Chapter 11
Tsuzuki's POV
I wanted to kick myself for being so stupid. So fucking stupid. Imagine I let that guy, who can possibly be Muraki, or if not possibly be my suspect, escape from my grasp. Damn my stupidity. Damn my slow-working, fucking mind.
Why didn't it occur to me sooner that I can over power those two meaty guys? Just a quick flash of hands and feet and they are down on the ground unconscious. Then maybe I may have reached pretty boy and his Muraki-like companion, then I wouldn't be so disturbed about their presence at all. I could've questioned them, could've find out a thing or two.
But no, I'm here thinking my ass out on trying to figure out everything. First of all that mystery guy pretty boy was carrying, he aroused my curiosity. Is he the next victim? Or is he just an innocent little thing that pretty boy helped along the way? And is the pretty boy the murderer or could he possibly be just an accomplice? What about that meaty boy, Mogley? Has he got a hand on it too? And that Muraki-like guy? Could he possibly be the master mind of it all?
I shook my head, trying to clear it out. Thinking about too many things at once always gives me the headache. I should concentrate first on apologizing to Camila. After all, I did run out without saying anything to her. She must've been thinking that I'm a rude, selfish guy. And besides, she has the tickets to the ride and pretty boy and Muraki-like guy will be at the other island too. They are, after all aboard the boat leading to that place.
I hung my head low as I approached Camila. She is looking at me right now, with her nose high up in the air in a show of hurt and haughty look. I smiled my most charming and sorry smile.
"Hey." I said as I fall a step near her.
"Hey." She answered back coolly.
"Look, I'm sorry for running out on you like I did."
"You should."
"I know. I really feel sorry. I just saw someone who looks like a close friend." I explained as I looked deep into her eyes, as my own shines with apology.
"You could've told me. It's just proper."
"I was just so excited and they are getting out of sight so I didn't…….." I trailed off.
"So you didn't bother saying, 'hey, wait right here I meeting up with a friend?'" Camila said as her brows rise. But her mouth was twitching and I took this cue that she was ready and willing to forgive me.
"Something like that." I said as I smiled my most charming smile again. She smiled back.
"What will I do with you? I just met you and you're giving me a hell of a headache." She commented as she melodramatically puts a hand to her forehead and pretended to swoon. I grinned.
"You could take me to that party! I was thinking non stop about it since you invited me."
"You could go yourself." She says slyly as she smiled her dimpled grin while holding two tickets.
"I could if I would. You have the tickets honey."
"I do don't I?" She said laughing as she handed them to the two bouncers who stopped me from hopping aboard the boat. They still looked at me sorely. I just grinned.
"Okay. Hop in." Said one as he ripped the tickets in two and handed Camila the other halves.
"Make sure you keep 'em. The other one's the party invitation." Reminded the other one as he looked at Camila hungrily.
"Why, thank you for the reminder! I'll make sure of that." She said as she rewarded him with one of her smiles. The guy held back a chuckle.
"You sure are good with people." I said as we walked through this plank-like thing to board the ship.
"Always loved interacting with people you know?"
"Uhuh. I think I know what you mean." I said quite truthfully. Ever since I was a kid, I always was fascinated with people. Sometimes I'd sit out on a bench in a park and just watch people go by, I watch how they interact with each other, how they move, do they have mannerisms and stuff. I just love watching people.
I look back at the place of the two bouncers. I feel that someone's looking at me. When I did turn my head to see, I found out that no one's looking at me, the guy who reminded Camila to keep the other halves were staring at her. I smiled. Just like me with Hisoka. I thought fondly as I let my eyes fall to Camila.
To tell you the truth, I haven't been paying much attention to her that it didn't register to me that she looked smashing. She had her auburn hair swept up her head in a haphazard kind of way and tendrils were falling out of it and it framed her face softly. Her dark green eyes were illuminated well because of her hair and she had little make-up. Just a touch of lipstick and mascara. She also had an outfit to die for.
She had on this floral pinkish baby dress. She had a luau around her neck and a flower on her right ear. Simple yet beautiful.
"You look gorgeous." I complimented her as I offered her my hand. She took it gratefully and looked at me with light in her eyes.
"I thought you'd never say that!" Camila says as she tosses her mane. She laughed gaily.
"Well, I should be or the hours I spent dressing up would be totally useless!" She says as she waves her finger at me. I laughed at her stab and we headed straight for the deck to view the ocean, the birds and the sun.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The music was thumping hard as we set foot on the island. The party was at the beach. You could dance at the vast sand and have you can drinks and rest at the big tent situated at the middle. Everything you could see, from tables to chairs, to lights and arcs to the tent per se, was decorated with flowers and streamers of various colors. Everything about the appearance of the place says 'let's party'.
The alternative music pumping from the speakers was making my head bob. I didn't realize it yet, but I'm starting to enjoy myself. I feel Camila tug at my arm urgently.
"Don't get excited yet. The party hasn't even started." She whispered in my ear huskily. I grinned.
"I know! But I can't help it!" I said aloud so that my voice could be heard above the din of noise. She just threw her head back and laughed.
