A/N: I know it has been ages since my last update. I'm so sorry. But now I have finally got the time to settle for proofreading my own translations. I am sincerely sorry, guys. Thank you for still coming in to read my crappy little chapter that is largely based on our beloved OVA "The Story of Will the Grim Reaper". (=w=)
W. A. G. E. R.
Chapter Five
File No. 1799-1889
(II)
-Flashback-
2006.9.16, 11:15pm, London, Criterion Theatre.
Back then, William T. Spears was an ordinary student who was indifferent towards social activities, which made him as inconspicuous in other people's eyes as others were in his. Yet he couldn't care less about that - he was never interested in having much emotional connection with the outside world.
He was just a helpless rationalist.
Compared to the sensitive features of interpersonal relationships, he was more spellbound by orders that do not change over time, such as the order of celestial bodies. If the world could function in a consistent manner, like stars in the universe, it would definitely be his heaven. Unfortunately, things did not usually go the way he had expected them to.
It was another ordinary evening. William walked past the garden outside the library and came to the Criterion Theatre. He thought nobody would be inside until he saw a beam of dim light coming out from a window above and heard a voice:
"And will he not come again?
And will he not come again?
No, no, he is dead:
Go to thy death-bed:
He never will come again."
William knew it was Ophelia's last words from Hamlet, Act 4 Scene 5.
The person inside went on:
"His beard was as white as snow,
All flaxen was his poll:
He is gone, he is gone…"
Suddenly, the voice stopped.
William suspected that the actor had forgotten the lines.
As expected, the voice inside began to repeat the previous lines:
"He is gone, he is gone…"
Again, he stopped.
William couldn't be more certain by now. His inborn urge to correct others was so severe that it would seem almost neurotic. In other words, when William T Spears thought he was right about something, there was no way anyone could change his mind. Now, he was 100% sure that the man inside had forgotten the last few sentences, so he decided to continue for him:
"And we cast away moan:
God ha' mercy on his soul!
And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God buy
you."
After successfully ending Ophelia's part, William quietly waited for the other to respond, but the man seemed to have gone silent for some time.
Eventually, the window on the second floor flipped open and a redhead popped out asking, "Who was that?"
William lifted his head to look up – he knew this guy with bright red hair, "So it's Mr. Grell Sutcliff up there… Sorry for interrupting."
That night, Grell was red from head to toe.
"Tch, don't you dare strike a conversation with a lady like that, nerd…" The aggressiveness that contradicted Grell's "lady" declaration seemed so awkward that only a man like William could keep from bursting into laughter.
"I was not trying to strike a conversation…" corrected the bespectacled man, "I was only helping you with the lines."
"Just when did I ask you to do so?" Grell was so angry that he jumped onto the window sill and pointed a sword (which was apparently a prop) at William, "Just when would I, Grell Sutcliff, forget my lines? I can remember every single line from every character of Hamlet! You thought I had forgotten my lines? Don't make me laugh, you self-important toy boy!"
A spark of anger struck William's heart when he heard Grell's insults, but he managed to retain his composure. "Then I must have made a mistake. I apologize, Mr. Grell Sutcliff." He bowed to the redhead and was about to leave.
But Grell stopped him, "How did you know my name?"
With a few blinks, William answered emotionlessly, "How? Wasn't it you who published an article named… 'A Report on the Possibilities for Transsexuals to Regain Reproductive Ability' in the school journal and received tons of critics from ethic professors? Moreover, you shouldn't be surprised that I know the name of a school celebrity like you, Mr. Grell Sutcliff."
Grell smirked as if William was complimenting him. The red coat, pink bowtie, and a window on the second floor, all these elements, whether relevant or not, somehow made William felt like he was some knight in a shining armor who was singing his love confession to a princess up in a castle. However, any hint of romance was shattered when the princess was nothing but a redhead freak. So he put away his abrupt imagination and asked, "Are you rehearsing here because the drama society is preparing to play Hamlet, Mr. Grell Sutcliff?"
