Beautiful Shinigami
Chapter Two 
by Ina-chan
First Posted Online: March 26, 2004
History: Inspired by Bryan Fuller's "DEAD LIKE ME" series

My teacher used to tell us that first impressions are very important. But my mother believed the contrary. Mother used to say that even if people screw up with first impressions, I should still give them a chance. And eventually, when you get to know them better, horrible first impressions become precious friendship memories. And it was true... That's how I became precious friends with Uo-chan and Hana-chan. People always take the wrong impression about them based on how they thought of them when they first met them. So with that in mind, I try to keep... an open mind... with this group of people I now find myself reluctantly.... involved... with. 

And it's really funny how life turns out the way it does. The more I spent time watching them... the more I realize that they weren't strangers after all. I vaguely remember Uo-chan mentioning about this odd group of people who always seem to meet in the cafe. In fact, Uo-chan even pointed them out to Hana-chan and I at one time. But for some strange reason... the group I remember Uo-chan describing back then, and them now was... well... different.

It was hard to explain... I mean I know without any question that it was them. But at the same time, it was hard to believe that it was really them. Why didn't I notice them myself? It's really hard to believe, that I never did... seeing how loud and boiseterous they were. Not to mention the fact that each one of them were strikingly good-looking in their own way. It's really strange why I can't remember seeing them... just like it was strange about you. Even though I remember what happened... the memory of your face continues to elude me. As for my new companions, Uo-chan even jokingly referred to them as the "coffe house cult". Shouldn't I have remembered that? I mean, a cult meeting in a coffee house? Just by that alone, it should be enough for anyone to remember. Don't you think so?

Okay... I know you're watching over me, so let me tell you about them. I don't know exactly what kind of people you enjoy being with, but I think you would probably think that they're interesting, at least.

Hatori-san was the image of dignified nobility. He looks as if he deserved to be in that magazine poll about Japan's top rich and eligible bachealors that my cousin showed me once. There was a definite air of authority and charisma that makes you want to follow his every word. Yet, it was strange that despite that overpowering presence...

Shigure-san was very difficult to miss... specially with his constant flattery to every pretty young thing who passed the table... it was really a surprise to see that not a single one of those girls even turned around with a second look. Shigure-san was quite handsome in a mature-boy-next-door type of way. And it was rather unusual to not take notice of a grown man wearing a traditional yukata in public nowadays. I vaguely remember Uo-chan mentioning something about an eccentric yukata-clad customer, claiming to be a novelist, trying to pick her up after work.

Isuz...eto... Rin-san... I would find out later on that Rin-san doesn't like to be called by her real name. Even by her fellow Shinigami. I don't understand why... But about Rin-san... She's stunningly gorgeous. You can tell that she was unnaturally tall for a typical Japanese woman. Silky ebony hair, pale white skin, naturally red lips... just like one of those exotic-looking foreign models in the magazines. The way she silently keeps to herself lets off a mysterious aura around her that seems to invite people to come near her... like it was beckoning you to want to know the mystery she holds. No doubt that she was the quiet and anti-social girl who always sits in the corner booth, whom Uo-chan described.

Kagura-san was like one of those cute idol models that you see on magazines as well. Full of energy, loud, and cheerful. It was very difficult not to get carried away with her intoxicating enthusiasm. The way she openly shows her affection to everyone, and especially Kyou-kun, was very difficult to ignore. She must have been whom Uo-chan mentioned that the "boarish" girl was abusing her boyfriend again.

As for Kyou-san... well... even if he tried to curl up in a corner to not get noticed, it would be impossible with his bright orange hair and unusual and almost inhuman crimson eyes. His appearance probably matches his personality. His temper easily flares up... though mostly it seemed to be caused by Kagura-san.

The group is still missing one member...

But still... as you can tell, they are all colorful characters and that there is no way at all a person can miss. But for some reason, their existence went completely unnoticed by me, despite them sitting every single day on the booths across from where Uo-chan normally seats me and Hana-chan when we come to visit her. I don't remember seeing them at all.

[...in the local news, businesses and shoppers alike are still reeling in shock from the explosion that rocked the Shibuya district in the early afternoon...]

