Chapter 1: November
Sighing, the girl with peculiar ruby eyes comes to terms with her past. Her parents were dead. They had been for the past two years, and, now, the time to go home had arrived.
"It's not going to suck that much, you know," the woman with dark brown hair says, resting a hand on top of the younger girl's hand.
"I don't want to be pitied."
"It's been two years, Shizuru."
"Two years of running away."
"Two years of traveling, learning, and growing," the older woman comforts, smiling through her green eyes. "It's been rough. I get that. And I know that I haven't been the best parent-"
"-It's not that, Midori," the tawny-haired girl reassures, turning away from the older woman. "I just don't want to go back to that place," she continues, looking out the plane's window. "Everything will resurface. I know it," she finishes, retracting her hand.
"Kid," the older woman begins, smiling. "There's bad memories sure, but there's also good ones! Fuka is where you were born out of love! You took your first baby steps there! You went to school there! Remember where your mom dropped you off that day to kindergarten, and you were and your dad were such crybabies?! You made your friends there too!" she continues, sensing a change in the teen girl. "You had your first crush there and your first date. Your first kiss. Fuka is a special place. It's your home, Shizuru. Cherish it."
"It's also where my parents died."
"I know. And I miss them. Every single day," the woman concedes, leaning back into her seat."Your father was my best friend ever since, we were kids. You know that. He was my person. And you, Shizuru, look so much like him. Those same peculiar ruby eyes," Midori says, green eyes meeting red ones. "But you have your mother's elegant and graceful beauty. She was like my older sister to me, and I loved them very much. They were the closest thing I had to family . . . and you," she says, caressing the younger girl's cheek. "You're very dear to me, Shizuru. I've always loved you. And when I found out your mother was pregnant, I was so happy that I had the chance to be an aunt and have the chance to look after a little tyke like you."
"I love you, too, Midori."
"I know, kiddo."
"Sorry for being—"
"-a teenager," Midori cuts in, smirking.
"Pretty much."
"And FYI, once we're home, missy, I'm gonna be a responsible guardian, which means no more of your-of your-"
"-My what?" Shizuru teases, smirking.
"Of that!" Midori exclaims, giving Shizuru a scolding look. "From now on, I am the adult. I WILL be the adult, ya hear?"
"Of course," Shizuru agrees, laughing lightly.
"Well?" Midori asks, getting out of the taxi.
Smiling softly at the older woman, Shizuru gets out of the vehicle, taking in the sight of her old estate. "Home," the teenage girl says, remembering how she used to wave to her father who had a habit of seeing her out the front door and into the family car—a black Rolls Royce—when Mr. Sake, their driver, would take her to school.
Taking small steps, Shizuru bends to pick up one of the last remaining cherry blossom flowers, grazing the floor.
It was autumn, her favorite time of the year. Autumn mornings were unforgettable to her, ever since she was child, for the teen girl fairly enjoyed the cool autumn breeze, the dimly lit autumn sun, the quiet, cold nights, the holidays, the smell of autumn rain and, most of all, the time she spent with her family—whether it was taking small trips, opening a new business and promoting it, shopping for the latest fashions with her mother, or dressing up her dad.
Inhaling its scent, Shizuru remembers how she used to wake up every November morning, greeting November's morning sun, followed by Miss Fumi setting down a breakfast tray on her bed, accompanied with a floral arrangement of freshly picked flowers on a vase.
"You're smiling," Midori notes, raising a brow at the younger girl.
Nestling the cherry blossom flower behind her ear, Shizuru turns back to look at the taxi. "Come Kiyo," she commands, smiling at the aging cocker spaniel, jumping out of the cab.
With Kiyo trailing behind, Shizuru stops cold at the front of her door.
"Shizuru?" Midori questions, looking at the still-teenager. "You ready, kid?"
