Chapter 10 - Ace in The Hole
I stood in front of the doorway for what seemed like hours. I don't know what I was waiting for. Maybe I expected Kunzite to come rushing out of the guest bedroom, saying he had changed his mind. Or maybe he would be trying to get to my bedroom through the fire escape that began below my bedroom window and wrapped itself around the complex. No, that can't be true; there is no fire escape leading out from his window. There was a narrow ledge directly under the window, wide enough for two average sized feet and nothing more. If he placed his feet sideways and walked very carefully, he could make it to the fire escape on the other side of the penthouse. "But he wouldn't do that," I thought desperately as I walked to my own bedroom, "would he?"
I realized that deep down I wanted him to try. I wanted to see him make the near-impossible effort just to get to me, to seduce me, just so I could laugh in his face and banish him to the guest bedroom, a fitting punishment for trifling with the likes of me. "Hah! That'd serve him right," I said, rubbing my hands together. I waltzed up to his bedroom door and raised my fist to its cool, wooden surface. I drew my arm back, and then I stopped. I couldn't do that to him. I can't use my body like a weapon, to seduce him and then knock him cold. I didn't know much about sex, but I was pretty sure it wasn't meant to hurt people.
I dropped my arm, then walked over to the TV. "Yep," I thought, "There's nothing like vapid, mindless backwash to get my mind off my own problems." I don't know why I even bought a TV set; I never watch it. It is a beauty though; at least that's what the eager salesman that sold it to me said. It's one of those flat TV sets that you can mount on your wall, and I must confess, the novelty of having a TV set hanging like a piece of art intrigued me. Supposedly, it's all digital with surround sound, or something like that. The eager salesman convinced me to buy a matching DVD player and VCR. "Why did I buy all of that junk?" I asked myself. I smiled as the memory came to me; the salesman was actually pretty cute.
I had walked into the store with the Usagi, Rei, Makoto and Mamoru on a rainy Friday night. It was about a year ago, back when Ami was still in med school. We had tried to convince her to come with us, but she had dismissed us with a flick of her wrist, a pencil tucked neatly behind her ear, saying she had to study. Mamoru was eager to visit, saying he wanted to try out the new DVD players.
"Mamo-chan," said Usagi, a grin spreading across her face, "we don't need a DVD player. We already have one."
"I know, love, but this one's cutting edge stuff," he said; arm tightly linked with his wife's. "The sound quality's absolutely amazing, or that's what I hear, anyways."
"Right," teased Rei, "You know you just want another one of your gadgets. Like I always say, the only difference between a grown man and a boy is how much money they spend on their toys." She finished her sentence then glared at Usagi, who had been lip-synching with her the whole time.
"Come on, Rei, that's not fair! Don't go using your psych stuff on me," said Mamoru, pretending to be hurt.
"Yeah, not everyone has a bachelor's in psychology," I pointed out.
"That wasn't psychology," said Rei. "Just an observation. Guys are all alike-"
"Are we now?" said a voice from behind us. Rei whirled around to face the stranger who dared to oppose her, and we all stopped to watch. He was about Mamoru's height, with blond hair and steely blue eyes that spit silent fire out of their gaze. His arms were crossed over what must have been an impressive chest, and his long legs were together, feet facing forwards.
Rei looked up at the handsome stranger for what must have only been a moment, but seemed like an eternity. "Yes," she said quietly. "Yes, you are."
"Ah, hello, Jadeite. I didn't expect to see you here," said Mamoru. "What brings you here at this godawful hour?"
"You should know, Chiba. You never let me leave my desk!" He said it with a straight face, but his eyes were smiling.
"Ouch," said Mamoru, grinning. "Anyways, have you found anything good?"
I didn't pay attention to the conversation. Maybe that's how Jadeite convinced me to buy all that stuff. I didn't even see the salesman or know what I was doing until I had signed the last paper, then I realized my mistake. It didn't really matter anyways; I could easily afford it. Money hadn't concerned me for years.
