One Minute (Chapter 13, two days in a row!)

[heyyouhiya]

Ok yes it is the song from Cold Case
I have the entire thing if anyone wants it

Honestly I'd be surprised if anyone guesses it.. (in reference to guessing what Miki is...)
because I tried to think of something completely original and so Idk if someone has made this up before
(I hope they haven't but it can almost be guaranteed that there is something extraordinarily similar that I just don't know about xD)

Anyways, I had a shitty work day and so writting is my only out let haha so I wrote the next chapter like just now.
Hope its not too bad because I won't be editing it for a while =]
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Chapter 2: Pictures

The church was completely empty and reeked of the smell of burned candles. Miki wrinkled her nose as she walked inside and slowly began to make her way up to the head of the church. Looking around she studied the various stained glass designs as they shown bright colors onto the empty seats.

One in particular caught her eye as it depicted a young girl who was being beaten by a man, presumably her father, and everyone else just stood and watched. Miki walked over and stared intently at the glass. Memories began to flood into Mikis brain as she started to become angry and frustrated as she stared at the people in the art work doing nothing to help this defenseless girl.

Suddenly she involuntarily struck the glass hard with her fist and it cracked, with a few pieces falling to the ground. She stood for a moment with her hand held against the glass, breathing heavily and she stared down at the floor attempting to calm herself. Soon she noticed a faint trickle of red seeping down the glass and she realized she was bleeding.

Pulling away, causing a few more shards to fall to the ground, she glanced over at the next window.  There you could see the same girl who was now bruise and bloody being protected by a young man who was now scolding the villagers for doing nothing. The father was hanging his head in shame and Miki couldn’t help but think he’s not actually sorry. But she couldn’t tear her eyes away from the young man.

She bit down on her lip so hard that it also began to bleed and her eyes narrowed as rage overcame her again. Looking back at the first window she pulled back her already bleeding fist and struck at it harder than before. The window cracked and shattered; leaving a nice pile of glass on the floor of the church. Miki looked through the hole she had created to the sunny outside world and sighed.

“Too bad it’s just glass,” she mumbled before walking back to the isle to continue her path to the head of the church. She took the two steps up to the stage and stood in front of a huge wooden cross. Miki took one final look at the shards pain obvious in her eyes, “It breaks so easily.”

She made her way around, behind the cross and mumbled something that was not human sounding. There was no noise, no great portal, not even a tiny pop, as she disappeared into the cross.

* * * * *

As Risa and Eri walked away still arguing about Eri and her crush on the new student Michishige, Risa glanced back at Ai. She smiled as she watched her best friend of five years enter the house Gaki had always known her to live in. Soon she turned her attention back to Eri as to not raise any eyebrows at her watchful behavior.

Ai yawned a little as she opened up her front door and was immediately greeted by a smaller persons smiling face. “Sisters home!” the young girl yelled as she grabbed onto Ai who smiled in response.

“How are you Aika?”

Aika smiled up at Ai, “I’m good. Dad is home.”

And immediately after that statement, a tall man with black hair walked into the entry way. “Welcome home Ai," he said smiling at her.

Ai bowed her head slightly. “Well, I can’t stay for long. Choir practice is in thirty minutes. I just came home to changed.”

“About that,” he paused. “I actually need you to stay home and watch after Aika. I have work to do.”

Ai was about to protest, but she knew she couldn’t leave Aika home alone. She was only nine years old. Sighing but trying to not sound to disappointed Ai agreed to watch Aika.

The father smile approvingly and brushed past them out the door. “Want to see the picture I drew today?” Aika innocently asked up at Ai, who smiled nodding. The younger girl ran out of the room and into the kitchen, with Ai following closely behind. She brought her a crayon drawing with two people on it. One of them was slightly taller and labeled “Ai.” The other was shorter with the label “me.”

