Spoiler
(Last night was my first night back in Kyoto. Despite all the trouble I got into in just that one night, it really did make me feel like home. Still, I hope I don't forget my purpose. There's someone here that I'm dying to see. Maybe I should take some time to get settled in, since Isabella called an airstrike on my house! Yeah, I guess that sounds alright. Okay, Osamu. Time to get up, big boy.)
Osamu woke up alone in Yoko's bed, his head throbbing from the events of the night before. The cool, morning sun radiated through Yoko's silky, red curtains, converting its light into a dreamy, crimson aura that gently veiled everything in the room.
*ROUGE*
(All things considered, Yoko's bed is really comfortable. I actually slept like a log...despite being molested...)
Osamu: Yoko? You out there?
Osamu opened the door and ventured out of the room. Only now did he realize how large Yoko's house was. It was certainly better than the little house he had...before it was blown up. He proceeded downstairs, fluffing out his frizzy bed hair, and landed right into the kitchen, where he could see Yoko preparing a meal. She kept her hair tied and wore her shirt from last night over and a pair of underwear.
(Oh baby, what a beautiful kitchen! Seasoning racks! Granite counter-tops! Polished wooden cabinets! Look at that knife collection, sharpened to perfection for clean, even cutting! Am I in kitchen utensil heaven?! Ooo! And look at that stainless steal fridge! It's spotless!)
Osamu: Umm, good morning.
Yoko smiled and turned her head around.
Yoko: Good morning, Osa! Sleep well?
Osamu: Yeah, I did actually. I...don't really remember you living in a house like this when we first went out...
Yoko: Yeah, well, a lot of things change in four years, right? My father passed away while you were gone, and he left my mother and I a lump sum of money.
(I missed something like that in my absence?)
Osamu: He passed?! I knew he was sick, but...I thought...
Yoko: Yeah, don't worry about it. I've already cried like a baby over it.
(Now I understand why she wanted to kill me at first.)
Osamu: So... you live here by yourself? Where did your mom go?
Yoko: I'm old enough to take care of myself, so we went our separate ways after Dad died. Last I heard, she moved somewhere in Hokkaido.
Osamu: Well, at least it's nice and peaceful there.
(I can't believe Yoko went through all of that after I left. Damn it, I should've at least said goodbye...)
Yoko: Did you want some food? I've got some cold somen here.
Osamu: Really? I'd love to, but I should really get going...
Yoko: Going?!
Her facade of politesse intanstly shattered as her uncontrollable, wild anger possessed her. Yoko threw her knife just past Osamu's cheek, striking it into the wall.
(Holy crap, is she strong!)
Yoko: Osamu...it is rude to refuse something your host wants to give you. It is especially rude to excuse yourself out of their home so carelessly. Where did your respect go?
Osamu: Whoops, you're right, Yoko! My bad! I was being stupid, yeah! You have my sincerest apologies! Please forgive me!
(God I hope she doesn't kill me!)
Yoko: Just so you know, the only way you will ever leave this place is with me. Either we go on dates, or our bloodied bodies are collected and bagged by a crime scene clean up crew!
(Totally not a psychopath...)
Yoko: Food's ready darling!
(I can't believe how quickly her personality changes...)
Osamu and Yoko sat together as the kitchen's center counter that doubled as a sort of dinner table, the former on the verge of soiling his pants.
(I wonder if I'll soil myself or sweat myself to death first....)
Yoko: Thank you for this meal.
Osamu: Thank you for this meal.
Osamu dug into the cold somen, served with an ice cube. It was a perfect dish for the summer heat, and not surprisingly, it tasted really good.
(I should've known. If she's been living by herself this whole time, her cooking is bound to be good. She really has changed since then)
Yoko let down her hair and smiled at Osamu.
Yoko: Is it good? I made it with all of my love for you.
Osamu: I-I-It's really good! As expected of someone as independent as you!
Yoko: Really?! Yes! I'm so happy! Let me know if you want seconds!
(Ah, the sun is so bright today. The sun looks so beautiful on her face. Especially that red dot. Wait, red dot?!?)
As those two lovebirds ate their breakfast togehter, a vengeful Isabella laid down on a nearby rooftop, armed with a hot pink Dragunov sniper rifle fitted with a laser sight attachment to its side, and stabilized with a bipod. Happiness, for her, was a warm gun. It was fair to say that Osamu was sweating bullets.
