Disclaimer-I don't own No.6, but my world domination is close! :3
Chapter Summary- Shion receives two important letters, one from Nezumi and one from a No.5 official. He doesn't have the guts to open either one.
Kitzabitza: Challenge, Yuki! Write as much as I did without rambling. :3 Oh, and readers, no typo. It is a letter from No.5, not No.6. :D
Yuki- "Bah! You're a meanie! I always have such difficulties when I try to write longer chapters, anyway. Challenge accepted! :)
Kitzabitza- u
Yuki- *Rolls eyes and pokes out tongue* "Anyway beloved readers, thanks for following our story for so long, just a bit of a warning in this chapter I do a lot of time jumping, so I hope you can keep up with my pace. XD
Shion fell back down onto the bench looking blindly at the darkening streets. Tears poured down his face, blurring his vision. The paper crinkled in his fist. The shelter rattled slightly as a gust of wind blew past and he rubbed furiously at his face. It had been a full week! This was how he responded? Why now? What does he mean? Why?
~Two days Earlier ~
His bright smile slipped from his face as he entered his house, he was happy but worried, I mean receiving a letter from an official from another number does that to people. But all the same he wasn't sure what he should do, he hadn't told his mother, and he wasn't sure if he ever would. Shaking his head he dumped his black bag on the table and unpacked the groceries he'd just brought. The letter complicated things, firstly Shion had been going okay and ignoring the obvious fact that his love hadn't replied for five days. Secondly he had been able to find a family for the baby but he needed time to make sure the family was truly okay, and lastly the letter wasn't just from the base of No.5, oh no it had come from a person 'really high up'. And now he couldn't help looking at all the negative things on his agenda.
Shion sat on his bed and ruffled his hair angrily. He had received the letter that morning but he couldn't bring himself to open it. "Arrhh." He sighed, standing up and picking up the letter. It had the No.5 stamp in the top left corner as well as the stamp that Shion was sure belonged to the 'head' there but he wasn't sure, and I mean what reason would someone that high up want to talk with him for? The envelope held no clues as to what lay inside. All it said was-
To Shion
And that explained nothing, as if this letter hadn't been causing enough turmoil within Shion's head, but because Nezumi still hadn't replied, his heart was involved as well. Shion squashed his eyes shut and slammed his fist down on the desktop, scrunching the letter slightly in his other hand. What the hell was he meant to do? Did Nezumi's lack of response mean he was done with Shion? And what about this letter, did they find out about his involvement with Nezumi? Did they want to hurt him? "NO!" He yelled, the same hand slamming into the wall, but he didn't care.
His mother had gone out for the night and his house was otherwise soundproof, so he didn't have to worry about his neighbours. But his head and heart ached, wiping a stray tear that had decided to fall. Shion walked over to his bed and lay down on its silky covers. It feels like water ghosting over my skin, his brain thought in a meek attempt to distract him. The tears started up at full force again and he buried his face in his pillow. Why was he crying so much lately? Why hasn't Nezumi responded? What does No.5 want with him? The questions poured unrelenting into his brain as the tears fell.
"Haha, who, what, when, where, why, how." He sing-songed bitterly, rolling over and looking towards his clock. -01:14am- it read. He was so sick of all this pain but he didn't want to give up on Nezumi. One more week he thought, one more week then I'll stop waiting, hoping for his reply.
With that last thought Shion's tears seemed to stop, and his eyes closed against his will. That day had been too emotionally exhausting- strike that, his whole week so far had been emotional rollercoaster. Trying to focus on happy things, trying to keep up his resolve to wait patiently no matter how long it took, it was all so hard. Sighing for the last time, Shion fell into a dream haunted by a beautiful, smiling, blue haired man.
~Back to the Present~
The tears wouldn't stop, his heart ached. No. His heart had shattered, all those tiny pieces stabbed his chest. How could three little words hurt so much?
