Nothing But Time to Think
[AN: Soul mate AU where the most important thing your soul mate will ever say to you is written on your wrist. Warning: inaccurate depictions of grief.]
The cement was cold beneath her bare feet. The mat she had been given stank of sweat. She had no blanket; only the clothes on her back to warm her. Tears no longer dribbled from her eyes. She had cried her last and now salt crusted on her chubby cheeks. She curled up against the cement wall. It was cold too. She was thirsty but the unclean water she had available wasn't tempting. Did that make her hygienic or spoilt? Refusing to lap from a toilet bowl like a dog. It wouldn't be like those who had been here before her hadn't been tempted. She would simply just have to wait until morning.
Mayoi had nothing but time. It seemed like from tonight onwards it was all she would ever have. She had lost everything when she learned her sister had died a brutal death; the death she was sole suspect for.
Mayoi knew that tears weren't going to honour Chihiro. For the longest time, since they were kids, Chihiro wanted to teach Mayoi bravery and coax her out of her crybaby state. Laughter and joy would honour her but how can you laugh when all there is is tragedy?
The cement walls loomed and Mayoi heaved dryly once more. Her throat was parched but her stomach warned against feeding. She would surely lurch for real if she tried to swallow something.
Love would certainly honour Chihiro. Mayoi forced herself to smile. The action tortured her and pierced her heart. Her teeth felt like glass in her mouth. She exhaled lies. Pleasant thoughts would soothe Chihiro's worried soul. Whether or not Mayoi could muster them was a completely different test of strength.
'Chihiro-nee-sama,' Mayoi mumbled weakly, her voice was cracked and broken. It was caked with misery. 'I think I met my soul mate today. Y-You always worried about my soul mate and I but I believe I am in capable hands, Lawyer-san is very nice. He's a good person. He's your friend after all. I'm certain that it is him.'
Mayoi rolled back her sleeve. She always admired the even, upright print of the lettering on her wrist. It looked like computer font. It was the handwriting of a trustworthy person. Although tonight there wasn't much admiration for lettering but rather agony. Why did they have to meet due to such awful circumstances?
Mayoi traced over the not quite royal blue print with her index finger. She couldn't read it because of the midnight gloom but she knew it off by heart. She was a hopeless romantic. She believes in the destined system of soul mates, no matter how illogical and whimsical it was deemed by society.
She could now read those special words with his virtuous voice. His voice that was easily excited and full of constant, fluctuating emotion. Mayoi had all the faith in the world even though this man was a spiky haired eccentric. He could save her and prove her innocence. Then, when the dust settles and she grows a little older and wiser, they could start a family. Her heart was heavy with weighty grief but now it was also burgeoning with shining hope.
"Please let me defend you!"