Brief Encounter

30 January, 2023 Mon.

" You Offer Me A Branch... Then I Will Take Of This Branch And Work My Way Up The Tree... I Will Give Of Myself To Shield The Tree From The Harshness Of Its Environment And Meet The Farmer With The Knife. This Partnership Will Flourish As The Field Does With The Rain... This...Will Be One Decision You Will Not Regret Making Mrs. Kaori... "

That's what he'd said...with such an intense gaze...I thought over and over as I sat alone on the bench seat of a cafe table...close to the window as I stared out. It was a crisp, and beautiful day; very cold outside though. I was waiting for Remu to show up, I guessed that maybe she'd had something to take care of after school...but I didn't mind waiting. At the moment I felt incredibly peaceful. I'd asked her to meet me here...in an attempt to make up for the craziness I'd probably been putting her through. Now more than ever before...now that...the task had fallen to me.

"...another cup....Ma'am?"

I broke away from my self-imposed trance to find the waitress staring at me, waiting for a response. "Oh...yes please." I smiled. As she left, the door opened and a flood of people entered, one of them with distinct green hair. My Remu had arrived. I stood up and waved her over.

She threw her bag into the booth and sat down heavily. "Ugh! I am SO sick of all this Kira-hype!" She began.

"......" I tried to search my mind for some sort of response. "Yes well...I suppose since the reporters of the 'Kira-era' garnered so much fame back then, they're all hoping for a repeat this go-round. Little do they know...that'll NEVER happen."

Remu didn't answer...she hadn't even heard what I said. She was too busy placing her order with the woman who'd brought me back my tea. When the woman departed she turned back to me. "What'd you say?"

"Oh nothing..." I took a sip from my glass. "Don't worry about it all. I'm sure it'll die down once the public grow tired enough of it. Tell me, how was school?"

I listened as she talked about her day, and for awhile things seemed completely normal for me. As though nothing had changed...as though it were just another day... By the time Remu finished her meal, she seemed somewhat happy. And then, the moment was broken by the sound of the television's volume being elevated...a news reporter on the screen.

"We've gotten word that elite detectives from Interpol have arrived here in Japan! We are unsure on just WHERE they intend to make their headquarters, or if they'll even be staying here...but we DO know that actions are being taken to suppress this "KIRA-threat". The police want the world to know they will NOT allow another repeat incident as 10 years past." The woman spoke seriously in her 'reporter-tone'. "There is also speculation that this is not the act of KIRA at all. Speculation of this was brought about by the recent deaths of several "Kira-supporters". The Group of Young Men had been rioting in the streets in the name of KIRA...and had harmed several bystanders in the process--or so claimed by the police. We are unsure just WHY they died, or even if it was the cause of this new KIRA...but this reporter thinks they WERE punished by KIRA. After all, KIRA does not accept crime in any form...and--" The report was cut off, fading back to the newsroom.

Remu was holding her head in her hands. "You see what I mean...they can't go a single day without bringing him up..."

I smirked. "Like I said, they're all just wanting a piece of fame. Maybe like that reporter there...they just want to get on KIRA's good side." My mind faded back to the day I had written their names...those fools...making KIRA look like a 'common-killer'. I would not stand for such blasphemy. KIRA was a threat to CRIME. Not a BRINGER of death to those who were innocent. And I held no grandeur dreams of worship. I was just fine killing from the shadows. Being a silent hero to those truly good and worthy. "Remu, I'm gonna go now. I have to make a stop before I head home, so I'll meet you back there alright?"

"Yeah, alright. See ya."

I left the cafe on my way to SK's place. I didn't want him to panic by this new development...and the last thing we needed was to do something rash. As I passed the market, I noticed a sale on apples. I meant to continue walking...but it became increasingly difficult.

"CoMe On!!!! HoW cAn YoU pAsS tHaT uP?!! I know you HEAR me.....come onnnnnnnnn........."

"UGH! fine!" I shouted walking in. I came back out with a full bag. "You OWE me Ryuk..."

"I'm a Death God...I don't OWE you NOTHING Human." He snickered as we walked. Now I had a full bag of apples to lug around. My phone rang...and I went for it...my eyes went wide as I lost balance of the bag and it careened to the ground. "NOOOooooOOOOOO!!!!!" Ryuk screamed as the bag hit the ground. It was though the greatest tragedy in the world had just occurred.

What a baby... I thought as I bent down to gather the apples. Then I noticed two sets of feet directly in front of me. I was...'blocking traffic' now. So I tried to hurry and clean up. I forgot all about my phone...which was also lying on the ground.

"What a mess, I hope that phone call wasn't important." The man before me commented.

"Yeah, it's a MESS. You could HELP...geez!" The other man stated quickly bending down to help me.

"Uh, you don't have to.." I started.

"Just ignore him...he's like that to everyone. Even me." The man helping me commented with a slight laugh.

The first man handed me a single apple, I looked straight into his unfeeling eyes. "We're GOING." He commented loudly and walked around me, continuing on his way. He seemed extremely irritated.

"Auron dammit!" The man helping me shouted. He put the last couple apples in the bag quickly and jumped up. "Here's your phone...sorry about him." He apologized and took off in an effort to catch up.

"Uh...thank you!" I called out after him. I didn't even remember to ask his name...but it was too late...they'd both disappeared into Tokyo's overcrowded sidewalks. I was still slightly shocked that anyone would help me at all...not in this city. They must've been foreigners.

I walked on until I got to SK's building. Ascending the stairs I finally came to his door. I wondered if he would panic by me visiting without warning. He'd seemed slightly panicked the other day...but perhaps that was only around a lot of other people. There was still much to learn about him...

Taking a deep breath I knocked on his door and waited.

-Kaori
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I'm trying to catch up in everything once again. -_-' Sorry ppls... T.T

End