The Woman Called 663

Chapter 6 .~The flowers of Hope.~

    Mayou sat down at an empty table and was immediately tended to by a bulky set, middle age women clothed in a red apron. In her callused hands was a little notebook with a pen tip settled on the blank yellow paper.

    “What would you like this afternoon?” Her voice was sweet and held hidden wisdom.

    “Water and your special. Same for her.” Mayou ordered for 663 as she sat down in the chair beside Mayou.

    They were seated towards the back, only two tables away from the windows.

    “Yes, sir.” With that, she left and yelled into the kitchen.

    Mayou shifted through his, angered at the lack of internet, but decided that games weren't that needed anyway just when a young male came up to his table.

    “The name's Ayahiro, welcome to the town of Shinjiru.” Ayahiro held out his dark tanned hand in hopes of a handshake, but when neither one gave him their hand he just slowly snapped his fingers and smiled at them.     “And who might you two be?”

    663 stared at the dyed red-haired man who sat across from her. His chin was nicely chiseled and held the makings of a new beard growing. His eyes were a gorgeous brown that seemed to hold years of experience within them. However, she felt a strange connection to him, one that wouldn't allow her to look away for even a second as a warm feeling settled in her stomach.

    “Mayou Nakusu. Now, what do you want.” Mayou wasn't in the mood for his company and his tone and expression showed it.

    “And who are you, Kireina?” He ignored Mayou and went straight to the girl that peaked his interest.

    663 tilted her head at the name he had given her. “Not Kireine, 663 me name.”

    Ayahiro smiled, “Kireina, it means beautiful.” Their eyes connected in a colorful link that tugged and pulled at their soles, his stronger than hers.

    It was like something clicked into place for the both of them and a sparkle appeared in the corner of her black and white vision before disappearing as quickly as it came when Mayou's angry voice filtered into her senses, “Shouldn't you be dead?”

    Ayahiro quickly turned his head to Mayou, “Why aren't you?”

    Mayou's eyes grew fierce, “I asked first.”

    “I haven't aged a day since the day you left looking for Shiroi.”

    “Don't you dare speak her name!” Mayou slammed a fist down on the table, startling everyone to look at his direction.

    Murmurs whispered about the room till the waitress came with their food, cheerfully humming as if nothing had happened. She noticed Ayahiro and greeted him while she served Ayahiro and 663. “Would you like the special too?” She already had her pin and pad out waiting eagerly for his answer.

    “Sorry Aunty, not today.”

    “If not the special then how about a sandwich?” She persisted.

    Ayahiro shook his head and apologized.

    “Well then, I'm not you're Aunty then, call me by my given name.” She tutted and placed her hands on her hips.

    “Natsuki, otokonoko dake o nokosu.” An older male voice traveled from the kitchen.

    Natsuki quickly turned her head to the door and shouted, “No! I will not leave the boy alone!”

    “Aunty-” Ayahiro tried to intervene.

    “Now look here, I did not teach you the ways of the Japanese just to call me Aunty. I'm not that old, if anything, you're older at thirty-six.” She stuck her tongue at him.

    “Hey! I thought we agreed not to talk about my age in front of the ladies.” He lowered his voice when he spoke the latter, albeit that Mayou and 663 could still hear him.

    Mayou scowled at him, “She's mine, so back off.”

    At this Ayahiro raised his eyebrows in astonishment, “Yo-YOU got a new girlfriend! But what about finding Shiroi?”

    Mayou's eye twitched with his growing annoyance at Ayahiro, “She's my guard.” Mayou grinned at the thought that he got to withhold information from him this time because she was actually an assassin temporarily being used as a guard.

    He would soon find Shiroi and return 663 to where she belongs, with Pleoh. Ayahiro realized that Mayou was smiling with a certain undertone of anger, “Why are you angry?”

    Mayou's temper suddenly grew at the thought of what Ayahiro had done to him. He burst out his answer before storming out of the restaurant. “YOU LET ME KEEP ON THINKING THAT SHE WAS DEAD!!”

    Ayahiro sat speechless and surprised, it wasn't until this moment that he understood what he had done to Mayou. Mayou was drinking himself to death while he was traveling for months looking for Mayou. He could remember that night as clearly as an ice cube.

                                                                                                    .~663~.

    A deafening bang of doors swinging against a wooden building broke the silence of the night.

