Chapter 9 - Chapter 9: Kioshi's Saga Part 2

When I closed the door behind me, I ran a hand through my hair. I couldn't believe I had said those things to Himiko. Why did I say that?

"Dammit." I mumbled.

I decided to go back to my room and forget everything that just happened. I opened the door and was about to step inside when a small hand grabbed me and dragged me into a nearby closet.

"Rin, what the hell are you doing?" I growled.

"Shhhh," he said, covering my mouth with his hand.

"Why did you bring me here? Let go." I demanded.

"Not until you tell me why you're coming out of Himiko's room."

I nudged him in the stomach and left the closet.

"Ouch." Rin complained. 

I ignored him and went straight to my room. I sighed heavily and ran my hands through my hair again. "Damn, why am I feeling this way." I laid on my bed and put a pillow over my face. "Ugh." I groaned. I couldn't stop thinking about her eyes, her lips, her nose, everything. What is wrong with me?

"You're the most stubborn and difficult person I've ever met," I heard a sweet voice in my head. "Likewise."

"Why did you say that, idiot." I said out loud. I don't know why, but I'm starting to really like her.

Even if she is the most frustrating, annoying, and childish person I've ever met.

I sat up and took a deep breath. "What am I going to do now?"

My phone buzzed and I looked at it. It was a message from Seiji.

Seiji: Meet me in the office. I have another job for you.

I put the phone down and sighed. "Another day, another murder." I got up and went to the Boss' office.

"You have a new target." Seiji said.

"Who is it this time?"

"A woman named Chiyo Tanaka. She is the wife of an important businessman. She has been stealing money from him and sleeping with other men. Her husband is furious and wants her dead." 

I took the time to look at all the information given to me. They have 3 children together, one of them happens to be an upperclassman in the same school as Himiko and I.

"The typical cheating housewife? Interesting." I said sarcastically.

Kioshi smiled and nodded his head at me.

"You got it Boss."

I walked back into my room once more and picked up my duffle bag. I unzipped it and made sure it had everything I needed. Sighing heavily, I headed outside, walking toward the nearest bus station.

***

It was nightfall by the time I reached the hotel Mrs. Tanaka was staying at. Confidently, I walked up to the front desk.

"Hi, welcome. How can I help you?" the receptionist greeted.

"I'd like a room."

"Okay. A room for 1 night."

"Yes."

"Okay, just fill out this form please."

I handed the lady my fake ID and signed the name.

"Thank you. And how will you be─"

I took out a wallet full of cash and set it down on the desk.

"Here. Is that enough?"

"Yes, yes, it is." the receptionist nodded.

"Why don't you keep a little something for yourself. My treat."

"O-okay. Thank you." the receptionist smiled and handed me the keys.

"Thanks. Have a good evening."

I took the elevator up to the 7th floor and checked my watch. It's already 11:00 p.m. Perfect timing. As soon as I stepped out, I tried sniffing out room 701, the room where Mrs. Tanaka was staying for the night. I could come up with a lie and say I was mistaken since my room number is 710. Or, I could say I was trying to find a friend's room.

After finding the room, I knocked and waited patiently. A few seconds later, a woman with short blonde hair answered.

"Hello, can I help you?" she asked.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. It looks like I have the wrong door. I could've sworn my friend said 701. Sorry again." I walked off slowly.

"Wait." she called out. A smile crept upon my face for a moment. "You're a very handsome young man." She slipped one shoulder out of her robe; her skin still radiant and dewy after clearly having just took a shower.

"Would you like to come in?"

I chuckled and bit my lip. "Tempting. But I don't want to keep my friend waiting, do I? Maybe some other time."

She grabbed onto my arm and slowly pulled me inside. "Your friend can wait."

Once the door was closed, I immediately took ahold of her wrists and pinned her against the wall. Breathing softly over her neck, she shivered. 

"You're a rough one." she laughed.

"Only when the situation calls for it." I said, smiling. I licked her neck softly, sending moans down her throat. She wrapped her legs around me and pulled me closer. With the slight of my hand, I removed a needle from a rubber glove I had in my pocket and stuck it into her neck. Her eyes widened as her body became limp. I gently placed her on the bed and waited.

I checked her pulse. She's not dead yet. I could hear her heart pounding faster and faster. After 10 minutes, her breathing began to slow.

"Time of death, 12:45 a.m."

I changed my gloves carefully by removing the pair that I had on and throwing them in my duffle bag. I took out a new pair and put them on. "This wig looks so stupid on me." I took off the wig and replaced it with another. Making sure everything looked fine and there was no evidence left behind, I left the room quietly and headed back to the hotel lobby and out the door.

"I need a drink," I muttered to myself.

I stopped by a quiet local bar being going home. "ID?" the bartender asked. I showed him the fake ID and took a seat.

"Let me get three whiskies on the rocks." I ordered.

"Coming right up."

While waiting, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, a woman stood before me. "Hello, mind if I sit here?" 

"Do what you want." I replied coldly.

"I couldn't help but notice you. You're quite handsome."

I turned my gaze back to the bartender. He slid me my drinks and I immediately downed one.

"Slow down there, cowboy."

"I'm not in the mood, lady. Find someone else." I downed the next drink. I just want to get home so I could get some sleep.

"Is that how you're going to talk to me? What's wrong, lover boy? Did you and your girlfriend fight?"

I quickly downed the next drink and stood up. I snatched the woman's purse and opened it up. "Stealing money?"

"W-what?! No, give that back!"

"Stop harassing strangers. Get lost."

"No! Give me my money."

"I'd rather not, but if I have to, I'll involve the police. Mr. Bartender here is my witness."

She grunted angrily and stormed off. "Crazy bitch." I grumbled.

I paid for the drinks and went home. When I reached the apartment, everyone was in their rooms.

"Perfect."

I stumble a bit while looking through the cabinets for some medicine to kill the hangover I'll be having the next day. "Aspirin, ibuprofen, acetaminophen. None of these are gonna work properly for me." I sighed. I decided to open the bottle of aspirin and popped 3 in my mouth. "I'll live."

My vision was disheveled. Everything was spinning. "Ugh. I shouldn't have had that much to drink."

The sound on soft footsteps entered the kitchen and I saw Himiko. She stared at me for a moment before saying, "Did you just get home?"

I walked over to her and embraced her. "Let her go, dumbass," I thought to myself.

"Kioshi?" Himiko questioned. My embrace around her tightened.

"Don't leave," I whispered. "Stay."

Her hands moved over my back, rubbing and stroking. She let her chin fall onto the curve between my shoulder and neck, and her breath was warm. I felt her fingers run through my hair.

"What happened?" she asks.

"Just a bad day."

"I see."

"Don't worry. Just keep holding me."

We stood like that for a while, and it was so comforting. We both didn't want to pull away, and neither did we.

"Don't let go," I whispered.

"But..your grip.."

"Sorry."

I loosened my grip and looked at her. "Sorry..."

"It's fine. Are you okay though? You're acting a bit strange."

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing. Don't worry about it."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, yeah. I'm gonna hit the sack now." I tell her.

"Goodnight then."

"Night." she whispered softly.

I walked past her and went to my room, closing the door. "God dammit," I cursed, falling onto my bed. I didn't know why, but seeing Himiko, and hugging her like that, just made me feel something. I shouldn't have done that. Why did I do that?

I rolled over and laid flat on my stomach. "Shit.."