I don't remember much about that day. People don't ask about it so I don't really have to talk about it out loud. Is it a bad memory? What a bad memory. Is it one you have forgotten or one you are trying to forget? Is it a dream that keeps you up at night? If your whole entire life came crashing down around you, would it be a bad memory or something pushing you forward.

Three months ago:

"Can you tell me what you see here?" The doctor asked, holding up ink blots.

"It's a train going into a tunnel," I said.

"Very good, and this one."

"It looks like a pie on a cloud."

"Good, now I want you to tell me if you can see the ducks in this photo."

"I can see them."

"What do you see now?" he asked, turning the photo.

"Now their rabbits."

Present day:

I stopped by the 7/11 the next day.

"Oh, you're here, I didn't get to thank you last night," the cashier said.

"For what?" I asked.

"Well you helped catch that guy. You were so brave, fearless even." I was brave? I didn't do much. I didn't mean to do anything. If you accidentally take down a bad person does that make you a hero or a fraud.

"Are you ok?" A question I've been asked a lot. "Cause you had a gun pointed at you, scary right."

"I'm fine, how about you?" I asked.

"Me, I'm a nervous wreck, I still had to clean and stock this place after last night." I could feel a breeze in the air. As she was talking, I walked to the ice cream freezer and opened it. There was a blue blob with a big nose, arms, and legs trying to take a nap next to the banana pops.

"Hey, close the door, you're letting the cold air out pal." I remember the first time I saw them. Ghosts. I had always thought these ghost shows were fake. All superstitions. The day I was released back into the world was also my first day back to work. Keko was the only one to talk to me for more than a second. I was noticing strange things throughout that day.

A month ago:

That's when a gust of cold air hit me. "Did you hear that, I farted," Tommy said. The sound of disgust filled the office. As I sat doing work, I could see something out of the corner of my eye watching me. As I turned, nothing was there. As the day grew darker, I felt more and more strange. I think they know you can see them. As I washed my hands the water stopped working. I turned the knobs, but nothing happened. I just stood there as the water shot out like a fountain. A face was in the water.

"Boo!" the face yelled. A part of me wanted to wake up from a dream, but I don't dream anymore. When I couldn't turn the water off, I just left the bathroom.

Present day:

As I closed the ice cream freezer the cute cashier smiled at me. "Do you need help deciding on something?" she asked.

"No, I'll just take the gum," I said. The light was bright today. I couldn't look up without being blinded. I walked into the manga store to return the one I was reading. This store has a rent a book policy. As long as I return it within a few days I can get another. I stood there looking at titles of books. The covers are all flashy. Here we go, this one seems simple. The cover had a man in a red coat with tall spiky hair. As I pulled down the book, I could see some teenagers watching me and giggling. I tried to turn around and head for the counter, but a girl was on the other side of me.

"Hello," she said bowing.

"Hi," I said.

"I'm Remi," she said, holding out her hand.

"Oh, I'm Yamasura, nice to meet you," I said, shaking her hand. This woman was really cute and perky.

"So, I was wondering if you wanted to get coffee sometime."

"I don't like coffee," I said walking past her. I could hear her and the girls in the back laughing. Ok time to process what's going on here.

"Sir, did you want that book?" the cashier asked. I stood there for a second thinking for a minute. Oh, I got it.

"You want to hang out?" I turned around and asked.

"Well that's what I asked," she said. It's been a while since I've hung out with someone, and we both are in a manga store so we might have something to talk about.

"I like the sound of that, but I can't stand coffee, how about we get pizza?" I asked.

"Sure, sounds good," she said.

"Ok tomorrow, like eleven o'clock, the pizza place in the mall?"

"Works for me," she said. She walked over to the girls laughing. My thoughts became more clear at that moment. Her friends prompted her to ask me out. Ask out, like a date, wait I didn't agree to that. Wait, how old is she? She looks older but her friends are definitely younger.

"Sir, are you ready to pay?" the cashier asked. I haven't been on a date since high school. Walking home I ran through all of it in my head. A girl asked me out. I don't know how I feel about that. As I walked, I noticed this pale blue man with a pompadour and a leather jacket walking next to me mimicking the way I walk. Ok what would this guy do in my shoes. Wait, he looks like he's in my shoes. I stopped walking as he did.

"Can I ask you to stop that," I said. He stood on his tippy toes and looked me over. He moved around me and looked me up and down.

"Relax cat I got what you need," he said in a smooth voice. This strangely isn't the weirdest thing to happen to me. I just kept walking. He slid in front of me. "I overheard your problem."

"Problem?" I asked him.