    “Get outta here! This is the fifth fight this week! You were once a good man. Get your head on straight, boy!” A man wobbled out of the bar doors using one crutch to support himself, as he was missing his left leg above the knee.

    The man scratched his beard and huffed at the weak boy laying on the muddy ground.

    “Tom? *hic* That you?” The feeble man took a swing of the half-empty alcohol bottle in his hand.

    “Mayou! I told ya to stop.” Tom yanked the bottle out of Mayou's hand.

    “I can't stop! I have nothing but that bottle! She's dead! MY Shiroi is gone. Taken from me, just like that bottle! Now give IT back! Give it!” Mayou reached for the alcohol, still on his knees.

    “She's not dead.” A gentle male voice spoke from behind Mayou.

    Mayou turned around and spotted a man that looked exactly like Shiroi.

    “Shiroi, Shiroi.” Mayou wrapped his thin arms around the man's legs and pulled himself to his knees. “Shiroi, you came back.” Mayou was deliciously smiling.

    “I'm sorry, but I'm not her. I'm Ayahiro, Shiroi's twin brother.” Ayahiro twisted the bag draped across his shoulder.

    When Mayou heard that it wasn't Shiroi, he dropped himself to the ground.

    “Shiroi!” Mayou yelled into the starless sky.

    “She's not dead.” Ayahiro stated with confidence.

    “Who?” Mayou squinted at the shadows dancing on Ayahiro's face.

    “Shiroi is not dead.”

    Tom quickly wobbled over and grabbed Ayahiro's shirt collar. “Ya betta not be playing this boy”

    “I know she's not dead. I can feel it. I can feel her heartbeat. I'm her twin after all. We're unbreakably connected.” Ayahiro squeezed the strap of his bag, but his eyes held a firm determination.

    Tom stood silent, just looking Ayahiro straight in the eye. Finally, when Tom got his answer he turned to Mayou and pulled him off the ground and grabbed his shoulders. “Mayou, he's telling the truth. Your Shiroi is alive.”

                                                                                                    .~663.~

    Ayahiro was pulled from his thoughts when he saw 663 stand from her chair, her plate cleaned of food and her mouth a little stained with gravy as she went to quickly follow behind Mayou. Ayahiro didn't want to just leave his relationship with his sister's husband like this so he too chased after them.

    “Wait up!” He yelled after them.

    663 turned around but Mayou kept walking, “Come stay at my place.”

    “No.” Was all Mayou said as he walked towards a small inn.

    “There won't be any more rooms left, it's the season of tourists and that's the only inn they can stay at.”

    Mayou scowled and turned back around, “I'm leaving right when morning dawns.”

    Ayahiro grinned triumphantly as he skipped back to his house. Mayou sulked the whole way, while 663 followed silently behind, her eyes never leaving Ayahiro's back.

    Dawn had came and went and soon it was quarter till nine in the bright, cool morning. Outside a small single level house on the patio was a blaring radio that sung rap music that contrasted with the gently rolling waved of the ocean. A calm girl and a solemn man sat around a small glass table waiting for the companion to come with breakfast. Finally bouncing red hair that sat atop a bronze-skinned man that came clattering out of the open house with three plates and cups on a tray.

    “Bon appetit.” He placed the plates and cups in front of his guests and settled into his own chair.

    “What is this?” The only other male glared at his plate before shifting his eyes to the server.

    “Oh come on Mayou, I think you know exactly what this is. Shiroi would always eat it wouldn't she? Scrambled     eggs and chocolate chips.”

    Mayou looked at the blend on his plate, but his eyes were distant and he mumbled, “Yeah, she did.”

    His eyes grew moist at the memory.

                                                                                                .~663.~

    “I still can't get used to the fact that you eat chocolate chips with eggs.” He sounded exasperated as he leaned back in his chair, feeling a little queasy.

    She giggled at his antics, “I like cake.”

    He looked at her confused, “What's cake got to do with this?” He pointed to her plate with wild, over exaggerated hand movement.

    “Silly, it has everything to do with it because it is after all ingredients to a cake so it's like eating cake for breakfast every morning.” She held her gentle hand to her lips and smiled to withhold the set of chuckles that was bubbling in her chest.

    He smiled warmly at her and gently touched her chin before everything fizzled out into reality. She wasn’t with him right now and he needed to realize that so he shifted his gaze to 663 that was happily gobbling down the meal.

