Chapter 3: Living with courage
A week past and Sakaki hadn't heard from Raven at all. He returned to his normal life and was careful around his injured shoulder. While Karasuma, Robin and Doujima were off trying to solve the case, Sakaki did paperwork and relaxed a little.
" You know it's too quiet around here," Sakaki said as he filed some paper work
" Welcome to my life," Michael said as he worked on his computer
" It's going to kill me at a very young age. I want to be doing something," Sakaki said, " Other then filing work."
" You shouldn't have gotten yourself shot," Michael said
" It wasn't my intention too," Sakaki remarked
By early afternoon Sakaki took a break and drove down to Harry's. He sat down and had a cup of hot coffee.
" Hey Harry, have you seen Ms. Ryuko lately?" he asked
" I'm afraid I haven't it's been quiet around here," Harry said
Sakaki sighed and looked at his shoulder. It had been a week and everything seemed to be going wrong. Harry poured another cup for Sakaki and then cleaned a little.
" Everything goes wrong around here especially with me," Sakaki sighed
" Look at the bright side, your alive aren't you?" Harry said
" I guess," Sakaki said, " A least apart of me."
" Then live like tomorrow would be your last," Harry said, " You should be thankful for the time you have."
Sakaki nodded and finished his coffee and then laid some money on the counter.
" It's on the house," Harry said
Sakaki nodded and walked out, with his hands in his pockets. He got onto his motorcycle and rode back to the STN-J. He slopped back up to the office and sat down.
By 6:30 he left and went home, there he showered and did his usual. He checked the kitchen for food and then decided to go out to eat and would stop at the local grocery market. He sat down and sighed waiting for his meal, he watched the people going on with their daily lives. Not a care in the world, he watched couples snuggled close together to get away from the cool weather. People rushing to catch the bus and go home. As he stared he saw a young woman dressed in black pass by, her pale skin traced her features and brought them out. He got up and ran out and ran after her, he then grabbed the young woman by her arm and she turned.
" Excuse me," she said
" I'm sorry I thought you were someone else," he said
He sighed and walked in back to the restaurant, then took his seat. Sakaki's meal was brought to him and he looked at it.
" Will that be all sir," A familiar voice said
He looked up and saw Raven standing there.
" Will you join me?" he asked
" I'm afraid I can't, I have work, but perhaps later," she said
" Perhaps," he said
She smiled a small smile and walked off, then Sakaki ate his meal. He waited around and when it was 10 Raven finished her last table.
" Good-bye Ms. Ryuko," The owner said
Raven put on her black coat and Sakaki walked over.
" How about coffee?" he asked
" Is there anything open this late?" she asked
" Of course," He said, " The night is young."
The two walked off and Raven watched him as he stood by his motorcycle.
" I'll drive," he said
She shrugged and walked over and he put his helmet on, then Raven got on.
" Hold on tight," he said
" Trust me I will," she replied
She wrapped her arms around Sakaki and he took of. He rode down to Harry's knowing it was open. There he stopped and Raven got off then he did, he removed his helmet and walked with her in. The two sat down and Harry looked up to see both of them. He walked over and greeted them both, with a humble smile as he always did.
" Well, it's good to see you again Ms. Ryuko," he said, " I suppose both want your usual."
" Yes," both replied
Harry walked off and Sakaki looked at Raven, she had a sadness to her eyes. She looked at him and smiled.
" Where were you for a week?" he asked
" Why were you worried?" She asked
" I guess," he replied
She sighed and said, " I was hiding from my brother. After all he thinks I know where my grandfather's money is."
" Why should you hide, he won't kill you until he gets the money," Sakaki said
" I know, but I remain hidden until I know it's clear," she said
Harry brought out their usual and then walked off. Raven stirred her peach tea and added a little cream. Sakaki watched her do so, in a very elegant way. He stirred the hot coffee and sipped it.
" Where are you hiding out?" Sakaki asked
" In different places, none my brother can track. it's a new place everyday," she said, " I can't stay in one place or he'll find me."
Sakaki looked at Raven and he saw a tear fall from her face. He reached over and wiped it from her face. She looked up and met his eyes and then looked down at her tea.
" Stay with me, I promise you won't get hurt," he said
Raven looked at him and then away.
" I will leave in the morning, I don't want to be a burden. I'll have to keep moving until he loses interest in me," she said
" Your protected by me," he said
Raven sipped her tea and Sakaki finished his coffee and stared at her, as though if he blinked she would be gone.
" I will stay, because I trusted you since our first meeting," she thought
When they finished Sakaki dropped her off by her car and she followed him home. He got up to his apartment and turned on the lights, Raven followed him holding her bag close to her.
" This is it," he said, " My humble apartment."
