Alright, well here is chapter 12! The major reason for this fast update is the fact that I had a good start on this chapter when Chapter 11 was posted. There will probably be a bit longer wait with Chapter 13; though I have started it. Anyways, I kind of wanted to mention Melmoth the Wanderer in this note because though that is what this story is based on, I never seem to mention it. Chiyo, Osaka and the others are like modern equivalents of characters from Melmoth. It was either that or actually insert Melmoth into the story, but Osaka has The Wanderer's role and I think that actually works better. I won't ramble on too much long, but I do want to ask: How's the story so far? I've hardly received any reviews and would really like to know how things are going. The story as it is will be coming to a close soon. Chapter 17 will be the last. Otherwise if you have a minute, I'd like to know how this chapter went. Things are really picking up and I'm curious of people's opinions. What do think of the switching between POVs? Well, whatever you, I just want everyone to read and enjoy. So have at it :)

Chapter 12

Sakaki stepped into the hospital. It was just past noon so Chiyo should be done eating. Tomo never said what time she'd be back but Sakaki figured it wouldn't be until later. That'd give her some time to discuss things with Chiyo, and if she was up for more of this. She didn't know if Tomo had noticed, but Sakaki certainly saw how their friend's story had affected Chiyo. To hear such painful things about Yomi, Sakaki almost cried at one point. And those things about Kagura, how had she not heard? In any case, she didn't get any sleep over the night.

As Sakaki passed by the front desk, a nurse glanced up and said, "Excuse me, are you Sakaki-san?" Sakaki nodded. "Sorry I don't have your full name. But anyway, there's something that you were supposed to sign . . . Ah here it is."

The nurse handed Sakaki a piece of paper detailing information regarding Chiyo. With Sakaki spending so much time at the hospital, the nurses started coming to her for everything. So she grabbed the paper and signed her name, noticing Chiyo's signature on a separate line. She noticed how shaky the handwriting was, no doubt due to her weak heart.

Handing the paper back to the nurse, Sakaki continued her walk to Chiyo's room. She knocked lightly before entering, and next to Chiyo's bed sat Tomo. Closing the door behind her, Sakaki asked, "How long have you been here?"

"Long enough to sample the food here," Tomo said lightheartedly.

Sakaki smiled. She knew well enough that this place wasn't known for its food. Grabbing her seat across from Tomo, Sakaki glanced at Chiyo. She appeared tired, but not as pale as she was when they left the previous day. The sleep had helped.

"Don't worry. You didn't miss anything," Tomo said as she pulled something out of her pocket. It was a wallet and from the looks of it, she was grabbing at a picture from inside. "I never thought to show you guys this yesterday, but here it is."

Sakaki took the picture and held so both her and Chiyo could see it. The picture was of Yomi, barely recognizable from her high school days. She still had the long hair, but it no longer had the vibrant color. It looked faded, and had thinned. Her face had filled out a little more and she appeared bigger in the photo. What bothered most was her smile. Her lips just barely curved, as if that's all the happier they'd allow. She looked awful.

"When was that taken," Chiyo asked, watching the picture pass as Sakaki handed it back to Tomo.

"Only a couple days before she died."

"Will you tell us the rest of what happened," Chiyo asked, her expectant eyes glued to Tomo. "I want to know about Yomi; and Osaka."

Tomo nodded in a silent understanding. "Well, I ended up cleaning off the table and floor and everything. Yomi spent most of the evening in the bathroom. I don't know what time she went to bed. But the next morning, as I was getting ready for work, I went to check on Yomi . . ."

I'd already dressed into my uniform so I was good to go. I just wanted to make sure Yomi was okay before I left. I found her in the bathroom. Knocking I called, "Yomi, are you okay in there?"

"T-Tomo," her voice came out as a scratchy, barely recognizable whisper. "I . . . need some help."

Opening the door, I found Yomi by the mirror, clutching her throat. "What is it? What's wrong?"

"I just . . ." she tried to swallow but she only grabbed at her throat in pain. ". . . hospital." Yomi finally managed to spit out.

"You want me to take you there?" She nodded, wincing her eyes as she did.

"Alright, let's go." I said, grabbing her arm. She was already dressed so I assumed she must've got up before me.

