A/N: Five cheers to the continuation of my epic 'Shinobu the psychopath' trilogy. Talk about strange, but oh well. I'm feeling my angst level rising, tehe. . .
Disclaimer: I do not own the lyrics to The Kill

Beneath The Timid Smile

Chapter#5 Burning

After the incident the detective made a house call. He stood in the corner of my room, impaling the fresh odor of my bedroom with the putrid smell of tobacco. Though I masked my disgust, my short temper was blunt to anyone who cared to take notice. As he made a cloud of gray form before his dry lips he spoke, "Do you believe this was an accident, Ms. Maehara?" His coal dark irises like a falcon's talons digging into the secrecy of my soul. My shoulder tensed,

gazing down at the temporary splint around my fractured arm. My right arm . . . I wasn't right handed, I internally smiled to not show any form of amusement, I was summoned back into the conversation as the detective scuffed.

"To be honest . . . I," I tried desperately to sound fearful, my ocean blue eyes brimming tears. "I don't know." It was an empty reply, but as expected, he simply nodded snorting back the fluid draining in his throat. "It's frightening. To think Naru would—hurt me."

He was convinced Naru was a danger to others, whether or not she was his prime suspect I wasn't sure. But she was in the unflattering silver light, gleaming through the dark eyes of the detective. Afterward I felt like writing, my hands longed to pen what I felt onto paper, maybe burning it when I had unleashed my stress would be an outlet.

I want others to die. For their sins, however, everyone sins . . . but there is a line. How can you torment the tormented? Why would you let your words break the broken? Consequences have stained their marks. There will be blood tonight.

I listened in a daze as the embers crackled, the golden and crimson were so hypnotic to gaze upon. Such electric, vibrant colors. I was kneeling in my patio, against the earthy dirt covering the small garden I had harvested. My hand wrapped tightly around the note I had written, though I knew soon my hand would be burnt it was too hard to let go. Something inside me was dependent on those emotions, but it was just another obstacle to hurtle. The wind was blowing mildly. I frowned for some reason. "A storm is coming. It's another good opportunity." My face went blank as pain singed my palm, immediately by instinct alone my hand simply let the paper flutter in fiery whirls to the moist dirt.

The dark only serves to amplify the aspects of life that you're blinded to in the light. Things seem so much clearer in malice, than any pure love could reveal. Would you believe any different? That's what I was taught, to sanctify all that was holy and to repel all the evil that sought my soul in which, to plant its seed. And to set my soul a blaze in an eternity of hell. Well, that's all rubbish. Walking with the shadows can't scorn what is left of my heart, trust me. . .

The harpy of all revenge was I. Her wings dry and broad, her eyes drench in all the anguish she survived. Her heart a cold, nonexistent organ left empty inside her chest. I am what I was created, not by sheer lack of sanity, can you see what a broken heart can lead to? I'll shed my tears for now, once they fade into the dirt they will not fall any longer. I have wasted enough time on wallowing in the past. Now it is time . . .

What if I wanted to break

laughed it all off in your face

what would you down?

what if I fell to the floor

couldn't take this anymore

what would you do?

What if I wanted to fight

did for the rest of my life

what would you do?

A while afterward I sat patiently in my room, my mind blazing frantically for new roads of venturing. I needed a plan to fall out, and it had to be soon. And quite frankly Sue was wearing on my patience. Silly fool, if she only knew her life was a hangnail peeling away at the skin. I was fate, and her intolerable acts only prove how wasteful she is. Dear, sweet Sue . . . oh how we'll all miss you when you're gone. I'll miss you even more when I'll cleaning up around the house, and there aren't thousands of banana peels pilled randomly along the halls. Oh how I'll cry when I don't have to tidy up after a chimpanzee !

"Kaola, want me to bring you some more bananas? You must feed that genius mind of yours." If she only knew her sweet little Shinobu's intentions were not in fact sweet.

"Oh, Shinobu that would be great. Are you sure you don' mind?" I shook my head gracefully turning on my heel as I departed from her large vegetated room. Honestly what type of idiot would grow a jungle in such a beautifully designed chamber. I acted swiftly, arranging the bananas carefully, at heart I was still a perfectionist not even murder could change my vain ways. I walked up the stairs, my feet creaking along the wooden steps. This boiling sensation was all too familiar . . . she would get these all right, I glanced down at the warm yellow fruit.

I was clever, probably too clever for my own good. I went into town before night had fallen, and with the money I had been sent from my dear mother I bought opium. A shady older man who sat in a unpleasant looking store, sold it for 200 yen. I will never forget his retreating smirk, the smirk of the devil himself. I recalled him asking for what I planned on using it for. I assumed I looked too content to have been buying it for my own usage. I only shook my head, "No need to question something you will not receive an answer for." He nodded, I left quickly afterward.

I used a knife. I neatly powered the opium onto the edge. I made careful incisions into the skin of each banana, making sure the opium blended well. After mauling each of the four, her breathing will increase, her throat will pound. Then she will fade away out of consciousness. She won't react fast enough. . .

