Hiro took out a clean handkerchief and carefully wiped the blood from Ritsu's face. Noticing the faint trembling of the hands before him, an inexplicable sting rose in his nose.
His gaze somewhat unfocused, Ritsu calmed down and recalled the madness from moments ago. This was the first time… he had made up his mind to kill someone, not because of an order from the organization.
He was afraid. Afraid that one day he might lose control and start believing that violence was the right answer to everything.
Lowering his head, he looked at his blood-covered hands. When had his pale skin been stained crimson? They looked like a pair of vivid red gloves, harsh and impossible to ignore.
A slightly panicked voice came through the earpiece. Even though the body had been mangled beyond recognition from the fall, they could still identify who it was.
"Morofushi-san! Target Glenfiddich is confirmed dead, did something happen upstairs?"
The volume in the earpiece was loud. With his sharp hearing, Ritsu couldn't help but flinch upon hearing it, even stepping back slightly to avoid Hiro's hand as he wiped the blood away.
Hiro adjusted the earpiece, lowering the volume. Looking directly at Ritsu, who stood there with his head lowered, drained of energy, he replied, "He slipped during the struggle and fell. Recover the body and arrange transport back home. Prepare to withdraw."
Concealing the truth was to protect him.
He chose to trust him. After all, this was the younger brother he cared about most.
"Ritsu, pull yourself together."
"Shoot me."
"…What?"
Ritsu raised his head and stepped back a few paces, expressionless. Pointing at his left abdomen, he said,
"According to the original plan, I can't come out of this completely unscathed if I'm to gain the organization's trust. Do you really think someone who walked into a CIA trap would have no wounds, only other people's blood on them?"
"But…"
Hiro hesitated. He simply couldn't bring himself to point a gun at Ritsu. He had already sacrificed far too much for this mission.
"Hiro… fire."
The wind tousled their hair, obscuring their vision. After a brief silence, a gunshot shattered the stillness.
The pain didn't make him step back. Instead, he stepped forward. Blood slowly seeped from the wound. Seeing Hiro reaching out to support him, Ritsu shook his head and said in a low voice,
"The police here will arrive soon… You need to go. I have to return to where I belong."
"Are you sure you'll be okay? If that wound gets worse—"
"I'm fine. I know my own body."
Watching Hiro leave, Ritsu clutched his wound and staggered downstairs. The explosion caused by Glenfiddich would likely draw the police away. There hadn't been much commotion here, he just needed to find an alley and wait for pickup.
He pulled out his phone and dialed a number. He wasn't sure which member of the organization was stationed in the U.S. to receive him, hopefully someone easier to deal with. Not another lunatic.
"…Gin."
Gin, ever perceptive, immediately caught something off in Macallan's tone.
"You're injured?"
"…The insider betrayed us. Set up an ambush with the CIA… Glenfiddich is dead. Sorry."
Gin paused mid-motion while pulling out a cigarette. A cold glint flickered in his dark green eyes. The word "betrayal" always struck a nerve with him. He pressed his lips together and said nothing.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Was the insider dealt with?"
"Glenfiddich took him down with him."
"Mm. Send me the address. I'll arrange someone to pick you up."
"Alright."
Leaning against the wall, Ritsu slowly slid down to sit. His face was growing paler, he'd underestimated how much blood he was losing. Hopefully whoever was coming would arrive soon.
In the dim alley, the sound of faint coughing echoed, he looked more miserable than ever.
His pale blue eyes had lost their light. Through the narrow gap of the alley, he looked up at the bright blue sky. For a moment, Ritsu felt like this scene resembled his future.
Would there come a day when he died in some unseen alley… never found, gradually forgotten as time passed?
Perhaps this was the final fate of an undercover agent.
He tried to shake off the pessimistic thoughts, but drowsiness washed over him. How long had he been sitting here? Long enough that he now felt exhausted.
Tap… tap… tap…
Unhurried footsteps. High heels, a female member of the organization.
Ritsu lifted his head, trying to see her face. Before losing consciousness, he vaguely caught sight of long, light-blonde curls, accompanied by a strong scent of blackcurrant and wormwood perfume.
Looking at the unconscious, handsome young man slumped before her, the woman with long light-blonde curls and a black leather jacket calmly took out her phone and pressed the speed-dial key.
"Hi, Gin. I've picked him up."
"Put him on."
"That might be difficult. He's already passed out." The woman crouched down, moving his blood-soaked hand away from his abdomen. Examining the wound, she added, "Gunshot to the left abdomen. Didn't hit any vital organs, but there's quite a bit of blood loss."
Gin frowned slightly, extinguishing his cigarette.
"Vermouth, he's someone the Boss values highly."
"I'm well aware." She stood up, smiling faintly. "I'll hang up now, I can't exactly carry a grown man with one hand."
"Heh. Playing the weak woman, is it that entertaining?"
"Oh my~ Are you just reluctant to hang up, so you're making small talk to cover it up?"
Beep… beep… beep…
Listening to the busy tone, the woman chuckled and slipped her phone back into her pocket.
"Gin, I know how he is important to the Boss. In fact, there are things I know that even you don't."
She reached out and touched his smooth cheek, then helped the unconscious Ritsu into the passenger seat of a black-and-white Dodge Viper convertible, fastening his seatbelt thoughtfully.
Looking at him slumped there with his head tilted, she smiled.
"Handsome guy, you've dirtied my car."
Naturally, there was no response.
----
His crow-like long lashes trembled slightly. Beneath the covers, his fingers twitched. It felt as though all his strength had been drained away with a syringe. Weakly, he opened his eyes, trying to make sense of his surroundings—but his vision remained blurred from sleeping too long.
His brows furrowed tightly. His throat was dry as he swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing.
A warm, yellow-toned bedroom. Clearly, this wasn't a hospital room.
Ritsu reached for the wound on his left abdomen. It had already been bandaged. It still hurt when touched but soon he realized something was off.
There was a faint scent of women's perfume on the bedding. And… he could clearly feel that he was only wearing a pair of briefs.
Recalling the glimpse of light-blonde hair before he passed out, he suddenly sat up. The abrupt movement pulled at his wound, causing him to break out in cold sweat. The white bandage quickly stained red, the not-yet-healed wound had torn open again.
Seated before the dressing table opposite the bed, the woman with long, light-blonde curls curved her red lips into a smile, like a rose kissed by morning dew. Her eyes were filled with amusement.
"Oh? You're awake, handsome guy."
----
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Bonus chapter @20 PS