cigarette. As soon as Paulina stopped laughing he'd light one for her too.

She was still giggling, but plucked his from his lips and took a pull before giving it back. "I can't believe ya did their dumb handshake!"

"I had to! They had to believe me!" He took his cigarette back indignantly. "It worked didn't it?"

Paulina couldn't answer, still giggling. Majima checked his watch idly and with a start realized how late it was. He should probably start hitting the phone clubs again...he noticed the giggling had stopped so he looked up to see Paulina watching him.

"Gotta go?" She tried for playfully pouty but just missed the mark. She stepped forward and traced her finger up along the inside of his lapel slowly, probably trying to entice him. He nodded, not thinking it would have been this hard to go their seperate ways this time.

Majima chewed the inside of his lip. Sagawa had been very clear, while he was looking for Makimura he was not to stay anywhere but his apartment, and Majima wasn't about to invite Paulina back to his place...

"I'll page ya." He told her. To his dismay she didn't look up, didn't necessarily look excited either, like she didnt believe he actually would, which hurt, but she didn't say anything and he didn't push it. He did kiss her, pulling her chin up so he could slide their lips together easily. He'd actually had fun, and he wanted more times like this with her. He knew that much.

Turning from her felt physically painful, and it tore at him even more when she didn't try and stop him. She understood, for which he was grateful, but he would be lying if he said he hadn't been hoping she'd reach out for him just one more time.

He turned back around after a few more steps. She was long gone, almost as if she had never been standing there. He didn't see her down the brightly lit street. How did she manage to disappear like that? Majima shook his head, the disappointment creating a very large lump in his throat. He had work to do...he had to remember that.

Chapter Text

Majima was over the moon. He finally had some headway on where to find Makimura and get this whole thing over with. But something had been nagging at him the entire time he was on that date with Akko

It felt wrong, the entire time. Of course he was just doing it because it was a means to an end. Akko had known that too, hell she was doing the same thing, so it wasn't that.

Majima was pretty sure what it was, but admitting that seemed ridiculous in his current situation.

But the entire time he was running around town with Akko, watching her have a blast with him fronting the bill, he kept wishing it were Paul. It made him realize with a sickening twist in his gut, that they had never done anything like that. Then one moment later he remembered that sounded ridiculous. They had started at a one night stand, did they really need to go on dates? They had kind of skipped several steps to get where they were.

Still, though Majima couldn't deny that he kept imagining how different the night would be with her at his side instead.

He hadn't seen her for several days. He had paged her but all she had replied with was 'busy'. Busy with what he didn't know. He rolled his pager around in his hand, debating what he wanted to do. Would she even answer him? He supposed if he never tried he'd never know. So quickly, before he could think to much about it, he paged her the number to the phone in his office at the Grand and buried himself into balancing the books for the evening.

It was hell, trying to ignore each minute of silence that passed. He could almost feel each second in a tangible way, the silence pressing against his ears like a physical weight. It was almost too much, he wasn't even writing anymore, just staring down at the page in front of him trying now to think about it. She was busy. She had things to do. Maybe she didn't have her pager on her.

He knew he sounded like a fool trying to rationalize to himself, but his heart thumping in his chest was persistent, not to be ignored. He checked his watch and almost choked when he saw it had only been half an hour. He was being stupid. What was he a high school girl stressing over a crush?

He berated himself silently, shoving his nose back into the books and making himself work. Either she called or she didn't. It wasn't doing him any good fretting over it. He turned away from the phone, pen lowering to paper time and time again while he dutifully ignored it.

In fact he got at good at ignoring it that when it rang some time later he nearly leapt out of his skin at the sudden noise, then he remembered why it could be ringing and he scrambled to pull himself together and yanked the phone to his ear.
"H-hello?" He cleared his throat, embarrassment making the back of his neck burn hot. "Hello?" He said more firmly.
"Hey."

Majima physically slumped under the relief at the sound of her voice. She sounded preoccupied, distant. It bugged him but he tried to ignore it. If she was uninterested she would turn him down, at least then he'd know clearly how she felt and he could move on. It made sense but his heart still squeezed painfully and he choked on his tongue before pushing through.

"Hey uh, sorry to bother ya, I know you're busy doin'...well whatever it is you do."
She giggled and his heart stuttered in his chest. Gods help him he'd missed that sound.

He smiled, confidence growing with her laugh. She really must of been busy. "Anyway I was wonderin...maybe tomorrow night ya could meet me here, at the Grand. We could go get dinner, maybe hit the disco?"

There was a painfully long, horrible pause directly after that. Majima swore an entire minute dragged by torturously. He almost looked at his watch to count down that seconds. Oh Gods why wasn't she answering?" He had the irrational urge to just slam the phone back down on the dock, go home, and just forget he had ever done this. The heat was growing up the back of his neck, making the hairs stand up. He could feel each second go by like he was watching the sands of time trickle down. Just pull the phone from his ear and slam it down...Abort Abort!

"Like...a date?"

The breath Majima had been holding left him in a whoosh of air. If Paulina heard it, which she must have, she graciously ignored it, waiting patiently for his answer.

"Uh yeah...yeah like a date."

Another pause. Majima was considering aborting again. He thought he could hear her rejection like a grown man if it came but he was already pulling phone away from his face, his body preparing for retreat when he heard a tentative reply.
"Um...o-okay yeah. That sounds good.”

Majima nearly smacked himself in the face with the receiver he got so excited. Had she sounded nervous? That was so unlike her.

"But don't really have anything to...like wear on a date." She sounded very unsure, it was weird. He'd never heard her hesitate.

"T-that's okay, I'll buy ya something nice, leave it at your hotel room for ya as a little surprise. How's that sound?" He was chewing one of his fingernails in horrible down to the skin.

"Oh yeah," she sounded more confident now, and Majima could just imagine the smirk on her face, "I look good in red."

Majima's heart nearly stopped dead in his chest. "I'll find ya somethin' nice." He promised. He honestly couldn't wait to get shopping. He bet she looked amazing in red.

His excitement made the next day absolutely drag. His heart would not stop pounding in his chest he was so excited. He had rushed out the previous night and found what he thought would be the perfect dress. It was hard to find something that wasn't sparkeling with sequins or a shimmering material. He couldn't see her in any of the garish body con dresses that were popular right now. But La Merch had a very pretty dress with lace accents he thought would suit her perfectly. He also threw in heels and a necklace to match.

It was hard not to stay behind at her hotel. The smell of her was intoxicating after only a few days of going without. And the damn bed just looked so comfortable...but he had stopped to drop his gifts off in the morning for a reason. He knew she wouldn't be there and his duties at the Grand forced him to leave the comfort he found there. Now he just had to make it until that night...

Commence the agonizing wait with him checking his watch every few minutes, as if that made time go any faster. He knew he was absent most of the time, giving only vague answers go questions and half hearted greetings to clients. Some Lord of the Night he was tonight, maybe he should just wait in the mangers office for her to arrive. At least then he wouldn't be able to obssevily watch the doors.

Only now he had a huge clock staring him in the face. Were the seconds going by more slowly? Majima couldn't tear his eyes away from the hands making their sluggish way across the white face. Each second that ticked by was audible in the most oppressing way possible. It only took a few rotations of the seconds hand to make it as round the clock for Majima to give up on pretending to be calm and to start pacing around the room. To his frustration he could still hear the ticking of the clock over the soft footfalls of his shoes on the carpet.

His heart was pounding so hard he could feel it beating against his ribs, ready to break out and make a run for it. Swallowing seemed difficult and all of a sudden he was dreading leaving the room. What if she didn't show up? What if he went out there and didn't spot her and she just watched him looking for her like a fool? Every horrible scenario ran through his thoughts all at once and a distinct panic was rising up his throat.

Automatically his head turned to check the clock and with a horrible start he realized it was 5 minutes passed when she was supposed to be there. Majima sucked in his panic, smoothing his hands over his jacket before straightening his bow tie. Now was the time to find out.

He left the office, drawing himself up to look as dignified as possible, and not like he had just been silently freaking out, then made his way down the staircase to the show floor.

Majima looked out over the tables as he descended and felt his palms begin to sweat. A little blonde head was easy to spot in the sea of dark hair. His staff had sat her in the very front, right in front of the band and perfect for his grand entrance.
As he walked down the main isle a few of his girls gave him little smirks and giggles. There was no way they had missed Paulina being seated. He tried not to smile proudly. He had to keep his face cool, be the manager, the lord of the night...

When he stopped in front of Paulina's table he almost fell apart at the sight.

Paulina looked radiant in the dress he had chosen, and she had been very right, she looked stunning in red. The color complimented her light complexion and shimmering hair, almost making her glow. And the cut of it hugged her body in just the right ways, and the half of her hair that was long fell down in waves of gold, flowing past her shoulder. The necklace he bought for her settled neatly against her chest, sparkling and winking at him under the warm lights of the club.

Paulina hadn't noticed him immediately, she was talking and giggling with the hostess they had sat her with, a glass of champagne in her hand. But when Majima bowed low in greeting she turned. He swore he heard a little gasp as he straightened. She had never seen him in his full tux before. He reached a hand out for her to take and she slid her fingers into his without hesitation, blue eyes wide. Was there a hint of pink blooming on her cheeks? He swept her to the dance floor, not allowing her to hesitate. Now that she was here and he held her his anxiety was gone. Majima was riding high and was determined to bring her up with him.

Paulina was already giggling breathlessly, eyes darting around before he spun her around the dance floor. Her little hands shook in his and she was definitely pink in the face now. The band had begun playing a slow song for them to dance to as soon has they had stepped out on the floor. Majima wrapped an arm around Paulina's waist guiding her in the dance and drawing her attention only to him.

"You look amazin'." Majima said low enough so that only she would hear.
The shade of pink deepened to a red, "you picked out a good dress." She murmured as he spun her, making the bottom of said dress flare out.

She was a good dancer, keeping up with him somewhat effortlessly. He could tell she didn't usually dance like this though, as she relied heavily on following his lead. He should take her to the disco and see her let loose. For now he swept her along to the music, silent for the most part, just wanting to enjoy the moment.

When the song ended Majima brushed some of Paulina's hair out of her face, "ya ready to blow this joint?"

She made a 'snrrk' noise, then dissolved into giggles. "Sure, where to now?"

Majima wrapped an arm around her shoulders, as they walked out they got a small round of applause, and Majima caught more of his girls giving him very significant looks. He ignored that. "Oh don't you worry, I have plenty of ideas for our night. But first dinner. You like Sushi?"

Paulina wrapped both of her hands around one of his, her stride falling in line with his effortlessly, "I've not had very much, I usually eat stuff that's quick." She squeezed his hand, "but I've always wanted to try it."

"Then I'll take ya to the best sushi joint in town."

He took her to Komian as he was becoming good friends with the chef there. It was also small and quiet, something he thought Paulina might prefer in a restaurant.

"You get whatever you like," he handed her the menu, but soon realized how out of her depth she was when she just blinked at the food listed. Her brows pushed up at the middle in uncertainty and her teeth worried her bottom lip. He took in the sight, thinking back to all the time he's spent with her before this. Majima knew her to be demanding and pushy, at least in bed. Her fingers digging into the meat of his thigh while she told him what she wanted. Here now, trying to order food she said nothing, too afraid to take a guess at what she might like.

Majima's hand darted out to take the menu when her teeth started chewing her lip, "or I'll get us a selection hm?" She looked so relieved Majima's stomach did a weird flop. He wished he knew how to comfort her, but he didn't want to just fall back into their old routine. He was determined to see this through.

When the food arrived Majima pointed with his chopsticks, "that's my favorite there."

Paulina's nose immediately crinkled at the sight of the dark eel resting stark against the rice. "What is that?"

"Eel!" He lifted a piece to his mouth and took a generous bite, leaving just small bit, which he offered to Paulina, "come on, just give it a try." He grinned at her when she looked up skeptically, but she opened her mouth to let him place the bite on her tongue.

Paulina chewed cautiously for a few seconds, then blinked and let out an "mmm!" Before swallowing, "it's good." She admitted, taking a whole piece for herself with her chopsticks.

They repeated the process with everything else he had ordered. Majima learned that Paulina liked anything with crab, devouring those pieces quickly and bouncing a little when she chewed. She was indifferent to the salmon, though when she dipped it into soy sauce she seemed to like it marginally more. Tuna, however turned out to be one of her hard lines. She swallowed the one small bite Majima gave her and gave a small shake of her head. "No," so Majima ate all the tuna and pushed the crab towards her.

When they left she let out a sigh. Her face was slightly flushed from the Sake and she looked much more relaxed on a full stomach, "that was good," she wrapped her arms around one of his, nuzzling her cheek against his sleeve, "thank you."

