BANG! I'm back with...Chapter Five!!!!!!! DADADADAAAAAA!!!!! ^^ THANK YOUS go to: XxCrimsonXXAngelxX, Azura Soul Reaver, xXGoody Not-So-Great MeXx, Diabolus Kara
Katsuko fidgeted in her seat as land finally came into view again. Matt sat patiently beside her, his thumbs moving furiously over his Game Boy buttons and Mello quietly crunched into a chocolate bar in the seat behind her. Matsuda was asleep and Katsu peered out the plane's window to watch the puffy, white clouds beneath them float by the plane.
"I take it you're not one for flying?" Matt asked and the red head shrugged.
"Not really, I'm afraid of heights, but it's the only way to get to Italy from Japan," Katsuko said and shivered.
"Bad experience or something?" Mello asked and propped his elbows on the back of her seat, the chocolate bar dangling from his mouth.
"Well, not exactly, but my dad was in the army once and his plane crashed in the middle of the ocean when he was coming back home from training. I forget why since he never had to go into battle but still, ever since I heard that my dad could have died from that, I haven't been very fond of planes," Katsu looked out the window and then shuddered before crouching lower into her seat.
"We're almost there anyway, so just hang in there," Mello said and rubbed the top of her head with his gloved hand making strands of her scarlet hair stand up from the static.
"About another hour," Katsu grumbled to herself and Matt shut off his game.
"I'm hungry," he said and Katsu rubbed her forehead.
"You're always hungry Matty," she teased and Matt shrugged before pulling a red apple out of his bag.
"Yeah, right," he muttered as he bit into it and Katsuko plugged her head phones in to listen to her Avril Lavigne CD as the plane continued over the vast landscape.
An Hour Later...
"Land!" Katsuko breathed as she stepped off the plane finally and inhaled the sweet Italian air.
"I wouldn't so comfortable right now since we're just getting Akasuki and then getting right back on," Mello said and Katsu's stomach knotted.
"Oh fun," she mumbled sarcastically and picked up her suitcase as Matsuda, Mello and Matt followed her to get a cab.
"The plan is we split up and basically search for Akasuki, right?" Matsuda said and Katsu nodded.
"Two of us will stay at the hotel and search for her home or something, it has to be listed in the phone book, then someone will come with me to look around the local area," she replied and Mello flagged down a taxi.
"I'll go with Katsu," he said and no one protested.
"That's fine with me," the red head told him and stuck the luggage in the trunk before sliding in next to Mello.
"We're going to the Buonanotte Hotel right?" Matt asked and Katsu nodded.
"Yes, rooms seven and eight."
"Gotcha."
Katsu pulled the door shut and the taxi driver started to cruise around the crowded streets of Florence Italy. The towering, red roofed buildings slowly passed out the window as Katsuko carefully absorbed the beautiful surroundings. The driver started over a bridge that spread magnificently across a wide, sparkling river. Katsuko rolled down her window and stuck her head out, letting the warm, sweet wind ripple her hair, making it flow behind her.
She kept her golden brown eyes on the look out for Akasuki, who was no where to be found and then leaned out even more, one arm over the side of the car, elbow bent.
"Hey, you're going to fall out if you lean out anymore," Mello said and grabbed a hold on her belt loop.
"It's just so beautiful in Italy, I have to see everything," she said and Mello sighed.
"We have a job remember?"
"I know, I'm looking for Akasuki," Katsu said, irritated with Mello's lack of enthusiasm toward their surroundings.
After another half hour of cruising around in the cab, Katsuko sat back in her seat and let the warm wind puff into her face. She kept her eyes open and alert for the young brunette, but had no luck.
"You know, I'm beginning to think she went back to Japan," Mello said and Katsu chewed her lower lip.
"She better not have. This would have been for nothing," she said and then spotted waist long brown hair.
"Hey, isn't that her?"
"How convenient, sir, please pull over," Katsu said and the taxi driver nodded then obeyed.
Katsuko unfastened her seat belt as the cab came to a stop. Akasuki kept walking, her brown hair gliding gracefully behind her. It was up in its familiar ponytail and Katsuko immediately called out to her.
"Akasuki!"
The brunette turned around, her forest green eye searching the crowd for the person that had called to her.
"Akasuki!" Katsuko called again and opened the door before ducking out.
"Hirota-senpai?"
"Iwasaki-san!" Katsuko paged again and took a step towards her friend.
No way, it can't be! Katsuko, here...but why?
Akasuki blinked several times but the image of the lovely red head remained where she was. The scarlet waves cascaded down her slim back, the white, long sleeve shirt covered by an ebony vest decorated with vertical, skinny, white stripes. The black capris and silver heels, all so familiar, and Akasuki slowly approached Katsuko.
"Hirota-senpai," she breathed and Katsuko smiled warmly before pulling her into a sister like hug.
"How have you been, Iwasaki-san?"
"Katsuko," was all the brunette could say.
At the Hotel...
"Oh wonderful, as if the Kira Case wasn't bad enough, now you've got some serial killer after you. That's just great," Akasuki moaned and flopped down on the red couch.
"What we need to know is who this "L" is. My hunch is he's really this insane killer or L's spirit, which sounds crazy but I do happen to believe in the supernatural," Katsuko said and Mello gave her a look that screamed "It's Official, You Have Lost Your Mind".
