Chapter 27: Garden of Anemones

The night air was thick with tension, the scent of rain lingering from the earlier downpour. Water dripped from the rooftops, pooling in the cracks of the pavement, reflecting the dim glow of the streetlights. Somewhere in the distance, the sound of a siren wailed, then faded into the silence of the alleyway where Hana and Chou stood.

Hana adjusted her gloves, her fingers slightly numb from the cold. The mission had gone sideways. It was supposed to be clean—a quick in-and-out operation. Instead, they had walked into an ambush.

Chou exhaled sharply, pressing a hand against her side. The dark fabric of her jacket was slick with blood, though she hadn't said a word about it.

"Chou—"

"I'm fine," Chou cut in, flashing a lopsided grin that didn't quite reach her eyes. "You worry too much."

Hana scowled. "That's because you don't worry enough."

Chou chuckled, but it came out weaker than usual. Hana felt something twist in her chest.

They needed to get out of here. Now.

She glanced over her shoulder. The alley was narrow, the only exit leading out to the main street. There was no telling if their pursuers were still out there. They had barely managed to escape the initial attack, and Hana had no doubt that whoever had set them up was still hunting them down.

Hana took a steadying breath, forcing herself to focus. "We need to move. Can you run?"

Chou rolled her shoulders. "Depends. Are we talking 'casual jog' or 'sprint for our lives'?"

Hana shot her a look. "Guess."

Chou sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But if I pass out halfway, you better carry me."

Hana didn't even dignify that with a response. Instead, she grabbed Chou's arm and pulled her forward.

They moved quickly, weaving through the backstreets, avoiding the main roads where they could be spotted. Hana could feel Chou's movements slowing, her breath coming a little too sharp.

Damn it.

Hana's grip tightened around Chou's wrist as she glanced around, searching for cover. Just ahead, an old abandoned café sat nestled between two taller buildings, its windows boarded up, its sign faded and barely legible.

It would have to do.

"Come on," Hana muttered, dragging Chou toward it.

They slipped inside, the scent of dust and damp wood hitting them immediately. The place had been left untouched for years—chairs overturned, tables covered in grime, the faint scent of stale coffee still clinging to the air.

Hana helped Chou sit down in a booth, her hands already moving to peel back the layers of fabric around Chou's wound.

"Seriously," Chou grumbled, wincing as Hana pressed down on the bleeding. "You're hovering."

"And you're bleeding," Hana shot back. "So shut up and let me do this."

Chou huffed but didn't argue. Instead, she let her head fall back against the seat, her gaze settling on Hana with something unreadable in her eyes.

"…You know, this reminds me of our first mission together," Chou murmured.

Hana scoffed. "Our first mission didn't involve you bleeding all over the place."

Chou smirked. "No, but you were just as worried."

Hana's hands stilled for a fraction of a second before she continued wrapping the bandage. "…I wasn't worried."

Chou raised an eyebrow. "Liar."

Hana refused to meet her gaze. "You're annoying."

Chou grinned. "You love it."

Hana rolled her eyes, but her chest felt oddly tight.

She finished securing the bandage, then sat back with a sigh. "There. That'll hold for now."

Chou lifted her arm slightly, inspecting Hana's work. "Damn, you're getting good at this. Almost like you care."

Hana scoffed. "Don't push it."

But the teasing was good. It meant Chou wasn't as bad as she could have been.

Still, the weight of the night hadn't lifted. Someone had betrayed them. Someone had set them up. And if they didn't figure out who, they wouldn't survive the next time.

Hana glanced out the window, her fingers drumming lightly against the table. "We can't stay here long. They're probably still looking for us."

Chou hummed, tilting her head. "Then let's turn the tables."

Hana frowned. "What?"

Chou leaned forward slightly, her expression shifting into something sharp, something calculating. "They set us up. Which means they think we're dead, or close to it. That gives us an advantage."

Hana narrowed her eyes. "You want to go after them?"

Chou grinned. "Hell yeah."

Hana exhaled. She should have expected that answer.

"…You're reckless," she muttered.

Chou shrugged. "And you're cautious. We balance each other out."

Hana shook her head, but a small smile tugged at her lips.

Damn her.

"…Fine," Hana relented. "But if you get yourself killed, I'm gonna be really pissed."

Chou's laughter filled the empty café, warm despite everything. "Deal."

And just like that, they were back on their feet, ready to take on whatever came next.