"You got a hot date and you've been out of the game for a while."

"I said none of that out loud."

"It's all on your face." I can't believe this ghoul can tell my entire situation just because of the expression on my face, or he was just watching what happened.

"So, I'm going to be your wingman, first you need some new threads."

"This coming from the guy in no pants."

"Who needs pants when you're dead, besides I was in a gang before I died."

"What does that have to do with me?"

"I was the tailor of the gang I know clothes." I turned to face the other way and closed my eyes. When I opened them, he was right in front of me.

"Yah that doesn't work I'm still here."

"Alright we do it your way."

"Righty-o let's hit the mall." I never thought I'd be in this place in my life. I bet people that say that can't see ghosts. We stopped in front of the clothing store in the mall.

"Here is where you become the man," he said. I have questioned a lot about my life, but I think I'm just going to roll with this. He told me all the stuff to try on and commented on everything. It went by quickly like a montage until I was wearing a button up shirt over a black shirt with nice four front pocket pants. He wrapped around me as he was fixing my collar.

"So why are you helping?" I asked.

"Well, try being dead and being around nothing but tortured souls until you gain enough energy to manifest yourself, and the first thing you see is a nerd making a fool of himself," he said.

"I'm not a nerd."

"I bet you tell everyone that."

"Being smart isn't being a nerd."

"Hey being smarts cool alright, I never liked school, if I did, I probably wouldn't have joined a gang." I haven't talked to many of these ghosts. I sometimes forget they used to be alive. "Perfect, you look good." he said moving in front of me. I did look pretty good, I guess.

"Ok now what if I make a fool of myself?"

"Then she laughs, if she doesn't, she's not worth it."

"You sure know a lot about girls."

"I was in love once." He probably lived a more fulfilling life than I'm living. "Ok now you're ready."

"Sir are you ok in here?" an employee asked, knocking on the door. We went back to my place.

"So, this is your pad, it's not as sad and depressing as I thought."

"So, what's your name? I'm Tuminaro Yamasura."

"Introduction time! I'm Kasaki Yuzu!" he yelled. He spun around. "Just call me Kasaki."

"Kasaki, tell me about the girl you loved."

"Her name is Yuki, she works at the manga shop."

"That's why you were there."

"Yep, she was the best. Even though I was in a gang she still stayed with me."

"How, how did you die?" I figured he got shot or something gang related.

"Well since you ask, I was caught by the other gang, and tied up, but I was able to break free, and I gave them the slip out the window." I just stared at him. "The window was a four-story drop." I guess he wasn't the brightest. "I just wish I could have told her how I felt before I died." We just stood there in quiet silence. "So where do I sleep?"

"You sleep?"

"Nope, I pretend."

"Just not on the bed." He rolled up at the bottom of the bed. If there was ever a time for things to make sense It would be the time. I don't know what's stranger, the ghost at the end of my bed, or the date I have tomorrow. When I woke up he was gone. I just waited around for him but he never appeared. Ok I don't need a ghost telling me what to say, I'm my own man. I just realized I have nothing to eat for breakfast. Guess I'm waiting for pizza. I got dressed in the clothes Kasaki picked out and left my apartment. I stood in front of the mall waiting. Waiting to work up the nerve to walk in. As I stood there someone touched my back.

"Oh, good you're here, I was beginning to worry," I said.

"Sorry I didn't think I was running late," Remi said. Damnit, I thought it was Kasaki.

Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

"No, you're fine I'm just an impatient person."

"Really me too, we're really going to drive each other crazy." She is really forward. "So how about that pizza?" We sat down in the food court waiting on our pizza. "So, what do you do?"

"I'm an accountant," I said.

"OH sounds like a smart job."

"It's not that hard."

"But what happens if you mess up?"

"Well that can cost my business money, like a lot so I make sure I don't."

"I wouldn't want to mess that up."

"So, what do you do?"

"I'm glad you asked. I'm a writer of one of the best mangas in Japan," she said, expanding her voice.

"Oh, a writer, wait, which manga?"

"Well it's not done yet I can't seem to come up with the ending," she said, sighing.

"Well what's it about?"

"It's about a dog who's a detective that solves bloody crimes."

"Wow, I would like to read that."

"You would, well why don't you give me your email and I'll send it to you," she said all excited. She is really friendly, and cool.

"Ok I'm here, what did I miss?" Kasaki asked, popping up behind me.

"Can you excuse me? I have to use the bathroom," I said getting up. "Where have you been?" I asked as I walked into the bathroom.

"Dude you try keeping this form, I was all out of energy," he said.

"Well it's going great I don't think I'll need you now."

