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.