Chapter 1
They said all good things come to those who wait. Maybe that was the beauty in death.
A tall figure walked into the dimly lit bar, dressed head to toe in black and sat at the bar counter. He didn’t utter a single word, instead just observing what was written on his paper. He was there to collect her. He glances at the clock which reads 01.24 am.
Sayoko Furukawa:
Species: Human
Age: 21
Height :5’5
Gender: Female
Death: Suicide
Time of death: 05/02/2021 02.02 am
Sighing deep in her chest slipped back behind the bar, it was usual to still have a customer at such an hour. Though she was thankful she only had one left on her night to close. Glancing at the time she realised that it was time to close soon, meaning she need to get over to the man for the last call. Sayoko could have sworn there was a flash of red in his black eyes as she walked over, but perhaps her own eyes are only playing tricks on her. After all, her medication had the side effects of psychosis.
“This is my last call sir, anything I can get for you to finish the evening? We have thirty minutes to close and there’s a club down the street if you’d like to party any later.” Sayoko offered with a soft smile as she stood across from the bar’s only customer.
The stranger had a sense of familiarity that she hadn’t felt in a while, his aura had a cold demeanour, not the warmth she was craving for during that rainy winter night. It had been a year since her best friend had died; that too, on a rainy cold winter night.
Pill after pill, drink after drink, therapist after therapist yet nothing ever seemed to help dull the pain. Sayoko made endless attempts at herself while her health deteriorated; nothing helped.
“I’d like a dead man’s kiss please” The man didn’t hesitate to think over what he’d like, already having it clear in his mind what he wanted. Sayoko found the choice a little odd, it wasn’t a popular one where she worked at, one she knew how to make nonetheless though as she mixed the drink for him. Placing the cocktail before him, she gets a hum of approval as he takes a sip. Keeping an eye on him, he didn’t seem drunk as he slowly worked through his glass. Feeling Sayoko's gaze on him his eyes raise from the glass to look at her, lips formed into a lazy smirk
“Would you like a glass of water once you’re done?” she asked him before he leaves, though she knew he should have enough time to savour the liquor.
“I’m alright, sweetheart.” The man chuckles deeply watching her clean most of the bar, “It seems oddly quiet here, why do you think that is?”
Sayoko's brows knit in confusion as she slowly made her way closer to where the man is sitting, not wanting to force him out rudely, but wanting to get things wrapped up sooner to make her way home.
“And why might that be?” Sayoko inquired, her voice dripping with curiosity, only to freeze at the words that leave the man’s mouth next.
He lifted up the glass for another sip of the dark purple drink as he whispered, "I'm here to collect you dear.” He walks towards her, grabbing a glass only to fill it with the same concoction she filled it with a little earlier. “Here, drink this darling, you look parched,” he said gently, placing the cup into her trembling hands as he turned his head to look at the clock.
1.33 am
“Who are you? And what do you mean by ‘collect me’? Answer me or I will need to remove you from the premi-”
The man laughs, eyes crinkling in amusement and Sayoko could have sworn she saw red sparks dancing through them again, “ I’m Shinigami. Though you may know me as what you humans call the death or the grim reaper, doll.”
Sayoko scoffed, rolling her eyes with a small smirk of her own, “You mean to tell me that you’re the Shinigami? A man who’s only on his first drink of the night and was silent up ’till now?”
He seemed more amused at her disbelief than offended, and the next thing she knew his eyes flash fully red, confirming the colour she’d seen there previously.
“Just because I don’t look like how you’d expect doesn’t mean I’m not who I say I am.” he snaps, suddenly a lit cigarette is between his fingers, bringing it to his lips for a drag. He exhales the smoke as he continues on, “Unfortunately I’m here on business not pleasure, so as much as I’d fancy a couple more drinks, I prefer working sober.”
“Oh? And what business is it that brings you to my establishment?” Sayoko questioned raising a brow.
“I’m here to collect you right now, sweetheart. You're in safe hands, and as much as I enjoy engaging in this conversation you might want to consider hurrying up a little.” he only seemed more smug as Sayoko nearly dropped the glass in her hands as she registered the meaning of his words.