"Sure?" Shizuru answers, feeling Kiyo lick her fingertips.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Well, I should be, right?" Shizuru asks, frozen. "I mean," the younger girl starts, red eyes still glued to the front, wooden doors.
"We can stay somewhere else if you'd like."
"No," Shizuru says, looking at Kiyo's dark eyes for reassurance. "It's our home," she says, petting Kiyo's head. "But let's stay at the guesthouse."
"Sure thing, kid," Midori says, walking back to the taxi.
"Kiyo!" Shizuru calls out, following the older woman.
After paying the taxi cab driver and getting their belongings, Midori and Shizuru head to the guesthouse.
"Everything, okay?" Midori asks, turning to look at a slower-paced tawny-haired girl.
Picking up the pace, Shizuru catches up to Midori who takes out a set of keys from her purse. Unlocking the front door, both women enter the abandoned guesthouse. Smiling, Shizuru observes Kiyo sniffing every inch of the house. "She'll remember," Shizuru reasons, sitting on the edge of a love-seat, still watching Kiyohime. "It's home."
"It is," Midori inputs, smiling knowingly at Shizuru.
"Everything is the same," Shizuru notes, red eyes scoping the familiar living room surroundings.
"As you requested," the older woman states, stretching before laughing.
"What?" Shizuru asks, tawny brows furrowed at the gleeful, older woman.
"It's just . . . I just crashed here so many times. I'm remembering things, like how you rich folks always threw the greatest parties."
"Midori," the younger starts, a glint of mischief in her ruby eyes. "We both know the real reason you crashed here."
Blushing, the older woman bursts out laughing. "Well, what can I say?! Your family practically built this house for me. And I am grown-up. I'm entitled to fun . . . with other adults."
"WOW! No shame!" Shizuru remarks, going up the stairs with Kiyo tailing behind her. On the second floor, her mirth dissipates when she stumbles across an old, frustrating memory. Stopping at the hallway, Shizuru halts, recalling a summer when she was fifteen.
Her parents wanted to expand their estate and be more hospitable hosts, opting to construct a bigger guesthouse. Hence, construction at the Fujino estate commenced. The workers were dedicated to the project, busy trying to finish it on time And more than that, they wanted to make the Fujino clan proud and bring honor to their work and their family.
Meanwhile, a fifteen-year-old Shizuru, spent her summer flirting with the workers, testing their capabilities, as well as testing the limits of her charm, finding amusement when they would make a mistake or be so nervous that they couldn't concentrate in simple tasks, such as painting a wall. Then, one day, Shizuru found herself excruciatingly bored, so she sought entertainment at the renovation of their guesthouse. Entering the site, she came across a peculiar, dark-haired girl. She seemed older than Shizuru, and Shizuru had never seen her before at her house; she would have known. This girl was unforgettably beautiful.
Standing tall, body leaned to one side and dark brows furrowed in concentration, the dark-haired girl turned to meet bewildered ruby eyes. Furrowing her dark brows further before raising her left brow, the girl turned back to face the wall, ignoring the tawny-haired girl standing feet away from her.
"Who are you?" Shizuru finds herself asking, heart rapidly beating.
"Mmm?" the girl mutters, facing Shizuru again, indifferent to the ruby-eyed girl's blossoming beauty.
"Your name," Shizuru asks, inching closer to the other girl. "What is it?"
Hand pressed against the wall and feeling the cold radiating from it, Shizuru feels an incoming headache from concentrating too hard. Her memory failed her again; she could not remember, not anything, like the girl's name or anything other than dark, cobalt hair. It was one of those memories archived in the back of her mind because it still haunted her.
What she did remember, however, was that, shortly after, there was a horrible accident that took place during construction. She didn't know the details, but her parents forbade Shizuru from ever setting foot there again, at least until the renovation was complete. And she obeyed. Shizuru was not one to defy her parents when they were dead-serious about something. After all, they rarely bothered her. If anything, they were always there for her and always gave her everything she wanted. Never once did her parents force her into anything she didn't want to do. Her parents were loving, respectful, supportive, and, above everything, they valued her; Shizuru was their greatest treasure.
