Hey Everyone!
So sorry it took so long to get this out but well... writers block sucks...
This was going to be longer but I decided to put the rest of this chapter in with the next so I apologize if it seems a little shorter than the others.
Chapter 7
"Man you sound exhausted".
Bella bit back a yawn as she sluggishly wandered through the 11th ward. Her attention torn between her phone call with Hide, and navigating the crowds of commuters as she rounded the bend and onto the street where Anteiku was located.
"Yeah, had bit of a late night".
She'd spent a good portion of the night hunched over her little coffee table reading. She'd gotten so engrossed in the story that by the time she'd looked up at the clock it was 1am in the morning.
To be honest, she was rather surprised at how engaging it had been. Horror wasn't a genre Bella typically wanted to read, and the egg of the Black was easily the most visceral horror she had ever come across. It was a morbid tale about a cold blooded female serial killer and her only son. While the son is disgusted by his mother's sickness, eventually he's forced to accept that to his horror, he has the same cruel impulses buried within himself. Reviews had likened the book to the 'ero guro' movement of pre-war Japan. Something Bella would have to ask Professor Tanaka about when the semester resumed next week. If she had one criticism though it was that she found she couldn't really identify with any of the characters. But then again that was probably for the best.
"So anyway, I've got some good news and some not so good news. The good news is I got that temp job I told you about the other day. The not so good news is that they want me to do an introductory shift today, so I'm gonna have to bail our morning coffee routine."
"Oh ok… Well congrats, we can always meet up another time".
*sigh* "you're already there aren't you?"
"Just about yeah". Though if I'd known you weren't coming half an hour ago I'd still be in bed.
"Hey I'm sorry but they only called me 5 minutes ago. But hey cheer up! Maybe Kaneki's working today!"
"Yeah but it's not like is not like we're really friends yet… I barely know the guy. Wouldn't it be rude to you know, bother him while he's working?
"Hey don't worry about it Kaneki's not the kind of guy who would mind. Besides you never had a problem talking to me when we first met".
"That was different." She defended. "We sit next to each other in class, not to mention you did most of the talking".
"Hey I'm not that bad! Besides you're over thinking this, you're both literature buffs right? Well start with that! Trust me when it comes to books once you get Kaneki started he'll never stop talking."
"Well I did get that book he suggested yesterday…"
"You spoke to him yesterday?"
"Yeah after you left". Come to think of it, he did open up pretty quick once we found common ground.
"Well then don't worrying so much. You guys should have plenty to talk about!"
*sigh* "You're right I'm over thinking this but I just… I didn't want to come off as… I don't know, rude? I mean it's his workplace".
"Yeah I know what you mean but seriously don't stress! This is Kaneki we're talking about."
"If you say so…"
"Well I gotta go. We can catch up once I know my work hours".
"Alright later".
Bella stuffed her cell phone into her bag as she entered the café. Unfortunately her sleep deprived brain had somehow failed to register the small step leading up to the door, which sent her stumbling over the threshold, and colliding headlong with something that felt distinctly like a person. Grabbing for the doorframe in an attempt to slow her decent, she collapsed in a heap on the floor at the feet of whatever poor individual had been unlucky enough to be leaving the store as she bumbled through the front door.
"Ah! I'm so sorry!" Bella quickly apologised to whoever she'd nearly bowled over as she picked herself up off the ground. Silently praying it wasn't someone she knew or regularly visited the establishment. "I should have been watching where I was going".
"hmm? That was quite the fall" a familiar soft spoken voice replied as she stood up. Sure enough she was standing face to face with the strange man from the mask studio. Her face turning a bright red as she realised that, to her embarrassment several of the staff including Kaneki and Touka had taken notice of her sudden appearance.
"Oh? Hello again". He said as he recognised her. "Fancy meeting you here".
"ah, hey" she said a little surprised to run into him so far from the Shinjuku. "What brings you to out this way?"
"Just visiting an old friend for some coffee, and making a quick delivery" he glanced over his shoulder and gestured toward Kaneki and Touka. Bella took note of the brown paper bag Kaneki had tucked under his arm as he wiped down the counter.
That makes sense I guess, the two of them must be friends of his.
"You two know each other Uta?" Touka, who had been watching their exchange asked?
"Mmm. This young lady happens to be a valued customer, so you could say we know one another" he explained.
"Oh? That right?" Bella felt herself shrink as Touka's gaze shifted to her, her eyes narrowing as if trying figure her out.