"You think it's going great but girls are a mystery." A dude came out of one of the stalls and gave me the strangest look.

"I'm sorry I took so long," I said sitting back down.

"It's ok," she said. As I relaxed someone brought us our pizza.

"You like olives and sausage?" she asked.

"Yep, why?" I asked.

"Cause that's what I got." Whenever I get pizza with someone, I always order pizza with olives. People say that's weird, it's like so American.

"I love sausage and olives," she said.

"Ok now's your chance, tell her your eyes are beautiful like the sea," Kasaki said.

"I wonder what else we have in common," she said.

"Dude, tell her that," he said.

"You have nice eyes, they are like the ocean," I said.

"Oh Yamasura, you're so nice, I can't stand my blue eyes, they make me stand out so much."

"Ok now ask her about music," he said.

"So, music is great, what do you listen to?" I asked.

"I love heavy metal," I imagined this cute girl head banging in a mosh pit.

"What do you listen to?" she asked.

"This is going to sound dumb but I like K-Pop."

"Ok yay I can dig it, you know I like your tastes Yamasura." She talks like she's hip these days.

"Dude she's perfect, you need to talk your way into her pants," Kasaki said. It got quiet as she looked into my eyes.

"Here it comes, get ready," he said.

"Why is there sadness behind your eyes?" she asked.

"I don't know what you mean," I said.

"Your eyes look like they want to cry."

"What, I don't see that," Kasaki said, grabbing my face.

"Can I take you somewhere?" she asked. I don't know if this is good or bad.

"I don't know if this is good or bad, say no," he said.

"Sure," I said. She grabbed me by the hand and walked me to a part out behind the mall. It was a small garden. There were a lot of pink and white flowers.

"I come here when I'm sad," she said. We just stood there for a second. She grabbed my arm and pulled up my sleeve to show my scar on my right arm. "I don't mean to pry, but I want to know your sadness." I pulled back.

"I don't know what's going on here," Kasaki said. For some reason I felt safe right here.

"When I look at you, I see a guy hiding all his sadness, it looks like a lot of work," she said kneeling down looking at the flowers.

"Why are you acting like this?" I asked.

"I was outside the store when it got robbed. I saw you there and the look on your face," she said softly standing up. I didn't even notice her there. "When I saw you in the manga shop my friends said I should ask you out, I just wanted to know why you looked so sad. I wanted to know why you were ready to die that night." She was the first person to ask about what happened, and she doesn't even know me. What do I tell her?

"Well say something stupid," Kasaki said. Tears ran down my face as I wiped them away. I may not be scared, but the sadness hadn't really left yet.

"Dude you're making a fool of yourself," Kasaki said.

"Well now you know the real me, what are you going to do now?" I asked.

"I'm going to ask if I can be your friend."

"I think that sounds great."

"Friends, dude, that's weak," he said. I flicked the tears off my face and composed myself.

"Remi, would you walk to the manga shop with me?" I asked.

"Yes, I will," she said, marching by me. We walked to the manga shop.

"Wait here I have something I have to do for a friend," I said walking inside. I walked up to the cashier and began to tell her how much she meant to Kasaki. She started crying a lot. As I walked out the door Kasaki was crying as well.

"I have your sadness it's contagious, you stupid nerd," he said. I just smiled at him. "You're the reason I can leave this dead and gone world. Thanks man," he said, fading away. We just stood there for a second.

"Want to see my apartment?" I asked.

"Yes," she said marching passed me.

"It's this way," I said.

"Right," she said, turning around. I know bringing a total stranger to my house is a bad idea, but I need some excitement in my life and I have this feeling. It's like seeing her smile makes me want to smile.

"Hey check it out, you live right down the street from the store," she said waving her hands and pointing at the store.

"Yeah, I know, that's where I eat most of my meals," I said.

"That's unhealthy."

"Yah but I'm not going to drop dead from ramen and chips."

"You need someone to cook you a hardy meal every once in a while."

"Could be nice."

"Ok how about I do it."

"If you want to make that kind of commitment, be my guest." I stopped right in front of my door. I may be ok with this but what if she's not. "Listen I'm sorry if inviting you over to my place is weird, you can leave if you want," I said as she walked by me to try the door. "You have to have a key," I said, dangling the key. I unlocked the door and we walked in.

"Your apartment is kind of bland."

"Yah Kire was the decorator."

"Who was she?"

"She was my girlfriend," I said sitting on the bed.

"I'm sorry if you don't want to talk about it."

"It's not that, you're just the first person to ask me anything about the scar or my girlfriend." It got quiet.

