CHAPTER 6: After Math
The car ride to Koharu's apartment was silent. The young girl sat driving for hours in darkness and silence. She did not bother to fiddle with the radio. She preferred this quietness to spend most of her car ride thinking and reflecting to her previous murder. The black haired teenager stared back into her reflection in the rear view mirror, noticing the lack of light that didn't twinkle in her young once joyful eyes. Her eyes were as dark as the night around her while driving, just two black holes showing back the lack of emotions the nurse in training lacked. As she stared back to her double, Koharu began to remember back to her current kill, recalling Shin's screams for mercy clearly in her jumbled mind. She remembered the most what she did to stop his pleas. Her eyes began to haze, going back to the memory of Shin's death.
Koharu didn't waste any time to kill Shin. The second her blade reached down to his face she made sure the sharp weapon cut through a main artery which happened to be the jugular of his neck and waited for its effect. She watched closely and silently for him to finally die. It was slow at first and it was painful, but it was effective in getting her job done. The blood that sprouted from Shin's neck didn't bother Koharu, despite that the blood was sprouting in large amounts from the long slit along his throat. Thick streams of red life sprayed onto his clothing. The chosen method was just another of her ways to go in for the kill. A knife can be less messy than a gun depending on how the person is killed and slicing someone's throat had to be one of the messy ways to kill with a blade.
Though the kicking and thrashing Shin did as he bled may have bothered Koharu more than the amount of blood that started to pool around his feet just a little. He couldn't stay still and he kept making this awful choking noise from his mouth as he sat there bound in his ropes. Koharu knew that those sounds were from the blood that settled to the back of his throat, choking him. Either Shin was going to bleed to death or he would suffocate, Koharu wasn't sure which one would win first. All her concern at this point was if he had died and stayed that way. She had to make sure this man didn't have so much as a weak heartbeat. She preferred that the heartbeat remained dead and still.
The process didn't take long luckily and eventually Shin's rapid movements began to slow down before coming to a stand still. His death was quick and Koharu was home now, realizing during the whole car ride she had been daydreaming about tonight and running on autopilot. Mentally, Koharu prepared herself for Sayumi's verbal discipline the second she would come through the door, if Sayumi were still awake at this insanely late hour. But to Koharu's luck, Sayumi wasn't anywhere in sight and Koharu wasn't presented with scolding and yelling.
The young girl silently made her way through the apartment, until she spotted something on her way passed the couch. Laying peacefully on her side curled against the couch, Sayumi slept almost angelically. Koharu had to admit it was a cute sight to see. Obviously, Sayumi had been here waiting for Koharu's return, and clearly without her knowledge had fell fast asleep. The taller girl felt a small smile stretch across her face and a small throb in her chest as she studied Sayumi's cute position.
Carefully, Koharu scooped Sayumi into her arms bridal style and walked her way steadily toward their room as to not wake the sleeping bunny. Koharu was just as gentle placing Sayumi onto their bed. Just as Sayumi touched the bed a small mumble exited her mouth and Koharu stood still. Slowly, thick black lashes fluttered and Koharu found herself starting extremely close into dark sleepy eyes. Groggily, Sayumi's hand brushed back strands of messy hair before parting her bangs to see better, followed by another low mumble. Koharu's mouth pressed together in a thin line, not knowing what to expect from her sleepy girlfriend. She just hoped that Sayumi was too tired to ask questions or yell.
“You're home?” Sayumi yawned.
“Yeah.” Koharu whispered.
Sayumi smiled lazily before tying her arms around Koharu's slender neck. “I missed you.” Again, another yawn escaped the bunny's mouth. “What took you...so long?”
Koharu could tell she was easily slipping back to her gentle slumber. “I had a busy day at the hospital.” She answered.
Sayumi lifted her head and brushed her lips softly against Koharu's round cheek. The crazed killer could feel the warmth Sayumi gave off as she breathed steadily still in a state of grogginess. The fact of their closeness didn't bother Koharu after she felt this strange surge of heat fill her within seconds from the center of her body. But that all was pushed away the second Sayumi's lips touched hers and before Koharu knew it, they were kissing, quite passionately. Sayumi pulled Koharu down so that she was closer to the edge of the bed to continue their hungry kiss. Koharu let Sayumi take the lead during their kiss, not sure herself how to react to such an action. She stood still, keeping her hands firmly on Sayumi's waist, wondering how long this kiss would last. A moan came from Sayumi's mouth, wanting more than to deepen the kiss. Koharu felt the pale skinned woman's hands shift slowly downward from her neck to her arms and finally settled on to her hips.
