The District (Unfiltered Mess Rewrite)

Chapter One

I sat stiff in my black imitation leather desk chair, with my hands folded together on my dull brown desk. My computer monitor switches abruptly from my desktop to my screensaver, the type with bubbles that float and bounce around where you can move your mouse over on to one to pop it. I stare idly at the bouncing bubbles. My skin is covered in goosebumps and the air around me feels like ice. It's not that my office itself is cold, but that the tone of silence is. I can feel annoyed eyes staring at me. Cold grey ones and deep amber ones.

I shift my gaze to the window by the door. Beyond the glass I see many robotic projects laying askew in the lab, the Amery International logo stamped on every work desk, control console, and computer monitor backings. The tangerine walls reach up to the high grey ceiling and stretch down to the oak paneled floors. Past the work desks and consoles is another room with a glass wall and door. By the door is a plaque that, if one was close enough to see it, reads Genetics.The dimly lit rooms are empty as far as I can tell. I turn back to face my monitor.

Genji Takashi set the news tablet down on the table in front of him. He let out a deep sigh and looked up to me, his cold grey eyes threatening to trap my own bright green ones in their gaze. I dart my gaze down to my computer screen and watch the bubbles bounce around aimlessly. I can feel Genji's gaze fixed on me, watching, waiting for me to return his gaze with my own. I slowly look up into his grey eyes, feeling their gaze immediately lock me in place. Genji's face is woven with annoyance, age, wrinkles, and what I believe is concern. His pale skin folds over itself around his eyes, his mouth, on his forehead, and his cheekbones. His somewhat-past-shoulder length grey hair pulled back into a hair tie as it usually is, with thin strands of loose hair here and there, mostly at his front hairline, which framed his pale face. His hands rest in his lap, folded neatly together. He wore a black suit jacket and pants with a light blue button up underneath, and black dress shoes over ribbed grey socks. His expression is a calm yet stern one. His grey eyes as cold and judging as ever.

"What the hell were you thinking?" Genji spoke in a deep, demanding tone which made his words seem more like a statement than a question. "Did you think that it would all go away if everyone else knew? Or are you just an idiot?" I stare blankly at Genji, giving no reaction to being called an idiot. I'm used to it. I focus on the words of the small voice in my head for no more than a few seconds.

"For once, I actually agree with the old crook." A strong, feminine voice cut through the short silence. I turn towards the source of the voice. A strong young woman sitting on the desk across from my own, her arms folded over her chest. Her deep amber eyes flashed annoyance where the overhead light highlighted them as she glared at me. Her soft, somewhat plump lips pressed together into a thin frown. Short black hair framed her face with two long strands on either side, and magenta bangs folded over each other to hide her forehead and hairline, then tucked under the long strands to poke out from beneath them. Her complexion, though tan for this part of Japan, would have been seen as sickly in the U.S. She wore very little makeup, a hint of pink blush on her plump cheeks, simple thin black eyeliner, a thin layer of sheer black lip gloss, and a brush of black eye shadow, though she did not need it. Her skin clear of any blemishes, dark spots, or irritation found on most, seemed perfect and flawless. Her head shape was round until it reached her chin which had a slight point to it. Her chin lead flawlessly to her long broad neck, about which she wore a thin black leather choker with a small silver buckle and three small rhinestones embedded in the leather. Under that hung an old style City WATCH badge on a silver ball chain which length reached under her breasts. Her broad neck transitioned into her collarbone then faded out to her broad shoulders, on top of which she had draped a long sleeved brown leather jacket. Under her jacket, she wore a black tank top with a white skull in a watercolor style printed on it. The shirt tucked into a pair of tight dark grey jeans with three buttons and deep pockets that highlighted the curves of her hips and thighs. She wore black studded combat boots with two inch wedge heels that went all the way up to her knees and covered the jeans. Her broad shoulders lead out to thin arms folded together, at the end of which was small hands with thin, feminine fingers clad in fingerless black gloves. The woman known as the highly respected WATCH Captain Miziela "Mimi" Vertin.

"What were you thinking, Ky?! Now the NDN, The Neon Gazette, District Times, and every blogger under the sun is gonna be going after you and the WATCH for a god damn interview! And guess who'llve to deal with 'em?! ME!" As she finishes, I feel a strong urge to correct her grammar on 'Who'llve' but I resist knowing she'll bite my head off. She glares at me and huffs when I offer no explanation. "Well? What? Am I talking to a wall or something?!" She snaps, her tone dripping with annoyance and a hint of concern.

I inhale deeply.

"I don-I didn't-I didn't like the fac-fact that I was the only one who knew about Derek. All of Japan still thought he was on vacation in the states." I struggle to get it out at first, choking on the growing lump in my throat. The annoyance and anger in the captain's face immediately started to melt away to pity and concern.

"Oh Kyden. I-I'm sorry. I forgot about Derek." She spoke softly and carefully, trying to lessen the blow. Her words awakened an anger deep inside me I didn't like.

How could she forget about him? He was Japan's best actor! He was loved by everybody! How could she forget someone like that?! My head filled with harsh, angry thoughts that made the feeling worse.

"How do you forget someone like that?!" My voice tore through the air without my consent, filled with anger and a less than subtle harshness.

"I'm sorry Ky. I just-I've just been... Busy." Her head hung down in shame.

"I-I know. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap, Mimi." I apologize in a quiet voice, the anger fading slowly.

The sound of harsh, dry, and painful coughing breaks the short silence. I look over to Genji to see him coughing violently into his arm.

"I told you to quit smoking, but NoOoOo! Genji KnOwS BeTtEr ThAn ThAt!" Mimi says in a mocking tone. I roll my eyes and look back out into the lab.

Mimi, Genji, and I talk, tease, and laugh for about another hour before Mimi calls it a night. Genji follows her out and I am left alone in my office with my thoughts. I stare at my monitor, watching the bubbles bounce and fly about aimlessly. I sit like this in silence for at least forty-five minutes before the sound of the glass door to the lab slamming shut breaks me from my chance. I quickly dart my eyes to the window to look out into the lab. I see the silhouette of a man walking towards my office. I can't tell who he is at first as he is too far away, but as he gets closer to my office I recognize him as Kaito "Kaijuu" Kagamira.