Author's Note: Thank you so much for all the positive reviews (thank you guest, for commenting again!) and for the all the follows, and favs.
So last chapter was kinda a bummer for the little girl. I attempted to make this more "light hearted" in some parts but of course, there had to be some kind of drama in order to get some kind of progress with Decim. I believe this fanfic is the longest so far I have written.
I also added some tv show and movie references in this chapter.
The band names I did not make up, they came from these shows: 1) Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy 2) Full House 3) Friends
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'Heya Decim. Sorry to bother you again. I know you just finished your last guest on your list today. But I got orders from Nona, insisting you do one more pair of guests for the day. She also said you can take the next day off as a thank you.'
"Of course. Thank you Quin. Please be sure to thank Nona for me. Please send me the memories as soon as you can."
'You got it. Decim. Oh and Decim…'
"Yes, Quin?"
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'Just...be careful.'
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"Huh?"
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'...Nothing. Sorry, I had a drink earlier. Forget I said anything.'
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"Understood. Wait. These memories..."
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"Chiyuki's back?"
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Chapter 3: Third Encounter - 15
In front of Decim was indeed Chiyuki's spirit once again. Her third lifetime after Chisaki, and Chinami. He didn't expect to see her again so soon but when he received the memories, he felt instant sympathy for his old friend to die in such at a young death yet again.
Like her other lifetimes, this version of Chiyuki was completely different from the Chisaki and Chinami. The teenage girl had really short black hair. A style angled bob hairstyle being held by a thick orange headband that had a bow on the left side of her fce to be exact. She had long side swept bangs with a single white streak hair strand visibly shown in the middle. She wore a black and gray camouflage jacket, along with a white t-shirt with film strip patterns on it. She also had on a pair gray shorts worn on top of semi ripped black leggings, and wore orange colored high top converses. This time, it seems Chiyuki's spirit was slightly chubbier than her previous lifetimes which was good since Decim was glad she looked much healthier than her previous abused lifetime. The girl had on dark heavy eyeliner that highlighted her violet eyes very well and had on wine colored lipstick.
"So when is the staring contest gonna end? Because I gotta say, I am on a roll here!"
"Huh?"
"...You have been staring at me for five whole minutes without saying a word. Yes I counted by the way. Normally, a girl should freak out about this but I wanted to see how long you would keep staring at me with that expressionless face. So I decided to make a contest out of it. By the way, saw you blinked when I first spoke. You lost! "
Decim bowed to her. "I am terribly sorry. I didn't mean to stare. I was lost in thought."
"Oh...That's cool then. So umm...What exactly am I doing here? Bigger question is how the hell did I get in here? Aw, crap! I didn't catch your name -huh?" The girl asked as she tapped her fingers onto the bar. She stopped when she noticed the bartender's direction staring straight ahead.
"You're expecting someone else?"
Decim nodded. "He's arriving now."
"How do you know it's a he?"
Before she got an answer, the elevator's door opened, and footsteps were heard. Sure enough, it was a young male. The boy looked slightly older than the girl and was extremely tall. As far as they can tell by his face, he had light tan, several freckles around his long and aqualine shaped nose and cheeks. He had dyed cerulean blue colored hair, dark gray eyes, had two snake bite piercing below the left side of eyebrow. He wore a large gothic styled black trench coat on top of a black t-shirt that word "Rammstein" which Decim assumed to be some kind of human band, along some faded and torn black pants, complete with some large steel toe combat boots.
"Whoa…" The girl stated as she tried to hold in a laugh. "Alright. What do we have here?"
The boy blinked. "Umm..Hi? Errrr. Nice place. Hate to seem rude but where the fuck am I?"
"I think the bigger question is what the FUCK are you wearing." The girl boldly asked.
Decim raised an eyebrow slightly since he was a little surprised this version of Chiyuki was a little confident and...vulgar.
The teenage boy gaped. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me." The teenage girl smirked. "Did you come out of the matrix or let me guess, you're a part of Loki's army? Or perhaps you wanted my friend here and I to join your legion of vampires like in Underworld?"
The teenage boy glared at her. "Pfft. Great assumptions of my character. Very original. Seriously, how old are you? Thirteen? Aren't you a little young for makeup? "
"Aren't you a little too young to be going through your midlife crises? " Chizuru sarcastically counter asked as she pointed at his hair.
"Okay smartass. How about instead of creating such cliche backstories based on my fashion sense, how about you tell me instead what the hell am I here for."
"Well the thing is, sunshine. I dunno myself." The girl responded as she swirled back facing at Decim's direction. "Just got here not too long ago. I guess this bartender is waiting for you to show up and then explain what's up. So why don't you take a seat next to me and let's become best friends."
The boy made his way into the bar but ignored her last comment and sat one stool away from the girl, refusing to even acknowledge her.
She began to laugh. "Wow. Passive Aggressive much?"
The blue haired boy rolled his eyes and stared at the white haired bartender.
"Welcome to Quindecim. I am Decim your bartender. Before I start may I ask-"
"Wait!"
The two men stared at the young girl. "May I have a drink?"
"Sure. What would you like?" Decim asked trying to not to smile.
The blue haired boy gave her a deadpan look. "Aren't you like twelve?"
"Fifteen actually and this kind gentlemen here, is a bartender. What do you say, Decim was it? May I have your cheapest bottle of water and a wine glass to go with it?"
"Of course." Decim answered as he began to reach for a wine glass.
"Whoa there." The young man scoffed as if he was insulted by her request. "You want water in a wine glass?"
The girl put her elbow on the bar counter, rested her face on her right hand, and nodded. "What can I say? I like my drinks like I like my men. Cheap yet Classy."
The young man rolled his eyes while her crossed both his arms on the counter and rested his head there while muttering a "Fucking weirdo."
"Would you like anything sir?" The bartender said as he gave the teenage girl her soda and who began to drink the beverage almost too happily.
The boy muttered. "Yeah, I do want something."
He then slammed his hands onto the counter, knocking out the stool beneath him. His was leaning towards Decim. "I want to know. Where. The. Fuck. Am. I?"
"Oh, so metal!" The girl muttered as she tried to hold in a laugh.
"Damn you're annoying" The boy gritted through his teeth.
