PartXIII

Betrayed

A month passed and Brandon and I decided to schedule the wedding for the following summer of 2003. During this time I visited Ryuzaki as often as possible, and helped with cases as whenever I could. One evening, Brandon and I were sitting on the couch in our half of the divided house watching a movie, when my cell phone rang. My fiancé paused the movie as I stood to take the call. The number came up unknown. "Hello?"

It was Ryuzaki. "Kita, I need you to come over. It's urgent."

"Ok, I'll be there," I replied as I turned to Brandon. "I'll be back in an hour; there's a problem."

"Ryuzaki?" Brandon gave me that heartbreaking angel smile.

"Yeah. I'll be home soon." I kissed him on the lips, grabbed my purse, and left.

(Time Skip)

I arrived to find Wammy's in disarray; besides the silence that greeted me upon my arrival, there was a layer of dust on the stair rail. "Kita?" Ryuzaki called from somewhere upstairs.

"Yeah," I replied, "it's me."

No answer. So, I went upstairs to the detective's room to find him sitting on the futon I once slept upon. "Hi," I said as I placed my purse on his bed.

Ryuzaki nodded. "Kita."

"What do you need? What's wrong?" I sat by his side on the futon.

"Wammy's has recently had a death. When my original first successor found out Near was to replace him, he couldn't take the pressure of trying to surpass him again. So…"

I cut him off. "So he…" I paused and looked at Ryuzaki in horror.

"Committed suicide, yes," he finished silently and bowed his head. The detective's jet black hair fell over his lifeless eyes; I brushed it back from his face with my left index finger and then lifted Ryuzaki's chin to link his gaze with mine. I smiled halfheartedly.

"Maybe it's best that he didn't take your place then; the pressure could have been too great. These things happen, but I know you've made the right decision," I reassured him. Ryuzaki gave me a warm smile in return; it sent a wave of shock down my spine and I froze.

The detective frowned. "Is something wrong, Kita?"

"N-no I'm fine. Uhm… are you?"

"Yes I am, thanks to you." Ryuzaki paused thoughtfully as he chewed on his thumb. His eyes wandered to the digital clock on the computer. "You know, Kita, it's getting late. I don't think you should drive home. Why don't you stay here and sleep on your futon… for old time's sake?"

He sure is sweet, I thought with a smile, but Brandon… "I really should get home. Thank you, though." I gave Ryuzaki a hug; the headstrong and stubborn detective melted into my embrace for an instant. Before I wished it were so, the moment was over. "I'll visit again soon, I promise." I stood and left the room, a strange pain ravaging my insides as I exited without a backward glance.

(Time Skip)

When I arrived at home, all of the lights were of in the half of the house Brandon and I shared. That is, all but the bedroom. However, I reached to open the front door to find it locked. How strange, I thought. He knew I would be home soon… So, I took out my key, opened the door and stepped inside.

When I climbed the stairs and entered the bedroom, I found Brandon lying upon our bed… kissing a black-haired woman I had never seen before.

End Part XIII