(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 14: Lily
In the Ikigami Industry, Sakuya was throwing files all over his office in a mad frenzy. Haruka tried to calm him down, but Sakuya threw a cup at her face. Haruka was crying as she ran out of the room. Sakuya managed to calm himself as he sank into his chair. The Moon Child had saved more people in a matter of two months, so Sakuya was no longer amused, but frustrated in a state of anger.
"Why isn't there a connection?" he screamed. He shoved a pile of files off his paper. He suddenly noticed a map of a district from one of the files and picked it up. As he stared at the map, he finally realized a connection. Sakuya smirked as he began to chuckle.
"The victims all appear around that area. Why didn't I see it before? The Moon Child is somewhere in that district."
Sakuya picked up his phone and dialed a number ready to report his findings in hope of finding the self proclaimed Moon Child.
One Sunday morning, Sasuke was in her room trying on different clothes. Sasuke stared in the mirror wearing a violet dress with frills.
"I wonder if I should wear this."
Sasuke suddenly heard a knock on her door causing her to jump. Sasuke regained her composure and said, "Come in." Yoshiro entered her room and saw her in the violet dress. Yoshiro blushed and asked, "What are you doing?" Sasuke blushed.
"I was trying to choose a dress for my date today."
Yoshiro gasped in surprise and said, "Since when? Is this another fake date?" Sasuke shook her head.
"It's not. I met this guy a long time ago. We were talking a lot on our phones and decided that we should see each other again."
Sasuke was blushing as she said this. Yoshiro noticed Sasuke's blush and frowned.
"So he's your boyfriend?"
Sasuke turned even redder than before. Sasuke placed a hand to her burning cheeks and said, "He's not my boyfriend." Yoshiro sighed.
"Whatever just enjoy your date," said Yoshiro in a huff and left the room. Sasuke wondered why Yoshiro seemed to be in a bad mood. Sasuke shook her head and looked back at the mirror.
I wonder if Riri will like this dress.
After coming to the conclusion to wear the violet dress, Sasuke went downstairs. Sasuke saw Mrs. Ohtori cooking breakfast and wished her a good morning. Mrs. Ohtori greeted her back.
"Where are you going this morning?" asked Mrs. Ohtori. Sasuke blushed and said, "I'm just going out with a friend." Tamaki, who was descending down the stairs, looked down at Sasuke and asked, "Is it your friend Erin?" Sasuke shook her head.
"Not this time," said Sasuke cheerfully. Tamaki raised an eyebrow wondering who she was going out with. Yoshiro appeared behind Tamaki startling him and said, "Sasuke is going out with some nameless guy." Tamaki and Mrs. Ohtori were shocked.
"Is that true?" asked Tamaki in shock. Sasuke shook her head and said, "He has a name."
"So it is a guy?" asked Mrs. Ohtori with interest in her voice. Sasuke blushed and nodded. Yoshiro and Tamaki had annoyance clearly on their faces.
There was suddenly a knock on the door making Sasuke perk up.
"That must be him," said Sasuke happily. Sasuke was about to run to the door, but Mrs. Ohtori ran pass her. Mrs. Ohtori smiled back at Sasuke and said, "I want to see for myself who this young man is." Sasuke nodded with a smile.
Mrs. Ohtori went to the door, while Tamaki and Yoshiro went into the kitchen with Sasuke. Mrs. Ohtori opened the door with a bright smile.
"Welcome to our…"
Mrs. Ohtori felt her heart almost stop when she saw the newcomer at the door. Riri's eyes widen at the sight of Mrs. Ohtori.
"You," said Mrs. Ohtori in shock. Riri scratched the back of his head uneasily.
"I came to pick up, Sasuke," said Riri with nervousness behind his voice. Mrs. Ohtori was speechless.
"Riri."
Riri smiled when he saw Sasuke approach them. Sasuke looked at Mrs. Ohtori, who was silent, and said, "This is Riri Kinomoto, my friend." Mrs. Ohtori looked at Sasuke with wide eyes making Sasuke confused.
"He's your friend?" asked Mrs. Ohtori with her voice shaking. Sasuke nodded.
Sasuke noticed the uneasiness in Mrs. Ohtori's voice and asked if she was all right. Before Mrs. Ohtori could speak, Riri grabbed Sasuke's hand and said, "Let's hurry before the movie starts." Sasuke nodded as she left with Riri. Sasuke waved back at Mrs. Ohtori and said, "I'll be back tonight."