What I was thinking about was Rei, who was strangely silent during the dialogue. A slow smile worked its way into my cheeks as I absently stroked Artemis's fur, remembering the look on her face. For once, Rei Hino had been unable to come up with a witty retort.
I hadn't been paying attention to the television set until I saw the words "special news bulletin" flash down the screen in bold, red letters. "A suspected yakuza member escaped from prison this morning, killing one police officer and wounding four. His whereabouts are currently unknown."
"Great. Some nut job's loose on the streets. Just peachy," I thought, rolling my eyes. "Good thing I'm staying in tonight." My index finger reached for the off button, but in the split second before I pushed down, a familiar face flashed across the screen. I dropped the remote, my eyes going wide as I took in the information.
"He is six feet tall and weighs 79 kilograms. He is armed and presumed dangerous. Do not approach this man; he is unstable. If you see him, contact the police at-"
I wasn't paying attention to the number, for I had the feeling that it was far too late. I clicked off the television, dropping the remote in shock. I grabbed a blanket and held my shaking body as if it was going to fall to pieces. The escaped convict was none other than Danburite.
Slowly and shakily, I got up and walked into the hallway that led to my bedroom. About halfway along, my knees gave out and I fell flat on my bottom. I felt no pain, only numbness. I drew my arms around my knees, slumped forward and cried brokenly. "Why does this have to happen to me, God? I don't deserve this kind of punishment! Nobody does!" I was vaguely aware that a door had opened, but I didn't care. I was so absorbed in my misery that I almost jumped when a pair of hands touched my shoulders. "I'd know that touch anywhere," I thought to myself.
"What's wrong?" asked Kunzite.
The fact that Kunzite was here, comforting me, even after the evil I had planned for him mere hours earlier, made me cry even harder. He sighed, took me into his arms and carried me off. "W-where are you taking me?" I asked between sniffles.
He didn't say anything, and he set me down somewhere soft and warm. I didn't figure out where I was until he pulled a blanket up to my face. He sat down next to me over the covers, and the room was completely silent except for the sounds of my ragged breathing. I felt him getting up, and then I finally spoke. "It's Danburite. He's escaped from prison, and I'm going to die."
"Minako, you're not going to die," he said, settling himself back in.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "I know what this is costing you."
"It costs me nothing," he returned, stroking my hair, "Nothing I'm not willing to pay."
"Is your God like that?" I asked.
"No. He's not like me. I'm the one trying to be like Him. He'd lay down His life for you in a second; in fact, He already has."
I gasped. "Does that mean he's…dead?"
"No. He came back. Death couldn't hold the Son of God forever."
I said something I didn't think I'd ever say, but the more I saw of people like Kunzite and Levina, the more my curiosity grew. "Tell me more about Him."
Kunzite did his best to tell me all he knew about Christ, about pain and suffering, and how I could come to know Him for myself. "Would you like to pray with me?"
I nodded feebly, and Kunzite led the prayer of surrender to Christ. "I finally did it, Kunzite. I stopped running."
He kissed my hair in response, and I knew that he could see what I meant, that all of these years, I had been running from God. I had thought he was like my father, who was little more than a six-letter word. Even though I had never seen him, the venomous neglect still ran deep, coursed through my veins for years until I was walking dead. The poison was gone now, and for once, I felt like I had a fresh start, this time for real. "Well, you had better get yourself off to bed, Kunzite. I don't want to keep you waiting."
He smiled, though I knew he didn't want to let go any more than I wanted him to leave. I knew that he would be only a wall away if I needed him, and even if he wasn't, that I wouldn't be alone.
Still, I couldn't help but to wonder what would become of Danburite, and I prayed that none of his current plans revolved around me.
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It was a cold, misty night at the Lucky Buddha Casino, perfect for a suicide mission. It was more darkness than light, but rays of sunlight peeked through the cracks in the wall. Everything was gray and sawdust covered. "This is the last place I want to be," I thought to myself, and I asked myself for the millionth time why I had come here. But I had a score to settle, a promise to keep. I couldn't leave this place; whatever would happen now would be destiny. I took my cell phone out of my pocket, and then I dialed a number I had sworn to myself long ago that I would never use. "Hello, Tokyo police? Yes, I know I've escaped. I want you to…come and get me. Where am I? I'm at the Lucky Buddha Casino. I'll be waiting." I clicked the off button and threw the phone into the darkness. I wouldn't need it anymore.
