When Katsuragi appeared in our meeting place with an overly-familiar woman beside him, I knew something bad was going to happen—especially if that woman was the one who almost successful in her attempt to kill Karu via his favorite dinner menu.
"A-ara? S-so they're—"
"Yes, Ma'am. They're my friends. And I suppose you've known them very well…?"
I wasn't Landkarte or my brother Krom, who could know how people felt only via their gaze. I couldn't help my self but to wander when Katsuragi politely invited Karu's auntie—Wolfram's mother, for your information—to sit with us; what was his true intention, actually?
From the corner of my eyes, I could see Karu was restraining himself not to pour the rat-poison he bought earlier into the woman's tea.
"It has been a long time since the last time we met, eh, dear Auntie?"
Darkness Within
Genre: Crime – Mystery
Rate: T
Warning: Once again, unreliable narrator and AU. Different narrator for every chapter. And—uh, er… Big sorry for Krowell's fans! #runaway
Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot.
Chapter 6
~Randkalt?~
The situation became very awkward after that.
Katsuragi drank his tea gracefully, as if nothing strange ever happened here. Hyuga ate his apple candy casually, his fingers and gaze locked on my phone screen (he was playing games in my phone—"Damn you, watch for the battery, will you?" but he just smiled innocently at me and kept playing games there). And Ea, like what I've explained before, was resisting the urge to pour rat poison he bought earlier with Hyuga to his Aunt's tea. Revenge, I assume.
In that very awkward moment, Hyuga suddenly spoke: "How did you meet with Karu's Auntie, Katsuragi-san?"
That dark-haired man—uh, it seemed like I was the only one with silver hair here—smiled as usual. "Well, I met her at an elevator inside," he said while pointing at the door, far from our gathering spot. "She had a problem with her things there, and I offered to help her."
"What a gentleman you are, Katsuragi-san."
Karu's voice was filled with malice, yet he still maintained his stoic face. I wanted to tell something to him, but Hyuga suddenly spoke and—
"Katsuragi-san is a gentleman. Admit it that you're jealous since you can't help her, Karu~"
-only worsening the situation. I punched him at his waist below the table after that. He winced at me, but I did nothing else except taking back my phone from him. He was the mood-maker in this group, after all. And I, who was titled by my own Brothers as 'Walking Iceberg' (really, I didn't lie here—Krom-niisan gave that title to tease me at first, followed by Kreuz-niisan after I made my nephew cried and I didn't bother to calm him), could only wait for a miracle to happen and ended this awkward moment.
Fortunately, though, Katsuragi seemed to be keen enough to read the atmosphere. He clapped his hands once, gaining everyone's focus, and then looked at his watch. "I just remember that Hyuga-san and I have an arrangement. If you may excuse me—"
I felt like wanted to punch Hyuga on his face now.
Karu threw his deadliest glare at them, but well, that wouldn't work if his target were them; those who were blessed with immunity as thick as elephant's skin if it was about being glared at. Either he was ignored or they really didn't realize it, I didn't want to think about it again and I really wanted to go home immediately. I had pets to feed on, dinner to be cooked for myself and by myself too, and then college's assignments that due on tomorrow.
With this 'assignments' word, I meant two piles of them.
"Well, have a nice evening tea, Aya-tan, Karu~"
"Are you mocking me and want to end your life using a fork, idiot?"
I really wanted to go home. Now. A moody Karu wasn't easy to handle with. It's almost equal to a Landkarte in yandere mode. It's cynical, sensitive, short-tempered (very different with his usual demeanor, eh? I guess world's going to end soon…), and he could use everything around him to kill someone. Even a blunt pen. And when I was reminded by the presence of rat-poison in his shopping bag, I couldn't resist the urge to shiver silently and pray for a miracle to come mentally. Pretending to take a slice of my well-baked cake and ignoring the woman's silent scream for help, I tried my best to be ignorant like what people thought about me. And, well, when Katsuragi returned alone then offered himself to take my Aunt-in-law away, I thought I was going to be out of character here. Like cheering and killing someone with a heart attack, maybe?
"By the way, Katsuragi-san," Karu spoke of all sudden, when his Aunt had stood and ready to go, "where's that kuuki yomenai*-guy?"
I looked around, and didn't found a single clue about his whereabouts. Where's he now, I wonder…?
Uh, wait. What kind of perfume a woman would use actually? I've never smell this kind of perfume before…
And the world… seemed to whirl—
"Huh? Krowell?"
-whirling—
"Hey, Krowell—"
-why was it so dark and cold—?
"It's not the time for you to leave yet."
Who is it?
"Go. Go home. Now. He'll be in a deep trouble."
White clothes from head to toe, face hidden under long, golden-colored hair—
Ah. He smiles at me.
"Different with me. Lots of people are waiting for you to open your eyes again.
Return to your own world, Krowell Raggs."
He extends his hand to me. It's cold, yet so warm…
"You're Landkarte, aren't you?"
His smile widened, and I can see his eyes now—they're in similar shape with that loafer's, with similar long eyelashes too. But their color…
"Am I?"
…why are they red?
"I think you're saying a wrong name."
"You're not?"
His smile turned into a grin—a scary one, with his red eyes shining in a malicious manner. My eyes widened in fear, I know it. My hands are trembling too when I realize that he isn't Landkarte.
But wait. If he isn't that loafer, then who is he?
"Next time, when we meet again, I hope you can differ 'L-a-n-d-k-a-r-t-e' and 'R-a-n-d-k-a-l-t'—or else, I'm going to pull you into the endless water."
With that, he vanishes.
I am going to interrogate someone when I meet him later.
And—oh. I think I have remembered about that perfume I smelled earlier.
Since when did a venom from snake's fang can be used as perfume, I wonder?
To be continued.
* Kuuki yomenai: can't read the atmosphere.
A/N: Uh, err… Sorry? #slaps Okay, okay! I apologize for killing him! If you think it's not enough, then I'll give you two spoilers: 1) Krowell's not dead yet, and 2) this fic's going to end soon. :3 Yes, you didn't read it wrong—it's really going to end. Like, four more chapters. *read my plotbook*
Anonymous review reply time, then. :3
Guest: :3 Well, wait for the next chapter then~ Anyway, thanks for reviewing!
Kuroyuki: Shall I reply it in English? Or in Indonesian? (._.)... Kayaknya dalam Indonesia aja yah. #plak Berasa nonton film horor? Berarti saya sukses bikinnya. TvT)/ Arigato buat RnR, btw~
