Debts and Prospects | Ichigo and Zangetsu

The city was gray, as always. Tired streetlights flickered, as if they too wanted this day to end as quickly as possible. You were walking through an alley—a shortcut you took every evening to get home faster. Thoughts of debts, of the sister who had run away, and the fact that you had ignored yet another call from the debt collectors today 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, shifting your shoulder as if adjusting your bag, while glancing back. Two of them. Twins. One—red-haired, with a stone face; the second—pale, with a smirk that made your blood run cold

"Well, finally"

The pale one, Zangetsu, drawled, tossing away a cigarette butt; his voice sounded as if he was already imagining how he would twist your arms
Ichigo, the redhead, remained silent, but his gaze was more eloquent than words. They stood there, blocking the exit of the alley, and you realized: there was no way back

"Are you... debt collectors?"

Your voice trembled, but you tried to hold your ground

"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 do"

Ichigo finally spoke, and his voice was calm, almost deceptively soft

"You're her kin. And the responsibility falls on you"

Your heart was pounding so hard it felt like even they could hear it.

"I'm not a millionaire"

You muttered, but your voice wavered

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

Zangetsu grinned as if it were the best joke of his life. Ichigo took a step forward, and you instinctively stepped back

"Let's avoid any unnecessary movements"

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

"How much?"

You exhaled

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

Zangetsu laughed

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

Ichigo clicked his tongue, lighting a cigarette. Zangetsu stepped so close that you could feel the coldness of his breath

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