Soji stood tense now.
“What’s wrong?” Isica asked still looking down from the ceiling.
“Ryuza said that someone had already told him that they were going to kill him in retribution for Xero. I’m going to kill him first,” Soji said grabbing the Death Note she had left on the floor.
“Sounds good to me,” Isica laughed.
Ryuza stirred but remained asleep. Soji looked over at him and sighed. Four days left on his lifespan. Four days she could spend with him. No, she was going to kill the man that threatened her Ryuza first. Soji walked through the house as if it were her own. She knew all its secrets in the blink of an eye and knew where to find everything.
Ryuza stored guns in a safe in his bedroom. Soji walked into the room and towards the safe. The pass code was easy enough: Soji. There several guns were stored. Soji grabbed the .44 and the .35 loaded them and put them in holsters at her waist. A black trench coat was located in Ryuza’s closet. It fit Soji well, and the Death Note was inserted into the interior pocket. Several syringes and a muscle relaxer Ryuza had used when he hurt his shoulder would come in handy. Soji grabbed rope and some duct-tape. It would come in handy too.
“Now to find that man,” Soji said feeling the blood-lust in her own voice.
There was only one phone in the house. Soji picked it up and dialed the number that she knew very well would take her call instantly. It was Near.
“Hello?” Roger’s voice was distorted by a voice scrambler, but Soji knew it was him.
“Roger, it’s me. I need to talk to Near,” Soji said flatly.
“Soji….fine I will patch you into Near,” Roger said his voice sounding tired.
“Hello?” Near asked calmly.
“Near, it’s me; I need some information,” Soji said coldly.
“Ah Soji. So you aren’t dead. I believe you still have the Death Note?”
“Near, I will give you the Note when I am finished with some last business, but I need to know about the man that threatened Ryuza,” Soji laughed.
“You mean Ralph the weasel man that escaped your annihilation of Xero. He and another man under him have become the new Xero working together. I can give you the location of their hide out if you want it, but that comes at a price.”
“I already said that I would give you the Death Note,” Soji said coolly.
“No I want you to return and take this cat already,” Near nearly laughed.
“Kitty-chan?” Soji asked remembering the cat she had left with Near at the start of it all.
“Hahahah a sense of humor after all. That is fine. If I die though, you have to take care of that cat forever got it?”
“I understand. Is Ryuza ok? You are calling from his house after all.”
“Ryuza…Near please don’t let him get involved with this. I need to do this on my own k?”
“Fine, but be careful Soji,” Near said.
“You were never going to lock me up in the first place were you?” Soji asked.
“Nope, you aren’t Kira,” Near laughed.
“Well I’m going to keep the Note for now K?”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“So are you going to give me the location or what?”
“Three blocks from Ryuza’s house or King’s Road 132.”
“Thank you Near. I will see you later then,” Soji smiled hanging up the phone.
“Soji,” Isica said walking in.
“I have to take care of this Isica,” Soji said.
“I really don’t care where you go, but you do know that the boy only has four days,” Isica answered.
“I need to get this done,” Soji replied.
Soji opened the front door and took one last look at the sleeping Ryuza.
“I’m sorry Ryuza,” Soji sighed.
She Ryuza’s house and proceeded to the headquarters. As she walked, Soji began to ponder the fact that the new headquarters were so close to Ryuza. They could easily spy on him. She had to destroy the entire building.
The building had an old skyscraper feel to it, but Soji didn’t stop to admire the architecture. She walked in slowly and casually. A receptionist was waiting behind a desk.
“Hello! How can I help you?” the woman asked.
Soji pulled out a gun before the woman could say any more.
“You could tell me which floor I can find a guy named Ralph on,” Soji smiled happily. The woman was on the brink of screaming, but Soji cupped her mouth.
“Now, now I don’t need any of that,” Soji smiled, “I just want to find the man that thinks he can be the next Xero. I bet you don’t even know about that hehe. Well, in that case….” The gun went off, but didn’t hit the woman. The shock caused her to faint. “That’s a good girl.” Soji took out a syringe and filled it with muscle relaxer.
“Did you know that while unconscious, a muscle relaxer relaxes the brain instead of an intended muscle?” Soji asked to the sleeping girl, “Well it acts so well that it was taken off the regular market for fear of people using it to get high. I know the right dose though; you won’t wake up for a few hours.”
