Chapter 2

A Chance Encounter

Revland and Sojiro finally returned home after much delay.

"Jesus, those report didn't do em' any justice. How can a 20 min delay turn into 2 hours?" Sojiro vented.

"If I didn't hate driving in the city… I'm certain I do now…" Revland sighed in agreement.

"Wasn't able to open the store at all today, what a waste of a beautiful day."

"Well at least we were able to accomplish something at least."

"And that was?"

"Oh nothing major, just showing my new homeroom teacher that I might be a creep and nearly staring a whole through the principal's head."

"Are you saying you weren't checking her out?" Sojiro said with a grin.

"Not in the way you're thinking… at least I think so anyway."

Sojiro letting out a soft chuckle, "All I can tell you is you need to be careful about what you say, you may upset the wrong type of people."

"Think we're well passed that boss."

Sojiro looked to see if there was any sadness in Revland's eyes like there was yesterday when the topic of his probation was brought up. He was pleasantly surprised to find that Revland was smiling.

Not here a day and he's already joking about the whole ordeal. Sojiro thought to himself; Kinda reminds me of Wakaba in a way.

The image of a tall slim woman appeared in his mind, soft loving eyes with velvet black hair and a smile that men would wage war for. Sojiro gave a small sad smile that Revland didn't miss.

"Thinking of your daughter's mother, aren't you?"

Sojiro gave Revland a surprised look, "How on earth..."

"You have the same smile you did when you were talking about your daughter and her mother on the drive to the school."

Scary how observant he is sometimes.

"Remember how I said you might upset someone with what you say or observe?" Sojiro scolded.

Revland, suddenly feeling sheepish, started to fumble through a hurried apology but Sojiro continued.

"It's alright, I know you didn't mean anything by it. Just wanted to show that you need to be more careful. Yes, I was thinking of her mother and on how similar you two are. She knew how to take things in stride when other people tried to put her down. She was a strong woman."

"If you don't mind me asking, what was her name?"

"Wakaba, Wakaba Isshiki."

"How long ago?"

"Two years in August."

"And your daughter?"

Sojiro hesitated, he wasn't sure what it was, but he knew that he wasn't as dangerous as he first thought. There was however that hint of malice in the principal's office but knew Revland was being provoked, though the principal seemed none the wiser for it.

"My daughter… Futaba… hasn't really been the same sense then."

"I know I didn't ask this in the car, but what about the father? Her biological one I mean."

"No idea really, I never met her father. Wakaba had Futaba out of wedlock and she never said much about him."

"Must have been a touchy subject to breech."

"That's one way of putting it."

Both paused for a moment, letting everything sink in.

"Before we continue, how 'bout some coffee?" Sojiro asked.

"And curry?" Revland said with a hint of excitement.

"Of course, but only if you help." He said with a smile.

About an hour later, both the coffee and the curry were finished. Sojiro showed Revland a few tricks on the correct profiling of coffee beans, filter placement and even the perfect temperature to brew coffee. He also let Revland catch a glimpse at the curry recipe that he had told him Wakaba help create. They further discussed Wakaba and Futaba over dinner.

"So, does Futaba visit often? I'd like to meet her, she sounds wonderful." Revland said finally.

"There's a small problem with that…" Sojiro said quietly before taking a sip from his cup.

Seeing that Revland looked confused if not a little worried, he continued; "Futaba is what you would call… a shut in… she hardly comes out of her room except to eat and bathe. She doesn't even let me in to her room."

"This is what you meant when you said that she hasn't been the same isn't it?" Revland said calmly.

Sojiro nodded and took a sip of coffee. "She doesn't leave the house and is completely terrified of strangers."

"Which is why I'm staying here in the shop and not at your house…" Revland finished for him.

"I'm not surprised you were able to put that together. Yes, plainly put, that's why you're here. Now that you know, you still have a problem with your room?"

"Never had a problem to begin with boss." Revland said taking a sip of his own coffee. "I told you, I've never had a room that big all to myself. It just needs a little T.L.C. is all."

This doesn't feel right… he's more than understanding and he's essentially thanking me for shoving him into an attic? Why does a kid like this have a record?

Looking up at the clock Sojiro sighed and stretched. "Okay, I've kept you up long enough."

Letting out a small yawn, Revland stretched and agreed. "Guess we lost tract of time. I'll help you clean up and you can take some of this curry home to Futaba."

"I'm sure she'll appreciate that." Sojiro said with a small smile.

The lock up process didn't take nearly as long as it did the previous night. Sojiro was not only surprised but glad that Revland was a quick learner.

