x X x X x X x X x

I Am A Participant!

The Tale of Snow White

~Prologue (Mikan Sakura)~

Chapter i

x X x X x X x X x

Thirty minutes.

Thirty minutes have passed since I entered the waiting room for applicants who are secretly hoping to pass the first audition.

If only they knew how much I've waited for this time as well. Hah! This time, nothing or no one could stop me from pursuing this once-in-a-lifetime chance.

I mean, come on! This is the freaking audition for aspiring writers like me!

Honestly, the money they offer is really big, like I could live for the whole 5 years without working.

I know. Lucky, right?

I looked around me. People in the same room as me are in the- well, same situation as I am in. Some looked really nervous, others are pretty confident with their talents. And the remaining people are… nonchalant.

Yeah. Are they really writers?

Meanwhile, the mahogany door of the room opened, with a tall, beautiful woman in front of us.

"I am sorry to announce that some here aren't qualified to enter the second audition."

Whispers occurred. Well, that was already intended right from the start, wasn't it?

I know.

My sweaty hands are the evidence.

"But since we don't want to embarrass you in front of others, we already agreed on a way concerning this situation. We will send you our own people as representatives to help you for the second audition. Question one: how would you know that the person we will send you is legitimate representative? Well, obviously, they have their own identification cards. Second: How long will you guys work together for the second audition? One month. We'd be greatly pleased if you could submit your works as early as the expected time, but those who wouldn't finish their work within one month would be disqualified. I would just like to remind you that you will live together so no problems in time in terms of travelling or whatsoever. We will send women representatives for women participants and men for men. Do you have any questions so far?"

So… the participants aren't decided yet? This gives me more pressure and excitement! Why don't they just tell it directly straight to our faces? If I would not be chosen, then it's fine with me! I could always try again, right?

Right.

"Then, since no one asked a question, I must dismiss you now. Thank you for participating. The second audition and the further details will start on the day after tomorrow, so I suggest you to ready yourselves. That's all. Good day."

That… was it?

The contest I joined is… too mysterious!

I know, I know. Who am I to complain, right?

But still! I was too overjoyed that my heart would stop making weird movements when that lady showed up… then she just said that the decision will be announced the day after tomorrow?

Oh, come on!

I don't think I would get any sleep tonight.

And tomorrow night as well.

x X x X x X x X x

It's already 8 in the evening when I reached home, without even a single penny in my pocket.

What to say? I'm just a poor girl waiting for opportunities to knock on my door so I could feed my stomach every day.

Did I mention that I live alone?

Well, since my mom passed away, I was left with a small amount of money that she left from selling some books, although she isn't a high class author.

But… she's the best author for me.

That's why I badly wanted to become a writer like her.

How about my father?

My mom left him when she found out that she was pregnant with his child: and that was me. I do think that her reason was really heavy to leave him so I never met him. Really.

Yeah. I'm all alone now, still alive and still surviving.

I slowly walked towards my room and slumped down on my crumbling bed. Maybe, next time, I'll sleep on the floor.

For the 3rd time, my stomach made a rumbling sound.

Oohhh. That would be embarrassing if somebody hears me.

Thankfully, no one besides me resides in this area. I mean, only a few. This is a really peaceful place to live in, even when you're alone, and any moment, someone could sneak in and take advantage of your weakness as a woman. Or rob you. Or… whatever.

My point is living here is living like a cat surrounded by waters.

Oh well.

I never noticed that I fell asleep in hunger and fatigue.

x X x X x X x X x

Stop throwing stones at my house! It will crumble you idiots!

"Stop! I said stop!"

I woke up from the noise coming from my window. So, it wasn't a dream?

Man, I thought I was bullied again!

I stood up and looked at myself. I'm still in my outdoor clothes. I forgot to change.

Plok.

Okay. The window calls for attention again. I peeked at the window and saw a man holding his –is that his stomach? It must be, then. His head is facing down, and when he looked up…

"Oh my goodness! I was found by a burglar!"

Now, what am I going to do? He's glaring at me!

No. I will never open that window!

Plok.

What the- won't he even get tired of it?

He made another. And another after the other one.

Plok.

