Damnit. Katsu had been looking around all day, and he hadn't even seen anyone selling a house. Heard of them, yes: "Try old Hiroko-san down the way" or "I heard Miru-san was selling last week," or even "Not around here, but maybe across the city."
"Cakes tomorrow and cakes yesterday, but never cakes today."
Katsu sighed, and glared down a street dog that had been eyeing him in a way he didn't like. Could this day get any worse?
"Katsu!"
Yes. Yes it could.
He wouldn't have thought that someone's voice could make your body react like that: make your heart stop and your stomach churn and your blood freeze. Katsu had to suppress the urge to be rather violently sick, and decided to pretend he hadn't heard.
Maybe she'd get the hint.
She didn't.
A slim hand on his shoulder stopped him quicker than any leash ever could, and he turned around slowly, as if every fraction of a degree cost him in blood.
It might as well have been so.
Only when he was fully turned and looking at the one face he had prayed every day he would never have to see again did Katsu speak.
"Tamisu."
Tamisu Kijou: beautiful, intelligent, witty, passionate, domineering, possessive, psychotic bitch. While she wasn't the reason he slept with men (he'd done that before he even met her), she was the reason he only slept with men.
She giggled, and he fantasized about slapping her – or he would have, if he hadn't been busy looking for any escape route he could find. "Oh, come now, Katsu! You act like there was nothing between us! Aren't you glad to see me?"
Only she. Only she could even think he'd be happy to see her after … after what she did to him.
"No," he managed to grind out, feeling like he'd either chip a tooth or pass out from fright if he spent much longer around her. "No, I'm not happy to see you, Tamisu. And perhaps you have forgotten, but there was nothing between us – remember? Or do you forget your very own words?"
Again that hideous, calculated laugh. "Oh, Katsu, don't tell me you're still upset about that! Why, that was almost three years ago! And besides, you know how people … exaggerate when they are distressed." She looked up at him from lowered eyelashes, and spoke in a low, smoky voice. "I missed you, Katsu." She would have moved closer to him, but an outstretched arm blocked her path.
"I haven't missed you. Go away, Tamisu – I told you three years ago and I have not changed my mind. I don't want to see you. Ever again. Now leave." He shoved – not hard enough to cause her any injury, but just enough to put a much-needed few inches between them.
Her mouth opened and closed for a moment before she angrily snapped at him. "Wh-what do you mean by this, Katsu? What are you thinking?"
"My own thoughts, Tamisu – finally. And I mean exactly what I said. Go away, and do not plague me with your presence ever again." Katsu knew he was being cruel – in his words, his body language, and his expression.
He didn't care.
They stood like that for awhile, in the middle of a busy Tokyo street, with her gaping in mute astonishment and disbelief and him drawn up to his full height, every nerve screaming with tension. People parted around them and closed back up again, not even noticing as they avoided the feuding couple. They might have been painted scenery for all Katsu or Kijou noticed.
"But, I-I love you, Katsu." She stepped forward, one hand outstretched, and Katsu recoiled in disgust – or fear.
"I don't care." He turned his back on her, and had taken five steps away from her before she reacted.
"Katsu!" Pleading, desperation now.
"Katsu!" Sharper, more frantic.
"Katsu!" Angry, demanding.
He kept walking.
"Tsukioka Katsuhiro! Where so you think you're going?!"
No response. She ran a few steps to keep in hearing distance.
"Katsu! You're not leaving me, Katsu! You can't!"
Nothing.
"You can't! You can't live without me, Katsu! Remember? You can't! You won't! I won't let you leave me!"
Still, he said nothing, and kept walking.
"Katsu!"
He didn't look back.
*******************************
Eh, this is yesterday's – I would have gotten it up on time, but there was this little matter of me being passed out in my bed when I should have been writing. . On the other hand, I got the best, longest night of sleep I've had on a weekday since summer ended, and earlier in the day I had to resort to buying a Coke (which I absolutely hate) so I could get some caffeine and not pass out, but still …
Whatever. Consider this the start of the actual plot, and, should you be so inclined, the beginning of the actual story itself. Now, I know exactly or almost so what will go in every chapter, so hey, maybe I'll even get in more chapters earlier in the day. Or not.
(for 40)Kuroiyousei: Aoshi's pretty crazy, yeah, but it's not going to be as pronounced for two reasons: 1) I won't be writing from his POV as much and 2) he's had a lot more help than Katsu ever got. As for the title … it barely even deserves "working title," and I will replace it as soon as I think of a better one. Suggestions welcome (hint hint, nudge nudge). Fictionpress: I'm only thinking because I have some (one especially) mainstream fics (but none finished) that I know I'll never consider even trying to publish, but I would like feedback on it. I hate fictionpress even more than I hate ff.net, actually, because their archive system is so unwieldy and it's almost impossible to find good fics. Still thinking on that, though. I'm glad you like my Katsu! (And I know what you mean, so don't worry. ^_^)
(for 41)Kuroyousei: Actually, I still haven't decided whether I'm going to make Sano's dream a raunchy one or a sweet one. Well, whichever I do, I'll do the other sometime later. Sano's shoulder just hurts randomly, I'm afraid, no mystic connection or anything. Just that everything Saitou does to Sano has to be aggravating. (Can you say, "repressed sexual tension"? Goooood.)
Anaii: Thank you for the review! *hugs* And, just out of curiosity … what are the other 9? (I like to know these things.)
Nicky: Oh yes you do. Repressed longing, but longing all the same. And Sano actually thinks he doesn't want Saitou to show up. *scoffs* Well, we know better, don't we? ^_~