Journal Entry 86: He's here.
"Another round, sir?"
Usagi looked up at the young bartender.
"Yes, please."
She served him and immediately went to check on a couple a few feet away. She could tell he had his troubles. They all did. It was usually work, money, a spouse or some combination of the three. She could also tell he wasn't the talking type. A bar was an interesting place to work for so many years. You saw people at their best and worst. Some come in bursting at the seams. They'll tell you their whole life story at the slightest encouragement. Others, like this gentleman, just wanted to rot in peace.
Usagi took the shot. This one went down smoothly. The world was starting to become fuzzier and he was fine with that. He didn't want to be aware tonight.
There was a slight creak as the stool next to him was pulled out and someone sat down.
"Excuse me, miss? Asahi?[1]"
"Yes, sir. Coming right up."
Usagi scowled slightly. Naturally, the one night when he wanted nothing more than to be left alone…
It had taken every bit of strength to walk out of that hospital. Takahiro would be staying. The staff set up a cot in Misaki's room for him. It made sense. He was Takahiro's family. Usagi considered himself to be Misaki's family too. However, in an official capacity, he was nothing more than a friend; a friend who had no rights and no grounds to stand on. Usagi wondered if anyone could ever understand what it was like to see your lover in pain and not even get to stand by their side. To be shoved behind the scenes like a point of shame.
"Rough night?"
"One might say that."
This man had fair hair like sand. It was pulled back in a medium length pony-tail. His face was long and adorned with a pair of round glasses. There was something about him that seemed familiar. Usagi studied him more closely.
"Have we met before?"
The stranger smirked.
"Yes and no. It all depends."
"On what?"
"How you answer this next question. Are you Usami Akihiko?"
Usagi pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"That's what they wrote on my birth certificate."
"I was at the Teito Hotel when you received the Kikuawa Award for The Moon in the Box."
"Ah."
Usagi took a long drag and fished around for his wallet. The sooner he paid his tab, the sooner he could get home and go to bed. He wanted this day to just be over already.
"I have all of your work. Seeing you in person was something else."
"Thank you for your support."
Usagi spat out the party line with little enthusiasm. It wasn't his intention to be rude but he wasn't enjoying the encounter and this man wasn't getting the hint.
"I can assure you, the pleasure is all mine. You've been a major influence in my life. You've even inspired me to do some…writing of my own."
"Oh? That's wonderful."
"I hoped you might think so. My name is Rin Yami. Listen, if you have a moment I'd love to talk to you about a little project of mine. There's such a lack of good literature out there. Your writing is nothing short of perfection amongst rubble. However the people have very little access to the real you, the wizard behind the curtain. Have you given any thought as to who might write your biography?"
There was a line and this man was dancing all over it. Usagi felt himself coming unraveled and knew he didn't have much civility left.
"I can honestly say I have given it no thought whatsoever."
"Well you really ought to. Telling the tale of such an important man is not a simple task. It cannot fall into the wrong hands. Whoever writes it should be one who reveres you and recognizes your importance. I certainly do both of those things…" Rin leaned in closer "in abundance."
Snap. That was the last straw. Snap. Usagi had had more than enough. He threw a couple of bills on the counter. He didn't care if he was grossly overpaying. Call it a generous tip. The woman deserved it for not being a pain in his ass.
"Listen, I apologize for any disrespect but I have no interest in continuing this conversation or being the subject of anyone's book. I wish you the best of luck with your creative endeavors. Good evening."
Usagi nodded and stood. Rin seemed to be in a daze. He looked like an automaton, a near human replica with one or two flaws. Simply put, creepy as hell. When he spoke his voice was hollow.
"No." He grabbed Usagi's wrist roughly. "You don't mean that, Usami-sama. You're forgetting how the scene goes. This is not the script. You're supposed to come back to my place. I will write your story. You will be my muse and I yours. You will fall for me" He tightened his grip and gnashed his teeth like a dog. "You will fall for me."
Usagi reeled back.
"Are you on crack? I'm not in the market for a muse and let me tell you something else. Even if I was, you would be the very last person I'd look to for that. Now, you've been making an awful night even more unbearable this entire time. I suggest you pack up your biography along with your psychotic ramblings and take a hike."
Rin clawed at Uasgi's arms like a drowning man.
"No! No! No! You don't mean that! YOU DON'T MEAN THAT!"
Smash.
He was on the ground. Usagi had acted without thinking. They were both bleeding. Blood dribbled from Usagi's hand and Rin's head. Pieces of the broken shot glass littered the floor. The other patrons seemed to be in varying degrees of shock. Usagi took a second to compose himself and stormed out before the lunatic could get his bearings.
Rin rocked himself back and forth and muttered under his breath.
"Usami-sama, Usami-sama, Usami-sama. No, no, no. What have you done? What have you done? What have you done? What have you done?" His lips spread into a manic smile and he began to cackle ghoulishly. "You ruined it. You broke e-ver-ything. You leave me no choice, Usami-sama. You leave me no choice. Our story ends tonight."
1. Asahi Breweries, Ltd. is a leading brewery and soft drink company based in Tokyo, Japan. As of January 2014, Asahi, with a 38% market share, was the largest of the four major beer producers in Japan