Soji walked into the elevator and pressed five the highest floor. Sure enough the main boss would be there.
Soji caught her reflection in the ceiling and for the first time wondered what had happened to her. The image was by no means distorted, and yet Soji barely recognized herself. Angry emerald eyes stared through green hair that had become messy and ragged. Soji reached for her hair and began to braid it back. It made her reflection better.
The bell sounding the fifth floor opened the doors, and Soji walked happily into the room…….
London was alive that night as it was every night the sounds of the bars mixed with music and harmonized with the hourly sounding of the great clock. Soji was forced to walk though the mass of people on the sidewalks as cars and two story busses rushed by. A few people would turn their heads to see the green haired girl with a book to her chest trying to run through the streets, but for the most part, Soji was ignored.
Isica flew quietly behind stopping every once in a while to look around and make sure that there was no one that continued to stare. Soji pressed on walking close to the curb to try and avoid more people. A moped went by, and for a second of going after it. She dropped the idea instantly. She weaved through the blocks and was at Ryuza’s house before the sun had started to rise.
Ryuza’s house was grander than expected. It was composed of a large area of land where a one story house sat back behind a tall oak tree. There were no front lights on, and Soji assumed that Ryuza was asleep. A garage to the right reminded Soji of Ryuza’s love for working on motor vehicles.
“Are you just going to stand here and look at the house or what?” Isisca asked, “I want my show to go on already.”
Soji was tentative to walk straight up and ring the door bell, so she simply walked around the house to the back door. When they were children, Ryuza had always left the back door as a habit, and she hoped hit had continued. The door didn’t budge as she tried to push, but through the glass, she saw a library room off to the side with candle light pouring from it. Soji held back for a second and then knocked on the door.
The sound of the knock seemed to echo inside the house, and Soji instantly wanted to run away. Then one of the candle lights seemed to stand up and was coming towards the door. Ryuza braced himself for the obvious act that was soon going to be done to him. This was obviously the man that had called on the phone laughing. He looked out expecting to see his murderer at his door, but was shocked to see the green haired girl looking through the glass back at him.
“Ryuza,” Soji said tearfully.
“Soji,” Ryuza answered jerking the door open. The candles hit the cobblestone and cast tiny sparks on the ground. Ryuza stepped on them as he walked closer to Soji.
“I thought you were dead,” Ryuza said feeling tears in his own eyes.
“I’m sorry,” Soji sobbed.
“Don’t be! I have you back.”
“Aright humans, I’m not here to see a sappy soap opera!” Isisca said annoyed.
Soji looked at Isica and then hugged Ryuza.
“Ryuza….I know what you did to get Xero’s name. I know that you know about Isisca. And I know that I love you,” Soji said brushing tears from her eyes.
“Soji, I’ve always loved you,” Ryuza said calmly hugging Soji tighter.
“What did I just say?” Isica asked irritated, “Quit it already!”
Soji and Ryuza broke apart and stared at each other.
“Now are you going to tell him or what?” Isica asked, “That is the reason you came right?”
“Isica you are talking a lot right now,” Soji said, “But I do have to tell you something Ryuza….”
“Soji what is wrong?” Ryuza asked reading Soji’s face.
“You are going to….” Soji broke into fresh tears.
“What am I going to do? Soji? What has brought you to tears?”
“I have shinigami eyes!” Soji said crying, “And I know what you did! Ryuza! You halved your life! And in…five days….”
“I’m supposed to die,” Ryuza said coming closer to Soji, “Soji….Is that what it is? I’m supposed to die.”
“Ryuza,” Soji cried, “Ryuza, I can’t let you….I can’t let you die.”
“Soji….If I die, I’d die happy because I know that I love you,” Ryuza said hugging Soji.
“That’s not what I want! I don’t want to lose you!”
“Soji, I have to tell you….one of Xero’s men has already told me that he will kill me,” Ryuza said putting his head on Soji’s shoulder.
“Ryuza, I don’t want to lose what I just got back!” Soji sobbed.
“Soji, I’m sorry,” Ryuza said. There was no fear in him at all. He had gotten Soji back that was all he wanted.
“Ryuza,” Soji cried.
