Laina looked around her as people stared at the bruises forming on her face. She had to get away. The bus came to her stop and she quickly made her way off. She walked to the apartment building and pushed open the door. People kept staring at her as she walked to the stairway. Maybe it was the bruises, or it might be the blood dripping in her eye. She wiped the blood away again and continued up another flight of stairs. When she reached the fourth floor she walked down the empty corridor, thankful to be away from the questioning looks of strangers.
She lightly knocked on the door to the apartment, seeing the blood stained sleeve. Startled at the sight she pulled her arm behind her back and glanced around the corridor. She knocked again, louder this time. She heard footsteps in the apartment and someone grumbled. The door opened a little and a guy with rumpled light brown hair peered through. His green eyes widened at the sight of her and he opened the door to let her in. Laina wiped her brow one more time.
"You might need stitches this time," he muttered as he closed the door. He walked to the kitchen and made a pot of coffee. Laina just sat at the counter, her eyes stinging from unshed tears.
"Why do you do this? I'm not always going to take you in," he said turning to her and looking at her sadly.
"I'm not going back this time," she said brushing her dark blonde hair behind her ear.
"You say that every time," he said giving her a sigh, "And every time he finds you, you just give in and go back and then this happens again."
"I won't do it this time. This time I'll learn to fight him," she said defiantly lifting her chin.
Her brother Matt, shrugged, "Whatever you say, sis."
"I'll try to stay out of your hair," she said, looking down at her hands.
"He's going to know you're here," he said getting a mug and filling it with the fresh coffee and handing it to her, "It's the only place to look. He already scared off your friends."
"I know. I'm going to the dojo around the corner to see if I can get into a defense class or something tomorrow after work," she said taking the warm cup and putting sugar and milk in it.
"Let me know if you need money for the class. I'm sure he took your paychecks again. How else is he going to get his liquor," Matt said pouring another cup of coffee for himself, "Do you want me to take you to get stitches?"
"No, it's not that bad," she said taking a napkin and pressing it against the open cut. Matt shook his head.
"Promise me you won't go back to him. I hate seeing you like this," he said with a frown.
"I know. I promise I won't. He went too far this time," she said staring at her shaking hands and willing them to stop. He scared her, but she would always go back to him when he threatened to kill her brother. This time she would kill him first. She realized as he pummeled her and she tried to fight him off, that she had two choices; fight back or die. That was when she rolled out from under him and grabbed the stool. She hit him with it and watched him fall onto the broken old couch with a thud. Matt's hand waved in front of her face and she jumped back.
"Hello, earth to Laina," he said, "Go clean up and get some sleep."
She watched as he locked the door and went back to his bedroom. She picked up the mug and went to the bathroom. The tears that had been threatening to fall all day suddenly came out in a river. She couldn't seem to stop them from falling down her bruised cheeks. She would have a black eye in the morning. She grabbed a washcloth and ran it under warm water before wiping away the blood. She bandaged up the cut above her brow and changed into one of Matt's old outfits.
As she stepped out of the bathroom she took the blanket from the back of the couch and pulled it over her. It was a quilt that their mother made many years before. The weight of it covering her gave her a safe feeling. She was home, and she drifted off to a slumber full of nightmares. By morning she was hurting in places she didn't know existed. The bright light of the sun shone into the window of the living room. Her eyes squinted as she turned to look at the clock above the tv. It was covered by a note.
Her body protested as she worked her way off the couch.
Tried to wake you. Called you out sick instead. Go to the dojo and find out about any defense class, or I'll kill him for ya.
She smiled at the note her brother left and pulled it forward. The clock said it was early afternoon. Her jaw would have dropped if it hadn't hurt so bad. Her eyes teared up and she tenderly touched the offending area. With a sigh she took some medicine and ate before walking out of the apartment. Her skin crawled with the feeling of eyes on her as she slid on a pair of her brothers sunglasses and made her way to the dojo. There were classes in session as some kids swung wooden swords straight up and down. She waited in the doorway and watched the class. It wasn't exactly what she had in mind of a dojo. She was hoping it was more of a karate type, not a sword swinging type.
The blonde man called out instructions and the class followed his direction. She didn't want to interrupt so she rested her back on the door jamb and waited patiently. He knew she was there, she could see his stern gaze touching her briefly between calling out orders. She could feel her heart race and debated on turning to leave, but the pain in her cheeks told her this was something she had to do. It was her life that was at stake and she wasn't going down without a fight. Determination raged through her as she waited. The sound of footsteps behind her made her turn.
A woman with brown hair walked up, watching her curiously. She held a small child in her arms, who smiled innocently at her.
"Can I help you?" the woman asked.
Laina stepped out of the doorway, towards the woman, "Yeah, my name is Laina. I'm looking for a class for women?"
The woman smiled in relief and Laina smiled back.
"I told him he should offer a class for women," she said, "They haven't started a class yet, but I'll let him know that you are interested."
Laina's smile faded and she looked down, "Do you think he would be willing to teach me privately then? Not that I want time alone with him, it's just that… I really need to learn."
She looked at her curiously, "Well he is really busy, but it wouldn't hurt to ask."
The kids started to leave the room and the blonde man stepped out. He walked up to the brown haired woman and planted a kiss on her lips. Then he touched the child's cheek.
"Seiji, this woman is looking to learn how to fight. Her name is Laina," the brunette said.
"Anna, there just aren't enough women who want to learn Kendo," Seiji said frowning.
"Well she wants to know if you'll take her on for private lessons. I'll do it with her," Anna said smiling at him. He sighed and looked at the mysterious woman.
"Why do you want to learn?" he asked, his eyes looking tired.
"I need to learn how to defend myself. This is the closest dojo to my brother's apartment," Laina answered.
"Those bruises?" Anna asked, frowning.
"My ex-boyfriend," Laina whispered, "I'm done with him and I need to learn how to defend myself or fight back."
Anna looked pleadingly to Seiji.
"Look, I have little to no free time. With little Mason here, classes, and Ryo… I just can't do it," Seiji said looking at Anna.
She looked thoughtful for a moment and looked at Laina, "How about a trade? She goes to help out Ryo on her days off and you teach her to fight."
"Anna, I can't just pawn Ryo off on someone. He's one of my best friends. Not to mention he would be hurt," Seiji said.
"She'll just go to clean his place up. You'll still go to visit him. We'll visit…," Anna said.
"Really? I think he'd like it if you and Mason came," he looked down thoughtfully.
"I wouldn't mind visiting if the house was a little less dangerous and filthy," Anna said, "I'm too afraid Mason will get sick."
Seiji looked at Laina, "Would you be willing to do that?"
"Yeah, I guess. I can clean a house, and I am a nurse," she said with a shrug.
"Deal," Seiji said, "I'll give you his address. What days do you have off?"
"Monday and Tuesday, usually," Laina replied.
"Okay, you go there tomorrow and clean his place up for him. I'll teach you for an hour on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights at like seven?" Seiji asked.
Laina smiled and nodded her head. It sounded like a good deal to her, but then she wondered why this Ryo needed help. Maybe he was naturally a dirty person. She took the address from him and he seemed relieved.
