VANILLA // POLY~wxmxmxmxmxm

EXCERPT

"Thank you."

He takes the money with a curt bow of his head, driving out to the road while I adjust my tweed jacket, my eyes looking up at the building with a dome having shiny lights coming out it's window.

A smile comes on my face now.

Good, I didn't miss it.

I cross the road and walk to the entrance, the bald man standing there moving his eyes around my clothes before he says in accented English, "You should not be here."

I smile and reply in japanese, "Call someone then. I am here with my card, of course, but you would believe I stole it, and do not look so surprised. Call Nanami, he's the head guard here, isn't he? Tell him 005 is here."

As always, he doesn't quite understand or believe why someone in a tweed jacket and wool pants would be interested or perhaps, rich enough to be here.

Not that I couldn't have worn something more suitable, but their faces. God, their faces are just perfect.

"Hey, there's a weirdo here." He's speaking on his intercom and in russian, having absolutely no idea I learnt that language as well, "Using some crazy ass James Bond name. 005? You know him? Oh, alright."

He looks at me as he hangs up, disbelief and something almost envy like in his eyes as he says, "He said he'd come meet you here."

I nod.

Nanami arrives, all apologetic and anxious to please me in whatever form, even if it meant firing the baldie, but I'm forgiving, mostly for the fact I don't want to be associated with the rich assholes that do those sort of things.

We enter the theater, thousands already seated while he and some other guards gather around me and lead me to the top floor, in a private booth that usually only has me in it.

Except today. There's another man here.

Nanami is apologizing again, saying something along the lines of him having no idea that I was coming, which was true. I told no one.

I wave him away, moving to the empty seat next to the man who looks understandably surprised that there is someone else who could afford this booth, and look the way I do.

He's older, with some specks of gray hair even though I can tell he makes an effort to dye it, in a well tailored red suit and tattoos all around his hand.

I bow at him, in respect and he nods, his eyes never leaving mine as I hear an ovation, turning my head forward and looking down, a pleasing smile coming to my face as she comes to the stage.

She walks differently now, everything about her breeds nobility even. With the way she stares at the crowd with a superior glint in her eyes and her body language...

She's, by every means, beautiful.

"Thank you all for honouring my last show with your presence here." She states in fluent japanese, "I must admit that I didn't expect to find a family here but you all, have seen me as one of yours, that I sing this song today, which means a lot to me.

"I am an anime fan so being here feels like a dream come true." She says this with a small chuckle, the crowd chuckling along with her. "Even though I am a bit older now. This song I am about to sing, is called Kamado Tanjiro no Uta. It's a song about moving forward, and not despairing no matter what happens, because you have someone to protect. It reminds me of—"

"Her japanese is quite fluent, for a westerner." The man next to me says.

I turn to him, smiling a bit. Of course it is. I taught her myself. "Yes. It is."

He smiles and stretches out his hand, "Yuri Uzumaki."

"Light." I reply, shaking him. "Doctor Light."

Small recognition comes to his face as he takes his hand away, still looking at me, "Oh. You must be a rich one."

Oh yes. You wouldn't believe how much rich people would pay to see that their six year old dog doesn't pass away too early, student or not.

"I just graduated from medical school today actually," I say and then because I have to brag, how can I not?, I add "Job interviews have began to pile up as well, the Haven's request standing out more than the others, but I couldn't miss her last show."

He sounds genuinely surprised as he says, "Oh, Haven's Hospital in England? You must be quite smart for them to seek you out."

I nod, "Thank you."

"And you just graduated. that must explain why you came here this way. You must have been in a rush." He says, "Not that I blame you, of course, Koneko's voice is truly a work of art. I have never heard someone so… angelic."

That, I agreed on. Listening to her made all my worry slip away, like she had me in a hypnotic trance and I was too weak, no, too glad to not be in control of my body anymore.

As she sings, none of us say another word, and I am glad for it and when she's finished, I stand, and so does the crowd below, clapping, as she smiles one more time at us before exiting the stage, another singer coming forward.

Yuri Uzumaki stands as well, even though he seems a bit less stressed than before, his eyes still not leaving my face, "Doctor Light, I understand you must be exhausted from your trip but I would like it if you could accompany me for dinner. I doubt you have been fed well enough."

I smile at him, "I would love to, but I have other… things."

As I say those words, Nanami and the other guards arrive, heads bowed as he tells me that my car is parked outside and ready to leave.

"Next time, then?" Yuri asks.

I chuckle this time and say in english, "I'm not gay."

A look of shock and perhaps shame goes across his face as he looks at the guards then at me, his words coming out in stutters, even though he uses english as well. "F-Forgive me, I wasn't implying— I didn't—."

"It's alright." I say, even though I know it's not. He'd forever remember this moment till he dies, and that gives me great pleasure. "Everyone makes mistakes. Till whenever, Mr Uzumaki."

As I turn and walk away, the guards again lead me down the stairs, and when I am outside, they leave me alone.

The cold air kisses my face, calming me for some seconds before I bring out my phone and make a call.

The person picks almost immediately, her voice low, "Kawaii?"

I can't help the smile that comes to my face as I reply, "Koneko, darling. Tonight's show was excellent, just as always, of course."

Her voice, is softer now. More polished. Made me always wish to keep her talking, "You came? That must mean you missed your grad party."

"I couldn't miss your last show, in Japan, that would be absurd. And besides, I missed you."

She sighs, even though I can tell she's smiling, "I missed you as well, Ki. I shall be resting at the hotel instead of the penthouse tonight, could you come there?"

"What's the name of the hotel?"

"It's one of the branches of that hotel you took me and stole their toothpaste tube."

"And you cost them about five hundred thousand dollars but you do not hear me reminding you, do you?"

She laughs and it pleases me. To hear that, to know I can do that for her even after everything she's been through.

I look up, the moon shining brighter than I remember as I say in a soft whisper, speaking on english this time, "We've gone so far, haven't we?"

She stays silent for a while, and when she speaks, she sounds like she's smiling. "We have. Come, Ki, let's celebrate to more success."

"I shall be there soon enough, just promise not to finish all of the food, Vanilla."

"I can't promise anything, Kiwi."