(Disclaimer: Ikigami manga belongs solely to Mase Motoro, but Sasuke Mura and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. The story is just based on the plot line of the manga. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)
Chapter 7: Strawberries
In an office, Sakuya was looking through some files in the computer. On the computer screen was a picture of Natsumi Sato with her information on the side. He smirked and said, "So the Moon Child saved this girl this time." Sakuya looked through Natsumi's information.
"No connections with the first person, so how does the Moon Child choose people?" Sakuya asked himself. Sakuya was puzzled, but at the same time interested.
Sasuke sat in her desk listening to the teacher's lecture. Sasuke took down notes in her notebook, but paused when she saw a piece of paper land on her desk. She opened it up and read it.
Are you free today?
Sasuke smiled knowing full well who wrote the letter. She wrote a quick note and tossed it to Erin's desk. Erin opened the note.
I was planning to do some errands today, but we can hang out again around next week.
Erin gave a pout and tossed Sasuke a new note. Sasuke read the note a prevented herself from laughing.
I refuse to sign the divorce papers, so hang out with me next Monday.
Sasuke nodded trying her best not to laugh. Erin smiled, but was suddenly hit on the head by a crumpled piece of paper. She unraveled it and cringed.
Mura-San has temporarily divorced you, so pay attention.
Erin looked up at Mr. Fujioka, who had his arms crossed, and mouthed "meanie" toward him with a glare. The rest of the class just snickered.
After class Sasuke exited the room quickly, and walked in a quick haste down the hall. Sasuke bumped into Shiro on the way out nearly causing her to fall over. Shiro held her arm to maintain her balance.
"Thank you, Takimura-San."
Shiro released her arm giving her a quick glare and walked pass her. Sasuke stared at his retreating back wondering if she did anything wrong. She suddenly remembered that the grades were posted up that day and sighed.
He must be second again.
Sasuke shook her head and continued on her way. She exited the institution and walked down the sidewalk. She spotted the big screen on a building and saw Sakura Child singing on stage. Sasuke smiled at the sight. She suddenly noticed the time and hurried down the sidewalk.
Sasuke soon reached home, where Mrs. Ohtori was cooking Matsusaka Beef.
"I'm back."
Mrs. Ohtori smiled at Sasuke welcoming her home. Sasuke walked to the table of the kitchen. She searched through the mail and then looked at Mrs. Ohtori.
"Do you know if a letter arrived?" asked Sasuke. Mrs. Ohtori nodded and answered, "I placed it in your room, so no one else would see it." Sasuke thanked her and ran up the stairs to her room.
Sasuke swung her door open and spotted a new envelope lying on her desk. She picked the envelope up and smiled when she saw that it was from "Lily" her supporter. She opened the envelope revealing the thousand dollars in cash and a single letter.
You grow more beautiful at each passing day. I hope that your outer beauty matches the pureness of your heart. Continue to pursue your dreams with beauty in your heart.
Lily
Sasuke blushed at the words and held the letter to her heart. She never heard or seen Lily, but she felt that he was the closest to her heart. She only rushed home to find the letter of Lily.
Sasuke placed the letter in her desk drawer with her other letters that she received from Lily through the years. She picked up the money and placed it in her wallet.
Sasuke decided to head to the bank to deposit the money, so she changed into a flower patterned shirt and a pair of jeans. She slipped her feet into a pair of violet flat shoes and headed out of her room.
When she reached the bottom, she saw Yoshiro walking in with his suitcase in hand.
"Welcome home, Yoshiro."
Yoshiro smiled at Sasuke greeting her back. He noticed Sasuke's bag over her shoulder and her clothes and asked, "Where are you going today?" Sasuke smiled.
"I'm going to the bank to deposit the money I received from Lily," said Sasuke happily. Yoshiro's smile seemed to fade as he uttered, "Lily?" Sasuke nodded.
"I always receive money from him every Friday."
Yoshiro sighed and said, "Well just come home before mom finishes dinner." Sasuke nodded and walked pass Yoshiro. Yoshiro noticed the smile on Sasuke's lips and knew that it was because of Lily's letter and not him.
Sasuke strolled down the sidewalk examining her surroundings. She suddenly spotted a small girl crying on the side and asked, "Are you OK?" The small girl looked at Sasuke with tear filled eyes. The small girl looked like a kindergartener with her petite features and pigtails in her hair.
"Ichigo was supposed to get a cake for mommy, but Ichigo tripped on the way home and dropped it. Then a big dog ate it all. Ichigo's mommy is going to be so angry when she finds out."
The small girl, known as Ichigo, was bawling. Sasuke smiled and placed a hand on the top of the girl's head. Ichigo looked at Sasuke confusingly.
"There's a bakery near here, so tell me what type of cake and we can buy a new one together," reassured Sasuke. Ichigo was still confused, but nodded as she took Sasuke's hand.