" It's a very nice place, but why do you live alone?" she asked
" Because, that's how I have been for life…alone," Sakaki said
She looked at him and then took her shoes off, then he showed her around. He showed her the spare room which was being worked on, but she didn't care.
" The cabinets are bare, but they'll be filled tomorrow," Sakaki said, " The bathroom is down the hall where we came in."
Raven was amazed that this whole apartment was his, she set her bag down and looked at Sakaki.
" Are you sure I can stay here?" she asked
" As long as you need to," Sakaki replied, " Consider this a safe place."
Raven nodded and walked over to him and kissed his cheek.
" Thank you Sakaki," she whispered
By 1am Sakaki got up and called to the STN-J and reported that Raven was staying with him for her protection. Though it was not regulation for an STN-J member to house a suspect/victim, it needed to be done. Sakaki looked out the window and sighed, he looked at his shoulder and removed the bandage.
" How could I have been so irresponsible?" he thought
He walked to the bathroom and cleaned the wound then wrapped it up again. He went to bed and would only be awaken by sobs. Sakaki woke up and then walked down the hall and gently knocked on Raven's door. He opened it and saw she was asleep, but she was sobbing in her sleep. He watched her and then walked in and wiped away her tears. She opened her eyes and looked up at him, then sat up.
" Sakaki," she whispered
" I heard you crying," he replied
" Did I wake you?" she whispered
He shook his head and said, " I was up already, but what's wrong?"
" I was remembering memories of the past that's all, stuff I shouldn't be sobbing over," she replied, " I'm such a child."
Sakaki wiped more tears away and shook his head to her last statement about being a child. He looked at her and studied her features and then sighed
" About whom?" he asked
" My family how we were so happy, but then everything seemed to fall apart finding out that my bother and I were witches. My mother and Father pretended that we were normal, but it never was easy. My uncle was killed just recently in an alley, by someone," Raven whispered
" So, you knew the man in the alley, but who killed him?" Sakaki said
" I don't know, perhaps my brother, but my uncle had a family of his own, his son was 21 and his wife was 18 my age," Raven explained
Sakaki once again wiped her eyes and this time pulled her close and embraced her. She sobbed in his arms and he looked around.
" So, there was a link after all," he thought
By morning Raven opened her eyes to the sun in her eyes. She looked to her side and saw Sakaki in a chair sleeping. He had stayed with her all night and listened to her cries. For once she wasn't alone. She got up and got dressed, then went out and bought a few things for Sakaki and for breakfast. She returned and began to make a warm breakfast with fresh grounded coffee in the making. The smell filled the apartment and touched Sakaki's nose. He opened his eyes and then stretched, then looked to see Raven was gone. He slightly panicked and ran out the room, when he saw her setting the table for him. He walked over and Raven looked up and stood behind a chair then bowed.
" Good morning," she spoke
" You made this all?" he said astonished
" Yes, I went to the store and filled your cabinets with everything you need and made breakfast," Raven said
" How did you know what to buy?" He asked
" Your thoughts," she replied
He then took a seat and she joined him. He felt strange at first, but he felt thrilled to have someone cook for him.
Once breakfast was done, Sakaki prepared for work and walked to the door.
" Sakaki," she said
" Yes," he replied
" Thank you," she stated, " I never got to thank you for everything. It's my fault you got hurt last week, but I was happy you came to rescue me."
Sakaki put his helmet down and looked at Raven as she stood there, he realized that she was wearing a colored shirt instead of her usual black. He walked to her as she stood at the edge of the carpeted floor and the wooden floor. He stared at her and she reached her hand out and touched his face.
" You're a new person Raven, perhaps you'll change for the good," he said
She smiled and he took her hand and kissed it, then turned away and walked out the door. She watched him from the window as he took off.
" Good-bye Sakaki, I hope your day is well," she whispered
Sakaki drove to the STN-J and walked to the office. Karasuma and Doujima were already there getting their things ready to get back on the case. Sakaki walked in and Doujima and Karasuma looked up.
" Well it looks like someone is in a good mood," Doujima said
Sakaki sat down and start off his work.
" So she must be some girl," Doujima said
" Why are you jealous?" Sakaki said
" No, not at," Doujima said
Karasuma looked up at Sakaki and Doujima.
" So, have you found anything out from her?" Karasuma said
Doujima looked at Karasuma and said, " Who?"
" Raven," Karasuma said
" All I know is her brother is after her for her grandfather's money or land something like that," Sakaki said
" Well, a least we can narrow down suspects," Karasuma said, " Anything Michael?"
" Well, a little Rihito Ryuko is 7 years older than Raven and finds that he was over looked as a child. He's murdered 4 people, in the last 3 years," Michael said, " All witches expect for one, which was an accident. He's never been convicted of any of them."
" Raven must have some connection," Doujima said, " since your housing her why don't you ask her more."
" She doesn't know anything," he said, " Only what she told me."