Osamu: Uhh, Yoko!
Yoko: Yes, love?
Osamu: Let's take a bath together!
(Of all things, why the hell did I just say that?!)
Yoko: A bath? Okay, can it wait until we're done eating?
(No good! If I don't hurry, Yoko will get shot!)
Osamu tackled Yoko onto the ground just before Isabella pulled the trigger and shattered the window with her shot. Yoko immediately knew that it was that accursed, blonde, snivelling, little harlot known as Isabella that threatened to ruin her morning with the love of her life.
Yoko: It's her again! That bitch! Trying to kill me in a bowling alley is one thing, but damaging private property is a whole different kind of offense, especially when my husband is with me!
(Is there some sort of marriage form I filled out while I was unconscious?!)
Isabella: Damn it! Why are you protecting her?
Yoko: Osa, thank you for protecting me, but I need you to move.
Osamu: What the hell are you going to do?
Yoko: I'm going to grab my weapons, and then I'm going to cut her legs and arms off. After that, I'll sew up the wounds to stop the bleeding and leave only a little opening in the sutures so I can hang her from my ceiling and laugh at her as she slowly dies from hunger, dehydration, or infection! Then I'll feed her corpse to the vultures!
Osamu: Absolutely none of that is happening!
(I've got to stop this!)
Osamu: Wait here!
Yoko: Osamu!
Osamu ran through the house and barged out the front door, hoping to find Isabella perched on one of the rooftops. As soon as he stepped out, a loud, explosive bang overwhelmed his ears. His body went numb, and he was brought to the ground.
(I don't understand...what is this?! Why did I suddenly fall?)
Osamu guided his trembling hand to his stomach, realizing he was exsanguinating through a bullet wound above his belly button.
(Oh god, no! Please no! I can't die like this! Damn it, Izzy!)
Isabella: Damn! I thought Yoko would be the one to step out!
(Izzy, you idiot! Don't you check your targets before you pull the trigger?!)
Yoko: Osamu!
Before Yoko could get to him, Izanami abruptly appeared out of a vortex in front of Osamu and immediately rushing to his side. Her beautiful, white kimono, adorned with cherry blossom patterns on the back, wrinkled and folded as she knelt by his side.
(Izanami? How did she..)
Izanami: Osamu! What happened?! I suddenly felt your life start to drain!
Osamu: You can feel that?!
Izanami: Of course I can! I'm the goddess of death! Kiss me!
Izanami held Osamu up and pressed her lips against his. The sight of their locked lips caused both Yoko and Isabella to stop in their tracks, petrified in awe and boiling anger.
(The bleeding ceased...and I can't feel pain anymore!)
Osamu was able to stand by himself. The hole through his shirt revealed a small part of his abdomen that was covered in dry blood, but the wound was perfectly healed.
Yoko: I.Za.Na.Mi!
Izanami: What? I just saved his life! It's Isabella that almost killed him!
Yoko stepped outside and stared at Isabella from the front of the house. She stood frozen on the nearby rooftop, blushing and crying as she hugged her hot pink Dragunov like a child.
Yoko: For once, I agree with you.
And so the afternoon came. Yoko and Izanami brought Isabella into the house, where she bowed as they scolded her. Osamu had just taken a shower and had to wear one of Yoko's shirts.
Izanami: What do you have to say for yourself?!
Isabella: I'm sorry! I thought it was you, Yoko!
Yoko's eye twitched in anger.
Yoko: It would be a real shame if you were to never come out of this house alive! Maybe we should start by ripping off your fingernails and plying out your teeth! Would you like that?! Maybe my crawlspace would make a nice grave for you!
Isabella: Y-you wouldn't!
Yoko suddenly grabbed Isabella by her cheeks and kissed her, deeply and profoundly, as if the two were in love. The seemingly random move left Izanami speechless.
Isabella: W-w-what the hell was that?!
Yoko: I can tell exactly what kind of person someone is by kissing them. Isabella Bailey, born in the state of California, loves sushi and hates veggie pizza, has a collection of Yaoi manga under her bed, prefers Maybelline to Covergirl, wears frilly panties just for the fun of it, perfectly memorized Hiragana and Katakana but still has no idea what kanji Osamu uses for his name, 18 years, 4 months, 28 days, 17 hours, and 4 minutes old, always breaks the yolk when she tries to make fried eggs, scared of insects, has a tough exterior but is really a dimwitted fool who uses too much force and realizes it too late, excellent at mathematics, especially in polynomials and complex equations, and dries with pink towels after taking a shower!
