Fruit salad.
Chapter one
"Come on! Ladies, Ladies please just pretend to try. Please?" Kano sighed and ran a hand through his short midnight black curtains, his parted fringe coming over his eyes. "One year of being a Student teacher, and now I realise what a pain I must have been for my teachers. And I was a boy." He groaned again, and opened his dark Magenta eyes to look at the whinging teenage girls that were blabbering a hundred and one excuses, some including a doctor's note from a manicurist, and a severe case of swoon-itus. Where Kano would have to hold her to keep her on her feet. I was never this horny at that age…actually. He chuckled to himself as the girls continued to complain. I was probably worse. "Alright!" he raised his voice slightly. "Now, I want you gorgeous ladies-" He paused as they battered their eyes at him. "-to go once around the 800 meter track and then it will probably be the end of class…so!" he clapped his hands together enthusiastically, despite the instant groans. "Let's get going ladies." He blew his whistle, and they slowly slugged onto the field. Until there was only Kano, and two other girls.
The first wore a pair of big baggy brown combats with pockets all up the outside of the legs, and a big baggy cotton dark green jumper that was obviously at least 4 sizes too big for her. She wore her cinnamon blonde hair in a high pigtail, her fringe messily fighting a war to cover her eyes, and her Amber eyes bright and shining through.
The second he knew all too well, with her familiar midnight black hair, that ran wild and windswept, free down her back like a wave of shadows, her fringe also parted like his, her Magenta eyes slightly pinker than his, but her cream skin was the same. She wore hip hugging black jeans, tight fitting and tucked into shin high black flat material boots, a black shirt that had silver writing on it saying 'Stay back, I bite', tight to her ample chest, and covered only by a black leather, biker babe jacket, that was so short it stopped under her breasts. On it, was her favourite Snake insignia on the back, green scaled with red eyes and looking very vicious.
Like it's wearer.
And her red lips were curled into her famous, confident smirk.
"Hay Fukazawa Sensei." The boyishly dressed girl cocked her head to one side with her hands hidden by her large sleeves, looking cheerful. Yet this 16 year old didn't flirt with him like the other girls did, she knew him too well for that.
"Good morning Yoko. And why aren't you running with the rest of them hmm?" Kano folded his arms over his dark navy tracksuit zip up jacket. His brow was raised playfully, a boyish grin along his defined jaw.
"Because I told her not to." He returned to look at the darker haired girl, and smirked even more.
"Just because you're my sister, doesn't mean that I'm going to cut you any slack. Now." He hooked his arm around her slim waist, and hugged her hip to his. "Are you going to be good? Or do I have to give you a detention?"
"You can't." she looked very smug for some reason, and Yoko sighed with amusement.
"And why is that?" he then frowned. "Oh Suzu, what did you do now?" he released her and folded his arms, trying to look like the responsible one. It was his duty as the older brother after all.
"I didn't do anything." Suzu said defiantly, folding her arms and looking away from them both. Yoko by this time had her arms behind her back and was rocking on her heels, with a smile on her face. It was always fun to see these two start. Well, I say start. but it is always Suzu that starts it. She chuckled.
"Oh really."
"Yeah, really." Yoko coughed. "What! It wasn't my fault that the new teacher told me off for my dog collar." At this point she drew attention to her new necklace. It was bright blood red, like her lips, and had silver spiked studs around the middle in a circumference. "I have my independence to withhold and not turn into another drone of the masses. So when the new History teacher kicked up a fuss well…" she put her hands on her hips and raised her head high. Kano already knew what she had done. She had done this before. "I told him one four."
"More like you kicked your desk over, threw your book at him, screamed your female rights at him and threatened to shove your ruler up his a-"
"Astoundingly large nose." Suzu cut in quickly, not liking the look her brother was giving her. He looked a little…mad. "He deserved it. He said I looked like a slut!" she hissed. At that, his expression softened slightly.
"He did?"
"Yeah, a lady of the night, a hooker, a harlot!" he then looked to Yoko.
"Is that true?" Yoko gulped. She saw his big brother mode coming on.
"Well yes. But he is a student teacher like you but really old fashioned and as soon as he said it I was up on my feet and had a hand full of his pretty-boy blonde hair!" she seethed. Both girls had shouted at him now, both panting furiously.
"So you have detention with him." He pointed at Suzu, and then to Yoko. "And now you do to?"
