Manipulate by: Mikuro Kurayami
Rating: Romance/Drama/Angst (again)
PG-13 for language and some themes
Chapter 1: Surge Suppressor
"Useless git…" another brutal punch sent me plummeting to the ground.
I clutched the loose soil and attempted to stand up… until a large rubber shoe on my back sent me back into biting the dust. And thus, a barrage of punches and kicks has been rewarded to me.
I rolled into my back and stared at the late afternoon sky. I winced. That mere movement really hurt… I couldn't move my arms and legs without feeling a sharp sting in my muscles. But the one thing that hurt the most was my self-esteem. I have been brutally injured three times this week and there was nothing I could do…
Or was there?
Every time I get injured… this surge of energy releases from my heart like a fierce beast trying to escape solitary confinement. I try my best to keep it within me… because I know that some one might get hurt.
I'd rather see myself mutilated than other people suffering because of me.
I finally found the strength to get up and pick up my belongings scattered around in the empty lot. I felt a loose tooth and spew it out involuntarily.
"The problem with you is that you're too nice."
Yeah. That voice again… Azura. Why does she even bother with me? I glanced at where that voice came from. She bent down and gathered up my schoolbooks without even looking at me.
"Thanks" I mumbled as soon as she handed them to me. There was a sign of defiance in her eyes.
I saw her mouth the word, "Baka…"
How odd of her to call me that. And to think people call me a nerd.
I let my thoughts be heard. "Why do you even bother with me?" I scanned the place for the one thing I valued the most… the cell phone she gave me for my birthday.
"Because you're such a baka, baka" was all her reply. She waved something on her hand. "Looking for this?" It was my cell phone. My one prized possession.
My pupils shrank in shame. "S-sorry…" I grabbed it from her and turned it on. It still works! I sighed in relief as I placed it back into my pocket.
"Baka," she muttered again, shaking her head taking her long beautiful locks along with it. She had them neatly tied with two ponytails as not to bother her face. Her face was framed with large round glasses… it made her really look cute.
Mean as she might sound, Azura was my only friend in school. For one thing, I was undersized and scrawny for my age. Another thing, I was totally spineless. I also had this odd obsession with pants that reaches above my ankles. I didn't really see the point of wearing jeans two sizes larger like the other kids. But Azura didn't mind all those. And she always spent her time with me. Me… Shalnark the loser? Shalnark the nerd? Shalnark the cowardly worm? Shalnark the…
She knocked on my head playfully. "Having another daydream baka?"
I was shaken from my temporary stupor. "I was… just thinking." I reasoned out lamely.
"You think too much, baka" was all she said.
Maybe she is right, I am thinking too much.
"I'll walk you home," she offered.
Azura said it in her typical mocking tone but I felt that the proposal was genuine. She had this really peculiar habit of not sounding what she really means. How did I know? She has been my very best friend for almost 5 years. I almost know her than she knows herself. All her habits, mannerisms and sometimes, even her thoughts.
But… I felt like she was more than a friend to me. She was my savior, my family… and my love. I knew I loved her even before I realized what love was. But I didn't want to destroy our unwavering friendship just because of such trifling affection. And so, my admiration for her was kept hidden… all for the sake of being with her.
I'm such a pathetic person… I even feel that I don't deserve to love her.
The sun cast a long shadow behind us as we walked towards it. The sound of distant crows was the only thing that disturbed the silence between us.
"Why…?"
I glanced at her and there was a huge frown plastered on her face. I looked back into the ground and refused to reply.
"Why do they do that to you?"
Her distressful tone scathed my already wounded heart. I couldn't muster up enough courage to tell her anything that would hurt her.
She stopped walking, "Everyday, they bully you… they hurt you… and when they do…" I didn't hear her finish her sentence as she dashed away at once.
And I just stood there and gaped.
"I don't know…"came my reply, seconds too late.
Author's notes: Azura is a name I got from a Candy magazine issue. It's an Indonesian name. About her looks, think Ruri Hoshino crossed with Shizuku (Ruri's hairstyle, eyes and the constant "baka", Shizuku's glasses and height). Her personality is sort of Asuka Langley-ish (nasty, straightforward nature as a cover up to what she really feels). And yes, Hunter x hunter belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi.