But that was not the last time she saw that mysterious girl. Like many other times, Shizuru found loopholes. Sure her parents forbade her from going to the guesthouse, but they never forbade her from hanging around it.
Purposely, she would strut around the working area in her tennis skirt and loosely buttoned polo. Other times, she would walk around in her bikini with some of her girlfriends. Other days, she would walk around with short shorts and tight tank top, masking her eyes with huge sunglasses, which were busy searching for the other girl.
Days passed. Days turned to weeks. And weeks turned to months. Summer was close to its end. And then, it was over. The renovations were complete, and Shizuru gave up hope that she would ever see the strange, beautiful girl again.
Then, one November morning, Shizuru stepped outside, wearing a red coat with trimmed with black fur hiding her school uniform. Hands in pockets, admiring the morning sun, Shizuru, in her designer, leather boots, smiled thinly at Mr. Sake, waiting for her, car door open. Her father, as usual, was leaning against the door frame, cup of coffee at hand, smiling and waving at Shizuru. Smiling back, Shizuru turns her back to her father, stopping when she heard Kiyo's barking. Turning back around, sandy brow raised, Shizuru sawthe tan fluff of fur running towards the backside of the house.
With her father shrugging and Mr. Sake standing still, holding the door open for her, Shizuru sprinted after the family dog. She stopped dead on her tracks when she saw the guesthouse's door open. Kiyo, wagging her tail, entered the house, oblivious to the possible danger. Running inside, Shisuru found nothing. Looking up the stairs and hearing Kiyo's whimpers, she hurried up.
Gasping, Shizuru's ruby eyes find then themselves staring at the silhouette of the strange girl from summer, bent down, petting Kiyo.
"You," Shizuru starts, smiling and in awe. "You're back."
Standing up, the other mysterious girl keeps quiet, a ray of light striking her pale, milky skin. "Shizuru, correct?"
"Ara," Shizuru says, biting her lower lip, heart beating rapidly. "You know my name, but I don't know yours," she teases, pouting and playfully hiding her hands behind her back. "No fair."
Scoffing, the other dark-haired girl looks the other way, once more facing the wall.
Rolling her eyes, Shizuru slowly treads closer to the other girl "Why are you here?" Shizuru probes, careful not to scare the girl away. "Have you been staying here?" she presses, eyeing Kiyo's visible affection towards the beautiful girl. "I can help you."
Receiving no response, Shizuru grunts lightly in frustration.
"No," the solemn girl finally says, standing back up, arms crossed. "I don't need help."
"Then why are you here?" Shizuru interrogates, as quiet girl stares at the wall. Rolling her ruby eyes, Shizuru bites her lower lip. "Look, since you're not cooperating here, I'm forced to assume that you're playing hard to get," Shizuru flirts, smiling, cockily. And upon hearing the other girl scoff, Shizuru's smirk broadens as she inches closer to her, inhaling the girl's unique scent of spearmint and rain.
"You know," the other raven-haired girl begins, turning to face Shizuru, making the tawny-haired girl gulp loudly at their close proximity. "You're going to be late."
"For what?" Shizuru asks, as her ruby eyes entice themselves in capturing a better image of the mysterious beauty in front of her.
"Don't you go to school?" the girl asks, turning away to face the wall again, arms tightly crossed.
"And don't you know you're trespassing?" Shizuru retorts, crossing her arms across her chest as well.
"Is the princess going to rat me out?" the pale girl challenges, turning back to look at Shizuru, smirking.
"Maybe. Maybe not."
Scoffing again, the other girl takes a step closer to Shizuru, making her blush. "Close your eyes for me."
"Wh—Why?"
"Just close them," the girl requests with her penetrating, emerald gaze.