"Yeah." Suzu grumbled, and scowled darkly. "Stupid arsewhole…"
"And you Yoko?" Kano had his arms folded, and was actually trying to hold his sides from slitting from the need to laugh!
"Yes, me too…never had detention before…"
"Well, you were bound to get detention some time or another when you follow Suzu's lead. Isn't that right little sister?" he chuckled. Suzu however simply grunted and turned her back to him.
"Well, I'll have to do it I suppose."
"Alright, well I have to stay behind for an hour to mark the Sport's studies papers anyway, so I'll wait around and drive you home. How's that sound?"
"Thank you Fukazawa sensei." Yoko bowed, her cinnamon blonde hair falling forward over her left shoulder before looking up, and blowing her fringe out of her eyes with a smile. Her olive green jumper trailed over her hips, and half way down her thighs.
"Thanks Kano."
"That's Sensei to you in public, Suzu-chan."
"Yeah, yeah. What-ever." She stressed in a bored manor, and looked to Yoko. "Shall we run circles around the plastics now?"
"Sure, why not." Yoko shrugged, and the two girls ran off to soon catch up with the other girls of their year.
"I'll just tell Takara not to wait for you then shall I!" Kano shouted after them.
"Sure, thanks!"
"See you later!" they shouted, and were soon out of range to hear them.
"Right…" Kano sighed and walked down to the centre of the track, looking for a head of long golden hair. "Brown, blue, black, pink?…how many colours can you get!" Kano scratched his head. "Ah! Blonde! Takara!" he shouted and jogged in line with a girl with bright emerald eyes, a sort smile and gloriously long golden hair. It fanned out behind her, soft and shimmering in the light. Her hair was distinguishable, being naturally golden, and her trademark silk pink ribbon was tied around her neck, a golden pendant on the front. How long has she had that necklace? I can't remember her without it. He then shook his head, and returned his attention to the waiting girl. "Well Takara, it seems my dearest sister has roped Yoko along with her into one of her detentions. So don't wait for them at the bus stop after school today. You can just go straight home, I'm giving the girls a lift. I have to stay behind anyway. So don't worry about them, ok?" he said that, as a flicker of concern passed through her green orbs. "I mean it." He pointed to her playfully, jobbing with ease by her side. Takara was a very dainty thing, very unlike her other two friends Suzu and Yoko. Very tender and very shy. He could see why Yoko, and especially Suzu, felt the need to protect her so fiercely. (the fierce part mostly coming from Suzu).
Takara nodded, and Kano smiled contently. "Alright, well, say hello to Gertrude for me." He waved her off around the track as he pulled off into the centre again, to monitor his class more professionally. Poor kid. It wasn't fair that the sate made her move to an orphanage after enrolment. Those folks at the home really loved and cared for her. There, it's like some sort of bad take on Matilda. I swear that Gertrude lady looks like Mrs Trunchball… he sighed, remembering dropping young Takara off once from school, only to be confronted with that large German woman with dirty blonde hair stick to her head in curls, beady little eyes and sour expression that made him look for something rotten under her nose… horrid woman. No sense of humour. Poor girl… "Hay! No cutting corners!"
Tick.
Tick.
Tick.
That damn clock wouldn't go any faster, droning in her head like a person poking her temples insistently. I hate fucking detentions, I hate fucking boredom, and I hate Mr Glee!" but there was nothing about the new History teacher to live up to his name.
Suzu drummed her scarlet fingernails over her desk, gritting her teeth and fuming to herself silently. At first it hadn't been so ad, having Yoko here with her to send paper messages to while that sop of a teacher trying to find the on button for his computer. But then he caught them (no, he caught Yoko), and sat her at the front, and Yoko right at the back. Grrrr.
5 minutes left. More like 5 hours! Move already! She screamed at the minute hand, gripping the edge of the table with both hands and looking squarely at it. Perhaps if she stared long and hard enough, sheer will power alone will make time go faster.
Yoko however, wasn't looking at the clock. Instead she was gazing out of the side window longingly. The sun was setting early, with the season, and the sky had erupted into a canvas of soft pinks blending into gentle oranges, with off white clouds fluffing in places to refract the light. Like the heavens had opened up, just to brighten up her afternoon.
As miserable it was.