Lightly, Sayumi pushed the hem of Koharu's yellow colored t-shirt up and easily slipped her hand under the cotton material, touching soft smooth skin. Koharu's body stiffen and shivered. The touch to her girlfriend's hand was gentle, causing her body to react in a way Koharu was not prepared for. She felt goosebumps form to the area Sayumi touched and the hairs around her neck were on edge. Without realization, Sayumi's hands moved downward and undid the button to Koharu's pants, slipping inside her jeans with ease. Koharu pulled back with a gasp and wrapped her hand around Sayumi's wrist to stop her actions. It took Koharu a few seconds to catch her breath and gather information to the situation she just entered. Her brain wasn't cooperating to get her to speak or to move other than the previous actions she's just done.
“S-Sayumi.” Koharu stuttered.
Koharu locked eyes with dark lustful ones and another wave of unknown emotions flushed through the young girl's body. She bit her bottom lip trying quickly to collect herself.
“I don't...it's too late, Sayumi.” Koharu stated.
Sayumi yanked her arm back, clearly disappointed. Koharu flinched and stepped back to put space between the two of them again. She heard Sayumi shift in their bed. The air around the two girls were thick and unsettling. Koharu kept her gaze toward her feet, finding that spot the most interesting rather than Sayumi's face of sadness and anger.
“Why do you always do that?” Sayumi whispered, not a single evidence of anger in her voice. “You always push me away when I come too close.”
Koharu didn't dare to look or to speak. The silence remained and that only made the tension grow. Koharu did the only thing she knew she could do, she ran.
“I'll sleep on the couch, goodnight!” She yelped, in a rush to leave.
Sayumi's hand was quicker than to her hasty exist and tied around Koharu's wrist. The older girl yanked Koharu back, bringing the youngest girl to the edge of the bed again. Sayumi looked directly into her girlfriend's eyes and put her other hand around Koharu's waist. She could tell Koharu was nervous and her fingers started to fidget.
“I love you.” Sayumi stated. “And I want to show my love for you other than just living with you. I want to let you feel what I feel for you. Don't you love me too?”
“Yes.” Koharu replied, in a low tone.
“Then sleep with me tonight?” Sayumi asked. “I'll be cold with you gone.”
Koharu nodded, too drawn into Sayumi's soft tone of voice and dark luring eyes that she was staring at the entire time of Sayumi's small explanation. Sayumi let go of her girlfriend's wrist, moving over to make some space for her lover. Koharu quickly crawled into bed, not bothering to change her clothing and laid to her side. Sayumi curled behind her, nestling her face into the back of Koharu's neck and wrapped her arms around Koharu's middle section. The shorter girl let out a content sigh before closing her heavy lids to sleep once again while Koharu on the other hand laid wide away, staring into the wall of their room. She felt different. Her stomach was warm and tingled. This was just another set of emotions and sensations she couldn't quite name again and it scared her that these phases were no longer fearful to her. It only seemed natural each time they appeared. Breaking herself of her tangled and baffled thoughts, Koharu closed her eyes, forcing herself to rest in the arms of her warm and loving girlfriend.
***
“Takahashi-san, you've arrived.” One police officer announced, in relief. “Let her through she's a cop.”
The other officers dressed in navy blue lifted the tape for the small officer as the rest of the men fought to keep the hungry questioning reporters back at bay. Ai turned around to glance at the yelling men and women with mics in hands and to the flashing cameras that went off every second to see if they could catch anything from the warehouse doorway. She spun back around, shaking her head to the annoying press and sighed. The officer that announced her arrival jogged after her.
“What are we dealing with?” Ai asked.
“Homicide. The man was found with his throat cut open. He bled to death.” The police replied.
“Any finger prints? Weapons left behind?” Ai questioned.
The man shook his head. “None at all. Who ever this was they made sure to keep everything cleaning.” He informed. “It'll be a hard case to crack.”
“I'll handle it.” Ai snapped.
She walked through the warehouse door and followed the flashing lights to the crime scene photographer on sight. Several other officers greeted their fellow officer while others continued to search for any given clues.
“You did a good clean up as always, Koharu.” Ai mumbled.
She stepped between two taller male workers and met with Koharu's latest kill. His skin was ghostly pale and his head dropped down, covering the gash in his neck. Ai took a closer step for a better view, her eyes carefully scanning for any slip ups. Ai would have to do very little to cover Koharu's footsteps since it seemed that most of her footprints were hard to track.
“Another one gets what they deserve.” Ai whispered.
“Move out of my way before I kick you in your package!” A nasally voice shrieked.
Ai picked up her head to see her male officers get pushed as the intruder made their way on to the crime scene while other cops voluntarily stepped aside remembering the threat that seemed to speak the truth to this intruder's words. Ai frowned. This was a closed warehouse only limited officers were allowed access to this crime. At the end of the path, Ai was met with a small thin girl pissed at the previous officers that didn't make it easier for her to enter sooner. Ai walked up to the girl with pigtails so that she wouldn't get sight of the murder victim.
