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By: Lebeauf
A needle too far, a needle too close. The distance hedgehogs have to find.
Status: ongoing
Published: 2022-08-20
Words: 730
Except for the last-resort-biting right before the packaging, after the
failed negotiation and quick but brutal wrestling that ended in Kaji
overpowering him handily. Kaji checked his wounded hand again,
smirking, while extending his other hand to the side to rip off some
tissues, and began to wipe the sink. Not like he could hide the trace
from a dedicated investigator this way, so this was close to a silly
habit he had. A sort of occupational disease. He had to shrug again
to adjust the phone, his motion almost making it slip out. "It's nothing
serious, right?" Half angry, half dumbfounded answer. "I mean, not
serious serious. Yeah. Figured."
While the tired voice continued over the phone, Kaji put the used
tissue in the toilet and flushed. By the time the redish tissues
disappeared with the pink vortex, the voice also stopped. There was
no one to watch it, but nonetheless he nodded to the mirror. "That's
good to hear. Yeah. Later, then. Kaji out."
There was nothing special about it, but somehow it made Kaji
engulfed in feelings he could not explain himself. A mish-mash lump
of conflicting emotions that felt like longing but at the same time
disgust, drawn but at the same time repulsed. He stood still at the
threshold between the bathroom and the kitchen in confusion for a
while, then shook his head and moved again. He suddenly wanted to
smoke, but he'll have to wait for that. He didn't want to leave his
mark in this place. Or contribute his own scent to the mix, so to
speak. Half crossing the kitchen to the icebox between the table and
the refrigerator, he knelt and undid the plastic lock. Before he could
proceed the whole box shook from side to side and the lid flew off,
nearly exploding away. The would-be kidnapping victim jumped up
from inside, raised his head, and was mortified after finding his
would-be abductor. Kaji flashed his easygoing smirk to the distrustful
beady eyes.
"Wark!"
His little black eyes were so animated and full of emotions, more
than Kaji often saw in many people's eyes in his business. He
couldn't resist a bitter smile at that thought. What an interesting pet
choice Katsuragi made. "One of your roommates was seriously
injured during today's operation, they say."