"Here you go," I said quaintly, setting the bowl down on a vacant desk.

"Thanks Shinobu!" She gave me her trade mark goober grin. As she reached eagerly for her yellow prize, immediately gobbling up each banana quicker than the last. I simply left her to dig her grave. Each bite was another chain ready to drag her to her own demise. I almost pity her now . . . wait! An a sudden surge of remorse twinged in my chest, why . . . why now after so much has been done? A soft moan broke my thoughts, it was a desperate one, that could be mistaken for a gasp. It was Sue . . . the opium spread faster than I had predicted. I hesitated for a moment, my shadow flickered against the plain gray wallpaper.

I heard the raking of wood against wood, and then a dull thump. It was a worthwhile realization on my part, my eyes narrowed and I left, retreating back to my own dwelling. There are so many things I feel the urge to do . . . too many to decide . . .And still I find myself missing you . . . maybe my love will remain . . . until you do not . . .

I wrapped myself in my comforter, inhaling the soothing scent of lavender. I snuggled just like I had every night, even before I lost that innocent part of myself. Even the most malicious of beings require tenderness. For example lionesses that hunt and prey on all who are weaker than themselves have sought out feeble baby antelope and act as though they were the mothers who birthed them. Even they need the warmth. I still do . . .

A dry scream pierced the air, I awoke with a decent amount of poise. Now it was time to revert back to the fool I lived as for the last 14 years of my life. I swung my legs over my bedside. As I momentarily closed my eyes, as my dark lashes fluttered open the rich sapphire innocence glazed over. I watched a figure passed by the doorway, it was Kitsune. She looked as though she had already discovered the cause of the scream. She knelt against the corner, her usually squinted eyes wide as could be with tears.

"Mitsune. What's the matter?" I cooed, as I stood with my hand against the threshold.

The blonde choked on her sob, as she tilted her head to gaze upon my blundered look. There was a long pause as she just stared at me, clenching her jaw. It was frustrating, it took inner strength to calm my nerves. Then finally she spoke, "Shinobu. You shouldn't be up."

"Huh?" I dipped my brows in confusion. Why wouldn't she just give me satisfaction and let me play my part!

"You need to relax yourself, the nurse said no more movement than what is necessary, your arm will strain." I was agape, I glanced down at the splint that sashed across my shoulder. I exhaled as my eyes traveled back to her. "Lay down."

I blinked again. Falling back slightly, then turning to follow her as she guided me back to my bed. I slid my legs back into place, beneath my comforter. Turning my cheek against the pillow to watch her with interest. "Will you tell me?" I asked bewildered like.

Her forehead tensed, as she closed her coffee eyes. "I'm afraid, this place is falling to ruins. I'm scared that people I thought I knew are not who they seemed. Shinobu." Her eyes locked with mine momentarily, then she continued. "Sue, was murdered ..." I faked a cold sweat and startled gasp. "The police have been contacted ..."

"Kitsune! Oh Kitsune please? Tell me this is just a nightmare! Sue can't be–..." I choked with tears that couldn't have looked anymore real falling. I thrusted myself up without putting pressure on my wrist. Fighting against Mitsune's grip as she held me in place "Let me go!" I sobbed, proving my acting skills even better than I thought they were.

"Shinobu, please be still." she whispered almost like a concerned mother would, I faltered back and lay still. "Nurse. Nano gave Haruka these." I stared as she reached in her pocket, pulling out a zip lock bag with two small capsules in it. "I was supposed to give you these last night, but I must have forgotten."

I frowned, the nurse that came to cast and brace my arm yesterday evening did mention something for the pain. But I figured she meant some form of aspirin. "What are those?"

Kitsune squinted at the small octagonal pills as she fingered them through the plastic bag. Them returning her gaze to me, "pain killers." she uttered,

"Pain killers?" I scoffed,

"Yes, think of them as a way to ease both physical and emotional pain."

"Oh." I whispered, somewhat entertained by the idea. Was the always cheerful Mitsune a pill-popper? I sighed, holding my hand out.

She nodded carefully dumping the pills into my open palm. I covered them tightly as the blonde retreated to the kitchen that was located adjacent to my room; to retrieve a glass of water to wash the pills down.

Suddenly it felt like none of this had happened, that only us two existed in an alternate world. She came back, handing me the glass. Watching as I sipped down the pain killers and water, setting the glass on the night stand beside my bed. Mitsune kneeled once again along my bed side, folding her arms across my stretched out form.

"Shinobu, the last thing we need is your fragile body becoming even more exhausted by these conditions." a tear dropped on the fabric of my blanket, "So sleep for now." She paused, I lifted my face to observe her once again, but my eyes became lazy, and my vision hazier. I couldn't make out her face, so I relaxed my head back against my pillow. "When you wake up, things will hopefully get better."

after that, I could no longer make out what she was saying. It was all inaudible, as everything slowly faded into black.