Then again, I was just a casual passer-by at that time. Maybe I was just a bad eyewitness. The situation is different now. Since it seems that I am now a member of their group, I really don't have a choie but to take notice, observe, and to get to know them, do I? It's almost like information overload. I kind of still feel numb. Then again, this is just another layer to the strange day that I've been having. It actually is a relief to be a passive bystander for a little while. And it's pretty amazing how the way you see things changes when you're forced to be in a given situation. You start to notice people's personalities or get subtle hints of relationships between people behind the simplest of things.

Little things... like the way Shigure-san's voice takes a sing-song lilt that seems to have hidden meanings behind his playful tone.

"The Shibuya case is all over the news today, ne Gura-chan?" Shigure-san's voice travelled over the drone of the cafe radio giving Kagura-san a significant look, before turning his gaze to Kyou-kun, who was busy (and failing miserably) trying to disappear in his seat.

Rin-san rolled her eyes and stirred her tea, "You two are still at this?"

"I won that bet fair and square! You promised to buy a sukiyaki hotpot for us!" Kagura-san replied smugly, "You can hear it in the news report. It was executed perfectly and on time."

"Of course... a promise is a promise," Shigure-san agreed, but the sly playfulness never left his voice as he turned his gaze to Kyou-san, "That is...if THAT... was really the case. Hmmmmm?"

[...cording to investigation, the explosion was caused by a gas leak in...]

And how Kyou-san gets involuntary ticks on his left eyebrow when everyone draws their attention to him.

"Na!?! What the hell is that suppposed to mean?" Kyou-san glared at the older man, though for some strange reason, sweat was visibly beading along his forehead

"Nothing," Shigure-san replied in an innocent tone, "It just seems that this case went along rather smoothly..."

"And what's wrong with that?" Kyou-san demanded angrily

"Well, nothing. I just thought it was an amazing achievement... despite your overwhelming record of incompetence..." Shigure-san stated bluntly with a cheerful smile, "Though I do admit that the unecessary destruction is more subdued than usual today."

"WHY YOU..."

[...saualties in the accident and two fatali...]

"Two?" Rin-san looked up with a raised eyebrow, suddenly interested, "Did the news say that there were two bodies? I thought there was only supposed to be one guy at Shibuya today."

Kagura-san blinked before turning to Kyou-san with a puzzled expression on her face. I didn't understand what was going on, but based on Kyou-san's reaction to everyone's looks... it was very obvious that whatever it was... it was very serious. Despite of myself, I couldn't help but give Kyou-san my own inquiring look. I really felt bad seeing Kyou-san's strange eyes freeze nervously like that of a poor cat caught in the headlights of an incoming car.

"Kyou," Hatori-san finally spoke, emitting an involuntary flinch on the younger man, "Where's Yuki?"

"IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!" Kyou-san cried out defensively, "He took it from me. You know how he... he... gets when he..."

"Who was it?" There was a quiet... almost frightened... quality in Kagura-san's voice, that I couldn't help but look at her with worry.

[...tims was local war veteran hero, Kogoro Yamaguchi, who is more well-known as the beloved founder of the Youth...]

Rin-san smirked as she delicately raised her cup to her lips, "'Someone' is not going to be happy when 'Someone' finds out about this."

"Well... what 'Someone' doesn't know won't hurt us, would it?" Shigure-san gave the raven-haired girl a Cheshire Cat grin

An uncomfortable silence fell into the group and all I can do is look at each of their grim faces, growing more and more confused by the minute. Hatori-san lit a cigarette and took a few drags before finally speaking. "What's done is done. We'll simply have to deal with it. What's more important is getting Yuki back."

The final member of the group that I am still to meet.

The mysterious missing Yuki-san... whom I am assuming as the same Yun-person that Kagura-san was referring to a short while back. I searched deep in my memories, trying to recall who this person was in the group.

Though... this time... a vague image of a lithe baseball-capped figure, ears plugged to a portable player who always sat alone appeared in my mind's eye. Of course... That person I remember more clearly than the others because I remember commenting to Hana-chan once about how sad that he seems being alone all the time. I think I even met his eye once or twice... and I even remember that not once did he even acknowledge I was there... and... and...

That's it.

The fog in my memory sets in once again. I really can't explain... It's almost like how it was with my memories of you. The more I think about it... I remember seeing him, but I can't remember his face! I can't even remember the color of his eyes.

"I think I know where he is," Kagura-san's voice interrupted my thoughts, "We were just there, ne Tooru-kun? They brought some Shibuya people to the hospital."

