Acquaintances: Often turn up where you least expect them

Although Takeshi and William were happier than either of them had ever been, occasionally William would fall into a pensive mood, and Takeshi would find him staring out of the kitchen window or looking up at the branches of trees. At first he said nothing, not wishing to interfere with these episodes, but eventually he felt it was a duty of care to find out their cause.

One afternoon while William sat at the window, Takeshi followed him into the kitchen and made them both a cup of tea. Slipping into the seat next to him, he offered the cup to William, who accepted it without looking at him or saying a word.

"William," He said, gently, "What is it that's bothering you? I know there must be something."

For a moment William did not speak, as if there was a delay in his hearing. Then, slowly, as if he was just waking up, he looked round at Takeshi and gave him a tired smile. "Oh, I'm just thinking." He said.

"What about? You look so troubled..." Takeshi pressed.

"You know... all those things with the crows, all the attacks and the incidents that got me in trouble..." William sighed. "I feel uneasy. Nothing has happened since I moved in here. It seems as though they are waiting for something."

"... Waiting? The crows?" Takeshi asked, with a fair amount of skepticism. "Maybe they've just decided to leave you alone."

"No, I can't help but think that... it isn't over." William said, looking back out of the window with a frown. "See, there, in that tree. He's watching me."

Takeshi peered out of the window at the crow - which was, in fact, building a nest - and then looked back at William, more worried now. He excused himself for a moment, and when he returned he had the look of a determined man.

"William, listen to me." He said firmly. "We're going to go to a hotel. There's someone who can help you with all this, so I'd like you to meet him."

"Who is it?" William asked, dubiously.

"It's my cousin." Takeshi said briefly, gathering up his car keys. "Come on, he'll be waiting for us."

"Why can't we meet here?" William asked curiously. 

"Stop asking so many questions." Takeshi said quickly, and led the way to the car.

It was about an hour's drive to the hotel, and when they arrived they checked in under the name "Niro". William trailed after Takeshi to the room, with mixed feelings about this meeting and whether or not it was a good idea. The room was number 2510; a number William might have found significant, had he paid attention.

They had been sat in the room for only ten minutes when a knock came at the door. Takeshi walked around the corner of the lounge area and into the corridor to answer it, and William was by himself for a brief moment, during which an irrational sense of foreboding came over him.

"William? I'd like you to meet my cousin." Takeshi said, his hand on the shoulder of the man next to him. "His name is Mike Kevinson."