Echoes of the Past
The Roomkeeper: Part II

The Grandniece

Monday, May 13, 1996, late evening (POV: Uchida Hisoka)

Uchida Hisoka examined her black winter uniform one more time to be sure all looked presentable. Appearance was seen as very important for all the schools, but especially for Miator with all the precious traditions to uphold. That and it takes a fashion genius just to wear it properly. Still, she had to admit it was definitely the most visually appealing of the three school uniforms on Astraea Hill. Spica uniforms, while simple and perhaps utilitarian, looked to be designed to attract non-existent campus boys. Le Rim uniforms, while likely the most sensible, had an appearance as eclectic as their student body. Miator uniforms, while challenging to don and maintain, exuded femininity and a sense of the history of the school.

They're still a pain to deal with.

Hisoka sighed and looked away from her hanging garment. It had felt like an amazingly long evening. Since Keiko-chan's abrupt arrival, and even more abrupt departure, the usual banter between herself and her roommate had faded to silence even before the lusty redhead had slipped off to more amorous pastures. Hisoka had been left to her own thoughts, which was never a good thing even with less to think about. It was sometimes good to be reminded of how important Hiromi-chan had become to her mental stability, given how annoying she could so often be.

I think it's time to take that walk I promised myself after Keiko-chan left.

She debated the outdoor early May chill and chose to place a sweater over her nightgown. Despite Hisoka's conservative nightware, if she were going anywhere but around the enclosed walls of Strawberry Hall she would never go out in so little. Still, the grounds within the walls may as well be a world apart and Hisoka had come to enjoy the freedom to walk around at night in whatever seemed appropriate for the weather and her sense of general good taste.

That's not to say one might not get accosted by someone with lascivious intentions, but at least one is guaranteed the attentions are coming from another girl, one you already know and likely with some advance warning of the interest.

Most would consider it risking fate with the "light's out" Sister to go out in the open this late, so clearly after dorm room curfew, but she'd gone for midnight walks so many times, and weathered the punishments so many times, in years past that the Sisters had pretty much given up on her. As long as she was serene and "prayerful", her behavior was tolerated. That was just the tip of the iceberg regarding the behavior of both roommates which Hisoka still suspected was part of the reason the infamous Oosaki Keiko was now their roomkeeper.

If that's the case, the Sisters and Miator have another thing coming. Honestly, I have nothing to lose. What are they going to do, report me to father? As long as I maintain my precious "marriage suitability" and live up to his academic expectations he really couldn't care less what I do. And anyway, regardless of what Miator or the Sisters might feel, I don't see Spica tolerating anything which would endanger the precious endowment to Spica's science and technology program which sweetened the deal for the whole system to handle my "unruly demeanor"…not to mention made it possible for me to stay here without losing my mind. Too bad it annoys Miator so much.

Hisoka's thoughts had taken her beyond the main entryway of the Miator side of Strawberry Hall and out into the courtyard. She was glad the stars were out and found admiring their crisp, shimmering light to be a pleasant distraction from her previous thought directions. Astronomy was another of her passions, and she was looking forward to another early morning at the telescope with Subaru-chan and Mayumi-chan of Le Rim.

I'm not going to get much sleep tonight, but if I were in bed I'd be tossing and turning anyway.

The stars had guided her relatively close to the walls. She turned parallel to the barrier at that point, careful to provide a discrete distance from any of the denser foliage which occasionally provided the illusion of shelter for less discrete lovers. Hisoka felt anyone with any sense should realize that these were the first places the "lights out" Sister would look. Still, she'd heard the tell-tale sounds before during previous walks and had learned to steer clear.

Given the respectful distance she was yielding, it came as a surprise when she actually became aware of noise coming from a small thicket of bushes up ahead. It wasn't much, but it was audible to someone as perceptive as she...or a Sister. The Sister won't be too long finding you ladies, she thought before she realized the sound was not moans of pleasure but whimpers and soft sobs of heartbreak. Even that she would have written off to a spurned lover, but the sense of pain the young empath felt in the depths of the sobbing seemed to go beyond that level. Someone is really hurting in there, she realized.

Hisoka stood for several moments, barely breathing, trying to make out who it might be. Her reservedness and tendency to stay above the student drama at Strawberry Hall unless asked for advice had given her a reputation for discretion and wisdom. She was something of the unofficial counselor among the younger students of all three schools, and the voice was definitely young. Still, the voice, the inflection of the distress, didn't feel familiar.

The Miatoran was still trying to make out the situation when the sounds suddenly stopped. Hisoka tried to stay perfectly still and quiet, hoping she hadn't somehow given herself away. The bushes in the area were not contiguous, and so there was no escape that didn't either involve climbing the walls or ending up in the open. A wise person in this instance who didn't want to be discovered would continue to lay low, silent and unmoving, until the threat passed. Like a rabbit. Okay wise little rabbit, I'll respect your space.

Hisoka decided her game was up and that she was likely the source of the caution on the part of the hurting one. She's good. I wasn't making a sound and I'm in a shadow; I can't imagine how I was discovered. Hisoka continued on, consciously making occasional scuffing sounds as she walked in order to assure the girl that the threat was, indeed, passing.

I wish I knew who that was. She really does need help. I can't say I've ever heard anguish like that before.

Jumbled anguish.