~The day Before~
Something cold ran down his cheek and onto his neck, slowly sliding the back of it. Making Shion shiver, he slowly opened his eyes, reluctant to leave the warmth and happiness his dreams held. Sitting up he started slightly when a drop of ice cold water hit his face, his head snapped to his window and he realised he'd left it open. Outside rain drizzled slowly from the dark grey sky, making everything shine with a dull exuberance.
Standing and stretching, Shion headed to the bathroom and undressed, the shower beckoned to him with promises of more thoughtless moments and a relaxed mind. He smiled slightly as he stepped into the still warming water, it felt so nice. So different to the thoughts coming back to him, he didn't want to think at the moment. He just wanted this, the simple pleasure, the warm water racing down his pale skin, tinging it a slight pink. The soap caressing his stiff joints and the smooth tile under his feet vibrating ever so slightly as the water hit it. Tilting his head back he finally gave in and let those cold and painful thoughts fill his mind.
He couldn't wait much longer to open that letter and depending on its contents, would depend on how he treated his thoughts on Nezumi. If it was about the time he had spent with the bluenette Shion wouldn't give. If it was about the bluenette's whereabouts he didn't have anything to offer. And even if he did he wouldn't tell anyway. Turning off the shower he stepped out and dried himself off quickly, then wrapped the towel around his waist.
Walking into his room he threw on some grey slacks and a loose maroon shirt. Today he was just going to stay home, he couldn't get anything done in this frame of mind and he needed to sort himself out.
He sat at the kitchen bench, well, more accurately, he sat on the bench. While munching thoughtfully on a piece of toast, the tanginess of the butter and jam helped to clear his head, as did the coffee cooling off beside him. Breathing in, Shion started his planning,
1. He could wait for Nezumi's reply before opening the letter, but that could end badly depending on the letters contents.
2. He could open the letter and go from there.
3. He could forget about the letter entirely and continue on as normally as possible and just wait for Nezumi's reply.
4. The sun could show its face, to tell him everything would be okay.
He thought while looking out the window. The rain had picked up its pace and was now pouring down in buckets. They all had their ups and downs, he decided as he hoped off the bench and sipped his coffee. Dragging his feet, Shion walked into his room and pulled out his laptop, sitting at his desk. Shion took a big gulp of his coffee as he typed in his password. Option one would work in some cases, say if the letter was simply something sent to everyone, an apology of sorts. But Shion knew that wasn't true.
Option three was the most tempting offer, but Shion knew better than to ignore such an important letter. So that only left option two, blowing onto his coffee he sat back in his chair and let his eyes slide closed. He couldn't open the letter, not yet. Not today. So he would open it tomorrow, and maybe go on a walk to calm his nerves a bit beforehand.
"Yes, that will have to be what happens." He told himself, sitting back up he sat his cup on the desk and opened the internet, he had some research to do.
~Back to the Present~
The rain splattered on the pavement just outside the shelter, the tears fell from his cheeks and onto the paper. Moonlit Night sat on Shion's shoulder and rubbed his face against his neck in a comforting gesture. But Shion was barely able to feel it, too close to losing his grip on what thin thread had been holding him up this past week. "Why, Nezumi? What do you mean…"
~That Morning~
The rain splattered on the window to his room as Shion tugged on his warmest, grey-brown jeans, a white long-sleeve shirt and his favourite red-brown jumper. He picked up the letter and placed it in one of his pockets, looking around the room he spotted Hamlet perched on the windowsill looking out at the street as if expecting something. "I'll be back soon, okay," he said, turning and heading for the front door.
No matter what this letter said, if it brought bad news he would figure out another way, there was always a third option. He had to keep reminding himself that and he would be fine. Opening the front door he winced as the wind whipped past him, but proceeded anyway. He had to go on this walk to clear his head, and he had to open this letter. Then, maybe he would be able to decide what to do next.
Walking slowly, he shivered slightly as the rain slid down his body and the wind through his hair, its vicious strength giving Shion the will to go on. He turned the corner and came across the blue shelter he had been looking for. It was a small shelter that held a picnic table and a small public barbeque. He sat down on one of the benches and pulled the still dry letter (courtesy of his jumper) out of his pocket and opened the envelope. A feeling of dread set in his stomach as he read:
Dear Shion
We are aware of your involvement in the revolution of No.6 and would like your help to change our city, No.5, for the better. Please consider our offer. You can take as much time as you wish. When you have reached your decision, please contact us via the telephone number below.