"Y-yes," I reply hesitantly, not really sure what she's talking about. Though I did remember the ambulances, just before Hana-chan and Uo-chan arrived.

"Tooru-kun and I can pick him up," Kagura-san volunteered helpfully, "That way it'll be two birds with one stone."

Eh? What did she mean by that?

"Pick him up," Hatori-san finally said with a sigh, "And Kyou, go with them."

"WHAT!? Why should I?" Kyou-san demanded haughtily, trying to shake followed by Kagura-san's excited squeals as she flew from her seat to latch herself to Kyou-san's arm.

"Because it's your fault in the first place," Rin-san stated sweetly, earning a death glare from her orange-haired companion

"Don't start," Hatori shot out, in Rin-san's direction, a low warning tone before Kyou-san could retort, "I want Yuki retrieved and be in this room on time for tomorrow morning's assignments... that is, unless you want Akito to be here instead."

Everyone visibly blanched at the comment. I wonder why.

"GODDAMMIT!!! MIGHT AS WELL GO AND GET THAT DAMNED RAT!" The visible vein throbbing on Kyou-san's forehead contrasted strongly against the forced smile he plastered on his face as he instantly stood up and started making his way out of the door stiffly, Kagura-san getting dragged along.

"Leave everything to us, Ha-chan!" Kagura-san called out from Kyou-san's arm, "C'mon Tooru-kun! You'll be left behind!"

"Ah! Yes!" I got on my feet and started to go after them

"Honda-kun," Hatori-san called out suddenly, causing me to freeze on my heels, "If I may request something from you."

I looked at his stoic face nervously. I'm pretty sure that Hatori-san is a very nice person... but there's just something about him that makes you want to make sure that you do nothing to offend him. Of course, it doesn't help the fact that you can't really tell just by looking at Hatori-san's face if you did something to offend him or not..."Y-yes?"

"Do everything that Kagura tells you to do," Hatori-san stated in a tone that did not sound like a request at all

"Yes..." I replied in kind. As if I had a choice in the matter. I didn't even have time to stop and think about entirely what Hatori-san said earlier... about my "dead" status being promoted to "undead"... and I personally don't even know if that change is a good thing either.

"Ah Tooru-kun! You'll need this," Shigure-san called out as he pulled something out from the table before flinging it at me, "Catch!"

I braced myself as I caught a... backpack?

"Knowing his track record, he's likely going to embarrass himself. So make sure he gets that..." Shigure added with a wink

"T-thanks..." I replied, clutching the bag in my hands and not really understanding its purpose

"TOORU-KUN!" Kagura-san yelled insistently from the door

"AH! WAIT! I'M COMING" I stumbled out of the booth as I heard the front door chime ring wildly

"See you tomorrow Tooru-kun!" Shigure-san's cheerful voice calling out after me was the last thing I heard before the stepping out of the coffee house

****

"Well, she seems like a nice girl, isn't she?"

"Hmmm... Are you sure this is okay?"

" Well...Ha-san alrealy said, what's done is done. We'll simply have to deal with it. Que sera sera."

"If she sticks to what Kagura tells her, she'll be okay."

"That's not what I'm talking about."

"Ah... well."

"It'll be fine."

"Not that it matters."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You know what I mean. With how things are heading, it'll be game over by the end of the month, anyway."

"Hnnnnn? You really don't have a lot of faith in him, do you?"

"And you have a lot of faith on Akito's favourite toy, don't you?"

"You want to make a bet on it?"

"Shigure..."

"Aw, don't be such a spoil-sport Ha-san. But still... you have to admit, this is definitely going to be very interesting."

"I still say it'll be all over by the end of the month."

"We won't let that happen."

"As much as I don't want to think about it Ha-san, Rin-chan has a point. Knowing how stubborn he could get once he gets his mind into doing things, and with the way things are going now, I don't see how we'll be able to stop it from happening."

"In other words, what's the point of playing the role of a saviour when the one you want to help doesn't want to be saved?"

"He knows what he's doing. He's got this all planned out in a nice and neat formula right from the beginning. He know the consequences, and he's made it clear that he's prepared to take them."

"Well, maybe we just need to add an unpredictable variable to change the outcome of the formula."

"<snort> He'll tear her apart by the end of the week."

"That's evil, Rin-chan. Are you sure you're really not Shinojaki underneath Shinigami clothing?"

"I bet you're just dying to find out, aren't you?"