Majima felt the heat rise in his own cheeks and cleared his throat, he was used to her being cuddly, but that was usually in a sweaty afterglow, "'course, but I hope ya ain't ready to call it a night, I had a lot planned for us." His hand found one of hers and gave it a squeeze. "How bout the arcade next?"

He felt somewhat bad about taking her out on a carbon copy date of the one he had with Akko, but that one had felt wrong, and he had wished it had been Paulina the whole time. He didn't know what he hoped to accomplish, however he already felt better, being there with her.

"That sounds great, I love arcade games." Paulina perked up, already looking in the direction of the Sega arcade. That was news to Majima, who suddenly realized he knew next to nothing about this woman besides what got her off and that she liked to draw. So he was excited to see her enjoy something.

However Majima paused just outside the arcade, his sudden stop causing Paulina to bump into him.

"Oh...what's wrong?" Paulina's eyes followed his line of sight and she understood. "You think she's okay?"

A girl stood in front of the arcade, just gazing at the doors looking quite forlorn. She could not have been older than 9, way to young to look this sad about an arcade. Majima looked at Paulina, who looked just as confused and concerned as he did.
He walked up to the little girl, Paulina sticking close behind him, "Hey kiddo, ya lost? Where's your Mom?" He looked around for an adult that might be a parent, but the girl appeared to be by herself, "this ain't exactly a great place for a scamp on their own."
The little girl looked at him, but didn't say anything, then went back to staring at the flashing lights of the games through the glass doors.

"Why don't you go in?" Paulina asked in a gentle voice Majima didn't even know she was capable of, "are you nervous?"

The girl shook her head, "no, I don't really like video games."

"Then why are ya standing and gaping in front of an arcade?" Majima asked.

Paulina elbowed him gently in the ribs, giving him a little scowl. He felt bad when the girls head lowered, his hand rubbing the back of his neck, "ah I mean. It just ain't safe is all. What's got ya standing here?"

The little girl pointed at the UFO catchers that were visible through the glass doors. "I really want a red Chestnut the Squirrel doll from one of those, but I'm no good at them."

"Oh," Majima didn't really know how to respond. He wasn't typically the best at talking with kids, "well can't your dad buy you one?"

"Don't have a dad," the girl was staring down at her feet again and Majima wanted to sink into the ground.

Paulina was reaching into her purse, "practice makes perfect you know," she held out some coins for the little girl. "Why don't you give it a try."

But she shook her head, "no, but thank you. I'm hopeless at them."

Paulina looked a little disappointed as she put her coins back in her purse. Majima's heart tugged.

"Well you should scamper on home. It ain't safe to be out here by your lonesome. I'm sure your mom’s probably worried." Majima nudged Paulina towards the door. He felt awkward all of a sudden. He really didn't know how to handle kids.

"We should win her that doll." Paulina said, tugging at Majima's arm. She was already reaching back into her purse for the coins she had offered the little girl.

Majima pulled her hand away, stroking her knuckles with his thumb. "Hey I thought I said tonight was my treat." He pulled out his own 100 yen coin and pushed it into the machine. It sang to life, almost as if it were excited someone had been a big enough sucker to try for one of the prizes. "Besides, I'm a pro at these."

Paulina cocked an eyebrow at him, "aren't these rigged to keep people from bein' pros?"

He tried not to look too cocky, "maybe a little, but ya gotta know just how to work em." Majima nodded at the glass, "watch and learn." She definitely rolled her eyes at him then.

The red squirrel was of course crammed in the back. The first crane drop Majima just managed to knock it over. Paulina giggled at his side, "you almost had it!"

Majima huffed, "let me focus!" She laughed harder at his side as he pushed the button for the second crane drop. With a smug smirk he watched the squirell rise into the air, dangling by its tail, swinging precariously before dropping into the chute. "Ha!"
He proudly presented the doll to Paulina. Her eyes were lit up and he thought he had never seen a wider smile on her face.

"You did it!" She held the squirell out in front of her. "She'll be so happy!" She seemed ready to leave right then, but Majima nodded his head at the machine again.

"Hey I got one more drop. Pick anyone you like and I bet I can get it for ya!"
He should have known he was in for a challenge with her grin turned into a little smirk.

"That one, the big round one!" She pointed at the biggest, fattest, bun-chan trapped behind the glass. Paulina blinked up at him through her lashes, "please?"

Majima swallowed audibly, "'course!" He eyed the things position, leaned this way and that, then easy...gently moved the crane. He'd have to get it around its little hat. That was the only way. His heart stopped when the claw lowered. He worried he had over shot how far back he needed to go, Paulina giggled all the while behind him, watching him live to regret his hubris. So close, just grip the stupid little hat! To Majima's immense relief and surprise the claw hooked around the brim and lifted the plump bun-chan into the air.

Paulina stopped giggling, and Majima watched with baited breath as it swung precariously over to the prize shoot. It stayed locked in the claws of the crane until it was released. With triumph sing through his veins Majima tried not to look to smug when he knelt and pulled the stuffed toy out. However when he turned to hold out his prize to her, he found Paulina a nearly glowing shade of pink in the face. He blinked, "for you." He said stupidly.

Her hands shook slightly when she reached out to take it, pulling the bird close to her chest and

squeezing it tight. "Thank you." She was quiet all of a sudden, looking down at the floor.

Majima looked at the two prizes clutched to her chest. Why was she so flustered? Had she not actually expected him to also be able to win her a prize? He'd have wasted all his coins to get her that dumb bun-chan if she had really wanted it. She had to know that right?

He brushed her arm to get her attention, "eh come on. Let's go give that girl her new doll."

Outside they found the doll girl had indeed bit moved, but now she wasn't alone. Majima's fists were already clenching when he saw the two thugs. Oh here they go...
"Don't wanna. Leave me alone!" The little girl was backing away, scared, but putting on a brave face.

"This fuckin' brat." Muttered the smaller of the two thugs, who gestured at the clear muscle of the pair, "you're coming with us."

Majima and Paulina swiftly moved to intercept. Paulina had tucked the dolls under one arm while the hand that was free slashed out, clawing at the man's hand before snaking around the little girl and pulling her away.

The thug hissed and drew his hand back. Her nails had managed to scratch him pretty good, even managing to draw blood. Majima was slightly shocked he had never seen her so serious before. Paulina was glaring with her arm protectively shielding the little girl.

"What'd I tell ya," Majima tried to go for casually reassuring. He wasn't worried about these two lame butt balls. He'd take care of them easily, but seeing how scared the little girl was had shaken him up a bit. "This town ain't safe. It's full of scum bags." He said this last bit with a very pointed grimace.

"Who you callin' crumbs? You'll pay for that!"

The obvious muscle swung first and Majima darted out of the way of the fist, sweeping a kickat the guy's feet and landing him on his back. The guy fell like a ton of bricks and was stuck trying to get the air back into his lungs, which let Majima lay the smaller of the two out flat with a couple of square punches to the face. The guy barely knew how to hold his fists up. Too easy.

But as soon as he had the brains of the operation laid out Muscle was getting back up. He tried to rush Majima, but the guy was too lumbering and slow. Majima quick stepped out of the way easily, getting behind the guy to take him down easily with a swift kick to the back of the head.

In no time at all the two were groaning on the ground, "we're sorry! Shit man just stop hitting us!"

Majima took another step towards them and growled, sending the two running off crying out in fear. Majima snorted. That's what he thought...pair of two bit punks. He turned around to check on his two girls to see Paulina smiling at him, eyes shining. He supposed he had put on quite the show.

"Thank you mister!" Majimq blinked down at the little girl who was grinning up at him.

"Next time ya oughtta listen to my advice." He said awkwardly, scratching at the back of his neck.

"He won this for you too." Paulina looked like she was enjoying his discomfort way too much as she handed off the squirell doll to the girl's delighted scream.

"Thank you sir! I've never got gifts from anyone but my mom before!" She danced on the spot, holding the doll tight against her chest. Majima's face grew a little warm and he looked away down the street.

"Yeah, no problem. Now run home you hear?"

"Okay sir! See you later!" And she was gone, overjoyed to have the toy she had been pining over.

Majima turned to Paulina, ready to take her to the disco and continue their date, but he found her staring off after the little girl, a smile fixed on her lips. It had really felt good to make that little girl's night that's for sure, and Majima could see that on Paulina's face too.

Briefly, like a blink and you miss it moment, Majima imagined a little girl with skin as light as Paulina's, and hair as dark as his, holding that Chestnut the Squirell doll and grinning up at them. The thought startled Majima for some reason, and he shook his head, trying to clear his mind.

Majima cleared his throat, drawing Paulina's attention back, "ya think that Bun-chan can dance?"

Paulina looked up confused, eyes moving from the end of the street to his face slowly, as if coming out of a slight trancr "dance?"

Majima grinned, "yeah, you wanna go to the disco? Ya can check out my moves!" He spun in place for her, just to show off a little, and she laughed. He knew that'd work. "Come on, let's dance." He said, taking her hand and sweeping her playfully down the street.

"I'm so sorry sir, but we cannot allow her entrance in here."

Majima blinked in disbelief as the man at the entrance of Maharaja bowed low in apology. He felt his heart stutter before coming to a stop in his chest, then revving up with adrenaline within the next few seconds. "What do you mean? Why not?" Just beyond the doors the music was pounding, flashing lights making the dresses of the girls dancing flash and glitter. He couldn't turn around and see what Paulina's face looked like. Majima might just lose his cool, and he didn't want to completely ruin the night.

Again the man bowed, "sir...her uh...well her tattoos..."

Majima had to turn to look at her then. He had almost forgotten. Thankfully Paulina didn't look distraught, but the tattoos on her chest stood out vibrantly against her pale skin. Majima could have slapped himself. The big owls on her back would also be visible. How could he forget those? He turned back to the guy still at a slight bow.

"Look she's American. It ain't like that there. They aren't...they don't mean..." he was stumbling over his words and the guy didn't raise out of his bow. Majima began to puff up, getting angry. It was becoming apparent people were starting to notice. He could see them exchanging looks, pointing. Majima stepped to shield Paulina from view. He hated how worried they looked. He wasn't sure Paulina was harmless, but he knew that tattoos didn't mean the same thing they meant in Japan.

He opened his mouth, puffing up in anger. He was about to let a torrent loose when Paulina's hands wrapped around his arm. "It's okay Goro, let's just go." Her eyes skittered over the dance floor. "We can go somewhere else." The disco lights shined in her face, reflected in her blue eyes. Majima could clearly see she wanted on that dance floor, but she kept tugging at hand.

People were looking now, even pointing. Majima kept Paulina behind him, trying to block her from the stares. He could hear her breathing picking up, and the tugging on his hand became more urgent. Outta here...they had to get out of there.

"Fine." He growled at the man still bowing. Once outside Majima could hear Paulina sucking in relieved breaths.

He held her hand as they walked in silence. The Bun-chan he had given her tucked protectively under her other arm. He didn't know what to do now his last plans for the night dashed. He felt a lump in his throat when he thought about the way everyone had been staring at Paulina, gawking at her. She had kept her cool, but by the way her hand still clenched and clenched rhythmically in his let him know it had gotten to her to.

He walked her idly to Iwao Bridge. By knowing was late, even easing into the next day. The only people out walking under the night sky and the glare of the lights were those too drunk to find their way to their hotel or college girls with way too much energy. He leaned against the side of bridge and watched the river down below. Paulina slide in next to him, shifting close to him, her side pressing into his. The warmth from his body seemed to calm her. He hadn't realized her body was stiff until she relaxed against him, laying her head against his shoulder.

Majima could smell the lavender of her shampoo. For some reason if made him feel...a little home sick? He pressed his lips to the top of her head, breathing it in. Paulina melted completely into him, letting out a breath he hadn't know she was holding.

"I'm sorry about the disco." He murmured, surprised by the sudden lump in his throat. He tried to tell himself the rest of the night went perfectly. Just that one thing...
"No it's fine...I'm pretty used to it. If it's not my tattoos sometimes it's just that I'm American."

She didn't sound her or upset. Just matter of fact, like it didn't matter. She pulled away, little fingers reaching up to tug at his bow tie. "Why don't you come back to my room with me?" Paulina looked around at the buildings surrounding them much like she did when they had first met, "I'm lost." She pouted, pushing her lower lip out at him.

Majima was definitely chocking on that lump now. "I-I can't I..."

Suddenly he felt panic push that lump down into his stomach like a lead ball, her eyes were glazing over and she was pulling away, turning from him as she did so, almost letting the java finch plush fall to the ground as she did. He grabbed her forearms, pulling her back into him. "No don't!" He gasped, burying his face in the top of her head. His heart hammered in his chest, the panic threatening. He'd had her, he couldn't let her close him off now.