I wasn't scared, although I knew I damned well should be. Meeting Beryl was a bad idea, especially after I had crossed her before. I remember that night well; I was standing over Minako, protecting her from Beryl's wrath. Why had I done it? I don't know…some long-dormant instinct inside of me screamed that I had to protect her, even if it meant my life. I knew my brother had a thing for her, and that I would never win her love for myself. Wasn't that selfish anyways? I scoffed to myself. Love…honor…duty…those words mean nothing to me anymore…did they? It didn't matter anyways…it wouldn't matter for long.
Beryl sat on a chair that was raised on a platform of stairs like some kind of demon queen. She was wearing a crimson dress. Maybe it was symbolic…maybe she knew why I had come. "Danburite," she purred, running a hand down her leg. I couldn't help but to shiver. The sound of her voice made me sick.
I said nothing in response, just knelt down and reached down into my pocket. All too quickly, my hand came into contact with the cold steel blade. I took the knife out of my pocket and set it on the ground. I got out a long, white piece of string, and then tied it to my pinky, just tightly enough to cut off circulation. I gripped the knife with my other hand, raised it in the air, and the knife came into contact with my skin. I grimaced inwardly; this was really painful. Blood gushed out of the cut, but I paid it no heed. Instead, I pushed the knife all the way through, my flesh crying out for reprieve until the top digit fell, limp and useless, to the ground. I picked it up and wrapped it in a white handkerchief.
Beryl said nothing, but continued to watch this sickening display. I almost thought that my yubizume had been successful. If she was silent, that meant she had accepted my sacrifice, that she had forgiven me, and I would live. But I'd be damned before I accepted her pity.
Before she could signal the thug on her left to shoot, I ran up the stairs towards her. This was a tactical mistake, and I knew it. The goons behind her had guns, and all I had was a knife. Besides, I was running uphill, which put me at a deadly disadvantage. To make the odds even more impossible, I was missing a lot of blood. Still, if I could plunge the knife into her chest, then twist it for added measure it would all be over. Beryl would never claim a life again. I knew it was vain; a monster like Beryl does not die, she devours.
Heedless of the bullets that pierced through my chest, I charged up the stairs, each step harder than the last. My feet felt like lead, and my breathing was ragged and uneven. One of those gunshots must have punctured a lung or something.
I lunged at Beryl, and missed by a mile, barely touching her hair. I laughed deliriously; it didn't matter. Nothing did. The room swam in and out of focus, and I idly wondered if Minako had felt this. I knelt there, at Beryl's feet, police sirens blaring in my ears, and I waited for the bullet that would soon pierce my brain. "Minako," I murmured, and the darkness claimed me forever.
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"Minako…"
I jolted out of sleep with a start. What a horrible nightmare! It didn't feel like a dream, though…it felt real somehow, like I was somebody else. I shook my head at such fanciful nonsense. Still, I could smell the sawdust in the air, taste the blood, and my pinky hurt like hell…
Maybe some breakfast would cheer my head. Yeah, that's what I need. I walked into the kitchen and was greeted by a familiar face. "Morning, Kunzite."
He said nothing in response, just continued to stare blankly at the morning paper. I stamped my foot impatiently. I was not going to be ignored! "Hello! You're wanted on planet Earth!" I snapped. When there was still no response, I walked over behind him to see what was so engrossing. "Front page…that's strange. Why would he be reading…" I gasped when I found the point where Kunzite's eyes were fixed. The headline boldly proclaimed "MAN KILLED AFTER YAKUZA SHOOTOUT, BERYL IN JAIL." I looked down a little lower and saw a picture of an ashen-haired young man lying face down in a black puddle that must have been his own blood. "Oh my God…" I mumbled absently, all color draining from my face. The nightmare I had last night was no dream…it had actually happened. Danburite was really gone. I shook my head, tears flowing freely. This wasn't supposed to happen! He was supposed to go back to prison…and live out his days there. He wasn't supposed to…just throw his life away as if it were nothing! "Kunzite, I'm so sorry," I said, placing my hands on his shoulders.
