STANDARD DISCLAIMER APPLIED

CHAPTER SEVEN

THE DEATH ROW

"Thank you for your hardwork!"

Fuuko swung her bag over her shoulder and started to walk towards her home. Just when she was about to open the gate to her apartments, she heard someone calling her name.

"Fuuko, good morning!" An old man riding his cycle stopped in front of her. "Ah, good morning uncle! Have a courier for me?" Fuuko smiled.

"Ah, yes, I do actually. For your aunt and also, I think I have one for your neighbour." The old man flips through the various letters in his bags and took two envelopes out, "Could you please give them?"

Fuuko took the letters and nodded, "Un, no problem. I will."

"Thank you." The old man smiled and cycled away. Fuuko looked at the two letters, 'A letter for Michan too? Ah, well, will give this to him first and then go home.'

Fuuko opened the gate and entered inside the apartments. She quickly ran up the stairs and stopped in front of Tokiya's door. 'Hmm, since I am here anyway...' An evil grin spread over her face as she reached out to press the doorbell. She pressed the bell and after a gap of two seconds, she pressed it again. Before she could press the doorbell for the twelfth time, a glaring Mikagami opened the door. He had wet gloves on his hand, while a little soap suds were stuck on his face. 'Mikagami washing dishes?' Fuuko found the situation funny and started laughing earning a more intensified glare from Tokiya.

"Kirisawa…" Tokiya said warningly.

"Aww, don't be so mad. I only came by to give you this." Fuuko showed him the letter while grinning. "Oru, but how will you take it?" Fuuko said while staring at his wet hands. She then looked up and then grinned again, "Ah, well. Don't fear while Fuuko is here. I will keep it for you." Fuuko said while removing her shoes.

Tokiya sighed and moved aside to let her in. "Keep it on the table and then you can leave, monkey."

"Ha? How mean!" Fuuko said while plopping on the couch. "I just came to your house. Shouldn't you try and be more hospitable?" Fuuko waved the envelope in front of Tokiya, "Besides, what would you have done if I hadn't got this for you?"

"I will wash my hand and come, monkey." Tokiya said eyeing her sternly, while closing the door behind him, "Don't you dare touch anything and spread your monkey germs in my house." Tokiya dodged the couch pillow that Fuuko threw at him.

Tokiya went inside the kitchen and Fuuko was left alone inside the hall. Fuuko got up and looked here and there. 'No picture frame.' Fuuko turned around and looked outside the window.

"What are you doing, monkey?" Tokiya stepped in while wiping his hands with a towel. Fuuko turned around, "Ah, nothing. Just looking." Fuuko then walked towards Tokiya and handed over the envelope to Tokiya, "Alright then –"

Suddenly, a muffled gunshot was heard from the corridor. 'What? What was that sound' Fuuko rushed towards the door.

'That sound seems to be coming from…' Fuuko was about to open the door, but Tokiya caught her hand. He looked through the peek hole of his door. He saw a black suited man standing outside the house. A man in brown coat emerged as he fixed his coat, while another black suited man dragged Fuuko's aunt. She was bleeding heavily from her knees.

"Michan!" Fuuko tucked his shirt, "What is happening?" Tokiya stepped aside while still holding onto the door's knob. Fuuko looked at him strangely and then viewed through the peek hole. She saw her aunt lying down on the corridor, while her uncle was kneeling down on the floor. "Uncle! I have to-"

Tokiya grabbed her hand and shook his head.

Fuuko glared at him, "What are you saying? Those guys are hurting my family! Let me go!" Fuuko tried shaking her hands off.

Tokiya pulled her away from the door and spoke in a hush tone. "Have you seen the assailants? All of them are carrying a Springfield XD- 9, there is noway you can go and stop them. They will shoot you at sight."

Fuuko tried wringing her hand from Tokiya's grip, "What? How do you know that? And I can't just sit here silently when they are in trouble!" Fuuko finally freed her hand and ran to the door. However, Tokiya stopped her, "I am telling you to stay here. They probably want something from them. If you barge in, they will not only kill you, but also your aunt. Do you want that?"

Fuuko paused, 'He is probably right.' Fuuko turned around, "Then I need to call the police." Fuuko was about to reach for the phone when she heard her brother's voice and then a gunshot, followed by a scream from her aunt. Fuuko turned around and looked through the eyehole. Her brother was lying on the floor with a lot of blood pooling onto the floor. Fuuko stood there frozen as she saw the man in brown coat take out another gun and shoot her aunt and uncle through their head.

'Fuuko, you need to call the police and the ambulance.' Fuuko knew she had to, but for some reason she couldn't move. She just saw her entire family being shot to death, and her body felt completely numb. Suddenly, Fuuko's knees gave away and she was about to fall, but Tokiya caught her by her arm.

Everything, suddenly, seemed to have gone blank to Fuuko. She never realized that Tokiya gently pulled her up and walked her to the couch, where she sat. She sat there frozen.

Tokiya walked towards the door and looked through the eyehole. The assailants seemed to have left. He looked at Fuuko sitting on the couch, with her bangs covering her eyes. Eventhough he couldn't see her expression, he knew. He knew it all; afterall he had been there too. Tokiya walked into front of her and kneeled down. "Fuuko…"

Fuuko dug nails through the couch and bit her lips, "I-I should call the police and the ambulance." A tear trickled down her cheek. She wiped it off, "I am sorry, I-"

Tokiya pulled her and hugged her, "It is okay." Fuuko stayed silent for a minute, 'They are dead. Raiha, aunt, uncle- everyone.' Fuuko hugged Tokiya back, 'They were killed.' Fuuko started crying her heart out. It was after ten years. Ten years later, Fuuko cried again. Only this time, her brother wasn't there to comfort her.

A/N

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