Chapter Forty-One: What Has to be Done:
Tsuzuki and Anna
sat in the living room. He turned to his wife.
“Are you okay?”
the shinigami asked.
“No,” Anna
muttered. The clock ticked in the background. She drummed her fingers on her
knee. Tsuzuki took a breath.
“I’m sorry for
your loss,” he said.
“Uh-huh,” she
said in a flat tone. That was a lie. They had just put Kirika-chan down for the
night. Tsuzuki told everything today. Anna took it stoically.
“I got another
call,” she said.
“Oh no,” he
said.
“I won’t play
along,” she said. “I won’t do it. I won’t.” Tsuzuki grabbed her shoulders.
“You don’t have
to,” he said. “We’re going to end this.” Anna didn’t look convinced. He didn’t
blame her.
Tsuzuki turned
to Anna on the couch. “What do you want to do first?”
“Find my
friend,” Anna said. Her husband once.
“Okay,” he said.
“We will do that.”
“But, how?” she
asked.
“We’re working
on that as we speak,” he assured her. Anna shifted in her place.
“Can I see your
phone?” Tsuzuki asked. Anna handed it to him.
“Thanks,” he
said. The shinigami scrolled through the messages. He found the latest one.
Tsuzuki tapped the screen. Anna glanced up as he started reading. Her husband
looked confused.
“What is this?”
he asked.
Black bird.
That’s what the text said.
“I won’t buy
it,” Anna said.
“Okay,” he said.
“I get it.” Tsuzuki handed back her phone.
“Thank you,”
Anna said. She shoved it into her jeans pocket.
“We’re going out
to that park tonight,” the shinigami said. “Hisoka and I.”
“I see,” Anna
said.
“We are getting
close.”
“I see.”
Tsuzuki touched
her hand. “We will find her. Don’t worry.” She wanted to believe him. His wife
does trust him. Tsuzuki gave her an odd look.
“What is the
problem?” he asked. Anna shook her head.
“Usagi…” he
said.
“Just… Please be
careful,” Anna said. Tsuzuki pulled her into his arms.
“What are you
going?” she asked.
“Shhh,” he said.
She started to open her mouth again.
“Shhh,” the
shinigami said again. His wife finally went quiet. They don’t have the answers.
Unplanned and impulsive. But that’s been okay. That might not be the case this
time. Tsuzuki finally let go.
“Better?” he
asked.
“I guess,” Anna
said. He took hold of her hands.
“I’ll keep in
touch with you,” Tsuzuki said. “I promise.”
“Thank you,”
Anna said. He gave her a gentle kiss on the lips. His warmth felt so genuine.
But the cold came back when he pulled away.
“Do you want me
to hold you again?” Tsuzuki asked.
“Yes,” Anna said. Her husband pulled her into his arms again. This would have to do for now.