    “Dang, girl you got a hardcore stomach.” Ayahiro joked but something turned on inside, like a lightbulb as he looked upon 663’s features and expression as she ate.

    It wasn't the usual emotionless facade that she wore, it was gentler and happier. Ayahiro stroke his chin in thought before pushing it aside as impossible, she couldn't be Shiroi. He then turned his attention to Mayou.

    “So dude, why didn't you leave like you said you would?” Ayahiro leaned back, throwing his elbow over the backrest.

    Mayou glared at him, “Why you finally want me gone?”

    Ayahiro tossed his hands up in the air in surrender, “I didn't mean it like that, I was just curious about what made you stay.”Mayou tilted his chin up in superiority and narrowed his eyes, “My car broke and there isn't a single bus or train station anywhere around here.”

    “We're a small town, but I'll drive you back if you want.” Ayahiro smirked at Mayou's new expression of disgust.“No, you'll just decide to visit whenever you want and I don't want you anywhere around me.” He abruptly stood and stomped into the house like a child not wanting to share his toy.

    Ayahiro chortle could be heard all the way into the living room, just two rooms away. Mayou plopped himself down on the couch and covered his eyes with his arm. He sighed as he thought about his contract with Pleoh and how much time he has left in this world if he doesn't find her soon.

    “Three months, just three months left and barely a single lead. Tagetto had only been hired to attack the boat, by an outside source who we have no way of finding.” He sighed once more before his voice broke, “Where are you?”

    Ayahiro's laughs lifted into the room from the outside. He was laughing at 663 since she had taken Mayou unattended plate. She was excited to eat what the girl in her dreams had eaten so when Ayahiro offered up Mayou's plate she took it with a slight glee exposed on her face. 663's ears twitched at the sound of a single rustle in a bush. She swallowed without chewing and quicker than a blink she was by the bush with her fork prepared to strike, however, as the offender jumped out of a bush it landed on all fours only to hop away at the sight of danger.

    “Calm down, it was just a bunny.” Ayahiro waved his hand to dismiss her actions.

    663 just looked at him before heading to sit back down.

                                                                                                .~663.~

    A gentle knock rasped against a large heavy door only twice before stopping and doing it again three more times. It was only when there was another pause in the knock when a large, commanding broken tone spoke, “You're permitted.”

    The man outside walked inside, never looking at the man before him and once he was at the desk he fell to his knees and reported his findings. “The little bird has come into contact with the color seeker.”

    The man in the large elaborate chair eyes grew wide and fierce. “HOW COULD YOU ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN!” He slammed his fist down on the table and despite his aggressive tone it was less demanding than it would be if his voice was crystal clear and unbroken.

    The kneeled man trembled and shoved his head into the tiled floor. Blood dripped onto the floor and yet the man didn't move from his spot.

    “Kill the color seeker and bring her back or I'll have your head!” Even though his voice was raspy the threat could be heard clear as day.

    “Yes, Master.” The man scurried back to the door, still on his knees and exited, not once seeing his master's face.

    He threw everything off his desk and slammed his fists on the table. His eyes narrowed as he stared at the door and his lips were turned in a thick grimace. “It's my miscalculation. But don't worry little bird, I'll have you back by my side.”

    He grinned at the thought of having her in his hands again and the things he would do to her.

                                                                                                    .~663.~

    The sun still hadn't fully risen in the sky when he came for her. He observed her location and people around her. There was one man inside the house, with her and another man outside. When he was confident that there were no other people he stepped forward, gaining the attention of the people outside.

    “Master?” She thought about Pleoh but Mayou said that he was no longer her Master and so she was confused. “He inside.” She pointed to the doors.

        “Me come to him?” She tilted her head to the side.

“Yes, please come with me.”

    She nodded and stood to go to his side when Ayahiro stood up, “Wait, who is this man?” His voice wavered in wariness and his eyes held onto hers and the connection they felt before grew stronger. A small smile grew on her face but she continued walking on ignoring a building tenseness in her chest. It was like her heart was screaming at her to go back. The man lead 663 into the treeline when she got to him and with her back turned he twirled his finger, signaling the other to come out their job.

