"Ryuuzaki, are you coming?" I turned around to face the detective. For some reason, he was standing motionless and staring directly up at a tree. His index finger was pressed against his lips, and he appeared to be deep in thought.
"...Ryuuzaki?"
"There seems to be something wrong with this tree."
What was he talking about? It looked fine to me. There were even little orange fruits growing on it. And the leaves looked nice and green too.
"What do you mean Ryuuzaki?"
"I mean that something is wrong with this tree."
...uhm...
That didn't exactly answer my question.
"Well, such as what?"
Without moving a muscle he explained. "I've been to this tree before. Two years ago, in fact, I stopped and collected a bag of apricots. Last year I forgot to come back, and this year it doesn't...look right. There are only a few apricots here, and when I first saw this tree it was covered with them."
I looked up. Indeed, I hadn't noticed before, it was an apricot tree. He was right about there not being much fruit.
"Doesn't this tree belong to somebody, meaning you stole the apricots?"
"I only took what was hanging outside their property, and I hardly consider it stealing as the fruit would have fallen and gone to waste otherwise." L stepped up on his tip-toes and moved a branch aside.
"I want to take an apricot home with me..." Gingerly, he plucked a slightly green fruit from a low hanging branch and cradled it in his hand as though it were a precious gem. He then wiped it with his sleeve, removing any dust and insects that may have been on it, and took a small bite. As he did so, his eyes became distant and I could tell he was reminiscing about a time long ago.
With a bony hand, he offered me the apricot.
"Would you like a bite Raito-kun?"
I do enjoy apricots, and despite the fact that it hadn't been washed I took it from him and bit into it. The fruit was rather dry and slightly mealy, as is typical for apricots, and it wasn't very sweet. There was a bitter taste as well, not unpleasant however. I handed it back to L and he promptly devoured what remained.
Holding up the pit, he tilted his head and began explaining some facts he knew about Prunus armeniaca. "Apricots are in the same family as roses. Other fruits belong to this family as well, including apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, quinces and both sweet and bitter almonds. The flowers are the distinguishing feature, as each typically have five petals. If you crack open the pit, you will find that the kernel resembles an almond as well." He bent down and set the pit on a rock, then deftly cracked it open with another stone and held up the kernel with his thumb and forefinger.
"See? Almond!"
He gave it to me and I looked at it carefully.
Wow.
It really did look like and almond, just smaller and fatter.
I put the seed into my pocket and we continued walking, a heavy breeze shaking the branches of the apricot tree as we left.
A one-shot based on actual events which took place two days ago. If the title 'Ume' confuses you, allow me explain; Ume are Japanese plums, as the english translation calls them. In truth, ume are more closely related to apricots, as the immature green fruits of the apricot can be used in place of actual ume in recipes which call for the real thing. Thus the title. :)
I'm working on writing first person POV, do tell me if I'm doing a good job.
C. Vincenti