As Sojiro was leaving he paused at the door and turned to Revland, now in his night clothes. Tan sweatpants and a black t-shirt.

"I almost forgot, here." Sojiro tossed a set of keys to Revland; "Now the place is yours, I told you that there wasn't any restrictions and I meant it. Just don't stay out too late alright."

Taken aback, Revland looked down at the set of keys in his hand. He wasn't sure just how to respond; "Boss, I… I don't know what to say… Thank you."

"Don't mention it, remember to keep your head down and don't cause me any grief. I don't want to be regretting this in the future."

"I'll make sure that you don't"

"Alright, the shops yours. Have a good night."

"Night Boss, have a safe walk home."

The door closed and locked, Revland went upstairs to turn in for the night. Revland down and mused on the day's events. So much has happened in the two days that he's been here. Sojiro, Igor, the twins Caroline and Justine. Now the voices in his head have hinted that maybe someone else has enter this little "game" of his.

I wonder what Futaba is really like… is she as bad as Sojiro says or is there more to it?

Suddenly, Revland began to feel as if he is forgetting something… but what… pulling out his phone to check the time, he saw a notification over his music app. It showed that a new song was added to his playlist.

"Oh Shit, I forgot to bring my guitar! God Damn It!" Revland slamming his head back into his pillow at the end of each sentence.

"Come to think of it, I don't even know if Boss would let me have one here at the shop anyway, might be too loud… guess that'll be another favor I'll have to ask of him…" Speaking to himself.

His fingers itching, Revland laid down and stared at the ceiling.

Just like the night before, his thoughts were of the Hermit. The image of a young girl came to the forefront of his mind. But at least he had a name…

Futaba… kinda pretty… in a way… like two leaves… in the wind…

His eyes growing heavy, Revland drifts to sleep with the image of an autumn day and girl with long black hair smiling back at him.


(Later that same night)

With a flash of lightning and a crash of thunder, Revland started awake.

"Yumi!" Revland screamed.

The visage of a young woman about as tall as he was started to fade from his memory. The last thing that he remembered was that look she gave him the day he left, that of scorn and the feeling of being unworthy that came with it.

Probably for the better if I just put her out of my mind for now, she's definitely not helping matters.

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he realized that he was in the attic space above the café.

Oh, it's just the storm.

He had always enjoyed storm watching but there was something not quite right about this one, there was no rhythm to it, just hard and fast as if nature was at war with itself.

Revland stood from his bed and put on his shoes. Checking his phone, he saw that there was a severe weather warning for the area and saw that his phone wasn't charging even though it was plugged in.

Power must be out…

Another flash followed the eventual boom of thunder, Revland cracked his window to check the neighborhood. It was a downpour; rain was flowing to the nearest storm drain like a river with twigs and branches were being carried away from nearby trees. It was just then that Revland thought he heard something, it was soft but he could barely hear it though the rain. He remembered another hunting trick his dad had taught and had come in handy on more than several occasions.

"Try to eliminate all unnecessary noises and focus on the direction of your target, focus until all you hear is nothing but the lightest of footsteps."

Focusing on the direction he thought he heard the noise, Revland concentrated. He found the odd noise in the storm and it chilled him, it was that of a scream. Revland grabbed his keys and his phone and ran to the door. Once outside and already soaked to the bone, he focused his hearing again and heard a whimper. Another flash and boom later he was greeted with another scream.

It's the storm, they must be scared of the storm!

Turning the corner, Revland found himself in front of the Sakura house once more. This time however it seemed more ominous. Illuminated by the lightning, Revland saw that the gate was open and the door was left ajar as well. The boom followed and was chased by another scream.

Maybe it's not just the storm… maybe there's someone else inside… No! This isn't a time to panic… if they are in trouble then I have to help!

His mind made up, Revland entered the Sakura home only to find it pitch black.

Guess the outage affected them too…storm must have whipped out the whole block.

Quietly, Revland removed his shoes and noticing that they were sopping wet. He said a small apology to Sojiro for not only the mess he was about to make but for intruding in his home unannounced. Stepping lightly he began to make his way into the small home listening for anything that would stand out in the quiet.

"Focus on your breathing, you won't be any good to anyone if you're winded." The words of his father whispered in his mind.

Step by carful step, Revland made his way down the hallway. Listening into the darkness only to be greeted with the sound of the rain outside. Part of him was hoping to find nothing but at the same time wishing that someone other than him was there.

Maybe I was wrong and that screaming wasn't coming from here. Perhaps I should head back.