Her face was turned to the left, her left hand holding her pad to the table and her right hand scribbling furiously with her art ink pen. That was a habit of hers she hated. If there was a pen and paper, she had to use it. Even if she drew abstract shapes of chewing gum on her sociology desk, she had to draw it. It was like a compulsion, and most of the time she didn't even realise she was doing it. Yoko didn't even look at the paper when she captured the sunset through the windows down in an ink sketch.
She sighed, and looked to the front, freezing when she saw what she was doing.
"Shit." Her right hand stopped its insistent scribbling, and she quickly shoved the pad into her satchel by her feet, as if afraid of being caught red handed with it. Another habit that went hand in hand with her drawing.
At last, the bell went and the only one to their feet quicker than Yoko, was Suzu.
"Come on! Let's get outta here before I go mondo loco!" Suzu hooked Yoko's arm and dragged her half backwards out of the classroom, completely ignoring Mr Glee. But he didn't ignore them.
"You will have detentions for the rest of the month!"
"Ah fuck!" Suzu spat through the door to know one, knowing she wouldn't be able to deny hearing him now. Yoko chuckled, wondering if she could get out of it for only being the accessory to the crime, when they stopped. "Takara? What are you doing here?" Suzu released her arm, and Yoko cocked her head to one side. sure enough, their not obedient friend was stood happily with her hands holding her bag in front of her, her long golden hair fanning down her back. She wore a white summer dress, with spaghetti straps over her shoulders, white socks and buckle shoes, and a yellow cardigan. There was also a yellow sash around her waist and tied to one side, but you couldn't see it very much with the cardigan closed. There was a neat little collar, with the first button undone solely to free her golden pendant, which hung innocently from a silk pink ribbon around her neck. Like a cat collar, and just as dainty as she was.
"I thought Kano said he was going to tell you we had detention and not to wait for us…at the bus stop…he did tell you didn't he?" Takara nodded with a bright smile.
"And you thought you would just stand in the hallway, and wait for us for how long? An hour? Haven't you missed you bus?" Suzu folded her arms and tapped her foot. "How exactly did you intend on getting home?" Takara opened her mouth. "No, no you are not walking home. Not when it's getting dark and you'll be on your own. My brother will drive you home, with us. Damn you! You need to be a little more selfish, you know that?" Suzu grumbled and hooked both their arms. This was a habit of hers, to ensure she had control of just where they were all walking and all were at all times. One that both Yoko and Takara had grown accustom to a long time ago. "Being a little selfish is a good thing. Self preservation, and all that."
"Now that that's sorted, who is looking forward to tomorrow?"
"I sure as hell am. A night at the camping hut will be just what we need. Room to breath, room to relax."
"And room for you to drive your brother crazy by climbing walls, trees, mountains and vanish completely for hours on end." Yoko added slyly.
"Eh, it's good for his blood pressure." Suzu brushed it off, stressing her brother out on holidays being an unwritten rule for her. "And I sure as hell enjoy it too." She smirked. Camping was a family tradition for her. She has gone on random camping weekends with her brother since she could remember, and in more recent years, with her two best friends to. A tradition, that her friends both seemed to greatly enjoy.
"I've already packed." Yoko said proudly. "Just need to put in my tooth brush tonight, and I'm all set."
"And Binky." Suzu teased with a cruel smirk. "Is he still missing an eye?"
"Hay! Don't touch the Binky topic." But Suzu simply smirked. "I mean it."
"Fine, fine." She didn't lose her smirk though… "Stuffed toe rag."
"Oi! Back off! Binky is-"
"-I thought we weren't talking about Binky?"
"Bitch." Yoko sulked, walking arm in arm with a very satisfied grinning Suzu, who was also hooked onto Takara. Takara was simply smiling, listening to her two friends banter happily and contently. "And anyway, at least I don't sleep like a baby, literally!"
"Hay!" Suzu snarled. "Teasing you is fine. Teasing me, is not fine."
"Heh heh." Yoko grinned happily, and the three girls walked out of school, and to the car park.
Kano was already waiting for them in his big Mitsubishi Warrior, sleek, black, with silver hub caps and great bid eyes. Suzu liked to think the car was a personification of her brother. Stylish, sleek, silent and misleading, but has the potential to be dominating, and the instrument of darker deeds than taking three girls home after school.
"Now why am I not surprised? Wait for them did you?" Kano addressed the green eyed bombshell. Takara simply looked away innocently, but the smile on her lips said otherwise. "I thought you might."
