To the End.

Chapter Ten

For three weeks and two days, Kazuki continued to meet Shioko at the stand in which she worked. Every time he saw her, he'd order the same thing. It got to the point that she'd already begun making it without him even asking for it, and Kazuki could only inwardly grin to himself. She was starting to become familiar with him, and that was step one. He took the strawberry crepe and handed her the money for it, including the usual tip he added in each day. Seeing her so often was beginning to get expensive since his tips weren't small, but money was only an object to him.

"Thank you, Kazu." Shioko smiled and placed the money for the food in the cash register. The tip money went into the pocket of her skinny jeans. She looked up at him and motioned for him to move over to the side. "We have a new girl working today, so I'll let her take over so I can take a break."

A break where she would be alone with Kazuki. That was perfect, and Kazuki hid his grin behind the crepe while he ate. This time it was just too easy. This girl already seemed interested in him, and he hardly had to do anything other than show up every day, order the same thing and give her a large tip. Maybe that's why she liked him --maybe she thought he was loaded with money and was willing to give her some. It wouldn't be surprising to him, and he didn't care if that was the case. After all, she'd only be getting so much money before she was locked away in the attic for him to play with.

"You don't have to train her?"

Shioko shook her head as she took off her apron and hat, placing them aside before she stepped beside him. "No. I showed her how to do things earlier in the morning, so it's time to put her to the test."

Kazuki smiled with a small nod to acknowledge that he understood. Hopefully, the new girl wasn't going to be a problem for them and interrupt their time together. He had to play his cards just right in order for him to get Shioko in the end, and he didn't want anything to mess it up. He was getting tired of the daily routine of going to the stand to visit her and order the same strawberry crepe --after all, it wasn't something he'd normally eat so often, and it was starting to ruin his diet.

He leaned back against a pole, propping his foot up against it while Shioko sat on the bench next to him. It was obvious that she had been standing all day and just wanted to sit down for a few minutes to rest her body.

"Say," Shioko pushed her hair aside and looked at Kazu, her eyes squinting some as the sun shone into them. "You come here a lot. Do you really like the crepes that much, or is there another reason?" She was secretly hoping there was another reason because it wasn't very often that she saw a guy she was actually attracted to. The first day he showed up, Shioko hoped he'd return sometime for her to see him. She was far too shy to ask him for his number the first time she saw him, but she got lucky that he continued to show up every day.

Kazuki smiled, lowering the crepe from his mouth. Of course, there was another reason, but he could never tell her that. What was he supposed to say? "I'm a serial killer, and you seem like a good victim"? He knew what she was hoping he'd say, and that was part of the plan. He had to make her think he was interested in her in a romantic way. He had to put his sexuality aside just this once in order to get what he wanted, but then again, he didn't intend to have sex with her.

"Maybe there's another reason."

Shioko quickly blushed and looked down at her lap. He had her right where he wanted her, and he couldn't decide if she was easier than the previous women he encountered. There was a difference between her and the other two girls: Shioko seemed to instantly form a crush on him, and he didn't really have to try too hard.

"You're going to be secretive, aren't you?" The way he answered was obvious that he was interested in her, but she was too dull to notice it.

Kazuki finished the last of his crepe and licked his lips. He decided earlier that today would be the day he'd take things a step further. He was finally going to get her where he really wanted her to be. Sliding his hand into the pocket of his leather jacket, he pulled out a card with his phone number printed on it. He leaned closer to her and smiled, holding the card between his index and middle fingers. "I'll be a little secretive for now. Call me later, yeah?" He winked and shoved his hands into his pockets.

Shioko's break time was over, and she took the card into her hand and blushed heavily before she bowed and said goodbye.

Now all Kazuki had to do was wait. The difficult part was over, and it wasn't as hard as he thought it was going to be.

---

The chair was put in place, and Kazuki stood up straight. Before he could start anything with Shioko, he had to make sure her room would be properly set up. All the traces of blood had long been cleaned, but he made sure to clean again just to be safe. All the tools on his table were organized by size, and he even changed the lightbulb to one that was much brighter. He wanted to see her better while he was torturing her. He wanted to see the looks on her adorable face while she was in agonizing pain.

But his nerves were still on edge.

No police had bothered him since he had been visited before, but the thought of them discovering his secrets still lingered in the back of his head. The rational side of him knew it was a stupid idea to bring in another victim so soon, but the irrational side needed her. Kazuki desired Shioko, and there was no way he was going to let her walk free while he had an empty home.

He took one more look around the room as he turned around. The floors creaked beneath his feet as he moved toward the stairs and headed down them. Shioko was surely still busy with work, so he wouldn't be getting a call any time soon. Maybe he should be nice and walk her home, but that was something he could do after they spoke on the phone.

There was already a plan forming in his head, and he was beginning to get more and more eager as he thought about it.

Reaching the bottom of the stairs, he felt his phone begin to vibrate in his pocket. It was still early, and he raised an eyebrow while he pulled his phone from his pocket and looked at the caller ID.

Unknown name.
Unknown number.

That must have been her, but why so early?

Kazuki didn't care as he let it ring a few more times. He didn't want to seem too impatient. After a few more rings, he finally answered.

"Hello?"

"Hello, Kazuki. It's Shioko."

His lips curled up into a grin as he sat down on the couch, stretching his legs out in front of himself.

Time to begin the game again.