Chapter Forty-Eight: Strange Calm:
Anna felt
herself tremble. Tsuzuki put his hand on hers. She didn’t look up at him.
“Thank you,” she
said.
“Yeah,” he said.
Anna tending to the baby gave her time to think. This wouldn’t end, would it?
There would only be one way to stop this madness.
“Are you sure
you want to do this?” Tsuzuki asked.
“Yes,” she said.
He knew not to press the issue further.
“I will go with
you then,” the shinigami said. “This is my case after all. Hisoka and I have to
see this through.”
“Fine,” was all
Anna said. Already, Tsuzuki didn’t enjoy this plan. But he wants to end it too.
The shinigami put his arm around her shoulders.
“Please be
careful,” he said.
“Yes,” Anna
said.
“Why are you
telling us this?” Airi asked. “We aren’t weak, you know?”
“Yes, yes,”
Tsuzuki said. “Which is why you have to be careful.” Airi frowned to herself.
“Yeah, yeah,”
she said. “You have to be careful!”
The husband grinned.
“You know I
will,” he said.
“Good,” Airi
said.
“Are you done?”
Anna asked. Tsuzuki looked at her with a concerned look on his face.
“Alright,” he
said. “Anything else you need?” Anna didn’t respond. Tsuzuki shrugged.
“Okay then,” he
said. Both sat silent. Anna had a stony stoic look on her face.
--------
They tried to
stay normal in the morning. Tsuzuki went to work. He and Hisoka needed a plan.
Anna did her daily work around the apartment. To her surprise, she felt so much
calmer. No fear. No rage.
Anna closed her
eyes and took a breath.
She cut off her
phone this morning. Tsuzuki’s idea really.
“You don’t have
to put up with her today,” he said. “Just turn off your phone. I will contact
you through email. Sound good?” Anna slowly nodded. He gave her a quick kiss.
“I’ll see you
tonight,” Tsuzuki said.
“Take care,”
Anna said. She watched him walk out the door. Right now, she opened her eyes. It
would be hours before the moment of truth. Might as well kill the time.
---------
“Tell me you
have something to fight this creature,” Tsuzuki pleaded to Watari. The blonde
scientist gave him a smile.
“Follow me,” he
said. Tsuzuki felt himself calm down as he followed his fists at his sides.
Hisoka was already inside, waiting.
“Yo,” Tsuzuki
said. His partner said nothing. Watari walked over to a glass table and opened a
long black box.
“Behold,” he
said. He opened the box. Tsuzuki came over for a look. His jaw dropped.
“Where did you
get this?” he asked. Watari smiled and winked.
“I pulled some
strings,” he said. They looked at the long silver knife below. The handle
screamed to be held. Tsuzuki reached forward to touch it but stopped.
“You sure this
will work?” he asked.
“Yes,” Watari
said. “I had three spells cast on it. If this doesn’t kill it, I can’t help you
there.”
“I see,” the
older shinigami said. “Is it okay to touch?”
“Of course,” the
blonde scientist said.
“Thanks,”
Tsuzuki said. He picked up the blade and stuffed it in his coat.
“Do you have a
plan?” Hisoka asked.
“Not yet,” his
partner said. “But I will think of something.” Watari and Hisoka didn’t look
convinced.
---------
Kiko was fading
fast. She had been holding on to the best of her ability. But now…
Is this the end of me? I do not want this. But…
Wait. Who is that out there?
Step. Step. Step. Drag.