"So am I," he replied flatly.
Then I remembered the second part of the headline; Beryl was in jail? This was too good to be true. The article read:
"Yakuza member Danburite Feldspar was found slain at Lucky Buddha casino. Police found Feldspar dead at the scene in front of Beryl Bixbite, who later pled innocent. The fingerprints on the gun that killed Feldspar were not Bixbite's, but those of her associate."
"An autopsy revealed that Feldspar was shot multiple times in the chest, abdomen and the base of his skull. The last digit of the pinky on his left hand was missing, suggesting an unsuccessful yubizume. It is unknown why he contacted the police five minutes before his demise."
"Bixbite is facing trial and is being held in Tokyo jail."
"I want to see her, Kunzite."
"Why?" he asked, folding the paper vertically, then horizontally.
"I want to make sure that she's still in jail."
He nodded, and all too quickly we arrived at Tokyo jail. "May I help you, miss?" asked the receptionist.
"Yes, I'm here to see Ms. Bixbite."
"Hn…I didn't expect her to have any visitors. May I have your names, please?"
"Minako Aino and Kunzite Feldspar."
"Feldspar, huh? Weird." She paused a moment, and I was afraid she wouldn't let us through. Just when I had given up, she said, "Very well, come this way." The receptionist led Kunzite and I through a narrow hallway and into a large room. "Wait here, please," she said. I nodded, and Kunzite gave my hand a squeeze. I smiled up at him gratefully. "Okay. The prisoner will see you now." I smiled at her and nodded.
"You coming?" I asked Kunzite.
"Do you need to ask?"
"I suppose not," I said, squeezing his hand that still held mine. A door was shut behind me, and behind a thick, plastic screen was Beryl Bixbite. Her eyes held my gaze, never wavering. "Beryl," I said. The woman nodded in response. "You do realize that I have enough evidence to keep you here indefinitely, do you not?"
"Bull," she hissed, adding a particularly nasty four-letter word. "You're bluffing."
"I'm not. You know of Mamoru Chiba, ne?"
"What of it?" she asked.
"He has that little love note you had faxed to me. It matches your signature, Bixbite."
"So? That's not enough to keep me here."
"Maybe not, but Mamoru has a file on you that's a foot wide," said Kunzite.
She said nothing, but I could tell from the way the color drained from her face that she was beaten. "What are you going to do with her, Minako? It's up to you," said Kunzite.
I chewed on my lower lip. Beryl's life was in my hands now, not the other way around. I silently thanked God for protecting me, and I prayed for guidance. I stared at her through the glass; she looked very small somehow. All of the dark power she had held in the past was gone. Knowing this, I made my decision. "I won't have them kill you, Beryl." There was a glint of hope in her eyes, but it disappeared as I continued. "But I won't set you free. You'll rot in this prison cell. You have caused much suffering, Beryl. Now it's time for you to suffer. You'll die here, old, wrinkled and powerless."
I turned around and walked out of the prison with Kunzite. I never saw Beryl again. Years later, I would read an article in the paper that said Beryl had been executed. I suspected that a member of the yakuza had arranged it, just as she had arranged the death of her husband.
Kunzite drove me home, but when I got out of the car, Kunzite was still there. I knocked on the driver's side window, and it rolled down. "Bye, Minako," he said.
"You're leaving me? Just like that?"
He nodded. "I still want to be a part of your life. Maybe we could be…friends."
"Friends?" I sputtered. "Are you insane?"
"I suppose I am," he said, grinning.
"You know very well that we can never be friends," I said.
"I know," he replied. With that, he shut the window and sped away, out of my life. I stood there numbly, and then a tear rolled down my cheek. "Of course we can't be friends. We'll always be much more than that," I thought. I pivoted on my heel and returned to my apartment. I knew then that I would never see Kunzite again.
