Welcome to my mini series! If you haven't read my story Never Meant to, this involves the same main character and tells a story about her occurring in a five year time skip that happens at one point. If you no matter what do not plan on reading my original work and the source material for this, you are free to proceed without qualms. If there is any possibility you will read the original story I wrote, though, I invite you to read it first. This does include major spoilers for it, and that's no fun. If you are new to my writing, I have a tradition of sorts where I leave out the physical descriptions of my characters so you can see them however you like, or even put yourself in their place. Whereas I usually do, I will not describe this character in the last chapter. I already did so in the final chapter of the original work. For those of you who read my original work, welcome back! I hope you like the Kezu you find within these side chapters.
And now, the curtains are drawn to begin.
"I've never drank tea like this before," the blonde before me giggles, accepting the teacup from my hands. Before she drinks from it, I turn her cup so the design faces away from her. When she tilts her head in confusion, I explain.
"It's improper to drink from the side with the design."
"Japanese tea is odd," she decides, sipping the tea noisily.
"You're also supposed to drink it quietly" I point out. Following my advice, she downs the rest of it and hands the cup back to me. I get to work on putting away the tea set. "Now are you satisfied?"
"Yes, very! Thanks Katrina!"
"Really," I sigh, "there was no reason for you to go so far as to buy a traditional Japanese tea set just because I told you I've been in Japan. I might not have even known how to prepare it." Under my breath, I mutter, "Impulsive human."
"But you knew how ta do it, didn't ya?" she grins.
"And now I'm extremely tired. If you could just let me rest alone for a bit-"
"Diane? Are you here?" Her little sister pokes her head into the room, her soft blue eyes filling with anxiety when she notices my presence. "Oh, I….I didn't know...you were here, Katrina. Should I come back later?"
Diane bursts to her feet, throwing open the door and yanking her sister into the room. "Don't be shy, Anna! Katrina was jus' showing me the Japanese tea making ritual! Let 'er make a cup for you!"
"Diane," I address her through clenched teeth, "I'm already packing up."
"I don't really want anything," Anna murmurs. Although their personalities contrast starkly, the two of them look nearly identical. Not only do they each have their mother's eyes, but their faces are structured the same. If not for their hair, Anna could be Diane when she was twelve. However, unlike Diane's natural gentle blonde, Anna's hair shines platinum.
"Mm, fine," Diane huffs. "But ya at least gotta let me dress ya up! Katrina absolutely refused ta let me put 'er in a kimono, even though I thought it'd be perfect for the tea preparation!"
I finish putting away the tea set. "If you had wanted me to wear the proper attire, you should have bought a yukata. Everything you have is woven from silk. If you had just gotten a cotton yukata-"
"You're so stiff!" Diane drags her sister toward her closet. "You're wardrobe's so bland! I mean, ya wear the same gloves, the same boots, even the same choker every day! Would it really kill ya to wear something new?"
When the two of them enter the closet, I run my hand through my hair. I almost wish I hadn't had my memories back. Then perhaps it would be easier to deal with this boisterous, human girl. It's taken a year for me to get as close to her as I have, and it's driving me insane!
And not to mention, over the past few years Kira has gotten nothing but stronger. Supporters are popping up out of every nook and cranny of the earth, and his empire is expanding by the day.
My lips twitch upwards, a chuckle escaping my lips. With every inch it grows, the more pleasurable it'll be when it crashes.
"Well? Whaddya think?" Diane shoves Anna out in front of her, whose face has heated into a cherry red. In comparison to the bloody garnet of the kimono, though, her face seems almost pale. The crimson silk is scattered with black cherry blossoms that eventually melt into an ebony cloud at the foot of the dress. The dramatic kimono makes Anna out be even whiter than usual, a beautifully crafted glass statue draped in blood.
It reminds me of the morbid beauty I'd seen looking down at L lying in his coffin.
"What do you want me to say?" I question, standing. I force the image out of my mind.
Diane's expression turns pouty. "Doesn't it suit her?"
"She looks like a doll from one a those horror flicks." The raspy voice comes from the doorway, where Ronnie leans against the doorframe. Unlike his father and mother, he's none too pleasing to the eye. Unlike them, he actually looks the part of a mafia boss. I'm sure that made his father happy, since Ronnie's next in line.
"Baby, haven't ya ever been told not ta enter a girl's room?" Diane scolds. Even so, she dances to his side and wraps her arms around his neck. "But I'll forgive ya this time, since I wasn't in the middle a changing."
"No need ta be forgiven," Ronnie refuses, unlatching her arms. "Adults enter kids' rooms alla time." When Diane tenses, I begin to massage my forehead. Before I came here, I had no idea shinigami could get headaches.
"Whaddya mean kid?" she explodes, creating fists and swinging them at her fiance. "I'm nineteen, ya old man!"
"That makes ya seven years younger than me, ya kid!"
"Ronnie," I intervene, "stop aggravating her."
"Who're ya to tell me what ta do? Ya only joined us a few months ago, and ya dare ta give me orders?"