Turning to leave, another crack of thunder as well another scream came from upstairs.

Or maybe not…


Futaba wasn't always afraid of storms. When her mom was around, they didn't really bother her and sometimes they were even fun to just watch. Now it's nothing more than a reminder that she was gone and that it was all her fault. During storms like this, the thunder echoed deep within her heart and harmonized with the screams of her mother and all the others.

"This is all your fault! Murderer! Keep her away from me!"

"It seems worse the usual today…" she muttered to herself. She stared at the now cold plate of half eaten curry sitting on her desk wishing the power would come back on so she could reheat it.

Sojiro was nice enough to bring me a plate and I didn't even finish it… didn't he say something about have some help this time?

Though it was cold, Futaba didn't really mind. It was still the same curry that Sojiro makes for her but, who was this mystery helper?

I can't even check the audio logs to see who else was in the shop today… this power outage is starting to annoy me…

As if out of spite, another roar of thunder rolled through the house causing her to let out another scream. Those same words echoing in her mind.

"Please stop…" she whispered to herself.

"…..omeone….ere?"

Wait… who was that? That wasn't Sojiro was it?

Walking over to her door, she placed her ear against the wood and closed her eyes.

"Sojiro? Are you home? Boss? Is anyone there?" the voice said again.

That's not Sojiro… sounds like a young guy… maybe one of the neighbors?

Futaba cracked open her door and peeked out in to the hall. Still dark out, I can't see anything… stupid power outage.

Futaba heard a thud, a screech of wood on wood and a curse. "Ouch, son of a mother… Ow…"

Defiantly not Sojiro… he stopped himself from cursing and it sounded like he stubbed his to on the end table in the downstairs hallway. So most likely not familiar with the house's layout, means…. There's a stranger in the house…

After a moment of panic, Futaba closed her door. She remembered that Sojiro said to hide in the closet if someone were to break in. As she was doing just that; another crash of thunder tore through the house, causing her to scream. Suddenly, she threw that door to her room open and bolted for the stairs. Sojiro's room was on the main floor of the house, she would be safe from the voices there, it worked before so it should be a safe space.

Unable to see in the dark, she was guided by instinct to where everything was nothing but terror as panic clouded her mind. She misjudged where the beginning of the stairs were supposed to be and went into freefall. All she could think about was making the voices stop. Suddenly, a figure came out of the darkness illuminated by the lightning with arm wide ready to catch her.


"Someone There?" Revland asked after hearing another scream.

I hope whoever that was is alright, now where is Sojiro… "Sojiro? Are you home? Boss? Is anyone there?" he called out into the darkness.

Stepping forward, Revland kicked an end table that he didn't notice. "Ouch, Son of a Mother…" taking a few deep breathes, he forced himself to relax. "Ow..." Flexing his now sore pinky toe, he heard a noise in the darkness. It sounded as if a door closed upstairs.

So someone is here, wait… is Futaba upstairs? Maybe I should check…

Before he could finish the thought, another crash of thunder tore through the house. Revland heard another scream and the sound of a door being thrown open coming from upstairs. He heard the sound of hard footsteps as if they were running.

"GO YOU FOOL! YOU ARE NEEDED AT THE FIRST LANDING!"

Without thinking, Revland took the stairs two to three at a time to make it to the first landing. When he looked up lightning illuminated a young girl with what looked to be long orange hair terror etched into every inch of her face. Revland opened his arm and bent forward to take the impact. When her body struck his, the air was forced out of his lungs as his back was thrown into the wall. He felt more than heard something crack behind him and began to slide to the floor.

After clearing the stars from his eyes, Revland held on to his unintentional prize as he tried to get his breathing under control. It took a couple minutes for Revland to finally have enough air to pose a question, "Are you alright...?" he said shakily.

Snapped out of her own daze, Futaba looked at the shadowy figure and went mute.

It's him, the stranger that broke in the house!Wait… this… this doesn't feel right… as quickly as Futaba's heartbeat jumped it began to slow.

"I'm… I'm… alright… thank you." She said quietly.

"That's good" Revland said as his body relax as well as his hold on her.

Feeling the guys grip weaken, she remembered why she was here in the first place. She didn't feel like she was in danger while she was with this guy. Realizing that he might have been hurt, she decided to make sure. After rearranged herself, she noticed that he let out a sharp breath when she grabbed his shoulder to get a better look at him.

"Oh my god, what about you? You're breathing really hard… crap I left my phone in my room." She said rather quickly removing her hand.

After a moment of thought Revland brought his hand up to his forehead and let out a small groan.

