Number XIII 1
TITLE: Number XIII
CHAPTER: One
PAIRING: Sakurai x Aiba
RATING: PG13?
SUMMARY: “I am number thirteen,” A deep, almost musical voice rumbled, “And to you, that means death,”
His breath came out in short, painful puffs as he stumbled around the corner. When he chanced a quick look behind him, he could see that his pursuer was still close; and quickly gaining on him. His legs felt like led as the figure dressed in black calmly moved closer and closer. Eventually, his muscles gave out on him and he tripped, landing on his face at the mouth of a dark alleyway.
“S.. Stop!” He yelled, “Who are you? Leave me alone!”
The figure said nothing; just followed him as he scrabbled desperately backwards into the alley in his futile attempts to escape.
“Whatever they’re paying you.. I can double - no, triple! Please, just leave me alone!”
He was almost certain that he released the entire contents of his bladder as the muzzle of a gun slowly raised itself until it was level with his face.
“I am number thirteen,” A deep, almost musical voice rumbled, “And to you, that means death,”
The gunshot was so loud that it rattled the walls of the alley, but all he could think of was how beautiful the stars looked… And how he would not be able to make it home in time for his daughters fifth birthday.
----
“Oh, hello again, sir!” Aiba said brightly as the familiar stranger entered the tiny ramen shop, “Would you like the same as usual?”
The man nodded and headed to the corner of the room, where he carefully removed his leather trench coat and hat, before sitting on the chair and sinking back so he was up against the wall, his face in the shadow.
Aiba quickly headed to the booth to order a large bowl of duck ramen. The shop was quiet; as usual, and apart from the two or three regulars sat by the window, there was only the stranger.
He had been frequenting the tiny shop for about a year now, and Aiba still had yet to see his face. The man always came in in a black trench coat, that billowed out when he walked, making every movement he made look so elegant that it was almost cat-like. He kept his trilby hat pulled low over his face, and even when he removed it, had managed to hide his face. He always sat at the table that nobody else sat at - the one right at the back next to the emergency exit where the little lamps that lit the room would not reach.
However, he always tipped generously when he visited, and never caused any trouble, so Aiba and the owner didn’t mind him coming in. Without fail, the man would order a large bowl of duck ramen, and a glass of milk, and because of this, the staff began preparing it as soon as he entered.
“Duck ramen, glass of milk,” The chef said, placing a steaming bowl and an ice cold glass on a tray next to where Aiba was hovering, “For our friend in the back corner,”
“Thanks, Jun-chan,” Aiba smiled, lifting the tray and heading to the back, grabbing a pair of chopsticks and some napkins on the way.
“Here you go, sir,” He smiled, placing the food down gently, “One large duck ramen - oh, it looks like Jun-chan gave you extra duck - and one glass of skimmed milk,”
“Thank you,” Came the rich voice from the shadows.
“Tough day?” Aiba asked, unable to stop himself. He couldn’t help wanting to talk to the stranger; there was just something about him that intrigued him. He also loved the sound of his voice.
“You could say that,” Came the short reply.
“Not seen you in a while,”
“Been a little busy,” The tone of voice suggested that he wanted to be left alone, so Aiba hugged the tray to his chest and gave a slight bow.
“Well,” He smiled, “If you want anything, just give me a shout,”
“Of course. Thank you, Aiba-san,”
“You’re welcome,”
Half way back to the kitchen, Aiba froze. The man had never called him by his name before, and it sent chills down his spine - but not in a bad way.
An hour later, Aiba saw that the man had left without anyone realising it. When he headed to the table, there was a large amount of money sitting on the table surface, with a little note that read:
As usual, thank you for the lovely meal and service. Here is a token of my appreciation, please make sure that the chef gets some for providing me with extra duck.
SXIII
“Mm,” Aiba said, reading the note again, “What a lot of initials,”
With a shrug, he popped the card into his pocket and began to clear the table, ready to close for the night.
---
Sho nodded once as the picture was presented to him. In one swift movement, he had pocketed the picture and spun on his heel, leaving the room.
“Number Thirteen,” A voice called from behind him. He stopped walking, but didn’t turn around.
“Yes?”