Again. Do it again and I will-

Plok.

It was loud and surprisingly, didn't cause by the window.

Then…

The next scene I saw made my heart stopped beating and my blood drained out of my body.

"Oh my goodness! He fainted!"

Yep. And blood was covering his body.

x X x X x X x X x

One hour has passed and the guy lying in my bed is still unconscious. I had to admit. For a burglar, he's pretty handsome.

Why did I even bother helping him even though he is a criminal?

Oh yes, because I'm too kind to save him from dying because of loss of blood.

What can I do? There isn't any hospital near this place. The nearest would be 10 kilometres away from here.

"But… why is he covered with blood?"

I looked at him and wiped his face with a wet towel. His body is already covered with bandages from my first-aid kit, and the bleeding has already stopped.

I also saw a bag near his body when I found him unconscious.

Maybe there are all the things he stole from others.

Perhaps, the cops already found him so they shot him with a gun, and unfortunately, he got away with these things.

Wait.

If cops were searching for him, they might think that I was his comrade or ally!

I knew it! I should've really ignored him right from the start!

But… to ignore a person who's in life and death situation wouldn't make me sleep at all.

That was worse than waiting for the contest's results on the day after tomorrow.

"Nggh…"

I immediately glanced at the person groaning.

He's waking up! What if he just killed me once he saw me? But… I just saved his life didn't I?

I know! My cellphone! I need to call a cop!

I am such an idiot! I left it in the living room downstairs!

I guess I'll just run for it before he fully wakes up.

"Eh?"

"Where are you going?"

It was icy and full of venom. I knew it! He was a killer after all!

"I-I.. I w-will g-g-go get c-clothes for-"

"Argh!"

He groaned once again. Maybe from the pain. Hah! Serves you right!

"P-Please let go of me. I-I'll give you everything I have, just don't kill me! Please!"

He coughed and I saw his hands with blood.

Blood.

He just coughed a blood! What in the world is this person's disease?

"H-Hey! Stay still! Your wounds might open again!"

"Wounds?"

He stared at me. Hard.

Where did he get those red eyes? Is he albino? Is that even normal?

But, he's more handsome when he's awake. Ah. A handsome criminal.

After a while, he held his head with his right hand and closed his eyes. At this time, I want to see what's inside his mind.

Ah, right! He must be thinking how he got in here!

"A-Ah… mister, if you're thinking why you are here-"

"They're after me."

"Yes, yes. They're after- wait. What did you say?"

"They're after me. They have been following me for 5 days."

"They… you mean…"

The gunshot on his stomach, the bag, and they are after him?

So I was right! This guy's a criminal!

"…cops are after you?"

His eyes seemed to ask me, but I can't even speak a word or move an inch because of fear. Fear that I found out his secret and he might kill me instantly!

"How… did you know?"

Again… I was right!

"So you're really a criminal?"

"A what?"

"A criminal! Didn't you just say that cops are after you?"

"Yes. Yes they are."

I can't believe I just let a criminal inside my house! Now I'm going to join my mom in heaven. Oh please! I still have a result waiting for me the day after tomorrow!

"Please don't kill me. I won't tell the cops! I promise!"

Again, he stared at me. Harder than before.

"Kill? Why would I kill you?"

Now his handsome face shows confusion.

Argh! Is he trying to fool me?

"Because you are a burglar who stole some things from others and hid those in your bag. And since cops caught you in act, you ran away from them and so they shot you with their gun. Unfortunately, you managed to run away and this was the place you chose to hide yourself from. And then you threw stones on my window because this is the nearest place you saw before you passed out. Is my deduction correct?"

I swallowed my own saliva, earning myself the hardest stare he gave me this evening.

I mean morning.

Silence.

A half-a-minute silence.

"Are you a writer?"

Wow! He knew that?

"H-How did you know?"

It was my turn to ask him that question.

His face showed boredom. Hah. For a criminal, he still had some guts to muster that kind of façade.

"You sure know how to spice up a story."

"Sto…ry?"

He nodded.

"Though I have some violent reactions: if you want to accuse me of being a criminal, wouldn't you think before you speak? Don't you think… burglar is kind of old-fashioned?"

