Chapter Four: Doctor and Former Patient:

The crew made it to Kyoto University when morning classes had just started. Tsuzuki looked over at Watari.

�You sure he works here?� he whispered to his friend.

�Not officially,� Watari answered. �He actually works at the psychological center across the street. On Wednesdays and Fridays, he councils the students here at the school and today is Wednesday, right?�

�Yes,� Hisoka replied. Anna nodded.

�And since they are suspending him for Rieko�s death, he should be filing out the paperwork in his office,� she finished up.

�Exactly,� Watari finished. Anna turned her focus on him.

�Let me talk to him,� she said. The boys all looked at her.

�Why?� Tsuzuki asked. Anna kept a serious face.

�He doesn�t know you guys,� she reasoned. �I think it would be best if I spoke to him. Please?� The boys pondered this request. Maybe, that could work, but yet something about this case didn�t sit right with them. Why would Dr. Yamashita turn to Anna? How did he even know that she was alive again? Could he really be working with the Eda-Kimoto?

�Alright,� Tsuzuki replied. The other two shinigami looked at him with big eyes.

�What?!?� they asked. Anna looked at him in surprise.

�Really?� she asked. Tsuzuki looked her in the eye as he took her by the hands.

�Just be careful, okay?� he warned her. Anna gave him a serious look.

�I will,� the woman assured him. She turned back to Watari.

�Which room is he in?� the woman asked. The scientist hesitated at first.

�217C,� he said at last.

�Thank you,� Anna said with a bow. The woman walked into the building. Watari and Hisoka turned to Tsuzuki.

�You sure this is a good idea?� Watari asked.

�She won�t listen to me otherwise,� Tsuzuki said with a shrug, �And besides, I think she�ll be fine.� The boys didn�t look so certain. They still had their suspicions and even Tsuzuki started to regret this decision. Anna found the room and knocked on the door.

�Come in!� a groggy-sounding voice called. Anna walked into the classroom and found Dr. Yamashita sitting at his desk writing fiercely. He used to be a strong, wise old man. Dr. Yamashita must have shrunken over the years.

I guess ten years can do that to you, Anna thought as she watched him.

�What do you want?� the old man snapped as he looked up. His face slowly softened when he saw his former patient standing before him.

�Oh, Anna!� he said, �It�s you.� They stared at each other for a long time. Ten years, has it really been that long? Dr. Yamashita closed up his paperwork.

�How are you?� he asked.

�Good,� she answered. Dr. Yamashita looked her up and down.

�You�re a changed woman,� he noted. Anna raised an eyebrow at him.

�How so?� she questioned him.

�You seem more confident than when we first met,� her former therapist answered, �Happier than you were in the states.� Anna smiled at him.

�Well, I have a boyfriend now,� she confessed. Her former mentor looked rather delighted to hear this piece of news.

�Really?� he asked, �Is he good to you?�

�Yes,� the woman replied.

�Still having dreams?� he asked.

�Yes,� Anna answered rather reluctantly. She went straight into her own questions. �Doctor, how did you find me?� the woman asked. Dr. Yamashita gave her an odd look.

�How do you mean?� he asked.

�How did you know I was alive?� Anna paused, �And why would you ask me for help?� Dr. Yamashita�s hands trembled.

�I can�t tell you yet,� he said in a quiet voice.

�I can�t help you if you don�t tell me the truth,� his former patient pressed, �Now what is going on?� The man lowered his head. He thought he could dodge the truth with his former patient. Dr. Yamashita sighed.

�I can�t tell you now,� he repeated.

�What do you mean?� Anna demanded. He looked straight at her.

�Give me three days,� he pleaded.

�Three days?� his former patient repeated.

�Yes! That is all I ask of you! Just give me three days to explain it all,� the old man begged her. Anna pressed her lips together and nodded.

�Okay, but that�s all you get!� she told him. Dr. Yamashita breathed out and bowed her head.

�Thank you Kimoto-chan,� he said. She only watched him in silence. Something was really off here, but she found herself in that old black hole again.