"Enough, you two."

****

You know that you're having a bad day when you're just walking along life, minding your own business, when an antique china cabinet falls from the sky, splattering your brain on the pavement, and obviously killing you instantly. You know that you're having a nightmare day when you find yourself being led around by strangers, watching your own autopsy, and being told that you're now 'reborn' as a goddess of death. You know that you're in a place that would probably be the closest thing to hell, (that is unless in reality I'm really there and my mind is just sugar coating the situation as some sort of defense mechanism), if you find yourself in the last place on earth that you really don't want to be...

...twice.

And in this case, the Nihon Sekijujisha Iryo Center. I have no problems against this hospital... it is, after all, one of the finest Tokyo hospitals. Then again, you already know about my aversion to hospitals eversince I was a child... as well as the fact that my body is still in this particular one.

"Ah! Sorry Guy! This ain't the one! Pity about this one though."

In fact... I'm staring at my open freezer door right this very minute.

"She seemed like a very sweet girl. But her family's psycho!"

And all at once, thanks to my new body, I regained an ability I lost when I was temporarily... uhm... bodyless...

"The Aunt... I think... demanded to have an autopsy done right away. But that ain't an unusual story. This girl is a very nice compensation package."

Gah! I feel sick!

"Noroi-san, please!" Kagura-san exclaimed as she put an affectionate arm around my shoulder, "My sweet little cousin has a sensitive constitution."

"Sorry about that," Tatewaki Noroi-san, of whom we had the good fortune of being the morgue staff to accomodate us, stated with a sheepish grin as he closed the door he mistook as the one holding the body we were looking for, "I don't know why I'm being scatterbrained today."

"Yeah, smoking pot before your shift can do that to you," Kyou-san muttered sarcastically under his breath

"What?"

"We know that you have so many other things to do," Kagura-san replied loudly as she gave our orange-haired companion a swift elbow on the ribs, "We really do appreciate you helping us with such a short notice."

Noroi-san smiled from ear to ear, "Anything to help a cute girl like you."

Kagura-san made a cute little giggle while Kyou-san made a face and moved a safe distance away before gagging. To be quite honest, it was a struggle to not follow his suit. I can't help but feel great admiration for Kagura-san's acting skills. She was able to keep her charade without batting an eyelash, despite our host's... unpleasantness.

But so far, I've managed to keep what Hatori-san told me to do. Before we entered the hospital grounds, Kagura-san's instructions were to follow her lead and say nothing. We needed to retrieve Yuki-san then and there, but the morgue will not release a body to non-family relations. So now, Yuki-san is my "brother", Kagura-san and Kyou-san are our cousins. We were here, trying to find my missing brother, who was last believed to have been in Shibuya during the time the accident happened.

"Here he is," Noroi-san smiled cheerfully as he opened the freezer door next to mine,"This Guy's one lucky bastard, compared to his room mate next door. You'd expect that he would have turned to ashes or at least his face would have caved in or something after being found so close to the blast. Hell, even though his clothes and his ID were all burned and stuff... but he looks unscathed."

Well, that was a relief, at least... I think.

"If it ain't for the fact that he's got no vitals... it's almost as if this guy's just like sleeping or something."

I really didn't want to be here. Somehow, knowing what to expect made this whole thing even worse. Mom, please give me strength to stay through this. And for some strange reason, my thoughts reached out for you once again. I wish that somehow... for some miracle... you would appear before me in a blinding flash of light and take me away from all of this. Give me another gentle kiss on my forehead and I will wake up from this nightmare. My eyes opening to see my mother bending down at me in concern. But of course that won't happen.

"I ain't never seen anything like it."

This isn't a nightmare... or even a dream. I could only hold my breath and take a step backwards as Noroi-san reached in to pull out the trolley to reveal our missing ward, averting my eyes. But not without catching a glimpse of the youngish profile within it.

Kyou glanced over Kagura-san's shoulder before letting out an annoyed snort and walking a noticeable distance away. Kagura-san simply let out a tired sigh, "That's him all right."

"Man, I'm really sorry to hear that. Whenever family comes here to identify missing bodies and stuff, I sorta half-hope that it ain't them, you know," Noroi-san said with genuine sympathy, before turning to me, "So this guy's your brother? He older or younger?"

"Older," Kagura-san stated non-chalantly as she rubbed the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger

"Younger," My hands flew a tad too late to cover my mouth as the word left my lips at the same time Kagura-san spoke before I could stop it.

