Chapter 151 - #150 First encounter (1/2)

---1 Day later, at the evening---

Akashi was sitting at the table in his study with furrowed brows and a serious look in his eyes.

*Creek* ”Hm? What's with that expression? What happened?” Poney who just walked in while drying her long loose hair with towel asked with a confused expression. She also came in with snacks that she put down on Akashi's table before jumping back on his sofa or more like her sofa by now.

”...Bringing snacks won't make it easier for you to laze around me. Anyway, another guy fell victim to Aria's sweet-talking.” Akashi said with narrowed eyes, thinking hard about something.

”Hm? Then why are you behaving like that? Haven't you expected this to happen already?” Poney asked with a smile, happy to redirect their conversation away from her laziness.

”I wasn't really expecting it to happen...It was more of a fun rather than a true ȧssumption.” Akashi raised his head and looked at Poney with a slightly troubled look.

”That doesn't matter now, does it? Tell me, what do you ”assume” that will happen with their friend?” Poney said while shrugging her shoulders before she asked with a curious look.

Akashi who just heard her words, couldn't help but smile.

”I guess it doesn't matter as for what I would ”assume” to happen...Either Aria will put him together with his friends or she might play with him a bit more, it all depends if she will discover that he is looking for his friends and those friends are the ones who are being tortured by her. Either way, we will discover that after Ichika report back to us.” Akashi said while supporting her head with one hand resting on the table. He was quite amused by this twist of events.

'Everything that's missing is Night Raid's presence and Taeko stepping in to stop this marriage between me and Aria, haha' Akashi thought with an amused smile but he was aware that Night Raid might appear since they were targeting people based on the severeness of their crimes.

He was sure that Aria's family was bound to become their target one day.

'I will contact Seryuu tomorrow afternoon and have a talk with her about her help. We will see if she can organize a small patrolling party but it looks like her superior favors her so there shouldn't be any problem with that.' Akashi thought with his eyes closed.

---1 Day later---

Unexpectedly, Aria decided to use Tatsumi as her pet for a bit even though he had no idea about it. Most likely it was the feeling of having him around all happy while also having his friends he is looking for so close to him. Her entire family was twisted and they weren't mentally ill in a way that they liked torturing people, no, they liked torturing innocent people specifically who have never done anything against them which was one thing that completely disgusted Akashi.

.

.

”Come on, Tatsumi! You need to help me with the preparation for my wedding!” Aria shouted at a young man of average height with green eyes and medium-length brown hair.

”Y-Yes, I am coming!” Tatsumi replied with a look of helplessness in his face while chasing after Aria who kept running from one shop to another.

All the time they were outside, shopping, there was constantly someone following them without them even being aware of that. Most people weren't even paying any attention to beggars therefore they were best for this tailing and information gathering.

---Inside Akashi's study, at night---

”Young lord, they are still alive but I am afraid that they won't live for too long in case we don't stop them from getting tortured for some time so they can recover some strength. They are also getting slightly suspicious, both sides that is. I always treated them while they were unconscious and until now they kept thinking that it was their enemies who treated them but I am afraid it won't take too long until they lose it and plead them to stop treating their wounds...” Ichika reported to Akashi while standing in front of his desk. She was currently having a serious expression and bits of disgust were still present in her eyes. Despite being experienced and all, she was still disgusted when she saw insides of Aria's family's warehouse behind their mansion.

”Well, there is no longer a need to wait since I have no idea when they will add that Tatsumi to his friends. I hope he won't stand in our way before we show him his friends. You have done a splendid job, thank you, Ichika” Akashi said and stood up from his seat, making Poney who was lazying around stand up in attention too.

”Can I go with you, young long?” Ichika asked with a pleading smile.

”No.” Akashi bluntly replied.

”Huh?” Ichika was slightly surprised how quickly he shut her request down.

”You should go rest, there is no need to see more of those disgusting things than necessary.” Akashi said and despite Ichika wanting to join in, she accepted his decision in the end.

”You can come with me but once the Imperial Police appears, I want you to disappear. Even though you will be wearing that mask, there is no need to take any unnecessary risks.” Akashi said while looking at Poney but he didn't even wait for her answer before grabbing his black military coat and sword and then he simply walked out of his study.

”W-Wait for me!” Poney shouted while grabbing the clothes to wear over her current ones and mask before she sprinted out of the room, chasing after Akashi.

On the way outside, Akashi met Kurome so he asked her if she wants to join in since it would be awkward not to ask her after running into her. He didn't really want her to see unnecessary things but it was her choice since she was already responsible for herself and her decisions. Of course, she immediately agreed...

When they arrived near their mansion...

'Hm? A bloodlust?' Akashi frowned and stopped while stopping both Kurome and Poney with his hands.

”What is it?” Kurome asked with a confused expression while looking around, trying to find anything suspicious. Poney was visibly confused by Akashi's actions too.