Tengoku coughed out blood as Claudine stabs him in the back.

Again.

And again.

As the air blew, he pushed himself to fly into the sky, his rapier sticking to hit Claudine. It was freezing, snow was glazing the ground as the two battles on the roof. The white ending has now drops of blood coloring it with red. Their blades meet and Tengoku is having trouble breathing because of his injuries. He swings his sword to the side, hitting the ground. Maya then approached Tengoku with all of her might, forcing him to face the two officers. Then Claudine met his eyes.
Purple meets Red. But he didn't smile. His face stayed in a calm expression that Claudine utterly hates. His eyes were empty and dull and his aura never shined. As he was backed into a corner by the Major and detective, he vanishes leaving the sapphire-white card on the snow-filled ground.

"As the weather chills, you should never lose your thrill."

The Kagayaku Triumvirate has successfully stolen Daffodil from the Hanayagi's household. But only Tengoku showed up at the scene and the other two didn't appear in front of anyone that night. The officers deemed it as a failed mission, yet rejoiced because their detective and major have gravely injured the gentleman thief. The heaps of blood scattered on the snow showed the man's injuries and was gathered for the lab to trace back its owner.

But Claudine wasn't satisfied. Something was off about Tengoku that night they fought on the roof. Even Maya herself noticed the difference of Tenguko from his past heists. Like he was a completely different person from the infuriating man Claudine has been tracking down for months. She scrunches her forehead, remembering they have only 5 more months before the deadline that the general has set for them.

They both met their eyes, Purple and Red. Maya smiled with so much pride and arrogance Claudine wondered if how are they so similar to Tengoku. Were they siblings? Well, no, that's impossible since Maya is the only child. Were just very similar in physical features? Possibly. But the only family with purple eyes is the Tendo's. Not unless... they're the same person.

No, that can't be. Tendo Maya is the general's daughter, and she is even a Major, a high-ranking officer. She takes pride in her achievements and all the cases that she took were never a failure. And besides, Maya was with her when Tengoku stole Daffodil last night. Maybe she was just paranoid.

Yeah, that could be it.

_____

Nana stumbled into Hikari's arms, her vision slowly blurring with blood. She successfully escapes with Daffodil on hand, posing as Tengoku in place of Maya. Her stoic friend slowly wraps her open wounds with bandages to preserve more blood from the blonde. Hikari was no doctor, yet she knew how to treat people even with serious injuries like this.

"Nana, stay awake for me."

If they would go to the hospital, it can be a possible route for police to apprehend them and that would be the worst-case scenario for the trio. They couldn't afford to raise suspicion against Maya, who had her distinctive features that were noticeable on Tengoku. Yet now Nana has to suffer from stab wounds inflicted by the detective. Maya did her best not to hurt her disguised comrade, yet she couldn't protect her from the red-eyed woman.

"Nana, bite your cape. This is going to hurt." With no anesthesia, Hikari sews Nana's wound for it to close. One by one the blonde wanted to cry out from the pain, only that the cloth in her mouth was preventing her.

First wound.

Second wound.

And the third wound.

Each wound has spilled Nana's tears, Hikari wincing at her friend's suffering. After for a few agonizing hours, Hikari wiped the blood-stained flesh of Nana and wrapped it with new clean bandages. The blonde just wanted to pass out from her exhaustion.

She didn't see Junna last night.

_____

As soon as Maya can go home, she quickly took off to Nana's apartment. After seeing her friend get stabbed three times in the torso, she needed to see her friend's condition. Hikari is good at her skills, but death is better at stealing lives. She ran, her combat boots slipping in the snow and air blowing against her. Her body has always been sensitive to the cold ever since she was born, and running out in the street past midnight isn't exactly warming her up. She grits her teeth, arms warped around her body.

It's too cold for Tendo Maya.

"Tendo Maya, what do you think you're doing?" Claudine spoke as sees the Major tried her best to warm herself by blowing warm air into her hands.

"Ah... Good morning to you too, Saijo Claudine." Maya shivered, smiled at the detective, who irritably removed her coat and draped it over the cold major.

"You fool! Are you trying to kill yourself?! Why are you out here in the cold?" Claudine helped the Major walk slowly as she supports her arm and back.

"I have to visit my friend who needs help." With fog on her breath, the major was very pale from her normal complexion and Claudine knew she needed more warmth than just an extra coat.

"You should help yourself first! Do you think your friend would like to see you in this cold dying?" Claudine's apartment was near the area so she hurried to their walking pace, Maya clinging to Claudine. They walked past closed shops and street lamps that were losing their lights. The snow kept getting heavier and heavier as they draw close to the detective's apartment.