Sincerely
Sai Satou
Head Officer of No.5 Development Office
Shion paused for a moment before re-reading it, then reading it again. What did this mean? Was it a threat? Did they actually want his help, or were they just trying to manipulate him? He shook his head and the clear water droplets that clung to it were thrown away. He didn't know what to make of this. If it was true then this was a breakthrough, so many lives could be saved. So much potential was hidden in this letter that Shion couldn't believe he hadn't sensed it. He laughed a true happy laugh, bit by bit, piece by piece this world was changing.
Squeak.
Shion's head snapped to the side standing up he exclaimed. "Hamlet, it's amazing-" He was cut off short by the dripping wet black mouse in front of him. His smile widened. Today was his lucky day. Not only did another city want to change…. But Nezumi had replied as well. Humming slightly, Shion picked up paper that Moonlit Night had dropped, unravelled it slowly and read,
-I don't know-
His brain stopped. His heart shattered.
-I don't know-
The world seemed to fade away.
-I don't know-
…
Shion fell back down onto the bench looking blindly at the darkening streets. Tears poured down his face, blurring his vision. The paper crinkled in his fist. The shelter rattled slightly as a gust of wind blew past and he rubbed furiously at his face. It had been a full week! This was how he responded? Why now? What does he mean? Why?
…
The tears wouldn't stop, his heart ached. No. His heart had shattered, all those tiny pieces stabbed his chest. How could three little words hurt so much?
…
The rain splattered on the pavement just outside the shelter, the tears fell from his cheeks and onto the paper. Moonlit Night sat on Shion's shoulder and rubbed his face against his neck in a comforting gesture. But Shion was barely able to feel it, too close to losing his grip on what thin thread had been holding him up this past week. "Why Nezumi? What do you mean…"
…
The thread… It was slipping, slowly… slowly… he felt like he was falling… what was this blackness that surrounded him…?
"No…" he breathed.
"No…" his voice rose,still barely above a whisper.
"NO!" He shouted. He still had something that he needed to do; No. 5 is counting on him. He couldn't let go now. Nezumi's rejection hurt, it hurt like hell. Shion didn't think he'd ever feel the same again. But he couldn't let it all go now. This was the third option that he told Nezumi about! He would heal all the cities then Nezumi should be okay, because then no real number would exist. Nezumi could be free of his burden. And even if he didn't choose Shion after all that, then Shion would be okay at least. Knowing that he was able to help his love.
He turned to the table and flipped the paper over, pulling the pen that had become habit to take with him everywhere out of his pocket he wrote back.
-Good-bye, for now-
Shion would return to Nezumi's side at least once more, once all this was over. So he would not give up hope, he would carry out his dream and free Nezumi, along with all the non-numbers out there. Shion walked home after watching Moonlit Night run off, the rain was nice. It reminded him of his first meeting with Nezumi. All would be good in the end, the third option had arrived and Shion wasn't going to let it go. Walking through the house he stripped off his clothes, showered and got re-dressed. He had looked up No.5 on the internet the other day, and knew that what was said in the letter was true. Again, bit by bit. Piece by piece, the puzzle would fit together and the world would be the utopia he had dreamed it to be, without any darkness lurking beneath like before. Walking down the stairs, with the letter in his hand Shion headed for the phone. He picked it up and dialled the number on the letter he held in his hand.
"Hello, this is Shion…"
Hello readers, how am I doing? How are we doing? Does it leave you wanting more?
There will be more, but this sequel is drawing to a close, what with only being a prologue, to the bigger story we have planned for you all XD I hope you stay with us till the end! 3
Oh and kitzabitza? I win! Hahahahahahahaha! (She wrote {in her ch} 2,175 | I wrote {in this ch} 2,421) Bwahahahahahahahahhahaaaaaaa a! XD XD XD XD
~Yuki