When Sasuke and Riri were gone, Yoshiro and Tamaki approached Mrs. Ohtori from behind. Yoshiro crossed his arms and asked, "Was that him?" Mrs. Ohtori remained silent.
"Are you all right, mom?" asked Tamaki noticing Mrs. Ohtori's silence. Mrs. Ohtori placed a hand to her mouth shaking.
"That man…"
"What about him?" asked Yoshiro. Mrs. Ohtori looked at Yoshiro with fear in her eyes.
"He was the one who delivered the Ikigami for you," admitted Mrs. Ohtori. Yoshiro and Tamaki were shocked.
An Ikigami Industry employee?
Sasuke and Riri went to the movies together hand in hand. Sasuke looked at Riri and asked, "So what movie are we seeing?"
"'Flower Promise,' it's supposed to be a great movie."
Sasuke giggled and said, "I heard that it was a romance movie." Riri blushed at her words.
Riri paid for the tickets and then went inside with Sasuke. When they were inside, Sasuke and Riri chose two empty seats next to each other. The movie began to roll after a few minutes. As the movie played Sasuke paid attention to the flower the main character of the movie always looked at. The flower reminded her of the letters she received from Lily. Sasuke smiled making Riri look at her.
"Is the movie good?"
Sasuke nodded and said, "It reminds me of Lily." Riri blushed at her statement and continued to watch the movie. Riri then placed his hand on top of Sasuke's. Sasuke blushed at the contact and held his hand too.
After the movie, Sasuke and Riri went into a restaurant and ordered ice cream sundaes. Sasuke ate her ice cream silently with Riri watching.
"You mentioned Lily during the movie, so have you finally met him?" asked Riri. Sasuke shook her head.
"I only receive letters, but I do want to see him someday."
Sasuke had a look of longing in her face as she spoke those words. Riri smiled at her and said, "I bet that someday, you'll meet him when he is willing to finally tell you the truth."
"What?"
Riri gasped and said, in a fast pace, "Let's finish eating so we can see that shop you wanted to visit." Sasuke nodded as she placed a spoonful of ice cream in her mouth.
After having a small meal, Sasuke and Riri walked down the sidewalk. Riri looked at Sasuke and asked, "So what shop are we going to?"
"Kawaii Shop, my friend Momiji owns it," replied Sasuke. Riri had a look of worry when he heard this.
They soon reached the shop. Sasuke opened the door with Riri behind her.
"Momiji?"
Momiji didn't seem to be in sight as Sasuke entered the shop with Riri. Sasuke was confused.
"Where is he?"
Sasuke heard a small scream and looked toward the candy area. Nanato was on the ground with lollipops covering him.
"Kudou-San?"
Nanato pushed the lollipops half way off him and looked at Sasuke with a bright smile.
"Hey Sasuke, here for a new dress?" asked Nanato happily. Sasuke giggled.
"I actually came to visit this time. Where is Momiji?"
Nanato pointed toward the back and said, "He's in the back working on another lovely item." Nanato seemed to flinch when he said he. Sasuke smiled and asked, "Have you finally accepted his gender?" Nanato nodded with uneasiness.
"I'm actually still shocked, but oh well," said Nanato. Sasuke giggled.
"Is he OK?" asked Riri. Sasuke nodded with a smile. Nanato froze when he heard Riri's voice. He looked up at Riri and stumbled back.
"Kudou-San?"
Nanato was completely frozen as he looked at Riri. Sasuke repeated Nanato's name. Nanato jumped to his feet and ran to the back room. Sasuke looked in the direction Nanato went in confusion.
"What's wrong with him?"
The door to the back room suddenly opened revealing Momiji with a measuring tape over his shoulders. He smiled when he saw Sasuke.
"Welcome Sasuke."
Sasuke nodded at Momiji and asked, "So Kudou-San ran to the back to get you?" Momiji nodded and said, "He seemed frightened though."
Momiji suddenly spotted Riri and felt his heart nearly stop. Sasuke noticed Momiji looking at Riri and said, "This is my new friend, Riri Kinomoto. I wanted you to meet him." Momiji was completely silent as he stared at Riri.
"You."
Riri placed a finger to his lips trying to tell Momiji not to say anything. Sasuke looked at Momiji and asked, "Do you know, Riri?" Momiji shook his head and said, in a shaky voice, "I must be mistaken."
