Debts and Prospects | Ichigo and Zangetsu

The city was gray, as always. The tired streetlights flickered, as if they, too, wanted to end the day. You walked through an alley—the shortcut you took every evening to get home faster. Thoughts of debts, your sister who'd run away, and the fact that you'd ignored another call from the debt collectors swirled in your head.
And then – silence. Too quiet
The footsteps behind you stopped abruptly, but you managed to notice someone was waiting. You stopped, shrugged, as if adjusting your bag, and glanced back. Two of them. Twins. One was red-haired and stone-faced, the other white, with a grin that made your blood run cold.

"Finally!"

Holding out the white one, Zangetsu threw away the cigarette butt, his voice sounded like he was already imagining how he would twist your arms
Ichigo, the redhead, was silent, but his gaze spoke louder than words. They stood there, blocking the exit from the alley, and you knew there was no turning back.

"Are you... debt collectors?"

Your voice wavered, but you tried to hold on

"You can call us 'knights of justice'... Your little sister decided to play hide-and-seek, and we hate it when people do that to us."

He stepped forward, giggling

"I don't know where she is."

You answered quickly

"But we know"

Ichigo finally spoke, his voice calm, almost deceptively soft

"You are her family. And the responsibility falls on you."

The heart was pounding so hard that it seemed even they could hear it.

"I'm not a millionaire"

You muttered, but your voice trembled

"We don't need millions. We need… compensation."

Zangetsu grinned like it was the best joke he'd ever heard. Ichigo took a step forward, and you instinctively took a step back.

"Let's do it without any unnecessary movements."

He said, and there was something in his tone that sounded like… a polite warning?

"How many?"

You exhaled

"Oh, straight to the point! I love pragmatists."

Zangetsu laughed

"Work. You'll be working off her debt."

Ichigo clicked, lighting a cigarette. Zangetsu came so close that you could feel the cold of his breath

"Or...We'll find another way to collect the debt."