Ai couldn’t help but smile as she looked at how happy Aika had drawn herself next to her. It was really sweet. But suddenly, she frowned as she looked down at the bottom right corner where she had written her name: Mitsui Aika.

“What’s the matter?” The little girl asked as she peered up at her older sister.

“It’s nothing I just wish…” she paused and decided not to complete that statement. “You know what, never mind. This is a wonderful drawing. I’m going to hang it on the fridge right now.” Aika smiled as she watched Ai hang the drawing on the fridge with two magnets. “There it has a proper place in our house now. So what would you like for dinner?” I expect mother won’t be home again tonight.

* * * * *

Miki waded through the mass of people waiting in line to go someplace most people deserve and very few wish to go. The entrance to what some might call hell and others Hades. It has various names and no one could truly answer the right or wrong one as it truly didn't matter.

She noted how everyone around her seemed to have a black mist floating around them, while Miki looked about as alive as ever. Soon she reached the entrance and the man in front noticed her lack of mist and let her pass without a question, just a small smirk. She glared at him for a moment as she walked past and into the maze of stairs and tunnels.

Having been to this place many times before Miki would need no help in finding where she needed to go. It took her twelve flights of long stairs to reach where she was presumably heading after all that time. It was a large black mansion with no door on the entrance. Just a sheet black mist was in the doorway. Miki easily walked through it and came into a room that looked mildly like the lobby of a hotel. Not what one would expect down there.

A demon with a scruffy looking tie around his neck looked up at her and grinned wickedly. “Fujimoto, we were wondering if you would ever come back.” He placed his elbows on his desk and leaned his head on his hands staring at her.

She rolled her eyes and marched up to him. Slamming the still beeping watch down on the table she spoke rather coldly, “I’m only here because it’s full.”

He jumped a little when she approached but soon his smirk was back. “You know the boss doesn’t like to hear that. It means you weren’t able to completely contain one soul.”

“Yea yea, whatever. Just empty it already.” She looked away from him and around the room which was basically plain except for the desk this demon sat at.

He glared at her once more while she wasn't looking, before hopping down from his stool and sulking off into another room with the watch in hand.

Miki tapped her foot against the floor as she waited impatiently for his return. However, when he did return she was not pleased. He came walking behind another demon who was almost human looking in appearance.

“Ah Fujimoto. A pleasure,” He beamed at her, but there was obviously displeasure in his voice.

“Cut the crap, I know you’re angry.”

“Now what would give you that idea,” he drawled running his hand along her face. She immediately pulled away from him with a look of disgust.

Staring him down like he was a vial creature she almost growled at him, “Just because you helped me doesn’t mean I’ll be nice. I’m nice to no one.”

He smirked, “Ahhh but you’re nice to Yoshizawa…”

Miki didn’t respond as he walked around her like some cat who had cornered his pray and was preparing to strike. Impatient with his games she spoke quickly, “What the hell do you want? Or do I have permission to leave to live the life that you gave me?”

His deep laugh bounced off the walls creating a creepy echo. “You really should learn to be nice.” She said nothing, just glared. “Actually, I have a much different assignment for you. You may recall those first few hundred years? When it was Yoshizawa, yourself and Miss Matsuura?”

“Yes, what’s your point?” The demon was probably aware that the statement he had just made had struck a very painful chord in Mikis heart for her voice was slightly higher pitched and raspy as if holding back emotions.

“Well,” he said pleased at the response he was receiving from Miki. As much as she could be cold to him, he still had the overall power and liked for her to know and respect that. “You’ll be the Matsuura to someone new.”

The fire was back in Mikis eyes as she glared at him, “Are you crazy? What the hell makes you think I will do that for some snobby brat?”

He paused his walking and smirked at her. “Because you have to.”

[lonewind]

i liked it!! i wonder what happen between miki and aya??

i would like the entire colo case song please

can't wait for ur next chapter! keep up the good work!