“Who are you?” Ai sneered.
“Tanaka Reina. I'll be taking over this case from now on.” The wonky eyed girl briskly replied.
Ai felt her body run cold and the color left from her skin. Her face of fear didn't last for long and was quickly masked by rage. She folded her arms over her chest, glaring at the tiny girl that just proclaimed herself as head police to this crime.
“There is only ONE person in command here and that's ME.” Ai corrected.
Reina chuckled, looking Ai over and rolled her eyes. “Listen here you big eared monkey! Reina is in charge now. You have a problem with that?!”
Ai pouted as her hands touched her ears, upset from Reina's insult. “I don't have big ears and I do NOT look like a monkey!” She defended.
“Whatever, the point is shrimp this case is now under government control. You and your little cop buddies can leave.” Reina stated.
Ai frowned, growing even more impatience of this stranger. “Who are you calling shrimp, midget!?”
Reina took a step forward and Ai followed. Neither girl was going to back down and Ai was most certainly not going to hand over leadership to her crime. She was assigned this crime and no one else.
“Listen kid this crime is mine and you sure as hell can't just come in here and say it's yours now. So why don't you leave and take your wonky eye with you!” Ai equipped.
Reina's entire face turned red and her hands shook. “WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!” She growled. “You did NOT just make fun of my eye!” Reina raised her hand ready to punch the small officer's lights out in one hit.
“Reina, stop it!”
The hot tempered agent struggled to obey and relax her tense hand that was already set to deliver its blow. A deep sigh exited her mouth. Ai eyed the second intruder annoyed. She didn't need another person telling her to drop this crime. The tall dark orange colored woman smiled politely to the officer.
“I'm sorry about that. I specifically ordered Reina to tell you that she was working on this crime instead of just causing trouble with you. I'm Goto Maki, Reina's commander.” Maki apologized.
“Takahashi Ai.” Ai introduced, warily. “You're taking over my case, huh?”
“You see we have a hunch that the person doing all these skilled killings is someone that normal police officers should not come against.” Maki explained. “This isn't an ordinary killer, Takahashi-san. And I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but you could be in danger.”
“Yeah, so we're here to stop the crazy bitch. Ya know, wipe her out.” Reina added.
“I'm not handing over my leadership to you.” Ai denied.
“Takahashi-san, please understand that this killer isn't like the street criminals.” Maki pleaded.
“I suggest we discuss this at the station.” Ai declared.
“Geez, you're so stubborn!” Reina screamed.
“If that's what you want then we'll talk at the station.” Maki agreed.
Ringing emitting from Reina's pants pocket echoed through the warehouse interrupting the conversation. She fished her phone out of her pocket and pressed the on button. The black screen to her device lit and filled with Aika's smiling face. Reina, glared to her screen even more aggravated to see Aika's annoying face.
“What is it, Aika?!” Reina hissed.
“Did everything go as planned?” Aika asked.
“No, it didn't. We're on our way to the police station to sort this out.”
Aika let out a chuckle. “You didn't do as Goto-san asked did you? I knew you would screw this up. You always do!”
Reina flinched to the sound of Aika's girlish giggling. “Will you shut up?! I can't stand your voice!”
“Alright, I'm leaving. Let me know when everything gets sorted out. I have to tell Goto-san the latest news about the girl your looking for.” Aika agreed. “Oh, one more thing! Remember when you said you DIDN'T drink my soda? Yeah, well, while you were gone I ran a DNA test then dusted for finger prints. You liar! You DID drink my soda! You owe me a new one. See you later pinokio!”
Aika waved at the screen then the screen turned black.
“You brat! Wait until I see you!” Reina shouted, to the small screen. “I swear you're going to be sorry!”
“Uh...Reina?” Maki called.
Reina noticed the amount of eyes on her at her sudden explosion and rubbed the back of her neck embarrassed.
“Is she always like this?” Ai asked, to Maki.
“Most of the time.” She replied. “Are you OK, Reina?”
“I'll be fine, for now. Let's just leave already!” Reina responded.
“We can take my car.” Ai offered.
The three girls walked towards the exit of the crime scene. Each step Ai took the more she began to worry and become nervous. If these two girls were allowed control of Ai's crime then Koharu was doomed and most importantly Ai would get caught herself for giving top secret information to a killer. Ai would very well lose her job. The officer's heart raced and her hands turned clammy. She couldn't allow Reina and Maki full control of this case. She needed to find a way to intervene or at least warn Koharu. Or they were both doomed.
Topic: Forgotten Past (UPDATE 1/31) (Read 15440 times)