"Seriously, I didn't break anything did I?"

"No you didn't... I'm just an idiot…"

"What?" Futaba asked still worried about her savior.

Revland took his hand off her waist and dug in his pocket for his phone. "I was fumbling around in the dark and I forgot that I had this with me, I could've even called Sojiro from the start and told him about the screaming I heard and my phone has a built in flash light."

Futaba was taken aback by his comment, "you came here… because you heard screaming?"

"At first I thought it was the storm playing tricks on me, but when I found the door unlock and the gate opened… I thought someone took advantage of the black out and let themselves in."

I don't get this, he's a stranger but I don't feel in weird when I'm near him… and when he caught me… the voices…

A far quieter rumble of thunder broke her train of thought causing her to grip Revland around the waist and bury her head in his chest. But to her surprise the voices never came.

"It sounds like the storms passing, let's see what the damage is." Resting a comforting hand on her head, Revland switched the flashlight on his phone and got his first good look at Futaba. She was short, almost a good foot shorter than he was. She had long hair that looked orange in color and went the length of her back. Her eyes, they looked brown but he could see signs of a faint purple tones in them, appearing mauve and were framed by black rimmed glasses much like his own though at the time they lay crooked on her nose. Staring into them had Revland at a loss for words.

She's kinda like Yumi… if she was louder, had blue eyes and was a little taller… but she also… different for her too… like… I don't know… there's some innocence in those eyes but there's trauma there too. Your eyes… they're beautiful… nothing like her cold blue stare… Feels like I could get lost in them.

Futaba looked into Revland grey eyes and for the first time in nearly two years, she felt… she didn't really know how she felt. But this guy was the first boy that didn't make her want to run in the opposite direction upon meeting them or immediately recoil from their touch. Matter of fact, he didn't move his hands much since he caught her almost as if he knew that she was skittish.

Grey eyes, black hair, pale skin tone and wet clothes… not exactly what I thought prince charming would be like… well… not for me at least… what is it about this guy that make me feel so… calm…

"Similar but not the same…" Revland whispered.

"Not the same as what?" She asked

"Sorry, talking to myself… just lost in memory I guess."

More like you're getting lost in those eyes you maroon, get up and say something comforting before she bolts.

"I'm glad you're alright, the storm seems to be passing for the most part. Why don't we try standing up?" Revland said while taking his right hand of her back and placing it on the ground.

Futaba got into an upright sitting position with her legs under her and let Revland get to his feet while she stayed on the ground. Upon getting up, Revland felt a small pain around his right shoulder blade and let out another groan.

Yep, that's going to bruise later…

Turning to look at the damage to the wall, there was an indent the length of his forearm and about an inch and a half deep. "Looks like we hit the wall pretty hard huh." He said turning back to Futaba.

"Here, let me help you up." With his phone in his right and gave his left to Futaba and helped her stand. At first she was a little shaky and unstable but it subsided with some help from Revland's non-bruised shoulder.

"So before I forget all of my manners tonight, My Name is Antrie, Revland Antrie."

Drawing a blank for a moment and remembered this is what normal people do when they meet someone new, Futaba stammered a response. "Oh, it's nice to feet you, I MEAN MEET YOU! I don't think you want to know about feet I mean if you're into that sort of thing, I guess I really don't have room to judge but I'm not into that either I'm sorry for rambling it's just I never really talked to anyone other than Sojiro and mo…"

She stopped talking so suddenly that it caught Revland off guard. Futaba went quiet and Revland began to worry. To put her at ease he decided to go off her feet comment, "No I'm not one of the guys that would ask you for pictures of your feet, if anything I prefer the eyes."

"Why the eyes?" she said in a mildly depressed tone.

"They are the windows to the soul, or so they say." he said as they head down stairs at a slow pace.

"Is that why you stared at me for so long?" Futaba asked.

Suddenly embarrassed, Revland tried and failed to come up with a response that didn't make him out to either be a creep or just an outright ass that can't get his ex out of his head.

"Well, kinda… yeah… your eyes… I've… never really seen a color like them before…"

"You said similar but not the same though."

Shit, that was because I compared your build to Yumi not your eyes. Why did I have to go and open my fuckin mouth?

"Yes, but that was because you remind me of someone I use to know…" his own tone becoming depressive.

Oh crap, did I upset him? I didn't mean to… was I being too nosey? Riddled with self-doubt, Futaba started to step away from Revland, but he stopped when he asked, "Are you alright?"

Coming back to reality she managed to answer, "Yeah I'm okay, sorry…"

"For what exactly?"