[sweeety]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOO SHE HAS TO BE KOHARU'S MATSUURA!!!!!!!!! Also evil church, she was the girl and he was the man... poor Miki, owing her life to such an evil man....... I think I figured it out now. He owns her soul and in order not to go to hell she is repaying him by claiming the souls of the innocent or some other kind....

 And I am guessing something horrible happened to Ayaya.. gtg, hoep I get to edit this post later but I will be busted if I stay longer... mwah, GJ

[tito]

Wow! This chapter makes the story all the more intriguing! There's so much more not revealed to us yet  Hope there is some flashback to hundred of years ago..I want to know what happen then    I guess that the prologue is about Aya and Miki hundred of years ago and maybe Aya left Miki and the scar in Miki's heart has yet to recover. Then, maybe Miki ishesitant to be another Matsuura because she doesn't want to hurt another person in a way which Aya did many years ago.  And the trailer rocks big time!

[lonewind]

acually i found the song  thank you for the offer though! like i said this chapter was good, but the last part kinda confused me   

“Well,” he said pleased at the response he was receiving from Miki. As much as she could be cold to him, he still had the overall power and liked for her to know and respect that. “You’ll be the Matsuura to someone new.”

[JFC]

Ai couldn’t help but smile as she looked at how happy Aika had drawn herself next to her. It was really sweet. But suddenly, she frowned as she looked down at the bottom right corner where she had written her name: Mitsui Aika.

Either Aika's adopted...or Aichan's mother had an affair with the guy who was Aika's father.

“Actually, I have a much different assignment for you. You may recall those first few hundred years when it was Yoshizawa, yourself and Miss Matsuura?”

First few hundred years???

Aya and Yossi were doing the same thing that Miki's doing?

“You’ll be the Matsuura to someone new.”

The fire was back in Mikis eyes as she glared at him, “Are you crazy? What the hell makes you think I will do that for some snobby brat?”

“Because you have to.”

Okay, the fact that he specifically mentions "someone new" leads me to believe that Miki's going to be a mentor-type of figure (like she's going to be training a new recruit or something).  That would mean that Aya had a similar role when Miki was new. Question now is, what happened to Aya (and Yossi, for that matter). The demon's earlier statement implied that the 3 of them worked together, so where are they now? What separated them?

[strawb3rrykream]

So something happened in Miki's past that involves abuse...maybe her own father? And I think Aika's adopted. And Miki is some kind of devil soul catcher person.....and Yossy and Ayaya used to do it too? And Miki is gonna be a senpai to a new soul catching person? This was a good chapter, opening a lot more doors and more questions! Can't wait for another update!!!!
Sorry that I'm kinda not making sense.....

[takagakifan]

I love that I have absolutely no idea of what's going on

[Yukari]

wwooooo

what did matsuura??? i want to know 

I love that I have absolutely no idea of what's going on

same here 

waiting explanation!! or next chapter... it's the same thing

[sweeety]

haha funny how we all guessed pretty much the same thing... except I put my guesses in a PM coz I didn't want to take up space and annoy people.. coz my random messages annoy sum ppl..

 Anyway, from what I have gathered

 Miki is evil
 That dude is really evil
 Miki doesn't seem to like her job so I am going to assume she is being forced to do it
 She is friends with Yoshi
 I am going on a limb saying this but guessing that she and Yoshi and Aya were all working  the same job, although it seems that Aya is out of the pic now as in either dead or just moved or something. Either way it's obvious she and Miki can't be together right now, in other words someone or something is keeping her from Miki.
 Yoshizawa is still working like Miki (guess though)
 Ai and Risa are going to become much more important in this story
 One of the girls in the start is either Miki or Ai
 The other girl is either Aya, Risa or Koharu
 I am guessing Koharu is also evil
 Another guess is that Koharu is the new 'Fujimoto' to Miki's 'Matsuura' or a baddie even bigger and badder than the dude if not the same as Miki but just really annoying
 I am hoping Koharu dies but doubting it.
 I think that Ai's dad either walked out on her or died or just divorced her mum and the mum remarried. BUT it looked like somehow both girls lived with the same dad and since Ai called him dad too and not stepdad Im gonna go ona  limb and say he is her dad and something happened to Aika's dad.