I stood in front of the doorway for what seemed like hours. I don't know what I was waiting for. Maybe I expected Kunzite to come rushing out of the guest bedroom, saying he had changed his mind. Or maybe he would be trying to get to my bedroom through the fire escape that began below my bedroom window and wrapped itself around the complex. No, that can't be true; there is no fire escape leading out from his window. There was a narrow ledge directly under the window, wide enough for two average sized feet and nothing more. If he placed his feet sideways and walked very carefully, he could make it to the fire escape on the other side of the penthouse. "But he wouldn't do that," I thought desperately as I walked to my own bedroom, "would he?"
I realized that deep down I wanted him to try. I wanted to see him make the near-impossible effort just to get to me, to seduce me, just so I could laugh in his face and banish him to the guest bedroom, a fitting punishment for trifling with the likes of me. "Hah! That'd serve him right," I said, rubbing my hands together. I waltzed up to his bedroom door and raised my fist to its cool, wooden surface. I drew my arm back, and then I stopped. I couldn't do that to him. I can't use my body like a weapon, to seduce him and then knock him cold. I didn't know much about sex, but I was pretty sure it wasn't meant to hurt people.
I dropped my arm, then walked over to the TV. "Yep," I thought, "There's nothing like vapid, mindless backwash to get my mind off my own problems." I don't know why I even bought a TV set; I never watch it. It is a beauty though; at least that's what the eager salesman that sold it to me said. It's one of those flat TV sets that you can mount on your wall, and I must confess, the novelty of having a TV set hanging like a piece of art intrigued me. Supposedly, it's all digital with surround sound, or something like that. The eager salesman convinced me to buy a matching DVD player and VCR. "Why did I buy all of that junk?" I asked myself. I smiled as the memory came to me; the salesman was actually pretty cute.
I had walked into the store with the Usagi, Rei, Makoto and Mamoru on a rainy Friday night. It was about a year ago, back when Ami was still in med school. We had tried to convince her to come with us, but she had dismissed us with a flick of her wrist, a pencil tucked neatly behind her ear, saying she had to study. Mamoru was eager to visit, saying he wanted to try out the new DVD players.
"Mamo-chan," said Usagi, a grin spreading across her face, "we don't need a DVD player. We already have one."
"I know, love, but this one's cutting edge stuff," he said; arm tightly linked with his wife's. "The sound quality's absolutely amazing, or that's what I hear, anyways."
"Right," teased Rei, "You know you just want another one of your gadgets. Like I always say, the only difference between a grown man and a boy is how much money they spend on their toys." She finished her sentence then glared at Usagi, who had been lip-synching with her the whole time.
"Come on, Rei, that's not fair! Don't go using your psych stuff on me," said Mamoru, pretending to be hurt.
"Yeah, not everyone has a bachelor's in psychology," I pointed out.
"That wasn't psychology," said Rei. "Just an observation. Guys are all alike-"
"Are we now?" said a voice from behind us. Rei whirled around to face the stranger who dared to oppose her, and we all stopped to watch. He was about Mamoru's height, with blond hair and steely blue eyes that spit silent fire out of their gaze. His arms were crossed over what must have been an impressive chest, and his long legs were together, feet facing forwards.
Rei looked up at the handsome stranger for what must have only been a moment, but seemed like an eternity. "Yes," she said quietly. "Yes, you are."
"Ah, hello, Jadeite. I didn't expect to see you here," said Mamoru. "What brings you here at this godawful hour?"
"You should know, Chiba. You never let me leave my desk!" He said it with a straight face, but his eyes were smiling.
"Ouch," said Mamoru, grinning. "Anyways, have you found anything good?"
I didn't pay attention to the conversation. Maybe that's how Jadeite convinced me to buy all that stuff. I didn't even see the salesman or know what I was doing until I had signed the last paper, then I realized my mistake. It didn't really matter anyways; I could easily afford it. Money hadn't concerned me for years.
What I was thinking about was Rei, who was strangely silent during the dialogue. A slow smile worked its way into my cheeks as I absently stroked Artemis's fur, remembering the look on her face. For once, Rei Hino had been unable to come up with a witty retort.
