The helicopter landed several times before it turned course and began to make the trek to Mello’s old Mafia building. On one of the stops, Ryuza got off and told Soji to wait for him at the hideout while he dealt with a few things.
“Please don’t go,” Soji begged. She refused to be alone in the helicopter, but Ryuza refused.
“I have matters that need to be taken care of. Soji, please stay safe,” Ryuza smiled, “I love you.”
The words once again hit Soji’s ears. They were new to her and sounded foreign. No one had ever said them before due to the circumstances in which she grew up, but now the worlds feel to her. Tears were forming in her eyes now, and the wound became admitted as her heart pounded blood faster to and from it.
“Ryuza, I love you too,” Soji whispered.
“Then stay safe,” Ryuza said, “and keep that Note with you. I won’t ask where you got it, but I know you won’t be like Kira. You did what you had to. Please stay safe.”
“Ryuza, what are you going to do?” Soji asked.
“I have to go back to Near. He can’t do anything about it because you are no longer in the U.S. but I have to go back.”
“He’ll torture you,” Soji sobbed, “this was my fault! Please don’t do this for me!”
“Soji, I love you, and I’d do anything for you. I’ve always know I loved you. Even when we were back at the House I loved you. I remember the first time you came to the House. I remember the time we both got Mello to steal chocolate and then stole it from him. I remember that you sent a letter to me after Matt and Mello were killed. ‘Don’t worry, I’m fine’ that’s what you wrote. Now I’m saying it. Don’t worry I’ll be fine.”
“Ryuza!” Soji cried.
A soft hand went to Soji’s face then lips on hers. Tears formed again and threatened to break the kiss, but it stayed.
“I’ll be ok Soji,” Ryuza said as he broke the kiss and walked away leaving Soji to fly away in the helicopter.
“Man you two must really love each other,” the pilot smiled.
“Ryuza,” Soji sighed, “be careful.”
The helicopter flew for what seemed like hours until it landed somewhere in a vast expanse of desert. The sand burned Soji’s eyes as she exited the helicopter. The pilot exited as well turning off his large machine. Taking out a key, he walked off a few feet away. Soji followed him and found the beginnings of a steel door half buried in the sand.
“This was one of Mello’s hideouts,” the pilot said flatly, “Ryuza and I are the only ones that know about it. The original owners are dead or rather killed by Kira. It is completely top secret, but I have to warn you, there is a smell of smoke that won’t seem to leave.”
“Matt,” Soji said softly, “Matt smoked a lot.”
The pilot opened the hatch and held it open for Soji. As she walked inside, the pilot handed her the entrance key and walked her down the steep stairs to the bottom. Surprisingly all the lights were already turned on and a few of the T.V.s broadcasted reports. There was a kitchen and a bathroom to Soji’s right and a den with a leather couch opened up in front of her.
“Mello always did like leather,” Soji mused.
“The smell of smoke reminded Soji of the days of the Wammy House. Matt had been a chain smoker for as long as anyone at the House could remember. No one was sure what made him start, but he never stopped after that.
“There is a private bedroom to your left and a computer room to your right,” the pilot said. Forgetting that he was hear and then suddenly reminded, Soji jumped.
Soji proceeded to the computer room and found most of the laptops and other electronics still there. Memory chips had been taken, but the main hard-drives were intact. Soji left the room and walked on to Mello’s couch. As she sat down, Soji’s muscles relaxed a bit and the Note she had been clinging to fell forward a bit.
“So this is the secret Mello base,” the sound of Isisca’s voice bounced off the walls.
Soji looked over and saw the shinigami sitting relaxed on the couch next to her.
“Where did you go when I was out?” Soji asked quietly so as not to alert the pilot who had taken off towards the kitchen.
“Well I was returning the Note I borrowed for the show that you put on, Isisca laughed, “It was Ryuk’s after all. He has so many Notes right now it is not funny.”
“The show?” Soji asked irritated, “that was a show to you?”
“But of course! And what a splendid show you put on. I can’t wait to see what you do next!” Isica laughed.
“I will wait here for Ryuza,” Soji answered.
“And watch as he is captured by Near’s men and tortured because he helped you escape. Wow I would have never expected that from a child like you.”
“No, Ryuza will return. I know it.”
“Suit yourself, but when you find out that your precious Ryuza will die, I wonder what you will do next.”
“What do you mean? I saw his lifespan was 175 whatever that means and as long as a shinigami doesn’t get him then he should be fine,” Soji said curling up into the couch.
“Hahahahah those numbers represent the number of shinigami days that they still have,” Isica said happily. “And one shinigami day is around one hour here,” Isica measured.
“Then….Ryuza!” Soji sat up terrified, “then Ryuza will die in little over a week?”
“Yep.”
What will Soji do? Find out in the next reading of Soji Note. ^_^