 Maybe he died or did the things I thought Ai's dad did. Either way their only connection is the same mum, which we haven't seen yet so is it safe to assume she died with Ai's stepdad? That's what I thought. I thought maybe Aika's parents died so her sisters' dad took her in.....

 What else? ok, about Sayu and Eri, they will probably get together or die, either way it wont matter much because they are so not main characters but if I had to guess I would say that Eri gets Sayu and drifts away from Risa and Ai and then she and Sayu do teir own lil thing while Ai and Risa are dealing with the supernatural aspect of the story, meanwhile we don't hear abou tthem because they are together and busy hanging out together and not with the main characters or something.
 Also I think Miki was in the same situation as the girl in the picture and Ayaya was probably the man that helped her (but she was a girl............unless she used the goatee/sideburn props )
 I think they were in love and something happened and they couldn't be together and that is one of the reasons why she is so reluctant to be a new girls' mentor/Matsuura thingy
 Also I think a Matsuura in the way he meant it is a mentor who will teach someone to be evil and steal souls
 Maybe they also steal hearts.... we only saw the soul bit but maybe the dude also fell for her. I dunno, maybe that is how she became one in the first place, falling for Aya... maybe that is why she wont be with her, because she fell for her and realised she was doing it to get her soul or to turn her. And even if she really loved Mii back, Miki could be angry with her all these years and that is why they are not together.... aww then poor Ayaya would be sad and lonely for centuries, waiting for forgiveness or somtheing

 anywayz gtg mwah keep up the awesomeness! Luv yah

[lonewind]

^ ok after reading this, i think i finally get the "Matsuura" part, needs the next chapter to clarify so update soon!! 

[sweeety]

those are just guesses people, I have no actuall facts there other than my observations.

[takagakifan]

Ok so here's another guess:

• Miki collects souls for the devil so does yossie
• Matsuura use to but doesn't anymore... possible reasons include death escaped the devils clutches or she got promoted
• Eri's going to get with Sayu and since there not major characters I'm going to assume ther going to do the couple thing and ignore everybody because the to preoccupied with their little world
• Risa and Ai I think its going to get real angsty with them.... Risa trying to help Ai, Ai rejecting help because of all the crap with her family and she possible might go to the dark side and end up being a reaper-thing like Miki... So in the beginning its Risa dying(?) and Ai as the girl watching the time countdown...

I don't know what the deal with miki and aya is yet to make any assuptions but whatever happened it wasn't good either shes dead or she betrayed miki in someway I'm probably wrong but like I said before I love that after each chapter I have no idea what's going on 

[wings4dreams]

*sigh* I'm not very good at guessing....so I'll just patiently wait until the new chapter is written...  

[heyyouhiya]

So I don't really like this chapter...most likely it shall be revised later
just more detail. The main concept of the chapter won't change of course...and the information you get from it won't change...but I can't edit it now cuz I feel a little sick and need to lie down.

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Chapter 3: Reminders

Maybe if I stab myself over and over in the eye with that stick this could be less painful. Miki eyed a small twig that had fallen on the ground as she sat under a tree in a park next to her new pupil, Kusumi Koharu.

“Why me?” she mumbled as she watched the younger girl frolicking around the grass. “This is taking way to long…” She stood up, “Koharu!” she yelled and the younger girl fell on her face as she whirled around to see Miki.

Miki rolled her eyes and walked over helping her up. “Thank you!” she smiled brightly.

“Why are we at this park?” Miki asked obviously agitated.

Koharu looked down at the ground sheepishly, “because I thought maybe he would be playing at the park…”

Miki attempted a smile and put a hand on Koharus shoulder, “Let’s think about this for a moment, okay?” She steered the younger over to the tree by her shoulder and they sat down. “How old is the man?”