"Is this all you can see, idiot?" Still swinging his fake sword in the air, Grell answered, "No wonder you cannot understand my pursuits: the world is a stage and I am the actress! Love is the tangles between men and women, no, it should be the passion and hatred between men and men only! Can't you see, this is how an outstanding actress performs self-exploration and improves her skills! Everything starts from the heart and does not depend on any outside motivation! Never mind, it's useless talking about an art of the most novel nature in front of someone who apparently suffers from facioplegia." Grell withdrew his sword when he finished, like a warrior who had justified his ownership of a piece of land.
On the other hand, William was totally pissed off without showing his feelings on the face. "I see. I must have made a mistake. Sorry about that." William nodded again, inwardly pressing his anger.
Grell only shrugged with a shade of despise in his eyes, "Never mind. I need no apology as long as nuisance like you stays as far away from me as you can…"
William was obviously no opposed to this idea, "You've been very kind, Mr. Grell Sutcliff." Then he turned around and left, but was once again stopped by Grell's call:
"Wait a second, are you the guy who drowns yourself in the library all day but still can't get away from you pathetic straight Bs? William T Spears, that's your name, right?"
I was remembered for getting straight Bs, fantastic… Despite feeling exceptionally humiliated, a rationalist should not deny the truth so William answered calmly, "I'm afraid yes…"
"And you are also one of the editors of our school magazine. I heard that you had turned down the works of a certain individual - Thomas Wallis, that's his name, quite a few times."
William let out an undetected snicker: Weren't you the one who was criticizing him all the time? You even said "It's fair to say that this broke, untalented and unpopular brat is only fantasizing of becoming famous by what, having dreams? Anyway, he's nothing but a joke." If it weren't for your harsh critics, we might have given that unfortunate man a chance. Yet William didn't say his thoughts out loud, only responded matter-of-factly, "As a member of the editor board, I'm afraid I cannot reveal more details on how we judge a manuscript. Sorry."
"Tch, is obeying the rules all you know, Glasses?"
Glasses? Aren't you wearing glasses yourself as well? Retorting silently in his mind, William decided to say farewell to this guy once and for all, "I'm afraid I should leave now… If there's nothing more you are interested about…"
"Just roll away. I know you already." Grell gave him with a final glare, "Don't you dare talk behind my back! Otherwise you will regret!"
"I know." William truly wanted to teleport to somewhere else now, "I really need to go, Mr. Grell Sutcliff. See you."
After William disappeared into the darkness, Grell shut the window and went on lingering with Shakespeare.
Even before he had turned around and left, William was already thinking about kicking that freak into the Thames so he could drown to his death just like Ophelia did. But that shade of red just stayed in his brain and wouldn't fade away… Ever.
He did look good in that coat though… Honestly, I need to stop thinking about him as soon as possible…
It was definitely not a pleasant encounter.
2006.12.16, 11:08pm, London, St. James Square Garden.
In fact, the unpleasant meeting with Grell did not change William T Spears's track of life. An egoist he is… Bullying everyone around him just because he has triple As in one single subject… He thinks he's the queen or something? William didn't like the guy, but he didn't bother thinking about him much either. He thought that was the end of the story between them, until this day…
That night, William left London Library, walked into St. James Square Garden, and under the darkness of the night, got crashed onto the ground by a dashing redhead.
"William T Spears, you really think I don't know what you've done?"
Clueless, William stared at the raging man, "I'm afraid I have no idea what you're…"
"Don't you dare try to cover up your ass!" The anger in Grell's eyes was burning his green irises red, "Just because you are one of the editors doesn't mean you can abuse your power against me!"
"Against you?" That was when William remembered something: Thomas Wallis had always wanted to publish his stories on their journal but never succeeded. However, just a few weeks ago, his latest work caught Grell's nit-picking eyes. Grell did not only like his work, but also wrote a recommendation letter to the editors. Unfortunately, a certain member of the board would rather die than publishing Thomas's story. So Thomas's request was again turned down. The news has not reached the poor man yet, but undoubtedly, that certain stubborn editor was William T Spears.
"We really don't have the room to publish any more articles. I'm sorry about the fact that he cannot realize his dream but…"
Grell forced William onto the ground and yelled, "Oh, shut up you lousy nerd! As if I'm going to forgive you… Pleading like this…"
Pleading? Just when did I plead? What the hell is going on in this guy's brain?