“S-So you’re saying that my time is up then?” Her voice seemed to have lost it’s life already as she carefully set the glass down in it’s spot, turning to look at him.
“That’s precisely what I’m saying. Though here’s the deal. If you agree to dance with me tonight and you can keep up, then I’ll let you live. That’s the deal. For each moment that you can keep up with me, you get another minute, once you can’t anymore though…well let’s just say I’ll be taking you elsewhere tonight. I’m here to occupy your time before you need to go, darling.” he lays out his terms, setting his now empty glass down as he waits for her answer.
“What sort of dance?” Sayoko eyed him suspiciously knowing he likely was looking to play a trick on her.
His lips quirk up as he stands, “Your choice doll.”
“How about a waltz?” She questioned as she walked towards the wooden record player while rummaging through the countless vinyls looking for the perfect classical piece. The one Sayoko had danced to with her late friend. She gently brushed off the dust from the vinyl before placing it on the platter, then placing the needle on top of it.
Shostakovich: String quartet No. 15 in E flat minor, Op. 144
“Shall we dance?” he asked softly. Still reluctant, Sayoko agreed but only on the condition the she gets to lock up the bar first, which he didn’t seem to mind. He gently places her hands on his shoulders and his hands on her waist. Sayoko fell in step, letting the melody control her movements. All the scenery around her dissolved. It was Sayoko and him, alone.
His gaze softened as her eyes met his, his once black eyes now a soft brown, his face was that of her late friend. Not a single imperfection on his face, not even a hair out of place. As the swayed slowly together to the lonesome melody, his eyes travelled down her pale figure, his cold yet soft hands brushing against the scars on her arms.
Each touch of his skin against hers brought back the painful memories of how each scar was formed. Sayoko fell deep into reminiscing the countless hours of darkness she’d spent lying awake, in pain with no one to hold her, no one to keep her safe, no one to comfort her. That was why she had resulted in pills, razors and alcohol. Tears welled up in Sayoko's eyes as she remembered the horrors that she tried so hard to forget.
1.53 am
He lifts Sayoko's hand to his lips to gently kiss it before placing it back on his shoulders. The agony in her chest kept building up more and more, the memories tormenting her . He pulled her closer to his chest, gently patting Sayoko's head to comfort her as his shirt became submerged in tears. He didn’t want Sayoko to hurt, that’s why he came to collect her; to console her. The cuts on her skin began to reopen; blood oozed out from every single one, each scar tainted with tortures of her past. The memories of each attempt she made at herself rushed to her mind as she bled out into the strangers familiar arms.
“P-please promise me you won’t leave when it’s my t-time to go,” Sayoko whimpered as she took her bloodstained hands to wipe her teary eyes.
He hated that he knew she was going to leave this way, soaked in blood, still in pain till her last few moments. It pained him knowing he couldn’t do anything to help or anything to prevent Sayoko from hurting herself, it was his job to observe and help souls meet their end. He had no choice but to observe the way her body weakened by the moment. It was the people that deserved better that left the earth in the cruellest of ways, no matter if they were self induced.
“I promise to stay by your side till the very last moment,” he whispered, smiling softly, as he kissed her forehead ever so tenderly. Sayoko's hands move from his shoulders, falling into the pockets of her apron. She reached for the bottle of pills, her hands trembling as she opened the cap, pouring the capsules into her other hand before bringing them to her mouth and swallowing.
Rohypnol
“...just want to forget everything. I want to go home, take me home… please,” Sayoko cried as the drug began to seep into her body. And like that Sayoko's life was coming to an end, he held her weakening body in his arms, wiping her tears with his thumbs.
02.02 am
“Thank you for staying with me till the end. Sorry.” she whispered, her voice frail as ever.
“Goodbye Sayoko, darling.” his voice spoke ever so faintly as Sayoko's body reached its limit. Her eyes met his for the final time before closing. And just like that, the pill bottle hit the floor and her last thoughts spoken.
In the end, there was darkness. There was no afterlife. No paradise. He’d never see her again. Good things must come to an end, they say, this was her end. In this book called life, all her memories were burnt, like a page on fire. He could hear the cries of her soul in the distance but you couldn’t stop walking forward. And despite saving lives, he found himself back where he began, all alone.
fin.