Decim sighed for a moment. "I see. Very well. Before I explain, I need to ask you two something. Do you remember anything before arriving here?"
The boy stopped for a moment, closing his eyes. "Yes. I was in the mall with some of my friends. We were eating lunch in a food court and I was totally checking out this one girl-"
"My moneys on this chick looks like the girl from The Ring." The girl whispered before quickly taking another sip of water.
"AS I WAS SAYING." The man said as he glared at the girl. "I was checking out this one girl who works across the food court in the bookstore and- That's it. That's as far as I remember. Oh and my name is Ryuuto."
"Very good. Thank you very much." Decim stated as he looked over the girl who took the hint immediately and began to swirl her wine glass dramatically, watching droplets of water splashing out.
"Let's see. My name is Chizuru. I am fifteen. Born and raised in Okinawa. I go to a regular high school. The last thing I remember is I was at the pier but I don't remember why." The teenage girl replied as set the her wine glass down. "Sorry but my memory is also pretty foggy from there."
Decim nodded and gave her a calm smile. "Thank you very much for telling me."
The bartender then begin his little spiel about Quindecim. After he showed them his "intimidation tactic," Ryuuto gasped and began to stutter out curse words. Chizuru, however looked oddly unfazed by this. In fact, although the girl was staring at the display of the "corpses" seemed lost in her own thoughts. Decim noticed she was also staring at the Chiyuki mannequin for a second and then turning her attention back to the display.
"I will ask again." Decim started, "Will you two play the game?"
Before the dude could initiate some sort of negative response, the teenage girl grabbed the boy's hand. "Umm. Decim was it? Would it be okay if I talked to him somewhere in private? Is there a bathroom in here?"
The bartender noticed the young man staring at the girl, completely thrown off by her sudden gesture but wasn't going to argue with her.
"Yes. If you go towards the left then make a right, there is a large bathroom. Feel free to think things over if you must. I will be here waiting."
The girl beamed. "Thanks dude. "
Chizuru then proceeded to lead the way, dragging the young man who proceeded to give more dirty looks at the bartender.
Decim has seen this many times. He knew what was coming since after years of experience, it was obvious these two will either come up with a plan to "escape" by going along with the game or explain each other their possible theories about their current situation, come up with sort of plan, and still choose to go along with the game to figure out what was going on. Humans come and go in Quindecim but one thing was for certain. Their behavior for the most part if fairly predictable.
The boy was practically pushed into the bathroom by the girl. For someone who was half his size, she was sure stronger than she looked.
"Hey! Easy there. The hell are you doing for bringing me in here?"
"Okay, here's the thing. I am sorry how things started between us. I can get carried away sometimes and that wasn't cool for me to keep making jokes. But I think we need to settle on a truce. I don't know why but I don't buy this white hair dude's bullshit." The girl announced to Ryuuto who seemed just as baffled as ever.
"Bullshit? BULLSHIT!?" The guy showed pile of hanging corpses behind his glass window wall. How in the fucking hell is that bullshit?" The boy practically shouted while the girl began "shhhing" him, then mouthing out 'He could hear us' which was all the boy needed to shut his mouth tight.
"I dunno how to explain it but I feel that this guy's bluffing. I mean I can't explain the bodies of course but I dunno. Something tells me that was somehow a trick or an illusion or something. He wants something from us and I intend to find out what it is."
"Well I don't want too!" The teenage boy snapped as he pointed at corner of the room. "For all we know, he might really be some kind of pedophile murderer who plans to chop us up like a butcher and sell our human flesh to cannibals!"
"As much as I love hearing about potential perverted sociopaths who work in the human carnage black market business, which I am totally up for investing into a comic or book series by the way; I really have a feeling this isn't something related to that. I dunno. I feel like it's something more like some kind of test."
"A Test?" The boy repeated as he scratched his head. "Like what kind?"
The girl snorted. "Well if I knew that, it would ruin the element of surprise wouldn't it? "
"Element of surprise? Do you even realize we can be in danger and lose our lives." Ryuuto replied while scratching his head. "Not to mention, you're pretty calm considering our current fucking creepy situation."
"Well someone has to be. Clearly, you are losing it. And anyway, I would rather be cool and collected then panicky and insane. Seriously, selling our flesh...Can you be more twisted?"
"You never what kind of sick fucks are out there, okay? I am just trying to look out for the two of us. Believe it or not, I may look like a freak in your eyes but I do care for people's well being you know... "
"Okay, okay. I get your point. Oh, my bad. I never thought you were a freak. Actually, I think you're pretty cool looking. I just look to tease people a lot. I know I come out as a bitch to some people but that's how I show people I like or respect them. I am a very complexed individual."
The guy blinked. " I can see that...and er...Thanks. I guess."
"Now, our main concern is that cute but mysterious bartender -"
"What! You think he's cute? The guy just showed us a hanging corpses and did you look at his eyes? He has damn crosses in his eyeballs for fuck's sake! That's not normal! "
"You never heard of special contacts? Also, like I said, I don't think that display is even real. You know what. Nevermind. Not important." Chizuru said as she began to lean in closer to the boy to whisper. "Okay. Let's agree to play the game. If the bartender does something menacing, we will both take him on? "
The boy considered the idea for a moment and then sighed. "Fine. We will play the game but the moment I feel anything sketchy at all, I am going to-"
"WE." The teenage girl corrected as Ryuuto slapped his own forehead and muttered again.
"Fine, we are going to take him out. Wait... We don't have any weapons! What if this fucking guy has a bunch of weapons we don't know about? "
"Right...Okay. So we will have to improvise. He has a full bar of alcohol all stored in glass. If worse comes to worse, we will just smash some bottles and you can guess the rest. Sound good?"
Ryutto nodded. "Sounds smart. Okay. I'm in."
Chizuru nodded to herself making a mental note. "But I'm telling you already. We won't resort to that. I just know it'll be okay. Plus free game. Woohoo! "
Ryuuto merely stared at her. "You know despite being trapped in a giant creepy bar with no doors or windows, you sure are optimistic and confident enough to know we won't be killed."
