Sorry if the last chap was kinda short. Christmas break was a break from school but not from the bustling house. My dear Luciana, my persocom (aka personal computer), had a tight schedule with so much demanding fans. Lol I hope this chap wont disappoint you.
Chapter 3: Confrontation with a Cup of Tea
"Muraki," Tsuzuki narrowed his eyes. He stood up at his approach, posed at any sudden movements. "I might have known." He glared at his nemesis outreached hand for a greeting. Muraki shrugged and moved towards the bedside. Racquel twitched from her sleep.
"I assumed you already had become acquainted with my patient," Muraki gave a nod at her direction. He took out his stethoscope and listened to her weak heartbeat.
"Just what do you think you're planning to do with this girl?" Tsuzuki whispered fiercely to Muraki, making sure that Martha was out of earshot.
"Why tending to my patient, what do you think doc? Surely you of all people know that," Muraki smiled. He took a syringe from the medicine cabinet. Golden liquid gleamed in the sun-lit room. Muraki gently tapped it. "That's my job as a family doctor."
"Your job? Or just a sidetracked scheme on stealing more souls?" Tsuzuki hissed.
Muraki stopped rubbing antiseptic on Racquel's arm. He looked at Tsuzuki, eyes burning intensely for a moment then replaced by two cold silvers. He resumed rubbing the cotton on her arm. "Maybe you haven't listened to Martha's tale. I would like to refresh your short-term memory with fresher facts over a cup of tea." He gently injected the serum to her body. "You do know what this would do her good, doctor."
"No, why don't you refresh me with it." Tsuzuki knew his playing with danger here but he can't just let him slip out of the case. He knew Muraki is somehow involved and he have to find out.
Muraki tilted his head in amusement. After taping the gauze, he motioned for Tsuzuki for the door, pausing to give Martha a nod of assurance before following suit.
The coffee shop was not far from the hospital. Furnished in old western style, the café look pleasantly inviting. Delicious hot coffee aroma perks up any incoming customers, which at this hour, only a handful of patrons were seen enjoying lounging around the comfortable sofas, drinking their favorite latte. One customer seemed to prefer tea, accompanied with sweet cake for his present appetite.
Taking a bite out of his strawberry shortcake, Muraki watched Tsuzuki idly stirring his now cold coffee for the last fifteen minutes. "Do you need sugar with those?"
Tsuzuki stopped toying with his spoon. He stared at him. "Let's just cut the crap and get this over with. Where's the girl?"
Muraki wagged a finger at him. "Tsk tsk. That's not nice to say, considering that I hold the answers to your problems."
"Fine." Tsuzuki gritted his teeth, asking, "Where do you think Rosaline Facquel could have gone, doctor?"
Muraki shook his head, smiling. "Do you know you looked beautiful especially when you're mad? Cute." He sat back in anticipation. "My dear Tsuzuki, you're not asking the right question. Where did you professionalism go, doctor?"
Muraki took a sip in his tea. "You should be careful with your words. Do you think that merely aggressively asking me would prompt me to be scared and tell? Child's play." He chuckled.
"So you admit, you know where she is."
"Did I?" Muraki idly pondered for a while. "No, I merely emphasis that you should be more wary of asking accusing questions before you had found the full details of the story."
Tsuzuki looked at Muraki's calm face and swore. Calming himself, he slowly mouthed out the "right" question, "Do you know anything about Rosaline's disappearance...doctor?"
Muraki smiled, pleased. "Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what you want to know."
"She was dead for three months. Why would she come back and then disappear?"
"Ahh...so you have been doing your assignment, or rather the department is good at doing it for you," Muraki teased. "Let's see if you can follow through on the rest of the juicy details. Yes, she was dead."
"So you knew about her death, why didn't Martha or her sister know? Did you want to prolong their suffering by hiding that fact?" Tsuzuki questioned angerily.
"Now that is where you are wrong. Didn't Martha explained to you what happened?" Tsuzuki nodded. "Then put those pieces together. I'm sure you would come up with an answer."
Tsuzuki pondered. Nothing seemed to be make any sense except that Racquel is sick because of Rosaline's disappearance. But why would she be affected by that, when Rosaline has been dead for months? Tsuzuki shooked his head in confusion. What did I miss? He looked at Muraki, puzzled.
"Do you know that twins have the amazing ability to subconsciously feel each other's feelings and even their state of mind? Fascinating trivia." Muraki began.
"Racquel is used to be the livelier of the two. Fun, fearless child of twelve. No sickness ever touched her skin. Rosaline on the other hand is the opposite. Quiet, reserved child, always seem to catch every colds or sickness in the air. Most unfortunate really. They were such an interesting pair."
Muraki tapped his cheek as he was lost in thought. He then turned to face Tsuzuki. "So tell me Doctor Tsuzuki, what do you think: of all those healthy years, why do you think Racquel suddenly become ill, and possibly dying, after her sister's disppearance when your report says Rosaline is been dead for three months?"
Tsuzuki considered about this strange new information. Muraki watched him and chuckled at his helplessness.
"You still don't get it, do you? The one you're looking for is not Rosaline...but her twin sister."
Wow. that sure had been an information packed chap...well not really. i sometimes get confused with the twins names and which is which. lol im sure you're excited to know whats next. hehe reviews pls?