Chapter Two
Yuri opened her front door and stepped inside. She walked into the living room and sat down heavily on her couch. Keisuke. . .Something's not right about him. Yuri looked around. The house was empty. It was inhabited a long time ago by a large family— Yuri, Yiru, her mother and her father. Yiru was Yuri's twin sister, and though they looked alike, they were so different.
Yiru was bubbly and optimistic, always smiling and laughing. She was very pretty, and she wore her hair out of her face. Yuri was the opposite. She was plain and gloomy, always blushing and nervous. Yuri didn't consider herself pretty, mainly because smiling wasn't really something she did often. Even though they looked different, Yuri and Yiru were best friends. One day, Yiru went out with a boyfriend or something. The bridge they were walking on collapsed. Yiru died.
Her mother was driving home from work. She was under the bridge when it collapsed. She and at least seventy others died in their cars. Her father, on the other hand, always worked across oceans in different countries, different states. He hardly ever returned home. When he heard what had happened, he started drinking and gambling. Yuri, luckily, didn't have to deal with any debt of his, because he never came home. Though most nights Yuri was kept awake by worry for her beloved father. My only family left.
On a rather different subject, sudden questions had popped up about Keisuke. Why was he outside of my school? Why was he looking in my classroom's direction? What was he doing inside of my school?! Why did he help me? Why was he waiting for me at the end of the day? Is he some sort of pervert? That can't be, he's kinda nice. Though he's ditching school. . .How did he know where I lived. . .? Yuri shuddered, wondering what she had gotten herself in to.
A door opened in a different room. Yuri turned, surprised. The wind? But then someone stepped into the living room. Yuri fell off the couch and began struggling towards the door. "Yuri. . .Wait. . ." they murmured. Yuri stopped, her hand clutching the knob. She turned slowly. The man had a bottle in his hand, and he reeked of alcohol. He had his hair pushed back out of his face, dark shadows under his eyes. He looked awful, exhausted and drunk. "D-Daddy?"
Yuri's father crossed the room and hugged her. "I can hardly recognize you. You've gotten so big." he slurred. "D-Dad, what are you talking about? I sent you pictures. . ." Yuri said, uncomfortable. "W-Where are my manners? Let me welcome you home. I'll make some tea." she said, finding an excuse to break away from the man's hug. "Good idea." he said, taking a swig of liquor.
Yuri set a tea tray down on the kotatsu table and sat down opposite of her father. "You don't have to sit so formally." he said. She loosened up a bit, but she was still stiff. "Honey, I have some serious news." her father said. "O-Oh, do you? Let's hear it then." she said, sipping her tea. "It seems your father is in a bit of trouble."
She froze mid-gulp. A bit of trouble, when dealing with her father, was incredibly big trouble. "I was gambling with some friends," he said, sipping his tea as well, "when we decided to have some fun. We upped the bets by. . .a lot. Turns out I lost to a man who isn't such a good man. He owns a very bad business, and Daddy's going to have to hide for a bit." Yuri dropped her tea. "That's not the baddest part yet." he said, speaking like a child. "What else?" Yuri asked darkly. "He sent me a document the next day. I signed it. I sold something important." he said.
"Oh, Daddy, not our house. . ." Yuri pleaded. "No." he said, but then fell silent. "Then what?" she asked. "I sold your organs, sweetie."
She stood up, trembling. "W-W-W. . ." she tried, but she couldn't finish her thought. He opened his mouth to say something, but Yuri was out the door. She was barefoot, she had no jacket, and she was wearing a skirt. It's snowing, genius. She stumbled and grabbed a tree for support. Please let it be a joke. Please let it be an awful, cruel joke from a drunk man. she begged in thought. "The girl just ran out of the house. That drunkard was supposed to occupy her long enough for us to sedate her. . ." Yuri heard someone say. She turned to see a small girl and a taller boy talking. "She can't have gotten far," the girl said. They were approaching her. Yuri hid quickly, her breathing quickened and sharp. She clamped her hand over her mouth to muffle her breath. "What's her name again?" the male asked. "Ninomiya Yuri." the girl answered.
That did it. Yuri let out a sob. "There she is." the girl said. "Let's get—" the male started, before there was the sound of footsteps. "Hey." a familiar voice said. It was Keisuke's voice. Yuri whirled, stunned. Keisuke's going to get himself killed! "Run, Ninomiya-san." he said. Yuri stepped out from behind the tree, hesitating. Keisuke smiled softly. "I'll catch up." he promised. Yuri rocketed off, wiping her eyes. "Wait!!" the girl cried. "Mari, after her." the male said. Mari started the chase, but Keisuke grabbed her by the hair and threw her. "Tomoki!" Mari cried. Tomoki snarled and then was upon Keisuke.
Yuri stopped, panting. She wiped her mouth. It's freezing. . .She hugged herself, shivering. There were footsteps behind her. "NO!!!" she screamed, thrashing her arms out. Keisuke caught her, out of breath. "Hey, hey, chill. Er, never mind, you look chilled enough already." he said, stripping his jacket off. He wrapped it around her. "What are you doing, dressed like that?? What did those two want with you?" he asked, lifting her from the ground. Se rubbed her cold feet, grateful. "A-Actually, my dad. . .sold my organs. Or so he says. I hope it's a joke. . ." Yuri said. Keisuke frowned. "That's kind of serious to be a joke." he said.
"I know. . ." she answered. "It's probably not safe to go home, is it?" Keisuke muttered, rubbing her shoulders. Yuri snuggled closer, freezing. Her teeth were chattering. "You're practically blue. Look, I have a friend. A real otaku, almost glued to his computer, but he's a charming fellow. He's a good guy. His heart's in the right place. Would you mind staying with him?" Keisuke asked. Yuri nodded, ready to agree to anything to get someplace warm and safe. "Don't go to school. Don't go outside." Keisuke warned her. "S-Stop tal-talking already and let's g-g-go!!" she hissed, ready to crack. "Pfft." Keisuke laughed. "Sorry. Alright." he said.
"Ichihari." Keisuke called, kicking the door open. "Hmm. . .?" someone murmured, looking away from his computer. "A girl. A live one, too. Can I dissect her?" Ichihari mumbled, standing up. "Touch her and I swear I'll kill you." Keisuke muttered. "She needs to stay here for awhile." Dissect? Did he say dissect?! Yuri thought, squirming. "Don't worry, he won't touch you." Keisuke said. He looked up and at Ichihari, smiling crookedly. "Will you, Ichihari-kun?" he asked. Ichihari rubbed the back of his neck, then shrugged.
"What's yer name?" he asked Yuri. "N-Ninomiya Yuri," she answered. "I can't see her face." Ichihari said. "So?" Keisuke muttered, sighing. "What if she isn't cute? I don't want a not-cute girl." Ichihari said, frowning. Keisuke set Yuri down and slammed his fist into Ichihari's cheek. "Will you take her?" he said coldly. Ichihari got off the ground, spitting blood onto Keisuke's cheek in return. "I'll take her. Where are you going?" he muttered. "Business." Keisuke said, grinning. "Ninomiya, if you ever need me, call me. I'll be right over." he said. Yuri nodded, shocked senseless. "Ichihari, take care of Ninomiya-san." Ichihari nodded. "Bye bye, Ryuji." he said, closing the door as Keisuke left. He slowly looked at Yuri. "Tell me, sweetheart, what are you doing with an Assassin?" he asked. "A-Assassin? Who?" she asked. "Ryuji." Ichihari said, frowning. "K-Keisuke-kun?!" she snapped. He flinched. "Loud, loud. . ." he murmured. "Obviously. Ryuji's an Assassin, you know?"