I walked Yomi out to the car, clutching her throat and attempting gulps all the way. I sat her down and could see her face had turned a little red as tears dripped down her face. Pulling out of the parking lot, I passed the speed limit onto the highway. "Don't worry Yomi. We'll get you there in no time. You're gonna be alright," I said, but whether the reassurance was aimed at her or me I couldn't tell. Yomi relaxed a little in her seat but continued to clutch her throat.

Leaving a red light in the dust, we pulled into the hospital parking lot in what had to be record time. I shoved my door open and hurried over to Yomi's side. Helping her out, I kept glancing to her face which contorted in pain every few steps. Following her inside a nurse noticed us immediately and came to my aid. "What's wrong with her," she asked.

"I-I don't know. When I checked her, she was like this." I suddenly felt a little panicked as the nurse started pulling Yomi towards the back. I'd been able to keep my cool for this whole time but now that we were here, I just wanted to let loose.

I followed Yomi towards the back when she stopped, catching the nurse off guard. She turned to me and mouthed one word, "Work." Confused, I stood there awkwardly for a moment not knowing how to react. Then she pointed at me and painfully mouthed the word again. "Work."

It clicked. "Me? No I'm not going to work. I'm staying with you."

But Yomi vehemently disagreed. She gave me a slight shove towards the exit and mouthed, "I'm . . . okay . . . Work."

"But . . ." My voice had all but left me. Here Yomi was, in some kind of pain; and she didn't want me around. All I wanted to do was to help, and she wanted me to go to work. I was late as it was; why should I go? The nurse appeared to be at a complete loss as well, for she had stopped trying to pull Yomi along.

"Go . . ."

"Yomi I . . ."

"It's okay," the nurse said, "We'll take good care of her. If it's anything serious, we'll call you."

I glanced from the nervous nurse to Yomi who despite her reddening face and the hand clutched tightly on her throat, seemed decided on the matter. Defeated, I said, "I work at the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Dep . . . I'll stop after work." Yomi seemed to agree on this as she nodded her head.

A shot of pain must've coursed through Yomi as she tensed and winced her eyes shut. The nurse, pulled out of her stupor grabbed Yomi and rushed down the hall and out of sight. I stood there for a minute, watching the double doors close. Why did Yomi want me to leave? I'm just trying to help. It took a while before I'd finally convinced my feet to move out of the hospital; and even then, they were confused steps.

I stumbled back to my car and grabbed my cell phone. I made the call to Chief as short as possible. Hanging up, I drove to the station; as slowly as I possibly could. Walking through the doors, fear welled up inside. What if there was a message waiting for me? What if Yomi was in serious trouble? I pushed the thoughts out of my head as Chief saw me and approached. He looked pissed, but after what I'd told him over the phone, I knew he wasn't about to blow up at me.

"Tomo. Take it easy for the day. I wish you would've just called in sick or something but . . ."

"She wanted me to come here," I said flatly. I didn't want to talk about it either. "What do you want me to do today?"

Sighing, he said, "Just . . . go to your desk. There's work there for you."

I nodded and walked past him.

For most of the morning, I watched the phone on my desk, waiting for it to ring. I halfheartedly filled out the paperwork that was supposed to last me the entire day. Chief obviously didn't expect much from me today. Which was fine because I didn't feel like doing much. The phone stayed silent and I glanced around my desk, looking for something to occupy my time. Hidden amongst the stack of papers was a copy of Kagura's autopsy report. I wasn't in the mood for investigating Osaka but maybe reading the report again would jar something.

The report detailed Kagura's body and the condition in which it was found. Terms such as adipocere, and anserina cutis covered the first page. It may as well have been Greek; I couldn't understand it. All I could make out was the osteomyelitis in her leg and the blunt trauma to her head. The next few pages were photographs taken after Chief and I had left the scene. Seeing those pictures was hard, and so I usually skipped them. The final page interested me the most, despite having read it a dozen times. It detailed the cause of death. Though technical jargon pervaded the page, the basic gist of the page went like this. Kagura after being dropped off by a cab driver went into the water to swim. Her leg started acting up because of the osteomyelitis and in her confusion of grabbing at the pained leg, she went under water. Now either Kagura somehow hit her head on a rock or a boat traveling above her cracked her on the head and she lost consciousness. Somehow, part of her had become lodged at some point which explained why I found her at the bottom of the river and not floating in it. And she drowned.