"Do you want to tell me about your girlfriend and your scar?"

"Why do you want to know about my sadness? Why have you followed me here?"

"Cause that's who I am, most people find me irritating, I think my friends were trying to find me a boyfriend so I'd leave them alone." It got quiet again.

"Our child died before birth in a car crash, and then my girlfriend left, and the scar is because I tried to kill myself." If I had said this to any other girl she would be out of here. She just hugged me. "You're not going to ask me how I feel, or tell me it's going to be ok?"

"No cause that's not what you need right now, you need a hug." She was warm and inviting. Her hug felt nice like a bear hugging it's cub. "You're my new best friend, how does that sound," she said, pulling back.

"Sounds alright to me."

"Ok so I'll give you my number and I'll call you tonight."

"Ok I'll be here."

"You're so simple I love it," she said leaving out the door. I just laid back on my bed. I don't know what just happened. I laid in bed doing nothing for hours until my phone rang.

"Hello Yamasura," Remi said.

"Hello Remi," I said.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing, just lying in bed."

"Same, just laying here in my bed."

"Remi?"

"Yes Yamasura?"

"I don't think you're irritating, I think you're delightful," I said in a monotone voice.

"I love how honest you are, thanks for being my friend."

"Your welcome, same goes to you. Well I think I'm going to bed now cause work, but I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"I will call you at random," she said before hanging up.

The next day started simple. I sat at my work station like any normal day. My phone was blowing up with cat photos and videos from Remi. I was surprised there wasn't a single hang in there. I remember all the cards I got with that one.

"Hey can you turn your phone on silent," Tommy said, peeking over.

"I'm sorry she's blowing up my phone," I said, turning it down.

"She? You got a girlfriend, do you?"

"No, but she is my friend." Tommy climbed over and took my phone.

"Oooh, who's Remi?"

"Give me my phone back and I'll tell you," he tossed me my phone.

"She's my friend we met at a manga shop the other day."

"Dude, she hot?"

"Dude I'm not going to answer that."

"What are you guys talking about?" Komiko asked, turning into my cubicle.

"Get this Yamasura has got a new girl in his life."

"Um, that's great for you," she said.

"She's my friend, ok relax."

"But you're looking for more right?" Tommy asked.

"Can we not talk about this," Komiko said.

"What's with you?" he asked.

"It's inappropriate work talk," she said.

"This coming from the girl that ate that snake in that fancy liquor bottle," he said. I was ignoring them, just focusing on my work. Sometimes I feel people take more interest in what I'm doing than I do.

"Hey when do we get to meet her?" Tommy asked.

"I don't know, But I'm not hiding her."

"You couldn't do that, I'd find her," he said.

"I'm going to walk away now," Komiko said walking away.

"Dude what's with her." Again I wasn't listening. "Ok, you are living this secret life that I don't know about," Tommy said leaning back to his work.

"It's nothing you don't know," I said.

"Listen man forget these dweebs, I'm here to hang if you need some fun." Keko gave both of us a mean get back to work look. Tommy gave it back. I know he means well, but I just don't want to try and be that person he remembers me as. As I got up to go to Keko's office I could feel eyes on me. As I turned, Komiko hid behind her computer.

"This year is looking good, but you are definitely overworking yourself," Keko said.

"No, I'm fine."

"Tommy tells me you have a new lady friend."

"Tommy has a big mouth, but he doesn't know anything."

"I'm giving you an extra day off."

"If that's what you want."

"I want you to have fun, not like them though, have fun in your way." Have fun my way? I stood right outside the door as everyone walked out.

"Dude, what you waiting for, rain?" Tommy asked.

"I'm here," Remi said, turning a corner.

"You know when you asked to see me, I didn't think you were really gonna show," I said.

"Well you will learn to trust my word."

"So Yamasura this is her," Tommy said.

"Hi Remi at your service," she said, extending out her hand.

"Jotiro, but call me Tommy," he said shaking her hand. Komiko and Keko were the last two out of the building.

"Yo Komiko check if she's real," Tommy said.

"Hi, I'm Remi," she said, striking a pose. Komiko just kind of yipped.

"You're very forward you know that," Keko said smiling.

"I know but Yamsura doesn't mind it," Remi said.

"I'm sorry I have to get home, it was nice to meet you," Komiko said walking away.

"She has been strange all day," Tommy said.

"So where are you two off to?" Keko asked.

"A walk in the night," I said.

"It's going to be so fun," Remi said, spinning around.

"Ok we're out." Keko said, pulling Tommy as he looked back.

"Well let's go," she said, pulling on me. As we walked, she swung around every pole we passed.