It began to rain softly, and Ryuza grabbed Soji’s hand and led her into the house. Isica sighed and walked in with them. They moved into the living room. Neither of the slept, so they just watched cartoons on boomerang remembering childhood’s joys and sipped coffee. Soji would smile and laugh, but inside she felt pain and sadness. Ryuza smiled and made jokes, but he felt the pain of knowing his own death date. The T.V. stayed on, but in the end sleep did come.
Soji woke lying on the couch. Her clothes had been ruffled by sleeping in them. Her shoes were still on and were causing her feet pain, but she didn’t care. Her eyes moved to Ryuza who was sleeping in the recliner a few feet away. The chair had been pushed all the way back and his hair covered his eyes. The sounds of his soft breathing made Soji want to cry again. She curled in a ball and waited.
“What are you going to do Soji?” Isica asked.
Soji’s eyes went to the ceiling where the shinigami sat upside down.
“I don’t know,” Soji said quietly.
Soji sat up in bed. Isica remained standing at the window looking out into the night. Her ice-like form was luminescent against the crescent moon filtering through the window like a ghost. The Death Note was at Soji’s side for fear that it would be stolen while she was asleep.
“So Ryuza shortened his own life?” Soji asked.
“Very perceptive, yes when confronted with Xyler or rather Xero, Ryuza asked me for the shinigami eyes so he could learn his real name.”
“What do you mean Xyler?”
“Xero was once Ryuza’s friend at the Wammy House called Xyler.”
“The Wammy House! I never remember a person named Xyler!”
“He was an older student who usually kept to himself and Ryuza. They were room mates.”
“I never asked Ryuza about his room before…..”
“Before you left him to go and help out the U.S.”
“Then this Xyler was Xero. And Ryuza was forced to help him.”
“Yep. I knew it all along,” Isica laughed.
“And you never told me?” Soji asked.
“Have you ever heard of dramatic irony? It adds to a show.”
“You are terrible.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Ryuza….I killed his friend, and he didn’t even react.”
“Ryuza was caught between his once best friend and you. In the end he chose you. How does it feel to be the lucky one?”
“Ryuza…” Soji sighed, “I’m sorry.”
The rest of the night, Isica told Soji more of Ryuza’s story. She also told of how she gave the Note to Xyler and then decided to give one to Soji. In the end it caused Ryuza the bulk of the stress.
“And now Ryuza probably thinks you are dead,” Isica said calmly, “If I hadn’t saved you, then you surely would have been injured badly. Go figure I think I am starting to like you or something.”
“Ryuza….I have put so much pain and suffering,” Soji said starting to feel tears form in her eyes.
“Yes but you also gave him love and happiness that Xyler couldn’t.”
“I have to get to him as soon as possible,” Soji said getting out of her bed. Her pajamas were light blue and cast funny shapes on the wall, desk with a computer in it, and chair across from the window. Her other clothes were ripped and tattered and had been sent to a tailor to be fixed. A white blouse, coat, and black pants were lying on the chair pushed into the desk which Soji picked up and changed into. The clothes fit tight and made her muscles look square.
“I look like a guy,” Soji said looking in a mirror in her private bathroom.
“You would have to cut your hair and get a bit bigger to look like a human male,” Isica answered.
“Now all I have to do is look up where Ryuza is on the computer,” Soji smiled.
“Isn’t that computer locked?” Isica asked.
“Isica you know me better than that. I can get around anything,” Soji said sitting at the desk and starting the computer. She was in within seconds and opened up a people search engine.
“The problem is,” Soji started, “that I don’t know if Ryuza signed into the U.K. with his real name or something else. I will have to run a search on both.”
“Ray Harper?” Isica asked, “Do you really think he would use his real name?”
“No, but I have a feeling he is using Ryuza. Let’s see….Dam there five Ryuzas in London. Hm he did say he worked in the government. I can use that to narrow it down. I found him!” Soji said looking at the picture of Ryuza.
“So now what are you going to do?” Isica asked.
“Here is all his information including a phone number! What time is it? Two in the morning…..I have to try and call….no his phone could be bugged….I have to get to him tonight without anyone knowing. Come on Isica. I’m going to need you to keep an eye out for people while I sneak through the city. Ryuza is thirty blocks from here. I could easily take the night buss, but there could be a confrontation….Isica would you mind flying me?”
Isica looked up stunned.
“Soji I am not here to help you. I’m here to watch the show.”
