Chiyo walks with purpose. The duck from lunch long since digested, leaving behind a gnawing emptiness at the pit of her stomach. It growls loudly.

She tries to ignore it.

It growls again.

Chiyo blinks and she immediately finds herself standing within the hotel’s restaurant.

Hunger sure can do some crazy things to you.

She chooses the table by the large window overlooking the city. If she was going to dine alone, she’s at least going to dine in style. The waiter who comes over to her table doesn’t bring with him dessert but instead a quietly worded message.

Someone wanted to see her?

Chiyo accepts the invitation with reluctance, already foreseeing an incoming headache. The waiter leads her to the top of the building. The elevator door slides open to reveal an open rooftop. Amongst the blessed midnight velvet, the moon, a silver halo hangs in the lonely sky. As the curtains part, the celestial planetoid sets the city aglow like a bright diamond flame. Chords of moonlight orchestrate the parade of stars as they twinkle a heavenbound symphony. The teasing wind brushes her waist, a silent invitation to dance.

Oomph.

She realises she’s backed up into something rather…hard and firm? In one swift movement, Chiyo is twirled around into a pair of arms, hands gently bracing on a broad suited chest. She blinks and finds Kaito but mere inches from her. Taking one of her hands in his gloved one, he lifts it to brush his lips gently against her fingers.

“Though I am usually a man of words, I do find that sometimes the best and simplest way to convey a message is through actions” his breath ghosts her knuckle and she’s already planned out six perfect escape routes.

“If I may, would you grace me with the honour of one dance?”

Chiyo freezes on the spot.

If it’s only dancing, she supposes she could indulge him in at least that much. She nods, and Kaito’s smile in return comes as an unexpected yet pleasant surprise. They fall into step and immediately everything around seems to fade away, only the two existing during this moment in time. It’s weird how…composed she feels, being able to dance away without a care in the world. For her, this definitely comes off as an odd feeling, knowing that Kaito’s touch doesn’t evoke that same sense of fear. And it definitely came as a surprise that his sudden presence hadn’t just sent her straight to her death bed, especially after what happened earlier in the day. It’s almost as if everything was but a fever dream. A part of her doesn’t want to admit it, but it feels calming to be around him.

The sound of harps, light and lovely, strings together a harmonious melody that weaves itself into the night. Her heart steadies as wild serenity fills the air, allowing rippling lines of aluminium to honour their every movement. It feels like they have been dancing for forever, yet she never seems to tire from it, too lost in the moment to notice or even care.

However, the slight shift in her composure does not go unnoticed by her companion.

“I apologise for the commotion during lunch. I feel that we didn’t actually get a chance to talk to each other because of that,” the voice that emanates from the man opposite her shakes her from her thoughts.

“Please don’t worry yourself over that, it was a rather enjoyable experience”

“I’m glad to hear that” Kaito holds her close, too close, his arm fully embracing her back.

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“Then I guess you won’t mind me asking about what happened with Hirahito?”

Chiyo’s breath hitches. Grip loose with sweat, her limbs move stiffly in momentum with his.

“Forgive me if I am mistaken of course, but I noticed that you looked a bit shaken when you came back.”

Her brain stutters, thoughts failing miserably to catch up.

“Did he perhaps say something to you during the meal? I hope he hasn't offended you in any way. I wouldn’t want to make you uncomfortable during your stay here after all”

She is taken aback by his sudden question; it had never occurred to her that he might have cared enough to notice. It wasn’t an unpleasant thought, she realises after a short moment, but if she didn't reply soon, she is afraid he’d recognize that her wall had begun crumbling down.

Come on, say something. Anything.

“Ms. Muuri?” Kaito leans in.

“I…”

Where would she even start? What is even the right thing to say here? How could she even tell a man she’s met for no more than two days about this…this thing that eats at her sanity everyday and taunts her for every sleepless night. She can’t let him into that part of her heart, not when his intentions were probably far from kind. She can’t allow for that vulnerability just yet.

“...He hasn’t,” Despite the fluster in her voice, she has to at least give herself credit for trying, “and the stay has been wonderful so far. I couldn't possibly have any complaints.”

Kaito seems taken back by her response but she wouldn’t have noticed at all if not for the slight raise of his brow. How quickly he recovers, like it barely even fazed him.

“Well if you wanted to, you could live like this everyday you know”

Chiyo almost trips and falls upon his forwardness, steps clumsy as she tries to catch up to his quickening steps, and conversation topic. God, had her heart made the wrong assumption about him. Kaito is anything but calming.

“Sorry if I’m too straightforward.” Kaito suddenly looks Chiyo directly in the eyes. “But would you listen to my offer?”

Despite her obvious scepticism, she decides it wouldn’t hurt to at least hear him out.

“I can give you any number you want.” Kaito reverts to his business smile. “As long as you work for me for the upcoming Battle of Galsia and also in the future.”

Chiyo flinches. For a moment, her face is washed blank with surprise, every muscle within her body freezing upon those words. Chiyo needed money, she really did. How could she not when she is ever reminded of the hardworking image of her parents back in Area Six. It’s not like she was exactly poor, but Chiyo couldn’t have been considered well off either. And all she wanted was for her parents to be able to live comfortably without having to worry about her all the time.

But Chiyo feels like she would avoid getting involved with a businessman like Kaito if she could help it. It unsettles her, not knowing what he was truly hiding behind those eyes.

“Wasn’t I given at least a week to think about this?” Chiyo counters curtly. She shouldn’t give him the upper hand here.

“Of course, and you still have a week to think about it.” Kaito says. “But I’m just curious, what exactly do you want? Is money not what you’re looking for?”

“I’m afraid that’s something I can’t disclose” Chiyo’s smile strains against her face. Kaito spins her into a dip, his hand squeezing her waist.

“I see... “ Kaito muses. “Is there really something that money can’t buy?”

“Even if I wanted to I wouldn’t be able to buy this with money” she speaks through clenched teeth, back straining from their inexpedient position.

Even if she wanted to, money could never fix what was already broken. Money could never fix her.

“What is it?”

Chiyo simply smiles, a clear indication she had no intention of providing him with a clear answer.

“Let’s pick this up again another time, it’s getting quite late and I should probably head back now,”

“...Indeed” Kaito pulls her up and Chiyo feels her joints snap from the jolting movement “Before you go, can I say one last thing?”

That’s one too many last things there buddy.

“If you forget about returning to your normal life, I can make helping one of us worth every single second. Just name your price whenever you want”

Her eyes harden “Even if I tell you what I want,” she begins, tone flat as if speaking to a complete stranger “you're not the only one who can give it to me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I hope you have a wonderful rest of the evening.”

“Have a good night, Ms. Muuri. I hope you get your answer soon.”

Their eyes meet for the last time before the elevator door closes shut.

——