Morning came once again.
Birds chirped merrily, not minding anything around them as an airplane passed overhead. A sun beam extended from the window of Izanami's room and onto her face making the sleeping girl turn to the side. The warmth of the sun made the girl sigh comfortably. The alarm clock on the night stand showed it to be almost noon.
Since it is Friday and her school schedule didn't present her with any classes, Izanami decided to try sleeping in. Usually, by seven, she would have woken up already out of habit and go out for a jog or perhaps go to a local park to take in the scenery hoping to get new inspiration for a new sketch.
But today, she's sleeping in...
Warmth. It told her she was safe. Not like the cold feeling of the cement wall or the coldness of the voices of her kidnappers yesterday, or the cold sensation that shot through her heart as her would be kidnappers tied her limbs together.
Izanami sat up and sighed in frustration, "Can't I even sleep in without remembering that..."
Walking into the living room in a drowsy daze, the young women flopped down on the sofa and grabbed the television remote from the table top. The screen flickered on and Izanami grabbed a bag of chips laying nearby the sofa, "Dad's been eating a lot of chips nowadays, must be the stress again."
Izanami smiled wiry at that. Whenever her father is working on a particularly big case, he would start eating loads of junk food. Right now, the girl is just thankful she doesn't need to walk to the kitchen to grab something to eat. Glancing at the clock on the wall over the television reminded Izanami that lunch time is near. With a groan, she decided to make a proper lunch since it's so close to lunch time and stood up and shuffled herself to the kitchen.
The television continued to babble on as Izanami grabbed some left over meat from the fridge and a package of instant noodles. After filling up cooking pot with water, Izanami turned on the electric stove and placed the pot of water on top of it and quickly put the plate of left over meat into the microwave.
"...shocking news today, this morning, the whole Sanada family was found brutally murdered. The father of the family, Jirou Sanada, an investigator of the Shinjuku district police was found first this morning in front of his own home, shot through the head and stabbed by a sharp instrument. Police has refused to make any comments on this horrific event except that they are already investigating this death..."
Izanami stared at the pot of water cooking the dried up square of instant noodles not moving a muscle. She suddenly slumped onto the ground and starts to shiver violently. The beeping of the microwave only made the young women shake even more.
And you thought I couldn't grind out another chapter...
Please save my heart from darkness
"Izanami! Open up!"
"Coming!"
Izanami hid her anxieties behind a grinned as she recognized the voice coming from outside her door. Her two friends from high school that she met after moving to Shinjuku are easily recognizable in the young women's opinion. Jun, a music major now according to their last chat over the phone, can be identified as obsessed with her singing. Whenever she talks, she adds a hint of opera to her accent, European opera. It was quite funny in Izanami's opinion.
Then there was Miki, the girl who screamed for Izanami to open up. Just by listening to her voice, one would think that she's still in her teens, but, of the three girls, Miki is actually the tallest of the three and also, even if Izanami won't admit it out loud, usually the most mature of the three.
"About time Iza-chan." Jun said, a bit annoyed to have to wait, "I was about to just leave and go shopping with Miki without you."
Miki gave a sheepish grin, "There's this REALLY cute shirt I want to look at..."
Izanami rolled her eyes, Miki always DID have a weakness for shirts with cute patterns or prints on them, "Let me just get my purse! It's like only couple of minutes of walking to get to the stores from here you know."
The two visiting girls grinned, "Exactly, that's why we can't wait!"
Izanami smiled brightly as she and her two friends from high school walked down the street. Stores for almost everything surrounded them as they chatted about everything and nothing. The crowds of people around them seem to buzz with idle chatter along with them giving the street more life to what it carried already.
"OH! Look at that teddy bear!"
Izanami found herself rolling her eyes as Miki once again found something cute, "I'm pretty sure your wallet will thank you if you stop buying stuff like that Miki-chan."
Jun shook her head, "No helping it Iza-chan, doesn't help that she's rich, well for the moment anyways..."
Izanami giggled softly as she watched her friend fret over which teddy bear is cuter, "Of course she HAS to win that lottery; must have done something REALLY good her last life or something."
"If Karma is the reason she's so lucky, I'd start donating money left and right." Jun scoffed and flicked her hair from her shoulder, "Geez, I think we SHOULD stop Miki before she buys the whole store for herself."
Following her friend towards the store, Izanami giggled softly all the way and eyed a couple of key chains at the front of the store, "Well, you have to admit, the stuff in here IS quite cute."
"Cute... right." Jun replied, "MIKI! Come on! I want to check out that new café!"
Miki nodded and grabbed both of the teddy bears she was looking at and walked quickly to the counter.