Blushing but obeying, Shizuru closes her eyes, only to wait for what seemed like eternity—lips untouched. Opening them, Shizuru finds Kiyo looking out the open window.
Frantically searching for the other girl, Shizuru gives up when Mr. Sake comes to fetch her with Mr. Fujino by his side.
The rest of November, Shizuru returned to the guesthouse, sometimes spending the night there but gave up when she and her family took a trip to the states for the holidays. Later, during one of her parents' galas, Shizuru returned, finding herself in an almost exact situation.
Shizuru was annoyed by some of the other girls her age, so she went away to hide, only to find an older boy there. Like her, he was annoyed by most of the boys and girls. And after a few playful antics, Shizuru showed the boy around—stopping at the hall where she last saw the strange girl from a year ago, desperately trying to recall the details, only to fail. Memories of the girl were murky, and then, her thoughts were disturbed by the boy's warm hand, lightly caressing her cheek. Red eyes meeting blue eyes, Shizuru and the boy shared their first kiss.
Micchi and her dated for a year, and she did love him, but, after the accident, he went away to college, and they grew apart. Eventually, they broke up. It tore Micchi apart, but Shizuru moved on faster than anyone thought she would. Her reasoning was that falling in and out of love was natural: It happened all the time. So since a breakup was not abnormal, Shizuru decided not to waste her time pondering on something that was inevitable in life—heartbreak. Instead, she focused on her duties as the student counsel president and began dating again.
Sighing and retrieving her hand back from the cold wall, Shizuru enters one of the upstairs bedrooms—the one where she and Micchi slept in secrecy from her parents.
Smiling at her old, teenage-infused memories, Shizuru plops down on the bed.
"Everything good, kiddo?"
Startled, Shizuru looks towards the door to find Midori analyzing her. "Yea," she answers, sitting up. "Just trying to get readjusted."
"I was thinking," Midori starts, leaning against the door frame. "You don't have to go to school tomorrow, if you don't want to."
"Thanks, but I might as well get it over with."
"You sure?"
"Yes, auntie Midori."
Rolling her eyes, Midori exits the bedroom, closing the door behind her, shutting Shizuru with her thoughts.
The following morning, rising from bed, Shizuru groans at the sound of Kiyo snoring, sleeping soundly and taking up most of the bed. Burying her face in the pillows, Shizuru groans again as Kiyo's wagging tail strikes her. Giggling, she sits up to pet her loving companion. Dragging herself out of bed, Shizuru brushes her hair, stopping in front of the mirror.
"You can do this," Shizuru tells her reflection. "It's just school. You have friends. It's been two years. I'm sure a lot has happened."
Putting on her school uniform, a delicacy she did not miss, Shizuru goes downstairs, smelling syrup and butter along the way. As expected, Midori's famous pop-up waffle breakfast with orange juice awaited her.
"Well, don't you look dashing?" Midori teases, still in pajamas.
"And don't you look like you're going to be late for work," Shizuru says, taking a bite from one of the waffles before setting it back down.
Rolling her green eyes, Midori grabs the leftover waffle and inhales it. "How 'bout you worry 'bout you, and I worry 'bout me," she suggests, as pieces of waffle fly out of her mouth.
"Ara, is someone nervous?" Shizuru teases, sitting down, elbows pressed against the counter.
"What-whatever, kid," Midori yelps, drinking the orange juice from the carton.
"You're gonna be okay, Midori."
"I-I know that!"
"Besides, I'll be there if you need me," Shizuru chides, winking at her legal guardian. "For emotional support."
"Oh shut up!" Midori snaps, chowing down another waffle.
Laughing, Shizuru rises from her seat. "Seriously, don't worry, Midori. You're smart. And you're gonna be a great teacher," Shizuru comforts, grabbing her leather carrier bag. "And like I said, I'll be there if you need me. Like. Literally there. Watching you. Tormenting you. Teasing you behind your back when you teach," Shizuru muses, smirking, opening the front door. "Especially when you do that stuttering, baffling nonsense thing you do when you're really nervous."
