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Dealing with the criminal underworld was a year round job. Dealing with a certain Wabiru was especially so. Holidays could be expected to be interrupted at any time— Mika had given up trying to plan any Christmas-Slash-Birthday celebrations after one or the other had been interrupted almost every year she’d been on Wabiru’s case. It almost seemed like the pink haired criminal did it on purpose, especially after learning about Mika’s birthday by accident.
She’d been in the middle of a small birthday dinner with Arashi and Ritsu when the call came and she had to rush to the warehouse they’d been staking out without time to change. No matter, she always had her badge on her, and could borrow a gun from one of the other officers. There wasn’t anything she could do about the heels Arashi had stuck her in, but they at least weren’t obnoxious. Mika realized too late that in her haste, she’d left her jacket behind, leaving her in just the strapless dress in a cold warehouse. But it was fine. They would catch Wabiru as quickly as they could, and Mika could climb into a warm car and everything else could be handled in the morning.
As if anything involving Wabiru could be so simple.
She had to move carefully and slowly through the warehouse to keep the heels from making too much noise as she went. The cold crept in quickly, making her arms tremble. At least she had warm tights, Arashi had at least planned for that when she’d picked out Mika’s outfit for the night. Not that it did much for the rest of her shivering frame.
She crept towards a back room of the warehouse, peeking around the door and finding a desk and empty chair in the center of the room. No sign of Wabiru, but the papers on the desk could be promising. No one had found Wabiru in any part of the warehouse– Either their information of her being there was wrong, or she’d slipped away before they got there. With a sigh, Mika crossed the room to the desk. She set her gun down and shifted through the papers. A few empty pages, a layout of the warehouse.
And copies of Mika’s case files.
A shudder ran down her spine as she shifted through them. Every note she’d made on Wabiru, every annoyed quip when she slipped through their fingers again and again.
But how?
She chewed her bottom lip as she tried to gather the pages in a pile, worried noises escaping her as she did. The files should’ve been secured. If her boss found out that someone had gotten the files…
Well, she hadn’t planned to start the new year looking for a new job, but she probably would be now!
“Oh, what’s this, detective?” An all too familiar voice called from behind her.
Mika whirled around, stumbling back against the desk. Wabiru stood in front of the now closed door, arms crossed as her eyes slowly slid down Mika’s body before snapping back to her face.
“Did you get all dolled up for me? How adorable.”
“As if.” Another shudder ran down Mika’s spine as she blindly reached for the gun. “Yer timing sucked.”
Wabiru chuckled, slowly crossing the room toward Mika. “Then do tell, what’s the occasion? Obviously nothing work related with that dress.”
Mika curled in on herself, grabbing the gun in one hand and adjusting the top of the dress with the other. “Nothin’ that concerns ya. Not when yer gonna be in jail soon anyways.”
“Am I, though?” Wabiru stopped a little more than arms length away, grinning at Mika, unconcerned with the gun now aimed at her. “You’ve yet to succeed any other time we’ve met, so what makes today special, dear detective?”
“Cause I ain’t gonna let ya ruin ma birthday fer nothin’–!” She snapped her mouth shut, face flushing.
“Oh my, it’s your birthday? What a shame, I would’ve brought a gift had I known.”
“It ain’t– I didn’t mean–”
“The day after Christmas? How adorable.” Wabiru leaned forward with a smirk. “Did I interrupt a party? A dinner? I’ll have to send my apologies to your little friends.”
“You–! Sh-Shut up!” She fought to keep her teeth from chattering, arms trembling as she gripped the gun. “Ya a-ain’t gonna be doin’ anything from j-jail!”
“How do you plan to arrest me without cuffs, detective? I don’t see how you would hide them on you in that.”
Mika paled, sputtering as the realization hit that she really had walked in without cuffs. Her arms lowered, the gun no longer aimed at Wabiru. The taller woman hummed and stepped closer, pulling the gun from her hand and setting it aside on the desk. Mika gripped her arms, shivering and leaning away from Wabiru.
“You must be freezing, did you not bring a coat, my dear?”
“F-Forgot it,” Mika mumbled, feeling her cheeks heat up as Wabiru leaned closer, caging her against the desk.
“In a rush, were you?” Wabiru tsk’d, shaking her head. “Well, we can’t have you catching cold on your birthday.” She shrugged out of her thick, red coat and draped it over Mika’s shoulders.
The warmth from the taller woman seeped into her quickly and Mika gripped the edges of the coat. She looked down, sniffing and trying to will away the frustrated tears pricking at her eyes to no avail.
“Th-Thank ya kindly.”
Wabiru hummed and took a small step back. She gently grabbed Mika’s chin and tilted her head up.
“Pretty girls shouldn’t cry on their birthdays. You’ll ruin your makeup as well.”
“‘S yer fault! Ya had to go showin’ up here ‘n I didn’t get ta change so I didn’t have ma cuffs to arrest ya an’ I’m too much of a coward ta actually shoot ya so ‘m gonna look stupid ‘cause I didn’t arrest ya and ya have all ma case files somehow–”
“Shhh, calm down, Kagehira. No one will know I was here unless you tell them. I’ll take the files with me, and you can go back to your birthday.”
