Chapter 3
Two years later….
Ryuzaki stuffed his feet into a pair of beat up sneakers. He stood up and hunched over like he always did and headed out the door. He was fourteen and ready to move into his new home in Saitama. His limosine was waiting for him in front of the orphanage. Watari was at the wheel. Roger was outside, talking to Watari. He would run the orphanage while Watari was away. Ryuzaki walked towards the door that was opened on the car. Someone tugged his shirt. He turned around, Katsumi was standing behind him. She was twelve. Her hair was a little longer and her bangs hung just over her eyes. She wore a checked pattern skirt, black tights, a t-shirt with a gameboy on it and a black leather vest. Ryuzaki was used to seeing her dress like that, it was a new trend.
"Do you have to go so soon?" She asked. Ryuzaki was taller than her by a few inches, he had to look down on her even when he was hunched over.
"Yes, I have to go. It's time I moved out anyways. I'm old enough. Watari is coming with me but will visit every month and Roger is a great man. He's kind and almost a complete copy of Watari."
"But what about you? Will you visit?"
"No, I'm sorry. I'll be too busy with all my work. I won't be able to leave that building. Sorry," He said. Katsumi sniffed. She dug her hand into her eye to wipe away the tears. He put a hand on her head.
"I'll let you visit anytime you want. Here…" He dug into his pocket and pulled out a piece of paper.
"That's my phone number, it's private but I can trust you. I'll leave it to you so you can talk to me. The number to that building is on there. You can call me anytime," He said. Katsumi took the paper and gripped it tight. A tear fell on the paper. He sighed and looked around, a little embaressed.
"Um… tell you what! I'll let you work on that motorbike that you've been wanting to work on earlier than I said you could!" She looked up.
"Really?"
"Yea! Then when you're done, you can visit me and bring your bike! But you can't ride it, it's illegal," He said. She smiled.
"Thanks… I needed some good news!" She sobbed. She hugged Ryuzaki and held him tightly. He was stunned, he didn't know what to do. He lifted his hands up, trying to figure out if he could do it.
"Um… there… there…" He hugged her nervously.
"I don't want my friend to leave!" She cried. Roger pulled her away from him gently. She clung to his shirt like her life depended on it, then let go, hurt and reluctant.
"Katsumi, you have to learn to let go. You'll be able to see him soon." He looked up at Ryuzaki.
"Good luck."
"Thank you… I'll see you later, ok?" He waved at Katsumi and sat down in the limo. He shut the door. Watari started the limo up and drove away. Katsumi ran after it.
"Ryuzaki-san!! Come back!!" She cried. Roger pulled her gently back to the home. She turned to him and sobbed into his shirt. The kids lined up against the fence of the playground all stared at her. They were wondering what was going on. The wondered why Katsumi was crying so hard. A few of them were crying as well, watching Ryuzaki go away.
"It's ok, you'll be able to visit Ryuzaki as soon as he settles in," He said. She cried harder. He lead her inside to calm down.
Katsumi held the number in her hand. She picked up the phone in her room. She clicked down the buttons of each number. She pushed the send button.
"Hello?" Katsumi didn't say anything. Her heart raced.
"Hello??" He said again. Her emotions let her go. She let out one soft sob.
"Katsumi? Hello? Are you crying??? Why are you crying?" He asked.
"Ryuzaki… please come back home…" She cried. Her voice was cracking.
"Katsumi, I can't. I have to stay here. Besides, I'm starting to be hunted already. It's starting to get very dangerous for me to go outside," He said.
"But then you can just wear a disguise! You can wear a helmet and ride a motocycle! I'll get you a bike! I can even get you a car!" She said.
"I can't. I'd love to, but I have too much work. I really miss you, Katsumi, I do; but you have to understand, you have to grow up and work some point or another in your life." Katsumi choked on her tears. She sobbed and lowered the phone from her ear. Her eyes strayed off, she felt dazed and her chest was hurting.
"Katsumi? Kat-" She hung up. Her heart felt broken. She dropped the phone on the floor and picked up a book. She opened it and started reading. Teardrops dripped on the pages as she read. Her stress and worry wasn't lowering at all. She buried her face into her arms and cried. Her hair fell over her shoulders. She was lonely without Ryuzaki near her. She felt like she was empty inside.
"I want... I want L back! I want Ryuzaki back home, I want my friend back..." She cried.