"You spoiled brat!"
"Love you too!" Shizuru exclaims, closing the door behind her.
Sighing, smile disappearing from her face, Shizuru places earphones on her ears, listening to music as she makes her way to Fuka Academy. And while humming along to one of the songs, Shizuru hisses when something hits her.
"OH!" Shizuru hears a man exclaim. "My apologies," the boy says, as Shizuru dusts herself off.
"It's fine," Shizuru assures, looking up, breath caught in her throat at the sight of golden orbs, radiating off a handsome boy's face.
Silently watching each other, the young man looks down at the floor, breaking eye-contact. "You're not hurt, are you?"
"I'm fine," Shizuru answers, furrowing her sandy brows when the other boy refuses to look up at her. "Really," she presses, getting the young man's attention back, gold meeting ruby. "I'm okay."
"Good."
"Ok."
"I'm Reito. Reito Kanzaki," the young man starts, bowing, making Shizuru uncomfortable.
"Pleasure," Shizuru parts, walking past the young man.
Shortly after, Shizuru arrives at school passing through the academy's front and gated doors. As expected, she feels eyes penetrating her and whispers muffling her thoughts.
"HEYYA!" Shizuru hears before being attacked from behind.
"Can't. Breathe," Shizuru whimpers, feeling slight pain from the arms enveloping her.
"SORRY!" the voice exclaims, deafening Shizuru's right ear.
Turning around, Shizuru's annoyance dissipates as soon as she sees familiar blue eyes. "MAI!" she exclaims, wide-eyed, and embracing the orange-haired girl.
"Now I can't breathe," the blue-eyed girl mutters before they both burst out laughing.
Unlike Shizuru's preconceived feeling of dread, that morning wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Most of her friends didn't treat her any differently and didn't ask too many questions.
"Europe, huh?" Haruka asks, looking up at the sky.
"I know," Mai adds, setting the tea down on the table. As usual, their group of friends ate outside at the patio tables. "Any cute guys?"
"Some," Shizuru answers, shrugging.
"So," Yukino begins, adjusting her frames. "Where'd you conduct your studies?"
"Hotels," Shizuru answers coyly, watching her friends redden. "Tutors, you guys," she explains, as everyone relaxes. "We traveled a lot, so I was basically home-schooled with tutors here and there."
"Private tutors, huh," Takeda asks, looking over at Tate. "Were any of them per say . . . females?"
"Most of them."
"And how hot were these female tutors?" Tate asks, wriggling his brows, only to be slapped at the back of his head by Mai.
"Ara," Shizuru begins, tilting her head sideways, looking up. "Well, I suppose they were pretty. Yes, pretty. But more like hot. And young. With thick glasses, you know. Like . . . kinda like hot librarians. And they had these really tight clothes. Like really tight. It was almost see through. And gosh were they handsy and mean! No respect for other's intimate a—"
"-ENOUGH!" Haruka bursts out blushing as the other girls laugh and the boys remain frozen in their positions.
"That's Shizuru for you," Mai adds, giggling.
"Always a tease," Takeda inputs, shaking his head in a disapproving manner, slightly sweating.
"A relentless flirt," Mai corrects, shaking her head in a disapproving manner as well.
"Word," Tate agrees. "I mean: Who here, and be honest. Who here has ever been personally victimized by Ms. Shizruru's flirting," he says, raising his hand as everyone in their group and some students who happened to pass by do as well.
"Ara," Shizuru says, placing her hand above her heart. "It's so great being back. I feel the love."
"And here we go again," Tate says, smiling. "The melodramatic antics of an unfairly gifted girl with a knack of guilting others, tricking others, and teasing others out of their minds."
"Mhmm. Shizuru is as cruel as she is a flirt," Takeda adds, smiling and winking at the tawny-haired girl.