*SHOW OFF*
Izanami: A-amazing! You can seriously do that?!
Yoko: Well? Did I get that right?
Isabella: This is so embarrassing! Just kill me already!
Izanami: Not until you apologize to Osamu!
(I thought I heard noise downstairs. Turns out they invited her in so she can apologize. Lo and behold, Isabella now bows before me.)
Isabella: Osamu! I'm so sorry for sniping you in the stomach and calling an airstrike on your house! Just so you know, I had also arranged for a SEAL team to conduct an operation to kidnap you, but I cancelled that as well!
Osamu: Stop using your connections to burn down the order of this country!
Izanami: Please, as much as she's done, go easy on her. I can tell that she really does feel remorse for her actions.
Osamu: Fine. I forgive you, Isabella.
Yoko: Now that you've apologized, you can go home.
Isabella: Hah....about that...
(Oh man, here it comes...)
Isabella: See, I spent a lot more money than I should have on those military services, so...
Yoko: You racked up a large debt and now your life is in danger because you owe vicious mercenary groups money?
Isabella: Haha...yep...
Yoko: Yeah. Get out.
Isabella: You can't just kick me out on the street like a cat you don't want anymore!
Yoko: Of course I can. It's my house. Unless you'd be willing to lend me your spine to make a nice necklace out of, you have no value in this household.
Izanami: Now, now, Yoko. I know Isabella has done some horrible deeds today, but it's not right to turn away someone without a home. Besides, this could be an opportunity for her to pay back what she caused in damages.
Yoko: Hmm....Well, you did shoot my husband, and you also broke a window. Letting you go now would just be letting you off the hook...fine. You can stay here. But if you don't want to die, you will wash my back every time I bathe, you will handle the dishes and most of the housework, and for every time you so much as glance at Osamu...I will kill you. Slowly. With a spoon.
Isabella: F-fine...
Yoko: Oh, really? That's fine to you? My, my, don't tell me you LIKE to be abused.
Isabella: That's not true! I was just agreeing to the terms you witch!
(Actually, as her ex, I can tell you personally that it really is true. Isabella may be a brash girl, but that sense of power is really only due to the fact that her father is influential. Take that away, and she's just like most other girls.)
Osamu: Isabella, there are dishes to wash from the meal Yoko made earlier. You should go ahead and do them.
You could almost hear a water drop as Yoko's face blushed and her eyes widened. Almost...
Yoko: Osamu! That's so manly of you, telling a woman to piss off and do the dishes!
Isabella: O-okay! If you say so, Osa!
Isabella went right to work, leaving Osamu in the room with Yoko and Izanami.
Osamu: Izanami, there's something I want to ask you. In private.
Yoko: I'm not included?
(There are those sweet puppy eyes again...)
Osamu: Sorry, Yoko. Just wait outside for a bit.
Yoko: Fine. Only because I love you. Don't touch him while I'm gone.
Izanami: No promises.
(I see that rivalry isn't going away any time soon...)
Yoko left the room and shut the door.
Izanami: What is it?
Osamu: I came back to Kyoto, because there was someone I wanted to see.
Izanami: Hmm? Who?
Osamu: Aika's mom passed away shortly before I left, but I didn't get to burn any incense for her. I originally came here because I wanted to visit her grave and give my condolences to Aika. Maybe we could even be friends again. But then, I also learned that Yoko's father passed away after I left. I really did leave at a horrible time, didn't I? And I'm sure that you were lonely because of my absence. No offense, but it's not like you can just walk into any public establishment and be friends with anyone.
Izanami: No offense taken. If there's one thing that hasn't changed about you, it's that you're too sweet for your own good. You came all this way just to visit some graves and console a past love. That's noble, Osa.
Osamu: Thanks. I really needed that after the crazy things I've been through already.
Though Izanami looked like a dead girl, she still had an absolutely precious smile, one that made roses bloom in Osamu's chest.
Izanami: Ah, I see why you told me this. You want me to point you to the grave?
Osamu: Yeah, if you can do that for me, that would be great. You are the goddess of death and creation after all. It's getting late, so let's go out tomorrow and get it done. Is that okay?