"Well, it's all I got for now to keep me from having a panic attack so can you really blame me? Besides, I am not just some damn damsel in distress. Looks like you have taken that role, if you're sweaty palms and clammy look in your face suggests otherwise. "
"Why you little shit."
She laughed as she was making her way to the bathroom door. "Sorry, as much as I love the pet names, we have no time. Besides. I know it's kinda ironic and eerie to say this but when I saw the horror display, I just got this feeling...everything will turn out okay."
"What makes you so sure?" The tall boy asked.
"I just have this gut feeling that guy isn't bad at all. Also...I can't explain it but…"
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"The moment I saw that woman mannequin… I got a big wave of deja vu about this place."
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.As soon as the two guests came back, Decim saw the overly confident look in Chizuru's eyes. He couldn't help but admire this girl's attitude. Although he knew Chiyuki's spirit to be passionate, this girl took that word to a whole new level. The bartender knew the two teenagers were able to set aside their differences and formed some sort of alliance in order to overcome their situation. So, before the knew it, Chizuru pushed the red button and couldn't help herself smiling as she saw the roulette board. The game that was chosen was "arcade" and the two young ones saw the scene change before them and a sudden arcade appeared. Chizuru seemed more than pleased and even the young man smirked as he made his way toward his seat.
"Prepared to get your A-S-S kicked loser. HA!" She then dramatically waved her hand to chest. "Hate to brag...wait no I don't. I am pretty awesome gamer."
Ryuuto scratched his scalp, rolled his eyes, and couldn't help but grin. "You are so full of shit."
"More like full of win. I only have one request when you see my wicked gaming skills."
"What?"
"Just don't fall in love with me okay?" She teased as she flipped her bang. " I don't feel like rejecting someone I just met and couldn't live with myself if you were humiliated."
Ryuuto 's eye twitched and scoffed. "Pfffffft! Get over yourself!"
Chizuru stuck out her tongue. "Alrighty. Enough of the flirting. Let's do this!"
The two teens stared at the screen as they saw a virtual video game version of themselves.
"Whoa!" The girl turned to Decim. "This is freaking awesome!"
The boy looked at his character, raising an eyebrow, but gave an uneasy look to the bartender.
"Hmm...Why does this video game contain us as characters?" He whispered to Chizuru.
Chizuru shrugged. "Look I dunno but I ain't complaining. Look at me. I look awesome! I so can't wait to do some sweet ass kicking."
Ryuuto sighed. "Why do I even bother with you?"
"Because deep down, you have a secret-not-so-secret crush on me."
"I do not! Honestly, with the way you keep talking about crushes I am starting to believe you have one on me."
The girl stared at him for a moment, looking at him from bottom to top, and suddenly the boy's cheeks flushed and shifted uncomfortably. "What. In. The. HELL. Are. You. Staring. At?"
Chizuru smiled. "It wouldn't work out between us, sunshine. But you are kinda handsome so I will give you that at least."
"Just shut up and play the game." He muttered still pink but slightly smiling at her last part of the comment.
Meanwhile Decim was watching from the background and didn't know how to feel about the scene before him. Although it was refreshing to see a cheery yet confident version of Chiyuki, there was something he didn't like about what he was seeing. It wasn't that the conversation between the two teenagers that bothered him but rather...it was the way they interacted with one another. Despite being in their "mysterious situation," Chiyuki shown interest in the young man, and initiated some sort of truce with him. The boy in response acted annoyed but slowly was finding himself comfortable around her.
Decim began to remember the way he interacted with Chiyuki. Sure it started off strictly as assistant and boss relationship. They respected one another and engaged in conversation about their guests, food, and rest. As time went on however, Decim found Chiyuki more fascinating through time. Soon they engaged in friendly conversations about his job or her view points on certain subjects. Toward the end of her time, they formed something that Decim realized a few years back was considered to be what humans called a "friendship." Upon realizing they were friends, he had hoped if somehow he met Chiyuki's spirit again he thought he would make more of an effort to try to talk to her attempt to be friends with this lifetime. Yet, it seemed someone else was taking all her attention.
A negative feeling was washing over Decim at that moment. He didn't know what it was but it kept itching on the back of his mind.
Round 1: "WINNER CHIZURU ENDO!"
"AWWWWWWW YEAHHHHHH! SUCK IT, LITTLE BOY BLUE!" " The girl shouted from her seat.
"DAMN IT!" The boy stated as virtual character fell onto the floor.
Then the boy stopped for a second and Decim knew it the half his memories sunk in. Chizuru stopped shouting and stared at the guy.
"Hey Ryuuto. You okay?"
He blinked for a moment. "Nah...It's nothing. Just remembered I told my uncle I'd stop by home to help him fix his car."
"Your uncle?"
"Yeah...I don't have any parents. They died when I was young in an airplane crash."
The girl frowned. "Oh...Wow. I am so sorry to hear that."
"Thanks. I was only three so I sorta remember them. Not that much other than they loved me a lot and were nice people. " He gently explained. "I went to live with my aunt, uncle, and my four cousins after that. I was the middle child in that family. They treated me like their own and well it's a huge family so it's was crazy in there."
The girl nodded. "I see. So you fix cars huh? That's pretty neat."
"Yup. It's kinda my thing since I was like five. I always loved cars." He stated as scratched his arm. "I even have a part time job working in an auto repair shop and I am saving up for a car of my own. I was hoping to graduate soon so I could work there full time there. Studying and school were never really my thing. Not that I was bad at it either. I just prefer having a job and going to concerts with my buds you know?"
Chizuru smiled. "Sounds pretty damn cool to me. What kind of concerts you go too?"
"Any metal, punk, or rock concerts that seem interesting to us. Our favorite metal bands so far is Purple Filth, Human Pudding, Smelly Cat. They are not famous yet but they should be. They are all fucking amazing in my opinion. My best bud, Kai has a car so we get together drive far to concerts. Sometimes we make a weekend out of it."
Chizuru smiled. "That sounds so awesome. Can you write down the list of names of band names for me when we are done? I so need to listen to them or catch them in concert sometime."
"Sure no problem." Ryuuto said as he gave her a small smile.
The sound of "Round 2" erupted the room.
After a few moments, Decim knew Chizuru was going to already winning and beating the boy easily. He knew had to make this game a tie. So he grabbed his little handle with the white tip from his pocket and began to press on the girl's controller.