"Just come back with me." Her voice was gruff and her hands fisted in his jacket. "We don't gotta do anything...I just-I just need to wake up next to you again." Her shoulders shook once and Majima was too afraid to see if it had been a sob or not.
He was already rationalizing it to himself. Sagawa would be angry...but if he just made sure Makimura was dead before facing the old yakuza again...maybe he'd over look this. Besides, he wanted what she wanted. He could hear it in her voice.

I sleep better when I’m next to you.

"Alright," he agreed, combing a set of fingers through her golden hair. "I'll help ya find your hotel again." He tried for playfully, but his voice was a little to wobbly.
She looked up at him then, and the wind was almost knocked out of him. Her eyes shined with barely contained tears as and her smile trembled at the ends. "Thank you." She whispered.

Majima didn't answer, instead he lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers. He heard and felt her sigh into him, body relaxing again. The hand that wasn’t busy clutching the dumb stuffed toy he had won her was against his jaw line, holding him there while she deepened the kiss, pushing her tongue into his mouth. She still tasted like the Sake they had drank earlier. That mixed with her lavender smell drew Majima in until he needed to come up for air. He cupped her cheeks in his hands, thumbs brushing over her skin to wipe away a set of tears that had managed to spill over and betray her.

“Come on,” he took her hand in his, “let’s get back and get was sleep we can.”

Wordlessly she wrapped her arm fully around his, pressing in as close as she could while still being able to walk, and he led the way back to her hotel.

Chapter Text

Majima closed the heavy doors to the storage unit as silently as he could, turning his back on them after making sure they were locked securely. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. It was supposed to be simple. An easy way back into the family life for him. All he had to do was off one measly person, compared to what he had been ready to do just a few years ago it should have been a cake walk.

He hadn’t thought the one measly person would turn out to be a small, defenseless blind girl just trying to live her life in Sotenbori.

Majima told himself that locking the unit was to keep others out, not her in, and that it was the safest option. He felt bad watching her sneeze and cough when the dust was stirred up, but this was the safest option in a town crawling with Sagawa’s spies. Yamagata had really saved his neck by letting him use the space behind Odyssey, and Majima was sure the other man would not let him forget it. But that was at the bottom of his priority list at that moment.
Majima’s hand reached into his pocket and thumbed his pager. He could page her…she could help. Majima knew next to nothing about Paulina, but something he couldn’t explain told him that she could help. He just had to tell her everything…That somehow seemed the hardest part of all this. But he couldn’t help it, he wanted her.

He pulled his pager from his pocket and forced his thumb to send a quick message before he could over think it, simply sending her the word ‘arcade’, hoping she would understand and then setting off there himself, chain smoking cigarettes as he walked.

When he got to the SEGA arcade it was empty. Well empty of her, which was all that mattered to him at this point, all other faces were just a blur, and the voices around him were muffled, as if he were under water. The forms that passed him were vague and fuzzy around the edges, almost like ghosts. Majima tried to swallow down the panic that rose up his throat like sharp bile. Maybe he had just beaten her here.

Majima turned around to head back out the door, and as he stepped through crashed directly into her. She must have been following closely behind him. The relief was horrifyingly immense as he felt the blood rush back into his limbs. He wrapped his arms around her, steadying her as she stumbled back from the collision.

As soon as she was steady on her feet, Paulina’s eyes darted around the arcade quickly before snapped back to him, “is everything alright?” She whispered it so quietly Majima almost didn’t catch it, and suddenly his throat was closing from the panic that had been threatening him all day.

“I messed up.” He had to ground the words out around the lump in his throat. Paulina’s eyes skittered around the arcade again, they had been standing in the middle of it for too long, he could see the strain in her eyes as the people around them started to take notice.

“Follow me,” and she whipped around, grabbing his hand and leading him out of the arcade. Majima allowed himself to be dragged out of there, just trying to trust someone else for once.

“I’m watched,” He said as an afterthought, trying not to let his eyes dart around them.

“I know,” She replied, not pausing as she dipped into a narrow alley. She began weaving them in and out of the streets an allies, even at one point shoving him through a tight space between two buildings. He was sure they had even doubled back a few times, but he had to put his trust in her. They eventually made it to the outskirts of Sotenbori, and Majima’s skin crawled. Sagawa would not have been happy if he knew that Majima was straining this far on his leash, but they went no further. Instead, Paulina lead his down another cluster of buildings to one that looked like it had been abandoned for years. How was that even possible? How had it not been snatched up and turned into some sort of bar or gambling hall? Yet it stood here, tucked behind buildings that had been bought out, somehow protected and safely abandoned. It wasn’t even more than two stories tall; it was such a bizarre sight Majima was uneasy just at the sight.

But Paulina headed straight in with no hesitation, taking Majima with her whether he liked it or not. Inside looked about what you would expect it to look like by the outside. A boring, stately office that now resembled a ghost town, probably chased out when Sotenbori descended into a red-light district. Some chairs and desks remained, now covered in thick layers of dust and scattered around the room, some were tipped over with their drawers ripped out and strewn all over the floor. Looters probably.
Paulina lead him to a back room that looked just as unremarkable as the previous one, that was until Paulina knelt down and hooked a loop sticking up with her finger and pulled, revealing a trap door that had been seamlessly concealed in the laminate flooring. Majima looked down into the newly revealed hatch, not sure if he could handle any more surprises for the day. A set of stairs led down into a surprisingly well-lit cellar. He looked back at Paulina, who was fiddling with the underside of the hatch.
She gestured for him to go first, “go on, I have to make sure the loop it hidden again.”

So, he went down first, trying to ignore his spinning head. He had a sneaking suspicion that things were only going to get weirder from here, so he just took the steps one foot at a time and waited for Paulina at the bottom. There was nothing down there except for another door that looked oddly new. It was made of a thick metal and had a keypad above the handle. What in the hell…

Thankfully Paulina came down not far behind him, punched in a series of numbers that Majima missed and opened the door. Majima had been right, things definitely got weirder. When the heavy door swung open it revealed a busy office, Majima stepped in after Paulina, his mouth hanging open as he took it all in. They were in a large room with desks crammed into it, almost like a police precinct you might see on tv. People sat pouring over stacks of paperwork, or stood conversing with one another, going over maps. There was a map of Sotenbori hanging on the wall with red pins stuck into it in what seemed like a random pattern. Majima knew it meant something to them, but he had no idea what. Some of the people milling about had noticed their arrival and were now watching him as well. It made Majima uneasy, especially since most of them wore hoods that hung low over their eyes, obscuring most of their face.

“Don’t start, Masahiro.”

Majima blinked at Paulina’s tone and turned to see who she was talking to. With all the activity in the room at large, Majima had missed the hefty desk at the head of the room. Behind it a man sat with his arms crossed, staring Paulina down. He was broad, and even though he was sitting, Majima could tell he would be tall when he stood. He was clean cut, his fade meticulously shaved, leading up to long hair that was swept back and carefully styled. He had thick rimmed glasses framing his face that paired well with his thick, furrowing brows. He seemed very no nonsense and did not back down from Paulina’s stare. Then his eyes flicked over to Majima, causing him to start sharply.
They were blue. He was very much Japanese, but his eyes were a crisp, bright shade of blue, not unlike Paulina’s.

The man…Masahiro? Took Majima in before returning his gaze to Paulina, “We’ll be talking about this.”

Paulina didn’t respond, just took Majima’s hand and started leaning him down one of the hallways that branched off the main room. Majima didn’t turn back, he didn’t want to see those blue eyes following them as the disappeared around a corner. Once they were out of sight Majima felt at least a little more relaxed, his shoulders loosening and his stride falling more in line with Paulina’s.

It was quickly apparent that there wasn’t just one office underground here, but an entire network of hallways and rooms snaking just under Sotenbori. Paulina said nothing as she led him into a quieter, more personal looking office. It had paintings of the Tokyo skyline at sunset and towering temples nestling in flowered trees. A desk, nicer than the ones in the larger room, sat at one end of the room and in the center sat a couch and a coffee table. It looked way too ordinary to be where it was.
Majima sat himself down on the couch, digging into his coat pocket to pull out his cigarette’s, trying to ignore the shake in his fingers as he went to light it. Paulina plopped down next to him, lighting one of her own cigarette’s and taking a deep drag.
“What…is all this?” Majima asked after blowing out smoke turning his head away to avoid washing Paulina in the thick fog.

Paulina shook her head, “first you tell me what’s going on.” She waved her hand around at the room at large, the cigarette caught in her fingers drawing smoke lines in the air, “that’s why we’re here in the first place.
Majima ran a hand over his brows, he supposed that was fair, but she wasn’t getting out of his questions. First he had to open up to her. Trust her. Ya gotta trust someone. He took a deep breath, the lump threatening to close his throat again.
Her knuckles brushed along his jawline, and he couldn’t help but lean into the touch as he stubbed out his cigarette, no longer able to inhale the smoke, “What happened?” She asked quietly.

He told her. It all came out in a rush. Majima was nearly out of breath by the end, not able to look at her as he explained him accepting a hit, then finding out it wasn’t some guy who ran a ring of girls, but a small, blind woman, who was so afraid of a robber that she had broken down crying in front of a stranger.

“She was so small an’ helpless,” Majima rubbed the back of his neck uneasily, “ya should have seen her.” Majima chanced a glance at Paulina. she wasn’t much bigger than you. Paulina’s face held a cool expression, and she barely moved the entire time he spoke, “I couldn’t do it.” He turned away, not quite sure why he felt shame burning his cheeks.

“Of course not,” Her voice was quiet, reassuring, “But what are you going to do?”

Majima felt the panic rise his throat, then swallowed it down. He had no time for that. “I ain’t too sure yet.” He had the sudden urge to throw the coffee table as hard as he could against the wall. Why the hell did this happen to him? It didn’t make any sense. She had nothing to do with the Yakuza, she was just some blind girl trying to live her damn life. Did she owe money? What happened to a good ole shakedown? “I don’t even know why they want her dead.”
“Maybe…maybe we could help with that.”

Majima’s eyes shot over to Paulina. She was looking away, thoughtful. Majima didn’t want to dare to become hopeful, then he remembered his laundry list of questions. “By ‘we’ you mean…?”
Paulina kept her eyes down towards the carpet, unwilling to look up. She seemed to be gathering up courage.

“I can take it,” Majima tried to reassure her, “please.”

“Assassins,” Paulina said it quickly, and the harsh English word jolted Majima a bit, then she repeated it in Japanese, and Majima found it hard to swallow all of a sudden. He tried to ignore it, to swallow around it. He just couldn’t put the idea of Paulina and assassin together…let alone an entire colony of them beneath Sotenbori.

Paulina was turning her body away from him, lacing her fingers tightly in her lap, “we’re not what you’d think.” She said quietly, “we’re not paid, we don’t have customers.” She didn’t look up at him, “we ain’t like that.”
Majima was somewhat at a loss. “What are ya like? What do you do?”

She smiled a little then, though there wasn’t much humor to it, “it sounds a little lame to say it out loud, but we aim to protect people, protect their free will. We’ve been doing it for centuries.”
Her smile vanished after that and her eyes went distant. It was a little frightening. A fog had come over her normally bright blue eyes, making them cloudy and flat. Majima wanted to suddenly shake her to snap her out of it, his hand even reaching out for her shoulder. Just as his fingers grazed the sleeve of her hoodie she shifted and seemed to come back to herself. Majima was biting his lower lip, the Hell?
“It’s too long to explain, our history, there’s too much to our history to tell you all of it now for all this to make sense.” Then she finally looked back up at him, the smile returning to her lips, “but we’re top notch at info gatherin’. Keeping an eye on things is part of our job.”

“And killing people?” Majima couldn’t help himself. He just could not picture the small woman in front of him taking another life…more than one? How many?

Paulina didn’t look away from him as she said, “sometimes.” Majima felt she was respecting him in that moment, trusting him. He couldn’t begin to explain why, but her eye contact drove something deep into his heart. “Only when we need to, only when we’ve exhausted other options.”

Words were suddenly hard to come by. All he could do was stare back at her. Did he even believe what she was saying? He supposed he had to, sitting as he was in their underground headquarters, so he forced down a swallow and nodded.

Paulina gave one short nod in return, then stood swiftly, “we should get you back upstairs.”

Masahiro made sure to give them a solid dirty look on their way back up, but otherwise was silent, turning back to one of the towers of paperwork on his desk. Paulina just rolled her eyes and told Majima to ignore him. He’d just have to get over himself. There was an indignant huff behind them as the door closed.

