Wilting Roses (Arima Kishou fan fiction)

three

      She walked down the street, making her way towards the 20th ward from the 1st ward. She smiled, her satchel thrown over her shoulder nonchalantly. She knew that she looked nothing like an investigator or a ghoul that's hungry. She had learned to control her hunger fast, or it would be certain death for her. She smiled and did a half skip down the street.

    She came to the signs that divided the 11th ward and the 20th ward, she then flashed the bureau agents her investigator ID and passed on through the checkpoint.

      She rounded the corner to the cafe and walked inside. She was greeted with the usual "Welcome to Anteiku" before anyone had turned around to see who it was. She smiled widely, "Hey!" and walked over to the bar.

     She sat and started to talk to Enji and Irimi, the two have settled their differences in the ten years they had worked together in the cafe. She smiled as they caught up on what everyone had been doing over the past month. After a bit of talking, she got up and excused herself so she could visit with her father. He was who she wanted to see most.

      She smiled as she opened his office door, looking inside. "Papa!" she walked in and he stood, coming to embrace her. She walked over to him and hugged him tightly. "I missed you" she whispers, hoping he heard.

     He smiles. "I missed you as well, my Anou." He looks down at her, thinking of her identical sister. His mind then wandered to their mother, they both having the same features as her. "Have you found Eto yet?" To his dismay, she shook her head.

      "We have, however, noticed patterns in a Ghoul Organization called Aougiri that mimics her. We believe that she is the leader. We haven't seen her since the 24th ward incident though. So we have our doubts" she looked at her father, who nodded. He understood that it was a reach, but it was also a chance he was willing to take if it meant that he knew where his daughters were. "Well then, Anou, would you like some coffee and something to eat?"

       "Yes, of course. I'm starved" she looked at him, turning to walk to the cellar. "I haven't had anything to eat since last time I came by. Haven't been able to get away with the Binge Eater case just coming up. I'm helping the investigators Mado Kureo and Amon Kotarou from the main office. They're here in this ward. I'd watch out for them. Mado was a first class investigator when I first went into the Junior Academy. He's gotten old. But nonetheless capable." She opened the door, walking down the stairs, her father following her. 

       She opens the cooler, getting out some meat for her to eat. She goes and sits at the small table and eats it, not really minding that her father is watching. "Do the Fueguchis still visit?" She looked back at him.

       He nods, "They do. But only Ryouko and Hinami come now. Ryouko said that Asaki was busy with someone that stains the 11th ward red."

    She nods, finishes eating and goes to clean off herself. She looks at her father "I'm sorry that I didn't come more often when I was in the Academies. It was hard to get out very often."

     "I know. And it's okay, don't feel guilty about it, my dear. Neither of us want you to be found out." He walked over to her, putting a hand on her shoulder.

    She nodded, looking up at him "I haven't been caught yet. It's unlikely that I ever will be." She smiles. "How about we get a cup now?" She walks up the stairs and looks at him, smiling.

    She then walks out of his office and sits at the bar. "Enji, Could I get some coffee?" He nods, making her a cup. Her father walks behind the bar, they all starting to talk about things that have been going on in the cafe.

    
       Eventually, they notice Rize walk in, a kid eyeing her. They don't pay mind to it much, just keep an eye out for him. Just a little while after she walked in, he moves to her table and they start discussing Sen Takatsuki books. Hearing that, Anou turned her head to look at them, catching the boys attention.

     He gets up and walks to her, asking if she's Sen Takatsuki. She politely says that she isn't, but she is her twin sister. He apologizes and goes back to his seat. She doesn't make it obvious that she's watching them. They get up and walk out, still talking about books as they walk out the door.

     Touka then says that she needs to meet one of her friends somewhere so they can study, leaving. Enji, Irimi, and Yoshimura then start to close down the cafe. Anou walks up to a room that her father had told her she could use any time that she'd like to. She sat on the bed and looked around. All of her textbooks were sitting on a desk. She had moved them there from her apartment so she'd have more room on her bookshelves. She got up and looked in her closet. She had a suit dress in there, so she figured she'd just stay the night. She changes into some pajamas and flops onto the bed. Hearing her father coming up the stairs, turning over to look at the door as it opens. "Hey, Papa" she smiles.

     "Are you staying here for the night?" He walks over and sits in the chair next to her desk. He watches as she sits up.

    "Yeah, I am. I'll just have to stop by my apartment to pick up files that I need" She smiles. "It's been forever since I've been here, I wanna stay as long as I can." She watches the old man smile, it being a happy, pure, smile that brings joy to her heart.

      "I'm glad you're staying tonight, Anou" He gets up "Goodnight, my dear" With that, he walks out.

       Anou smiled and closed her eyes, slipping into the sweet comfort of sleep.

Hey, guys! Sorry about the late chapter. I'll try to do better next time. I'll have another chapter back out on time next Saturday. Maybe even Wednesday. But with school just starting I don't know how often I'll be able to get out two chapters a week. Expect one a week for now. Thanks again for reading, it means a lot.
~Wandering-Chan~