"HAHA I'M QUICK AS A CAT. JUST A FEW MORE KICKS AND VICTORY IS MI-THE HEEEEEEEELLLLLLL!" The Chizuru screeched as the red button part of the controller fell off from her. As the girl reached down to grab it, the girl's eyes widened. She was receiving a few flashbacks.
"YEAH! WOOOOO SUCK ON THAT LITTLE GIRL! I WON THAT ROUND. I- Chizuru?"
The girl ignored his shouting and blinked as she sat on the floor staring at the red button. "Oh!"
Ryuuto shut his mouth and stared at the girl. " Hey...What is it? You okay?"
"I just remembered something. I was a photographer!"
The teenage boy looked unimpressed. "Um, Aren't you like still in high school?"
"No-Well yeah. I guess I exaggerated but what I meant to say was that I was an aspiring photographer. I did have my own professional camera which I got from...my older sister Hana! That's right! Then my mom and my little sister, Ayumi turned my closet into a dark room! Yes!"
Suddenly a sense of fear replaced her smile. " Ah, shit! I am gonna be in such huge trouble! I hope they are not worried. Ugh. I am so gonna be grounded. I bet it is way past my curfew. Damn it."
Ryuuto smirked. "So somewhere beneath that sassy exterior you are a good girl. Didn't get that vibe from you."
"Are you kidding?" The girl asked. "I am a self entitled badass. But at home...I am a foul mouthed tomboy who needs to act "proper lady" or so my mom keeps telling me. Haha okay, I am just an ass."
The boy laughed. "Somehow, I can totally see that. So what kind of photographer were you? Something tells me you weren't exactly capturing people in their wedding day or snapshots of supermodels type of girl."
"No way. I mean I respect photographers who could stand to do that but that was never really my thing." She started as she began to stretch. "I like to take pictures of toys."
"Huh?" Ryuuto asked scratched his face.
She laughed. "I like to take pictures of toys. Not just any toys. Broken or used old toys."
"What the-Why would you take pictures of trash?"
Chizuru sighed as if she were asked to repeat herself. "I knew an uncultured swine such as yourself wouldn't understand."
"Swine!? Listen here-"
"Toys interest me." She interrupted as she had a distant look in her eyes. Ryuuto stopped huffing while Decim also began to gaze at her intently as she continued.
"I mean the whole concept of them. You know, that something that once was turned into something that now is not."
"I do not understand."
This time both teenagers looked over the bartender who appeared to be expressionless but Chizuru caught the small trace of curiosity in the man's blue eyes.
"Hmm. How shall I put this? Okay. These things: broken broken or used up toys were all once new. So of course every child would want to play with it. Get me so far?"
The two men nodded and she continued.
"However, as time goes on, we know all things don't last forever. Toys fade in interest and in appearance during the flow of time. Later when they do become obsolete, these items are ignored or thrown away because they served their purpose. They essentially become forgotten. "
"Right, because who wants to keep or play with garbage?" Ryuuto commented with a hint of annoyance.
Decim asked. "I do not understand as well. Why would you take photographs such a state of objects that have no value or function?"
"But you see? That's just it. That's what I love about old and broken toys. Each object or place has a great story behind it. Just like people and how they live their lives. We tend to honor people for how long they lived through funeral or ceremonies depending the culture or belief system. I know it sounds crazy but that's how I feel about toys. I think it's so amazing when I see a broken toy because it just tells me, a child out there loved this object so much, it was clearly played with until it couldn't be used again. The toy served its purpose to a child. Whether the childhood was bad or good, a worn out object indicated at some point in time, it gave comfort to a young soul. That to me, is fucking beautiful. "
Chizuru smiled as Ryuuto looked at her differently.
"You know...I really misjudged you, Chizuru. You're pretty insightful...for a kid."
The girl beamed. "Thanks. Okay. Enough talk. We are tied and I intend to win the last round! Just gotta fix this handle first."
As Chizuru began to fix the button, Decim appeared dumbfounded at what she said. Everything she said felt made perfect sense. Decim truly understood her hobby. Her habit of photographing broken toys mirrored his past time of making mannequins of guests as tributes. That's why he displayed Chiyuki's mannequin in the front of the entire bar. It all made sense why it felt important to do so. He wanted to show all the guests how important Chiyuki's life was and how she lived a good life despite how she chose to end it. It was to honor a friend. To honor who she was. To honor the guest he felt a special connection to. To honor his friend. To honor this woman he came to…"
He blinked because he wondered why the word "care" came into his mind. It was so unexpected. So...human like.
Round 3: "Players get ready. Set. Go!"
Buttons began to be pressed rapidly by the two players. The sound of click, click, click, and thump, thump, thump were heard along with barely incoherent words coming out of the two teenagers.
"Come on, get it together Ryuuto Takahashi. You can beat her." The boy said to himself as he began to aim for the girl's leg.
"Nice try, sunshine. Take this!" Chizuru exclaimed as she made her character block the attack and instead did a round-house kick and knocked the boy flat on his face.
Immediately, half of his life points were taken off already.
"Fuck!" The boy shouted as he pressed all the buttons.
Suddenly a clan of virtual metal heads came onto the scream.
"What the hell?" The girl yelled as she took a quick glance at Ryuuto who was just in shock.
"Those are my friends and look it's Kai leading them…"
The screen began to yell out. "YO RYUU! DON'T WORRY. IT'S COOL BRO. YOUR MOSH BUDS ARE HERE TO HELP. TASTE THE POWER OF THE HARDCORE METAL, LITTLE GIRL!"
Together, the heard virtual metal heads gathered together and began super speed toward Chizuru and put her into a mosh pit.
"GAH! AHHH! " The virtual Chizuru yelled out in pain as she began to be tossed and turned by the guys. She also lost half of her life points.
Chizuru groaned. "No fair! I didn't get anyone to help me!"
Ryuuto still stared at the screen. "I don't understand...how is it they captured my friends on this game? I don't-"
"WHAT ARE YOU JUST FUCKING STANDING AROUND FOR RYUU? FIGHT! WIN!"