Once above ground Majima felt some slight relief, a tightness in his chest he hadn’t noticed before loosening. He didn’t think he’d ever feel safe underground. The familiar sounds of the streets around them reassuring. Majima pulled out a cigarette with finger he refused to acknowledge were shaking, drawing in a lungful of smoke after lighting it.

“Sorry, I know that was probably a lot.”

Majima looked at Paulina, who was smiling a little sheepishly. He couldn’t help but laugh, it burst out of him in a puff of breath, “Only slightly.”

Paulina laughed too, rubbing the shaved side of her head, “I didn’t think we had the time to ease you into the idea.”

“It’s alright,” Majima took another drag from his cigarette, the shakiness in his hands dissolving as he smoked. “I don’t think there was a way you could have put it that would have made a difference.”

Above them the sky was turning dark, a dusky haze covering them in the alley. None of the lights could reach them here, making it unnaturally dark to Majima. He hadn’t known there could be a spot like this in Sotenbori. He supposed he better make a reappearance in the streets soon, or else Sagawa’s spies would become suspicious.

“I should get going.” He ground his cigarette butt into the ground with his heel, “They’ll notice I’ve been MIA for a while.”

“Of course,” Paulina’s head was tilted up, scanning the rooftops, “Be sure to go about your days as normally as possible for as long as you can. We will try to figure out what’s going on.” She was speaking quietly, cautiously, beginning to lead him back to the main streets.

They took less twists and turns this time, but Paulina stopped right as they caught the glaring lights of the night life, still making sure they were covered by the shadows of the building towering above their heads. “You may not see me fore a few days.” She took his hand, and Majima felt his throat tighten when she pulled it to her chest, “And don’t try to call me. I’ll come to you when I think I have something to share.”

Why did that sound so horrible? It made sense, of course it did, but those words filled Majima with such a heavy sense of dread. He had no idea when he was going to see her again? What if she never found him? He’d be waiting day by day for her to find him again and she never would. Majima grit his teeth. He had to trust she would do just as she said.

Paulina must have seen the anxiety in his face because she leaned up on her tiptoes and gave him a soft kiss on the lips that he hurried to return. It was over much to quickly, however, as she pulled back and gave him a smile meant to reassure him, but Majima didn’t feel much better.

“Don’t worry.” Paulina stroked his cheek before stepping back, “I won’t ever be too far.” She gestured toward the bustling street just beyond the shadows, “but you should get going.”

Then she was turning from him, leaping into the air and climbing up the sheer wall of one of the buildings, fingers gripping invisible holds and feet pushing her effortlessly up. Majima snapped his mouth closed, not realizing it had fallen open. This wasn’t even the strangest thing he’d seen that day. Stepping effortlessly into the flow of foot traffic, Majima headed back to his apartment, trying for all the world to look nonchalant.

Somehow the world seemed to take pity on him the next day. Sagawa did not show up at the Grand and Majima didn’t run into him anywhere else. Maybe it was good luck…or maybe Sagawa was watching him from the shadows and was biding his time, waiting to confront Majima at the worst possible time.

There really was no telling.

Majima ran a hand over his face, displacing the eyepatch in his frustration. Growing more frustrated, Majima snatched it back off the floor of his office and pulled his hair out of its tight ponytail. It was a nice relief for a brief moment. One day he would chop it all off again, bring back some semblance of his former self.

Or he’d be dead…either way really.

It was doing him no good, however, moping in the office like this. He replaced the eyepatch and began pulling his hair back once more. First, he should go check on Makoto, then perhaps he should check out one of the cabaret clubs that Yamagata-san had told him about. He was curious as to why Yamagata-san would tell him in the first place. Maybe he’d dip his hand into the business himself?

Majima brought Makoto food and something to drink. He felt bad that she had nothing to do in here, knew she must be bored, but it was the safest…place…

He had his pager out before he could think. He was halfway through the message before his brain caught up with his body and he stopped himself. Majima grit his teeth and slid his pager back into his pocket. Paulina had been very specific, don’t page her.
Majima leaned against the door of the storage unit, he was suddenly breathless. He’d simply ask to move Makoto when he saw Paulina next…whenever that would be. No need for the panic rising up his throat. So he swallowed it down and straightened his back.

Time to go check out those clubs.

“Ya only have 3 girls workin’ here?” Majima could feel a twitch starting in his neck, how could they even function? Then he took another look around the empty club and figured they didn’t have to function much. This place was a ghost town. And Yuki wasn’t exactly…what he thought of as club’s top girl. She was pretty, but shy and unsure of herself.

Majima took a drink of his champagne, trying not to think about how he could flip this club around. He had enough on his plate already.

“I’ve had it with this harassment! You think you can bully us out of here and you’re wrong!”

At the sound of Youda’s yelling, Majima sighed and started to stand. The manager of Sunshine was standing off against a man dressed in a garish red suit and painted cheeks. The man reminded Majima of a strawberry, and his smug little smirk made him want to plant his painted cheeks into the ground.

The guy wasn’t alone though, he had to big thugs at his sides, and as Majima approached they turned to him, fists balling at their sides.

Oh, he wished they would.

Hino, the blushy strawberry, had apparently come to finally push Youda and Club Sunshine out for good, but apparently hadn’t planned on someone like Majima being there, and left with a vague warning against his life. Majima snorted. Like he was scared of anything that guy could throw at him.

Youda and Yuki filled him in on the Five Stars of Sotenbori, and Majima suddenly understood why Yamagata had told him to check out the cabaret club seen.
He could tear his hair out. He really couldn’t take on another club on top of everything else. But then he thought of that smug bastard’s face, and knew he had to take him down a few pegs.

It was worse than he imagined. Five clubs to battle in total, all of them trying to take over the cabaret club scene so that they could eventually take on the bigger cabaret’s like Majima’s own Grand. Majima wasn’t particularly attached to his club, but he couldn’t let it go under while under Sagawa’s watch. And this little club had a lot more charm to it than met the eye, and although he wouldn’t admit it, Majima was already growing fond of the place.

The first thing he did, before anything else, was get more girls to work at Sunshine. It was fortuitous that Yamagata-han had sent extra girls with Nazomi. As long as the Grand had Nazomi, Majima felt he could move the other girls to club Sunshine.
Then he worked on training Yuki. She was sweet, and pretty enough, but shy and awkward, letting conversations slip into silence way too easily.

Slipping between the two clubs, while also skirting around Sagawa and check in on Makoto, was draining in ways Majima didn’t think possible, but it kept him busy, and as the days turned into weeks, kept him from thinking about how long it had been since he heard from Paulina.

Every time that thought popped into his head, how long had it been now? Two weeks? Where was she? Was she okay? Had she abandoned him? His throat would close, and he’d scramble to find one of his many tasks to keep his mind from wandering too far. It didn’t help that Sagawa was getting real impatient with him. He couldn’t keep pretending he hadn’t found Makoto forever, but he had no other plans, and Lee was apparently still recovering but his many bullet holes.

It was encroaching halfway the weekend of week 3 of not hearing from her not that he was counting. They had beat back club Mars, and Ai, the number one girl for Hino, had joined their club and was getting comfortably settled. Majima was feeling a bit of relief. Maybe they really could beat the Five Stars of Sotenbori.

Majima was in the back room with Yuki and Ai, going over their books while the girls cleaned the makeup off their faces, when he heard the door to the club open. He frowned and checked his watch. They had closed nearly an hour ago, and Youda would have come talk to him before leaving for the night, then the man in question peaked his head through the back door.

“uh, Majima-san, someone is here to see you?” It was framed more as a question.

Curious and too impatient to ask questions, Majima stood up, following Youda out to the club floor with Yuki and Ai on his heels. He could feel their nervous, jittery energy behind him. They were probably thinking the same thing as him. Another Five Star manager coming to harass him.

But Majima’s heart nearly stopped when they stepped out of the back room. There she was, dressed in her typical hoodie and jeans. She had her hood down, looking around the club while she waited. She looked a little nervous. It was the same kind of look she had at the disco club all those nights ago. He only glimpsed her off guard for a moment, as soon as his shoes hit the carpet her head whipped back. She was already smiling.

“You’ve been busy.” Was the first thing she said.

Majima thought that was an understatement. His body was suddenly so relaxed, had he been that tense this entire time? He wanted to wrap his arms around her, but he was suddenly intensely aware of Yuki and Ai at his back.
Paulina had noticed them too, she had stepped forward with her eyes on his face, then halted and stepped back, face falling slightly. That nervous look was back in her eyes.

Majima blinked and looked behind him to see the girls staring and grinning. He could hear the giggles starting up and moved to intercept Paulina, but he wasn’t fast enough.

Ai burst out a laugh of excitement and darted over to Paulina, “Majima-san! Who is she?” Ai grabbed one of Paulina’s hands and swung it in greeting. Paulina looked startled, but not affronted, though her cheeks were beginning to get a rosy glow. “You didn’t tell us you had a girlfriend!” The glow went from rosy to hot pink in a flash.

“Yeah Majima-san!” Yuki dug her elbow into his ribs, making him yelp indignantly, “how rude! Aren’t you going to introduce us?”

At this point Majima was feeling heat in his own cheeks. Couldn’t the blonde had cornered him in some dark, smelly alley? Now he was getting the Third degree. Majima met Yuki’s scowl with one of his own while Ai giggled and gushed over Paulina’s hair. “Listen, it ain’t like that. Things are…complicated.”

Yuki raised a brow at him, putting her hands on her hips, not backing down.

Majima huffed, “alright, alright.” He gestured to Paulina, who was rubbing the trimmed side of her head, trying to explain why she liked her hair like that to Ai. “Yuki, Ai, this is Paulina.” The blonde waved sheepishly at her name. “Paulina, this is Yuki, and Ai.” He pointed to each girl respectively, “Now weren’t you two about to head home?”

“Awww,” Ai looked disappointed at being dismissed, “But she just got here!”

“Yeah,” Yuki chimed in, stepping in front of Majima, “maybe we wanted to get to know her.”

Majima sighed, feeling his pulse at his temples, “look, we have important things to discuss. There will be time for all that later.” He checked his watch, “at a more reasonable hour. Now get home. We have a big day tomorrow.”

Ai reluctantly released Paulina’s hand, and Yuki pinned him with a meaningful stare, before going to get her coat with her friend.

Paulina watched them leave, chewing her lower lip so much Majima darted out a hand to her shoulder to draw her attention to him. Once the doors to the club closed behind them her shoulders relaxed.
“Sorry about them.” Majima murmured quietly, “let’s go to the back.”

“Oh, they’re okay,” Paulina said behind him as she followed him. “I just wasn’t expecting them. I was hoping this late you’d be alone.”

Majima nodded to Youda, letting him know everything was okay, and the manager nodded back and left them in peace. He sat Paulina down and took a seat right next to her. He set a hand on her knee, meaning to comfort her, but as soon as they were alone Paulina was in his lap.

Majima was surprised, but not complaining. She settled herself down, seemingly not able to get close enough. She had never been this forward outside of sex before, and Majima was loving it. None of her actions were salacious, her arms around his neck and her head on his shoulder. Had she missed him as much as he missed her? Majima could smell her lavender shampoo, and the smell was so nostalgic, Majima almost lost himself in it, closing his eyes and wrapping his arms around her tightly. He had almost forgotten why she had been away, but then she broke the silence.

“I’m sorry I took so long, things are more complicated than I first realized.”

She spoke so quietly that Majima wondered if she was even talking to him, then she took a deep breath and leaned back to look him in the face, and he remembered everything that was going on all at once. He just wanted to bury his face in her hair again. “What’d you find out?”

She went back to chewing her lower lip, so Majima bent forward and kissed her. “It’s okay.” He murmured, “I can take it remember?” He leaned back again to let her speak, pleased to see he had been able to bring back that rosy blush to her cheeks.
“I’m sorry…but I couldn’t find out much.” She turned her eyes away. Was she ashamed? “There is something big going on, but not here in Sotenbori. It all seems to go back to Tokyo…back to K-“

“Kamurocho,” Majima could feel the dread creeping into his body.

Paulina turned back to him, her hands busying themselves untying his bow tie, “Yes, something about the Tojo Clan and a plot of land there.” She pulled the tie from around his neck and undid the first few buttons of his shirt, just as he liked it, “But we’re still new to this area, we don’t have any roots in Tokyo, let alone any intel on the Yakuza there.” She smoothed her hands over his chest, “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more help.”

Majima’s mind was reeling. The Tojo Clan? A plot of land? If anything these new elements only added to the confusion. What did Makoto have to do with a plot of land? Was that the center of all of this? Potential real estate? Were the Omi going after her just because the Tojo Clan was interested? Majima’s thoughts were quickly circling each other. Was Shimano part of this? Was he the one who told Sagawa to kill the girl? Did he even know Majima was now involved? He had to right?

