Post by karasu on Jul 14, 2012 22:20:08 GMT -5
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| [atrb=style, background-color: #FAFAFA; border-top-left-radius: 100px;] [STYLE=height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-top: -10px; border: 3px solid #98B2BC; margin-left: 150px; background-image: url(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m486/Karasu18/56.png); border-radius: 100px;][/style] [STYLE=height: 100px; width: 100px; margin-left: 255px; border: 3px solid #98B2BC; margin-top: -106px; background-image: url(http://i1128.photobucket.com/albums/m486/Karasu18/56.png); border-radius: 100px;][/style][STYLE=margin-left: 10px; margin-top: -27px; text-align: left; font-size: 23px; font-family: times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; color: #8BA4AE;]bit by bit[/style][STYLE=margin-top: -7px; text-align: justify; font-size: 33px; font-family: times new roman; text-transform: lowercase; color: #8BA4AE; letter-spacing: 1px; background-color: #EEEFF1; text-align: right; border-top: 1px dotted #98B2BC; border-bottom: 1px dotted #98B2BC; padding-right: 10px; line-height: 25px;]everything falls together[/style][STYLE= margin: 15px; background-color: #EFF3F5; padding: 15px; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; color: #233339; text-align: justify;] That woman…honestly, what was he to do with her? Just how did she learn such sensitive information? And…how did she find out that truth before he did? He, Tatsuya Taiyo, the one who had unwittingly held all the cards. Only twice had he ever spoken of his connection to Renji, and only once had Kotone ever heard of him. And yet, from such little information she had pieced together the fragments. Seen through the lies spun by Dasoku Ren, Tatsuya Renji, and the facades of countless detectives he had created to protect himself. And that idiot woman had told him, had the some notion to warn him his brother was not who he pretended to be. Or at least that it was not his only face. What was it that she wanted him to do? Tell the police? Provide evidence against Renji? As if. The bastard may not hold the same sentiments for him, but Taiyo was impressed with Renji. He was not going to turn him in, that was what family was for wasn’t it? And yet, that was the same exact reason Kotone was determined to bring Renji down, wasn’t it? She wanted to protect her family from the demon threatening to devour them. Taiyo honestly hated the predicament before him. It was simple, and yet complex. The choice being the simple part of course, it was his family or hers. It was complex because…the implications of the solution were far too great. He did not like that woman, nor bear any sort of romantic feelings towards her. He found her annoying above all else. But that did not erase the simple fact…he had come somewhat attached to her. Respect summed up what he thought of the idiotic maid. If not anything else, a grudging respect for her devotion towards that very family that shared no blood with her. But blood was something he was sure she was more then willing to shed. That was why…that was why he could not afford to underestimate Harada Kotone, nor could he simply ignore her until the woman goes away. Taiyo frowned, a strange crushing feeling weighing down on his chest. She could not be ignored. Was it…fear he felt as he scrolled down the list of his contacts, searching for her number? Or did he simply confuse the emotion for excitement again? Needless to say, both were useless to him. As soon as the he heard the happy go lucky voice of that woman, Taiyo banished all thoughts of dissention. He had family to protect after all. “Kotone, we need to do something about Renj-Dasoku Ren. There’s a park near here where we can discuss our strategy for bringing him out in the open.” He felt like a spy, infiltrating the enemy camp to destroy them from the inside out. And the reason they did so was to protect their home, wasn’t it? They deceived the naïve people guarding their home, and gained their trust. And no matter who they made friends, the end result was the same. They betrayed them, no matter what bonds and memories they made. It was…for the greater good. “That’s exactly why you should back off.” The face that woman wore showed Taiyo just how much he had convinced her of backing off of dealing with Renji. “If we do, then he can just keep doing what he wants. And he’ll hurt Shuurin even more! I thought we came here to discuss what we can do to bring him out into the open, Tatsuya-san. Are you having second thoughts?” He had no second thoughts. The instant Kotone had told him, Taiyo had already chosen his side. Harada-san wasn’t making anything easier on him however. “I never do. However have you thought about what would happen if both of us were to pressure him? He would notice, that’s why I want you to let me handle this!” So that he could fake Renji’s death and leave the whole thing behind him. Then they could all go about their merry lives, believing that they had slain the demon. As close to a happily ever after as anyone could get in real life. “No, he hurt my baby. I-WE can’t let him get away with this.” Again with the baby thing. If she didn’t remind him so much of his own cheerful mother then Taiyo would have gotten tired of her. “And it doesn’t feel right letting you do this by yourself. If we’re gonna do this, we have to be a team!” Honestly…that woman. The things she said were so naïve…so….tempting… “Are all women as stubborn as you?” Taiyo saw the early warning signs of a slap coming on, and held up his peace offering in defense. A vanilla ice cream cone was all that stood between Taiyo and Kotone’s hand. “It was a compliment. If all women are stubborn like you, then us men have to work harder no? We can hardly stand back and let the females do all the work.” Seemingly appeased, or perhaps just distracted by the ice-cream, Kotone snatched the delectable treat from Taiyo’s outstretched hand. “So, you’re