Chapter Forty-One: Necrophilia:

March 3rd, 2010.

2:00 p.m.

He went to Fairy Kiss Bakery on their break. Tsuzuki slipped out of the inn while Anna took a nap after lunch. He had to keep his end of the bet up. Good thing he still had enough money to pay. (Tatsumi might have to kill him later it he found out what the money was being used for.) He made his way back to the bakery. Again, the display stopped him. The many mini-cakes teased him with their toppings and color. Tsuzuki swallowed back his drool and shook his head. No! Must� go� inside! Yet, his feet wouldn't give.

"Eat me! Eat me!" he heard the cakes cry. Must� get� inside� Inside, the younger girl nudged her sister in the arm.

"It's him again," she whispered.

"Yep," the older sister said.

"Shall I fetch him?"

"Remember what we agreed on."

"Right." The younger baker walked over to the door. Tsuzuki got lost in the sweetness in front of him. He came close to losing again.

"Hello there!" someone greeted him. The shinigami leapt up at the sound. He looked to see the younger sister, smiling at him.

"Hi," he said.

"Want to come in?" she asked.

"Yes!" he yelped, nodding. "I mean, yes. Yes, I would." The girl smiled and shook her head. You� The older sister looked up when the bell rang. She put on her best smile.

"Welcome!" she chirped. "How was the wedding?"

"Great," he said.

"What can I do for you today?" the older sister asked. The shinigami grinned as he pulled out his money and placed it on the counter.

"What's this?" she asked.

"Count it," he bragged. The older sister gave him an odd face as she picked up the money. He waited as she counted up the total.

"Well?" Tsuzuki asked. She looked up at him, puzzled.

"What's this for?"

"Our wedding cake!"

"But�" The older sister looked at the menu. Her eyes widened at the cake of choice and recounted the money. "But this is only half of the price!"

"Exactly," Tsuzuki said. Her jaw dropped.

"You mean�" she began to say.

"Yes," the shinigami said, nodding. "She and I loved it." He leaned in, smiling. "Looks like� I won."

"No way!" the younger girl gasped. Tsuzuki turned to walk away, but stopped at the door.

�You girls should bake that cake more often,� he told them. �Your father created such a tasty treasure.�

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April 22nd, 2010.

10:00 p.m.

Too easy, he knew this from the moment that he got into the cab. The man nuzzled on Mariko's ear the whole trip. He himself looked out the window. Why do this? Did he get off on the build-up to the kill itself? Women looked beautiful even after death. Mariko would be a goddess after tonight. Her fianc� kissed her on the neck again. The hostess lightly pushed him off.

"Baby," she murmured. "Not now, wait 'til later." Her fianc� patted her hand.

"If you wish," he whispered. She giggled as he licked her ear lobe. Their host let his malice take over his mind.

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They pulled up to his apartment. He paid the driver as if everything was normal. Surely, he must have suspected something by now. He drives here almost every night. Why hasn't he said anything? He guessed that it must be the money. Cab drivers in this town don't ask questions as long as they get paid. Convenient for him, maybe a little too convenient.

It feels like he wants to get caught. He waits for someone to get curious. He always plays the scene where the police would question him in his head as the couple ride with him to the fifth floor in the elevator. Would he panic and crack or stay calm and lie? He almost wants to try it out. Not tonight, however. He unlocks his apartment. By now, the fianc� is nibbling on Mariko's neck and ear. She whimpers in response. This would be a good show. He turned to them.

"Right this way," he said. They followed him to his room. Setting up felt like foreplay to him. As the couple made out on his bed, he got out the drugs and turned on his camera. The action numbed him into silent watching. He didn't know why; but it didn't feel as exciting anymore. Maybe because it's the same. He knew what came next, so much so that it bored him. But why keep doing this? Couldn't the pain just go away and let him love his girlfriend now? No, that would be too easy. This� monster lived to torment him and this was the only release he had. The alcohol stopped working for him a long time ago. Besides, he needed this to keep up his relationship with Kimiko. All for Kimiko.

Clean-up became easier too. No real mess; just get rid of the clothes, dress the bodies, and move them out right away. He already had the perfect outfit for Mariko in mind. After he dressed the couple up, he made a sweet, funny good night text to his girlfriend. Now, it's off to another shrine. He doesn't know; it just fits with everything else that he does with these kills. Mariko and her lover wouldn't be found until morning.