I set aside the report. Glancing at the clock, it was only about noon. Damn, I had the whole afternoon to go yet. I glanced at the phone again. My fingers itched, wanting to call. I'll just check up. Make sure everything is alright. Grabbing the receiver, I looked up the number and dialed. A nurse answered and said, "Yes, you have reached Cherish Hospital. How may I help you?"

"My name is Takino Tomo and I'm calling about . . ."

"Ah we have a message for you Takino-san," the nurse interrupted. "It's regarding Mizuhara Koyomi yes?"

"Yes?"

"Don't worry about her. She's fine."

"Thank God," I released. The image of her clutching her throat came to mind and I just shuddered; glad it was over. "What was it? What was wrong with her?"

Calmly, the nurse explained, "I'm sorry but I can't tell you that. Mizuhara-san asked us not to explain it to you. But I'm sure when you talk to her; she'll want to explain everything."

"But why? That doesn't make any sense, I mean . . ." I stopped. Arguing with the staff wasn't going to get me anywhere. Yomi had asked them not to tell so they were just following patient privacy laws. Sighing in frustration, I relented, "Alright. Could I speak to her then?"

"Uh no, she actually went home. Took a cab."

"Oh. Okay . . . thanks." I hung up and glanced at the clock, wondering if I should call. But then it occurred to me. What if she's resting? I mean, the nurse said everything was fine. Why should I worry? Just hearing Yomi's voice would be reassuring. But I decided to wait. It'd be a long day, but at least Yomi would get some peace and quiet; something that I wasn't good with, but Yomi put up with me at least.

Going through some of the papers on my desk, the mundane work slowed the clock to halt at about one-thirty. "Over three hours yet," I sighed and sat back in my chair. Chief had given me more work, but it was barely enough to last me the rest of the day. I had to make it last. Although he did mention something about leaving early, so maybe I'd just rush through the paperwork. Much of the work dealt with old cases and such, which the department must've been considering archival homes for. I went through a few papers and passed by some records of the kid that I'd shot all those years ago. It gave me pause as the incident replayed in my head. Even after all this time, I could still see that kid dying like it was yesterday. The blood, the face, my gunshot, everything. I quickly organized the file, filled out some forms, and sent the thing on its way. I shuddered.

A hand suddenly rested on my shoulder. At first, I thought it was Chief. He had a habit of doing that. But this hand felt different. It was much smaller than Chief's, and colder. Something kept me from turning around as I felt a pair of lips next to my ear. In an all too familiar voice, she said, "Hurry Tomo. It's not too late." With that she let go and I felt her walk past me.

"Osaka," I breathed and finally whirled around. She was nowhere. She couldn't have gotten far. I jumped out of the chair and began pushing through the desks and the people. I thought I spotted a hint of a faded red uniform near the stairs. Chasing after it, I shouted, "Wait! Osaka!" I could feel people's gazes on me as I passed but I ignored them. Hurrying down the stairs and onto the first floor, I heard someone hollering after me. The first floor being more packed than the second, I moved much slower through the crowd of officers and civilians as a patch of brown, shoulder length hair disappeared out the exit.

Someone shouted for me again and I ignored them as I ran out the door. "Where is she? She couldn't have gotten far. Where is she," I repeated to myself as I looked past the parking lot and walked up and down the rows of cars, hoping to spot her. "Osaka," I hollered into the street. I began pacing back and forth. "Damn! She couldn't have just disappeared."

"Takino-san, what are doing?" Chief had caught up with me. "What's going on?"

"Did you see someone whisper into my ear," I figured I'd cut right to the chase. Chief shook his head, apparently not knowing what to think.

"Did you see a high school girl anywhere after I jumped out of my seat?"

"No Takino. What is this about?"

"She was here. I'm not making this up," I convinced myself. But how? How can I prove it? And then it clicked. "The security cameras! Chief, I need to see the surveillance video of the second floor offices; please."

Chief looked worried. I could tell he'd never seen me like this; well neither had I. "Takino-san, I think all the excitement from this morning has gotten to you. Why don't you go home? Get some rest."

"No. I need to see the surveillance videos."

"Takino . . ."