"Shit," Kyou-san muttered rather loudly as he buried his face in his hand

Noroi-san frowned as he turned back to Kagura-san,"Whoa... Guy...you people are this guy's family, right?"

"Yes!" Kagura-san exclaimed, giving the man the cutest and most innocent wide-eyed look I have ever seen on a person, before giving me a significant look, "This is my beloved younger cousin Masao."

Masao-san? I thought his name was 'Yuki'... Nonetheless, I bit my lip and nodded my head vigourously.

"How come your 'cousin' here seem to be confused with the sibling order in her family?"

"Well, they're twins," Kagura-san replied smoothly without missing a beat, "You know how it is between twins. They always argue on who's older... Ma-chan was born first, but you know that girls mature faster than boys..."

Kyou-san left out a muffled sound that sounded like a cross between a laugh and a snort from where he was standing. From the corner of my eye, I could see his eyes looking around the room, with a strange expression on his face... as if he's trying to distract himself from bursting out laughing. I suppose if I wasn't so terrified, I would have found the whole situation funny too.

In the meantime, Noroi-san studied Yuki-san's face for a few moments before turning back to look at me, "Twins huh? But they look nothing alike. They don't even look like they're brother and sister."

"They have different fathers, okay?" Kyou-san suddenly called out from his corner.

Gah! I could feel huge beads of sweat pooling from my forehead. If looks could kill, Kyou-san would be writhing in pain on the floor from the seething daggers Kagura-san was giving him across the room. Kyou-san simply shrugged as he played with a paper-weight in his hands, still struggling to keep the expression on his face impassive. If I didn't know better, I'd think that he was actually enjoying this.

"Different fathers? Heeeeey Guy... you just said that they were twins," he folded his arms around his chest and gave Kagura-san a reprimanding glare, "Look Miss...and Guy...and Miss... you're cute and all, and I have to admit I have fallen for your charms. But Tat-chan here ain't stupid, no sir!"

"We never implied that..."

"Sleeping Beauty here don't have no ID to prove that you're who you claim you are. And he's not talking any time soon, now isn't he?"

"But---"

"Look, there's ain't no way I'm handing this little guy to you. There! I think you better leave before I call security."

"Ah, the hell with this," Kyou-san growled irritably.

Within a blink of an eye, a heavy looking piece of plastic sailed in the air and connected with the back of the morgue staff's head. I could only let out a muffled shriek as Noroi-san slumped to the floor, unconscious. Kyou-kun casually walked over and nudged the fallen man with his foot, "So what do you think of that, huh? 'Guy'? Annoying little freak..." He then looked at Kagura-san with a satisfied smirk as the other man let out a low groan, "Okay, that's done, we're outta here."

"DAMMIT KYOU! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DO THAT!?!? YOU COULD HAVE KILLED HIM AND BROKEN YOUR PROBATION!" Kagura-san yelled angrily, completely losing her composure. She took a deep cleansing breath and flipped through a small daily planner that she pulled out from her pocket, "Besides, he's not supposed to die next Tuesday. You know how Akito hates it when things go out of schedule."

"You're the one to talk!" Kyou-san rolled his eyes and shrugged, "Relax! He's alive, okay. Just wake up the damned Rat and get it over with before our friend here comes to."

"Me?" Kagura-san gave Kyou-san an incredelous look, "You want ME to wake him up? This is your mess, YOU wake him up!"

Eh? I frankly don't understand why Kagura-san and Kyou-san seemed so apprehensive about doing something as simple as that. I personally feel more nervous about what would happen if Noroi-san wakes up while we were still unable to do what we came for. Or if someone walks in on us... or security cameras! There has got to be security cameras in a place like this, right? What if someone saw Kyou-san knock out Noroi-san from a security video? Someone has got to be their way...

"Anou..." I called out quietly as I nervously looked around us, "If you can't decide... I'll wake him up... though I'm not quite sure how."

Both Kagura-san and Kyou-san froze and fell silent at the suggestion. Kagura-san, then crossed her arms and gave Kyou-san a reprimanding glare. That angry tick on Kyou-san's left eyebrow twitched again as he silently walked closer to the open freezer.

Kagura-san then skipped toward me and led me away to a safe distance, "Watch and learn, Tooru-kun. You're about to learn a very valuable lesson."