“Fine,” Soji sighed and began to crack open the window open. The night air rushed is and blew back her hair. Soji slipped down a pipe on the wall and was soon on the ground. At two thirty in the morning, Soji ran through the streets of London.
Sorry my story is kina turning into a soap opera. I never imagined it would happen, but it did. *shrugs* When school starts though, I'm going to slow down on writing just to let you ppls know. If I do end it....I don't know what I would do....maybe I would ask SomeGuy to publish it as a whole....
Soji disappeared after that. Ryuza stayed at the school and graduated. He entered the English government and worked to keep peace. He watched as Near and Mello took down Kira and sometimes wondered what Xyler thought. It wasn’t until after Kira’s killings miraculously stopped did Ryuza hear from him. It had been on a silent night when the fire place burned dead wood and the sounds of a world asleep danced. The phone rang and broke the silence. Ryuza stared at it and then picked it up.
“Ryuza Hirugi English Defense Department,” Ryuza said tiredly. He had been awake for more than thirty hours on a case that refused to break.
“Ryuza…. It’s me” The phone said calmly, but the voice was in pain, “Kira is dead….his judgment has stopped….”
“Xavier,” Ryuza said unable to control his surprise, “how did you get this line?”
“Does it matter? Kira is dead. His judgment has stopped, and the world is becoming rotten again.”
“Xyler, why have you called me? Last time, I thought you were gone forever,” Ryuza said feeling an edge in his voice.
“Kira is dead….Near killed him….”
“How do you know Near did?”
“Mello and Matt are dead, and Soji is still hiding out in America….”
“Soji….” Ryuza sighed.
“You still have feelings for her,” Xyler said calmly, “She has made a space between us.”
“You did that on your own.”
“Kira’s judgment…it will start again….and this time it will destroy Near and all of the Wammy House children.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Ryuza, for your own sake, please join me. You are still my first friend.”
“Xyler….I will see you, but I will do no more than that.”
“It is a start.”
“Xyler, where have you been all this time?”
“Here and there and everywhere. And I go by Xero now.”
“That name doesn’t sound human to me, and you know it Xyler.”
“It’s more of a name now than Xyler. I served Kira as Xero and I will work as Kira as Xero.”
“You don’t….” Ryuza lost his words completely.
“I have a Note, and Kira’s judgment will continue.”
“Xyler, you can’t….”
“Near has been trying to keep me quiet for a week now, but soon it will come out. Kira’s power has returned, and I have used it. Join me Ryuza or I will destroy you as well.”
“Xyler! Don’t do it! They are people’s lives!”
“The world is rotting, and I will fix it.”
“Xyler!”
“Xero now. And when we meet again, I trust that is what you will call me by?”
“Xero….where and when?”
“Back home of course. The Wammy House and when, well how about tomorrow.”
The phone died, and Ryuza was left with a pit in his stomach. He could not sit still and therefore ordered his plane tickets and was at the Wammy House before the night turned to day. The old house looked tired and worn. Ryuza sat outside patiently.
“Ryuza,” a voice said so happily Ryuza almost mistook it for Soji. He looked up and saw the face of the boy that had now become a man. His piercing eyes had changed from the gentle blue to a piercing red, and his white hair had turned darker. This was not Xyler; it was Xero.
“Xero,” Ryuza said standing up.
“Ray Harper,” Xero said smiling, “So that is your real name. I always wondered what it was. Your fake one was always so annoying. It’s nice to see…”
“You have the,” Ryuza started.
“Shinigami eyes yes, and I have the Death Note see? Half my life given to a shinigami named Isica so that I could have them. I can kill with only a face. And here is the school where no pictures were kept. Hahahah. Near was smart enough to spare himself from a quick death, but it will be easy enough.”
“Xero,” Ryuza said staring straight at him, “Look what you have become.”
“Hahahahahahaha I like it! It is so much nicer than Xyler.”
“I did not make friends with Xero. I made friends with Xyler.”
“Of course you did, but I will never use that name again.”
“Xyler is dead,” Ryuza said sitting down on the steps, “He was the first one to be killed by Kira. And in his place is a man I don’t even know.”
“I am right here Ryuza,” Xero said kneeling down, “Where I have always been.”
“No, I lost you to Kira,” Ryuza sighed. Xero moved closer still.