I hadn't been paying attention to the television set until I saw the words "special news bulletin" flash down the screen in bold, red letters. "A suspected yakuza member escaped from prison this morning, killing one police officer and wounding four. His whereabouts are currently unknown."
"Great. Some nut job's loose on the streets. Just peachy," I thought, rolling my eyes. "Good thing I'm staying in tonight." My index finger reached for the off button, but in the split second before I pushed down, a familiar face flashed across the screen. I dropped the remote, my eyes going wide as I took in the information.
"He is six feet tall and weighs 79 kilograms. He is armed and presumed dangerous. Do not approach this man; he is unstable. If you see him, contact the police at-"
I wasn't paying attention to the number, for I had the feeling that it was far too late. I clicked off the television, dropping the remote in shock. I grabbed a blanket and held my shaking body as if it was going to fall to pieces. The escaped convict was none other than Danburite.
Slowly and shakily, I got up and walked into the hallway that led to my bedroom. About halfway along, my knees gave out and I fell flat on my bottom. I felt no pain, only numbness. I drew my arms around my knees, slumped forward and cried brokenly. "Why does this have to happen to me, God? I don't deserve this kind of punishment! Nobody does!" I was vaguely aware that a door had opened, but I didn't care. I was so absorbed in my misery that I almost jumped when a pair of hands touched my shoulders. "I'd know that touch anywhere," I thought to myself.
"What's wrong?" asked Kunzite.
The fact that Kunzite was here, comforting me, even after the evil I had planned for him mere hours earlier, made me cry even harder. He sighed, took me into his arms and carried me off. "W-where are you taking me?" I asked between sniffles.
He didn't say anything, and he set me down somewhere soft and warm. I didn't figure out where I was until he pulled a blanket up to my face. He sat down next to me over the covers, and the room was completely silent except for the sounds of my ragged breathing. I felt him getting up, and then I finally spoke. "It's Danburite. He's escaped from prison, and I'm going to die."
"Minako, you're not going to die," he said, settling himself back in.
"Why are you doing this?" I asked. "I know what this is costing you."
"It costs me nothing," he returned, stroking my hair, "Nothing I'm not willing to pay."
"Is your God like that?" I asked.
"No. He's not like me. I'm the one trying to be like Him. He'd lay down His life for you in a second; in fact, He already has."
I gasped. "Does that mean he's…dead?"
"No. He came back. Death couldn't hold the Son of God forever."
I said something I didn't think I'd ever say, but the more I saw of people like Kunzite and Levina, the more my curiosity grew. "Tell me more about Him."
Kunzite did his best to tell me all he knew about Christ, about pain and suffering, and how I could come to know Him for myself. "Would you like to pray with me?"
I nodded feebly, and Kunzite led the prayer of surrender to Christ. "I finally did it, Kunzite. I stopped running."
He kissed my hair in response, and I knew that he could see what I meant, that all of these years, I had been running from God. I had thought he was like my father, who was little more than a six-letter word. Even though I had never seen him, the venomous neglect still ran deep, coursed through my veins for years until I was walking dead. The poison was gone now, and for once, I felt like I had a fresh start, this time for real. "Well, you had better get yourself off to bed, Kunzite. I don't want to keep you waiting."
He smiled, though I knew he didn't want to let go any more than I wanted him to leave. I knew that he would be only a wall away if I needed him, and even if he wasn't, that I wouldn't be alone.
Still, I couldn't help but to wonder what would become of Danburite, and I prayed that none of his current plans revolved around me.
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It was a cold, misty night at the Lucky Buddha Casino, perfect for a suicide mission. It was more darkness than light, but rays of sunlight peeked through the cracks in the wall. Everything was gray and sawdust covered. "This is the last place I want to be," I thought to myself, and I asked myself for the millionth time why I had come here. But I had a score to settle, a promise to keep. I couldn't leave this place; whatever would happen now would be destiny. I took my cell phone out of my pocket, and then I dialed a number I had sworn to myself long ago that I would never use. "Hello, Tokyo police? Yes, I know I've escaped. I want you to…come and get me. Where am I? I'm at the Lucky Buddha Casino. I'll be waiting." I clicked the off button and threw the phone into the darkness. I wouldn't need it anymore.