I simply nodded mutely, not really understanding what was going on, and watched as Kyou-san cautiosly stood over Yuki-san's prone body and poked it with his finger with a nervous "Oi". When the other boy didn't respond, Kyou-san took a deep breath bent down and yelled, "STOP FOOLING AROUND AND WAKE UP, DAMMIT!" The proceeded to push the trolley back into the freezer and closed the door with a loud slam. The sound echoing loudly within the four corners of the room.

"Jeez! Kyou-kun! You're supposed to wake Yuki up, not the whole morgue!" Kagura-san cringed

"DAMMIT WOMAN!" Kyou-san yelled with an accusing finger, "WHEN WILL YOU EVER BE SATISFIED!?!?!"

From the floor, Noroi-san let out another moan. How can they argue at a time like this? "Anou... I think we better hurry up..."

Kyou-san's eyebrow twitched again as he reluctantly turned back to the freezer compartment behind him. He was visibly holding his breath as he opened the door at arm's length, then automatically flinched... as if he was anticipating a bomb to explode.

"Kyou-kun~~~~ stop being so melodramatic. Just get it over with so we can get out of here," Kagura-san whined irritably

Our orange-haired companion shot Kagura-san another dirty look before reaching in to pull out the freezer trolley once again,

"Let's see YOU stand over here and give THIS a shot."

Kagura-san simply stuck out her tongue in reply. Which was really a good point. I really don't understand why they were behaving so strangely.

Kyou-san then took another look at Yuki-san's body, "Oi... maybe it's just me. But he's definitely acting stranger than usual today. He's already healed up and and all... shouldn't he be awake on his own by now?"

"Hnnnn," Kagura hmmed as she started to make her way closer, "Don't tell me you're actually worried."

"HELL NO!" The boy exploded angrily as he folded his arms over his chest,"He can get himself blown-up to bits and deep fried in hell for all I ca----GAAAAAAK!"

I let out a surprised yelp as a pale arm suddenly shot out and grabbed Kyou-san by the collar as Yuki-san sat up and pulled the boy intimidatingly close to his face,"You're too noisy."

"Ah... yeah... sure," Kyou-san replied weakly, rivulets of sweat dripping down his face, "Are you fully awake now?"

"And that, Tooru-kun," Kagura-san pointed out proudly,"Is exactly what you SHOULDN'T attempt to do around a sleeping Yun-chan."

Yuki-san let go of the other boy's collar, and Kyou-san took the opportunity to quickly slink away from reach... behind the safety of a nearby cabinet. Yuki-san took a quick survey of his surroundings before clutching his head with a pained groan,"Crap... I'm in a morgue again, aren't I."

"Yep," Kagura-san replied smoothly as she unzipped the backpack I was wearing and rummaged through it,"Lucky for you, you haven't been here yet... Japan Red Cross Medical..."

Yuki-san awkwardly swung his legs out to the side of the trolley, let out a defeated sighed as he looked down on himself, "Where are my clothes?"

"Forget about them," Kagura-san walked closer, as she draped the clothing she retrieved from my bag over his head,"Just wear these quickly before you embarrass yourself in front of a lady."

"Since when were you a lady?" Yuki-san mumbled absently

Kyou-san let out a snort in agreement as he rummaged through the plastic bags in the cabinet drawer.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, seeing what state you are in now," Kagura-san stated blandly before motioning her head towards my direction.

It was only then that Yuki-san seemed to have noticed my presence as he turned to face me completely... and I saw him clearly for the first time. I felt my breath catch in my throat as I found myself drawn into those eyes... and taken aback by his hair... Like the variant shades of red in Kyou-san's eyes and hair... Yuki-san's were hues of unusual gray. His eyes reminded me of dark waters before a storm... while his hair gleamed like slivers of dark silver... Despite its strangeness... I have to admit that it seemed to fit the almost feminine features of his face. Mysterious and dark... yet at the same time beautiful and... angelic.

And once again... for some strange reason... I suddenly find my thoughts returning to you. My dear faceless angel... I know, in the deep recesses of my mind that contains the lost shards of my childhood memories... If I ever find that piece that contains your face, what kind of beauty will that sliver reflect?

"Who are you?"