"Huh? Mister, what are you… saying?"

He stood up. I guess he's not suffering from much pain just like a while ago.

The black-haired guy in front of me smiled maliciously (though he's still handsome!) so I stepped back. Who knows what he might do to me?

"You know… if you would just give me a chance to choose what kind of criminal I'd like to be…"

I fell down on the carpeted floor of my room.

Ah! Blame it on being hungry! If I weren't, I might still have the strength to stand up against him!

"…I might reconsider."

He kneeled down and played with a few strands of my honey-coloured hair.

Oooh. Goosebumps appeared on my skin.

What am I going to do? My heart is beating faster from nervousness. And excitement.

Excitement?

Well, yeah. He's too handsome up-close.

But! I don't want him to take advantage of me just because I'm attracted to him!

NEVER!

"As you see… molesters are way too cooler than burglars."

His eyes never left mine, challenging me to answer him back.

"You are… a rapist?"

His smirk widened, and then turned into a chuckle, followed by loud laughter.

"You… sure are…funny."

Huh? I am… funny? Why would he say that?

Why in this time when I nearly fainted with nervousness?

"W-What are you so elated about?"

His laughter stopped. And his attention fully turned to me.

"This is my first time encountering the funniest person on earth. You convinced me that you really are a writer."

"Huh? Then, this is also my first time encountering a lunatic person, who just laughed on random person after being shot by a gun! And what do I, being a writer have to do with you? Didn't you believe me when I said I was a writer?"

He stood up and crossed his arms, leaning his body on the drawer beside him.

"You didn't say that you are writer. You just asked me how I found out about that. Besides, what you said completely contradicts your face."

This person makes my blood boil!

"What in the world do you really want?"

"Thank you for asking. Actually, I'm in need of a sanctuary."

"Sanctuary? What for? Your hiding place because cops are after you? Then this isn't a place for you to live in!"

He shook his head, and turned his back at me.

"At least let me stay for just a night. I really need to get away from them."

"But you are a criminal! How am I supposed to know when cops would find you? Just talking to a criminal like you, makes me nervous."

"I'll pay how much you wanted. Just let me sleep here this night. Tomorrow morning, I'll immediately leave."

"Money?"

He faced me again.

"Yes. I'll pay how much you wanted. Or triple of your usual income."

"Where did you get your money? From stealing?"

He sighed frustrated. Well, that could be true right?

"Woman. Just say yes. Aren't we done with those accusations yet?"

Huh?

"We aren't."

Again, he sighed frustratingly.

"Please. Just this night. Like I said, I'll pay you triple of your everyday income."

"I… I don't have a job".

Silence.

"You don't?"

"You heard me."

"Perfect. Then, isn't it just rational enough for you to accept my offer?"

He has a point.

I am in deep need of money.

But… if I accept it, I'd be no different from him.

"But…"

The guy in front of me took his bag and sat in front of me.

"Once and for all, I am not a criminal. I am the victim."

Now he's changing the situation!

"Why is that?"

"Listen. Let me tell you something logical. This place is Sendai Prefecture, correct?"

I nodded.

Where is he getting at?

"I am from Miyagi Prefecture."

Miyagi.

"That's far away!"

"I know. I work at a company of my friend's father. But recently I was told that they need a replacement for my friend's father. I know this person who's competing against me to get that position, but I don't actually acknowledge him in the same level as I am in-"

"So you're arrogant?"

"Woman, hear me out first!"

"Okay, okay. I'm sorry."

"These past few days, I've been receiving death threats and hate mails, which I know came from him. It turned out that that guy changed the situation. So cops are after me now. That bastard told my friend's father and my parents that I ran away so he'll take the position. Unfortunately, they believed him."

"Then, wouldn't your friend's father know that cops are after you because of that guy? Besides, your friend must be the successor, so-"

"He paid those cops to keep silent and not show this in public. And, my friend is a lawyer. He didn't want to inherit his father's company. And he's not here in Japan so he really can't help me. He has bigger problems than I have."

"That's such a waste. How long have you been running anyway?"

"Five days. I've been to different places. Unfortunately, cops find me easily. So when I was at the Kenta Prefecture, they caught me and shot me with a gun. And the rest is as what you said a while ago."