"Uh, Yeah. I saw his store last weekend when I was shopping and couldn't resist".
"Though thinking back I don't believe I introduced myself, I'm Uta" he said giving a polite wave.
"Bella" she replied.
"Well then Bella, be sure to stop by the store some time" he said nonchalantly as he walked out onto the street. "You were such an excellent muse for my latest work, It would be a shame if you didn't at least get to at least see the result", the little bell on the door rang as it closed behind him.
"Hey I'll be just a second" Kaneki called out as Touka ushered him out the back. She took a seat at the counter while she waited.
"If I'm not mistaken" an unfamiliar voice spoke, "your drink of choice is the caramel latte". Bella turned around to face the gentleman who addressed her. He was an elderly man dressed in the same attire as the rest of the staff. Given his age she figured he was probably the owner of the café.
"Yes that's right" she replied a little surprised.
"I've always felt that it's important to remember the personal preferences my regular patrons" he explained. "And I think given how frequently you and that other young man stop by these days, I thought it time I learn yours". He made his way around the counter, grabbed a mug and started brewing a cup of coffee. "Kaneki should be out momentarily, in the meantime why don't I fix you something to drink while you wait". He said giving her a warm smile.
"That'd be great thanks" she replied returning the gesture.
She was about halfway through what was probably the most delicious cup of coffee she had ever tasted by the time Kaneki returned.
"Hey, sorry about that" he apologised as he made his way over to where she was sitting.
"It's cool, your manager took care of my order." She said nodding in his direction.
"No Hide today?" he asked.
"He had to cancel" she answered shaking her head. "Looks like he managed to get a part time job"
"Huh, he never mentioned it" He said as he leaned against the counter.
"He only got the offer this morning. Hence why I'm here alone today."
"I see well, good for him."
"I bought that book you recommended the other day." She said casually. "The one by that author you like".
"Really? What did you think?" his demeanor visibly brightening.
"It's a pretty intense, not something I would normally read but I'm glad I picked it up"
"I know what you mean. Takatsuki's work is hard to put down."
The two continued to chat throughout the morning and before either of them realised how long they had been talking, it was nearing lunch and the store had starting to fill up.
"Hey!" Touka called out. "Breaks over. I need you clearing tables" She said chucking him a cloth.
"Oh right, coming!" he replied "I guess we lost track of time".
Bella looked up at the clock.
11:30
"I should probably be going now anyway" she said slinging her bag over back. "I've got some stuff to do anyway" Bella sat handed Kaneki the money for her coffee. "I was planning on visiting a friend of mine today anyway". It'd been almost a week since she'd heard from Haruko now and while she'd probably just been busy, she figured she should swing by and check up on her. If only to put her own mind at ease.
"Alright then I'll see you around".
"See ya!" she waved as she ducked out the door leaving Touka and Kaneki to their work. The duo waved back as they watched her disappear into the street.
"Well?" Touka turned to Kaneki expectantly.
"Uh, Well as far as I can tell she doesn't seem to know anything". He shrugged "I think she really is just one of his customers."
"Uhuh… she just happens to know Uta" Touka said clearly unconvinced. "Well whatever, the warning I gave you before still stands. If she or Hide get wind of us or what this place is…" she let the sentence hang in the air, the implication clear.
"It won't come to that!"
"Good" She let the subject drop. Satisfied that for now that at least this girl didn't seem to be an immediate threat. She'd lost enough loved ones already, and after what happed to Miss Fueguchi yesterday…
Dammit! Those doves were gonna pay for what they did!
And there you have it!
Next chapter we get to see whats up with Haruko and bella gets dragged further into the sordid world of ghouls living in the underbelly of Tokyo...
Again I'm really sorry it took so long but I got really stuck with it and ended up trying a bunch of things to get over my bout of writers block. I even tried transferring the entire story into a program I found called Y writer hoping it would help me organize my thoughts.
In the end though it turns out the easiest way for me to get the story out of my head is to just write it in chunks using pen and paper and then transferring it to a word document afterwards. Its a little strange but for some reason I just find it easier to write that way rather than staring at a blank word document for days at a time...
*sigh* writing stories is hard :-(... But really satisfying when I actually manage it :-D
Thank you to everyone who reviewed the last chapter while i was flailing about with this one! Ive got a good handle on the next chapter but since I said something along those lines last time too I shall make no promises.