I immediately felt myself pulled back to reality and found a pair of confused gray eyes blinking at me blankly. I felt my cheeks flush in embarrassment upon realizing that I've been staring at his face. I tried to apologize, but for some reason, my voice seemed to have lost its way on route to my lips. All I could do was avert my eyes lower only to let out a gasp of surprise. I turned around, feeling every strand of hair on my body prickle in total mortification upon the realizing that on top of everything... he was also... quite... naked.

"Kagura... please tell me that this is NOT Shigure's underwear..."

"YOU'RE IN NO POSITION TO COMPLAIN YOU DAMNED BASTARD!" Kyou-san cried out heatedly from the cabinets

Though it would seem that my embarrassment was painlessly overlooked.

"Yun-chan, will you please just get dressed?" Kagura-san sighed before instantly switching to her more cheerful manner,

"Well, then. I guess in the meantime, it'll be okay to make our final introductions. Yun-chan, this is our rookie, Tooru Honda. Tooru-kun, this is Yuki, the last member of our group and also our unofficial second-in-command. Don't let first impressions bog you down. He's normally not like this."

"Yeah... He's usually a even bigger asshole when he's fully oriented," Kyou-san smirked, ignoring the middle finger Yuki-san was flashing, as he lifted a clear plastic bag of singed personal belongings, "Found it!" With that he scooted across the room to behind me with almost catlike agilily and stuffed Yuki-san's belongings in my backpack, "All physical evidence that we've been here is gone. Let's go before our friend wak..."

"GUY! Did he just came back to life?"

GAAAAH!!! Too late. Ah! Ha... HAAAAAAAH! What do we do now? I slipped up and made a total fool of myself and now we're caught and I got everyone in trouble and...

"Taaaaaaaat-chan," Kagura-san said sweetly as she skipped to where Noroi-san was sitting and shook her head mournfully, "You really should stop doing drugs before going to work. It's giving all these horrible hallucinations. You know, you could seriously get hurt... or even killed if you continue to do this."

"Or at least find better quality pot," Kyou-san added helpfully as he picked up another paper weight from the desk

"Are you kidding, Guy?!?" Noroi-san gave Kagura-san an incredelous look, "This weed is awesome! The dead never came back to life before!"

"Well, if you say so," Kagura-san sighed sadly, "I suppose I'll be seeing you next Tuesday."

"Really? Cool!" Were the last words from his lips before Noroi-san once again blinked to unconsciouness by paperweight

"That's that. Are you ready, Yun-chan?" Kagura-san said cheefully as she turned back to Yuki-san who finally managed to drape the yukata around him... only to toppled ungracefully on the floor when his legs collapsed as he attempted to get on his feet.

"...ow," Yuki-san stated weakly from the floor

"I am NOT carrying him," Kyou announced heatedly before Kagura-san could even turn her head.

My mother always taught me that first impression don't really matter. Never judge people before you get to know them. To be a person who trusts other people. I mean, they all seem nice and everything... But to be quite honest... even Mother's sayings can't seem to ring true at this situation. The more I get to know these people, the more I'm feeling a little bit uncertain if I really want to know them.

"So... Yuki-san is our second-in-command?" I asked Kagura-san lamely, to drown out Kyou-san's indignant obscenities

"Yup! AND he's also your mentor..." Kagura-san answered in that cheery tone of hers, "So until you become a full-fledged Shinigami, you and Yun-chan will be spending a lot of time together. Just like a real brother and sister! Isn't that wonderful?"

EH!?!?

"Touch me, and I'll show you how flexible the human spine really is."

"GODDAMMIT! I'M NOT HELPING YOU 'CAUSE I WANT TO!"

.........

End of Part Two
Return to Chapter One  
Continued on Chapter Three 

AUTHOR’S SQUAWK:

        This chapter turned out very very VERY different and much much longer from how I originally intended it to be. I hope the chapter is consistent. I hate juggling with so many characters at the same time. Side notes... "Masao" came from a very psycho character in "MARS", who looks almost exactly like Yuki (minus the fringe). Though Masao-kun acts a lot more like Akito, despite having Yuki's sweet face. ^_^.


        Nihon Sekijujisha Iryo Center (Japan Red Cross Medical Center)is an actual hospital in the Shibuya district. I've never been there. I just used the name because I thought it was pretty kewl. No offense to the hospital in question, I'm sure that's not how their morgue staff works.

        Though Tat-chan is inspired from a real person I know. Yes... Ina-chan knows interesting people. ^_^.


Ja!
Ina-chan