"If it weren't for a close-minded paranoid like you, the journal would have expanded to give Wallis more room! Most importantly…" Seizing William by his necktie, Grell showed his shark-like teeth that were as sharp and shiny as the blade of a guillotine, "No one ever says no to Grell Sutcliff and you should know that! Now I want this story published but you are on my way! You are asking me to teach you a lesson, aren't you?"
William couldn't help but think: Is this guy insane? Thomas Wallis's writings didn't worth a shilling to you before and now you're suddenly showing compassion for him because of some clichéd romance he wrote?
"If I'm not mistaken, Mr. Grell Sutcliff, you must be the 'beautiful Grim Reaper with red hair' that appeared in Thomas Wallis's story, right?"
"So what? You think he was exaggerating?"
Honestly, you need to be naïve enough to be fawned so easily…
"Well, I can't say he's exaggerating, but don't you think the plot of the story is a little bit too…" Cheesy? "I mean, don't you find the story a little unreasonable? How could a stoic Grim Reaper ever sacrifice his own life to save a human girl who would eventually end up in a pine box anyway? Moreover, the name of the main character is…"
"Ah, I know now!" Grell interrupted, "What really bothers you is the name 'Will', right? It must be it! So what's with all these noble reasons? You were the one who took it personally! You're bias! Okay, I'm definitely writing a complaint letter to the board."
"Let me tell you the truth, Mr. Grell Sutcliff. I don't mind you complaining, but you can't change my mind once I've made a decision."
"Now there's nothing I hate more than a hypocrite like you!" As his anger reached the peak, Grell seized William's throat with one hand and took out a pair of crimson scissors with the other, "Let me just scrape your sham, sham mask to pieces–" His voice died down within a fraction of a second, for his wrist was suddenly caught in William's firm hand.
Grell would never forget the murderous rage he saw in William's eyes…
"Are you done, Grell Sutcliff?"
William's strong hand pressed into Grell's pulse, and that also, unexpectedly, gave the redhead's heart a nice tackle…
"Eh? What…"
Before Grell could remember, he, who was dominating the whole situation just a minute ago, was unarmed and forced onto the trunk of a tree. He could not recall how William did that.
"Wha, what are you doin–"
William caught the redhead's throat without hesitation, "I've had enough."
Wow, that was stimulatingly cold…
"You really think I'm just some nobody you see every day?" William wanted to seize the redhead by his hair but gave up the thought since his hair was way too short. He decided to smack Grell's head onto the trunk instead, "You think I was afraid of you? You really think me, William T Spears, is one of those ordinary folks who could get only Bs and nothing more?"
"Ah…"
"Shut up." Will gave Grell's chest a nice elbow attack and continued, "What's the point of getting triple As when all you need to pass is a B? Plus, I was intentionally keeping a low profile just to stay away from an egocentric piece of trash like you!"
Trash? He called me "trash"? How cruel… in a good way.
"I must admit, you are the first one who has ever made me this angry…" Forcing Grell's hands to his back, William pinned the redhead onto the ground, "I would not give you another chance to step over me."
Just then, a question appeared in William's mind: Since when did this idiot stop fighting back?
That was a good question because Grell was extremely mad before he went silent all of a sudden.
William let go of the redhead and gave him a light push, "Hey, you…"
On his knees, Grell has yet formed a coherent sentence for his whole body had just been flooded by a sort of heat wave that he had never experienced before… For so many years, he had longed to meet someone who can give him the taste of the most extreme cold-bloodedness. Unfortunately, he had not met the man who could make his soul tremble… Until now. Now, the man of his dreams was finally standing right in front of him. Oh, this handsome cold man… He hid his extraordinary power behind his emotionless face. Once begun, the feeling electrified every vein in his body and couldn't be stopped at all! Grell knew the name of that feeling… The feeling of love…
He, Grell Sutcliff, fell in love with this man - William T Spears.
