This story was interesting when it popped up in my head. It was kind of inspired by a movie, but then I steered off into my own stuff. Enjoy! (R&R, pretty please.)
Chapter 1
Ichigo coughed hard. She glanced at a Masaya. "Masaya, please don't smoke. Especially around the baby."
They had grown up; Ichigo was twenty-one now. At a young nineteen she had married Masaya. He had stated he couldn't wait, his love so deep.
Ichigo cradled her large, and grower larger by the second, belly. "I'll do what I want, woman." He said gravely, smashing his cigarette into an ashtray. Masaya had become worse into their marriage. He didn't do anything for Ichigo, and was mostly out of the apartment. Masaya wouldn't explain where he actually went, except with his friends. She could tell where, though, if his breath was vile or if he would talk with a slur. Ichigo sighed.
"Masaya, we need a change."
Masaya looked at her, reclining on the patched couch and throwing yet another beer on the floor. "Shut up and clean." Burping, he flipped the channel to a football game. "Come ooon, Chad!" Masaya yelled at the screen.
Ichigo got up. "I'm going out."
Masaya stopped mid-slurp. Spraying his brew all over her, he hollered, "Where to?!!? You do not leave this house!!!"
Ichigo was taken back. He was the one that was out late at night. He was the one doing who knows what behind her back.
"Shut up! Shut up! It's not like you don't!" Ichigo shrieked. Masaya stood up, overpowering her. He raised his fist, she cowered. Ichigo was knocked down on the floor after the blow. Tears formed in her wide, pink eyes. Masaya simply pointed to the door of their apartment.
"Out." She grimaced through the beads of tears that ran down her pink cheeks. Running to the bedroom, Ichigo tore her stuff out of the drawers and stuffed everything in a big leather suitcase. She also grabbed all the money out of her, and his, wallets. Ichigo stormed back down the hallway.
Stopping in front of the wasted loser of a life, she said, "Goodbye."
Ichigo hailed a taxi. She stepped inside.
"Where ya' wanna go?" The chubby driver asked.
Ichigo choked on a sob. "Somewhere where a single pregnant, scared woman can start over."
The man oozed sympathy. "Well, I've got a place, but it might take awhile to get there. You up for it?" Ichigo reminded herself of the low amount of cash in the suitcase.
"I don't have enough money for a road trip. That meter will kill me, sorry."
The driver smiled. "That's ok, it'll be on me."
The soft pillow caressed Ichigo's cheek as the car went over a bump. It had been about a day now, and she was tired. Just as she had begun to knot off, the taxi jerked to a stop. "Here we are, little lady." Ichigo sat up and slightly moaned.
"Arigato, you don't know how much I appreciate this." She gave him thirty dollars, even if that was way less than she would've owed the kind man. Stepping out, Ichigo gasped. Beautiful buildings stood all around. Pretty lights lit up the dark sky. Flowers popped out of the ground everywhere, silhouetted in the night. Where am I? Ichigo wondered. In front of her there was a sign on one of the larger buildings that read, 'Hotel Hope'. Well, that was a place to start.
The lobby was comfy looking. The check-in desk was on the right; floral couches and a coffee table with flowers in a vase on the left. Ichigo walked over to the desk, taking everything in. The lady behind it looked up, smiling genuinely. "How may I help you?" Ichigo found her breath after touching the smooth surface of the wood table.
"How much is it to stay here?" She squeezed her eyes shut, praying that this amazing place was in her budget.
The woman giggled. "Actually, no one is staying here." Ichigo opened her eyes. How could a place like this be empty? She continued. "So since you're here alone, it'll be free." Ichigo hugged her, thanking the check-in lady more than ten times. Breathing again after the tight embrace she said, "Here's a pass card. Slide it through any room door; it works for all of them."
What luck, Ichigo thought, first the taxi, and now this fantastic hotel. I must be dreaming! But remembering her cheek, Ichigo felt the pain of the bruise that Masaya had given her. No, not a dream.
Flopping on the silky covers of a penthouse bed, Ichigo wondered what would happen when she ran out of money. She needed a job. But sleeping was in order for now. Ichigo opened her case and pulled out some maternity pajamas. Pulling the sheet over her head, Ichigo was out like a light.
Light poured in the room, bird songs filling Ichigo's head. "Mmm?" She opened her glossy eyes. The same lady was tending to her room at the time.
"Oh, good morning, miss! Breakfast is open downstairs, in the room next to the lobby. By the way, my name is Mika." Ichigo noticed the nametag on Mika's strapless white dress.
Ichigo yawned. "I'm Ichigo." Mika picked some things up that she must've brought in.
"These are free items. Help yourself!" And with that, she left. Ichigo swung her legs off the side of the bed, digging her toes into the lush carpet. She grabbed the gifts off the nightstand Mika put them on. There was a long, pink pair of lounge pants with cows printed on them and a matching white tank top, large enough to fit her. Six-hundred-thread-count towels with 'Hope' written in cursive at the top reminded her that she should bathe. Ichigo still reeked like her old house- beer. She grabbed the towels and the remaining things, strawberry scented shampoo and conditioner, along with a light magenta loofa. In the middle of scrubbing her burgundy, short (She cut at age seventeen, it was sophisticated) hair, Ichigo thought it was a weird coincidence that everything seemed to be pink or strawberry, her favorite color and her name. Just a coincidence, she convinced herself. Stepping out, Ichigo took the towel and dried her face and body off. She put on the lounge pants and tank, heck it was comfortable- and headed towards the elevator to go down for some food.
The elevator was more amazing now that Ichigo was awake. The mirror walls reflected her with a shinier touch. She sat down on the bench, smoothing her hands against the leather handles. Just as Ichigo thought about the Mews, who she hadn't seen since she married Masaya- who forbid her from visiting, Ichigo arrived at the ground floor, and the elevator dinged. She shook her head. That was in the past, she couldn't just show up after two years. Or could she? Ichigo's stomach growled, telling her to forget that and move on to breakfast.
Stepping into the lobby, pain filled Ichigo's full body. She collapsed with an "Oh!" Mika looked up and ran over. "Are you okay?" She asked.
"The baby… it's coming!"
