Even In The Next Life

Start Again

  It felt like there was lead in my veins as I couldn't make myself move. Rage and fear swirled inside of me like a hurricane as I tried to quell the growl threatening to rip its way out of my chest. Akira slid his hand into mine, holding it firmly to try and ground me as he saw what I was looking at.

  Dressed as a waiter and taking the table's order, a very familiar face was smiling politely while discussing today's specials.

  "I'm going to kill him."

  "No, Taiyo!" Akira hissed while physically holding me in place.

  "Why not?! You remember what he did." I bared my teeth while snarling.

  "This is a new life, maybe he's different. He might not even remember anything like I did." Tightening my grip on his hand, I clenched my jaw while looking back at the blond man.

  "How would we even know?"

  "We could try talking to him."

  "Talking? With him? I'd rather bite his throat out."

  "Then let me talk." Akira nuzzled my cheek to help calm me down before we went to go sit down at a booth. My hair bristled the closer the blond got, and he completely passed us by without even a glance as his attention was on the notepad in his hands. I could have tripped him so easily but I managed to contain the urge.

  When he came back, it took everything I had to stay seated as he stood at the edge of our table with a smile.

  "What can I get for you two? If you need more time to decide, I can come back." Ryo's voice was smooth, and I didn't see an ounce of recognition on his face as he looked at us. I could understand him not recognizing me, he'd only ever seen me as a human and in my devil form, but Akira? That was a different story.

  "We'll need some more time, but can you bring us some water?" Akira smiled back at the man.

  "Of course." He nodded and walked away.

  "I don't think he knows who we are." Akira mumbled, and I lowly growled.

  "He didn't know who he was last time either, that doesn't mean this time would be any different."

  "Well, we can't just attack him." He looked at me, seeing my expression change. "Taiyo!"

  "I didn't say anything!"

  "What you're thinking is written all over your face."

~

  Lunch went rather....smoothly, to say in the least. Nothing bad happened, but I was unable to actually relax and enjoy the food all because of Ryo being there. However, something just didn't sit right with me, and I couldn't leave things as they were.

  The lights in the restaurant went out only a minute before a blond in a white hoodie walked out with a small group of people. They all waved goodbye to each other, splitting up to go their own ways home. Watching from across the street, I kept my eyes locked on Ryo.

  When he was far away enough from the group, I began to tail him down the street. With my fists shoved into my jacket pockets, I followed Ryo around a corner and down another street. Glancing around, I saw the area was void of life as the street lights overhead hummed with electricity.

  Running, I tackled Ryo into an alley, and at the last second, he twisted like a snake. Baring my teeth while pinning the blond down, we locked eyes as the barrel of a gun pressed against my sternum. Neither of us moved in the dark as my growling filled the air.