Ghosts of Wonderland

Kokomi

Halo Three: Kokomi:

-Kokomi-

I am a disappointment to my mother. She wanted my sister and I to find husbands and give birth to children. But I never had an interest in men. I didn't want to be a housewife and stay-at-home mom. Science has always been my first love. I wanted a career in science and to change the world with it. Well, I got the former. The latter... Well... That's happening in another way.

"I met someone."

"You did?" Kei asked. I felt my face grow hot as I nodded.

"What's she like?" she asked.

"Well... she's kind of a complex person," I said. I rubbed the back of my head.

"Complex? Complex how?" Kei asked. I sat back in my chair, frowning. How would I describe her? Meeting her led to a chain of events that at the time I didn't know would change Ikebukuro that winter. Change it into a nightmare that was poised to swallow the whole world.

I do not know this yet, however.

I met her just after Halloween. I had just come out of a nasty break-up three days ago. My sister was the one who helped me through the ugly-crying part of it. Kei has been my rock like that. She's been more of a mother to me than our own mom. It was Kei who pushed me to get back out and find someone new.

"Come on, you can't keep crying over Iwamoto," she said. She sighed as I started to say something.

"I get it. You wouldn't stop talking about her every time you called me," Kei said. "You were really happy with her. But you can't stay hung up on her forever. Knowing you, you can fall hard and fast for even better." She chuckled.

"Given your romantic history, you always end up getting an upgrade," Kei said. Okay, that one made me laugh. And she was right.

I met my girlfriend in the morgue. Don't laugh. It's not as morbid as you think it is. There is an abandoned morgue underneath what used to be a nightclub. (That place has a history that will lead to a whole rabbit hole that I don't want to get into right now.) Anyway, I was down there for my lunch break. It's quiet and it's a good place to avoid people when you want to be alone. That day, I was not in the mood to entertain Morimoto's imagination with my sex life. (I will get into that later. Back to the story.) So, I thought I would have time for myself in this creepy place that had seen better days.

I was about to put a piece of octopus sausage in my mouth when I heard someone walking around in the hallway. Huh? Who was down here now? This happens from time to time. I was ready for some kids to come in looking for a cheap thrill. Oh well, time to stay quiet and hope they will get bored and move on. I started chewing quietly as I waited.

I was not expecting who came through that doorway. The bit of hamburger fell out of my chopsticks.

She looked really cute. This woman looked around as if she was lost. I managed to get a good look at her in the dim lighting. She was probably my age or a year younger. Her long brown ponytail moved from side to side as she looked around her. A giant red ribbon held it in place. I had to admit that this woman was my type. I remembered what she was wearing that day too. Jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt. I could see a black bra strap on her right shoulder. This woman frowned and wrinkled her nose. She looked so out of place.

Now that I think about it, she was the one who found me. I don't think I can explain it. I don't even think that I was actively looking for a new girlfriend. It just kind of happened. I need to back up a little bit. Anyway, I cleared my throat. She looked up and saw me staring at her.

"Is there a reason that you are down here?" I asked. I didn't mean for that to come out so rude. That woman closed her mouth as she looked at me.

"What about you?" she asked. I held up my half-empty bento box. This woman raised her eyebrow.