    Silently they came out from behind the trees and made their way to Ayahiro. However, they weren't soundless enough for 663's ears and she quickly turned to them. She looked questionably at the man who had started to worry that she would return to the color seekers side, “They're just my protective detail.” He quickly settled himself and returned to taking her away. Again, when she was turned away he nodded to his men and they nodded back. He turned to walk away as he heard the slide of metal silent in the air. Before he even realized it 663 had zoomed past him and collided against Ayahiro just as a gunshot rang through the air.

    Ayahiro groaned in pain as the air was knocked out of his lungs at the sudden impact with the ground and as a searing burn circulated through his legs. However, despite his pain 663 quickly moved him behind her as she steadied herself on the balls of her feet as the fingertips of her left hand rested against the wood of the patio. In her right hand was a short blade that she pulled from her boot and she readied it for when the assassins before he decided to attack again.

    “663, you have your orders to come.” The man became strict with his tone in fear of his Master's rage.

    “You going kill him!” For some reason, she was angry when she had heard the familiar sound of guns and swords being pulled out of holsters and scabbards.

    Without thinking she went to Ayahiro's side, tumbling the both of them to the floor.

    “Master's orders.” He didn't hesitate to tell her his orders because they both know that orders must be thoroughly completed or the consequences will be catastrophic.

    663 shuddered at the thought of Pleoh's conformity lessons but even then she held her ground, defying the man who technically raised her and with a stone hard tone she said, “No.”

    The man's eyebrows raised in surprise, never had he seen someone willing defied his Master like this young assassin here, in even more enraged fear he let his killing intent seep through his skin and his voice deepened along with it, “You have no choice.”

    663 stood up with her back straight and her head held high, “No.”

    The man frowned, “Fine.” He held his hand up and threw it down like a flag and like machines the men under his command charged with great speed and strength.

    However, 663 didn't flinch she ran headlong to them, stopping them from getting any closer to Ayahiro. She focused on defending and pushing them back when one would stray or charge to Ayahiro she would quickly kill them, gaining a scratch herself from the others that took the chance to attack her. She huffed out a breath as she returned to her position in front of Ayahiro. Her eyes quickly switched between the ten men surround her, five dead on the ground. Blood trickled down her arms and her front, yet surprisingly there were no wounds on her back. Because even during the steadfast scuffle she never once turned her back to them.

    With every blade she deflected the connection between Ayahiro and 663 strengthened to great lengths and when ten more men crawled out from the woods she clicked her tonguage. Pleoh was watching them and no doubt was he fully prepared to kill Ayahiro, but she couldn't allow that. Her heart clenched at the thought of his death, that it would be her fault for not being strong enough. She couldn't let this man die. With that fleeting thought, she felt an unbearable power surge through her body and quicker than a fly she turned around and grabbed Ayahiro's hand.

    However, she wasn't expecting to feel herself merge with Ayahiro, to the point that she didn't feel like it was her own body anymore and the moment she closed her eyes, ready to give her all to him, he had pulled away and she had felt her insides cry in pain. A deafening explosion ruptured around her. Shaking the ground and pulling the both of them into a black unconscious, feeling nothing and hearing nothing.

    The man shuddered as he fell to the ground, he had watched beautiful colors envelop 663 and his target before spinning uncontrollably and pulling back into Ayahiro before exploding outward, abliderated his men and throwing him back into the trees. His legs burned and his lunged gurgled. He looked down to his legs to assess the damage and cried out when he saw bloody stubs, coughing up a red liquid he looked up to the tree branches, only seeing a sliver of the sky. He could no longer feel the stick lodged in his chest or the phantom pain of his legs. He felt numb and cold and oh how he wished to see the sky again, to just touch it once more. A small tear ran down his cheek and dropped onto the back of his hand and just as it splattered his last breath of life left him.

    Mayou ran out the door at the sound of the explosion tearing him out of his solemn thoughts. He awed at the marvelous view before him. Large and beautiful flowers bloomed and popped out of the ground, surrounding Ayahiro and 663 in a tight embrace. The stems wrapped around them and gently caressed their skin as they slept, cocooning them fully and despite Mayou desperate tries to pull the flowers away they stood as strong as steel.

    However, the longer Mayou's contact with the flowers lasted the calmer he felt as a sensation of hope filled him. He no longer felt like finding Shiroi was an impossible task with his limited time, he felt confident that he could find her and so he stopped tugging and just sat next to the layered blossoms and waited for the ones underneath to rouse by themselves.

.~Ch.6.~Flowers of Hope~.

                                                                                                                                                                                                            3652 words