They headed into a bakery called "Mee-OH" and browsed through the sweets. Ichigo's mouth seemed to water as she looked at the many sweets. Sasuke smiled at the small girl thinking that she looked like herself when she was young and shopping with her parents. Sasuke kneeled down in front of Ichigo and said, "Let's get a cake for your mommy and we'll get you something too." Ichigo smiled and nodded.
Sasuke went to the counter of the bakery, where a young man in a brown apron was standing. Sasuke looked down at the small girl and asked, "What type of cake did you get before for your mommy?"
"Strawberry Chocolate cake."
Sasuke nodded and repeated Ichigo's words to the young man. The young man nodded and pulled out a chocolate covered cake with strawberries on top from the counter.
"This is the last cake of the day, so fifty dollars is the total," said the young man. Sasuke found it to be expensive, but she really needed it for Ichigo. Sasuke looked back down at Ichigo and asked, "I promised something for you too, so what will it be?" Ichigo thought awhile and spotted a slice of cheesecake with strawberry sauce on top.
"I would like that one," said Ichigo pointing at the slice. Sasuke nodded and ordered it to go. Sasuke remembered that she was heading to the bank, so she also ordered peach blossom buns and strawberry flavored cookies.
The young man entered in Sasuke's order in the register with the ordered items on the counter top. He looked at Sasuke and told her that it was eighty-two dollars all together. Sasuke nodded and opened her wallet. She handed him two hundred dollars and said, "The change is all yours." The young man was bug-eyed as he stared at the large sum of money.
Sasuke took her ordered sweets and left with the small girl. Sasuke handed the small girl the cake and the cheesecake slice in a box and said, "Be careful on your way home." Ichigo nodded and said, with a bright smile, "Thank you, Onee-Chan." Sasuke giggled as she watched the small girl walk off.
Sasuke looked at the sweets in her hand and continued down the sidewalk. She soon spotted the bank and walked through the doors. She smiled when she saw Allan sitting at his desk typing on his computer. She walked over to him and wished him a good evening.
Allan looked up from his computer and burst into a smile when he saw her standing before his desk.
"Sasuke, welcome back."
Sasuke nodded at him and sat in the chair in front of his desk. She pulled out eight hundred dollars from her wallet and handed it to Allan.
"I would like to deposit this, Count-San," said Sasuke. Allan nodded as he took the money. Allan quickly counted the money and said, "You usually have more than this." Sasuke giggled as she showed the bag of sweets to Allan.
"I spent some money today."
Allan shrugged and entered the amount into her account. He gave a nod and said, "You're all set." Sasuke smiled and then handed Allan the peach blossom buns.
"This is just a thank you for helping me all this time," said Sasuke. Allan blushed and took the present from Sasuke with a nod. Allan stared at the tasty present and then looked at Sasuke.
"Are you doing anything today?" asked Allan. Sasuke nodded and added, "I was planning to go shopping before heading home." Allan seemed disappointed.
"Then see you next Friday," said Allan. Sasuke nodded and was about to head out, but stopped in her tracks when she heard a man screaming from one of the desks. She looked in the direction of the screaming out of curiosity and saw a man around his twenties yelling at a bank teller.
"You bastard! I just want you to take the debt out of my account!"
"I'm sorry sir, but this debt isn't disappearing until you pay it in full."
"I can't pay that amount so remove it!"
"I'm sorry sir. Please come another day, when you aren't so hot headed."
The man growled and stormed out of the bank. Sasuke looked at Allan and asked, "Who is that man?" Allan sighed.
"His name is Goemon Kou. He's had a huge debt with this bank for a long while and it has increased through the years. That's what he gets for gambling, but you shouldn't bother with him."
Sasuke nodded and headed out the door.
Sasuke walked down the sidewalk, which was slowly getting covered in darkness by the night. She remembered the desperate look in the man wondering why he acted that way. Sasuke was lost in thought that she didn't notice that she was being followed.
Sasuke sensed the presence of a stalker in the last minute, but was too late to react as a large hand covered her mouth and held her arm down. Sasuke felt her heart race. She felt hot breath against her ear and the brush of hair.
"Give me all your money or I will snap your neck."
Sasuke clenched her hand when she heard his words. Sasuke grabbed his hand with her free hand and flipped him in the air causing him to scream. She slammed him on the ground and pinned him down with her weight. Sasuke glared at him and said, "There's no way I'm letting you rob me." Sasuke suddenly recognized her attacker as the yelling man from the bank or more precisely Goemon Kou.
Goemon gasped in pain and said, "I need the money." Sasuke twister his arm causing him to gasp in pain.
"What for?"
Goemon was beginning to cry under Sasuke's hold. Sasuke stared at Goemon and held his arm tighter. She activated her Soul's eye and saw the fast pace beating of Goemon's heart. She focused her attention on his pulmonary artery and saw a pulsing pill. Sasuke looked at Goemon seriously as he cried.
"Ikigami."