Suddenly, the words sparked something in Ryuuto and he began to do just. The virtual Ryuuto lunged forward to the virtual Chizuru.
Chizuru made her character jump and suddenly out of nowhere, after pressing two buttons at once, a camera appeared, and a bright flash blinded the virtual Ryuuto.
"AHHHH" The virtual Ryuuto screamed as he kneeled down.
Meanwhile the teenage boy angrily pressed the button to get up. "Get the hell up!"
Then the Ryuuto began to click on more buttons and suddenly the virtual character received a toolbox filled with not just tools but also auto parts. He began to throw them at Chizru who was losing a life point per throw.
"Damn it." Chizuru gritted through her teeth As her virtual character began to weaken.
Decim closed his eyes for he knew what was coming next and took a deep breath.
Chizuru then pressed all three buttons and something happened.
Injection medical needles used for shots, IV packs, bandaids, blood packs, where all being thrown at Ryuuto.
"What the-" Chizuru said and suddenly she froze as she saw knew characters emerge from her side.
The game that contained a virtual version of her mother who came out was throwing some of these medical supplies at the virtual Ryuuto, "STAY AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER! TAKE THIS! AND THAT. AND THIS! " Then her two virtual sisters came out and then began to chant along. "YEAH! STAY AWAY FROM OUR SISTER!"
The girl began to tremble as her eyes stayed glued onto her virtual family yelling these things.
At that moment Decim stopped himself. An odd sense of emotion sprang out of him. He uncharacteristically found himself shutting his eyes and looking away not wanting to see Chizuru's reaction.
"I don't understand. Why are they throwing medical supplies at Ryuuto. What does that mean-AHHHHHH!"
Decim exhaled out his breath. She was now receiving all her true memories.
Ryuuto snapped out of his video game rage and his face was replaced with fear.
"Chizuru? Hey! Chi- What the-"
Then it happened.
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As the girl screamed, she found herself falling back out of her chair, Chizuru felt a gust of wind on the back of her head.
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In almost like a slow motion effect, she saw how her hair was…falling off from her head.
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A clean white bald scalp revealed itself as she landed on the ground. The girl stared at the hair piece in front of her while Ryuuto stood up to check on Chizuru but he too froze. The bartender finally glanced at the girl who had a look of pure horror.
"What...What's happening to her?" The teenage boy muttered as he stepped back while Decim tried his best not to show any emotion.
Decim gave out an empty sigh. "She's remembering who she really is."
Chizuru began to form deep dark circles under her eyes and her skin began to grow more ashen. Then several scars appeared in right hand where tiny circular marks appeared. The girl herself began to become aware of her appearance, as her legs and arms began to grow extremely thin before her and the other two men. She began to tremble for a moment as the memories where all coming back to her. Then the girl fell backward onto the floor while staring at the ceiling.
"Aw. That's right…I am supposed to look like this…" She sadly whispered as her eyes started to fill with tears.
"CHIZURU!" Ryuuto shouted as he ran toward her and stood there as he looked at the bartender. " What the HELL did you do to her? Why does she look-"
"Ryuuto! Stop. He didn't do this. This...This is my true form." She stated as she looked at her right hand. "I remember everything now."
"What the-Why are you. True form? I don't understand." He stated as he kneeled down toward her.
Her eyes still wide, slowly turn to face his shocked ones. "I had cancer... I was diagnosed with acute leukemia not too long after I just turned fourteen. A few months ago, I was in chemotherapy...It was pure hell. I hated the hospital. I hated the treatment. I hated what my life became. Then I remembered I wanted to visit my family since I was growing more impatient. So why?...Why?"
Suddenly she jerked back and began to shudder. Decim eyes widen and he began to walk forward but before he could hold her himself, Ryuuto grabbed her before she fell completely onto the floor.
"I-I-I yes. Now it's all coming back to me. I was discharged for a short month to spend time with my family at home with the promise to go everyday to the doctors for my checkups. Then-Then, I started to feel not too well when I arrived home but I didn't want to leave home yet so I didn't say anything. Two weeks later, my little sister Ayumi wanted me to take pictures of the ocean for her wildlife elementary project. I agreed. I convinced my mom I was well enough to go and brought my little sister Ayumi to watch over me. I promised we would be back before my older sister's, Hana, welcome back dinner. She was visiting from college for her break... "
She shuddered some more as Ryuuto was listening at disbelief the girl in front of him was telling him.
"That was the day I went into the pier and the day I felt strange. I felt cold and hot at the same time. I thought it was all in my head. Then-I remember I had seizure. My little sister kept screaming my name but I couldn't respond back to her."
Tears were pouring out of her eyes, Ren lifted his hand, and placed it toward hers.
"The last thing I remember was choking and Ayumi was sobbing and screaming she didn't' know what to do...Then I died...I left my mom and my sisters too." She whispered.
Ryuuto's eyes widen. "...Dead? You're dead? Does that mean I-we both are-"
The game that contained a virtual version of her mother yell out from the arcade monitor and began to say, "Come on sweetheart! You got this! You can fight this! Win!" Then her two virtual sisters came out and then began to chant along. "You can do it, Sis! You can do it Sis!"
She turned her attention to the monitor and screamed. She got up and slowly made her way to her arcade screen. She held the monitor screen as tears formed as she heard their voices repeating the same several catchphrases. "Mom...Hana...Ayumi…"
She began to break down and put her head down on the monitor.
"I am so sorry. I am sorry. I tried so hard with the treatment. I was supposed to go back and get better. I promised you all that but in the end, I couldn't do that. Mom...Hana...Ayumi. I love all of you. I love you all so much….and now...you never hear me say it."
As Decim began to walk forward to hug Chizuru, he was caught off by Ryuuto who was already doing that. This slightly annoyed Decim for some reason but he pushed aside that unnecessary thought.
"Shit...I am so sorry Chizuru...I'm really sorry." The boy said letting as he hugged her.
She nodded and muttered out a thanks but quickly turned to Decim.
"I quit. Let Ryuuto be the winner. I just want to see my family through this screen if that's okay."
Decim hesitated for a moment. He wanted to grant this simple request to her this but normally a person must play and finish the fight. The two opponents were at an equal tie and someone had to break it.