" Doujima, does that satisfy your curiosity," Michael asked
" No, I think he's hiding something," Doujima said, " That's dangerous you know."
" She would tell me I promise you," Sakaki said
" Cause she trust you that's why," Karasuma said, " Don't let emotions get you in trouble."
Sakaki sighed and said, " I won't there's nothing between us."
" Right," Doujima said, " Next thing you know you'll be skipping work."
Sakaki got up and walked off getting a cup of coffee. He walked back and sat down once more. Doujima sighed and sat down.
" When do we get a day off?" Doujima asked
" When you work," Sakaki said
" I do work more than you," Doujima said
" Bullshit," Sakaki coughed
Michael shook his head with a slight chuckle then turned and looked at the three.
" Has anyone talked to Amon lately about this case?" Michael said
" I have," Karasuma said, " He's got some of the files so he should be…."
The phone rang cutting Karasuma off. Michael picked up the phone and gave a nod with a "ahuh" He then hung up the phone and the three looked at him.
" Amon and Robin are on their way here," Michael said
" But Amon's not suppose to be coming to work for another week….it's so like him to not rest," Karasuma said
" That's Amon for you," Sakaki said, " I guess I won't be the only injured member on desk duty."
" Unlike you Amon will get work done," Doujima said
" Unlike you I have done my work for the next two weeks of rest, so I can relax," Sakaki said
Doujima narrowed her eyes and sat down in a near by chair.
" Sakaki get in here now," Chief Kosaka called
" Someone's in trouble…again," Doujima said
Sakaki walked off in Chief Kosaka's office.
" Yes, chief," Sakaki replied
" What's this about you housing a suspect," Chief Kosaka said
" Well, she needed a place, and I didn't know she was a suspect," Sakaki said
Chief Kosaka scratched his chin and replied, " Well you know now, so get her out of your apartment before they know the STN-J is helping her hide."
" But Chief this girl has no where else to go," Sakaki said
" I mean it Sakaki, your endangering not only your life, but the STN-J," the chief said
Sakaki nodded and walked out and walked back to his work station.
" What the chief want?" Karasuma asked
" Nothing to important," Sakaki said
The door opened and Robin walked in first and held the door open for Amon, whom used cane to put no support on his right leg.
" Seems to me you should be resting Amon," Karasuma said
" Non sense, we need to finish this case," Amon said
" How long is he going to be out," Doujima asked Robin
" Touko said a month maybe two," Robin replied
Amon sat down and said, " I looked over the files and ruled out two suspects. Michael pull up these files."
Michael nodded and looked at Amon for the names.
" Rihito Ryuko II, Tetsuya Ryuko, both are witches that have fire," Amon said, " Both related to Raven Ryuko."
" What do we know about them?" Karasuma asked
" They both want the same thing, their grandfather's lands, Tetsuya is Ayumi Raven Ryuko's cousin, she is telepathic, meaning 6 years ago she over heard her grandfather and uncle talking about his land and how there was more than just land, but a supply of undiscovered treasure, that he had stolen, from several wealthy people, by scamming. Raven remembered this by listening, but when she was 15 she was in an accident that was caused by a fire, which killed her grandfather. She lost parts of her memory, which meant the knowledge of the land and family treasure lost. Rihito and Tetsuya did not know that she knew this and killed several people that were linked to the family. The witch we captured early this months, was among one of the family's closet members and future husband to Ayumi Ryuko. Together that wealth would be theirs, her uncle would give her the paper work to entrust the family wealth forever for generations to come, but he was killed, with signed papers which we received. They were not by Ayumi Ryuko, but her brother. The paper did not inform where the wealth is. So, then he went after Ayumi for it," Amon said summoning it up
Sakaki nodded and looked at the others.
" Ok, so how do we good about capturing the two?" Sakaki asked
" With only one person," Amon said
Michael looked at the computer screen and looked at Raven's picture.
" Sakaki," Doujima and Karasuma said
" You know where she is, so bring her here," Karasuma said
" It's to dangerous to bring her here," Sakaki said
Amon stood up and looked at Sakaki.
" Do you want this girl to get killed?" Amon said, " Someone that is possibly important in your life."
Sakaki looked at Amon slightly in surprise that he would say that. Karasuma and Doujima looked at Sakaki as he just stood there dumb founded.
" Well," Amon said
" Ok, I'll go and get her," Sakaki said
Amon sat back down and Sakaki got up then headed to the door. He walked down to the garage and got on his motorcycle. He took off to his apartment and parked, then ran up to only find his apartment door opened and the place was destroyed. He pulled his phone out.
" We got a problem, she's gone," Sakaki said, " her things are here, someone broke in."
" Try to find her, use your thoughts she's telepathic she'll pick them up," Karasuma said
" Alright," he said
He ran down the hall and down stairs where he got on his bike and took off.