"You're always so happy."

"And you always look bored," she said, stopping.

"Should I give a different face?"

"Only if it's your real face." We ended up walking through the park. The moon was bright. It was quite cold. I could see Remi shivering.

"Why did you not bring a jacket?" I asked, covering her in mine.

"Cause I didn't think it would be cold, won't you be cold?"

"Naw cold never bothers me." We sat on a bench in the middle of the park.

"So how was work?" she asked.

"It was the same as every day."

"Nope, not true."

"What do you mean?"

"You're not including the little moments, what did you do besides work?"

"Well I made small talk with Tommy."

"Do you like Tommy?"

"He's ok, I feel like he's the only one at work not treating me like I'm sick."

"Are you sick?" What's with all the questions?

"I don't think so."

"You sure sound sick." she said condescendingly.

"I'm not sick!" I yelled. She put her hand on my heart feeling my heartbeat.

"I got you really worked up." I feel alive and in motion. "If people treat you like you're sick then don't act sick, be assertive and tell people what you mean," she said, climbing on the bench. This girl is making me feel things I haven't felt in a while. "Ok let's start walking again," she said, pulling on me. We stopped and stared out at the park from a high point. My heart was racing. What is this feeling? She grabbed my hand. "You're all warm."

"I'm sorry I'm all sweaty."

"You're warming me up, don't worry." I heard a voice from behind me.

"Help her," a voice whispered in my ear.

"Hey did you hear that?" I asked.

"Hear what?" she asked. I listened really carefully. I could hear faint screaming.

"People are just park banging," she said blushing. But I didn't hear that I heard a struggle.

"Follow me," I said, walking through the bushes. We saw a guy holding a girl down taking advantage of her.

"We should call the cops," she whispered.

"Shhhh," I said, walking out of the bushes slowly.

"HELP ME!" the girl yelled. The guy looked up at me.

"Mind your own fucking business pal," he said. I grabbed him by his mouth and threw him on his back. I walked over to him not saying a word. "Yo asshole that hurt." I can't believe he's in pain. He kicked me in the leg and I fell on my knees. As he stood up with anger in his eyes Remi grabbed him in a hold and threw him over her. I stood up with questions on my face.

"I took a defensive class," she said.

"Thank you two," the girl said.

"No worry's ma'am I called the cops," Remi said.

"Just glad I could help, and that you're alright," I said, rubbing my head.

"You have cold dead eyes, like a snake," Remi said.

"Oh, do I now," I said.

"But it's ok cause you did a good thing," she said looking down. She just makes any situation look good. "We make a great team."

"I guess we do."

"How did you know she needed help?"

"Just a hunch I guess."

"Ok let's go, you're walking me home, these streets aren't safe for a girl like me," she said walking by me.

"Sounds good." She lived in this kind of nice part of town that I haven't been to much. She opened the door to her one room apparent. It had heavy metal posters on the walls, and model mechs on every shelf and was a little messy.

"Oh, I'm sorry it's messy." she said frantically cleaning up.

"No, it's fine."

"Ok then, thoughts?"

"It's nice, you definitely have more style than me, my apartment is all empty," I said.

"You just need to fill it with things you like."

"It's hard to remember things I like."

"You're silly, you just don't want to talk about stuff you like." Was she right, am I just hiding what I like from myself?

"I like reading manga, animals, and I like this," I said, turning and looking at her.

"Ok that's perfect, your new friend happens to be making a manga with an animal main character," she said all gloating.

"But it's not finished," I said sitting on her bed.

"I'm working on it ok," she said sitting next to me. We just sat there in silence. "What do you like about this?" she asked. My heart was racing from the question.

"Talking."

"I like talking to you too, You know what I like about this?"

"What?"

"That you're a really good listener."

"Tommy always says you have to listen to them talk if you want to go to pound town," I said in a monotone voice. There was a slight pause in conversation before she erupted laughing.

"I love the stuff you say, it's like you don't care what people's reactions are going to be." I liked all her reactions. She laid back on the bed.

"Lay down, it's soft," she said, pulling me with her. Her bed was really soft. I just looked into her eyes as she tried to focus her eyes on something before they caught mine. "Your eyes are green."

"Yes, they are."

"Like little trees in your head." she said, poking my nose. "Ok I'm tired, so you have to leave," she said getting up. She tells me what to do as if I understand what I'm supposed to be doing.

"I work tomorrow I'll be in touch," I said getting up.

"I will bug the hell out of you at work," she said, jumping on the bed. I walked out the door and stood there for a second. This whole experience has been making me feel happy.