"Yes. That is fine. So long as you understand Ryuuto most play and defeat you, then you may stare at the monitor as much as you wish."
Ryuuto shook his head. "No way. I am not playing. Let her win. I can't do that to her."
"Just do it...please. I'm begging you." Chizuru stated apathetically as she stared at the screen. " Please."
"Alright. If that is what you want." He walked over, bent down, took several kicks and punches to the girl. Then the screen began to illuminate the dark room with a bright colored victory sign. A digital musical instrumental began to play as the screen monitor announced.
"Winner! Ryuuto Takahashi! Winner Ryuuto Takahashi! Winner! Ryuuto Takahashi! Winner Ryuuto Takahashi!"
Those were the only sounds heard in that silent room. That and the sobs and screams that came from Chizuru.
After an hour, the two teens sat next to each other in a nearby wall, as they began to watch the jellyfish, swimming in different directions. Decim was in his bar, washing the counter tops in silence, understanding Chizuru needed some time to gather her thoughts.
She sighed and finally spoke. "This really sucks."
Ryuuto turned to look at her. "Yeah…"
"Well. I think I have emptied out every part of me. I oddly feel at ease." The Chizuru announced as she got up to get a better view of the jellyfish. "Well, at least we know we are not gonna die considering we are dead. Not to mention we are not gonna get into trouble with the guardians, am I right? Plus who could deny this view. Jellyfishes are actually my favorite animals ironically enough. Who knew this would be one of the first things I saw after I died. "
He looked at her and just before he could say anything, suddenly Ryuuto fell back onto the floor and looked wide eyed off to the distance for a moment.
She raised and eyebrow muttered. "Hey dude... are you ok-"
"ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?"
She and even Decim stepped back for a second on the eruption that came out of the man's mouth.
"What!?" Chizuru scowled as she walked over to him. "The hell man! Why did you yell like that?"
"I apparently ate something that had... peanut oil." Ryuuto confessed as he blushed scarlet and finally looked directly at her. "I er...am allergic to peanuts. In fact, if I even smell it or it's near me I break into hives or start choking."
The teen began to gave an awkward laugh. "I know it's not exactly what you want to hear. I know you died in a terrible way and suffered but I thought you might like to know, despite dying the way you did, at least you didn't….die by eating a fucking Chinese chicken salad that contained peanut oil which specifically I told the guy in the concession stand not to put."
The room got dead silent for a moment and the girl stared at him and…
"Then...as I was dying. My sight kept fading to black and going back to reality. Just when things couldn't get worse...but it did."
He stammered as began to gaze down at her knees. "I can't believe I'm gonna fucking tell you this. I never kissed anyone in my entire life ever. But I guess as I was dying I got my first kiss. My best friend Kai gave me mouth to mouth."
That did it.
A high pitched yet somehow booming laugh erupted in the room. Decim's eyes widened as he stared at the Chizuru while Ryuuto appeared to sink his head into his knees in pure humiliation.
"HAHAHAHA I CAN'T. HAHAHA I AM SO SORRY. I KNOW IT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE FUNNY BUT-HAHA FUCKIN PEA-NUT OIL...HAHAHA I AM A TERRIBLE PERSON!"
She proceeded to fall onto the floor and covered her face attempting to conceal the giggles. Ryuuto looked at her, he didn't know if it was because her laughter was contagious or probably the fact she was losing it, but he started to laugh with her. They kept on laughing and laughing for a very logn time while Decim looked at the two, completely thrown off at the scene before him.
"That was a- pretty lame way to die, wasn't it?" He finally breathed out as she began to wipe tears from her face.
"Don't be too hard on yourself. It could have been worse. At least you died eating which is rather I would have preferred to go. There are worse ways to die though. I mean at least it wasn't from eating damn kiwi or blueberry. Then I really would have pissed myself. But Chinese chicken salads are pretty hardcore so…"
"No. They're not."
They both began to laugh.
Ryuuto shook his head and fixed his hair. "So... I guess we are for sure both dead."
"Looks like it." Chizuru replied leaning back on her arms and staring at the arcade game.
Ryuuto lightly gave a nervous laugh. "Personally I thought if I died, I would somehow be a ghost and haunt some people."
"What are you five?" She grinned as she began to stand. " Why would you think that?"
The teenage boy shrugged. "Thought it would be cool to haunt some assholes I knew in middle school. Like pour water in their beds to make them think they pee themselves, take their clothes in gym and having them force to walk naked at school things like that. "
"Whoa and I thought I had a devious imagination." She pointed out while fixing her shirt. "I thought when we die, we simply just fade to black. You know, that was it. Our soul ceased to exist for a while until somehow, I dunno we'd all comeback."
"Sounds so...plain." He replied.
"Right?" Chizuru muttered as she looked at the scars of some of her former treatments with the IV packs. "Guess, since I knew I wasn't going to live long, I just was preparing myself. I focused more on not feeling the pain after I die then where I end up going. Somehow that relieved me more. Didn't think I leave the world as soon as I did though. "
Ryuuto looked sadly at her for a moment and then said. "I am so sorry you had to go through chemo and how you had cancer."
Chizuru looked surprised. "Why? It's not your fault. Plus, I am not sorry. Sure it sucked but in some odd way, my illness gave me a sense of purpose. I wanted to live the best that I could knowing I wouldn't have a normal long life. I admit I didn't expect to go that quick. But I am not ashamed of my life at all. I had an awesome mom and two sisters whom I all loved dearly. I got enough love most people never have in their whole life. Plus, I got to meet you and you're pretty nice guy. "
The two teens smiled and at each other.
"I hate interrupt. But I feel I must say something to you both." The bartender declared as he began to walk toward the two young teens, interrupting their conversation. "I apologize for not explaining earlier but those are the rules when coming here. I am an arbiter. You two are dead. I judge the guests that come here by making them play a game to observe his or her behavior. I apologize for deceiving you earlier. "
"I KNEW IT!" Chizuru teased as she grinned. "Called it. It was a test and he isn't a psycho!"
The boy awkwardly stood up and looked at Decim. "Sorry. I just thought so considering the display which I assume was fake now, it wasn't it?"
"It is alright and you are correct." The bartender answered.