Izanami: Works for me Osa!
Osamu: I appreciate it. You know, I really missed you too, Izanami. I'm sorry for just leaving so suddenly, especially after everything you did for me.
Izanami patted Osamu's head, her soft smile holding no grudges against him.
Izanami: You made the choice you felt was best for you. As someone who loves you, how can I argue against that? It's alright. You don't have to apologize.
(Doing this, even though they all tried to kill me....well, except for Izanami....)
The moon's light dominated the night sky asIsabella was given her own room. Osamu wanted to sleep in his own room and bed as well but...
Yoko: Sleep in your own bed? Sure, I can arrange that...if you want to wake up and find a knife plunged into your heart!
So, that was out of the question.
(Thankfully, there's no molestation this time. She's sleeping, but I really want to grab some mochi! Quietly, Osamu. Quietly!)
Osamu could be quite light on his feet, and was able to sneak out of the house by himself. The convenience store wasn't too far away. It'd be nice to grab some snacks and get a good walk in as well. However, on the way there, Osamu heard music coming from underneath the bridge built over the river. Following the tune that caressed his ears, he stepped off of the sidewalk and walked down the slope. When he got under the bridge, he saw Aika sitting on the grass, playing the guitar. She only had her cellphone flashlight to see.
(I see. When your mom passed, you did this to cope. I'm really sorry, Aika.)
Aika was always a mystifying woman, one that was so fascinating to watch because you could never truly decipher what was going on in her head. All you could do was wonder and dream, and so, people's perception of her was based on those dreamy falsehoods, like travelers disillusioned by a siren's song.
Osamu: Uhh, hey Aika.
Aika was startled by Osamu's appearance and set aside her guitar. No matter what, she always wore a leather jacket when she went out.
Aika: What do you want?
Osamu: Can I sit next to you?
Aika: What if I say no?
Osamu: I guess I won't mind. You don't have to if you don't want to.
Aika: Then go away. I don't ever want to see you again.
Osamu: I understand. I came because I wanted to tell you that I'm sorry for your loss. I mean, I know it's 4 years late, but...I just hope you'll forgive me.
Aika: My loss? Oh...you mean her.
Osamu: That's right.
Aika: Why would you care? You left so easily and didn't say anything to anyone. Did you date anyone else in that time?
Osamu: I met a few girls, sure. It never quite worked out.
(I've already figured out by now that I'm no good with women, but Aika can be quite the hurdle)
Osamu: You still play guitar?
Aika hesitated for a moment.
Aika: Yeah.
Osamu: Get into any new genres?
Aika: Jazz and Classical.
Osamu: Wow, the complicated stuff, huh? How about singing?
Aika stood up as soon as the word "singing" came out of his mouth.
Aika: Y-you know that I'm no good at singing! I'm only good on guitar, piano, and the koto.
Osamu: Okay, okay. Fair enough. But I do hope to hear you sing some day, Aika. How about it?
Aika: It's not like I owe you any promises.
(Stubborn as always.)
Osamu: If I can't sit with you, can I sit behind you?
Aika: What a stupid question. Fine...but you have to sit 5 meters behind me.
(What kind of command is that?)
Osamu: Alright. I'll compromise.
Aika sat by the water, continuing her melancholy instrumental as Osamu sat on the grassy slope behind her. She never looked back at him, not even once.
After a short while, the music came to a stop, and Aika put aside her guitar. Osamu was unable to see that Aika had withdrawn a tightly folded piece of paper from her jacket. Slowly, with trembling hands and cloudy eyes, Aika unfolded that small piece of notebook paper, reading the only line written on it to herself.
"Confront Osamu".
Aika: I wonder...if I can cross this out now...
(She's still like that too, huh? Still hiding away whenever she's sad. She thinks I don't know that she's crying right now. I have to make everything right while I still can. Just hang on until tomorrow, Love Song. It may be too late, but I'm going to give my proper thanks to the both of you.)
Meanwhile, back at home...
Yoko: He's not here?! That sneaky little man-whore! I'll be sure to cut off his feet next time!
(If only I had known, that even when you try to make things right, there's always going to be that one girl who tries to kill you...)
End of Day 2
Sounds good Manimal! Bangs would probably look good on her, actually. I might work that into the story now that you mention it.
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