"Then why didn't you stop her!" Suzu demanded. It was actually quite amusing seeing them together, Suzu and Kano. Kano was 24, a student teacher and an adult. Suzu was 17, a student and a teenager. And yet she spoke to him like she was the older child. Even though Kano obviously had more maturity than her.
"Because nothing I would have done or said would have stopped her? You know how close you three all are. You all would have done the same." They all got into the car, Suzu with her arms folded below her breasts and automatically scowled as her reply, Yoko clambering up onto the backseat and then pulling Takara with her. The car was so high off the ground, it was hard just to get into the damn thing. But it was sure comfy once inside the nice car with nice leather seats. Kano pulled out of the car park, and smiled. "So. Nice detention?"
"Yeah, of course."
"Sarcasm, Suzu."
"Yeah, nice isn't it?" Kano sighed.
"So, with this new guy, Mr…?"
"Mr Glee. Sexist bastard. Said I should act my age and more of a young lady! The cheek!"
"Oh really. And he called you those names earlier too, did he?"
"Sure did, asshole." She spat, but not at her brother. "Hate that guy already. None of the other teachers mind what I wear. They all accept they can't force me into any sort of uniform. And he gave me and Yoko detentions for a month! Total rip!"
"I will see." Kano said, his face stern. Suzu saw this out of the corner of her eye, and smirked gleefully.
"What are you going to do?"
"Do? Me? Who said I was going to do anything?" but it was obvious from the smirk on his lips, which scarily looked like the one Suzu usually wears, and his darkened magenta eyes, he didn't quite mean what he said. "But enough about that." He brightened up. "Are you all ready for our little excursion tomorrow?"
"Sure am. Packed everything but y toothbrush." Yoko beamed.
"And Binky?" when Kano asked that, Yoko growled.
"Grrr, leave Binky alone." She sank back and pouted, looking out of the window. "And what time will you be picking us up tomorrow anyway?"
"Let me see…what is Saturday traffic like in the morning? I haven't gone out at the weekend for such a long time." He sighed. "I must be getting old."
"Nah, just lost your old social life due to education, that's all." Suzu reassured, although nothing about that was reassuring. "And I think it is really bad the later we leave it. So we should go early. As possible."
"Nice try Suzu, you are really getting better at this."
"I try."
"Well, you did learn from the best. But you have a lot to learn about the art of being discrete."
"Humph." Suzu glared out of the window, both blondes chuckling silently in the back. This simply worsened Suzu's mood.
"Will you cheer up if I give in and pick everyone up first thing?" Kano slowed the car and parked outside a flower shop. Damn. I hate seeing Suzu in a fowl mood. Why do I always have to feel bad when she is upset? He smiled. I spoil her too much. I can't help it. It's by baby sister, I love her.
"It's a start…"
"Good. Well, this is your stop Yoko. Say hi to your dad for me."
"Yeah…my dad." Kano looked into the back of the car with his sister Suzu, and even Takara looked with concern at Yoko. She noticed the sudden attention, and tore her nervous gaze from the car window. "I'll be outside at 5am. Don't be late." And without a word, she got out the car and hurried inside. "I hope he isn't made I'm late from school…"
"Alright, what was that about?" Kano didn't pull off, but looked seriously at Suzu. "I didn't like that one bit." Yoko and Takara had been Suzu's only friends through out her life. So she wasn't the only one who benefited from his brotherly instincts. And right now, those instincts were going haywire. "Well?"
"Her dad might not be all too happy with her leaving this weekend." Suzu coughed into her hand, and looked out the window for anywhere else to look other than her brother's eyes.
"But Yoko said her father said it was alright. She has been able to come before."
"And he never knew about it before either…" she winced, knowing what would be coming next.
"What!"
"SShhh!" Suzu begged, the car still parked outside the shop.
"Don't you shhh me!" he whispered despite his statement. "Are you telling me that all those other times I took Yoko from her house, her father had no idea where she was going, who with, or when she was coming home!"
"Well…"
"Why not!"
"Because he didn't, ok!" she retorted, never one to back down. Even if it was her brother, and it was difficult to keep anything from him.
"Suzu, if you don't tell me everything now, I am going right in there and ask the man himself." There was a few seconds of silence, where Suzu's defensive scowl didn't shift, and Kano glared, waiting.
Suzu jumped when a calm hand placed over her shoulder, and looked over into mature emerald eyes.
"Takara I can't…I promised her I wouldn't."