going to help?” Taiyo smiled a disarmingly honest smile. “Of course, did any of your Tsukami friends agree to help?” Kotone made a face, as if she had suddenly realized something. “I…forgot to tell them…where I was going…but don’t worry I’ll tell them everything when I get back! And don’t worry, we can trust them…they’re like family. We’ll bring him out to face the music in no time!” Did Renji like music? Taiyo wasn’t so sure…at least of what kind he liked. “Our victory is assured.” Kotone frowned again. What did he do wrong this time? What did that naïve woman want with him? “And…don’t worry about Ren, Renji! I’m sure they’ll be easy on him! Like…like picking up trash or something! I mean it’s not like he stole someone’s identity he just…made a lot of them.” That was a good point. While it was illegal for a person to steal another person’s identity, it was nowhere near as bad as creating multiple fake personas. Still bad though. Especially when they learn what Renji had done while under the guise of his other selves. “Then what is our plan of attack?” Taiyo smiled, staring at the strange woman eating the food he had painstakingly purchased with his own money. The only reason she was eating it was because the man had given him the wrong one. And Taiyo had been in too much of a hurry to exchange or berate the man. “First, we need to find out how many other people he’s created.” She really had this thought out…didn’t she? “And have you recruited anymore prospective allies?” “No…but I have some in mind! Like Shiro Ringo, and definitely my boss. Yoite will definitely help us with this! And...and-.” On and on, Kotone’s list stretched. Taiyo was…surprised to say the least. They would have enough people to bring Renji to his knees within a month, perhaps even earlier so. And Taiyo found himself being relegated to one of the central players, since he was the only one who knew of Tatsuya Renji. Was this truly the mind of the woman he caused to faint whenever she visited his office? Though her strategy had many holes in it, with enough adjustments…his adjustments…it would work. Unless Renji caught wind of their plan somehow. By the time Kotone had finished up on her dramatization of how they would storm Renji’s fortress, night had fallen. And apparently, the young Harada-san wasn’t one that could stay up late. An infectious yawn interrupted her epic tale of bringing Renji to justice. “Uwaaa, why am I so tired? Tatsuya-san, its your fault.” Poking the multicolored girl’s head, Taiyo sighed. He just had that effect on women, they always complained of being tired around him. Although that was because they found his uncaring attitude toward him tiring perhaps. “Taiyo.” “What?” “We’re partners, call me Taiyo. Since I call you Kotone, it means we’re equals.” Somehow that elicited a smile from Kotone, even as her tired eyes drooped lower and lower. A heavy and cumbersome head hit Taiyo’s shoulder as Kotone gave up the fight of sleep. “Hey partner, aren’t you sad that you’re sending family to jail?” The murmured words barely reached Taiyo’s ears, but the message was all the same. “I’m only doing what I can as his brother.” Why did he sound so apologetic? “But aren’t you sad?” Was he? Was he really? “I…I guess I will. I’ll be losing someone important to me again.” Taiyo almost cursed. He had let slip that last part. “Again?” The bleary eyes focused on Taiyo as he shifted almost uncomfortably. “Hey, you can’t keep things from your partner! You’re going to undermine this alliance Taiyo!” Maybe it hadn’t been such a good idea for him to allow her to use his first name. “I’ll tell you after this is all over, alright? That person…was someone very important to me.” “Why?” Didn’t he just say he was going to tell her when this was all over? The impatience of that woman. Taiyo was about to sigh again, but stopped himself. If he kept doing it, it would become a habit. And that would annoying, mostly to himself. “She was an idiot like no other, making a friend out of me. So naïve that she thought my insults were my way of saying I was lonely.” And Taiyo supposed he was an idiot as well, for never letting go of that idiot friend when he should’ve. “I’ll tell you the rest later, alright?” “Tell me when I wake up.” Taiyo stared at Kotone as her head began to droop off his shoulder. “Okay? Don’t just leave me here.” “That’s what partners are for.” A childish smile made its way onto Kotone’s face, and Taiyo sighed. Oh dear, it was going to become a habit at this rate. Gently grabbing Kotone’s head, Taiyo lowered it onto his lap. “Thanks for watching my back, partner.” Such a strange woman… “I’m glad you’re my partner.” Making him say such strange things. “Me too.” And saying such strange things in return. “Just remember, I’m not your friend Kotone…Kotone?” Ah…she had fallen asleep. Taiyo watched the girl calmly breathing, blissfully unaware of the world. No doubt her dreams were entertaining her notions of bringing Renji to justice, and being hailed as some sort of hero by the whole of Japan. Taiyo sincerely wished that he had no part in her dream. It was not right. Bit by bit, he watched her fidget and murmur…wondering at the marvels of her dream. Until he noticed Kotone no longer breathed. Scientifically speaking…it was inevitable. How did he know? Because it was a concoction of Taiyo’s own making, which he had named the Melody of Dreams. Poetic, because the victim dies within their dreams. Painlessly, seamlessly…as it had been designed to be. And Harada Kotone had been its first victim. “…Operation successful.” It was…strange. There was no other word for it. The girl…Kotone looked like she was going to jump up and yell at him for putting her head on his lap. It was almost like he was waiting for it. “I’m…I…This is goodbye…Kotone.” [/style][STYLE=margin-top: -15px; letter-spacing: 2px; color: #98B2BC; text-transform: uppercase; font-family: arial; font-size: 10px; text-align: center;]made by kiwii at btn![/style] |