“I can’t lie-!”
“Well, if you want to look like a fool on your birthday, then be my guest, but I don’t think you want that. I could get you out of here without them ever knowing, but I don’t think that would go over well either, would it?”
Mika sniffled and shook her head. Wabiru pulled out a handkerchief and held it out to Mika.
“Clean yourself up, my dear detective, you have a birthday party to get back to. I won’t need this back, so don’t worry about ruining it.”
She took the handkerchief, dabbing at her eyes and wiping her nose. Wabiru leaned down and pressed a kiss to her cheek before stepping back with a smirk.
“Happy birthday, detective. Keep the coat as well, it looks good on you.”
And the next three years had something come up on either Christmas or her birthday, always ending with a card and flowers addressed to her, and always ending with her embarrassed and frustrated.
This year, she wouldn’t let Wabiru get the better of her. This year, she was prepared. No plans for either day, celebrations with her friends were postponed to the day after her birthday. She would be dressed for it, she would have her cuffs, and she wouldn’t let Wabiru get through her fingers this year.
So, when evening came on Christmas and she got a text from an unknown number with an address, she moved quickly. As soon as she arrived at the address, before she could even figure out what the place was, another text came from the same number with a different address. She frowned at the text, looking around and up for any sign of Wabiru, but found nothing. Had she taken too long, or was Wabiru sending her around and around to mess with her? With an annoyed huff, she set off for the next address, only to get the same result of a new one before she could investigate. Would Wabiru even respond if she texted the number? She typed out a message, finger hovering over the send button for a few moments before stabbing down with a huff.
‘I’m not running around the entire city.’
The only response was the address being sent again. At least it wasn’t no response, but it was equally as annoying. She reluctantly made her way to the third address, not surprised when a fourth was texted to her.
‘What if I don’t go?’
The same response as before, and equally as frustrating. Mika glanced around, finding a bench and plopping down. Wabiru couldn’t make her play her ridiculous game unless she made an appearance and forced the matter, so she would just refuse.
Not even five minutes after she sat down, another text with the address came through.
And another.
And another.
A repeat spam until she got up with a frustrated groan, stomping off for the address. She had her phone out, waiting for the next text as she approached the address, the message coming through right as expected.
‘What if I go home?’
The address. Again.
She glared at the phone before shoving it in her pocket and stomping away. Truly, if the woman wasn’t going to make an appearance and make Mika run around the city for nothing, why should she do it? And if Wabiru did show up, Mika would have a perfect opportunity to finally arrest her. But unless that happened, she wasn’t going to waste her time running around aimlessly. Her phone buzzed in her pocket with more texts that went ignored. It eventually stopped, and Mika barely had enough time to hope Wabiru had given up before her phone buzzed with an incoming call. She stepped into a side alley, glaring at the number on the screen before answering.
“What d’you want?”
“The game doesn’t work if you refuse to play along, detective.”
Mika scowled. “I never agreed ta yer games, Wabiru.”
“Oh? Do you have something better to be doing with your holiday, then? Perhaps I’ll join you.”
Her teasing tone had Mika ducking her head.
“Like ya don’t already know I don’t, ain’t that why yer tryn’a make me run all over like a fool?”
“I assure you, there’s a point behind it. All in due time, my dear.”
“I ain’t wastin’ my time with this, ‘M goin’ home.”
Wabiru sighed on the other end. “It’ll be worth it in the end, detective, I guarantee that. Just play along for now.”
Mika huffed in annoyance. “The only thing that’d make this worth anythin’ is if it ended with you turnin’ yerself in already.”
A soft laugh came from the other end, bringing an embarrassed flush to Mika’s cheeks. “You know as well as I do, that won’t be happening anytime soon. Where’s the fun in giving up? I quite enjoy our little game of cat and mouse, don’t you, detective?”
“What part of this is supposed to be fun for me? All ya do is make me look like I don’t know how ta do ma job ‘n I gotta take on extra work all the time so ma boss doesn’t fire me.”
“They won’t fire you.”
“‘N how would ya know?”
“Just trust me, detective. Your job is far more secure than any of your coworkers.”
“That’s—” Mika frowned, pulling the phone away to glare at it. If Wabiru was implying what she thought she was…
“You’re thinking very loudly, detective. Care to share your thoughts?”
Mika turned away from the opening to the alley and pressed the phone back to her ear. “Are ya sayin’ ‘M not good enough at ma job to keep it on my own?”
“Far from it, detective, but I just like to guarantee that they won’t take you off my case.”
“You—” Mika ducked her head, glaring at the ground. “Why?!”
“Isn’t it obvious? I like you, Kagehira,” Wabiru said, drawing out her name and enunciating each syllable.
Mika huffed. The alley being empty was a blessing with the blush rising to her cheeks. “Sh-shut up. ‘M done with yer game, ‘s cold ‘n late ‘n I wanna go home.”
“I can’t stop you, all I ask is you take your time, if you won’t play along.”
