Lost Souls Chapter 2, a mai hime fanfic

I'm still trying to get used to Nao's voice (and Shiho's voice) so please be nice... I'm trying to catch that angry/bitter tone Nao had during the series.

Lost Souls - Chapter 2

How the hell did I get myself into this mess?

Look, I only showed Shiho how to get out of school because it's good form to help other delinquents break rules. If they're not trying to kill you or scratch your eyes out that is.

But this girl followed me around! I didn't ask for that, damn it.

I tried running, but she kept up with me. I tried telling her to go away, but she'd just hang back then start following me again as soon as my back was turned. I tried switching trains, but I couldn't manage to shake her. I tried taking a shortcut through the park, but she still followed me.

At that point I decided to try ignoring her. I flopped down onto a park bench and closed my eyes, hoping she'd get the hint and go away. Besides, I was sleepy.

I usually skip classes and sleep during the day because it's night time when I'm up and about. I don't do dangerous stuff anymore, not with Mama around and Julia gone. I'm not that stupid. But at night, Fuuka City is still myterritory. I wasn't about to give up my nightly prowls, not anytime soon. Hence, the sleepiness.

I threw an arm over my eyes to shield myself from the sunlight. Then a little bit later, when I was beginning to think she'd left already, I suddenly felt a weight settle down on the park bench beside me. Then a light touch on my arm.

You gotta hand it to this girl, she's really persistent. Probably got the practice from running around after her onii-chan.

"What do you want...?" I grumbled, turning my body away from her and curling up against the side of the bench.

"Ano..."

I waited a while but she didn't say anything more. I could still sense her beside me though so I sighed and straightened, opening an eye to look at her. What the... An ice cream cone?

She was holding one out to me and another cone was clutched in her other hand. I briefly wondered if I could make her cry by snatching both cones. Nah. She can't be that much of a crybaby.

I took the proffered cone. Mmm. Yummy. She looked at me expectantly but I refused to say anything. I wasn't about to thank her, not after the way she followed me wherever I went.

I shot her a sidelong glance. She was now nibbling at her own ice cream. There was a tentative air about her, as if she had just stepped out into the world for the first time. Like a newborn kitten. I sighed again. She looks so pathetic.

I suddenly noticed my own fingers felt cold and sticky. I quickly licked the cone to catch the melting ice cream.

I heard a small sniffle. Her eyes were still reddish. Geez, didn't she use the handkerchief I gave her earlier? Or maybe she did, in which case she must have been crying pretty damn hard. Huh. What if...

"Tate broke up with you, didn't he?" I surprised myself by saying it out loud.

Her eyes widened in shock and she stared at me. "H-how did you know?"

I snorted. "Duh. It's pretty obvious. Even an idiot could guess what happened."

"Oh..." She said, getting that lost look again. I hate that look. Hate it, hate it, hate it. I've worn it too many times before.

"Though you can't exactly say he broke up with you. He never really liked you in the first place." I said cruelly. Let her either get angry or break down. Just let her stop looking so weak. "I can't imagine why you thought he'd like someone as pathetic as you."

She started crying. Stupid girl. If someone had told me what I'd just said I'd have ripped them to pieces.

I popped the rest of the cone into my mouth and crunched it down. She was still crying softly when I finished so I reached out and tugged that ridiculous hair of hers.

"Hey!" She glared at me. Finally, a decent reaction.

I smiled innocently at her. "If you won't finish that, I will." I said, pointing to the half melted ice cream trickling over her fingers.

She looked at me without answering, her eyes still filled with tears.

I shrugged. "Thanks." I took the cone from her hands and ate it before she could protest.

"Meanie." She scowled. "You're so unfair."

"Grow up, kid." I scoffed. "The world is unfair. Get used to it." Let her get used to it. God knows I did when those robbers left Mama in a coma and everyone else dead. I was much younger than her back then. She has things easy. I had to face worse things and I dealt with them just fine.

She sniffed, wiping at her face furiously. Ah, so she did keep the handkerchief I gave her. "How would you know?" She demanded.

I finished the second ice cream and licked my fingers clean. I grinned at her and bent closer until I was almost nose to nose with her. "Would you like to find out...?" I whispered teasingly.

She blushed and scooted as far away from me as the short bench would allow. At least she'd stopped crying. Her hands were clasped in her lap and she was staring down at them.

I turned away from her and stretched, feeling the satisfying crack as everything settled back into place. I curled up on the bench once more.

I usually take short naps because I always feel like I'm going to miss something if I sleep too long. This small park is an ideal place to take naps. There's hardly any people, mostly just mothers with their young children. I have other hiding places but I like this one best because no one's likely to bother me during the day.

I was drifting off to sleep when her hesitant voice pulled me back.

"What should I do then? About onii-chan, I mean..." Shiho said hesitantly.

I groaned. Her timing sucks. But it was the smartest thing I'd heard her say that day so I felt compelled to answer. "Do you want him back?"

"N-No!! No..." She stuttered. "I... I don't know..." She sighed.

I winced because I half expected her to start crying again. But she didn't. A pleasant surprise.

"I... Besides, I don't think I can get him back." She whispered. "He... He's really with Mai now."

"Then kill her, and take him back."

She looked at me as if doubting whether I was really serious or not. I was. What?! It was the simplest solution.

She laughed bitterly. "I tried to do that last time. I just got him killed." She shook her head. "I can't ever be like Mai. It's no use trying. He..." She swallowed with difficulty. "It's Mai he likes..."

I rolled my eyes. "Then make yourself into someone he would like."

"What would he like?" She asked in a small, vulnerable voice.

"Well, bigger breasts for one thing." I said, pointing at her chest. It was larger than Mikoto's at least, but still nothing compared to Mai's.

She scowled, hugging herself protectively. "That's none of your business." She snapped.

"You asked." I grinned. This could be fun. "You could try to be less of a crybaby."

"I'm not..." She paused, then looked at me uncertainly. "I'll try..."

"Play hard to get." I suggested. "He'll like you better if you don't keep throwing yourself at him."

"Honestly? Or are you just kidding me?"

"Cross my heart." I said solemnly.

She nodded slowly. "Do you... really think you can do something with me?"

Wait a minute, wait a minute. Back up. Where did she get the idea that I would be helping her?! That's crazy. I wasn't about to get dragged into the mess she created for herself. I'm nobody's babysitter.

I was about to open my mouth to disabuse her of that crazy notion when I realized... it carried some... interesting possibilities.

For one thing, goody two shoes Mai wouldn't take it well if Tate's eyes wandered back to Shiho. That alone would be worth all the effort. For another thing, I need a new hobby. Mikoto's no fun anymore, she's gotten too attached to Mai.

And most importantly... it could be fun. I suddenly realized I could use Shiho to wreak havoc once more, even if it would only be in a non-lethal way. Oh yeah. That could be fun.

"Of course." I said, giving her a lazy smile. "Come on then." I stood up, grabbed her hand, and pulled her along after me.

"Where are we going?" She asked, clutching to my hand as we ran out of the park.

I laughed at her curious but trusting expression. "You'll see..."

TBC