"Please," I insisted. If she was here, I needed the proof. And if it truly was her; God I don't know what I'd do. Question her maybe.

Chief nodded in defeat. He clearly had little to no idea of what was going on. But he led me up to the third floor where security was and I walked right in as Chief introduced me to the staff there. "Takino-san wants to check the footage from just a few minutes ago; on the second floor."

I sat down next to a short skimpy man who ran the cameras. He merely nodded to me and pointed at a series of live video feed on a big 26 inch, flat screen monitor. "Each monitor is numbered. The numbers correspond to the controls here." He pointed to the keyboard-like touch-screen in front of him. There were buttons numbered one through six, and below were buttons labeled "a" through "o". And below that were buttons similar to a DVD player: play, rewind, fast-forward, pause, and even "print." Basically, one through six switched between the video feed on the monitor for each floor and the alphabetical buttons switched between cameras on said floor. The rest was self explanatory. "Let's see, you want floor two so that's button two." And the man pushed the button with a two under it and it lit up.

I looked at the screen and found some random room so I started flipping through the alphabetical buttons until I came across a camera that had a clear shot of my desk. "F" I think it was; yeah it would be "F." Currently, my desk was empty because I was in the security room; no kidding. Pushing rewind, I watched people move backwards, balls of paper flying out of garbage cans and a bottle magically filling up with water. Suddenly I was back at my desk and I hit play. With no sound, I watched my reflection sort through papers and stop. My reflection jumped out of her chair and out of sight. I hit pause. "No one. No one was there."

"Excuse me?"

"Can you zoom?" The guy nodded and pointed at a small dial. I rewound, paused, and zoomed. Nothing. I repeated and repeated. Nothing. I switched to the first floor cam and did the same thing. But never did I find any sign of Osaka or any other high school girl in the police office. Not once. "Is there any way to . . ." I stopped, wondering what the hell I was going to ask. Yet the man listened for me to finish. "Forget it." I stood up and left. I did not imagine that. I heard her. I saw her.

Moving down the stairs, I met Chief. He said, "Go home Takino-san. It's after three. Just go home. And take it easy. You've got vacation time; use it."

I didn't argue. "Okay." That was all I said as I walked down to the second floor, got my things, and left.

The drive home uneventful, I pulled up into the apartment complex and got out. My mind was still racing about Osaka that it wasn't until I reached my apartment that I remembered about Yomi being in the hospital. Entering, I walked through my apartment. No sign of her in the kitchen or the bedroom. She wasn't on the couch. But the bathroom door was closed. Light peeked through the cracks around the door and a bit of steam leaked out as well.

"I'm home Yomi," I hollered, though it probably wasn't necessary. "So what'd you find out? Frog or toad?" I tried to sound upbeat about it, hoping she'd find some humor; but no response. "What should we do for supper," I asked, unloading my things, "is there anything you need to stay away from?"

No answer.

I became a little worried. Yomi usually answered me, no matter what the comment. Unless she can't talk yet. The thought suddenly hit me and I wondered if she'd gotten annoyed. So walking up to the door, I called in, "I'm coming in Yomi. Cover up."

I pushed open the door, and fell to my knees. In a tub full of reddish water, sat Yomi. Her body white and head titled back, one arm propped against the wall while the other hung over the edge of the tub; dripping blood. A sickly red razor sat on the floor, just out of her reach. Yomi's hair steadily bobbed up and down in the rippled water.

"Yomi!" I cried out. I ran over to her and hoisted her out of the tub. She was limp and her body heavy as I dragged it out. I rested her on the floor and glanced at her wrists. "Oh my God," I said, seeing the blood slowly drizzle out of the gashes. Reaching over to the cupboard, I snatched two towels and tied them tight around Yomi's wrists; till the bleeding eventually stopped. "Yomi don't do this," I pleaded as I quickly checked for breathing and a pulse. None. CPR, my brain shouted at me and I obeyed. I used mouth to mouth, and then went to work on her chest; and I cycled. Nothing. "Yomi! Don't leave me," I cursed and I tried again. "Damnit!"