Rating: Romance/Drama/Angst (again)
PG-13 for language and some themes
Chapter 1: Surge Suppressor
"Useless git…" another brutal punch sent me plummeting to the ground.
I clutched the loose soil and attempted to stand up… until a large rubber shoe on my back sent me back into biting the dust. And thus, a barrage of punches and kicks has been rewarded to me.
I rolled into my back and stared at the late afternoon sky. I winced. That mere movement really hurt… I couldn't move my arms and legs without feeling a sharp sting in my muscles. But the one thing that hurt the most was my self-esteem. I have been brutally injured three times this week and there was nothing I could do…
Or was there?
Every time I get injured… this surge of energy releases from my heart like a fierce beast trying to escape solitary confinement. I try my best to keep it within me… because I know that some one might get hurt.
I'd rather see myself mutilated than other people suffering because of me.
I finally found the strength to get up and pick up my belongings scattered around in the empty lot. I felt a loose tooth and spew it out involuntarily.
"The problem with you is that you're too nice."
Yeah. That voice again… Azura. Why does she even bother with me? I glanced at where that voice came from. She bent down and gathered up my schoolbooks without even looking at me.
"Thanks" I mumbled as soon as she handed them to me. There was a sign of defiance in her eyes.
I saw her mouth the word, "Baka…"
How odd of her to call me that. And to think people call me a nerd.
I let my thoughts be heard. "Why do you even bother with me?" I scanned the place for the one thing I valued the most… the cell phone she gave me for my birthday.
"Because you're such a baka, baka" was all her reply. She waved something on her hand. "Looking for this?" It was my cell phone. My one prized possession.
My pupils shrank in shame. "S-sorry…" I grabbed it from her and turned it on. It still works! I sighed in relief as I placed it back into my pocket.
"Baka," she muttered again, shaking her head taking her long beautiful locks along with it. She had them neatly tied with two ponytails as not to bother her face. Her face was framed with large round glasses… it made her really look cute.
Mean as she might sound, Azura was my only friend in school. For one thing, I was undersized and scrawny for my age. Another thing, I was totally spineless. I also had this odd obsession with pants that reaches above my ankles. I didn't really see the point of wearing jeans two sizes larger like the other kids. But Azura didn't mind all those. And she always spent her time with me. Me… Shalnark the loser? Shalnark the nerd? Shalnark the cowardly worm? Shalnark the…
She knocked on my head playfully. "Having another daydream baka?"
I was shaken from my temporary stupor. "I was… just thinking." I reasoned out lamely.
"You think too much, baka" was all she said.
Maybe she is right, I am thinking too much.
"I'll walk you home," she offered.
Azura said it in her typical mocking tone but I felt that the proposal was genuine. She had this really peculiar habit of not sounding what she really means. How did I know? She has been my very best friend for almost 5 years. I almost know her than she knows herself. All her habits, mannerisms and sometimes, even her thoughts.
But… I felt like she was more than a friend to me. She was my savior, my family… and my love. I knew I loved her even before I realized what love was. But I didn't want to destroy our unwavering friendship just because of such trifling affection. And so, my admiration for her was kept hidden… all for the sake of being with her.
I'm such a pathetic person… I even feel that I don't deserve to love her.
The sun cast a long shadow behind us as we walked towards it. The sound of distant crows was the only thing that disturbed the silence between us.
"Why…?"
I glanced at her and there was a huge frown plastered on her face. I looked back into the ground and refused to reply.
"Why do they do that to you?"
Her distressful tone scathed my already wounded heart. I couldn't muster up enough courage to tell her anything that would hurt her.
She stopped walking, "Everyday, they bully you… they hurt you… and when they do…" I didn't hear her finish her sentence as she dashed away at once.
And I just stood there and gaped.
"I don't know…"came my reply, seconds too late.
Author's notes: Azura is a name I got from a Candy magazine issue. It's an Indonesian name. About her looks, think Ruri Hoshino crossed with Shizuku (Ruri's hairstyle, eyes and the constant "baka", Shizuku's glasses and height). Her personality is sort of Asuka Langley-ish (nasty, straightforward nature as a cover up to what she really feels). And yes, Hunter x hunter belongs to Yoshihiro Togashi.