"T-thank you, Saijo-san," Maya whispered as both of them step inside the unlighted place. Claudine quickly moved to the kitchen, not before dropping the iced major on her couch who kept shivering and whose teeth were chattering. She came back a few seconds later, helping the brunette who stopped shivering, yet still felt cold.

"Come on, you dummy. Remove your shoes before you move to my bed. The water for your tea is boiling already." Slowly but surely the major finally on the warm mattress of her coworker, curling like a ball. Maya has changed into Claudine's clothes and drank around 10 cups of tea. She can't sleep. She's been thinking about Nana and Hikari, how were they doing or are they alright. A sigh was all that Maya heard before she was blessed by her partner's voice again.

"I know you're still awake, Tendo Maya. Can you please move and give me some space? My bed isn't that wide, unlike what you have on the general's mansion."

"Right. I apologize." Maya scoots away from the middle, moving to the side, making sure she doesn't fall off. Claudine gently gets into the sheets, shuffling before facing the major.

Purple. Red.

"Are you still cold?"

"No, I'm feeling better, thank you." Maya softly smiled, very different from her usual smirk.

"Okay..."

"May I hug you?"

"Ha?! What? Why?"

"..."

"Fine..." Strong arms wrapped around her waist and the major buried her head on Claudine's neck, breathing deeply. In response, Claudine placed her hand on the brunette's back, caressing her brown locks as the two of them fall asleep.

They were never deemed to have a close relationship with each other, yet sometimes both found comfort in physical touches like this. People see them as partners who never got along because of their bickering and disagreements every day in the office. But they work perfectly. The major never oversteps the detective's boundaries when it comes to her job and private life and the other does the same.

They aren't lovers.

Nor friends.

Just two people with the same work and goals.

That's what Claudine thought.

That both of them wanted to catch Tengoku to gain pride and success. But Maya thought differently. She wanted the detective's passion and the thrill that comes with it. Before she became Tengoku, everyone was lifeless and unmotivated about what they're doing. Her father said that those are people useless, people, who had lost their shine a long time ago.

She isn't one of them.

She then talked to the two most trustworthy people she found and treasured in her life. She told them she wanted to find her spark, someone who can shine brightly as her. By being a thief, it has given her new goals and achievements that filled her with delight. And Claudine was exactly the woman who she was looking for. Red eyes full of fire and the desire to capture Maya's alternate persona, Tengoku. She loved watching the girl perform with her on the stage. Every case, every heist, and every single day Maya watched the detective work brightly that nearly blinded her. She was the heroine of every story she played and Maya was there watching from the sidelines, not until she becomes Tengoku.

The sun rises as the two stayed together in each other's arms.

____

"Hanayagi-san, Daffodil is in the other room." Hikari stoically says as she met eyes with the blue devil. She was beside the resting Nana, making sure her friend was still alive from her injuries.

"I know. I saw it. But that isn't the only thing I came here for. Is Banana alright?" Kaoruko was genuinely concerned and felt sorry at the state of her friend. She didn't expect Nana to dress up as Tengoku and steal the Daffodil.

"Well, at least for now. We just have to hope that her wounds aren't infected. Where is Maya?"

"I thought she came here. She ran after they finished up cleaning, leaving all of us behind. And Claudine ran after her soon after."

"I guess she froze to death outside. Anyway, can you please get a professional doctor to check on Nana? Because of your heirloom, Banana has to suffer."

"Oh please, the doctor is here already. Now move away so I can see Banana properly." Kaoruko tossed her blue hair aside and smirks at the stoic brunette.

"I doubt your medical skills are enough to be called professional."

"Will you shut up, Kagura?!"

_____

"Junna! We have received a letter from Tengoku!" Futaba exclaims as she quickly moves to give Junna the white envelope, stamped with the thief's name. Claudine hasn't come to work yet because of the heists last night. And even Major Maya, who is also absent from the office. And the most expected one, Kaoruko, is also missing. Junna opened the sealed envelope, facing everyone, and read it out loud.

Dear Beloved Officers,

Your year is nearly ending and I am utterly surprised at how you never caught me. Though Detective Saijo is such a wonderful entertainer. I would like to commend you as well for focusing on Kaeru-san and Shiro-san's identity. So as a reward for your hard work, I will be on constant heists for the next months to come. Giving everyone an opportunity to seize Odette the Mavericks from my hand, if you're lucky and talented enough.

Sending My Regards,
Kagayaku Tengoku