Koharu glanced down at her watch and clicked a couple of buttons, “Thirty-two.”

“Good,” Miki sighed and leaned back against the tree trunk. “Now what is his occupation?”

Koharu looked over at Miki with a puzzled expression, “His what?”

“His job.”

“Oh right!” She began to play with her watch again. “He’s a stock broker, whatever that is…”

“So why would be spend his Friday evening at a park?”

The younger girl looked around a little before hesitantly replying, “To relax?” Miki paused and breathed in deeply, frustrated at how difficult this was going to be. Soon she shook her head and looked at Koharu expectantly. “He…” Koharu puffed out her cheeks a little beginning to also become frustrated. “He…wouldn’t?”

“Correct!” Miki was actually surprised that she had even got the right answer. She pat the smaller girl on the head, “Good. Now where should we look for him? Perhaps at his work?”

Koharu looked longingly at the park, “Ok I guess…”

Miki noted the disappointment in the childs voice and felt that even though the kid was aggravating, she had been through a lot and maybe she could try and be a little nicer to her. “Hey,” Miki put her hand on her shoulder once again as she stood up. “Once you learn how to do this it will be really easy to live your life and complete your assignment.” She smiled down at Koharu who didn’t seem to believe her. Sighing she crouched down in front of her, “I promise.”

“Really?”

Miki smirked, “Really.”

* * * * *

Ai woke up to a loud banging coming from the enterance to her house. She glanced over at the bed next to her to see Aika sleeping peaceful and then she looked over at the clock and it was about three in the morning.

She slowly got out of bed as to not wake up her sister and slipped on a robe over her pajamas before going out to the kitchen. From the kitchen she could see in the entry way her mother who was drunk and stumbling walking trying to get into the house. Soon Ai saw her dad come out from his room to greet her.

Ai didn’t mean to, but she ended up listening in on there conversation.

“Where have you been?” Ais dad tried to ask nicely.

Her mother just got angry at this question, “Like it honestly matters to you.”

“What are you talking about?” He attempted to grab his wife so that she wouldn’t fall down anymore but she yanked herself away from him.

“Don’t act like you don’t know,” she stumbled a little into a nearby wall. “Always taking care of her, no time for me.”

Suddenly her dad stood up very tall and looked quiet sternly at the intoxicated woman, “Don’t you drag her into this. It has been hard enough on her as it is. You know its my job to help kids like her. She just needed a little extra help-“

Ais mother cut him off firmly, “You didn’t have to bring your work home with you.”

“You don’t have to go out every night.”

“How else am I supposed to get any love?!” The two were now in a heated yelling match.

“Whats all the noise?” said a soft voice. Ai turned around to see a sleepy Aika entering the kitchen. Quickly Ai went over to her and put an arm around her shoulders.

“It’s nothing, just mother is home.”

Aika brightened up and tried to go around Ai to get to the woman. “Mamas home!”

“Uhmm, no Aika. She’s really tired and I think you should just go back to bed okay?”

The younger girl looked at Ai for a moment before smiling, “Okay. You’re always right.”

She gave Ai a quick hug before running back to there room. Ai looked over her shoulder and back out to the entrance way. Her dad and mom were no longer there arguing. She sighed and also went back to bed, although she didn’t get a lot of sleep. She had always known that she and Aika weren’t really sisters, but now she wanted to know about the girls past.

* * * * *

“I couldn’t do it!” The shorter hair girl cried into her mentors chest as she just repeated that sentence over and over.

“Shh…its okay. The first time is hard. I can go with you next time if you want?” She rubbed the crying girls back comforting.

“No,” she stopped crying for a moment and looked up. “I have to do it myself…otherwise I won’t ever be able to. But I-“ She began to cry again into the other girl.

