Recovery: First Step
Another death anniversary passed and it was if it was still yesterday when Itsuki was spared of his life when the former spirit detective, Shinobu Sensui, allowed him to watch the last episode of the drama series he was watching.After hours of holding Shinobu's lifeless body in his arms, Itsuki decided to lay him in a more solemn area in demon world.
Shinobu at least deserved to be buried six feet below the ground, in the soil of the world he worked so hard to reach, because nothing and no one else would care for him. Back in the human world, Itsuki attempted to even contact Shinobu's so-called father, and a couple of friends, but only received indifference, like they all moved on with their lives as if he never existed.
And so even if it was not a death anniversary, Itsuki would spend the day by his lover's grave, consoling himself of good times, so what is he doing here infront of a coffee shop in the human world?
A few times, a younger Shinobu have boasted the coffee, the ambience, and the location of this place. Years together, and not once did Itsuki take his word for it, and that invitation was never accepted only because it seems that the time spent in this place seems sacred.
Well Shinobu, I'm about to find out why you used to love this place so much.
He then entered the cafe with a bell tinkling that had a young part-timer nearby welcome him.
Itsuki nodded to at least acknowledge the effort, then went straight to fall in line.
As he waited for the two customers ahead of him to finish their orders, he looked around and still couldn't find anything out of the ordinary that would convince Shinobu to stay for quite some time here.
The service was subpar, and the place, borderline vintage to requiring a renovation, but for some reason Shinobu would come here every week by himself to endure the nuisance of chatty humans around for his ideal brew, and he would sit in for an hour of silence doing nothing.
This habit of his ended though when Shinobu saw the unforgiving nature of humanity through the Black Chapter. Perhaps thinking of the humans whose lives were about to close with his vengeful intentions, he didn't see the point anymore.
It was Itsuki's turn to order, but the young woman ahead of him wasn't leaving. Flustered, she was churning down inside her bucket bag that could probably have its own dimension there. Her short bobbed hair joined in the search with a bunch of strands dropping on her face partially covering her vision.
"I'm so sorry..." She said to the cashier, her voice shaken, her big round spectacles now crooked with her own fuss. "I don't have change... I only have a full bill."
The cashier already frowned, and seeing how hopeless this would seem if another minute passed, Itsuki stepped in.
"I apologize for this, but how much does this lady owe you?" he asked the cashier.
"Just 50 yen more." The cashier treated Itsuki more favorably.
Itsuki then took out a coin from his pocket and handed it to the cashier. "I hope this settles things."
"Of course." The cashier's frown unwrinkled at his customer's infectiously calm facade.
"S-sorry for the trouble..." said the woman more relieved realigning her glasses. "I'll pay you after I..."
"Don't worry about it." Itsuki smiled at her.
"What will you have, Sir?" The cashier asked as a receipt was being printed.
Itsuki crossed his arms in a thinking position, his fingers touching his chin trying to recall.
What was Shinobu's usual order again? Ahh yes...
"I'll have a cafe breve." he answered, and before he could even pay, a money bill swooshed ahead of the counter.
"C-can I pay for this man's coffee?" The woman thrusted the money an inch away from the cashier's chest more determined than ever that she won't have it any other way.
The cashier face slapped out of frustration with the delay this woman is causing.
Itsuki on the other hand, has never seen a woman so persistent over such a trivial matter. The motivation she is showing seems so naive, it was amost interesting.
"Perhaps it would be best not to keep the rest of the customers waiting." he said to the cashier still composed.
The woman's eyes brightened at him, then automatically switched to her stern face as she continued on pushing the money over the counter.
The cashier sighed then gave in and took the woman's cash. The woman beamed with triumph.
"Sorry. It's just that, I don't like owing anyone anything and I need a smaller bill for the bus." said the woman timidly sitting across the table. "I'll wait for my coffee and my change, then I'll go."
It didn't make any sense because she just spent more than she should.
Itsuki forced a faint smile trying to be polite, or more like, trying to be as human as he can despite not being up to entertaining anyone on what's supposed to be a day fully dedicated to Shinobu.
"Do you come here often?" she asked combing her short hair with her fingers.
"Not at all. I only happen to pass by because a friend recommended this cafe." he answered, somehow wishing her coffee to be served soon.
"Oh! Your friend has good taste. The coffee here is one of the best in the district." she said with much enthusiasm. "Why don't you visit this new one that just opened up at the corner of the shopping center a few blocks from here. I'm sure your friend would love it too."
"I can't. He already passed away." Itsuki shifted to the view of the playground through the window.
"Oh... I'm so sorry to hear that." she said hinting a regret that she shouldn't have said anything.
By then, a waiter served their coffee in cups.
"Sorry. I'm supposed to take mine out..." she said shyly.
"Oh... My apologies. We were told that you wanted to drink it here." said the waiter.
The woman peeked behind him, and Itsuki also glanced back, and from the counter, the cashier was glaring back at them.
"Ahh... You know what, I'll just drink it here as fast as I can." she said, then the waiter went off.
"Good coffee with a service that probably degraded over the years." Itsuki commented then went back to staring into an endless space through the window.
The young woman now stared unto his profile, and her stare became more of an admiration, of how he can be so beautiful, despite a heavy weight of loneliness shrouding him.
He must be remembering his friend... I should never have started a conversation...