Momiji regained his composure and offered Sasuke a new dress. Sasuke smiled and said, "I'll buy it next time." Momiji nodded and watched as Sasuke and Riri left the shop together. He saw Riri place his hand on Sasuke's hand and clenched his hand.
"Why is Sasuke with that man?"
Sasuke and Riri went to the park next. Sasuke played with the pigeons that flew to her. Sasuke held a pigeon gently and showed it to Riri.
"Isn't it cute?" asked Sasuke. Riri nodded petting its head with his small finger. Sasuke allowed the pigeon to fly into the sky with a bright smile on her face.
Sasuke then looked back at Riri and asked, "Do you know Momiji by chance?" Riri shook his head.
"It was my first time meeting him," stated Riri. Sasuke giggled.
"How did you know Momiji is a man when he was wearing a dress?"
Riri blushed and said, "I could tell." Sasuke shook her head. She placed a finger against his forehead and said, "Don't lie to me. I could tell that Momiji knew you by first glance. I also suspect that Mrs. Ohtori and Kudou-San knows you too by their reaction. So tell me the truth."
Riri sighed in defeat and said, "I didn't want to tell you, but I met them during my work time." Riri then pulled out a card from his pocket. On the card were his picture and the Ikigami Industry logo.
"I work for the Ikigami Industry as a deliverer," admitted Riri. Sasuke stared at the card with wide eyes. Riri placed the card back in his pocket.
"I wanted to tell you my true line of work later on. I'm sorry if this makes you feel uncomfortable, but please don't leave me because of this."
Sasuke stared at Riri and suddenly remembered her dead parents. She clenched her hand and asked, "How long have you worked for them?"
"For almost thirteen years."
Sasuke thought back to the day she saw her parents the day before they died. How they opened the door and were presented with an Ikigami that she didn't recognize before. She remembered the deliverer and felt tears escape from her eyes.
"It was you, wasn't it?"
"What?"
Sasuke wiped her tears and said, "It was you who came to my parents and presented the Ikigami thirteen years ago." Riri nodded clenching his fist.
"I didn't know that they had such a young daughter at that time, but it was my job," said Riri. Sasuke was crying with her hands against her face.
"Why did you have to be the deliverer?" cried Sasuke. Riri watched Sasuke cry and then approached her. He hugged her to his chest trying his best not to cry.
"I'm sorry for your parents' death. I know I never placed the Nano Pill in them, but I did feel responsible. That's why I always kept watching you."
Sasuke stopped sobbing and looked up at Riri with tears still in her eyes.
"Watching me?"
"It was all I could do, so I just wrote letters to you and gave half of my paycheck to support you."
Sasuke absorbed his words and came to a realization.
"Lily?"
Riri nodded and said, "I didn't want to tell you until the truth was known." Riri hugged her tighter as tears began to escape from his eyes.
"It always made me happy when you smiled at those letters, but I knew they would never bring your parents back."
Sasuke was silent as Riri hugged her. Sasuke then hugged him making him look down at her.
"The Ikigami destroyed my family, but it allowed me to see your letters. Your letters were the reason why I am alive today. Without them, I would have died."
Sasuke looked at Riri with tears running down her cheeks and said, "I don't blame you for my parents' death, so don't send those letters anymore." Riri nodded. Sasuke stood on her tip toes and kissed him on the lips.
Sasuke pulled away from a shocked Riri and said, "Just stay with me forever." Riri smiled and nodded. Riri pulled her into a deep kiss allowing his troubles to leave him.
Sasuke and Riri headed back to her home hand in hand. Riri looked at her and asked, "How will your brothers react when they learn that we are officially dating?" Sasuke sighed.
"I have no idea, but I hope they accept you."
When they reached Sasuke's home they opened the door slowly.
"I'm home!" announced Sasuke. Yoshiro, Tamaki, and Mrs. Ohtori ran straight to the door. Yoshiro yanked Sasuke away from Riri glaring at him.
"What are you doing?" asked Sasuke in surprise. Tamaki looked at Sasuke and said, "Don't trust this guy. He's working for the Ikigami."
"He was the one who delivered Yoshiro's Ikigami," added Mrs. Ohtori in concern. Sasuke sighed and said, "I already know." Tamaki, Yoshiro, and Mrs. Ohtori looked at her in surprise.