"Well, at least she didn't buy the whole store." Izanami said as she shook her head in disbelieve.
"Why do I even try anymore..." Jun whispered exasperated.
"Wow, this place looks fancy!" Miki said quietly as the trio of girls sat down by a table near the window of the store, "I heard this is actually a new branch of a store they have in the district next to Shinjuku."
Jun nodded, "Yeah, I've been to that before, that's why I wanted to come here. I heard that the really hot guy working over there moved to work here 'cause its closer to his school or something."
"Isn't Waseda the only University in Shinjuku?" Izanami said with a tint of red lighting up her face.
"There are other schools in Shinjuku, and who said he's going to University? Maybe he's going to a technical school," Miki replied with a grin, "Or is that wishful thinking I'm hearing Iza-chan?"
"Umm... that's besides the point!" Izanami said quickly, "So have you seen that guy before Jun?"
The singer in training pouted, "No, that's why I'm coming here today!"
"Well, we have to buy something to drink, or else we'll get kicked out." Miki said standing up, "I'm going to see if he's working at the counter!"
The three girls giggled in unison as they got up and walked towards the counter to order their drinks. There was no line up at the counter; the new opening craze was over for a while already since the three girls have come quite a few weeks after opening, still new, but not new enough to attract as much people. The counter is empty as the three girls approached. A sign sat on the counter right beside a bell that told customers to ring the bell to get service.
Jun shrugged and tapped on the button of the bell two times.
"I'll be right there!"
Jun and Miki grinned as a masculine voice answered the ring of the bell. Izanami frowned at the voice, "hmm, seems familiar..."
"What was that Iza-chan?" Miki asked, cutting her and Jun's ecstatic giggles.
"Oh nothing..." Izanami replied and looked behind the counter.
"Watanabe-san?"
Izanami blinked and gasped, "Saotome-san! You work here?"
Ranma scratched the back of his neck, "A guy's gotta make a livin'."
"You know him!" Jun hissed and nudged Izanami with her elbow, "You KNOW that hottie and didn't tell US!"
Miki didn't voice her disapproval but merely gave Izanami a cold glare.
The target of the two girls shrugged helplessly, "Umm, Saotome-san, these are my two friends, Kuroujuu Jun, and Akahi Miki."
The two girls waved informally at Ranma who nodded back, "I'm Tendo Ranma... well, I usually go by Saotome Ranma, but, nice to meet you."
"Tendo Ranma? How can you change your family name?" Jun blurted out.
"JUN!" Miki glared at her friend, "Sorry about that erm... Tendo-san?"
Ranma chuckled, "It's ok, most people that found out are quite surprised most of the time, but I prefer Saotome, still not used to being called Tendo."
"Does my father know about that Saotome-san?" Izanami asked curiously.
Ranma unconsciously rubbed his hands and smiled faintly, "Of course, it's actually your father's idea that I change my name, it's kept me out of trouble."
"Oi! Quit flirting Tendo and take their order!"
The three girls blushed at, "Umm, sorry about that Saotome-san."
Ranma shook his head, "Don't worry 'bout it, my boss is always like that. So what can I get for you girls today?"
Izanami and Miki giggled as they walked down the busy streets of Shinjuku once again, this time, heading towards the train station, "I can't believe you're really going to school with him! And in the same class too! What are the chances?"
Izanami smiled, "Well, he has this really odd reputation in Waseda though. It's like everyone avoids him for some reason. There's also some really odd rumors about him floating around."
Jun frowned, "Well it doesn't really matter anyways, he's taken already..."
Miki gasped, "How did you figure THAT out?"
"I saw a wedding ring on his finger." Jun said with a shrug and sighed, "And here I thought I'd find prince charming today, turns out he's someone else's."
"Oh woe is me?" Izanami said with a giggle.
"HEY! I'm not an actor! I'm an opera singer!" Jun retorted.
"Opera... Shakespeare, pish posh, same thing..." Miki said dismissively and quickly hugged her bags of goods she bought today, "Well at least this day wasn't TOTALLY unproductive."
"You call buying stuffed animals and shirts you'll probably never wear productive?" Jun grinned at her friend, "You worry me Miki."
"Well a girl has to have her hobbies." Miki replied with a smile.
"Well here's the train station." Izanami pointed to the station, interrupting the friendly banter.
"I guess we'll see you next week?" Jun asked with a smile.
"Yup!"
"Be careful walking home." Miki said seriously.
Izanami felt her smile falter, "Y-yeah, I will."
As she watched her friends walking the terror that griped her in the afternoon returned once again. Izanami sucked in a deep breath and quickly headed towards her home.
