And Who Knew?

Doppleganger

"Hey, Arthur? What color is Kuchisake's hair?"

"Uuuuh . . . Are you color blind? It's black, you idiot. You can see it plain as day by her fuckin' feet, bozo."

"No, asshole. look" I held up the strand of brown hair. He fixated on it for a second before rolling his eyes.

"Yeah, and?"

"This came off of her hair."
"it probably came from someone else."

"And who's hair is this long?" I barked. He looked at it again, this time a second longer.

"It's just a hair dude. But if you're that worried about it, Ask Kokkuri san." He went behind the counter and cleaned a few glasses. I glanced at my watch.

7:16.

"Nah, it's my hour. I'm going to hang out elsewhere." 

~

Okay, I wasn't that concerned. Kuchisake had been drastically cold towards me since I met her, and for no reason. So I spent most of the hour packing some more clothes. I packed a few valuables and a few bulky objects. I didn't want April to have the chance to ransack the house and take my shit, you know? I guess April went to work, even with the wonky arm. It still felt like a dream. Did that actually happen, or did I imagine it? Just in case, I took the jewelry I bought her and stuffed it in my pocket. I was going to ransack the night stand next.

Her wedding ring was sitting on the counter. Grief lodged in my throat and my stomach sank. I plucked the wedding ring and placed it on my pinky finger. Maybe she could take it back someday. After getting the stuff I cared about most, I was gracious enough to leave stuff on. I didn't even fetch an eviction notice. I rolled out with my suitcase and lugged it in the backseat before driving back to the hotel.

~

Is there an urban legend who looks like others?

Results on Google:

What is the legend of the doppelganger?

What is a doppelganger ghost?

Is doppelganger evil?Where did the doppelganger come from?

What is the legend of the doppelganger?

"doppelgänger, (German: "double goer"), in German folklore, a wraith or apparition of a living person, as distinguished from a ghost. The concept of the existence of a spirit double, an exact but usually invisible replica of every man, bird, or beast, is an ancient and widespread belief."

Well crap. my theory was proven wrong. 

"Arthur, hey!" I barked. He was busy wiping off shot glasses. I don't see anyone else come here, but it must be used when I'm not around. Or he drinks from them all. Probably the latter.

"Yeah? What do you want?" I was probably wearing out my welcome by now.

"A doppelganger can only take the form of living people, right? No apparitions?"

"The hell if I know. Ask Kokkuri San. she knows everything." Well that was helpful.

"Fine." I got off the stool and marched outside. The receptionist was still no where to be seen. I peeked from the doorway, and, as expected, the old woman was there. I jogged up to her.

"Kokkuri san!" Her head snapped up with recognition. I stopped beside her and put my hands on my knees. God, I'm old.

"Yeah, um, can you please tell me about doppelgangers?" She smiled and handed me a card. I took it.

Doppelgangers: able to take the form of a living person. Any loopholes include apparitions thought to be alive and still haunting, rather than a ghost or some abnormality, like being made of wax, for example." Wax. Me. The dumb wax dude.

"Wait, how did you . . . " I looked up, but she was gone. I sighed. Errand after errand with absolutely no answers. At least that answer was given. I sulked back to my room and laid down. No one else was in there. I read a book until I heard the faint sound of Po, Po, Po, Po. 

"Hi, Takai" I looked up just as she walked into the room. She waved at me but didn't say anything. She sat neatly on the bed and stared at the wall, the Po's loud and constant. Another chapter passed before she walked out of the room, the Po's fading away until I couldn't hear them anymore. About a minute later, I heard Po, Po, Po again. I heard the crinkle of thick plastic and saw something yellow in the corner of my vision. I put down my book to see what it was. Takai was on her knees and still had to bend down to be my level by the bed. She was holding a huge plastic bag with lemon cake in it. there was a small plastic bowl beside it. You know, the ones that come with the pizza holding the oily, orange garlic sauce. that shit was yummy. 

"Huh?" I sat up and took it.

"Lemon cake." She said. my entire eyesight lit up like rainbows.

"How did you know I love lemon cake!?" She didn't say anything, just started at me. 

"Well, um, thank you!" My mood brightened just like that. 

"Glaze." She said, and pointed to the little bowl of liquid.

"Awesome!" When it comes to lemon cake, I practically liked it drenched in glaze. I'll definitely need it, the cake was bigger than my head. 

"Where did you get this?" I asked, putting my book on my designated night stand.

"Made it." I'd hug her, but she might get mad. She handed me a spork and knife, still in the wrapper.

"Birthday." I scooted over and patted the spot on the bed next to me. She sat, and the entirety of the weight system made me bounce up. Thank god there was a lid on that glaze, or it would go flying everywhere. there was a plate underneath the cake, along with a square cardboard piece underneath that. I slid the cake onto the cardboard piece, balancing it on my lap to free up the plate.

"Oh, I guess it is my birthday, huh." She nodded and stared off into space. I cut a piece for her and held it out to her. She stared at it for about three seconds, before taking it. She glanced at it blankly. I handed her the fork. She took it and took a bite. We sat there and ate, both happy and content.