Goemon looked at Sasuke with tear filled eyes with confusion written all over his face. Sasuke released him allowing him to sit up still crying.
"When did you receive the Ikigami?" asked Sasuke. Goemon clenched his fist.
"This morning, but how do you know about the Ikigami?" asked Goemon. Sasuke sighed and said, "That will be hard to explain."
Sasuke adjusted her hair and asked, "So why do you need money, Kou-San?" Goemon looked down as he spoke not caring how she knew his name.
"I need money to pay off my debt. I want to pay it off before I die, so my family will have no worries."
"Your family?"
Goemon nodded and said, "My wife and daughter. We had a hard time living with my huge debt caused by my rebellious stage as a child, but tried our best. I worked countless jobs just to pay off my debt, but I haven't even created a dent. Now I am told I am going to die before I can pay it off."
Goemon looked at Sasuke with tear filled eyes and screamed, "I just want them to be happy!" Sasuke smiled and asked, "Your family is really important to you, but you know, if you succeeded in stealing from me and I reported it, then your family would be hated by society, have an even bigger debt than before, and would never live happily."
Goemon clenched his fist remembering the Ikigami law that if the person dying causing any disturbances, then they will be labeled as a bereaved family and given a huge debt that they would never be able to pay. Goemon bowed to Sasuke deeply begging her not to report him. Sasuke smiled.
"You did nothing, so don't worry."
Goemon sighed in relief. Sasuke then asked, "Won't you be able to pay off your debt with the given money from the government after your death?" Goemon sighed.
"I thought that too, but when I brought it up with my wife, she told me that she would never use death money."
Sasuke sighed and said, "Your wife sounds like a strong woman." Goemon smiled and said, "She is a strong woman. I first met her when I was still in high school. She worked in a bakery. She was older than me by five years. I was beaten that day because I didn't pay money back to a classmate. She beat up that student in front of me and paid him the money I owed. She then offered me a strawberry chocolate cake slice. It was at that moment that I fell in love. Even though I was debt ridden, she still agreed to marry me. We had my daughter and named her Ichigo. Ichigo always makes me smile." Goemon felt a tear escape from his eye.
Sasuke wiped his tear away and said, "You really love them." Goemon nodded and said, "They deserve to be happy." Sasuke remembered Goemon's screaming face in the bank and realized that the Goemon before her was the real him.
Sasuke removed a syringe from her bag and said, "Your family will be a lot happier with you around, Kou-San." Sasuke injected Goemon with the clear liquid. Before Goemon could react, he was out like a light. Sasuke picked him up easily with her two bags in hand and walked down the sidewalk toward a nearby hotel.
An hour had past when Goemon began to awaken from his slumber. He saw the ceiling of a room and sat up on the bed he was on. He looked around confusingly. He noticed the front of his shirt was open and buttoned it up. He suddenly remembered Sasuke and whispered, "What did she do to me?"
"Kou-San?"
Goemon gasped and turned around only to see Sasuke approaching him wiping her hand with a towel.
"You're that girl."
Sasuke nodded placing the towel on a side table. Goemon stared at Sasuke and asked, "What did you do to me?" Sasuke smiled.
"I saved you."
"What?"
"I removed the Nano pill from your heart, so now your death will not occur at the designated time."
Goemon placed a hand to his chest in disbelief.
"It's gone, just like that?" said Goemon. Sasuke nodded. Goemon gripped the front of his shirt crying.
"Kou-San?"
"I'm happy. I thought today would be my last day with my family," said Goemon. Goemon looked at her with tears in his eyes and a smile on his lips.
"Thank you."
Sasuke nodded and said, "I have one more thing to ask you." Goemon looked at her wondering what her question would be.
"How much?"
In the Kou residence, Ichigo was sitting on the table eating her cheesecake slice with a smile. She looked toward her mother, who was staring at the cake with sadden eyes.
"Mommy, when is daddy coming home?"
Ichigo's mother forced a smile and said, "Your daddy might not come home, darling." Ichigo was confused as she looked at her mother.
The door to their apartment suddenly opened revealing Goemon. Ichigo burst into a smile and ran to him. She embraced him calling him daddy. Ichigo's mother looked at him with wide eyes. Goemon hugged Ichigo and looked at his beautiful wife.
"Sorry I'm late, Uru."
Goemon's wife, known as Uru, burst into tears and hugged Goemon. Goemon hugged Uru too. He looked at the two most important people to him and said, "Let's have that special cake you guys promised me." They both nodded and dragged him to the table.
Goemon smiled when he saw the strawberry chocolate cake.
"Brings back memories," said Goemon happily. Uru nodded, while Ichigo was confused. Goemon looked back at them and said, "Tomorrow our problems will disappear." Uru was confused until she saw the large amount of cash in his hand along with a bag of strawberry cookies.
"How did you…"
Goemon chuckled as he remembered receiving the money and sweets from Sasuke with her moon shaped necklace dangling around her neck.
"It was given to me by my savior, the Moon Child."