The city is still illuminated by the setting sun. Cars horned at each other as waves of people walked alongside each other in a state of mental detachment across the street to go back home. Yet Izanami couldn't reach the same state that she enters every time she walks in the busy street of Shinjuku.
The scene of her attempt kidnapping flashed through her mind over and over again.
"You're scaring yourself too much Iza-chan" Izanami thought to herself, smiling inwardly at her own paranoia, "It's not like someone will kidnap me in the middle of the whole crowd right?"
Reassured once again of her relative safety within the sea of people, Izanami slowed her stride and walked in a relaxed pace towards her home.
"It has to be a coincidence, the news this afternoon," Izanami continued to think to herself as she walked down the street, "Yeah, nothing's going to happen. The news this afternoon is just a coincidence."
Izanami found the crowd that she was in slowly thinning as she is closer towards her home. People turning to different streets, entering stores or perhaps their own apartments; the crowd that surrounded her earlier is no longer there leaving just a few unfamiliar figure walking long distances apart from each other.
A hand tapped her shoulder.
Izanami screamed and turned around.
"You're jumpy tonight Izanami..."
The girl sighed at the sight of Kano wearing track pants and a loose fitting t-shirt, "Sorry, I guess I had a bit too much coffee this afternoon. So what are you doing walking around here Kano?"
The swimmer grinned, "Oh nothing, just taking a jog. I've gotta keep in shape for the next swimming competition somehow."
"There's a swimming competition coming up?"
Kano shrugged and walked along side Izanami, "Well not til spring actually. There is one during winter, but well, no one likes swimming during winter."
Izanami gave her friend an odd stare, "Aren't you suppose to enter all the competitions?"
Kano shook his head, "Naw, our team actually needs quite a bit of practicing before entering. Most of our veterans are scouted and went elsewhere so all we have is me and two others that have actually competed. Basically all of the members in our team are all new members."
"So you normally do compete in those right?"
"Naw. There were plenty of seniors that were in the team last year that I didn't need to enter."
"Aren't you the top swimmer in the team?" Izanami gave Kano a skeptical look.
"Yep, but the couch knows I don't like swimming during the winter, so he gives me some slack." Kano answered, "Speaking of slack, aren't you supposed to be studying or something?"
Izanami gave Kano a glare, "I don't want to think about that."
"You know you'll have to sometime, and it's better to study early than wait til it's too late." Kano supplied flippantly.
"Oh like you study ahead of time." Izanami scoffed.
"Believe it or not, I do." Kano sniffed arrogantly.
"Right..." The girl rolled her eyes.
"HEY! I saw that!"
Izanami giggled, "I'm close to my home, I guess I'll see you around?"
Kano nodded, "Yep."
Izanami waved at her friend and made a turn and jogged slightly towards her home. In no time, she reached her door and quickly yanked it open after unlocking it and practically fell through the doorway.
"Home..."
The next day came and gone by, Izanami sighed as she left the lecture hall of her last class of the day. It is four in the afternoon, and the sky is already tinted orange by the setting sun.
"Now, just need to get home..."
Without further thought, the young women exited the campus and started her walk towards her own home. Fear still echoed in her mind as she walked down the street. What would happen if someone tried to kidnap her again? Would someone save her again? Would Saotome-san be there? What would my father do?
"Watanabe-san!"
Izanami stopped and turned around at Ranma's voice, "Saotome-san, Why are you here?"
"I need to talk to your father, so I figured I might as well walk with you." Ranma replied curtly and walked up beside Izanami.
Izanami nodded and began walking again with Ranma by her side, "So, what do you need to talk to my father for?"
"Nothing much." Ranma replied.
The young women frowned, "Nothing much? Can't be nothing?"
Ranma remained silent and didn't answer, "So, how are you liking Waseda?"
Izanami sighed at the change of subject, "You know, you can just tell me if you didn't want to talk about something Saotome-san, I'd like to at least think of you as a friend of our family you know."
This time, Ranma sighed out loud, "I'm more of an acquaintance to your family. I doubt your father would call me a friend."
"Really? But you worked with him before in Nerima haven't you?"
Ranma nodded, "Yeah, but I think I'm more of a nuisance to the all mighty Nerima Police." A sad smile appeared on his face, which looked more like a smirk, "Watanabe-dono usually is the one that makes sure I'm not the one at fault when something big happens, well all those that aren't my fault anyways. In exchange, I help him get some small time crooks, do some stake outs with him or just act as a decoy. It's pretty fun once in a while."
Izanami gave Ranma an incredulous look, "Fun? That's not a word I would think would describe a day as a cop, or even a helper of a cop."
