08/12/13

"Study the past if you would define the future."
― Confucius

I have to apologize that it took me so long to update it! But i'm too busy with many projects and work! I have to thank each one of you for all your support... I mean, wow... I didn't think it would reach so many views! All i was trying to do, was to show a possible society after Sibyl's fall and well... How much the outcome would make it's impact on everyone's personalities... I have to thank again my beta-reader Shouta. I'm pretty sure she hates me! I know she does! :/ Anyway, i'll try to update it sooner this time! Thank you and sorry! :3

While driving through buildings as it darkened, Kogami felt that a strange feeling had wrapped around him after the unpredictable Akane's confession finally began gradually to decline.

And now that he was rewinding their discussion again and again in his mind, he felt a void filling him. "Weird," he muttered as he was staring at stars, that began to make a tentative appearance on the evening sky. "After all the solution to the mystery was much simpler than I have imagined."

Finally arriving at home and putting the key in the keyhole, his first impulse was to run to the shower and sit under cold water until his thoughts would get into order, but raising his eyes toward the ceiling he thought he had an alternative solution. "Kira," slipped from his lips.

Kira opened the door, demonstrating absolute focus and pensiveness as she held a sheet of paper. At the same time she was eating a green apple.

She pointed with her eyes to Kogami to pass through.

"You have to excuse me." He heard her saying as she closed the door behind him. "The world has gone mad! Out of the blue it was announced to me that they have arranged for my participation in two concerts and now I need to check some details!"

Once hearing her voice Kogami felt relaxed. He did not want to leave.

Kira lifted her head. She remained looking at him for a few moments. "What happened?"

Kogami shrugged.

"I wanted to consult on something, but I see you're quite busy right now. I do not want to burden you with my own problems..."

Kira's eyes met his eyes. And once again he felt helpless and powerless in front of her glance, as he had never felt like this in front of anyone else. As if he was hypnotized, he stretched toward her, giving her a folder he had brought with him that contained photographs of the places where they had found the corpses in praying position .

Kira opened the folder. She took a glance. Kogami expected the expression of her face to change but not a muscle moved as she peered at the photos. She simply shook her head indifferently and pushed the envelope back to him .

"Makishima..." She said in a half - question, half - affirmative manner.

Kogami shook his head.

"Well, have you found who the bodies belong to?" Asked Kira as she turned her gaze to the paper she was studying previously.

Kogami shrugged. "Both hands and dentures are missing. It is very difficult to make the identification."

"Weird…" Kira muttered. "It is obvious that everything refers to religious symbolism. The corpses are positioned in a way that suggests that they beg for forgiveness..."

"I do not remember Makishima being distinguished for his faith in the divine..." Muttered Kogami. He opened the envelope and brought a picture to his eyes.

"No." Kira shook her head negatively. "The only thing in which Makishima believed was the free will of man. Only this and nothing else had value for him..."

She raised her eyes. "Have you been looking at reports of missing persons?"

"Unfortunately there are too many to check them one by one," replied Kogami, "and the number is growing day by day..."

He felt suddenly the tiredness from throughout the day wrapping around him. He rubbed his forehead and looked up to Kira. She was on the other side of the room and stared at something on her computer.

"I'm sorry. It's better for me to leave..." He muttered while feeling that his body had been dominated by unintelligible fatigue. He turned to the door but Kira's voice stopped him.

"If you want, you can stay here." Kira's voice reached his ears.

Kogami felt everything freezing inside of him.

He turned his head over his shoulder. She stood still, busy and immersed in her computer. It was as if he had said the most normal thing in the world.

But it seemed that Kira had sensed the change in his mentality as she raised her head, and looking with her eyes was like absorbing all light around, even at this time when all the lamps of the house was lit.

"One year ago... and since all society had derailed... I almost killed someone in my sleep... I nearly strangled her..." Said Kogami. He raised his hands and stared at them while his fingers trembled.

His hands tightened into fists. He took deep breaths, while trying to remain calm.

"You see... Since the Sibyl fell... I keep seeing nightmares. I feel like hunting, or how on contrary I am the hunted. And... my dreams are so vivid that... I cannot discern what is dream and what is reality. And those dreams… They don't always have a happy ending."

Kogami was left breathing heavily. He felt drops of sweat make their appearance at his forehead.

For some reason, however, he felt he could talk to Kira. She would listen. She would understand him, whatever he would tell her. She would listen to him without judging him.

Kira approached him with slow steps. She embraced him tightly.

"I'll be by your side no matter what..." slipped from her lips .