デミ人間 (Demi Human)

Chapter 9 : Power

(During lunch)

(Minami still feels a little shy with Koutani)

Minami : Sumimasen kedo...
Koutani : Nande? 
Minami : Anou... Is it really okay if people will see you... with me?
Koutani : Why? Something wrong?
Minami : Iya. I just remembered what that woman said... uh...
Koutani : You mean Lucy?
Minami : Hai.
Koutani : Don't mind her. (pours wine)
Minami : Was it true... she's your new manager?
Koutani : Aahh...hai.
Minami : Why? Where's Yamamoto-san?
Koutani : (pauses) Uh... he had a heart complication...... he died last night.
Minami : (feels sorry) Oh... gomenasai.
Koutani : (smiles) You're very nice, Minami.
Minami : (bows)
Koutani : I really... like you.
Minami : Eh? (wonders)
Koutani : (puts his utensils aside and looks at her deeply) Daisuki.
Minami : A...anou...
Koutani : I'd like to keep seeing you.
Minami : ...
Koutani : ... Ah... was it too fast?
Minami : Uh... (shakes her head unsurely and looks down)
Koutani : Gomen.
Minami : Iie... dai-daijoubu...
Koutani : I know what you're thinking... that we've only met yesterday... but I must be honest... you have captivated me the first time we met.
Minami : De-demo...
Koutani : Shinjitte kudasai. (Please believe me.)
Minami : ......
Koutani : ...
Minami : Umm... It's just that... (her mobile receives mail) Sumimasen... chotto. (reads a message from Keisuke)

Message : Sorry, Mi-chan. Looks like I can't make it to lunch... Lucy-san asked me to accompany her back Rainbow Agency to deal with something... I'm really sorry. Can we meet after my work is done then?

Minami : (closes her phone and stands up) Sumimasen. I have to go.
Koutani : Wait, Minami... (stands up)
Minami : Hontou ni sumimasen... Tamaki-san is very nice and thoughtful... demo... what you have just said...
Koutani : Is what I truly feel...
Minami : ... (bows) I'm really sorry...
Koutani : ... (feels a little disappointed but tries to be calm) Don't. I'm not asking you to give me an answer right away... If you must think about it. Please do.
Minami : ... Thank you for understanding...
Koutani : ...
Minami : Sumimasen. (leaves)
Koutani : (clenches his fist and sits back) Kuso... (gets his glass and realizes there's no more wine) (He tries to call a waiter but someone had already gone to him and poured some wine) (he looks up and gasps) Omae!
(Ryushiferu in a waiter's outfit)
Ryushiferu : (smiles) More wine?
Koutani : It's you!
Ryushiferu : (finished pouring the wine) Losing to someone... is so aggravating... ne?
Koutani : What?!
Ryushiferu : You just wouldn't listen to me... You can't win her by just being nice... that's too boring.
Koutani : What should I do then??
Ryushiferu : Tsk tsk. Calm down, Kou-chan. (goes near to his face) Don't you remember what I said before...?
Koutani : E-eh? (tries to recall and remembers what Ryushiferu said) You... you are the answer...
Ryushiferu : ... to your deepest desires. (chuckles) Good.
Koutani : Are you going to help me have Minami?
Ryushiferu : Hmmm... depends. (disappears and appears to be sitting across Koutani... now he dresses casually)
Koutani : (shocked) How do you do that??
Ryushiferu : (smiles and gets the wine and drinks it) Tell me... what do you desire?
Koutani : I want Minami.
Ryushiferu : Tsk tsk. That's all? That's very...simple-minded of you.
Koutani : ...
Ryushiferu : Why just want her... why not try to think big... like... having the power to control.
Koutani : Power?
Ryushiferu : Hai. The power to control. To control human's feelings and manipulate it... with that power... you can make anyone do what you want them to do... make them feel what you want them to feel.
Koutani : (gets very interested)
Ryushiferu : And of course... with that power... you can even make that girl fall madly and deeply inlove with you.
Koutani : It's unimaginable...!
Ryushiferu : It's just too good, isn't it? (laughs) But... nothing's impossible for me.
Koutani : Say... are you saying to me... that you can really give me that power?
Ryushiferu : Of course. If you desire it.
Koutani : I do desire it. It's amazing!
Ryushiferu : (chuckles) I can give it to you... (suddenly turns away) but... I'm not so sure if I 'want' to.
Koutani : H-huh? Why not?
Ryushiferu : There's always a price for everything.
Koutani : (thinks) A price... how much do you want?
Ryushiferu : Aa-aah... (disagrees) It's not about 'how much'.. Let's see... it's more like a 'what do I want in return'.
Koutani : What is it then?
Ryushiferu : One word, Kou-chan. (asks his to get closer)
Koutani : (listens)
Ryushiferu : (whispers in his ear) Loyalty.
Koutani : Loyalty?
Ryushiferu : I want you to serve me as a master.
Koutani : (shocked) Master? (looks angry) Are you joking?
Ryushiferu : I am not the joking type. When I opt to make a deal, I'm a hundred percent sure.
Koutani : You?? A master? I'll serve you? Fuzaken da! (B*llsh*t!) Don't you know who I am? I'm Tamaki Koutani... one of Tokyo's hottest models... (laughs with disbelief) And you expect me to be some sort of... slave?
Ryushiferu : (scratches his ear) Oh... you're even lucky enough that I'm not asking for your life as a payment.
Koutani : (freezes) Wh-what?
Ryushiferu : (smiles) You talk too much... and with arrogance.
Koutani : Who... who are you? (sounded shaky) (looks straight at his eyes) Who are you really... Kuro-san?
Ryushiferu : (stares back at him) Ore no hontou no namae wa... Ryushiferu. (My real name is... Ryushiferu.)
Koutani : (eyes widens and drops his mouth) Ryu-Ryushi...
Ryushiferu : Ssh. I won't advice you to say it here.
Koutani : (shuts up) You...?
Ryushiferu : It's up to you if you'll believe me or not. (suddenly looks at his watch) Oh, would you look at that. I should be going.
Koutani : Huh? Go where?
Ryushiferu : That's none of your business.
Koutani : Are you seriously...Ryu...?
Ryushiferu : Seems like you're in a shock mode. We can talk properly once you get out of that state, wakatta?
Koutani : ...
Ryushiferu : If ever you're ready to accept my identity... give me a call and I'll get to you. Okay? Jaa. (blinding light then disappears)
Koutani : (blinks and Ryushiferu was gone) (gasps)
Waiter : Sir.
Koutani : Whoa! (shocked)
Waiter : (gets shocked too) Su-sumimasen.
Koutani : (catches his breath) Ah... aaahh... yes?
Waiter : Is there anything that you would still need, sir?
Koutani : Uh... no. Nothing anymore. I'm done. (gets his wallet and gives money to the waiter) Keep the change. (stands up and leaves)
Waiter : (bows) Thanks and please come again.

(Koutani hurriedly leaves the restaurant)

Koutani : (deep breathing) ... Shinjirarenai... (Unbelievable...) (thinks hard) Aitsu... Aitsu ga... Ryushiferu-sama? (That guy... is the great Ryushiferu?)