Miki sat against the wall of an alley way with a crying Koharu in her arms. There was a long rope next to them that Koharu had dropped when she ran into Mikis arms sobbing uncontrollably.

“I couldn’t do it,” she mumbled into Mikis shirt as she clung onto her like the small child that she was.

Miki bit her bottom lip and tried to be as comforting as possible. But it was hard with all these memories coming back to her. She guessed that maybe this happened to everyone there first time out. It was to be expected…its not easy to kill someone even if you don’t know them.

“It’s okay Miki-tan,” Aya smiled down at the girl in her arms. “It’ll get easier.”

Miki smiled and clung to her Aya, “Really?”

“Promise.”

[lonewind]

  awww i hope you get better!! get a lot of sleep!

now i get the "be the Matsurra part"!!! Korharu is Miki's student and Miki was Aya's, now the question is what happen to Aya???    this chapter cleared a few things up for me! plus it kinda nice seeing Miki being nice

now to the Ai and Aika part, i have to say very interesting! 

[zay05ohayou]

Ooohh? So Aya was Miki's mentor? And About Ai's family is there someone who isnt blood related to them there? Aika maybe? 

[JFC]

MIKI HAS TO MENTOR KOHARU!

* JFC makes note of Miki's "motherly" moments....

Awwwwwwwwwwww...


Hmmm...so it looks like Aika's adopted, or at the very least, some type of "foster child" for lack of a better definition.  It was Aichan's DAD who brought Aika home (which is a little strange, though when you take into account when he said he "helps kids like her"...it gives the impression that he works with kids quite a bit. It could be that maybe he's a teacher, counsellor, or social worker?  In any case, he's evidently been giving Aika quite a bit of attention (either out of genuine bonding/affection, or because he's trying to help with whatever her situation is (which, BTW, we readers are going to need to know about when you get a chance ), and it's making Aichan's mom jealous, which makes her go out and get hammered to get the attention she desires.

[sweeety]

hey you, get well soon! Have lots of rest and drink lots of fluids. You need to keep your strength up so eat as much as you can.

 Now about the story. Mwahahahahaha I was soooo totally right about a lot of theories just there.

 Ok, I think we all guessed that Aika wasn't related to Ai as in blood relations. I'm guessing she had an abusive family that hurt her and she was being tossed around the foster homes or orphanages or something and Ai's dad who probably worked for the government in some sort of child welfare part of it like the dude in last friends (the one that beats his woman) met her, knew her circumstances and could not just leave her so he took her in and aparently the mother didn't know or aprove and she doesn't like that the kids' there so now she goes out, gets drunk and sleeps with other people because her husband is neglecting her due to his work.

 Miki was Koharus' guide in becoming whatever she is to become. lol, the second I started reading this I thought omg poor Miki, I knew something like this would happen tsk tsk tsk poor Miki. Also I kinda have a feeling that Miki is a tortured soul so I soooo caught onto the backflash before even reading the names. I thought "hmm this has got to be a backflash" from about three words into the first sentence.

 Miki comforting Koharu *vomit smiley* If they bond Ima be soooo angry esp if she gets attached to or accustomed to her.
 
 Aww poor Miki. The De Ja Vou where we see an innocent side of Miki is just sooo sweet! I loved it. I loved how she came crying to "her Aya" (Yeah I noticed it) because she couldn't take a life and how she was reassured. It's very uncommon to see things from the perspective of a weak Miki. It's so rare and beautifull.. I love that...

 Ganbare! Keep it up! I hope you post again soon, but get better first, I don't want you coughing a lung out on your PC screen lol.

[takagakifan]

well I kinda figured the aika didn't have a biological relation to ai and her family....

I have a question though do miki and company kill people I did't think they did, I thought they just took souls until i read this:

It was to be expected…its not easy to kill someone even if you don’t know them

because if thats the case i geuss I'm wrong about them being reapers



your sick! just kidding hope you get better soon  being sick sucks