"Let's have something to drink first." She says as she tugs my arm again, this time dragging me along to the direction of the tent.
Coming inside the tent was like coming to a different place. Outside the sun is still high and it casts an orange tint to the sand and decorations. Everything outside was bright, shiny.
Inside was dark, except for the dark blue light illuminating the place. The blue light cast just enough so you could see your companion and where you are walking to. The tables were decorated with big, glow in the dark pink flowers. The bar was casting an eerie green light. The bottles and glasses at the bar a mixture of blue and green.
We headed straight for the stools and took a seat. She languidly placed her arms at the back of my chair and smiled at the bartender.
"Good evening." The bartender greeted us, as he sidled closer to where we sat. He fixated his eyes on me first then onto Camila, smiling.
"What would the lady like to drink?" He asks as he casually leans over the counter.
"I'd have the bloody mary please." Camila says as she winks at the bartender. I can say that the bartender names….. 'Ernie', it says so on the name tag on his chest, has got the hots for Camila. I can truthfully say too that Camila is too. After all, 'Ernie' is quite handsome and a charmer, even in his tacky suit of powder blue coat and a bow tie, he shines.
"Coming right up." He says as he grins further. Then with a sudden realization turned on me and smirked.
"What'd you like?"
"Nothing." I said as cheerfully as possible. Have I told you I get tipsy easily? I wouldn't want to get drunk on the night I'd do our case. Not when Tatsumi is expecting some information when I return. Not when I think I have some leads already that just needs some string foundations and facts.
"Nothing? Why?" Camila asks me as 'Ernie' turned around and fished for the right bottles and mixed her drink up.
"Well……. I'm not really a drinker and besides the night is still young! I would definitely have some later!" I said so that I could make amends. Lord knows I wouldn't drink a sip of booze, even if I did say so.
"I see. But you would dance with me right?" She asks me. Dance? Of course! I love to dance! My mind screamed as I feel my face getting stretched because of my ridiculous, happy smile.
"Of course! What kind of party-goer am I if I wouldn't dance?" I said as 'Ernie' suddenly appears in front of us, the bloody mary in his hands.
"Here you go." He said as he put the drink on the counter. Camila took the drink in one gulp.
"Hey, would you mind if I go to the ladies' room first?" She asks me. I nod.
"No. Go ahead then." She stood up, gracefully smoothed her skirt then walked out the tent. I watch her till she disappear. Then I turned on 'Ernie'.
"Hey." I said to catch his attention.
"What? Do you finally decide you want a drink?" 'Ernie' asks me his charm gone and has adopted a brusque attitude. I smiled at him nonetheless.
"You seem stingy." I said smiling.
"Who wouldn't be? Here I am a bartender. I could partying tonight you know? Stupid shifting rules." He snorted as he leans on the counter once again, his hands busy with the glass he is wiping.
"You know what?" I said as I looked at him straight in the eyes.
"I would do your job for you." I finished as he almost dropped the glass he is holding.
"What?! You better watch your mouth buddy! I might take your offer!" He says warningly as he wisely puts the glass on its case.
"I'm not joking! I love bartending. Now let's go to the men's room and change attire, shall we?"
"You're nuts, you know that?!" 'Ernie' says as he goes out the counter and falls a step beside my stool.
"You're taking my offer aren't you?"
"Hell yes!" I grinned, stood up and put my arms around him.
"And because I am such a nice guy, I'm also giving up my date for you."
"No kidding?" He says as he looked a bit thrilled.
"Well no, since I'd do your job, she wont have a date. I won't have that. "
"Whatever you say buddy." 'Ernie' says as he relaxed into a wide grin and we walked away towards the men's room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Is he here?" The man with the silver air asked the woman with auburn hair and the pink floral baby dress. The woman nodded.
"He is here. Just as you told me."
"Good girl." The man said as he stroked the woman's hair.
"And what else would you do tonight?" He asks as he continues to stroke her hair.
"I'll lead him straight to you."
"Have you already figured that part out?"
"Yes, master. When he sees you, he will definitely go after you. I have the boat ready for his departure here."
"Good." The master stopped stroking the woman's hair and straightened his white tie.
"I don't want this plan to fail. Be sure you have him in the island at exactly midnight."
"I will have him there." The woman responded as her dark green eyes started to darken more.
"Now go. I'll be waiting for him." The woman just nodded and turned away and walked towards the eerie light of the tent.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Have I told you that bartending is good place to be to fish for information? Well I'm telling you know. With this crowd getting tipsy by the minute, I get information I want, faster by the minute too.
Oh yeah, Camila didn't seem so happy at first that I'd trade places with 'Ernie'. But as soon as she sees him dressed up and looking more handsome that she'd seen him earlier, she relented. I even saw her smiling when they walked hand in hand towards the dance floor. They look like a happy couple if you ask me.
"Hey buddy, I want another beer!" The guy who'd been drinking like there's tomorrow asked me. Oh yeah, have I told you that this guy is Mogley? Sure, I should ask for his Id first cause he doesn't look like 21 and all. But him getting drunk is the best way for me.
"Coming right up!" I said as I handed him another beer. Good thing there aren't anymore customers, so I took the time to interview him.