"Promised her what?" Kano took the keys out of the ignition, and waited. Suzu looked to Takara desperately for an alternative, but she shook her head at her. "Suzu?"
"Fucking hell! Alright already!" She growled, her arms thrown up in the air in frustration, and folded them over her chest angrily. She even sank into the chair and looked the other way sternly. "Her dad…wouldn't let her go if he knew. Ok? And she has done it loads of times. She wouldn't have a life if she didn't just go without her dad's knowing it. That is all I am going to tell you, so you can stop right there."
"Why wouldn't he let her come?"
"What part of stop right there don't you understand!"
"The part where you hold something very important from me. I will not be taking Yoko anywhere tomorrow unless-"
"Fine!" Suzu leaned forward, her elbows on her knees and rubbing her temples. "But I'm telling her you forced Takara to tell you." She smirked beside herself. "Deal?"
"Deal. Now come out with it." Kano turned in his seat. this was important, he could sense it.
"Oh God. she will never forgive for this…" she sighed, and turned to look at her brother, her elbows hanging off her knees now. "Her dad wouldn't let her go, because he is a bastard. He would use it as an excuse to…" she stuck her tongue into her cheek and looked down.
"To what?"
"Her dad is a fucker, pure and simple." She growled to herself, finding this so hard. "I told her to let us help her, but she won't! She won't just, damn it!" Kano was getting more than worried now. "I'm gonna put it this way. Remember last year when in PE, you saw that bruise on her back in the changing rooms? The long one from her shoulder to her other hip?"
"The one she got when she fell over on the lat camping weekend we went on."
"…she got that after she came home." Kano blinked once, and looked to Takara, mouth open slightly. Realisation hit home full force as he watched her sorrowful emerald eyes cast downwards in shame. "He's been doing it for years. All the injuries she told us she got from being clumsy, or from fighting…was-"
"Lock the door and don't open it until you see me."
"Kano!" He shoved his keys back into the ignition, and opened the door forcefully. "Are you gonna-"
"Bet your ass I am." He slammed the door and stormed over to the house. Suzu was constantly violent. She was an explosive person.
But her brother?
He was a implosive person.
So when he exploded?
Think, a chunk of potassium the size of your head thrown into a lake.
Then you have the after ripples of his true vengeful rage. Not even close.
"All right!" Suzu cheered, locking the doors and looking to a very worried Takara. "Don't you worry Takara. Kano will be out of here with Yoko, safe and sound in no time. I remember seeing him mad at dad and-" she stopped herself. "Well, he will be fine." He reassured, looking towards the flower shop with gleaming eyes. It was about time that arsehole got what was coming to him, that piece of scum Suzu wanted to set alit and pour paraffin over until his skin bubbled off with the heat. He was evil. The bad man.
flash back
"Hay Suzu, Takara."
"Where have you been? We've been waiting here for like an hour."
"Sorry, I got…tied up." Yoko, only 14, her hair back in two messy bunches that looked like they used to be two neat pig tails, red faced, her favourite baggy olive green jumper covering her…except a rather angry red shoulder… upon closer inspection, it was obvious her bottom lip was bleeding slightly, and her teeth were a off white pink… she quickly noticed the very observant green eyed Takara looking at her injuries, and shrugged her baggy jumper over her exposed shoulder and licked at her teeth thoroughly. "Heh heh." She chuckled weakly, as they walked into the cinema. When it came to paying, she lifted up her wallet, her sleeve falling down to her elbow…
…and revealing lividly swollen wrists.
"What the fuck!" Suzu angrily grabbed her forearms and waved the repulsive burn marks before her own face.
"I, I slipped. I-"
"Don't try that shit with us. Not us Yoko. Try it on with teachers and strangers, but not us." Yoko was dragged by her two friends to one side, and Suzu held her for Takara to examine. She then looked to Suzu, and put her wrists together. "You were tied up literally, weren't you!" she stated, not asked.
"It isn't what you think-"
"I sure as hell hope to fucking god it isn't what I think it is! Because I think this is abuse. And if it is physical abuse, then I want the know the fucker's name, address, and I mean now!"
"No, no it's not like that. I fell, really I did."
"Right, of course, you fell. You fell on your wrists into a waiting rope and busted your lip and shoulder. Let me see that."
"No, no please don't."
"Then tell me the truth and not this bullshit!"
"I did it, I did it!"