I wasn't scared, although I knew I damned well should be. Meeting Beryl was a bad idea, especially after I had crossed her before. I remember that night well; I was standing over Minako, protecting her from Beryl's wrath. Why had I done it? I don't know…some long-dormant instinct inside of me screamed that I had to protect her, even if it meant my life. I knew my brother had a thing for her, and that I would never win her love for myself. Wasn't that selfish anyways? I scoffed to myself. Love…honor…duty…those words mean nothing to me anymore…did they? It didn't matter anyways…it wouldn't matter for long.
Beryl sat on a chair that was raised on a platform of stairs like some kind of demon queen. She was wearing a crimson dress. Maybe it was symbolic…maybe she knew why I had come. "Danburite," she purred, running a hand down her leg. I couldn't help but to shiver. The sound of her voice made me sick.
I said nothing in response, just knelt down and reached down into my pocket. All too quickly, my hand came into contact with the cold steel blade. I took the knife out of my pocket and set it on the ground. I got out a long, white piece of string, and then tied it to my pinky, just tightly enough to cut off circulation. I gripped the knife with my other hand, raised it in the air, and the knife came into contact with my skin. I grimaced inwardly; this was really painful. Blood gushed out of the cut, but I paid it no heed. Instead, I pushed the knife all the way through, my flesh crying out for reprieve until the top digit fell, limp and useless, to the ground. I picked it up and wrapped it in a white handkerchief.
Beryl said nothing, but continued to watch this sickening display. I almost thought that my yubizume had been successful. If she was silent, that meant she had accepted my sacrifice, that she had forgiven me, and I would live. But I'd be damned before I accepted her pity.
Before she could signal the thug on her left to shoot, I ran up the stairs towards her. This was a tactical mistake, and I knew it. The goons behind her had guns, and all I had was a knife. Besides, I was running uphill, which put me at a deadly disadvantage. To make the odds even more impossible, I was missing a lot of blood. Still, if I could plunge the knife into her chest, then twist it for added measure it would all be over. Beryl would never claim a life again. I knew it was vain; a monster like Beryl does not die, she devours.
Heedless of the bullets that pierced through my chest, I charged up the stairs, each step harder than the last. My feet felt like lead, and my breathing was ragged and uneven. One of those gunshots must have punctured a lung or something.
I lunged at Beryl, and missed by a mile, barely touching her hair. I laughed deliriously; it didn't matter. Nothing did. The room swam in and out of focus, and I idly wondered if Minako had felt this. I knelt there, at Beryl's feet, police sirens blaring in my ears, and I waited for the bullet that would soon pierce my brain. "Minako," I murmured, and the darkness claimed me forever.
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"Minako…"
I jolted out of sleep with a start. What a horrible nightmare! It didn't feel like a dream, though…it felt real somehow, like I was somebody else. I shook my head at such fanciful nonsense. Still, I could smell the sawdust in the air, taste the blood, and my pinky hurt like hell…
Maybe some breakfast would cheer my head. Yeah, that's what I need. I walked into the kitchen and was greeted by a familiar face. "Morning, Kunzite."
He said nothing in response, just continued to stare blankly at the morning paper. I stamped my foot impatiently. I was not going to be ignored! "Hello! You're wanted on planet Earth!" I snapped. When there was still no response, I walked over behind him to see what was so engrossing. "Front page…that's strange. Why would he be reading…" I gasped when I found the point where Kunzite's eyes were fixed. The headline boldly proclaimed "MAN KILLED AFTER YAKUZA SHOOTOUT, BERYL IN JAIL." I looked down a little lower and saw a picture of an ashen-haired young man lying face down in a black puddle that must have been his own blood. "Oh my God…" I mumbled absently, all color draining from my face. The nightmare I had last night was no dream…it had actually happened. Danburite was really gone. I shook my head, tears flowing freely. This wasn't supposed to happen! He was supposed to go back to prison…and live out his days there. He wasn't supposed to…just throw his life away as if it were nothing! "Kunzite, I'm so sorry," I said, placing my hands on his shoulders.