"So you really-"

"Except for the criminal thing!"

"Oh, okay. Then, why don't you just tell the cops about this? I mean, you have evidences. You have your mails right?"

"It was hacked. He hacked all of my accounts. So he really sabotaged me."

"That was… a big problem."

"I know. So I'm asking you to let me stay here just for a night. I promise I'll pay you."

He opened his bag and all I saw were a few clothes and a wallet. The guy opened his wallet and a great amount of money greeted my eyesight.

"Are those money yours?"

This time, he glared at me.

"For the third time, I'm not a criminal."

I looked at him.

"And yes. These things are mine."

"Okay. Fine, I believe you now."

"Should I be happy?"

I shrugged.

He sighed and took some money from his wallet.

"Here. I haven't touched that. Thankfully, I had savings, so I managed to survive. My cousin's already working for my accounts that that guy hacked."

I hesitantly looked at those.

I don't think I could just take money from people. It's like taking advantage of them.

"Take it."

I took the money but I grabbed his hand and gave them back at him.

He frowned at me and I shook my head.

"I'm not used to taking others' money when I wasn't the one who worked hard for that."

"Then, just take this as a gift."

"That gift was too much. Mister, I only have a bungalow, yes. You don't have to pay me because I don't spend much money on this house."

I stood up and he followed me.

"You can stay here as much as you want, since you seem like a nice person."

And handsome too.

"The more reason I want to pay you."

"Just pay me with your body."

Silence.

I looked at him.

His face is nonchalant.

Then it turned back to that malicious smile again.

"You want my body instead?"

"Yea- wait! That wasn't what I meant, you pervert!"

"What a waste. I could've complied."

"I said that wasn't what I meant!"

So that phrase was too sensitive!

"I mean, perhaps you'd be of help with the house chores. B-but, since you seem like a high class person working in a company, I-"

"Don't think so lowly of me. Even though I work at a company and have money, my parents still taught me how to do household chores. I'm an ordinary person too, you know?"

"But! You aren't supposed to work!"

Silence again.

"Okay. If you got back your friend's father's trust, then that's your payment. Just promise me that you'll come back to your parents once this is settled. Moreover, beat that guy who made your situation the worst."

"You easily trust others, don't you?"

"Maybe. Some said so."

"Anyway, where are your parents? Are you living alone?"

Now, why did he have to ask that?

"Actually, I haven't met my dad. And uhhh… my mom passed away when I was 12."

His face appeared nonchalant. The most different expression whenever I tell people about that.

"You are so independent."

And probably, the only honest reaction.

"Should I be happy?"

He shrugged.

He smiled and extended his left hand while holding his stomach with his right.

"Hyuuga Natsume."

"Ah… mister, are you alright? Does your stomach hurt?"

"This is nothing compared to yours."

"Huh?"

He emphasized his hand by extending it again. This time, I took something from him without hesitation. And I smiled.

"Sakura Mikan."

x X x X x X x X x

Lost and insecure

You found me, you found me

Lying on the floor

Surrounded, surrounded

Why'd you have to wait?

Where were you? Where were you?

Just a little late

You found me, you found me

You Found Me, The Fray

x X x X x X x X x

Typed on: August 8, 2011

1:55 am

Posted on: August 19, 2011

Author's Notes: Well, that was… I don't know. Incredible?

Even I didn't think that I could finish that in a night. Haha.

For some reason, I think something possessed me when I started typing the summary of this fiction.

But hey! It would be much easier for me to write, because everything is already planned, from start to end.

If there are people who might actually encounter this one, I have to thank you in advance then. Though I don't expect many readers, I still persistently posted this due to insanity so please bear with me until the last chapter. If you'd read this, that is.

Anyways, reviewed or not would still be okay. Just don't insult this story, because it's like doubting my ability as a writer.

Any similarity in this fiction with others' life is pure coincidence, and I never intended that.

Credits belong to the original author, Higuchi Tachibana.

I only revised the main story for fiction purposes.

So, that's it. Once again, thank you.

See you on the next chapter!

-Erieh Yamazaki