"So did we pass the test?" " Ryuuto asked while Chizuru was standing up.
"Yes." Decim smiled at the two. "You both did very well."
"Also, what Is it with this place? This looks like some las vegas inspired purgatory or what? " Chizuru commented as she laughed.
Decim shook his head. "No. It is merely Quindecim. A bar where the dead come. That is all."
"Ah...right." The girl nodded as she sighed. "Well, what's next now? If we passed does that mean we cross over to the other side, go upstairs to heaven, or… or you know what, I really don't know where we go or how this whole afterlife thing works, so what don't you explain it to us?"
The bartender smiled. "Follow me. We are going back to the elevators. There you will both be going up. Then you will see your rewards."
"Well Chizuru." The boy started as he stepped into the elevator. "It was clusterfuck of what the fucks...but I'm glad we met the way we did. Too bad we didn't know each other in the human world. We would have been pretty good friends."
"Why Ryuuto, are you indicating you do have a heart in that tortured black soul of yours?" The girl replied back with a wink.
"Shut up. Damn...annoying to the very end, huh? "
"You know it!" She laughed and then gave a warm smile. "I am glad I got to meet you. Even if it is in the afterlife. I wish you all the best, Ryuuto. Take care."
The boy gave a genuine smile and as the door closed the girl waved to him as Decim bowed.
As Decim saw the red mask turned into a white mask, he noticed the girl was staring into the masks in deep thought.
"Decim was it?…What does that mean? The masks?"
He paused. "I am not supposed to tell you. Forgive me."
The girl stared at him and then smiled. "They indicate where we go don't they? Like into a good or bad place. Heaven or Hell right?"
His eyes widen as she stared at the girl for a moment. The girl took his silence as a yes and then nodded.
"I see… You don't have to tell me. Say Decim. You know..I had an unexpected feeling when you showed us that display earlier?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Feeling? Oh. You mean that. I can assure you it's not real."
Chizuru shook her head." No. It's-Nevermind. Forget I said anything. I guess I am just imagining things. "
She then made her way toward the elevator."So I guess I better get going, huh?"
Chizuru stepped inside and sharply turned. "I know it's really not my place to give my opinion considering I am human and I am assuming you are not. But you said earlier you were an arbiter right?"
Decim nodded. "Correct."
"So your job is judge other dead people and test them to see what kind of person they were when they lived right?"
He nodded again and the girl lips twitched. "Hmmm...makes sense. So do you like do the judging alone?"
"Yes."
"How long have you been judging people? You look like you're in your mid twenties at least."
Decim smiled. "Arbiters such as myself do not age but I believe I have been doing this more than fifty human years."
She whistled. "Whoa never would have guessed that. Well you are looking good for someone older than fifty human years. Very dashing. Love the red bow tie by the way."
"Thank you very much." The bartender responded as he bowed.
The girl smirked for a moment and then frowned. "So is it just you then, in this room, that does all the judges?"
"Yes."
"Oh...Doesn't it get lonely for you?"
"Lonely?" Decim repeated.
She began to pat her bald head. " You know...to go through kind of job mainly alone. I mean I assume you meet lots of guests but they never seem to stay right? That seems kinda sad. Nobody should lead a life of solitude. I mean I dunno. Don't you have any friends that visit you? "
Decim paused for a moment and then nodded. " I do. I have employees that visit me once in a while."
The girl shook her head. "No I mean like any friends?"
"...I did have one friend." Decim stated as he began to gaze Chizuru's violet eyes.
"Oh." Chizuru noticed the past tense and felt like an idiot but couldn't look away from his intense gaze. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to bring it up. "
"It's fine." Decim interrupted which surprised himself. "She was a special friend of mine. Actually, she was a guest just like yourself."
"Really? Whoa. Wait she was a human like me but got to visit you at your work?" She asked impressed. "Is that even allowed?"
Decim shook his head. "Normally no. All I can say is that she was a special case. In fact, did you notice the mannequin of the girl in the bar?"
The girl nodded. "Yeah...Wait. Was that-It's her? How is that possible?"
"Well it's not her. More like a tribute to her." The bartender corrected as he smiled. "She was very much human when she entered into my life all those years ago."
"...I really hate to ask this...but what happened to her?"
Decim's eyes looked at her and the moment he did, the way he looked at her...she felt an unexplainable sense of deja vu again. He quickly turned away unable to look at the Chizuru anymore.
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"The same thing that happens to every guest that passes here."
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"She was here for a moment...and then when the time came... she was gone. "
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"I sorry, Decim. It seems you didn't want her to go. "
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Decim stared at the clean purple floor. "Perhaps...a little part of me didn't want her too. But I am an arbiter."
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"...what I want does not matter in the end."
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As he said his goodbye to Chizuru and sent her to be reincarnated, Decim found himself a little unsettled. He didn't understand why but he knew it was because of Chizuru. He told himself it was not because of her visiting him because he did enjoy to see her. But this entire encounter, made him question a lot things. His mind was swirling with thoughts.
"Heya Decim! Long time, no see!"
Decim turned to his fellow green haired employee. "Hello Calvis. How are you doing?"
"Very well, Thank you." He said grinning as usual as he put his hand up. "Haven't seen you in a while."
"Hi Decim!" Said a voice walking behind Calvis.
"Hello Nona. How are you doing?" The white haired bartender greeted as he bowed to her.
"Could be worse...but still okay I guess." She calmly replied. "But the bigger question is how are you."
Decim blinked for a moment and then got an idea. " Actually Nona, I am not well. Yet, I cannot figure out why."
She raised her eyebrow. "Oh? Do explain?"
The bartender sighed. " I saw..."
"Hmm? Who did you see, Decim?" Nona asked as her eyes went doe eyed and gave him an innocent like small smile.
"Chiyuki's reincarnation." Decim answered while the manager began to sat on one of his stools, while Clavis stood there, watching the two interact.
"Ah, so you met her again." Nona commented her face unimpressed. "So is this the first encounter with her?"
"No." Decim said as he sat next to Nona. "It is my third. I met her twice before in two different lifetimes."
She nodded. "I see. So what's the problem Decim? Are you not enjoying your visits with her?"
