1
Yamato let out a long sigh as his fingers dragged across his keyboard. His eyes glanced at the corner of his monitor, indicating that he had just fifteen minutes left of the longest workday of his life. Well, maybe not the longest. Yamato Ishida was on his way to being a musical sensation. Keyword, was. He moved from America to Japan a few years back for a woman he fell head over heels for. Now, Yamato Ishida, though talented as can be with a guitar, was a number cruncher.
"And… Send," he clasped his hands together, smiling as his final task reached completion. A small melody of tings rang in his pocket. His fingers fished through the pockets of his black slacks. He swiped his thumb across the screen a good three times before he was finally able to answer.
"Hey Tiff…" He said as he leaned back in his chair and propped his feet up on his desk. His lengthy legs made the reach look effortless. "Yes… I made dinner reservations. I promise…" He chuckled, trying his best to ignore the annoyance in the voice on the other side. "Love you too. See you soon." With one push, he hung up the call.
Tiffany Sims was a beautiful woman. Well, her outward appearance was. Her long brown hair complimented her sharp, green eyes and pixie nose perfectly. She had curves where women paid to have curves, all supported by a pair of lean, toned legs.
Yamato met her while he was visiting a few summers back in a museum. The two had bumped shoulders and spoke about a statue. Truth be told, Yamato was not a fan of museums. He was killing time and Tiffany had caught his attention. In fact, every word about the statue that day that spilled from his lips was bullshit. But boy did Tiffany buy it. The woman had a rope on Yamato; He did as she demanded and didn't ask questions. Some say she's driven, most would call her a bitch.
"Big night, eh?" The voice came from the desk next to him. Barry, a larger man with a kind smile, had become one of Yamato's favorite companions over his few years with the company. "Yeah… Meaning I can't get drinks tonight," Yamato shook his head a bit annoyed that he planned for two things. Tonight he was going to propose… To Tiffany.
"The lady has a bit of a hold on you. I'll let the guys know the bets are off," Yamato's eyes widened at Barry's comment, a red color flushing his cheeks.
"And on that note…" Yamato stood, giving his neighbor a wave as he gripped his briefcase and hurried out.
Yamato cursed as he checked the watch on his wrist. The hands pointed to numbers, signaling that he was already running behind. "Shit… I still need to shower…" He fished for his keys in his coat pocket, chuckling in relief as they jingled between his fingers. "Ha!" Yamato pushed the key into the hole, turning it and relishing in the clicking sound that signaled his right of entry. "Thought you had me beat," he said to his keys, the metal gripped victoriously in his palm.
The man rushed to the shower, letting the water and soap coat him enough to ensure he smelled decent. There was no time for a good lather. He grabbed his hair gel, raking it through his blonde lochs quickly. Before pacing to his room, the blonde shot himself a pair of finger guns in the foggy mirror. "What to wear…" He settled for his other pair of dark slacks, realizing that that was most of his wardrobe. A blue turtleneck was slipped over his head and filled with his arms. He grabbed his shoes and jumped mid-step, hoping his attempt of stuffing his feet into them would treat him well.
*Bzzz* Yamato hurried to the door, giving a weak smile to the woman who stood impatiently on the other side of the thin crack. "You're not ready are you," Tiffany said, the annoyance in her voice could not be missed. "Hello to you too, my love," Yamato said nervously, "I-I'm just finishing up…" His left hand reached into a drawer next to the door, his fingers grasping for the small box that held a ring. "Ah! Ready!" He flung his jacket over his tall form, the ring box stuffed into pocket.
"You look stunning," he smiled, leaning in to give Tiffany a kiss. Her face moved, giving him only her cheek. "And you look… Well it'll do." She waved him off, grabbing his hand as she pulled him out into the cool, winter fog.
—
The woman clutched the sheet of her bed closer to her chest, wishing the sound she heard wasn't a creature slipping through her room. She had thought she was hidden, but they had found her.
"Asleep… Good yes, better for us," the creature snickered to itself as it pulled its body up next to her's. The voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard, sharp and high.
Her heart rate quickened as sweat began to collect on her forehead. The creature drew a knife, the blade catching a glint of light. "Excellent yes yes, aim well now," it chuckled again, the sound raspy. "Easy does it…" She sensed the knife lowering towards her chest at a painfully slow speed.
She flung an arm out, catching the wrist of the intruder. Though she was quick, the woman was not quick enough. The knife plunged into her left shoulder. She bit back a cry, using the adrenaline to reach for the small knife she kept under her pillow. With a quick slash, the knife opened the creature from chest to stomach. Blood and identifiable objects spilled out, coating her body and slicking against her skin. She coughed, spitting the sour liquid from her mouth.
She pushed the corpse to the ground, crying in pain as her wounded arm warned her of straining herself. "They found me…" she whispered in a panic. Sora Takenouchi rushed to an empty wall in her room. She pressed her hand to it and willed it to let her out. When she opened her eyes, the woman was in the dark alley that ran along the side of her current home.
"Ah there she is! How did she get past him?" A deep voice that belonged to a tall man teased. His companion, a short, stocky man with red hair, snickered in response. "Hm. He had it coming, don't you think? Guess it's up to us now…" The candle light of the alley reflected off of their sharp, yellow teeth.
"N-No please…" Sora pleaded, quickly turning on her heals as she ran. She wasn't sure where she was going and her energy was running out. Puddles splashed under her, the soles of her shoes slipping on the red brick that paved the alley. She felt her world tilt, the blood loss from the wound in her shoulder making it hard to see straight. I can't hold on much longer… I'm so sorry… She willed her crimson eyes to focus as she looked for an escape.
—
Tiffany and Yamato rushed through the streets, Tiffany complaining that they were going to be late to their reservation if he dragged his feet when he walked. "It's a big night, Yamato," she hissed through her perfectly white teeth.
"I know Tiff," she interrupted him, "It's Tiffany. You know I hate Tiff." He fought the urge to roll his eyes, "I'm trying I'm trying." She sighed in response, trying was never enough for her.
Yamato went to respond, his train of thought derailing as a body fell to the ground a few feet in front of him. His brows knitted together in confusion, the woman just fell from the wall. "Tiffany… Should we stop?" Yamato asked. Tiffany shook her head as they approached the lifeless form, her long legs stepping over the form.
"No, that's what they want. They'll drag you into their pity stories and then you're stuck feeding another addiction," her heels kept clicking on the pavement. Yamato kneeled by the woman, his eyes taking in the blood that stained her clothes and the blood that seemed to be continuously oozing from her shoulder at a deadly pace.
"I-I think she's hurt. Badly at that," he said as he removed his jacket and ripped out a piece of the inner liner to wrap her shoulder. "I have to take her somewhere safe," Yamato flung his jacket on the woman.
"Yamato Ishida," Tiffany hissed, "You leave that woman there. We'll call the ambulance and they can take care of it." Yamato glared at the woman. He knew she was a bit selfish, but this characteristic never passed his mind. "Really? She's practically drowning in blood," he scooped the woman up into his arms, the man already heading back to his apartment as he pulled his phone out to dial 911.
"No…" The woman whispered, "Please don't call… I-I just need sleep… Please…" He didn't ask questions. Yamato wasn't sure why he didn't call that night, but something pulled at his mind and told him to listen. He slipped the phone back in his pocket just in time to hear Tiffany yell again.
"The engagement is off, Yamato. If you keep walking, you might as well never speak to me again!" And he did. That night, Yamato Ishida left the life he had adjusted to behind. He left a steady job, a fiancé, and safety. That night Yamato Ishida gave his life to the Reigndom.