I haven't heard it, but I've glimpsed it in the eyes of someone. Keiko-chan! Hisoka stopped and looked back towards the brush. A small figure in black with brown hair…probably red in the light…was creeping low to the ground, making remarkably swift progress while sticking to whatever shadow was available. The Shadow Pixie living up to her name.

Hisoka watched as the figure trailed off into a shadow beyond Hisoka's ability to peer through, and left her sight entirely. She's really good at this. Something must really have been hitting her hard to have allowed her to be caught crying. I don't get a sense she's someone who often lets herself open to being caught like that.

Not for the first time tonight, Hisoka marveled at the mysterious girl. We all have stories here, some of us more tragic than others, but something tells me hers is something really unusual and dark.

Hisoka turned around to begin walking forward again when she found her path occupied by Sister Hamasaka, no more than 10 feet away. The Catholic nun was giving her a hard, searching look. She seemed unhappy, even for her. Oh wonderful. I'm losing my touch- I had no idea she was coming up on me…and in a foul mood at that. Oh well, here goes.

"Good evening, Sister Hamasaka. It's a fine night for gazing at mysterious things in the Heavens and on Earth, wouldn't you say?"

"There are mysteries and there are mysteries, Uchida-san. I wonder if you are really as prepared to unravel certain mysteries as you believe you are, how capable you are to deal with the consequences and responsibilities that come with unearthing some things perhaps best left buried, even if the cost be a soul." Sister Hamasaka's eyes shifted over Hisoka's shoulder. Hisoka turned to look back in the direction Keiko-chan had fled, but there was no further sign of the girl.

A soul? Sister Hamasaka had been dealing with Strawberry Hall students for over 30 years. She wasn't one for exaggeration. It was clear the nun was referring to Keiko-chan, had heard and seen what Hisoka had, perhaps from the opposite direction. What is she trying to say?

"Uchida-san, you and Aoi-san are irreverent and unconventional. These are two traits I detest, and I fear your disregard for authority, tradition, and the proper order of things will be your undoing…and perhaps the undoing of many around you. That said, some problems may require a new approach, and there are some things that faith, devotion, and discipline may not be able to overcome. After three years, I am ready to concede my grand-niece may be one such problem."

So that's the connection between Sister Hamasaka and Keiko-chan! Why Keiko-chan was allowed to live in Strawberry Hall for over three years before formally beginning her first year at Miator.

"I can see the wheels turning already, Uchida-san. I'm not sure whether I find that unnerving or reassuring." Sister Hamasaka went silent for a while, looking intensely at Hisoka as if measuring her.

Hisoka returned the Sister's gaze, not yielding and not providing the Sister any opening to withdraw from the conversation. You're going to finish this, by God!

The edges of Sister Hamasaka's mouth curled up just the barest fraction.

I think that's the closest thing to a smile I've ever seen her come.

"As I suspect you have divined, the selection of your and Aoi-san's new roomkeeper was not random. Oosaki-san needs something I cannot provide. I can protect her from elements outside these walls, for the moment at least, but I cannot protect her from within. She's increasingly rebellious against me. Many of my colleagues have written her off as already lost, which just further complicates things and renders me even more ineffectual." She frowned. "Oosaki-san needs relationships with those her own age, Uchida-san, and for this I find myself thinking the unconventional approach may be best. Are you up to saving a soul?"

A soul? What are you dancing around?

"Are the stakes truly that high? Forgive me, I know you have been dealing with girls our age for twice as long as I've walked this Earth, but this sounds really deep for someone as young as Keiko-chan."

Sister Hamasaka gave Hisoka another long, searching look. "Uchida-san, I love my grand-niece despite all that has happened. There are some things that have amazingly never come to light here and I would prefer to leave things that way. Suffice it to say that Oosaki-san is hurting and she does not know how to extract herself from the pain. I have helped her all I can. I think it best to leave to you and Aoi-san to build whatever relationship you may with her, rather than me try to direct you. As I have said, I am trusting in your lack of convention. If I guide you, I disturb the very dynamic I am praying will save the girl."

I can't easily argue with that, now can I?

"You knew my very nature wouldn't permit me to say no. Still, what if I fail? You describe such high stakes, and I'm a 15 year old unconventional Miator student who spends half her time at Spica and good portion of the rest at Le Rim. You say there are mysteries and there are mysteries. I reply there are responsibilities and there are responsibilities."

"I take full responsibility for whatever happens to Keiko in the end. I failed her even before she came to this place, for not taking responsibility for her when my sister died. I will have to answer to St Peter for my actions and inactions. After much prayer and meditation, the only possible answer I have found to my dilemma is you. It is said that God works in mysterious ways. It would be a true rebuke of me by our Lord if you are successful, but I would humbly welcome such a response to my hubris. Now, Uchida-san, it is nearly three hours after dorm curfew. I must insist you return to your room and await Aoi-san's eventual return from her current dalliance with Saito-san. If you follow your routine clear-sky Tuesday morning habits, Nakahara-san will be awaiting you at the gate in only four hours. You need sleep."

Hisoka's jaw dropped at the Sister's revelation of the extent of her awareness, and her headache returned with a vengeance. She collected herself quickly and strode swiftly back to the door to the Miator wing of Strawberry Hall. I'm not sure who I find more frightening, the great-aunt or her grand-niece.

***Dedication***

This chapter is dedicated to Rin-chan (PenName "XxRin-sanxX") who said she couldn't wait for Chapter II, and so here it is dear. :-)