Remembering my cell, I pulled it out and dialed. I can't even remember the conversation that passed with the emergency operator. I continued the CPR, calling Yomi's name, hoping with every breath that she'd snap out of it. My brain told me, she's gone Tomo. Just stop. While my heart screamed in my chest, it's not too late. You can still save her! My body argued as tears streamed down my face as I pressed my lips over Yomi's for mouth-to-mouth. Sirens wailed outside and suddenly there was thunder climbing up the stairs.

I heard them wandering outside my apartment and I screamed at the top of my lungs, "OVER HERE!" The men burst in and within seconds were in the bathroom. I stepped aside as three of them gathered around her and checked for a pulse and for breathing. Then they attempted the CPR which I had been doing. A stretcher was brought in and I suddenly felt dizzy. Everything was happening so fast. Everything was spinning.

Someone must've led me out at some point cause next thing I knew I was sitting at my kitchen table; crying my eyes out. I uselessly spoke to the blurry man before me. " . . . I mean, I know she's been depressed. But she's been doing better. She had a good day yesterday; a really good day," I pounded my fist against the stained wood in frustration, "Then she had to go and get sick . . ."

A man exited the bathroom and awkwardly approached my table. By this time, my eyes had cleared just enough for me to see that he had been the first medic on Yomi when they hat got here. He took a seat next to me and the sorrow in his eyes was enough. "No," I said instinctively, "She's not. She can't be . . . I need her."

"I am so sorry. There was nothing we could do."

"Why? Why would she? She . . . she . . ." I couldn't finish as I struggled to find some kind of reasoning.

That's when the medic handed me a white envelope with my name on it. I looked up at him, terrified. I didn't want that. I didn't want to touch it. I wanted to yell at him for even showing it to me. But still I asked, "What is that?"

"We found it on the sink."

I didn't take it. The man eventually set the envelope on the table and left with the others.

Tomo's voice cracked as she finished. She sat there for several seconds and Sakaki wrapped her arms around Tomo. The hug was openly welcomed and Tomo even hugged Sakaki back. Glancing over to Chiyo, Sakaki found her silent, think things over as it were. Sakaki could hear Tomo saying between shivers, "Sorry. I don't know what's come over me. It happened . . . so long ago. I should control myself better."

"No," Sakaki said soothingly, "It hurts. Let it out. I'm just sorry I couldn't have been there." Sakaki glanced over to Chiyo once more and found her bed empty. She worriedly looked over and found Chiyo stumbling towards the bathroom. It must've upset her as well. But Sakaki cringed with each step that Chiyo took. She wasn't supposed to be walking around without someone helping her. She knew that, yet she did it anyway. And Sakaki would've gone to help, but Tomo held her firmly in place. Sakaki had to settle with just making sure Chiyo would make it to the bathroom without hurting herself; which somehow she did.

Sakaki rubbed Tomo's back a little and she pulled away, calmed down. "Sorry. It just upsets me," Tomo said, wiping her eyes dry. She asked about Chiyo and Sakaki quickly explained their "young" friend's disappearance. "Every time I think of her, I think that, I should've been there. I should've ignored her when she told me to go to work. I should've taken the day off. I could've stopped her. Maybe she wouldn't have tried it altogether if I'd just . . ."

"Tomo," Sakaki interrupted, "It's not your fault. If she wouldn't have done it that day, she just would've picked another."

"Yeah," Tomo seemingly agreed, but then said, "But then I think about what I had heard at work. What Osaka had said to me. If only I would've listened." Tomo shook her head. "I don't know. I just don't know."

The door to the bathroom swung open and Sakaki immediately stood up along with Tomo to help Chiyo back to her bed. But she immediately held out her hand in protest and said, "I'm fine. I can do this." She staggered for her bed and almost tripped, which got both Sakaki and Tomo at her side. Though she knew that Chiyo didn't like this one bit, Sakaki still insisted that she and Tomo help Chiyo the rest of the way. Chiyo reluctantly agreed.

Once they got Chiyo back in her bed, silence spread throughout the room. Sakaki couldn't bring herself to say anything, and she believed Chiyo to be in the same state. The silence was broken by Tomo rummaging around in her pockets as she pulled out a white envelope. Hesitating, she explained, "I figured you'd want to hear what Yomi said. So I brought it with me." Sakaki sat up in utter speechlessness and she noticed Chiyo to be in a similar state. With the pages out, Tomo cleared her throat and began, "Dear Tomo . . ."