"I guess being a spirit isn't a total out on possibilities, but it's pretty far fetched Katsu," Akasuki said and Katsuko shrugged.
"I know it is but still, something is telling me it's not totally impossible," she said and Akasuki put her finger to her lip.
"So this is where I come in right? In order for anything to be confirmed then I need to see a life span."
"Exactly, and if he doesn't have a life span and if you can't see him, then he is a spirit. If it's the opposite, then, it's the nut case," Matt said and Matsuda loosened his tie.
"When we find out for sure, then I guess we take him down. But if it is just a spirit as Katsu considers, then what do we do?"
"I'll just play Medium for a bit and figure out what it is L wants to tell me," Katsuko said and started to braid her hair, her thoughts flooding into her already congested mind.
"Do you have that letter with you still Kat?" Mello asked from the other side of the room and she nodded.
"Yeah, I brought it along in case we would need it."
"Well if my memory isn't failing me then this guy knows who and where you are plus what you look like," Mello said and Katsuko sat down on the couch next to Akasuki, pulling her knees up to her chest.
"He doesn't know I'm in Italy right now though, plus we just alerted the police just hours ago so it's not like he has it easy right now. I gave the force an exact description of this guy and now that we have Akasuki with us, this should be rather simple. If this person really is L's spirit trying to warn me of something then, like I said before, I play medium for a while and find out what's going on. If it's not L's spirit then, as Matsuda said, we take him down. A few tazers in the side never hurt anyone," Katsuko grinned mischievously and everyone else in the room sweat dropped.
"Really Katsuko?" Matt rolled his eyes as his best friend shrugged her shoulders.
"Well, it's true," Katsu said and Akasuki cleared her throat.
"Now that we have this all situated, I say we all get some sleep and then head back to Japan within the next three days so we aren't delaying," she said and Katsuko stood up.
"Alright then, Matt and Mello, you two are across the hall in room seven, Matsuda, Akasuki and I will stay here," she said and Mello stretched.
"Whatever you say boss," he taunted and Katsuko glared at him then couldn't help a smile spreading across her face.
"Good night all," Matt said and gave Katsuko a light pat on the head before departing, Mello following.
"I'm going to go to bed as well if there isn't anything you'd like me to do Katsuko," Matsuda told her and she shook her head.
"You've done enough today Matsu, get some sleep," Katsu said.
"Alright then, thanks and good night ladies," Matsuda exited and closed the bedroom door quietly, leaving Katsuko and Akasuki alone in the sitting room.
"Hirota-senpai, what are your real intentions for me?" Akasuki asked once they were both positive Matsuda was asleep or at least not listening.
Katsuko felt taken aback and she sat back down, her golden brown eyes full of astonishment.
"What do you mean?"
"Well, for one thing I completely betrayed you during the Kira Case, causing you all that pain and abandoning you when you needed me the most. I killed L for God's sake and helped Kira in so many ways, that I didn't think you'd even think of me again. Even after all you did for me, during my drug problem, school issues, after my mother died, and so many other times, you were always there Katsu. You were one person that never gave up on me, not once. I know you never stopped believing in me, and even after how you took care of me like I was your sister, I turn around and throw knives at you. How in the world were you able to forgive me after all I threw away?" Akasuki asked and her eyes were distant and depressed as Katsuko studied her.
She thought of what to say for a moment, and then just smiled.
"I did all that because I love you, Akasuki. Even though you really did hurt me, I forgive you for it. You're the truest friend I have ever had, and you were always there for me too, even if you didn't know it. You helped me in ways no one else could and gave me that acceptance I had always longed for. You were the first real friend I had ever made, and I want you to keep that title. I don't regret meeting you, and I am proud to call you my friend," Katsuko said and put her hand on Akasuki's head.
"Even after all that, you're still so proud to call me you're friend?"
"Yes, I cherish you very much Akasuki, and to be honest, my life just isn't the same without you. Yes, you made a big mistake, but you regret it and I can tell you're beating yourself up about it. It's okay now, I forgive you," Katsuko said and hugged her, "everything is going to be fine."
Akasuki felt tears form in her eyes as she began to hug Katsu back. She felt as if a weight had been lifted off of her and thrown into the deepest part of space, never to return. The familiar feelings of the sisterly bond between the two women returned and seemed to blossom even more. Akasuki clung to Katsuko like a little sister and felt as if Katsu was truly her older sister, trying wit everything she had to protect the petite brunette in her arms.
"I'll never hurt you again, Katsuko," Akasuki promised and Katsu smiled.
"It's okay, I forgive you, because I love you, like a little sister," she whispered and Akasuki closed her eyes, feeling the pleasant atmosphere wrap around her as she started to drift off to sleep.
Well, I finally decided to update! I have been working on my Vampire Knight and Code Geass fan fictions, which no one is reviewing for either now, and it's really pissing me off. XD Just saying, I need reviews. No reviews, no story. You guys know how I am with that. XD Anyway, five reviews before the next update please!! :D I hope you enjoyed this and thank you for bearing this slow update. I keep getting distracted...): Forgive me. Bye for now!!
~SilverNightRain08