"Funny," Shizuru replies, pouting.
"Aww, you know we love you!" Tate says, beaming before frowning when the lunch bell rings.
"Ugh," Takeda says, getting up. "Well, I'm glad you're back, princess Shizuru," he says, lending a hand to Shizuru before hugging her tightly. "Missed you."
"Yea," Tate adds, hugging her. "Fuka isn't the same without its beloved Shizuru."
"Hmph. Boys, " Haruka says, before hugging Shizuru tightly. "Glad to have you back, bubuzuke," Haruka says, adding a wink. "YUKINO!"
"Welcome back, Shizuru," Yukino says, leaning in to kiss her cheek before leaving with Haruka. "I look forward to our student council meetings."
"Zuru," Mai begins, pulling the tawny-haired girl aside, "Now, that they're gone," Mai continues, looking around. "How are you holding up?"
"I'm fine."
"Shizuru . . ."
"I'm fine."
Narrowing her gaze on her best friend, Mai analyzes the taller girl until Shizuru caves.
"Okay, Mai! I'm not great, okay," Shizuru admits, gathering her things. "But I'm fine. Just fine."
"If you say so," Mai responds, not buying it. "You can always talk to me, Zuru. You know that, right?"
"I know," Shizuru says, avoiding blue eyes and taking off to her next class.
Finally, when the last bell rings, Shizuru sighs in relief, glad to have made it through her first day back at school. Avoiding her friends for now, Shizuru decides to take the back road back to her house. Despite it being a good day, she wanted to be alone.
Stopping, her ruby eyes rest at the silhouette of the same boy from earlier as he stood still by a bridge overlooking a stream of water. Smirking, Shizuru stalks over to the young man who turns his head and smiles warmly at her.
Shifting his body to face the taller girl, the tall, obsidian-haired boy places his in his pocket.
"Hi," he says, avoiding ruby eyes until very slowly meeting them with glossy golden irises.
"Hi," Shizuru replies, biting her lower lip and then tugging a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"About earlier-"
"-It's okay," Shizuru cuts in, shortly followed by silence before clearing her throat.
"I'm sorry," the young man begins, avoiding red eyes again. "I'm a bit awkward."
"No, you're not," Shizuru lies, raising a brow when the young man smiles boyishly.
"-You're lying, and I'm making you uncomfortable," he admits, grinning. "It's okay. Don't let my dull presence keep you any longer."
"Ara, so you're boring?" Shizuru teases, smirking. "And here I thought you were tall, dark, and mysterious."
"Mysterious?"
"From my perspective, I see a boy in the middle of nowhere looking out at the water," Shizuru reasons in a playful tone. "Pondering, perhaps. Maybe, reflecting on life: What is life? What is the meaning of it? Why am I alive?" Shizuru mocks, as the young man chuckles. "It's a bit cliché don't you think?" she chides, sitting on one of the bridge's rails. "A cliche wrapped in a mystery. But a mystery, nonetheless."
"You're observant," Reito notes, leaning against the rail. "Cruel. Funny. Smart. And interesting."
Scoffing, Shizuru leans closer to the boy. "So what were you doing?" she asks, red eyes penetrating golden discs. "Or was my teasing in fact . . . a fact?"
"Well, I wasn't trying to look cool or mysterious. I was hoping to find something."
"Like what?"
"Well, that I cannot say," the boy replies, smirking. "Now that I've processed it, I'm kinda liking the whole tall, dark, and mysterious bid you just talked about."
Popping her lips, Shizuru smirks at the boy. "I walked into that one, didn't I?"
"Well, you're exactly not subtle."
"Yeah. I can be bratty sometimes. Sorry."
"No. You're fine, really."
"What were you hoping to find?" Shizuru presses as the boy shrugs. "Not talking, huh? So goes the saying: Cruel things happen to cruel people. Maybe, I should be nicer."