"You know?"
Sasuke nodded and stated, "Riri told me everything. He was also the one who delivered the Ikigami to my parents, but I want to stay with him."
"Why?" asked Yoshiro in surprise. Sasuke pulled away from Yoshiro's embrace and walked to Riri. She held Riri's hand tenderly and stated, "Because he is my darling Lily and I love him." Riri blushed at the statement.
Yoshiro clenched his fist and ran upstairs. Tamaki was just as shocked. Sasuke reached out to Tamaki and asked if he was all right. Tamaki slapped her hand away screaming, "Traitor!" Tamaki ran up the stairs. Sasuke clenched Riri's hand.
"I hurt them didn't I?"
Mrs. Ohtori smiled at Sasuke and said, "They are just boys, so don't worry." Sasuke looked at Mrs. Ohtori and asked, "Aren't you mad too?" Mrs. Ohtori shook her head.
"He was the one who kept you smiling all these years, so be forever happy."
Sasuke smiled and kissed Mrs. Ohtori on the cheek.
"Thank you…mom."
Mrs. Ohtori smiled with tears in her eyes. Mrs. Ohtori looked at Riri and said, "You better make her happy. If I find out you made her cry, then I will hunt you down." Riri nodded and hugged Sasuke.
"I will protect her forever."
Sasuke blushed and hugged Riri back.
Riri's cell phone suddenly rang making him groan. Riri picked up his phone with an unhappy look. Riri nodded and hung up. He looked at Sasuke and said, "I got a call from work, so I have to go."
"Another Ikigami?"
Riri nodded and added, "This will be the last I deliver. Tomorrow I am resigning." Sasuke smiled and kissed Riri on the lips.
"Come back soon."
Riri nodded and left her house. Mrs. Ohtori smiled at Sasuke and said, "He's a good man." Sasuke nodded and suddenly remembered the bracelet he was wearing. She remembered making a bracelet when she was six and giving it to the deliverer without knowing who he was and giggled.
He was always my knight.
Riri entered the Ikigami Industry, which was flooding with employees. One of the employees looked at Riri and asked, "Where were you?"
Riri groaned and said, "Enjoying my day off until you guys called me." The employee laughed.
"Well all the deliverers were busy, so we just decided to call you."
Riri pouted and began to make his way to the main office. Riri entered the office and saw an elderly man at the desk.
"So where am I going this time?" asked Riri angrily. The elderly man smirked and held the folder at Riri.
"You only have one delivery."
Riri nodded as he took the folder. He looked at the elderly man and said, "This will be my last. I want to quit the Industry." The elderly man was shocked.
"Why?"
Riri smiled and said, "I have my reasons." The elderly man shook his head and said, "Well it will be a great lost to us, but good luck." Riri nodded and then opened the folder. Riri's eyes widen.
"Is this right?" asked Riri. The elderly man nodded and sighed.
"It really is sad. That student would have been a great employee to us."
Riri's hands were shaking. The elderly man looked at Riri confusingly.
"Is something wrong?"
Riri shook his head as he closed the folder. He bowed to the elderly man and said, "I'll do my delivery." The man nodded and watched Riri leave the room.
Riri walked down the hall like a zombie. He walked outside nonstop until he reached the front step of a house that he was all too familiar with. He knocked on the door. The door opened revealing Mrs. Ohtori.
"Back again?" asked Mrs. Ohtori. Riri looked at Mrs. Ohtori with glazed eyes.
"Kinomoto-San?"
Riri was completely silent. Sasuke peeked from inside the kitchen when she saw Riri.
"Riri," cheered Sasuke as she ran to him. She hugged him and asked, "Why are you here again?" Riri was silent making Sasuke confused.
"Is something wrong Riri?" asked Sasuke. Sasuke looked at Mrs. Ohtori for an answer, but she didn't know the reason for Riri's silence.
Riri gulped and held the folder to Sasuke.
"This is for Sasuke Mura," said Riri with his voice beginning to shake. Sasuke took it and opened the folder. Sasuke's eyes widen when she saw a card with her picture and a time of death for tomorrow. Mrs. Ohtori gasped with both hands against her mouth.
"Ikigami?"
Riri burst into tears and fell to his knees in front of Sasuke apologizing repeatedly. Sasuke stared at the card with seriousness in her eyes.
Sasuke Mura
Time of death: 11:00 P. M. Monday