"I'll be out of your hair in a few." she picked up her cup. "Here. Let me make a toast for your friend."
Itsuki now turned to her as she raised the cup with a beam.
"May his soul rest in a more comfortable world than this." then at the first gulp, she almost splurted out the coffee.
"Hot hot hot hot hot!!!" She put down the coffee then fanned herself with her hands.
The tip of Itsuki's lips curved up over the irony of how a grown woman being so childish. "Are you like this on a normal day?"
"Sorry!" she crouched of embarrassment. "I thought you looked sad because I reminded you something about your friend..."
"I'm sure my friend appreciates the toast." This girl wouldn't probably make such a kind gesture if she knew the kind of hatred Shinobu had towards her, and every other human still living at this age.
"Forgive me, but aren't you supposed to be somewhere else?" he reminded her.
"You're right! Let me just finish this." she said and held on the cup against her lips, blowing off the steam, then moved her attention to the playground through the wide window sill.
Her eyes opened with so much wonder that it made her pause for a moment.
Puzzled about it, Itsuki tried to scan the playground, but nothing was there, except for a group of little kids wearing capes.
They seem to be trying to re-enact a scene from a show, and they were all going down the slide, but the last boy seems to be scared.
The other kids were cheering for the boy, and after a moment of encouragement, he finally sat down and let himself slide down reaching the end to meet his friends. They all jumped celebrating like they have all won a huge prize.
Itsuki heard a giggle. He looked over to the woman infront of him who shared the same amusement as the kids.
"Well done..." she whispered in delight before sipping unto her coffee, and she continued to observe the same kids who are now playing in the sandbox.
"Apart from the coffee, I've also loved the view from here. Maybe that's why this place was recommended to you." she said.
"I'm not sure." Itsuki traced the rim of his own coffee cup. "He died having so much hatred towards humanity."
"That sounds so grimm..." she said with depreciation, almost as if upset, but then she sighed then stirred unto her coffee to let out the steam faster. "I don't blame your friend though... Humans are complex by nature... but looking at everything out there, it reminds you that there's so much good left in this world. It's too bad that one or two men ruin it for the rest of us."
She let a moment pass again before she had another sip, and while it was short, Itsuki felt this familiar serene atmosphere. It grew an old feeling that has been tucked in his subconscious for so long, that he couldn't contain it.
What did she remind him of? Itsuki attempted to gather his memories, and then...
Ahh yes... The pure white innocence of a fallen snow...
Similar to Shinobu's when they first met, and if he had to specify, it was that of Naru's, the feminine side of Shinobu, his favorite personality out of the seven.
The woman now chugged unto her cup. "Anyway, thank you for bearing with me. I'll be off now." She stood up and wore her coat, then put on her bag by the shoulder. "Enjoy the rest of the day."
"Right back at you." he said casually.
"Hey... Would you like to pop by an art gallery opening tomorrow?" she opened her bucket bag again then handed him a folded flyer which he accepted. "That's the last copy, but they'll allow you to enter for free when you show it. Just mention my name. It's at the bottom of the flyer."
Itsuki opened the paper, and at the bottom, a name spelled out: Yui Takahashi
Snippets of artwork were on the ad, and he pretended to at least be interested, until one image struck him.
One of the frames contained a painting of a young man who looks so much like Sensui. His index finger touched on the image. It was the same Sensui he met for the first time.
"Do you know this person?" he pointed and the woman hovered to his side to check.
"Oh yes. He used to be my classmate in high school. He always had that look back then, so I painted him." she tugged her hair behind her ear blushing.
"What was his name?" Itsuki asked.
"Sensui." she answered. "Shinobu Sensui."
"I wish I could get in touch with him... but I guess even if I could, he wouldn't remember me. Anyway..." She shrugged avoiding the topic and extended her arm for a handshake. "I wasn't able to catch your name. I'm Yui Takahashi."
Itsuki stood up and shook her hand. "Itsuki... Yamamoto"
He almost forgot his fake human name. Then again, it has been years since he had this much interaction with a human.
"Great to meet you, Yamamoto-san. I hope to see you tomorrow." She didn't give him a chance to answer anymore as she briskly walked to the door. She had one last look at him who was still watching her. She bowed her head to him all red, then rushed out.
Itsuki was left speechless analyzing if this encounter had any meaning.
He returned to his seat, and flattened the flyer on the table. Come to think of it, Shinobu never liked having his pictures taken, especially when it's candid like how he is in this painting.
But then, if he was still alive, he would be fascinated with what this cafe has to offer...
Outside, apart from the children playing, a toddler just tripped on the sandbox which made him bawl until a woman, which Itsuki presumes to be the mother, cuddled him up in her arms for comfort.
On the other corner a father was shuffling a little boy's head, laughing together as they shared a bag of snacks.
There was also a high school boy offering to help an old woman carry her groceries.
If Shinobu didn't tip over the edge, he might have liked this.
And he would most likely be annoyed over this painting, but still...
"Shinobu, it seems like I'm not the only one who still remembers you..."
Itsuki had a satisfied look, and he stayed in the cafe in silence until the cafe breve was fully consumed.
Author's Note:
I was watching Yuyu Hakusho in its subbed version, and suddenly got the urge to write this so fast, I finished it in a couple of hours.
I am leaving this with an open ending, 'cause I don't know when I'll be able to update again, but I'll continue when inspiration strikes again.
Thanks for reading!