“I want it done tomorrow night before she makes the speech,”
“Understood,”
Sho made his way home quickly, as it was beginning to get cold. When he reached his little apartment, he unlocked the door and threw it open. Once he was inside and the door shut, he searched every room methodically, palming his gun all the while. When he was sure that he was alone, Sho flicked on the light and gently placed his gun on his kitchen table. He moved to the fridge to pour himself a drink, but just before he could shrug out of his coat, there was a knock at his front door.
Immediately, Sho’s gun went into his pocket, the safety flicked off. He opened the door slowly, to get what felt like the shock of his life.
“Hi there!” Aiba grinned, “I’m Aiba Masaki, your new neighbour! I moved in last week, but haven’t been able to introduce… myself… Hey, do I know you?”
“No,” Sho answered shortly, “Nice to meet you, got to go,”
As Sho tried to push the door shut on Aiba, the other man stepped forward, effectively blocking the doorway, “No, I do know you.. And your voice sounds familiar,”
“Yes, I hear that all the time,” Sho said, still trying to close the door.
“Ah!” Aiba cried, “You’re the duck ramen-milk guy from the shop!”
“Duck ramen-milk?” Sho spluttered, unable to come up with a response.
“Well,” Aiba said, taking a step back to admire Sho, “You’re quite handsome, you know? Why do you always wear that hat over your pretty face?”
Sho spluttered some more, and slammed the door in the mans face.
“Hey! Ess Ex I I I-saaaaan!” Came a loud shout from behind the closed door, accompanied by loud bangs, “I didn’t mean to embarrass you!”
Sho growled to himself and tugged the door open, “My name is Sho Thirteen,” He said, “Not Ess Ex I I I,”
“Oh, Thirteen-san, that’s a strange name!”
“Sho,” Sho grumbled, “Don’t call me Thirteen,”
“Oh, Sho-chan, sorry,”
“Don’t you call me -chan either!” Sho sighed, before slamming the door again. This time, when there was banging, Sho ignored it and went back into his kitchen for his glass of milk.
The knocking died down after a few minutes, and Sho placed his gun back on the table, before opening his back door and stepping out onto the veranda with his glass of milk. He leant forward onto the railing and stared out at the view of the city, taking little sips from his glass every now and then.
“It’s pretty, huh?”
“Mm,”
Sho took another swig from his glass, before choking and spitting it out.
“Are you alright?”
“What are you doing here?!”
“I live here,” Aiba grinned, “I’m your neighbour, weren’t you listening to me?”
Sho did a mental face palm. He had assumed that because it was cold, his neighbours would not go out onto their little balconies.
“I’m getting careless,” He grumbled to himself. He cleared his throat and, louder this time, spoke, “I’m going back inside,”
“Oh don’t!” Aiba begged, “I want to talk to you! I don’t really have many people to talk to.. I get a bit lonely when I don’t have customers at work to talk to,”
Sho sighed, suddenly feeling sorry for the blonde man, “I don’t like to talk,”
“That’s okay, I can talk and you can listen!” It was hard to resist the grin on the mans face, and Sho found himself returning to his previous spot and leaning against the railing.
“Well,” He muttered, “Talk away,”
“I want to know a bit more about you though,” Aiba said, “Can I ask questions?”
“I may not answer,”
“Good! Okay, how old are you?”
Sho frowned and shook his head, “Weren’t you listening?”
“Weren’t you? I asked you a question,” Aiba grinned.
“Fine. I’m twenty nine,”
“Wow! You’re old!” Aiba laughed. When Sho glared at him, he held his hands up and laughed, “I’m twenty nine in a few months,”
Sho snorted and Aiba moved on to the next question, “How long have you lived here?”
“Two years,”
“What is your favourite colour?”
“Green,” Sho felt as though he was being defeated in a fight, but couldn’t help but answer.
“Oh, green? Mine’s red. What do you do for a living?”
Sho stood up, “It’s cold, I’m going inside. Goodnight,” Before Aiba could argue, Sho turned and went back into his house, slamming the door behind him. He had gotten too comfortable and had given away too much of himself already.
Annoyed with himself, Sho stripped down to his boxers and moved to his bedroom. He slipped his gun under the pillow and climbed into bed, hoping that for once he would have no nightmares.
*******
TBC
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Don't you just hate the new "Cut" ?!?!?!?! Grrr! Anyway, I hope you like!