"Hey, how's it going?" I ask him casually. He looks at me somberly, then thinking for a moment, then shaking his head. Maybe he's trying to make up his mind if he's going to tell me something.
"Bad." He says finally.
"Why?" I ask him further.
"Conscience guilty."
"Really?"
"Hell yes!" He told me. I just kept quiet. He's going to tell more.
"I'm not really a bad guy, you know?" He asks me and looks at me for confirmation.
"Uhuh. All people are born good."
"I know, but I'm doing this for my best friend. He wants my support." Best friend? Could it be possibly pretty boy?
"You mean the guy you were with earlier? The guy carrying someone?" Mogley looks at me, a smile in his face.
"You're slick you know that? Well to answer your question, yes he is my best bud. Ever since kindergarten." I just wiped the glass I was holding saying nothing.
"But this year, junior year, he started to change. He was really a nice guy always looking out for others…….." He took a sip from the bottle of beer, pausing a while.
"But he changed. He liked to torture people. He liked seeing others hurt. Just this afternoon, I almost couldn't stand his fancy. But since he's my best bud and all……. I did what he told me to."
"And what is that?" I ask. Mogley just shook his head.
"I really pity that guy…….. He sure will get kil….. will get hurt tonight." Mogley finished. He stood up, placed a huge amount of money on the counter and proceeded to walk away.
"Hey! Where you going?" I screamed after him.
"The private island." He said as he waved his hand goodbye. I must go there. I told myself my heart hammering from anticipation.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I called 'Ernie' and told him we need to switch places quick. Although he seemed bummed at first he was a good sport about it. We didn't change clothes. I'm in a hurry.
As I was running down the beach trying to find the port where it has the boat that leads to the private island, I spotted a silver haired guy and a black haired guy. The two guys from the boat earlier!! My mind screamed as I sharply turned direction and ran after them.
The silver haired guy turned to look at me. I couldn't see his face though. I'm sure he smirked at me though.
They boarded the little white boat. I was still……. Miles away from them. The boat whistled its signal for departure. I'm still ways away. The black haired guy, Mogley's best bud turned to grin and wave at me goodbye.
"Shit!!!" I screamed as I reached the port and saw the boat go smaller by the minute.
"Dammit. Damn. Damn Dammit!!!!!!!" I screamed, throwing my temper tantrum. How could I go that place now? I couldn't possibly swim al the way through!!!
A hand touched my shoulder. I jumped because of surprise.
"Ca-Camila? What are you doing here?" I asked her my eyes wide.
"I saw you running so I followed you." She tipped her head to the sea.
"Wanna follow them?" She asks me.
"Yeah. But I don't know how."
"Well I do." Camila says slyly.
"Rally how? Tell me!!!" I pleaded at her hysterically.
"Hold your pants Tsuzuki! Let's go just west of here. I know a man who could lend and drive you the boat. "
"Really? Oh that would be great! Let's go!!" I told her happily as I dragged her along with me.
"Hey! Don't pull me!"
"But I'm in a hurry." I told her as I scooped her in my arms and ran with her. She laughed.
"Don't worry. No matter how slow you are……. You're still going to get it." That made me dizzy. What does she mean by 'I'm still going to get it?' Does someone out there is out to get me or what? I just shook my head in resentment. I still had some thoughts in mind to pay attention to her and her warped advices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I waved goodbye to Camila at the docks. She said she wanted to stay at the party. Be with 'Ernie'. She said they really hit it off. And that was lucky stroke for me. I mean, I wouldn't want her around should I need confronting. And besides I won't work right if I'm worrying all the time about her welfare and that she might find out that I'm not really a human…….. You know that I'm a shinigami and dead.
I sigh at the slowness of the boatman. I don't know if he's deliberately trying to be slow or I'm just really in a big hurry. I look at the vast sea forlornly. It's seems really……. Sad tonight. Just earlier everything seems so right. The sun setting, it's magnificent red light casting on the beach, tons of people partying….. Everything seems so lively.
But now that I'm getting further away from the glitz and jazz, it's starting to get cold, to get blue, to get……… I don't know. Despaired? You know the feeling that there is no hope for something.
I really don't know why I'm feeling this way. Despaired, sad and almost frustrated. I should be elated at my discovery. Should be ecstatic that I've finally hit the jackpot. Maybe.
But for sure, I shouldn't be feeling this way. It might hurt my actions. My plans. Should I need to fight or something……. I sigh and dropped my head to my hands. If only Hisoka is here. I thought to myself.
If only he was here, I wouldn't be feeling anxious. I would be feeling great. I would even be up to flirting. Everything seems to go by whiz with him.
I feel a tap on my shoulder. I look at the boatman smiling his missing tooth smile at me.
"Here we are sonny." He said as he pointed across me. I followed his finger. Then I gasped.
Now I know why I'm feeling frustrated and all that crap.
It's the fucking moon.
The bloody fucking moon.
Just like in Nagasaki.
It's fucking bloody red.
Oh my god………
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: hey guys! Thanks to all those who reviewed!! And keep 'em coming!!! *grins*