His heart was beginning to race. Paulina left him be until he was sure she could feel his heart pounding behind his ribs. She placed her hands on either side of his face and kissed him just as he did moments before. “Breathe, we’ll make it through this.”
Majima had to focus on something else or he was going to go mad, so his mind grasped the only thought that had nothing to do with the whole Makoto mess.

“How’d ya know where to find me?”

Paulina suddenly looked ashamed. “I uh…I had some assassin’s watching you.”

Majima just blinked at her, and she squirmed some more.

“I’m sorry, I just wanted to make sure you were okay and that I could find you. It won’t happen again."

He wasn’t exactly thrilled at the idea of being watched more than he already was. But he supposed it was because she had his best interest at heart. “It’s your job to know.” He allowed.

She nodded, but didn’t look relieved, “I didn’t like doing it, and I’m sorry.” She nuzzled her face into his neck. He could feel how hot her face was. “I promise it will never happen again.”

Majima closed his eyes. He had no reason to not trust her at this point so he told her that. “I trust ya.” He sounded gruffer than he would like, it was just a little hard to speak at that very moment.
And her returning “Thank you,” Only made it harder.

He held her there for a while longer, wishing more than ever that he could go back to wherever she was staying now with her. He felt less lost when he was with her, but they had to part ways eventually. He made sure to steal plenty of kisses before having to watch her leave the club and disappear into the night.

There was an ominous feeling in the air as he walked back to his apartment. Perhaps it was time he hunted Lee back down and see if the big guy had anything planned himself. Because Majima was lost now more than ever.

Chapter Text

His breathing was out of control, on the verge of a panic attack. His head was starting to spin as he sucked in way too much oxygen. He had to stop he had to take slow, deep breaths. Paulina was looking at him with so much concern in her eye and her upturned brows that he wanted to lash out. He was fine!

But he wasn’t. He had to go back to Kamurocho with Sagawa, back to Shimano, the mouth of the beast, not having done what he was ordered to do. Shit he didn’t even know where Makoto was! He still wasn’t the perfect soldier he was supposed to be molded into by being sent here. What the hell was he going to say? Anything? Or just accept whatever was coming to him? Would it be death this time? Death would be better than going back to the hole, so he was hoping it would be death.

Paulina was trying to ground him, her fingers gripping his, clenching and unclenching in a careful rhythm to keep him aware of his surroundings. Her head was shifting, keep an eye out while he gathered himself.

She had found him leaning against the wall, nestled deep into an alley to get away from the severe lights of the streets that was always ever present and unforgiving. He wasn’t sure how she had spotted him there, but Majima had quickly learned to not worry about that sort of thing when it came to Paulina.

She was now tugging his hand, probably trying to get him to move, to somewhere more secluded. Majima started shaking his head, “I can’t.” His voice still sounded breathless. At least he was able to talk now, even if he had to pant the words out.

Majima forced his back to straighten. Sagawa was waiting for him, and he really wasn’t wanting to push his luck too far, but he still had one hand on the wall for support.

“What happened? What’s going on?”

It was hard, but Majima told her, rushing so that the words ran together. Majima wasn’t even sure he had formed actual sentences, and saying it all out loud made it much, much worse. The words made it an inescapable reality looming over his head.

Whatever he managed to get out, Paulina seemed to understand. She was nodding, but a deep frown was pulling at her lips.

“I can’t follow you there.” She began shewing her lower lip. Out of habit now, Majima gently pushed her chin down, pulling her lip out of from between her teeth. It was looking so raw these days. Had he done that to her? Was it because of him?

“I know.” His voice wasn’t more than a croak at this point. His stomach was full of lead. Majima wanted nothing more than for her to be able to comfort him, but there was nothing she could do to help him now.

And Makoto…poor Makoto. He told her that he would protect her. Instead he had lost her twice over. Sera had told him that she was with someone he trusted, but she still had two Yakuza groups gunning for her.

How the hell was he supposed to save her right under Shimano’s nose? Was he really going to throw his whole life away…throw Saejima away, for this girl? But then he remembered her round face, glistening with tears, terrified, looking up at him while she clung to his leg as the only anchor to safety she had left. Her entire life had suddenly crumbled around her. How could he turn his back on her?

He could leave her in that Kazuma Kiryu’s hands, but he didn’t know who this guy was, and how could one guy protect her in the heart of Tojo Clan territory? Majima wished he could have talked to Sera longer and figure out what his plan had been.

Majima hadn’t been able to talk to him though. For all he knew Sera was dead after Sagawa shot him. It came down to him to make sure Makoto made it out of this alive. She deserved to live her life. None of this was her fault, and he couldn’t let the Yakuza take something so innocent from this world just to make that much more money. He’d be a monster if he let that happen.

Majima was laying his head against the cool wall again. Paulina let him, still stroking his hand in comfort, letting him process. He had to steel himself. He had promised Makoto, and she needed him.

“I gotta help her.”

Paulina stiffened slightly, her hand moving from his fingers to sweep along his jawline briefly. He turned his face into her palm, but her hand was gone as she backed away a step, looking down the alley. It was becoming so dark it almost looked like another world compared to the nightlife buzz just on the other side of the building.

“Makoto?”

Majima nodded, “I promised her. She shouldn’t be in the middle of this. It ain’t right.” His voice broke at the end and Paulina turned her eyes back to him.

“It isn’t,” Her eyes were glazed as she smiled reassuringly at him. It was almost as if she was staring straight through him. It spooked Majima deep to his core. Why the Hell did she look like that? He tried to squeeze her hand but remembered she had pulled it away. “You’ll have to run. You know that?”

Majima’s throat began to close. Again, images of Saejima and their future in the Tojo clan he had always strived for flashed through his mind. All that hard work. But that was selfish, and he had made a promise, “I don’t see anything else I can do.” He admitted.

Paulina nodded, “The Assassins will help you, if you need it.” She still wasn’t quite looking him in the eye, gaze still distant.

Majima couldn’t help but notice ‘assassin’s’ and not ‘I will help’.

His throat was definitely getting tight again. He took a step towards her, but Paulina took a step back, finally looking him in the eye again.

“You know what to look for. Just mention my name and they will help any way they can.”

“Won’t you be there?” He tried to hide the panic in his voice. Paulina looked to gone to notice it anyway.

She smiled at him. He thought he saw her lip quiver, “you deserve to be happy, Goro. You make sure to live your life.”

She was echoing his thoughts about Makoto back to him, but he didn’t like the way she was saying it. Her words excluded herself from his future. Why was she saying it like this?

“Get Makoto as far away as possible.” Another step back. Another step away from him. Majima’s heart was beginning to pound against his ribs, body tensing at her words, “and be happy.”

He tried to stop her, his palms slamming against the concrete on the opposite building. She was so fast. Too fast. She was already halfway up. How could she climb such sheer buildings? Majima tried to call for her, wanted to scream, but his throat had closed at this point, and in a matter of seconds she was gone. Majima continued to stare of the building, trying to start breathing again. He had to get moving. Sagawa was waiting for him. The older Yakuza was going to be really pissed if he took much longer.

Oh gods, oh gods, were those tears? Majima wiped at his face frantically. What the hell was going on with him? He had too much to do for this. He had to get himself under control. Paulina had been there and gone so quickly. Just a matter of minutes, and it sounded like she was gone out of his life. Out of his future.

He didn’t bother to wipe the next set of tears as they started rolling fat and hot down his cheeks. How long had they known each other? Two months? It seemed like a decade ago that they had been laying in her hotel bed, warm and giggling, keeping secrets from each other. They had just been a fling.

Majima had never believed that. Did he miss those times? When they kept their secrets? Would he trade really knowing her for the easier times? He thought he might. He thought he’d trade knowing who she really was for just having her. It was all over so quickly. And why? For what?

Majima let out a ragged gasp, trying to relieve the tension in his chest. Stop, stop, stop! Breathe! You have work to do! He shook his head violently. This all had to be some horrible nightmare that he’d eventually wake up from, but as he finally wiped his face and stepped out of the alley and among the through of people under the horrible radiance of the neon lights, he felt as if each step brought him closer to an even worse reality.

He steeled himself, clenching his fists and gritting his teeth. He had a job to do and he couldn’t let himself be distracted. He didn’t even know if he was going to make it out alive.  As long as Makoto lived that was all that mattered, though. That was all he cared about now. At least that’s what he told himself to keep his feet moving, one in front of the other. An icy coldness seeped from the tips of his fingers and toes, creeping from his extremities to his core as he walked further and further from the alley, from her.

 Sagawa was leaning casually against the wall of The Grand and greeted him with one of his usual half smirks, flicking his cigarette he had just finished into the nearest puddle before standing straight and putting his hands into his pockets. By the time Majima reached him his entire body was numb and cold.

“There ya are, Tiger. You ready to go back home?” Majima gave a single stiff nod. He would just face this head on and make it up as he went. He still had to manage to find Makoto after all.

“Alright,” Sagawa gestured for him to go ahead in front, “lead the way and let’s get this show on the road.”

 None of it had mattered. Nothing he had been trying to do had mattered. He had been a pawn in the game all along and had played his part exactly as Shimano had expected him to. He was apparently so predictable that Shimano had accurately guessed exactly what he would do and played him like a puppet, just to use him to manipulate Makoto.

Majima picked himself up off the street. He had just let those punks kick the shit out of him, unable to gather the will to fight them. He couldn’t muster the energy.

But slowly, as he staggered back onto his feet and thought about how he had played directly into another’s hands, a fire was beginning to stoke at the back of his throat. Flames licked away the coldness that hat incased his insides. He could taste sharp bile and blood, spitting a mouthful of it out onto the street.

Well, if Shimano wanted a clown, he’d be his clown.

The heat warmed his body, a slow burning anger replacing the numbness and dread. He wasn’t feeling as stiff anymore. Hell, as he stretched out his arms and started walking again, he began to feel downright limber, already shaking off the beating those butt balls had given him. He could make them pay later, right now he had to find that Kiryu, because that was where Makoto would be.

Shimano had told him to try the Kazama family office, so that was where he would start

Chapter Text

Majima ran recklessly bumping and shoving into people. He had fucked up. He had fucked up so badly. People yelled and shouted, some from the ground and indignant, but Majima didn't stop. He would check every alley, every crevice. He could find that place again. He'd know it when he saw it. He'd only come back to this horrible place to find it..

Majima had been hoping that when he returned to Sotenbori that it would be easy to find Paulina again, or that she'd see him and find him easily enough. He stuck out enough these days with his gaudy jacket. Days in, however, and there was still no sign of her. He'd tried the hotel she'd been staying at, but the desk clerk had shook his head.

"I'm sorry, sir, she checked out about a week ago."

He'd been afraid she'd left, then he remembered the huge underground network. They'd know where she was. Majima just had to find the place first.

A week later and he was now madly running through the streets to check every alley, trying to ignore the panic at the back of his throat. Sotenbori wasn't even that big. How could he not find this place? Majima was sure he'd been up and down every nook and cranny of this place. He came to a stop, panting and trying to think. She can't have taken him out of the town. She can't have. So it had to be around here somewhere.

Then he was insanely lucky, or he just knew what to look out for now. It caught his eye and Majima's breathing picked up in anticipation, sucking in the cold, damp air as he rounded into the nearest alley.

A shifting shadow. Months before Majima would have dismissed such a thing as his imagination. Now he darted for it, reaching wildly into the darkness of the alley, his fingers actually closing around a hoodie. His heart nearly leapt out of his throat. They were way too big, so he had no problem throwing them up against the wall and pinning them there with an arm across their throat.

Majima took in the pointed hood pulled low over the eyes and knew, just knew, that by some miracle an assassin had fallen into his lap. He pressed against their throat until they scrabbled at his arm desperately.

"Where is she?" He snarled, yanking the Assassin's hood off of his face. It was some kid who couldn't be far out of his teens, gritting his teeth, just trying to breath. Majima relieved some of the pressure off of his throat, but made sure the kid was still pinned. "Where is she? Paulina?"

The kid's eyes widened at the mention of her name. Excitement bit at the back of his throat, but dread was slowly filling the Assassin's eyes. "What's the problem huh? You scared of her?"

"Release him."

Majima blinked. The voice was vaguely familiar, and at the sound of it the kid he had pinned visibly sagged with relief.

Majima thought he should have forgotten his name, but as he looked to see who had spoken, Paulina's voice rang out in his mind. Masahiro.

The Assassin stood in the mouth of the alley with a smirk tugging his lips up at corners. "Come on, let him go. Any questions you had for him, you can ask me."

