Hotaru leaned out of the small window that he, thankfully, he had access to from his corner inside the office. He was all for small mercies and this was one of them. Konoha’s temperature was no joke this time of the year, the sun had gone down a hot minute ago and it was still scorching. If it weren’t for the clear blue skies, he’d say they were in for a summer storm. As per usual, he was the last person in the office. Looking over the reports his boss had dropped on his desk after Hotaru [i]finished his own tasks for the day so quick, he could lend his colleagues a hand[/i]. [quote][right][i]A dark, old laboratory covered in dust. It’s obviously been abandoned for years now; it carries the kind of eeriness one would find in haunted spots. Something bad had happened here, something really bad. [color=FF00FF]“I feel…like I’ve been here before.”[/color][/i][/right][/quote] It was roughly midnight by the time Hotaru got inside his car, taking a few minutes to light a cigarette and stretch his legs before picking his team mates for their weekly dinner at Midsummer’s. Chisato and Hotaru hung out every now and then before; but once they turned into a trio, it became a habit to gather often. Dinner, lunch, or even just to chat about their days over some beer. Hotaru’s boss was a bastard, Chisato’s sister was a bitch and Sayuri’s fiance was an asshole. It might sound a bit disturbing but each of their personal lives was fucked up enough that going on a mission was a reprieve. And damn, if they weren’t all itching for a new one. No matter what fucked up deal they ended up with. [quote][right][i]The old lady smiled, patience keeping her still. But was she waiting like a predator waits for the right time to pounce? Even if that was the case…there was no other way. [color=00FA9A]“The first mission…the one right after I enlisted. We saw something.”[/color] She whispered, [color=00FA9A]“We saw something we shouldn’t have seen.”[/color][/i][/right][/quote] True to its title as the city that never sleeps, even at such a late hour Konoha was still bustling and hustling with activity. Friends out for a drink, clubs shaking the ground with their beats, late date nights with too loud giggling and flushed cheeks and the tourists. The freaking tourists. The Uchiha Casino, one of Konoha’s hot spots, was no different. Hotaru was sure he’d never seen the front door closed in his entire life; and he’s been visiting the place for half his life, courtesy of being mates with one of the Uchiha. [color=FF4500]“Oh, dude, I thought you were never going to show up,”[/color] Chisato shouted, rushing over as soon as he spotted Hotaru standing among the middle aged office workers who were here to escape their wives, and waste their money trying for that one in a lifetime chance of starting over. There was a stark difference in the polish of the Casino’s building, and the trash that usually frequented it. Of course, the higher standing customers were lead to the VIP class rooms. [color=FF4500]“Sis has gone nuts,”[/color] Chisato informed him, exasperation in his eyes. [color=FF4500]“She found some dude using some kind of mirror ninjutsu to cheat at cards and dragged him down to the basement.”[/color] No wonder the house orchestra was playing so loud. Probably covering up for their mistress’ hobby. [color=FF00FF]“Nice.”[/color] Hotaru told him. [color=FF00FF]“Can't stay for the gruesome details though. We won’t be able to wake Sayuri up if she sleeps any longer.”[/color] [color=FF4500]“Bitch could work a day in her life,”[/color] Chisato grumbled. [color=FF4500]“Wouldn’t kill her to leave that green house and come give me a hand in here once in a while.”[/color] Chisato shrugged. [color=FF00FF]“Why don't you ask her.”[/color] [quote][right][i][color=FF4500]“I got no idea how you’re so smart and dumb at the same time. Fucking hell, you tell us everything from now on. EVERYTHING. And we decide whether shit’s okay or not okay. You hear me?”[/color][/i][/right][/quote] Thankfully, the little lady had fallen asleep in the green house. The lights were out when they found her, surrounded by cats and a magazine on her lap. Hotaru still shivered at the hell they’d faced once, when they had to drag her sleeping body directly from her room and her entire family freaked out. They threw her into the back of Hotaru’s car and went on their merry way. [color=FF4500]“She’s gonna get kidnapped for real one day,”[/color] Chisato commented, once they were inside the car. [color=FF00FF]“Look at you,”[/color] Hotaru looked at him from the corner of his eyes. [color=FF00FF]“You almost sound worried. Should let Mimi see you now, might actually take you somewhere to show her more than your usual stoic cool guy persona.”[/color] [color=FF4500]“Fuck you man,”[/color] Chisato flipped him off. He didn’t look all that bothered though, his eyes taking that dreamy softness look they usually do when they talk about Midsummer’s waitress. Hotaru laughed. [color=FF00FF]“Just worried for you. At the rate you’re going, we’ll get Kingom Hearts 4 out before you get a date with her."[/color] [quote][right][i]It’s not happiness, laughter, or warmth. The pain is what brought them together; and it’s fear that keeps them standing shoulder to shoulder, hands clasped so tight nothing could ever break them apart.[/i][/right][/quote] The gentle steam of a hot cup of tea woke up Sayuri when Hotaru and Chisato started tearing into their meals with the hunger of starving people who’d worked their asses off the entire day. She scrunched her nose up at the sight but was way too dainty to actually comment on it, instead taking a sip of her mint tea. Chisato mostly ignored her reproachful look, continuing their conversation even with his mouth full of meat. [color=FF4500]“That’s bullshit, one week would be more than enough.”[/color] [color=00FA9A]“Our last mission was C-rank so it’s natural they’re making us wait to go on the next,”[/color] Sayuri chimed in, sharply understanding what they were going on about. [color=FF00FF]“It’s a protective measure…we’d be grateful for it if we weren’t such a freak team, as HQ so kindly informed me,”[/color] Hotaru said with a sarcastic tilt in his, otherwise, peach boy voice. [color=FF00FF]“They’re just scared we’re moving too fast.”[/color] [color=FF4500]“Sis tells me there’s noise in the background,”[/color] Chisato whispered. [color=FF4500]“Some mess they’re going wild about.”[/color] [color=FF00FF]“Whatever may be the case,”[/color] Hotaru put down his fork to take a swig of his beer. [color=FF00FF]“We should be getting a new assignment soon.”[/color] [quote][right][i]The sun felt warm on their backs. [color=00FA9A]“It would be nice…if we could always go home like this, together.”[/color][/i][/right][/quote][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/JcgY7dm.png[/img] [center] [sup][h1] [color=black]WHEN THE SUN SETS WE GO HOME TOGETHER [/color] [color=white]WHEN THE SUN SETS WE GO HOME TOGETHER[/color] [/h1][/sup] [/center] [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVAt8jwUobI]Episode Hotaru: Your Eyes Tell[/url][/center]