"Bull shit!"
"I did!" Yoko was crying in streams of tears, holding onto Suzu's shoulders, sobbing her pleas. It seemed she was begging, not confessing. "It was my fault. It was my fault…"
"Yoko?"
"It is all my fault. It has always been my fault. A beast like me deserves worse." She fell to her knees, and Takara fell down to hold her close to her chest. "I'm a monster. I did it, it's all my fault." She just repeated that over and over again in painful sobs.
"Who did this to you Yoko? Tell me, please." Suzu said a lot softer. It made Yoko look up with sad amber eyes, and hiccup a sob.
"The bad man."
Present time.
Suzu remembered trying to march over to the flower shop, where Yoko and her 'father' lived, to punch his lights out. But Yoko begged her not to, and she knew no matter how angry she was, she was only just 15. What could a 15 year old do against a full grown man? With no one to back her up? Yoko was in a state, the victim here, and Takara didn't have an offensive bone in her body. And what made it worse, is that Yoko made Suzu swear she wouldn't tell anyone. Her father was all she had left of a family, all she had. She couldn't put him through such pain, she said. He deserves better, she said. He deserves having the flesh torn from his body, slowly, with lots of salt flicked at him, more like! Suzu watched, her cold face betraying nothing of the inner turmoil she felt towards her brother's and her friend's safety.
Kano burst inside, throwing the doors open and darting his eyes around the shop front for anything, anything at all.
He heard a whimper, and ran towards it. He jumped clean over the shop counter and into the back.
There, curled up in a corner in all her misery, was a crying dishevelled Yoko. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, and her hair had fallen messily from her high pony tail and frame her sad face.
"…wha…what are you…"
"Where is he?" Kano spat, blood already making its coppery scent present in his nostrils. He could smell it, and he wanted to spill it from the bastard that hurt Yoko. She was like his sister. He treated Suzu, Yoko and Takara like his sisters, and always has.
And when you hurt Kano's family…
Well, just ask his father.
"Who?" Yoko was still half dazed, no fully realising why Kano was here or why he would be upset. She slowly got to her feet, brushing herself off like nothing had happened. She took a deep breath, ready to move on.
But he wasn't.
"Your fucktard of a father! That's who!" he yelled, hoping the said bastard would emerge for a good pulverising. Adrenaline coursed with his blood, letting him know he was more than capable of that now.
"I don't know what you mean. He just left, to the local shop for some more…drink. Out the back door."
"How long will he be?"
"I don't know, not long. If you want some flowers I'm sure I could-"
"You said you already packed, yes?"
"…yeah. But-"
"Get your bag." He snapped, but she didn't move. "Now!" he roared at her, making her shiver back from him. She had never seen him like this, his dark magenta eyes were so narrow, almost like slits, and his jaw was clenched tightly. And there was a vein she had never seen before, on the left side of his neck, pulsating furiously. It scared her.
Yoko sprang into action, as if on auto pilot. She ran up the back stairs to her room, grabbed her small suitcase from under her bed, and hurried down the stairs again.
Only when she stood with him in the shop front, did she realise what he had said, and what he had done.
He had come in, furious to see her upset, and accused her father like knew everything. He had gotten her to get her bag when he learned her dad had nipped out…
"Are you taking me away Kano?" she whimpered quietly, looking up into his dark eyes, looking ever so vulnerable. He softened upon looking at her, and scooped her up into his arms. He wobbled at first, having to hold her and her suit case, but he managed.
"Far away from here Yoko, where that chikushoume can't touch you, ever again." He swore, carrying her outside of the shop and hurrying towards the car. As he approached, Suzu unlocked the doors. Takara opened the back door and yanked Yoko and her suitcase in with her, locking the door behind her. Kano jumped inside, locked the door, turned the ignition key, and sped off like a mad man.
The adrenaline was still coursing through him, giving him a threatening scowl as he drove. The words 'road rage' flashed briefly across Suzu's mind, before she place a hand on her brother's shoulder. The silent message was passed, he nodded, and knew that was her way of saying thank you. Suzu then climbed awkwardly into the back of the car with Takara and joined her in hugging Yoko, who seemed in a trance. Takara was weeping happily to have her friend safe at last, and Suzu just silently hugged her, being strong for them both. She never did cry.
They drove all the way to the orphanage, before Yoko said anything.