“Y’ain’t givin’ me much reason ta want to,” Mika said with a huff, crossing her free arm over her chest.
“And ruin the surprise? Perish the thought. Surely you can find something to delay yourself, hm?”
“Why’re ya so adamant that I don’t go home? Are you—” Mika paled at the thought of Wabiru in her apartment. It was so obvious, and Mika had played right into her hand by going to that first address without even thinking of what she could be getting into. Idiot.
Wabiru chuckled before the line went dead. Mika’s arm dropped, staring at the screen in dumbfounded horror. Wabiru knowing where she lived wasn’t a surprise, but Mika so willingly giving her a chance to break in was. Mika could only hope she wouldn’t snoop too far.
Even her fastest option was still a good thirty minutes from her home. And Wabiru knowing she was coming meant she had plenty of time to clear out, once again leaving Mika with empty cuffs and a wasted holiday.
Mika groaned, shoving her phone in her coat pocket. No point spending the money for a cab if it still meant Wabiru would have all the time she needed. Transit and walking it was.
It was a little past midnight by the time she walked up to her door. Naru had texted her as soon as midnight hit with a long, sappy message that had her tearing up as she got off the train. The gnawing anxiety quickly overtook as she got closer to her apartment. Living in a larger building at least meant Wabiru couldn’t easily take out every apartment, but her own apartment? There’s a lot that could be done to a single unit.
As the elevator climbed, so too did her anxiety, to a point of making her nauseous by the time it stopped at her floor. The hallway was unchanged, a good sign. The door to her unit didn’t even appear tampered with to get inside. Not much of a comfort, knowing how Wabiru was a master of leaving no trace when she wanted to. Mika unlocked the door, slowly opening it and peering around it. The only light came from the hallway behind her, the apartment still in complete darkness as she’d left it. She toed out of her shoes and tip toed her way deeper into the apartment. The living room was untouched when she turned on the light.
The kitchen was her next target. She’d rushed out in the middle of making dinner, leaving everything on the counters, but the light revealed clean counters. And a small cake on the table. Definitely not what she expected to find after thinking a criminal mastermind had broken into her home. Mika sighed and walked over to the table.
A small, round white cake, with neat script reading ‘Happy Birthday, Kagehira.’ with a pink heart underneath. The only other decoration was a few strawberry slices cut into hearts. She frowned, turning to look further into the apartment.
Instead of an empty archway leading back to the living room, she turned to see Wabiru blocking her path with a smug grin. Mika stumbled back a half step, grabbing a chair to steady herself.
“You—!”
“Do you like it, detective? You didn’t give me much time to decorate it, but I think the simplicity works well, no?”
“Whu— Huh?! Ya had me runnin’ around the city so ya could decorate a cake?”
“Of course not.” She took a step forward into the kitchen, head tilted slightly. “I had you run around the city so I could bake and decorate a cake for you. Had you played along, I would’ve been able to do more, but I still had to allow time to clean up.”
“Why?”
“For your birthday, of course. Isn’t that obvious?”
Mika frowned and shook her head. “I don’t get why ya would do any of this at all. Yer supposed to antagonize ‘n annoy me while I try to find ‘n catch ya cause yer you.”
“And who says we have to live like that?” Wabiru walked closer, stopping less than an arm's length away from Mika. “Why not take a day off from all of that and just enjoy your birthday?”
“Cause ya ain’t let me the last few years! I can’t make any plans fer ma birthday ‘cause I never know what yer gonna do,” Mika said with a huff.
Wabiru let out a soft laugh, taking another step closer to Mika. “Then let me make up for that this year.”
Mika furrowed her brow, looking up at the taller woman. Wabiru leaned down, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Mika’s ear.
“Let me treat you this year, Kagehira.”
“Wh-Whaddaya even mean?” There was no hiding the blush on her cheeks, not with how close Wabiru was.
“My dear, I know you’re smarter than that. Do I have to spell it out for you?” Wabiru sighed and shook her head. She grabbed Mika around the waist, pulling her against the taller woman. “How have you not figured this out by now?”
Mika let out an undignified squeak, cheeks growing redder. She couldn’t deny that she’d definitely had… Thoughts about Wabiru. The taller woman was plenty attractive, and always seemed to make a point of teasing Mika.
“Tell me to stop, detective," Wabiru muttered, pressing a kiss to the corner of her mouth. “Or I’ll think you want this too.”
Mika’s breath hitched, caught in her throat as she grabbed the front of Wabiru’s coat. Wabiru let out a satisfied hum.
“Is that a yes, Kagehira?”
If asked, Mika wouldn’t be able to say what came over her, but something in her brain flipped like a switch and she pushed up on her toes to kiss Wabiru, clinging to her jacket like a lifeline. Wabiru hummed again, tightening her hold around Mika’s waist. She pulled away all too soon, with Mika fighting the urge to pout at her.
“It’s late. You should rest, my dear.”
At that, Mika did pout. “Will ya stay?”
“Did I say I was leaving?” Wabiru chuckled. “If you wish for me to stay, then I’ll stay. It is your birthday, after all.”