With the last sounds of my words still lingering in the air, I was waiting for Bella’s response. My special woman just kept staring at me blankly, no reaction whatsoever. And then, ever so slowly, tears started dripping out of her eyes. Another moment, and she started laughing. It was a quiet, almost soundless, snickering at first, that gradually turned into a madman’s cackling.

Inside the car, parked on the roadside in the middle of nowhere, I was looking at how the most important person in my life was laughing while crying, or was it vice versa? And I had not even an inkling of an idea of what I was supposed to do right now. So, I was waiting. Not quite certain what I was waiting for, though. Miracle would do, I guess. Or, maybe, a hole deep enough.

“Ah, now I understand why Olivia changed so much in just a day, dear.” A miracle actually happened, and, all of a sudden, Bella decided to say something. “Hey, dear, I agree. But not right now. I will marry you once I get pregnant. So, do your best and stay by my side till then, am I clear?”

“Crystal,” I replied.

“With this out of the way, tell me everything about this person you are meeting. You said you will need my advice.” And straight to the business right after. “I heard your warning to the crew, and I don’t want to become a widow before I even get married.”

“If my conjecture is right, it should be Kouzuki Miya, my grandmother. I am not a hundred percent sure, but it’s the best guess I have. And it’s the safest bet, with this ticking time bomb on my hands.” I patted the diary. “There is an alternative, but it’s even less likely to work. I, how to put it, had contact with the young lady of the Smith family, but she is ignoring my messages. Well deserved, though, I ignored her for the whole year at this point.”

“The number one girl of yours?” And Bella got it in one.

“Yeah,” I confirmed. “So, back to the first person…”

***

The gist of the story was simple. Everything started with a series of incredible coincidences, after which I got my hands on the same diary I was currently holding. Which led to me getting my favorite throwaway names - Tian and Shinji, which I used, almost exclusively, for one-night stands in bars.

After Bella’s untimely demise, I lost my last pillar in this shitty world, and started slowly but surely losing the leftover sanity and will to live. And, of course, most of my time, when I wasn’t busy with something enough to temporarily stop me from thinking about my loss, I was either planning to get wasted, getting wasted, or already wasted. Mostly in bars. The seedier the bar, the better.

And, just like in any shitty story, in one of such visits, in a bar that I stumbled upon via sheer chance, I met a woman. Long, straight black hair, skin white as jade, delicate facial features, the coldest pair of steel-gray eyes, with a gaze sharp as a knife. Wearing pitch-black kimono, that probably did cost as the entire bar combined, with her regal posture and mannerism, she instantly caught my attention.

Now that I think, approaching her, just like that, was akin to suicide. Obviously enough, there were ever present, albeit hidden, bodyguards, that would neutralize the potential threat with a single gesture of their mistress. Even ignoring that, with her status, monetary and noble alike, she wouldn’t need to give more than a hint about her displeasure, and any person will briefly disappear. But I was neither sober enough to think clearly, nor did I care about my continuous existence.

There was a curious expression on her face as she looked at me approaching. It was certainly not an everyday occurrence for a drunk, scar-faced mercenary to decide that she was looking for his company. As a matter of fact, against all odds, she actually did seek a companion on that particular day. And I just happened to be there at the right time.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Her expression changed once I introduced myself, and after scrutinizing me with her icy stare for a while, her whole demeanor followed. To my endless surprise, she stopped me from drinking alcohol, and poured me a cup of green tea instead. And then we talked. Yes, just talk. I think it was the first time since Bella’s death, I actually enjoyed myself. Even if only for a short while.

Long after the bar’s supposed closing time, I got a call from a new second-in-command, asking for my urgent presence, and I quote, ‘Even if you are dead, get your fucking ass here, boss.’ So, I had to leave. Only to be stopped by the woman, who never told me her name, so she could give me a blank visit card with her personal phone number.

“I shall thank you for your company, Tian. You reminded me of someone I once held dear. They have long since passed away, so, for their sake, if you ever need something, call me,” she said, her voice as pleasant as a dream and cold as steel. “And, don’t forget to visit my bar occasionally, this old woman will always welcome you here.”

I had no idea, at the time, just how lucky I actually was. Just the fact she knew my name, already helped me more than I could imagine. Not to even mention how many strings she pulled behind the scenes, making sure that I stayed alive just another day. Simply because she was, indeed, waiting for my next visit. Just so we could talk.

***

Our second meeting was even more memorable. I was attending an important event. Or was it a gala or ball? Something along those lines. My second-in-command, after noticing me gradually becoming more and more wasted, sent me to get some fresh air. The designated place was a balcony with a slippery floor and a very low parapet, so, I guess, the bastard just hoped I would fall and break my neck. I wasn’t against that either, to be honest.

And, just like that, via another series of coincidences, at that balcony, I met my new acquaintance, the bar owner. Only this time the kimono she was wearing was white for some reason. Curiously enough, both her speech pattern and overall mannerism were different as well, and, for a while, she even refused to recognize me. Only after I introduced myself again did she stop playing dumb. While having a feeling of déjà vu, I kept answering questions, which, I could swear, I already told her answers to previously.

That day, I learned that being a high-class lady doesn’t mean you aren’t a crazy bitch. Or, I suppose, she didn’t call herself an old lady for nothing. Senility isn’t a sin.

As we had our peaceful chat, a figure that I knew all too well, approached us. The first young lady of the infamous Su clan. Well, more like the de facto leader by that point. Ruthless and cold bitch, who had one of the biggest hate-boners against me for some reason. I must add that this is an impressive selection.

“You…” The bun-haired shorty pointed her finger at me and hissed. As usually, glaring daggers at my poor, innocent self. Bitch.

“Yin.” One word from my tea-drinking buddy, shut my adversary instantly. “Apologize to my friend.”

“But mistress…” pleaded the thorn in my ass.

“Yin.” Only to be shut again. “Apologize.”

“Yes, mistress.” She bowed her head. Then she turned to me, and if she could kill people using only her eyes, I would’ve been dead right at that moment. “I beg you to pardon my digression. This lowly one didn’t know about your esteemed status. This won’t be repeated.”

So, just being the friend of the crazy lady made my status high enough for the Su’s young lady to lower her head.

“Eh, no big deal.” I also decided to give face to the tea-lady. “Let bygones be bygones.”

“Great.” The white-robe clad lady clapped her hands. “Now, Yin, go and bring some refreshments for my young friend and I. As for you, Shinji, please tell me more about yourself.”

The rest of the event I spent talking about my life's story to the same woman for the second time, while receiving almost the exact comments, just a bit differently phrased. Eh, she was an excellent listener, so I, once again, had fun. The mask of sheer impotent rage on the pale face of Su's first lady, as she served us food and drinks, was an exquisite treat as well.

My second-in-command, with an irritated expression on his sleazy mug, found me towards the end of the occasion. I was about to excuse myself, when the crazy lady gave me a blank visit card again. Curiously enough, it had a different number this time. So, she really had a multiple personality disorder, I concluded, and a severe one at that, poor soul.