She then started shaking, slightly at first, and then all out trembling with fear. "Oh my god, what, why, how did you, what just happened?" she panicked, looking between them all frantically.
"You're safe now. You're with all the family you will ever need. And we love you." That was the most tender thing Suzu had ever said. It touched Yoko so much, she started to cry even harder against them both. Takara sobbed, whishing she could just say something to reassure Yoko. Just a, you'll be alright, or a, we love you. But no, she couldn't. All she could do is hold her and rub her back to calm her.
I can also have a look at her injuries and start to finally treat them. Surely she will not prevent me now that it is all out in the open.
"…I haven't got my toothbrush." Kano was still fuming. Kano, you are taking this too personally. He told himself.
"I'll buy you another one." But I have every right to be livid. I know just how she feels… "A better one. One you can rely on." Isn't that what we all need? Something we can rely on? In secret, that's why Kano tries to be the best big brother he can be, to give Suzu someone she can really rely on. Like I never had. "Go get your stuff Takara. We are leaving tonight." Reluctantly, Takara released Yoko, who was only whimpering softly now, and made her way into the orphanage. 15 minutes later, she emerged with a small suitcase, even smaller than Yoko's, and returned swiftly to her friend. "Home, our things, then we are leaving."
"Straight away?"
"Straight away." He answered bluntly, some of his rage had dissipated by this point, and he carefully pulled out from the orphanage, hearing not so nice language in German along the lines of 'du mist!' and 'verruckt', from the head of the orphanage. "I never liked that Mrs Gertrude. What is her last name?" he asked no one, no one was listening anyway, and they drove silently to Kano's house.
Suzu had lived with her brother for the last 6 years in his flat. Having to live at the orphanage for a spell with Takara while she was younger. Kano wanted to try and adopt Takara somehow too, but he wasn't financially able to support them both, and so found unfit to do so. Only now in recent months would he be aloud, and had been toying with the idea.
If he could have it his way, he would buy a house where all four of them could live, and quite happily act the big brother/father to all of them. He loved them all that much.
By the time they got back to Kano's flat, he had clamed down completely and was just stressed, not angry anymore.
He had kidnapped Yoko, taken Takara out of the orphanage with the intention of not returning her for a while either, another kidnapping, and he had taken his sister along for the ride to boot. All in a day's work. He chuckled weakly, and raided the fridge for a beer. He downed one bottle of Stella Artois, and pulled out another before quickly going to his room. He ignored the girls sat on his couch, packing the rest of his bag.
"So…" Suzu didn't know what to say. "How come you all have small suit cases? Mine is proper HUGE! And my clothes are so smaller than yours." She chuckled…but died off. Takara was still looking solely at Yoko, and she was staring at the floor. "Listen, don't worry about him anymore. I told you one day I'd see you safe. Now I'm looking at you." She held her cheek and Yoko finally looked her in her eyes. Amber on light magenta. "And you are safe."
"He will come after me. He'll punish you for stealing me."
"Let the fucker try." It was Kano again. He threw his suitcase into the room, and downed another beer. "Suzu, get your bag."
"Right." Suzu knew her brother. He wasn't angry anymore, he was panicking, like the rest of them. He was just acting in control so he didn't worry anyone anymore than they already were. "I'll be right back. And I don't want you to think about him anymore, or I'll have a serious strop with you, ok?" Yoko hiccupped a chuckle, and turned into Takara's embrace.
"(Hiccup) ok…" safe…I like the sound of that.
Suzu shortly returned dragging a large suitcase like a dead boy behind her, huffing and cursing along the way. She jumped when a second pair of hands held onto the handle with her, and saw amber eyes. "Ok. Together?" There was a question in that, and it wasn't referring to the bag.
"Yeah, all the way. Always."
"Ok." Yoko took a deep steadying breath. "One, two, heave!" both girls pulled at the bag, moved it, but them comically fell back on the floor.
"HA!" Suzu started laughing loudly on the floor, and slowly but surly, Yoko chuckled too.
The sight of those two chuckling and barking with laughter brought a thankful smile to Kano's face, and a grateful one to Takara's. She shuffled off the couch, and knelt with them. beaming a happy smile, even with tears still glistening in her eyes. "You nut! Get offa me!" she larked, pushing Yoko up.
"Who are you trying to kid?" Yoko chuckled, needing that laugh so much. "You were on me!"
"Oh really? I have a knuckle sandwich that says otherwise."