"I was asking too many questions and I upset you…"

"That wasn't something you did, that was two parts my fault and one part someone else's… not your fault at all Sakura-Chan."

Hearing her being addressed that way reminded her that she still hadn't told him her first name, it wasn't that much of a stretch for Antrie figured that she was a Sakura while she was living in the Sakura house.

"Antrie-kun… My name is Futaba… and since you practically saved me tonight… would you call me by my first name?"

Revland was stunned, it had taken years for Yumi to allow him to call her by her first name and that was while they were dating. "Are you sure, I mean we just met and all?"

Futaba nodded and asked him, "On the condition that I get to call you Revland…"

After a moment's thought of possible repercussions Revland finally responded "As you wish… consider it done… Futaba…"

Hearing someone new say her name felt weird to her at first but at the same time, Hearing Revland say her name in particular felt… right somehow.

They made it to the main floor of the house and judging by how quiet it was, Revland figured that the rain had stopped all together.

How long have I been here? Revland thought to himself. Looking down at his phone he saw that not much time had passed sense he left the café during the worst of the storm. No more than maybe ten to fifteen minutes.

A sound caught Revland's attention, it sounded like hurried footsteps coming from outside. A voice rang out as the front door slide open, "Futaba, are you alright?"

On instinct, Revland put himself between the new comer and Futaba with one hand guiding her to keep her behind him with the other up in a defensive guard.

The new comer's voice belonged to a familiar middle aged man that Revland concluded was Sojiro coming back from where ever he was. The figure turned to Revland, "You! Don't move!"

"Easy Boss, it's me, Antrie." Revland said slowly.

Sojiro reached for the flashlight that he normally kept in the table nearest the door and shined the light right into his eyes.

"Revland? What are you doing in my house?"

"I heard screaming during the storm and started looking around, when I got here the gate and door were both unlock and left open. I thought someone might have gotten inside." Revland said lowering his arm

"You heard screaming and the door was left open… guess I was too much in a hurry to close it all the way…" Sojiro said with a thoughtful scratch of his chin. "Wait, screaming? Where's Futaba?"

Poking out from Revland's side was Futaba as a relaxed and grateful look came across his face. But was replaced with that of a worried father. "Futaba, your… outside of your room…"

"I got scared during the storm and went to find you but I tripped down the stairs…"

"You tripped? Jesus are you hurt?" stepping forward as he knelt down to check on her.

"I'm alright… probably wouldn't be if Revland hadn't caught me. I think I hurt his arm when we hit the wall…" she responded sheepishly.

Revland subconsciously rubbed his sore shoulder as Sojiro looked at him with a look of wonder.

If this kid hadn't have stuck is nose into this, Futaba could have been seriously injured or worse…

"Wait, did you just call him Revland?" Sojiro asked amazed.

"I asked him if I could, he even quoted Prince's Bride. Which was a nice touch by the way… he did save me after all. He even asked if I was alright before he check on himself. He also let out a groan when he moved his right arm so I think that's the one that might be hurt and it's my fault…" clearly getting more upset as she continued to speak, sounding as if she was close to tears.

Revland spoke then with comfort in his tone, "If anything I did it to myself Futaba, you have nothing to apologize for. I'm just happy that you were alright." End the statement with smile on his face.

Futaba looked down and back up at Revland, with a moment to clear away the tears of frustration she managed to smile back at him. "Okay, thank you… Revland."

Sojiro was at a total loss, not only was Futaba okay with being around Revland but they are calling each other by their first names… just what exactly happened while he went to investigate the outage?

About ten minutes go by and the lights in the house came back on. Both Sojiro and Revland looked at each other and had the same thought, He looks like a drowned rat.

"Guess I should head back to the café while the weather holds, it was nice meeting you Futaba though maybe next time it won't be this dramatic. Oh and Sojiro, if you need to replace the wall I can come up with the cash to pay you back."

Sojiro looked from Revland to Futaba and back. He came to the conclusion without hesitation, "Don't worry about the wall. Worry about that shoulder, if it hurts for too long there's a doctor around the corner."

With a nod Revland heading back to the café only to be stopped with someone calling his name. As he turned around Futaba had him around the waist and on reflex, placed his arms around her.

"Thank you…. For tonight…" she whispered.

"You're welcome" he responded.

Futaba held him for a few seconds longer and let him go. Revland watched as she walked back inside and notice a look of bewildered surprise on Sojiro's face. Revland merely shrugged his good shoulder and walked back to the café. Tonight had be a very interesting night.