Nightly Rituals

Chapter One: Summer Goodbye:

“Cheers!” Glasses clinked in the air. The shinigami and their friends sat around Watari’s kitchen table at sundown. Tsuzuki smiled as he rubbed Anna’s arm.

“It’s been so long since we were together like this,” he said.

“Yeah!” Watari said. Hisoka quietly smiled to himself as He watched everyone around the table. Tsuzuki and Anna sat together being lovey-dovey as usual. He had his arm around her shoulders as she snuggled up to him. Charlotte sat next to Takashi. She talked to him in whispers to help him understand some of the jokes being told. The blind angel nodded and pretended to get what she was saying. April sat with Kyosuke. She brought much ignored him as he sat awkwardly over his drink. Watari took his position at the head of the table running his mouth. Hisoka couldn’t understand why Tatsumi brought Tana with him. That pair sat quietly listening as they slowly drank their drinks.

“So,” Watari spoke up. “How was everyone’s summer?”

“Good,” their expressions told him.

“What made you want to do this?” Tatsumi asked.

“Just felt like it,” the scientist said. Those words filled the secretary with suspicion. Watari loved to experiment on his coworkers on whims. Tatsumi wouldn’t put it past the scientist that would pull another experiment on them on this party tonight. Tana rested her hand on his. The look in her eyes told him this wasn’t the place or time. The kagetsukai drew back as a result and cleared his throat.

This summer’s been rather hot. Everyone’s mostly been hooking up. Some in a more platonic sense while others got hot and heavy. By this night, their bonds had evolved into the next level. Watari held up another bottle of wine.

“Would anyone like more?” he offered.

“Sure,” Charlotte spoke up. He came over and poured her a glass.

“Thank you,” she said. Charlotte took her drink. The cold taste made her tremble.

“Wow, summer’s almost gone,” Tsuzuki said. “It doesn’t feel like it.”

“No, it doesn’t,” Tatsumi agreed. Anna rested her head on Tsuzuki’s shoulder. He patted her on the head. The man then raised his glass.

“I would like to propose a toast!” he said. “To Anna’s new job!”

“Cheers!” their friends said. Anna put up her glass as well with a small smile on her face.

“How’s your job going?” Hisoka asked.

“Good,” she said. “I actually like my job.”

“That’s good to hear,” Watari said. “Anyone want more?”

“Yes,” his guests said. The scientist went around serving drinks. They drank up until close to midnight. The guests all went home, but they weren’t ready to let go of the summer just yet. They still cling to those sexy memories of the months past.