Chapter 1: A Familiar Name

Megumi looked down at her news paper. It stated that it had been one year since the unknown attacks and destruction had taken place in Tokyo, and that it had been the one year anniversary of Kurono Kei's disappearance. Kurono Kei, Megumi thought to herself. Why does that name sound familiar? Kurono Kei, Kurono Kei…..

"Kishimoto-San! Less reading, more coffee serving!" Said Mr. Toyama, manager of the coffee shop Megumi worked at.

"Yes, Toyama-San, I'm sorry!" Megumi said as she walked to her next customer. "Welcome to Okasan's Coffee shop, what can I get for you this evening?"

The customer didn't seem to acknowledge Megumi. Instead he just looked at his menu and took a deep drag from his cigarette. Finally he lifted a finger as to say "one moment". He breathed out and was surrounded by puffs of smoke. Megumi had to hold her breath at the disgusting smell. She started walking away slowly, seeing she had other tables to serve, but then the customer with the cigarette took hold of her wrist. He took a smaller drag this time.

As he took a smokey breath out, he said "I'll have one of Okasan's famous Lattes, a chocolate muffin, and you," The man said.

This made Megumi uncomfortable. She could barely see the man's face because of his hat, and the constant smoke, his aura gave off this really creepy essence, but Megumi was force to just smile and say "I'm sure I can get you the first two items, but the last one seems to be unavailable."

She could see a grin on the little bit of the man's face she could see. He snickered and then said to her "cute and funny, I like that in a woman it makes them… sexy."

Megumi was even more creeped out before, and felt like throwing up. It seemed another customer had notice, because they gestured Megumi to come and serve them. As she walked over she whispered thank you and took the customer's order. She had Mr. Toyama bring out the orders while she was getting ready to clean the shop for closing. She noticed the creep left and let out a huge sigh.

"Megumi-Chan, if you want to go home a little early, I can help Mr. Toyama clean up," Mrs. Tendo, The Shop owner said.

"Thank you Aiko-San!" Megumi said as she grabbed her news paper and ran to change clothes.

Megumi left work and went to the subway station. As she waited for the train to arrive, she opened her news paper back to the page about Kurono Kei. Why was this name so familiar? She didn't know any Kurono Kei personally, but there was still this feeling, that she knew who this person was. She thought for a moment, and then remembered the dreams she had been having for the past year. One was of her with two other men about her age. They were wearing these dark, tight fitting leather suits with different knobs that turned blue, and made you strong. She remembered the two boys fighting a thousand armed Buddha that came to life.

She didn't understand this odd dream at all, but maybe, she thought, just maybe this Kurono guy was connected to her dreams. She pondered this the whole way home. Finally, she was home. She dropped the paper on the floor. She plopped down on her bed and let out a huge sigh. She was about to go and lock the door, but then she decided she would do it when she was about to go to sleep. She took a nice hot bath. She couldn't take showers. She didn't know why, but she just felt weird about taking showers. It had been that way for a whole year.

She got her favorite flannel pajamas on and then washed her face, and brushed her teeth. She left the bathroom, and went to go close the door, but something seemed off. The paper wasn't on the floor where she dropped it. She started to smell smoke, but it could have just been from the people across the street. They always smoked. But then she heard a snicker in the corner, She turned around and saw the creep from the coffee shop right behind her. She gasped as he swung a blade in the direction of her throat, and then suddenly- she was gone.

Kishimoto Megumi Time of "Death": April 15th 11:34 PM