“Ryuza, if you want, you may call me Xyler,” he said sitting next to Ryuza.
In that moment, Ryuza punched Xero hard in the stomach and grabbed the Death Note. He ran several feet to avoid Xero’s kicks.
“What do you plan to do with that Ryuza? Kill me? You don’t even know my real name,” Xyler taunted.
“No, but I can make a trade. I see your shinigami,” Ryuza said.
“Ahh do you want the eyes?” Isica asked, “The price is constant. Half your life in exchange.”
“I’ll do it!” Ryuza said quickly. In seconds the name appeared above Xyler. No his name is Xavier Heartwrite, “Xavier Heartwrite. This ends now.”
“You can’t kill me,” Xero laughed before Ryuza had the chance to write down the name, Xero knocked the book from his hands. It went flying. Xero punched Ryuza hard. Then harder still. Ryuza blocked and punched back, but it was not enough. Xero was obviously stronger. Ryuza was forced backwards and fell onto the steps of the Wammy House. Xero smiled and pulled out a gun.
“Ryuza, the fact is you have never killed before and are not able to now. I have killed many times, but another fact is that you have information that is useful to me. Another fact still is that if you do try to run, I will shoot you square in the heart. Do not move,” Xero smirked bending down to pick up the Note.
Ryuza thought of every reason to instantly move even if it did cost his life, but then a picture of Soji entered his mind.
Ryuza was taken back to the hideout and tortured for information. All the while all he could think of was why he had not taken the chance. He was forced to do things that he could never forgive himself for and all the while wondering what made his life so special that he felt the need to protect it. He was chained and beaten. When Soji finally freed him, he saw fully what had happened and that Soji had asked Isica for the shinigami eyes. He knew that Soji’s book was real. He knew that the book was fully hers, and he knew that he loved her. Playing ignorance, Ryuza kept Soji safe from Near, but now she was killed. She was dead somewhere in the Russian planes. D-E-A-D dead. Now it was his turn. Ryuza stared back at the phone that had laughed at his misery.
“Soji, this is all my fault. I’m sorry,” Ryuza whispered into the night.
[Somewhere farther away Soji lay awake in the night]
“Isica, why did it have to be Ryuza? Why is he going to die? I less than five days. Ryuza is going to die…” Soji said into the darkness of her room.
“Humans all have different life spans. It is just how things are. Ryuza is going to die because he wanted to spare you. He gave half his life to make sure that you could kill Xero before he killed you.”
“What do you mean?” Soji said sitting up.
“Why do you think Ryuza knew Xero’s real name?” Isica asked standing at a window.
“He knew then that….”
“Yes.”
“And he lied about…”
“But of course…”
Ryuza turned around in his desk and began to study. Studying was easy and came naturally. Xyler didn’t return until late that night. And he was drunk. He walked in laughing with a bunch of older boys saying things that made no sense to Ryuza whatsoever.
“We’re going to get some money, some girls, and some fun!” they sang arm in arm. Ryuza recognized one of the boys. He was a weasel like boy called Ralf. The others were a complete mystery to him. When had Xyler made friends with these guys? Ryuza wondered. They’re all idiots.
“Alright!” Ryuza said, “All of you, out! Xyler, bed!”
“But we were just celebrating Kira!” Xyler said falling half over. Ryuza grabbed his shoulder and steadied him.
“Out all of you!” Ryuza ordered. It was as if he was ordering around children.
They all sighed and walked sadly out of the room.
“Ryuza, you’re too hard on ‘em,” Xyler laughed drunkenly.
“Finals are coming up and all you can think to do is drink?” Ryuza asked.
“Heck I don’t care! I’m gonna be out of here soooooon!” Xyler smiled falling into Ryuza’s bed.
“You need to go to bed,” Ryuza sighed sitting back down at his desk.
“Are you going to miss me?” Xyler asked.
“Xyler, you were my first friend. Of course I’m going to miss you,” Ryuza answered.
“That’s a good Ryuza,” Xyler smiled, “Miss me and as soon as you get out of here, come look me up. I’m going to find Kira and join him!”
“Xyler, Kira is evil,” Ryuza sighed again.
“No he’s perfect,” Xyler laughed falling asleep in Ryuza’s bed.
“Xyler,” Ryuza frowned, “What is becoming of you?”