He didn't want to listen to him.. he didn't. Majima was determined to not just listen to anyone ever again, but Masahiro would know where she went, so he supposed he'd have to play nice.. Majima slowly released the younger Assassin from his pin, and the kid darted out from under him and behind Masahiro, peeking out from behind his elder with his hood now safely replaced. Bile rose up his throat now, replacing the excitement that had been there moments before.

"Where is she." He asked again, voice now hoarse.

A sigh answered him and Masahiro rubbed his brow. "She left."

It shouldn't have been a shock. It shouldn't have, but the world was tipping on its axis beneath his feet. "What. Where?"

"Home."

"America?"

This time Masahiro paused. "Not quite."

"Where then?" He was snarling again.

"You can't follow her there."

"The hell I can't."

Masahiro actually rolled his eyes at that one. "Trust me on this one." He nodded at Majima. "Shouldn't you be back in Kamurocho anyway? You're back in the family now right?" He made a shooing motion that had Majima's blood boiling.

He got right up in Masahiro's face. "Take me to her."

The Assassin was unphased. Majima swore he bumped their noses on purpose, just to piss him off more. "No."

"Then I'll find her myself!"

Masahiro stared into his eye. It was unsettling, all of a sudden. In his anger he had forgotten Masahiro's eyes were unnaturally blue, and now he was boring into him, causing Majima to take a step back, though he didn't take his eye off of him. It was several seconds, then Masahiro turned to the younger guy behind him, whispering orders that had the kid scurrying up the nearest building and out of sight. They all did that shit?

"Follow me."

Majima almost didn't catch his words, he hadn't expected them, but then he hurried to fall into step behind the Assassin.

Masahiro led him on a familiarly twisting path. Majima tried to memorize it this time, but it was no use. Though this time he did realize they were on the outskirts of Sotenbori. Paulina had managed to sneak him out the first time, when he was being watched.

Back down into the underground world of the Assassins. It wasn't as bustling as the last time Majima was here. I'm fact there were several boxes stuffed with paperwork, as if they were planning to move.

"Y'all leavin' too?" Majima asked gruffly.

Masahiro turned from his desk to look at the boxes, then his eyes flicked up to Majima. "Nah, we're expanding to Kamurocho."

Oh, so they were widening their web to his old stomping grounds too. Majima felt a tug in his gut to get back there. He had his ticket back in and he had a lot of work to do, but he had to find her first. The hole in his heart that started opening the moment Paulina had left him in that alley was growing wider and wider with each passing day he hadn't found her. Now, next to Masahiro and feeling so close, the hold felt ragged and raw and he was desperate to close it again.

Masahiro pulled out a flat rectangular object out of his desk with a shiny black surface. He tapped it with his thumb twice and it suddenly lit up. Majima felt a jolt of shock. "The hell is that?"

Masahiro just shook his head, not looking up as he tapped away at it with his thumbs. "Sorry, if we're doing this you're going to have a lot of questions. Just be patient and they'll all be answered, but I can't explain every little thing right now." The Assassin clicked a button on the side of...whatever the hell that thing was, making it go dark again, then slid it into his pocket. "You ready to go?"

Majima's heart was beginning to pound against his ribcage so hard it was painful. "Yeah. where're we goin'?"

Masahiro headed not towards the stairs to the surface, but towards the back of the room, to the opposite wall. Majima was opening his mouth to ask him again where they were going, but then Masahiro carefully brushed his fingers along the surface of the bricks and the wall wavered, almost as if it were suddenly made of water and the tips of the Assassin's fingers dipped through them.

Masahiro nodded, satisfied, then gestured Majima forward. "It's all you."

Majima just stared at the other man, baffled, "ya can't be serious."

Masahiro gave him a dead eyed look. "I am, walk on through. It won't hurt and I'll be right behind you."

"Where will it take me, man?"

"Remember what I said about explaining everything?" The Assassin gestured at the wall again. "You either walk through and they get answered, or you don't and you go back to Kamurocho and forget about us."

That wasn't an option. Majima wasn't a quitter, but this was nuts! Walk straight through a wall? It was insane.

Masahiro was waiting for him, and not very patiently. "What, do you want me to shove you through?"

"Nah man, just gimme a second!" Majima snapped, trying to ignore how hard his heart was pounding. Just do it! What was the worst that could happen? He actually had no idea, which was probably why he was hesitating, but if he didn't take that step forward, he would never see Paulina again.

So, with a deep breath and closing his eye, Majima took that step forward and into the wall.

He didn't collide with a hard surface, for which he was grateful. It felt like a feathery curtain ghosting over the skin of his face, then a slight force pulling him forward, and his foot landed back down onto the floor.

Slowly he opened his eye, refusing to acknowledge the fear of what he would see bubbling in his gut. He had stepped into a room that was lit by a warm glow of...torches? Instead of the harsh fluorescent glow he had just been under. The walls looked like they had been carved out of a cave wall, roughly hewn stone that made the light bounce back as eerie shadows.

Majima felt his skin prickling with uneasiness. The room was mostly empty. He had stepped out of a wall that was decorated with a relief carving of an archway, and on the adjacent wall was an alcove that housed an ornate object that looked like it could open like a clay shell, but was closed right now. It sat on a pedestal like some holy object.

What in the Hell...

"Told you it'd be fine."

Masahiro was materializing smoothly out of the wall with a smirk on his face. This fucking guy...

"Where-"

Masahiro was already shaking his head. "Again man, they'll all be answered, but in time."

Majima felt horrible annoyance bubble up his throat. Masahiro really just expected him to roll with all this shit? They'd just walked through a wall and the Assassin was acting like he'd just showed him a well hidden Ramen joint.

Masahiro pulled out the rectangular object and checked it again. "Maybe we should head on up-"

The Assassin's train of thought was interrupted by a "yo!" The two turned to see two new men trotting up to them.

Majima's back tightened at the new arrivals. They were both on the taller side, maybe an inch or two above him. One was dressed much like Masahiro was, in a grey hoodie and jeans. He had a darker tanned complexion with black hair and stubble. Shocking blue eyes under thick brows. The other wore a pink tank top instead, and was lighter skinned with hair dyed purple and styled up and forward and...gold? Eyes. He also had a wicked scar running down the right side of his face. It slashed through his eyebrow, stopped right above his eye lid, then started up again on his cheek and down across the corner of his lips. Whoa.

Masahiro must have caught Majima eyeing the guys up and down, because he put a hand on his shoulder and said. "Easy, they're friends."

"Maaaannnn, Masahiro, you're really making shit rough on me," Purple Hair said, coming to a stop in front of him and trying to catch his breath.

His blue eyed companion didn't look like he'd exerted himself at all. "This is certainly unprecedented." He said, taking both Masahiro and Majima in.

Masahiro shrugged and gestured at Majima, "he was very insistent."

Purple Hair turned his eyes to Majima, seeming to appraise him. "So what?"

Majima growled and the hand on his shoulder tightened.

"I know. Figure this would test that resolve"

Majima was gritting his teeth now. "Quit talkin' like I ain't here! What the hell are you talkin' about?"

"Majima, this is Aquilas and Kadar." Masahiro pointed, purple hair was Aquilas, and the other guy was Kadar. "They're gonna help us."

"Help us with what?"

Aquilas didn't look too pleased at the prospect. "She's not going to be happy."

Majima was just about to snap, sick of being ignored, but Aquilas' words made his heart seize in his chest. "Paulina?" He breathed.

Aquilas turned his sharp eyes on him. Somehow they were more disconcerting than Masahiro's. "Yeah."

Majima's brows furrowed up. She wasn't going to be happy? They seemed to be acting like she would be angry that he was here? Had she really intended to leave him behind for good? It was suddenly getting hard to breathe. "I gotta talk to her."

There was a horribly oppressive silence in the air at that moment until Kadar mercifully cleared his throat to break the tension. "Maybe we should get him to the castle?"

"Not a bad idea," Masahiro said, still not bothering to explain a thing.

There was a whole ass castle? What? Like medieval times and shit? Majima figured he'd find out soon enough.

Aquilas gave him one more skeptical look over that had Majima pulling his lip over his teeth, then turned to lead the way out of wherever the hell they were.

Turned out they were inside a temple on the crest of a huge, swelling hill looking over...a kingdom? That was the best way Majima could describe it. He could see the castle they talked about in the distance. It curved in a semi circle around the tip of the valley, like arms encircling protectively. Stranger still Majima could see that giant trees with trunks almost as big as some of the turrets growing up along the side of the walls.

Below, in the shadow of the castle, was a strange village. It looked both modern in some ways and down right ancient in others. Majima couldn't seem to focus on one singular thing at a time, so he was quickly becoming overwhelmed with all of the visuals, and by the time he noticed what was swooping through the skies he was about to viciously pinch his skin to see if he were dreaming.

In the sky were a variety of...creatures. some were humanoid. In fact Majima was pretty sure they were just humans with wings sprouting out of their backs. Others were enormous versions of regular animals, like bats and owls. One caught his eye in particular, and it was indeed a giant bat with a ten foot wingspan that had fur that was a brilliant shade of yellow. It swooped low over the buildings before flipping back up into the air as if it were just enjoying itself.

Then he was sure he actually saw what looked like a dragon. A western kind anyway, with wings that flapped loudly and a long tail trailing lazily behind it. What. The. Fuck.

None of this was helped by the fact that, as soon as they had come out into the open air, Majima began to feel a weird, crackling sort of energy along his skin. It didn't hurt, but it for sure was really putting him on edge.

"I'd suggest flying him in." Aquilas said, pointing to the castle in the distance. "But maybe we should start a little slower."

"We can walk." Masahiro patted Majima on the shoulder. "We'll meet you up there. It'll give us a little time to talk."

Aquilas nodded, now looking at Majima with slight concern, then turned away from them. He and Kadar each sprouted their own pairs of wings, and with powerful down strokes that left Masahiro and Majima nearly blown away, were up and in the air, flapping toward the castle.

Majima was definitely feeling a little overwhelmed now. He had seen a lot of shit I'm his day, but this was on a whole other level. This was...fantasy shit. Stuff that was only in movies or books, and Majima hadn't been much for that kind of stuff.

"I know it's a lot." Masahiro sounded genuinely sympathetic for the first time. "Usually when someone comes here for the first time they have some sort of idea of what they're walking into."

"You gonna answer some of my questions now?" Majima croaked out, watching the two smudges in the sky that had been Aquilas and Kadar. The wings had come out of nowhere...could everyone here do that? Could Masahiro?

"Yes, while we walk I will answer what I can."

The walk through town was almost just as harrowing. The people looked like they had been plucked from every country and every time period. One guy was perusing a stall in a business and the woman running the stall looked like she had just walked off a ship sailing in the 1800's.

"What the hell is this place." Majima asked on a wheeze. Not everything was human either, some of the giant flighted animals were milling about as well and talking? They could talk??

"You had to start with the hardest question." Masahiro sighed, rubbing his brow. "Makes sense I guess. This place is pretty wild."

"That's an understatement." Majima said while sidestepping a creature he didn't even recognize. It looked kind of like a Kirin, but had massive claws instead of hooves.

That actually made Masahiro chuckle. "So the simple answer is Dimauria. Sometimes it's known as The Shifting Place, or The Plane In Between." Masahiro rolled his eyes. "The more complicated answer could be an entire seminar. You've heard about parallel universes?"

Majima's brows flew up. "you're jokin'? I thought that shit was just theories."

"It's hard to prove that sort of thing, especially when we try to keep that kind of thing hidden." The Assassin gestured vaguely in the air when he said 'we'. "This place exists between universes. It's one of the few places that is one of a kind. There's only one version of this place."

Majima already felt a headache starting to pulse at the base of his neck. They now had slipped into the flow of the crowd that was heading toward the castle. Majika decided to focus his eyes on its stone walls. Everywhere he looked there was something new.

"Can...can you do what they did?" Majima meant Aquilas and Kadar, but he couldn't seem to get their names out.

Again Masahiro nodded. "Yeah, part of the...benefit I guess? Of this place being in between, is the magic that runs rampant here. As long as you let it in, you can harness it."

Majima was horribly aware of the buzzing sensation on his skin again. "This is insane."

Masahiro grinned at him. "It gets better. Transfiguration is the most prolific magic here. You stay here, harness the magic, you can turn into just about any animal you want." He pointed out a huge owl that was watching over the crowd flowing through the streets.

"That's a person?" Majima choked.

"Yep." Masahiro clapped him on the back. "Don't worry, I know this is a lot to take in, but you get used to it." The Assassin turned his eyes on him, boring into him. "Or you can go home."

Majima felt like that was a challenge and his fists clenched at his sides. He'd show him. "I'll do whatever I gotta." The energy crackling along his skin suddenly surged in and through him, filling his lungs to capacity until he gasped, gritting his teeth.