"Bright it!" both girls launched to start scrapping playfully, when Kano hooked round both their waists and hoisted them up.
"Not now you two." He chuckled. Just so happy everything wasn't as bad as he thought. Yes, the situation was still very, very serious, but it didn't look like Yoko was angry with them for interfering, like he feared. She actually looked happier. "Bags in the truck, or we won't make it to the camp site before dark."
"Yeah yeah, you ruin all my fun." Suzu huffed, and then smirked. "I can't lift my suitcase. So guess who will have to carry it for me?"
"Me, I suppose." He sighed, rolling his eyes and with smile. "And I suppose you find that quite amusing too."
"Yep." Suzu slipped her long mane of midnight hair and readjusted her spiky red dog collar. "So, I don't know about you, but I'm ready to leave. How about you two?"
"Yeah, far away, right?" Yoko directed at Kano.
"Far away." Further than the camp site. It isn't safe there, everyone knows we go there. "Just need to fill the car with fuel and we are home free." He wore a smile for them all, not feeling it at all himself.
Takara caught his eyes knowingly, and he wondered if she knew what he was up to. She nodded, and then turned to smile at her younger friends. You do know, don't you? At least he seemed to have her support with his decision. Kano sighed, and heaved Suzu's suitcase up onto his shoulder. "JEEEZ! What do you pack in this thing? The Tv? The microwave! The kitchen sink? Your entire room!"
"Just the bare essentials." She shrugged with a grin, and hooked her friends arms again. "Alright, freedom ahoy!"
"At last." Yoko whispered to herself, but Takara heard her. The only one who couldn't say anything.
"You three go ahead. I need some time to maneuver this thing out of the door." He huffed again, wondering if his dear little sister had a few anvils stored in there, as they finally departed.
Tension in the car had resumed over the last hour or so. And not just from Yoko, but all of them. Kano drove normally in silence, looking straight ahead. Suzu sat with the other two girls in the back, in the middle seat this time, eyes closed and her arms folded. Although she wasn't actually asleep.
Yoko stared out of the window, counting all the passing flashes of street lamps. So far she was into the thousands.
And Takara who was most used to silence, wished one of them would speak. What time is it? She looked out of her own window, her emerald eyes drooping tiredly. We must have been on the road for hours now. It's pitch dark, and the moon is out. Oh, how nice. A full moon. I like full moons. So beautiful. She sighed softly, leaning against the car door and her seatbelt to gaze up and the moon. She tucked her long golden locks behind her ears, and drew her yellow cardigan around her tighter. Gosh, why is it so cold all of a sudden? She shivered, and looked around the car. Kano was busy driving, his knuckles white on the wheel. Yoko's forehead pressed against the window in deep sleep, and she couldn't tell if Suzu was asleep or not. Knowing Suzu, she was more aware about what was happening that she was. So very tired. Takara yawned behind her hand, and looked back to the moon. She then reached forward, and reached her hands round the head piece to the seat to hold Kano's shoulders.
"Everyone else asleep then?" Takara saw tired dark magenta eyes look at her through the rear-view mirror, and look over the other two. "Alright, I'll pull over as soon as I can. Ok?" she nodded happily. The last thing she wanted was for Kano to fall asleep at the wheel too. But she knew he would risk an extra mile to get them further from danger if he had to. But not at their expense, of course. "Ah, I see a shack. We can park up ahead." He said with what sounded like relief, and the car started to slow down. Takara yawned even more, blinking to stay awake a little while longer, until the car passed the little shack. "I see a shrine up ahead. That should be safer." And a few minutes later, the car stopped.
Kano took the keys out and pocketed them in this tracksuit trousers, zipped them up, and sank back into the comfy leather seats. "Go to sleep now Takara…(yawn)…no need to stay awake now…we are safe now... I promise…good night." But even so, Takara stayed awake just a little bit longer, just until she was the last conscious. I hope we are safe. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to any of you. She brushed some of Suzu's dark fringe from her eyes, and relaxed at last. Sleep well my friends. Y family. I might not be strong, and I might not be able to tell you how much I care about you all…but I do care. And I would gladly fight for you all if I had to…oh so tired…tired…sleep.
AN: sorry if that was a lot in one chapter, but I really wanted to use this chapter for the introduction of my created original characters. Next chapter, we get really fruit's baskets!
Can't wait myself, hope you enjoy and review.
From
Draguna Doragon.