Chapter 12

"There is no reason to go on…why should I live? Ryu-kun…"

Near and Mello knocked on the Nakahara Mansion's door. The door opened and Ranmaru let them in. "We're almost ready," he said.

"Is he being difficult?" Near asked

"No, Sunako made bento for everyone so we're waiting for her to get her yukata on."

"Typical," Mello muttered.

L came out, wearing a dull grey yukata. "Ah, you're here. We'll be leaving as soon as Sunako-chan's ready…Sunako-chan!"

"I'm ready," she said, coming out. She wore a simple flower print yukata and had tied her hair back in a bun. She had a basket in her hands. "Who are we waiting for now?"

"No one," Mello said, "let's go!"

"We're meeting Noi and Machiko there," Takenaga explained, following Near and Mello out the door.

Sunako and L came after him, and Ranmaru, Yuki, and Kyouhei made the rear.

They joined the throng of people going to the festival.

Once they arrived at the park, it was noon.

Noi and Machiko had already reserved a spot for them.

Sunako and the others sat with them after laying down a blanket.

After Sunako laid out the food for them, they began to eat.

"Hey, it's a bunch of handsome young men and pretty girls!" an elderly couple said. "Are you enjoying yourselves?"

"Very much so," Noi answered them.

"Good…oh! But be careful around that tree," the elderly woman warned them. "Supposedly, there's a ghost of a suicide victim who killed herself there."

"Thanks for the warning," Takenaga said.

The couple went on their way.

Mello, Near, and L looked at him.

"We've dealt with more ghosts than needed in a lifetime," he said. "Especially since they keep possessing Sunako-chan."

"Why Sunako-chan?"

"Not sure, probably because she's very susceptible to possession…"

"What about possession?" Sunako asked.

"Er…nothing, Sunako-chan," Noi said. "Let's go get some ice cream, Sunako-chan! Machiko-chan, you come too!" Noi dragged the girls away.

"What about us?!" Yuki asked.

"Get your own!" Noi shouted.

"Don't worry, Yuki-kun, I'll get some mint chocolate chip for you!" Machiko shouted back at him.

Takenaga, Near, Mello, Ranmaru, Kyouhei, and L glared at Yuki.

"What did I do?" he asked looking at them nervously.

"You're lucky to have a girl like Machiko-chan," Mello muttered. He shivered. "Why's it so cold?"

"It's not cold," Near said. Something brushed against Near's neck and he yelped. "Who touched me," he snapped, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Must have been the suicide victim," Kyouhei joked.

"That's not funny," Yuki snapped.

The girls returned, Machiko handed the mint chocolate chip to Yuki and another to Mello (chocolate delight).

Noi handed Takenaga a vanilla cone and Kyouhei strawberry.

Sunako handed Near vanilla and chocolate swirl, Ranmaru mint chocolate, and L strawberry.

"We felt bad not getting you guys some too," Noi said, licking her chocolate ice cream.

"What flavor do you have, Sunako-chan?" L asked, glancing at the light green ice cream she was eating.

"Green tea," she answered. She shivered. "Why's it so cold?"

"It isn't."

Sunako shivered again and L rubbed her back, trying to warm her up again.

"Ryu-kun?"

L glanced around.

"What?" Mello asked.

"Nothing…" L answered. He stood and took Sunako's hand. "Let's get you some tea. That might warm you up."

Sunako stood and they walked down the street in the sunlight. Even though it was a fairly warm day, Sunako still shivered.

L wrapped his arm around her, hoping that might help. He frowned and pondered what would—rationally—be the reason for Sunako to shiver.

Before they reached the tea booth, Sunako stopped shivering and leaned against L. She rested a hand on his chest.

L took it in his, hoping to avoid strange stares. "Sunako-chan?"

"Hm?"

"Are you feeling alright?"

"I feel fine," she purred.

Nope. Not feeling fine.

I'll say…since when does she purr? It's rather sexy…

Not now!

L stopped at the tea booth. "One milk tea, three lumps of sugar, and, er?" he glanced at Sunako, "one green tea?"

"Sure."

"One green tea."

Once they had their tea, L led Sunako back to the rest of the group.

Sunako stopped.

L turned to her. "Sunako-chan?"

She glanced up at him, a sad look in her eyes. "Do you not know who I am, Ryu-kun?"

Ryu-kun?

RYU-KUN?!

"Sunako-chan? Are you sure you're alright?" L asked.

"Who is Sunako-chan?" Sunako asked. "Don't you know me? It's Kagome, Ryu-kun."

Oh…

Damn it! What is she? Possessed?

Sunako reached up and stroked his cheek. She stood on her toes and tried to press her lips to his.

L stopped them with his hand. "Not here," he said, taking her hand. "Come with me."

Sunako's—or rather, Kagome's—eyes brightened and allowed L to lead her.

Damn it, what do you do with possessed people?

How should I know?!

Wait! Oda-kun and the boys! They dealt with this before! I just need to figure out how they stopped it last time!

He reached the tree everyone was sitting under and took a deep breath. "Sunako-chan's been possessed."

"Eh?!" the group shouted.

"But I'm Kagome," Sunako said.

"See."

Takenaga, Yuki, and Ranmaru stared at Kyouhei.

"What? Why are you looking at me for?"

"You're the only one who's been able to snap her out of possession," Takenaga said.

"Not my job anymore."

"Just tell him how!" all three shouted at him.

Kyouhei swore under his breath.

"Okay, the first time she was possessed, it was by a murderous ghost named Eliza who lives in the lower levels of the basement. I had to kiss her to get her to snap out of it. The second time, she ate poisonous mushrooms. Again, I tried kissing her, but that didn't work, so I just hugged her. Er…then there was the ghost of Captain Wing…I didn't really do anything. It was more the captain's fault she got a nosebleed and snapped out of it then. I think the worst time was the cursed necklace, but she wasn't really possessed, was she…"

…Oo

…Oo

I really don't know what to say to that…

Nor I…

"Thanks," L said. He took Sunako's hand again, "This way."

They hid behind a booth. L sighed and faced Sunako. Well, here goes…

The way it sounds, the steamier the better.

…yeah…

L cupped Sunako's chin and tilted her face upwards. "Ryu-kun?"

"Sorry, you've gotten me mixed up with someone else. Either way, you need to get out of my girlfriend."

"But, I—"

L pressed his lips to hers. Kagome answered the kiss.

Sunako's body started to convulse.

"What's going on?" Kagome shouted.

Get out of my body! Sunako shouted at the ghost. And keep your hands off my man!

Sunako stopped convulsing and collapsed in L's arms.

L felt cold air sweep by him and he carried Sunako-chan bridal style back to the group.

"Did it work?" Noi asked.

"Yeah. But I don't think this possession thing is going to stop any time soon." L covered his face.

"What?"

"First Shinigami, now ghosts…what next? Vampires? Werewolves? Zombies? Kappa?"

"We've already dealt with all of those at a party one time. Mostly a vampire," Kyouhei said.

"And we dealt with a sadist before too," Takenaga added.

"And there was that time with the rapist..." Kyouhei added thoughtfully.

L stared at him. "WHAT!?!" Kyouhei winced and opened his mouth to explain, but was interrupted:

"Hey! There's the parade!" Machiko shouted, pointing at the parade coming down the street.

Sunako moaned and opened her eyes.

"Where's the ghost?" she groaned, sitting up, holding her head.

"Gone," L said, stroking her back. "Forget about it and enjoy the rest of the day."

Sunako looked at him and nodded, smiling.

"Good enough for me. I'd like some green tea though."

L laughed.