"So am I," he replied flatly.
Then I remembered the second part of the headline; Beryl was in jail? This was too good to be true. The article read:
"Yakuza member Danburite Feldspar was found slain at Lucky Buddha casino. Police found Feldspar dead at the scene in front of Beryl Bixbite, who later pled innocent. The fingerprints on the gun that killed Feldspar were not Bixbite's, but those of her associate."
"An autopsy revealed that Feldspar was shot multiple times in the chest, abdomen and the base of his skull. The last digit of the pinky on his left hand was missing, suggesting an unsuccessful yubizume. It is unknown why he contacted the police five minutes before his demise."
"Bixbite is facing trial and is being held in Tokyo jail."
"I want to see her, Kunzite."
"Why?" he asked, folding the paper vertically, then horizontally.
"I want to make sure that she's still in jail."
He nodded, and all too quickly we arrived at Tokyo jail. "May I help you, miss?" asked the receptionist.
"Yes, I'm here to see Ms. Bixbite."
"Hn…I didn't expect her to have any visitors. May I have your names, please?"
"Minako Aino and Kunzite Feldspar."
"Feldspar, huh? Weird." She paused a moment, and I was afraid she wouldn't let us through. Just when I had given up, she said, "Very well, come this way." The receptionist led Kunzite and I through a narrow hallway and into a large room. "Wait here, please," she said. I nodded, and Kunzite gave my hand a squeeze. I smiled up at him gratefully. "Okay. The prisoner will see you now." I smiled at her and nodded.
"You coming?" I asked Kunzite.
"Do you need to ask?"
"I suppose not," I said, squeezing his hand that still held mine. A door was shut behind me, and behind a thick, plastic screen was Beryl Bixbite. Her eyes held my gaze, never wavering. "Beryl," I said. The woman nodded in response. "You do realize that I have enough evidence to keep you here indefinitely, do you not?"
"Bull," she hissed, adding a particularly nasty four-letter word. "You're bluffing."
"I'm not. You know of Mamoru Chiba, ne?"
"What of it?" she asked.
"He has that little love note you had faxed to me. It matches your signature, Bixbite."
"So? That's not enough to keep me here."
"Maybe not, but Mamoru has a file on you that's a foot wide," said Kunzite.
She said nothing, but I could tell from the way the color drained from her face that she was beaten. "What are you going to do with her, Minako? It's up to you," said Kunzite.
I chewed on my lower lip. Beryl's life was in my hands now, not the other way around. I silently thanked God for protecting me, and I prayed for guidance. I stared at her through the glass; she looked very small somehow. All of the dark power she had held in the past was gone. Knowing this, I made my decision. "I won't have them kill you, Beryl." There was a glint of hope in her eyes, but it disappeared as I continued. "But I won't set you free. You'll rot in this prison cell. You have caused much suffering, Beryl. Now it's time for you to suffer. You'll die here, old, wrinkled and powerless."
I turned around and walked out of the prison with Kunzite. I never saw Beryl again. Years later, I would read an article in the paper that said Beryl had been executed. I suspected that a member of the yakuza had arranged it, just as she had arranged the death of her husband.
Kunzite drove me home, but when I got out of the car, Kunzite was still there. I knocked on the driver's side window, and it rolled down. "Bye, Minako," he said.
"You're leaving me? Just like that?"
He nodded. "I still want to be a part of your life. Maybe we could be…friends."
"Friends?" I sputtered. "Are you insane?"
"I suppose I am," he said, grinning.
"You know very well that we can never be friends," I said.
"I know," he replied. With that, he shut the window and sped away, out of my life. I stood there numbly, and then a tear rolled down my cheek. "Of course we can't be friends. We'll always be much more than that," I thought. I pivoted on my heel and returned to my apartment. I knew then that I would never see Kunzite again.