Masahiro hummed, not looking very impressed. "It won't be easy."

They were approaching the castle gates now. People went in and came out freely. Majima noticed that most of them walked in, the flying creatures flew up and out of site.

"Where'd Aquilas and Kadar go?"

"We will meet them in the fliers hall."

"Haw?"

"You'll see."

The castle was the same mix of ancient and modern that the village below it was. Masahiro led him to a hall that had to be near the very top, because one entire side of the wall wasn't there, like it was never built and faced the open sky. This is where whatever had wings entered the castle. Owls, bats, people with wings, some of the dragon looking things.

They found Aquilas and Kadar speaking casually with a yellow bat with a blue blaze up its snout. Masahiro held up a hand to get their attention, and the two men politely excused themselves and joined them.

"How're you doing?" Kadar asked Majima gently.

"Fine," Majima answered shortly, "well as I can be."

"You tell him about this place?" Aquilas asked Masahiro.

The Assassin nodded. "As much as I could anyway."

"We'll show him his quarters. But what were your plans, Masahiro? Train him as an Assassin? Is he to join our ranks?" Aquilas asked with a brow raised at Masahiro.

Wait what? Majima looked between Aquilas and Kadar. "You two are Assassin's too? How far are y'all spread?"

Aquilas actually laughed, a deep chest laugh. "We are everywhere we can manage!" He turned a toothy grin on the Yakuza.

"Were you thinkin' about me joinin' here?" Majima asked Masahiro, who was turning to lead them out of the hall.

"It had crossed my mind." Masahiro admitted, "it mostly depends on what you plan to do."

Majima's heart was suddenly pounding in his chest. He hadn't thought that far ahead. He had only been focused on seeing Paulina again and talking to her and getting her to...what? Be with him? Things were getting really complicated, and he had to get back home to start building his family.

Suddenly the idea of his little Yakuza family paled in comparison to all of this, like an ant hill in a forest of animals. But it was important to him, he had to give something for Saejima to come home to.

"Gotta...can't stay here long." Majima said, his voice sounding weaker than he meant it.

"Don't worry," Aquilas said from behind him. "Time works a little differently here. When you go back, time will have hardly passed there at all."

Of course. Just add one more crazy thing onto the fucking pile.

"You can stay here as long as you need," Kadar reassured him. "Don't stress about that."

"Although," Masahiro interjected, "you will have to think hard about joining us." He gave Majima a look that for some reason chilled him to the bone. "If you want to be a part of Paulina's life, this is part of it. She isn't going to leave all of this to live in Tokyo with you."

"That is part of the reason she let you go." Aquilas added, pausing to gesture Masahiro down a certain hall, "this is a lot for anyone to consider. And it sounded like you had too much going on as it was."

Majima's breath left him as he whirled around to pin Aquilas down with his eye. "You know about me?"

"Course I do." Aquilas had a smirk pulling up one corner of his lips. "I'm her brother."

Majima came to a halt, causing Kadar to bump into him. "What?"

"I take it she never told you about me," Aquilas made a mock forlorn face, scratching the stubble on his chin. "Figures."

Majima wanted to be upset, but he realized she hadn't told him very much at all. "She didn't tell me anything."

"How could she?" Kadar gently nudged Majima forward, a suggestion to keep walking. "But it is also not unlike her."

They came to a door that was nestled in one of the far wings of the castle. Inside was a two bedroom suite, much like a modest apartment.

"You can stay here," Aquilas poked his head in the room as if to check and make sure everything was as it should be.

"Two rooms?" Majima looked at Masahiro, who nodded.

"I'll be staying here too. Until you get settled at least."

Majima turned to the other two Assassin's. "But, Paulina? I came here to talk to her."

Aquilas and Kadar exchanged glances that looked slightly anxious. It did nothing to calm Majima's own anxiety.

"She is busy at the moment." Kadar told him. He sounded sincere, but it was awful convenient. "We promise you will get the chance to talk to her soon."

"But," Aquilas leaned against the door frame. "It may not go very well. She was dead set on leaving you there."

That hurt. Majima didn't like to admit it, but it did. Those words went straight through his chest like a hot, iron, rod. He almost wanted to double over with it. "Why?" Was all he could get out.

"She seemed to think it was what was best for you." Kadar was quick to answer. He could probably see the hurt Majima was trying not to show on his face. "But she has a tendency to...hide behind anger."

"He will see." Masahiro interjected, "it's why it's important for you to decide what you want." The Assassin was already moving to lounge across the length of the couch. He didn't look as worried as the other two did. "If you decide to become one of us, she may be a little more willing to hear you out."

Thoughts of Kamurocho flashed through his head again. Could he do both? Paulina seemed to have been able to do it, go back and forth from this place to Sotenbori no problem. Would he be able to do that too? If he could...

"You can think it over." Kadar reminded him, nudging Aquilas to stand up straight. "We will leave you to get settled in. Masahiro should be able to take care of anything you may need."

Masahiro shot them finger guns as they left. Aquilas shot one back and barked out a laugh as Kadar closed the door, leaving the Yakuza and the Assassin alone for the time being.

Majima slid boneless into the armchair that sat by the couch. It was weirdly modern in here, complete with the biggest, flattest, TV he had ever seen. Too much, it was too much. Majima pulled off his eye patch and pressed the heels of his palm into his brows to relieve some tension of the headache that was coming in full force.

"Hey."

Majima looked up from his hands to see Masahiro watching him. He didn't say anything back. Speech seemed like too much all of a sudden.

"It's going to be okay." Masahiro continued, reaching out to put a reassuring hand on Majima's knee. He didn't think the Assassin could be like this.

Childishly, all of a sudden, Majima didn't think he could sleep in a room by himself. He could only think of the comfort he briefly had when sleeping next to Paulina. Before he stopped himself he asked, "can I stay with you?"

Masahiro raised a brow, but it was playful and he was smiling at Majima, "what you got a thing for me all of a sudden?"

"Don't wanna be alone."

Masahiro let out a 'hhmmm' appraising the yakuza as if to check the validity of the statement. "As long as you don't kick me in your sleep."

Chapter Text

Majima had to learn a lot, and very quickly. And he didn't have the luxury to be overwhelmed if this is what he really wanted.

Once he was reassured that he could spend time in both this world, and the one he still considered home, he agreed to stay and learn everything he needed to. Majima had never been one to take half measures before, and he wasn't going to let all of this stop him either. If he could withstand a year in the hole, he could go through this.

The first day Masahiro had woken him up bright and early, even though he'd barely slept, mostly he had just laid there listening to Masahiro's gentle snoring, feeling slightly resentful at the sudden attachment to the only familiar person here. The Assassin had given him time to get ready, then slapped a slim, black, rectangle into his hand. When he tapped it a light illuminated the front, and the time was displayed against a backdrop of a generic looking photo of a field of grass with a cloudless sky.

"This is a phone." Masahiro held up his own and dragged his finger across the surface of the one he'd given Majima. "I know you're used to one that's anchored to the wall, but a benefit of being in between states of being is the technology we have at our disposal." Masahiro tapped at the thing showing him various functions he could do with his new phone. "Neat huh?"

"I met a guy who carried this huge fuckin’ bag off his shoulder with a phone in it" Majima said quietly, tapping around on the screen with his thumb. “He thought it was the height of technology.” Majima had thought the bag phone was pretty fuckin’ cool too. Crazy how now it was little more than a dinosaur compared to the slender, flat one with a screen he now held in his palm.

Masahiro chuckled, patting Majima on the shoulder. “That happens. It’s a bit harder when you don’t watch the natural progression of technology, but you get used to it.”

Majima looked up, taking Masahiro’s smile in. He’d never have guessed the Assassin could be this friendly. “Where…what time…are ya from the same place I am?” Majima didn’t even know how to phrase the question.

It seemed to make sense to Masahiro, though. “I’m from the same time as you. Kamurocho is my home.” He gestured vaguely around them. “I’m more of a…liaison for the Assassins in our time, to this place.”

Majima looked back down at his phone's screen. It was crystal clear, better than any television screen he'd ever seen. "Did Paulina even own a pager?" The question came out of nowhere, but he suddenly realized that she must also have a phone like this, why would she bother with a pager? He told Masahiro the number she'd given him and the Assassin laughed.

"Yes, that's her phone number. She probably got all of your pages as text messages to her phone." He showed Majima the texting app. "She definitely didn't have a pager I knew of."

"How-"

"Magic." Masahiro interrupted, wiggling his fingers in the air sarcastically. "Seriously, it's too much to explain right now. You just have to trust me a lot at first. Now come on." The Assassin clapped Majima's shoulder. "We have to meet Aquilas and Kadar. Can't keep them waiting."

While they walked the corridors, Majima programmed Paulina's number into his phone. He didn't dare try to call or message her. It was just a small comfort seeing the number there in his phone.

They met Aquilas and Kadar in what Masahiro called The Great Hall. The Assassin sat him down at one of the many round tables. The stone room had vaulted ceilings with candles floating mid air, round tables taking up most of the floor space. Hundreds of people could fit in here, and there were probably a couple hundred eating breakfast. In the center every table was a variety of food sat piled on platters. Masahiro started gathering food from their table and set it in front of Majima before making his own plate.

Majima sat down between Masahiro and Aquilas, picking up the fork beside his plate, pushing his eggs around.

"Eat." Masahiro says firmly. "You have a lot ahead of you."

He tried. Aquilas and Kadar were lively beside him, chatting and laughing, even elbowing each other playfully. Majima felt a little pang of jealousy at their ease of mind. Nothing for them had changed. Majima was just a blip in their life over all. Kadar caught him watching and gave him a grin. It was only a little reassuring.

Majima ate as much as he could stand. The Hall was beginning to clear out, people finishing up their food and starting to go about their morning. As Majima's group finished their breakfast, Aquilas put his arm around the back of Majima's seat, leaning across him to nod at Masahiro.

"So how much you tell him?."

"Just the basics." Masahiro said carefully, with a very directed look at Aquilas.

"Stop talkin' 'bout me like I ain't here!" Majima snapped.

Aquilas sucked his teeth and leaned back in his chair. "Sorry man, but shit, this is going to be tough going for you." He kept his arm around Majima's chair and threw his other arm around Kadar's back.

Majima tried to loosen his own body. He had made a promise to himself not to be so damn uptight, and here he was, stiff backed and arms crossed. He leaned back in his seat, letting his hands fall into his lap. "What do ya mean?"

Aquilas seemed reluctant to answer and Masahiro had suddenly busied himself with stuffing dry toast into his mouth. Kadar sighed deeply and Majima was about ready to freak out.

"We assume Paulina didn't tell you anything?" Kadar phrased it as a question, so Majima nodded his head in affirmation. "There's a lot to this place, even as a society, that is different from the one you are used to."

Majima didn't even know what to say to that, so he just stared at Kadar intently, waiting for him to continue.

"I have a feeling Paulina also didn't tell you about this place because...well I suppose because she thought you weren't going to come here." Kadar labored through that statement, looking apologetic.

That was apparent. Paulina had clearly told him to go and live his life when they had parted. And he was. He had just wanted her to be a part of it.

"I don't think she meant for you two to get serious." Aquilas said flatly.

"Aquilas." Kadar hushed him sharply.

"Well, he's gotta know!" Aquilas threw his hands into the air in exasperation, looking up to the ceiling, then turning his sharp, gold, eyes back on Majima. "Relationships are vastly different here than what you're used to."

Majima's heart squeezed suddenly in his chest, but he kept looking back at Aquilas with a steady gaze. "Meanin'?"

"Monogamy is the minority here." Aquilas put a hand over Kadar's, as the other man had begun to speak. "Men tend to pair up, but women usually have more than one spouse."

Heart pounding against his chest. Could they hear it? Majima's mind was almost drawing a blank. He didn't even know what to think. Then his mind was buzzing to life. Paulina had other lovers? How many? Did they know about him? Majima found he wasn't bothered by the idea. He had always liked to think he was open minded, but Paulina hadn't told him...she hadn't told him anything.

They weren't meant to be serious. Majima had to remind himself, just like Aquilas said. They started this with her cat calling him and taking him back to her hotel. They had just somehow gotten more and more entangled. Did she not feel the need for him? The want? The horrible tugging in the gut since they had been separated? Suddenly all he could see in his mind were her eyes, the change in them as she told him to go, live his life. Live it with Makoto.

A hand on his shoulder, a comforting weight to fight back his breakfast that was threatening to make a reappearance. Majima couldn't see, but felt Masahiro leaning closer to him. "Just breathe."

Majima tried to pull longer, deeper breaths in. He was thankful Masahiro didn't choose to say 'it's alright' or any variation of that. Majima didn't think he could bear it. "I have to talk to her."