William was totally amazed by how Grell ended up looking as bashful and timid as some lovesick maiden, "Honestly, it's late… Never mind what had happened tonight. I should go now." He then abandoned the redhead and left.
Still on his knees, Grell felt his cheeks burning. When William left, he could do nothing but mutter like a lovelorn girl, "He left… Oh…" Then he lost balance and fell on his back.
Nevertheless, it was not the end of William's unlucky evening… Not yet. He had only moved a few steps forward when he heard a voice from his side, "Excuse me. Are you Mr. Spears?"
William turned around, "Thomas Wallis?"
The man nodded, "I just, just want to ask whether my story would be published..."
Great, now he is asking me in person. How should I answer him? "I'm sorry, Thomas Wallis, but your article is rejected."
At that moment, a creepy breeze blew across the park.
"But, but Mr. Grell said his recommendation letter would definitely…"
William found the argument extremely funny: It has nothing to do with the letter. The problem lies in the name of the main character, but I'm never going to tell you that.
"So I'm rejected? Again?" Thomas's head hung lower and lower, "Is it true that my articles are doomed to be turned down?"
Seeing the poor guy in such a hopeless state, William didn't feel like giving him another blow so he only walked up to him and said, "It's okay. Try again next…" His glasses were knocked down before he could finish.
Now, all William could see was mist. "My glasses..." He began to search for his spectacles everywhere. It was one of the few times in William's life when he was unusually vulnerable. He suffered another punch in the meantime but the glasses were still nowhere to be found.
"What's with this guy… How did he turn so aggressive all of a sudden?" Just then, William realized that he acted in a similar way just moments ago… No, we are not the same! The situation I had to face was totally different from Thomas's! "Honestly, where did my glasses go…"
Thomas move closer and clutched William's throat, "Why… Why can't you just give me a chance…"
William could not see anything. All he knew was that he was losing his breathe, "Wait, wait a… Uhh… You are now…"
Yet Thomas lashed out again for no reason, "What were you saying?" It seemed that he wouldn't let go of William until he had squeezed the last breath out of him.
It was a critical moment of William's life when a shade red, without warning, swiftly flew across William's blurred sight like a meteor – "Don't you dare touch MY MAN otherwise I'd just beat you to your DEATH!"
Thomas's silhouette was cleared from William's eyes.
"Okay… What's going on?" William still haven't found his glasses.
After hearing a series of punches and kicks, the shade of red moved back to the front of William as he put William's glasses back in place and said, "Do take good care of your glasses, Will."
Will…?
William felt a strange throb in his heart but for some reason, he didn't feel like correcting Grell at that time.
Turning back to check on the beaten up Thomas, Grell scolded, "Don't you dare hunting down my man like that!"
Goosebumps instantly occupied William's skin, "Wait, since when did I become your man?" What does this guy want from me?
Instead of answering, Grell threw himself into William's arms like a bride, "Oh, I can't believe Will and I are fighting on the same side here… It's like, like our first cooperation on the wedding night!"
"Again, what's with the our…"
"Ah, cold men are just wonderful! I'd never forget this passionate evening of intense battle alongside my Will!"
"Now would you please watch your mouth? Wedding night? Honestly..." Nevertheless, William had to admit that this redhead saved him at a vital moment. Yet admitting this fact just cast a shade of inerasable humiliation on his pride, which meant that having been saved by this man of unknown sexuality was definitely THE ONLY TAINT IN HIS ENTIRE LIFE.
That night, William decided to never let his glasses fall again. Never again!
Ever since then, William did feel his life was tangled with Grell's. Whether he was going to get new glasses or to the library, Grell would always "accidentally" show up on his way. William gradually realized that he seemed to be the only one that could somehow control Grell Sutcliff… Seriously, just how much did Grell like him? He couldn't remember when he let down his guard to allow this redhead into his life. He could only recall how cautious he had become in order to prevent something like what had happened that night from happening again. He couldn't remember the day he started to use hair gel – his persistence in absolute order must have reached an indescribable stage that he needed to find order even in his hairstyle. William didn't think he had changed too much because of Grell. Nevertheless, Grell never cut his hair after that night…
Karma… It felt like karma…
-End of Flashback-