"N-No. That's not it all. I am very grateful I was able to see her reincarnated soul time after time. I hope I continue to do so." Decim stammered awkwardly. "What I mean to say it's not her that bothers me but rather...this partcular visit itself. "
"Oh? Care to explain?" Clavis asked as he was making himself comfortable next on the stool next to Decim.
"Very well. I shall explain."
So Decim told them exactly how the visit went. About Chizuru's personality. About her and Ryuuto's conversation, their cooperation, the way they comforted one another when they realized when they are dead. These are actions he witnessed all the time with many of his guests. Time after time it was almost all the same pattern of human behavior.
"Now that I explained I was hoping to get some perspective. I was wondering if you could explain to me why I feel bothered by the girl and boy's interaction. As much as I try to push it in the back of my mind. I feel I am being completely unreasonable feeling the way that I am right now."
Clavis smiled and nodded. "Well Decim. I think it's pretty obvious."
Nona gave her green haired companion a look of surprise. "Wow Clavis. I didn't you to figure it out so soon."
"I have my moments." Clavis proudly stated. "It's clear that Decim hasn't eaten in a while and is feeling ill because of it. So he kinda feels annoyed that he had to work another guest when he was supposed to finish for the day and eat dinner. But he skipped it so "
"Idiot." Nona muttered as she shook her head in annoyance while Clavis sank onto his chair. "That's not what Decim's talking about."
She then turned to look at her white haired subordinate who genuinely was hoping for a better answer.
"Oh Decim. It's so obvious what you're feeling. You see it a lot in memories Quin sends you in a daily bases at work. In fact, half the time our guests end up in here is because of one thing. Can you guess what emotion I am talking about?"
"Fear?"
Nona sighed. "No Decim-Well. Yes. Actually. True it's the most dominant emotion people have. But what do you think is the second?"
Decim thought for a moment. "Let's see…Ah. Anger."
Clavis gave a thumbs up to Decim while Nona face palmed her head.
"Well sort of. You are in the right path though. But this form of negative emotion is very specific."
The white haired man began to close his eyes and think deeply. " I am terribly sorry. "
"Come on Decim. I know you know it." Nona groaned while placing a hand on her hip and her other pointed at his chest. "It's so obvious, even Ginti could guess it right."
Clavis winced. "Ouch boss. That was pretty harsh."
" Hmm... " Decim responded as he looked down a little ashamed.
"Aggghhhh!" Nona scowled as she glared at her creation. "Lean down. Let me whisper it to you."
As Decim leaned over and Nona whispered him the answer, Clavis noticed instantly Decim's expression on his face.
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"Decim what you are feeling is jealously. You are jealous.. "
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"What?"
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"Jealous." He repeated aloud at loud in the empty bar. He thought of it. Said it out loud. Even wrote it down on a notepad. It still didn't make any sense. Nona said he was denying something so obvious but he didn't understand what she meant by it.
He knew what the word meant but it still didn't add up. Why on earth would he be jealous?
"I do not understand. Why would I feel that way." He loudly asked himself. The room was silent. He turned and then saw the Chiyuki mannequin. He walked over to the doll and smiled.
"It seemed we met again for the third time." Decim gently said as he began to brush the doll's black hair. He froze as he saw the white hair strand and stared into the hollow mannequin's eyes.
"I wonder if we will continue to meet again. I really do hope so." The bartender declared as he still stared into the hollow eyes, imaging them being replaced by those bright violet ones.
And in that moment a stream of flashbacks entered his mind. They were visions of Chiyuki and him interacting. The first time they met. The time she helped him on the job, the times she would give her opinion, the time he learned of who she really was, the time they spent to talking to one another about her death, the day they were able to understand one another on her day of judgement... the time they cried into each other's arms and hugged...the time they had to leave each other…
After flashback Decim stepped back away from the doll quickly. He began to look the doll differently for a second. Then it hit him.
He then realized why he was jealous. He didn't envy the girl but the boy, Ryuuto. Not the actual boy but his position he was in. He was human and able to carry out a conversation and establish a bond with the Chiyuki's reincarnated soul. Something Decim himself was never able to do in her three lifetimes so far.
He will never be able to be permitted to share a bond with any other human again. The only human who he was able to help him realize and share his newfound emotions, had to leave from his life. Her memory was erased in order to live again as a human. While all he could do, was stand in the background, and wait for her death to see her again. Time after time it was the same. It was at the moment he kneeled down and in front of the doll, lost in his thoughts.
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He would be the one holding the memories of their time together.
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While she was able to continue being reincarnated, live different lives, and share her bonds with other souls. Forgetting about her time in Quindecim...
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...and forgetting about him...
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He would be the one holding the memories of their time together.
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...And the pain it came with remembering.
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He kneeled down at softly whispered to the doll. "Perhaps...if I was human...We could continue to talk with one another..."
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"Oh Decim…" Nona muttered staring at the surveillance screen that recorded Quindecim and was watching Decim kneeled down and talking to the doll.
Oculus walked behind her and shook his head. "Honestly. You should cut the poor guy some slack. Stop doing this to him. This is just cruel, even for you Nona."
The young girl turned to face her two tall and tipsy friend. "What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb with me. I know you're having Quin look out and send memories of that woman with the white streak and black hair with the violet eyes to that one boy of yours… This is what? The third time? What's the point? Sure he gets to see her but with his feelings still intact, wouldn't this just hurt the guy even more? "
Nona nodded. "Perhaps. But if you're so concerned then why don't you dispose of Decim? I know you consider him tainted so why not finish the job yourself."
The purple haired man stroke his beard. "Why should I do that? That isn't that poor arbiter's fault. This is your experiment Nona. Your responsibility. If that arbiter suffers, it is all on you. I am only allowing you to do this since I feel you need to see for yourself what exactly you hope to gain from this whole thing."
"Glad you see it my way." She said as she beamed at the old man who merely frowned. "Please don't get involved in this, okay?"
He sighed. "Fine. Fine. Whatever. But you do realize I don't just enforce these rules enough for kicks, Nona. I do it for the good of our system. This way, no one gets hurt."
"I understand." Then the girl's lavender eyes grew dark. "But that doesn't mean I agree with them. Besides…"
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"I still intend to see how this all plays out for myself."