"You will, soon." Kadar said, his voice low, trying to be reassuring.

"Why not now?"

"She's out on a patrol of one of our borders." Aquilas answered. His voice had also softened. Majima wasn't sure why, but when he looked back at him, his golden eyes had lost some of their edge, and they were taking him in carefully. "It's very routine, she should be back in a day or two."

"Which gives us more time." Kadar added, "to get you prepared."

Majima supposed that was a good thing. He was certainly being rocked to his core, and facing Paulina like this suddenly seemed impossible. He needed to talk to her rationally, but right now he thought he was going to implode on himself with how much he suddenly had to take in.

"What about…" Majima swallowed hard, his throat threatening to close. "How many...partners...does she got?"

"Only one." Aquilas answered.

"Can I meet him?"

"We can try." Kadar answered this time. "He's also away, and a little more seriously. He's assisting our prince out on our desert border." Kadar pulled out what Majima now recognized as his phone. "Calls don't always go through, and time is different where he is."

Every time he asked a question the answer just raised more. There was a prince? So they did have a monarchy in this castle? The concept of any sort of government in this place seemed pretty ridiculous to him. "So ya don't know when he'll be back?"

Kadar shook his head. "We hope soon, but they keep getting delayed."

"We'll try to call him and get him out here." Aquilas added. "But I think first we should wait and see how Paulina reacts."

Masahiro snorted. "That'll be fun."

"Why's that?" Majima asked, getting real tired of how tight his chest kept getting.

"Paul sometimes has problems facing things." Aquilas stretched his back, arching it over his chair. "We should get started. Got a big day ahead of us."

Majima felt like he'd never reach the end of all the questions he asked. "Started on what."

Kadar was standing already, pushing his chair against the table. "Your physical training. It's very important we start getting you up to par with our standard."

Majima stood himself, cocking a brow and tapping his abs with his gloved knuckles. "These ain't fer show ya know." What the hell did they mean? There were very select few people he knew that were stronger than him.

Kadar only smiled and said, "you'll see."

Back up to the flier’s hall. Majima didn't feel as much of the shock and awe he felt at first. Although his head was still on a swivel, trying to catch as many glimpses as he could. He wondered if he would recognize Paulina as one of the Beasts flying in or out of the castle.

Aquilas transformed as soon as their feet hit the stone floor. It was hard to catch it, which seemed like an oxymoron. How could it be hard to miss someone changing into a dragon? But it was. It was like Aquilas went out of focus, his body blurring and becoming something almost not real, colors changing and morphing to the new shape. Then, when it was all over and Aquilas came back into focus, a dragon stood where he once did. He was gold with shimmering scales, and a purple crest like a cockatoo’s on his head. Horns swooped over the violet feathers, making his profile sweeping and distinct.

Kadar swept himself easily onto Aquilas’ back, settling right at his shoulders. Aquilas didn’t even seem to register the weight. Majima noticed he was more like...a wyvern he was pretty sure. Aquilas only had strong hind legs, and while he started standing more like a raptor with his feathered wings at his side, he lowered himself on claws protruding from the wings so that Kadar had an easier time getting up.

“You know there are easier ways to catch flies.”

Majima snapped his mouth closed and turned his sharp eye onto Masahiro, who was grinning widely at the Yakuza. “Don’t gimme that shit. Ya know damn well this is a lot teh get used to.” Majima could hear his accent slipping and was really starting to get annoyed. “So how am I flyin’ outta here?” He flapped his arm sarcastically.

Masahiro was unphased, “I’ll be giving you a lift myself.”

Majima’s brows raised incredulously. “I get teh see you as a dragon?”

“Not quite, those are a little harder, and I’m still learning myself.” Masahiro outstretched his arms, spreading his fingers wide and grinning at Majima. “I can do a bat though.”

Majima had a sarcastic quip lined up for how useless a bat would be, then shut his trap when Masahiro shifted into a bat that was bigger than Masahiro had been as a human, nearly twice as big, with dark fur that looked black, but was more iridescent when the light hit it.

Masahiro let out a flat sounding “huh huh huh.'' That Majima guessed was laughter, and took the same position Aquilas had when Kadar had swung up onto his back. “Hop on”

Now Majima really didn’t know what was harder to grasp. The fact that he had turned into an enormous bat, or the fact that he could also talk. So he just kept his mouth shut and clambered onto the bat’s back with what he refused to acknowledge as shaky legs.

The lift off was stomach dropping. Majima ended up fisting his hands into Masahiro’s fur enough to get a squeak out of him, which did not help at all. He tried to look over the side, to see the sprawling land below them, curious what the rest of this world looked like. However he was nauseous after only a few moments, so he eventually leaned forward burying his face into the dark fur. He could still feel the lift and push of the wings on the air, so he tried to focus on that. Majima could feel the power in Masahiro’s muscles with each downstroke of his wings. He couldn't help but think about when he’d be able to do this. The idea that he could actually fly one day was foreign and absurd, but made his heart pound in a way it hadn’t since he swore an oath to the Yakuza

When they landed and Majima felt stable enough to lift his head, they were on the edge of what looked like an obstacle course. But it wasn’t like a kids fun time obstacle course, it looked like something some military faction would have to go through. High, sheer walls, some with ropes hanging and others with none. There were pits with thick wooden poles. Adult monkey bars, dirt runs, standard rock walls and what looked like some sort of maze made of wooden walls, as well as other things Majima could not even recognize out in front of him.

“The hell is all this?” Majima asked, sliding carefully off of Masahiro’s back, but keeping a hand buried in the bat’s fur to keep himself grounded. The earth below his shoes was swaying.

“training ground.” Kadar answered as Aquilas lighted down next to Masahiro. “We thought it would be a good idea to get you as familiar with it as possible, as soon as possible.” Kadar slid off Aquilas’ back, who phased back as soon as Kadar was secure on the ground.

“We’ll just have you run it, no pressure on speed or getting through it all the way.” Aquilas said, casually, as if he hadn’t just been a dragon.

“The hell I need to do all this for?” He knew, at this point he figured he was just keeping up appearances. For what he didn’t know, but facing the fact that he was training to become one of these magical people who can change shapes seemed way too out there, while clinging to the idea he was a simple yakuza seemed easier. Familiar.

"This is how we will teach you some of our basics." Aquilas explained, probably humorous Majima. "Today I just want you to run through it. Nothing too complicated." He pointed to the apparent beginning of the course, then proceeded to trace it with his finger. "Starts off easy enough. Running through tires, weaving through spinning panels, stomach crawls then monkey bars. Your biggest contender will be the walls." He pointed out the sheer walls, varying in height. Majima didn't see the usual rope hanging from them. "Gaining momentum and running up those can be a real bitch. But might as well give them a try. See how far you make it."

It kicked his ass. Majima had always thought himself fit, but as soon as he hit those walls it was all over for him. He made it through the running and obstacle portions just fine. The walls were impossible for him. He couldn't get higher than a few feet before gravity dragged him back down. By the end of it his pride was hurt just as much as his body.

He waddled with as much dignity as he could muster back to the others. Aquilas, who had been shouting advice the entire time, grinned at him and slapped his shoulder.

"Cheer up. You did great! You got tenacity and that's gonna get you far."

Majima collapsed back onto Bat Masahiro's back, groaning. There was that flat, "huh huh huh" again and one of Masahiro's big ears flicked.

"Aquilas is right. This will be nearly impossible at first. Now you know what hurdles you need to jump."

The Yakuza just continued to groan as he dragged himself back on the broad, furry back, burying his face between Masahiro's shoulders. He knew how it worked. He just wanted to skip this part. He hated the sudden feeling of weakness biting at the back of his heels.

There was the sound of more wings and Majima knew Aquilas had phased back into a dragon, readying for the flight back to the castle.

The next day was much the same. Majima wondered if they immediately threw all their new recruits into physical training. But he supposed this was their way of seeing if he was serious about doing this.

So he did some stretches and warmed himself up before tackling the course again. There was no progress on the walls, but now that Majima was familiar with what was ahead of him, he felt himself getting that much faster.

Aquilas ran through it once, with Kadar holding a timer, to show Majima what was expected of someone fully trained. The numbers made Majima swallow hard, and he declined to be timed himself. At least for now. The other man ran through it as if it was nothing but his morning routine. And maybe it was.

There was one moment when something clicked in Majima. There were these two high walls facing each other, maybe 4 or 5 feet between them. Majima hadn't really figured out why. That was until Aquilas ran through the course.

He scurried up the other walls with ease, which Majima expected, but with the Assassin got to the walls that faced each other he ran up one, then used his legs to push off and towards the other wall, running up another few steps before pushing off again, over and over until he reached the top.

Majima wanted to be able to do that. He knew this was still surface level stuff, and he wanted to know what else it was these guys could do. The fire of determination was really burning in him now.

It was the third day that Paulina finally returned. The previous night Aquilas seemed anxious after they returned and she still wasn't back, so Majima knew this wasn't normal. But on the third morning he was there, as they entered the fliers hall, a deep red wyvern with a white mane sweeped in, landing gracefully on the stone floor. Aquilas let out a long, whooshing breath, as if he had been holding it, and rushed toward the creature as it settled the claws of its wings onto the floor, Kadar not far behind.

Once the creature settled its wings, it's river came into full view, her blonde hair tied up to avoid the wind whipping it into her face, and for the first time Majima noticed it wasn't just one side of her head shaved, but both. He could hardly believe it was actually her. Seeing her here, atop that dragon, was like an out of body experience. He was used to seeing her bathed in the vibrant glow of neon lights and in a simple hoodie, her body at ease next to his.

Now she was awash in the beaming sunlight from the missing ceiling, and wore what looked like a leather vests with straps and clips that were attached to a saddle on the wyvern's neck, right behind its head.

Paulina looked down as she saw her brother running up to her, and Majima lurched forward to join Aquilas, but Masahiro put a hand on his shoulder, holding him back. Masahiro's jaw was tight and his eyes hard. That wasn't reassuring.

Majima pulled his shoulder from the other man's grasp. He'd been waiting for this, for her. He wasn't going to stand back now, and he darted off after Aquilas.

Paulina was smiling while her brother spoke to her. She wasn't getting down off her dragon, perhaps she wasn't staying...Majima's feet picked up pace.

Kadar heard his approach, and his face mirrored Masahiro's, but he didn't try to stop the yakuza. Not reassuring at all. But she was there, just in front of him.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Her eyes were on him, then darted to her brother, accusation clear in her expression. Majima felt like his throat was closing.

"I brought him." Masahiro had caught up to their group and put a hand on Majima's shoulder.

Paulina's dragon snorted, looking distinctly unimpressed. The beast kept its head high, so that she was far above them, and Majima could have sworn it was doing it on purpose, keeping her away from them.

"Take him back." The words were hurled down at them. Masahiro's fingers dug into Majima's shoulder.

The yakuza couldn't think of what to say. They'd warned him she'd be angry...he just hadn't imagined how angry she'd be.

Her eyes were back on him, and her expression did not soften. "I told you to live your life. Here isn't the place to do it."

"That's not for you to decide." Aquilas snapped, taking a step forward.

A wing came down between Aquilas and the dragon as the beast shifted its weight in irritability, letting out a snort that blew a gush of hot air over them. Aquilas stood his ground, his expression unwavering. Majima was a little impressed.

"Paulina." Majima forced his voice to work. He couldn't clam up now. "Paulina, just talk to me."

When her eyes flashed back to his Majima thought he saw hurt there, and like she wanted to ask him something, but then her eyebrows pulled down at the center and she tugged at one of the dragon's horns. "Come on Anai, we have work to do."

The dragon, Anai, graced them with one last withering look, then swept his wings up, causing the lot of them to jump back, then launched himself into the air and out of the hall entirely with a single flap of his wings.

Majima felt cold in the wake of that interaction. Kadar gave him a gentle nudge. "She's just hurting."

Aquilas let out a snort, crackles of electricity sparking around the corners of his mouth. That was new. "She's being more of a bitch than I expected."

"She'll come around." Kadar gave Majima a smile, "when she sees that you're serious about being here she won't stay mad."

Majima turned to Masahiro. "What do you think?"

The Assassin shrugged his shoulders. "I've only really known her for a short time." So helpful.

"Can't let this stop our day." Aquilas said right before transforming into a dragon himself and lowering onto his wing claws for Kadar.

"He's right." Kadar said as he swung a leg over Aquilas' neck. "The only thing we can do right now is to keep training."

Majima couldn't find it in himself to argue. Every fiber of his being wanted to chase Paulina down and make her understand, but he knew that would only make her angrier right now. So he climbed onto Masahiro's back after the other man transformed for him, and determined he'd throw himself into this until she had no choice but to acknowledge him.