The next day Xyler woke up remembering nothing of the conversation between him and Ryuza. He acted normal, but Ryuza couldn’t help but wonder why he was so Kira obsessed. Ryuza mustered enough courage to ask on the last day they were together as children. They were outside the school looking at it in the mid day sun.
“Xyler, why do you obsess over Kira so much,” Ryuza hadn’t meant to be so blunt, but it had simply come out. Xyler turned and looked straight at Ryuza.
“Well I’ll answer that, but you have to answer one question for me. Do you love me?”
“What do you mean?” Ryuza was drawn back by the image of yaoi that had suddenly appeared in his mind. Reading his face, Xyler laughed.
“No not like that. I meant if it was between me and Soji, who would you chose?”
“I can’t answer that,” Ryuza said trying not to sound too astounded. Where had this come from?
“I kept you safe these semesters; I put you up to things that helped you grow. Answer.”
“Fine…I guess so bro,” Ryuza said half-heartedly.
“Would you do things if I asked?”
“What would those things be?”
“Answer.”
“I…..fine if they are within my abilities, but where is this going?”
“Ryuza would you even tell me Soji’s real name?”
“I don’t know it….No one knows each other’s real names…especially with Kira right now…”
“But if you did…”
“Xyler stop.”
“I’m sorry Ryuza. I didn’t mean to go off on you like that it’s just that I never had anyone, and you were my first friend. I wanted….I don’t know….I just wanted you to promise me something that I now know I could never ask.”
“What is that?”
“You don’t have to answer because I know the answer. But I wanted to ask if you would join me in eliminating Near, Mello, Matt, and maybe Soji so that Kira wouldn’t have to deal with them…but I was being childish…”
“They are the successors of L! And they are people! Human lives!” Ryuza answered trying to keep his feelings for Soji from overtaking him.
“They will someday join L to go against Kira.”
“Why Kira? Why do you press him like a God! Why Xyler? Why would you kill them? Why?”
“Remember how a long time ago you asked where I was from and I answered I had no real home and that my parents were killed before I could remember. Well Kira killed the man that killed my parents. He killed the murderer who did not get sentenced because lack of evidence. He saw through the man and gave me revenge. And he is my god for it. You could never understand. Your mother died of an illness you didn’t have to watch as a baby as she was slashed to death for trying to protect her child. Kira gave me hope that people like that will no longer exist in this world. Do you understand Ryuza?”
Ryuza was stunned into silence. So that was why Xyler….. It was an answer that had come painfully, and Xyler turned away to face the school again.
“I’m sorry I hurt you Ryuza. I never meant to put you up to this. See you around. Keep Soji safe k? I know how much she means to you. Keep her safe and away from the Kira investigation. For if she interviews, I will not regret watching Kira kill her. Good-bye Ryuza.”
“Xyler….” Ryuza called to him as he left, “Xyler don’t walk away! Xyler!”
But Xyler did not look back even once. He walked straight on away from Ryuza and towards Kira.
That year, Xyler graduated and left the House disappearing from the eyes of the world. In the months to come, and L was killed. Near became L’s successor, and Mello left the House taking Matt with him. Soji left as well. In the days before she left, Ryuza tried everything to keep her from leaving.
“Soji! What do you plan to do? L is dead! Let Near take care of it! Or Mello, or Matt!” Ryuza said hysterically as Soji packed her things.
“Ryuza, I have to take care of things in the U.S. The government over there has all but fallen to Kira. I’m going to stand it up again,” Soji smiled.
“Soji! Please don’t do this! You could be killed!"
"It's a risk I am willing to take."
"I can't let you go on your own."
"Then come with me."
"But Kira..." Ryuza said remembering Xyler's last warning.
"Ha he doesn't know I esist yet. I'm fine. I'm willing to take the risk.
"I'm not willing to though!" Ryuza said grabbing Soji's arm. Soji stopped and looked at him straight in the eyes. He had never noticed before, but she had green eyes. These green pools stared deeply at him now.
“Ryuza, I have to go. I’m not like you. I can’t sit still and watch on the sidelines. You know that about me. Ryuza…” Soji stood and looked at Ryuza.
“Good-bye Ryuza,” Soji said hugging him. She broke away and packed the rest of her things as Ryuza stood stunned. As she left her room, Soji didn't even look back once.
That was the second good-bye.