"Ronnie." I sharpen my voice, glaring in a way that causes him to go rigid. "What did you come here for, anyway? I'm sure as much as Diane would love it, you're unfortunately not here to see her. Is there something you need?"
As always, he concedes to me. "There...there 'as another victim. This time it 'as Uncle Greg."
A gasp draws my attention back to Anna. Her hands have flown up to cover her mouth, her eyes as wide as golf balls. Diane stays silent, her rage slipping away as the news sinks in.
"Is anyone going to tell me who that is?" I inquire, glancing between the three of them.
"My mum's big bro," Ronnie growls.
"He...he was….oh, god!" Anna barrels into Diane, sobbing into her sister's dress. Diane wraps her arms around her tightly, her eyes closed. The effort not to cry displays clearly on her face.
Finally, Diane musters up the strength to give me the details I was searching for. "Uncle...Uncle Greg 'as like...a big brother to us. We weren't related or nothing, but he...always 'as so kind!"
I nod, falling into my thoughts. For the past few years, death has hung over this area of New York unceasingly. Even though there's no solid evidence, everyone is convinced it's the work of a serial killer. While the victims were mainly members of the mafia, there've been some outside of it. It's been declared simply a dispute between gangs, but some of the outsiders murdered don't fit into that explanation. Not only that, but the deaths have all been gorey, flashy suicides or 'accidents' that never should have happened except for in movies. Also, many were locked-room murders. All these symptoms just scream Death Note. The first victim is what lead me to get close to this messed up mafia family. Just thirteen at the time, a girl named Ella West was found in her bedroom with all the doors and windows locked. When the door was finally bust down, they discovered her ceiling fan had fallen and broken her neck while she slept. Ella was Diane and Anna's other sister.
After her death, the Death Note user has completely avoided anyone relatively close to this family. It isn't difficult to guess why. It also isn't hard to understand why this most recent murder has come to pass.
"Anyway," Ronnie clears his throat. "Dad wants ta see ev'ryone. Katrina...you can leave."
Diane shakes her head. "Let 'er come. She's practically been adopted inta the family."
"No," I refuse. "This isn't something I should intrude on. Go to your family. I'll take my leave. For Greg, you all have my condolences."
Diane doesn't push any farther, biting her lip and nodding. I bow my head to her and her sister, who still clings to her, and pass Ronnie on my way out. When he goes to whack my ass, I grab his wrist. Without looking back, I whisper, "Why don't you at least act like you miss the man? He's your blood relative, not theirs."
He yanks his hand back and I continue out, quickly losing sight of Diane's room. I've lost count of the number of times I've been to this mansion. Since I've begun visiting, I've memorized every hallway and room, which is not an easy feat.
As I begin down the stairs, I'm stopped by a man I don't recognize. It's plain to see he's family, though. He looks like Ronnie, if Ronnie was older and handsome. This man's features are the same, only straighter, crisper. In addition, he has a slender build unlike Ronnie's blundering half-fat half-muscle. It's not like Ronnie's obese, but he does have a bit extra on him.
"Who're you?" the man demands. His voice is also smoother than Ronnie's. He resembles the guy's parents more than Ronnie himself, I realize. Perhaps he's an older brother of Ronnie's I wasn't aware of.
"I go by Katrina. I was keeping Diane company until Ronnie came with the news."
"So you're that girl," he grumbles to himself. "I'm Julian's twin, Victor. Now if you've heard the news, get outta here. You're not needed right now."
"I was in the process of doing precisely that. I'm sorry for the loss of your brother."
As I step down the stairs, I hear him mumble, "The guy was a bastard, anyway."
The house is quiet as I exit the mansion. For the past few generations, this mansion has housed both the boss's family and their close friends, the Wests. I'm sure everyone inside is shocked by the news, whether they're part of the Carlos bloodline or of the West. So far, the West family has seemed more affected by the passing than Greg's own blood, the Carlos'. Well, what else was I expecting? Diane and Anna's reactions alone already trump the reactions of the people attending Nanami's funeral. I'm sure the man would be smiling in his grave if he knew he had two beautiful young ladies crying over him.
When I step out the door, I'm nearly knocked over by Julian Carlos, Ronnie's mother, who rushes past me at full speed. I grimace, steadying myself as her auburn hair flutters down the front hall.
I honestly can't stand these families. I've had enough. I'm done waiting around for my Death Note to pop up around them so I can whisk it away and exact my revenge. I'm going to take it back. Now.
Turning on my heel, I stomp back into the house.
For those of you new, and for those of you confused, Katrina is an alias she is using. Honestly, having a cast consisting of entirely original characters is kind of exciting for me. I'm not sure if it makes it easier or harder for me to write them. On one hand, I have no predetermined, expected guidelines to stick to like I have with characters already made. However, that also means I have to come up with believable people and personalities all on my own. Making a main character is one thing, but molding everyone around them from scratch... Both original and pre made ones entail their own hardships, I guess. Anyway, I've got to go enjoy being home from a week long vacation! I've also got the stress of knowing I'll be introducing my best friend to my boyfriend in the next few days...gonna do my best not to think about that...
Till then, Kisses from SnowyNeko! :3 MEOW!