"Maybe," the boy agrees, smirking.
"So I am cruel?" Shizuru teases as the boy chuckles. "Ara, you're not exactly subtle yourself."
"What can I say? You have me backed up against the wall with no way out."
"How so?"
"If I tell you, then where goes the mystery?" he answers, smirking. "Thanks to you, I have a newfound mysterious reputation to maintain."
"So tall, dark, and handsome, huh?" Shizuru contemplates, jumping off the rail as the boy steadies her fall. "Reputations are tricky," Shizuru discloses, as the boy takes his hands off her. "Think about that while you're brooding," she teases, as Reito narrows his gaze on her. "Goodbye, Reito. And by the way, I love the trench-coat. You can't ever go wrong with Burberry," Shizuru parts, grinning when the boy rolls his eyes.
"Hey wait!" Shizuru hears the boy exclaim but opts to ignore him, walking forward.
Reaching into her uniform pocket, Shizuru fetches her earphones and puts them on, as she makes her way back home to the guesthouse. Not surprisingly, Kiyo is waiting for her, eagerly craving attention from red-eyed beauty. "Hey, baby," she greets, bending down and petting her eight-year-old cocker spaniel. "How's my little Kiyohime?" she says, giggling at her dog's face and hanging tongue. "I bet you're hungry, huh girl?" she says, getting up and preparing a dog tray.
Setting the dog tray down, Shizuru watches Kiyo devour her food before deciding to go upstairs for a long bath. Once up the stairs, she notices that the window, at the end of the hall, is slightly opened. Shrugging it off, she closes the window shut.
Now comfortably laying in her tub, Shizuru closes her eyes, as more memories from her past come flooding back.
Silent and recalling the day's events, the tall, golden-eyed boy walks the streets of Fuka, stopping dead on his tracks at the sound of agony and pain.
Rushing to where the sounds originate from, Reito clenches his jaw when he comes across fresh corpses. Inhaling the strong stench of blood, Reito flares his nostrils. "Show yourself," he demands, clenching his fists. "Now."
"Or what?" a hollowed voice challenges.
Golden eyes widening, Reito internally falls apart, anger replaced with worry.
"I can't hear you, marshmallow," the voice taunts, emerging from the shadows. "You were saying, little brother?"
"You," Reito mutters, feeling a rush of emotions.
"Relax, pretty boy. I'm only passing by."
"You are?" Reito asks, feeling relief but not showing it to the green discs glowing in the moonlight.
"This is a shit town," the stranger says, running her thumb along her lower lip, wiping the blood off. "Do you really think I'll entertain myself here for long?" she continues, now placing her thumb inside her mouth. "Yum."
"You're just passing by?" Reito repeats, relaxing.
"I didn't come back because of you if that's what you're implying. You just happened to be here."
"I never implied anything."
"Careful now. I have temperament issues, remember? So don't mock me."
"How could I forget?" Reito says, clenching his fists. "You ruin everything."
"Because you make me," the beautiful girl with sharp incisors says, cocking her head slightly to the right. "Or have you forgotten why I hate you?" the girl probes, glancing at her victims. "What's the matter, brother? Can't handle a little blood?"
Looking over the corpses, Reito recognizes one as the cashier at the local ice-cream shop in the downtown area. She was a nice girl and a student at the university. The other victim was, presumably, her boyfriend.
"What?" the girl taunts, smoldering her green irises. "Did you know the lovely couple?"
"Does it matter?" Reito snarls, through clenched teeth.
"No. Not really," the girl answers, shrugging. "Looks like I have to run off," the girl says, glancing at her phone. "So I guess I'll leave you to this mess then," she parts, disappearing into the shadows.
Alone and with a long night ahead of him, Reito laughs, knowing that his past will always come back to haunt him.
Whenever you feel safe, when you think I'd forget, and you're happy, I will find you, and I will remind you. Always. That's my promise to you.