Chapter Twenty-Seven: Vorarephilia:

March 2nd, 2010.

7:30 p.m.

After the wedding, Tsuzuki and Anna returned to the guest house. He took her to the downstairs restaurant. Not many people out tonight, just a few elderly people and a couple of business men. The newlyweds sat in a booth near the big window. Tsuzuki gave his bride a calm smile.

"I'll get us a special dinner," he said. "Wait here."  Tsuzuki patted her on the head before going up to the counter. The chef and his wife looked up.

"Yes," the former asked. Tsuzuki grinned and leaned in towards the older couple.

"You see that young lady sitting by the window over there?" he asked pointing at Anna as she looked at the rain still pouring outside. "It's our wedding night tonight." The chef's wife's eyes lit up.

"Oh!" she said in a low voice.

"Yes," Tsuzuki said. "So, I was thinking, do you have something with an aphrodisiac?" The older couple smiled.

"Wait there," the chef told him. "I have just the thing." He reached over for the menu. Tsuzuki glanced over at Anna and winked as he waited. She smiled when she saw him.

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April 12th, 2010.

-Charlotte-

The news about the "Cupid Killer" has spread all over Kabukicho. Everywhere I go, everyone is always talking about it.

"The Cupid Killer stuck again last night."

"He kills couples in his apartment and poses them at Shinto shrines."

"Scary!"

"It's what happened to Fukie-chan and her boyfriend!"

Even at Red Rose Club, the rumours won't stop flying for a second. The customers won't stop talking about that damn case.

"I heard he targets pretty girls and their boyfriends," one man said.

"Scary!" I heard one of the newbies coo.

"Then what about those two lesbians they found two days ago?" another hostess asked. Everyone switched their focus on her with their jaws dropped. I nearly dropped a glass from my tray.

"No way!" another customer said, gasping. The gossip hound hostess nodded.

"Same MO and everything," she said.

"But why?" another newbie asked. The gossip hound shrugged, shaking her head.

"Maybe he wanted some girl-on-girl?" she suggested.

"Oh! So he's a murderer and a pervert?" a third customer asked.

"Now that's scary!" the first newbie said. I rolled my eyes and walked outside. It didn't take long for me to hear footsteps behind me. I paused in the hallway, shaking my head.

"What is it, Mariko-senpai?" I asked. The footsteps walked up next to me.

"What's the matter, Char-chan?" I heard my mentor ask. I turned my head to my left. Despite being thirty-eight, Mariko-senpai still looked lovely, elegant almost. Her long plum hair always looked perfect no matter what the condition was. Even the laugh lines and crow's-feet added to her unique elegance. I shook my head.

"It's nothing," I brushed off. Her soft green eyes didn't believe me.

"Char-chan," she said. "I don't like seeing you all stressed out. Is it school again?" I sighed and turned to her.

"I'm sick of hearing about the stupid 'Cupid Killer'," I complained. Mariko-senpai gave me a sympathetic smile.

"Care to walk outside with me?" she offered. I sighed, dropping back my head.

"Fine," I said.

"Let's go," she murmured. We turned and headed out the back way.

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In the alley, Mariko-senpai lit up a cigarette. She offered me one, but I turned her down. She shrugged her small shoulders.

"Alright," she said. I envy her in a way; she even makes smoking look classy. My mentor turned with the cigarette between her plump lips.

"You need an outlet, Char-chan," she said. I tilted my head, frowning.

"Huh?" I asked.

"You're single, yeah?" she asked.

"Yes�" I said, uncertain where exactly she was taking this. My mentor clapped her hands together.

"Then you need a release," she summed up. I quickly understood what she was saying. I shook my head.

"No way!" I shot her down. Mariko-senpai raised an eyebrow at me.

"What?" she asked. She flicked the ashes out over the stair railing.

"Don't hook me up with any creepy perverts here!" I said in a loud voice. My mentor gave me a gentle smile.

"Would I ever do something like that to you?" she asked.

"Well� no�" I muttered. Mariko-senpai took another smoke.

"Besides," she said. "I already found you someone." I blinked at her.

"Who?" I asked. She leaned in close to my ear. Already, I had the feeling that I wouldn't like where this could go.

"That yummy roommate of yours," she whispered. The color drained from my face as I whipped around to her.

"What?!" I cried.

"Why not?" Mariko-senpai said. "You've known each other for five years now, yeah?"

"That's not the point!" I yelled, shaking my head. "No, just no!"

"And tell me why?"

"He and I are just friends, it would be just too weird!"

"Oh come on, Char-chan! He's gorgeous and really hot! You should at least give it one shot!"

My eyes widened. "He's still a virgin!"

"Perfect! You should take the time to 'teach' him."

"But he's blind!"

Mariko-senpai put her arm around my shoulders. "Char-chan, blind people can have sex just like everyone else. They just use their other senses instead."

I raised an eyebrow at her. "And how do you know all of this?"

"I had some blind lovers in my twenties." My mentor took another smoke before crushing the butt on the side of the building and going back inside. I looked down at my feet.

"Oh�" I mumbled. Seducing my blind angel roommate just sounds so wrong in so many ways, but yet� I shook my head. No, I can't do that to Takashi. I just can't! However, my curiosity just won't let the idea go for some reason