Ranma shrugged, "I used to be obsessed with martial arts. Basically that's all I was good at and honestly, I think I enjoyed the power that I have. And to make it worst, your father, a pretty powerful authority figure, just basically gave me a license to beat up people he gives to okay to; I guess you can say that was like all the best Christmas gifts you can get in a life time all rolled up into one."
The girl giggled, "You know, this is the first time I've seen you talk so much. I think everyone from Waseda would be freaked out if they found out."
The young man beside her smiled sadly, "Yeah, they would, wouldn't they."
"Hey, would you like to stay for dinner with us?" Izanami asked, "I mean, I'm pretty sure dad would love to have you eat dinner with us at least once."
"He has asked before," Ranma muttered to himself quietly, but loud enough for Izanami to hear on the quiet street, "I guess it wouldn't hurt just for one night."
"Why didn't you come the time he asked before?"
Ranma gave Izanami a grin and tapped his ring on his finger, "I knew he had a daughter back then, and I wouldn't want to make people jealous."
Both Ranma and Izanami sat quietly in front of the television each holding their own sketch books in front of them. It was as if something about the house that made the two so quiet. From the moment that they walked in, the two haven't spoken a word, only quietly waiting for the elder Watanabe to return.
The clock above the television's volume is turned down enough to hear the occasional footsteps that walk outside the apartment that Izanami lived in. The two university students just sat there in front of the television, ignoring all this and stared at their sketch books, adding shading or lines once in a while to change to look of the sketch.
Izanami fidgeted and frowned; that's not how she wanted her sketch to look, more active, more cheerful, and not so gloomy. Maybe less shading in the picture would help liven it up? Inside, she knows that this is just to take her mind of one thing that keeps haunting her ever since she entered the apartment with Ranma.
This is the first time she's spent time alone with a member of the opposite sex in her own home, or any other place where two people can sit there in private.
Izanami felt her face heat up as the thought entered her mind once again.
"You know, girls tend to feel nervous when they spend time alone with a guy in an apartment, and nervous people don't blush." Ranma said without raising his head away from his sketch books, "So... what's with the blushing?"
Izanami gaped at Ranma, "Well, I blush when I'm nervous!"
Ranma nodded absentmindedly as he contintued to stare at his sketch.
Izanami pouted, "I'm telling the truth you know!"
Ranma looked up from his sketch book and gave Izanami a bored look, "You know, one of the weirder things I had to do with Watanabe-dono in Nerima was to act as a lie-detector. As a Martial Artist, you really learn how to notice a bluff or a lie, and I was told I'm pretty good at doing that."
The girl closed her eyes and covered her face, "Can't you at least let me feel that I managed to trick you?"
"... I believe you."
Izanami picked up a cushion and threw it at Ranma, "Say it convincingly!"
"Kinda hard to pretend I believe you when you're blushing so hard and throwing cushions at me trying to make me believe you." Ranma replied dryly and closed his sketch book and put it on the coffee table.
"Why you!" Izanami growled playfully and jumped at Ranma with a cushion over her head ready to hit her target over the head.
Ranma rolled his eyes and smoothly flipped away from the couch and watched as the girl landed on her face in the couch, "That was very mature of you."
Sticking her tongue out at Ranma, Izanami pouted and sat herself on the couch, "Meanie!"
Ranma chuckled and walked back to the couch, "Naw, I'm just a Jerk."
"Like that makes a difference." Izanami replied and eyed the sketch book on the table in front of her. Curiosity got the best of her and the girl reached for the book that Ranma draws in.
Ranma sighed and grabbed the sketch book away from Izanami's hands and gave her a glare, "That, is private."
"Oh come on, I just want to see what's inside. Not like I'll steal anything." Izanami replied as she reached for the book again. The hand holding the book moved further away from her forcing her to stand up and attempt to reach of it again.
"I said no looking!"
"Don't be so mean!"
"This is not being mean!"
Izanami leaped for the book and once again failing to get it when the door to the aparment suddenly flung open.
"Sorry I was so late, I brought dinner inste-" The elder Watanabe paused in mid sentence, "You know, it's usually the guy who is on top in situations like this, at least I'll get to blow up and kick the guy out. I really didn't expect you to do this to Saotome-san, Iza-chan."
Izanami gasped and blushed right red, "It's not what it looks like!"
Ranma sighed and smiled ironically, "Watanabe-dono, can I file a harassment suit against your daughter, I think my body is in danger of being taken advantage of."
The police chief laughed.
"So what brings you to our humble abode Ranma?"
The young man swallowed the bit of food in his mouth before answering, "Well, figure it's about time I check in with you and all that."
"You know you don't have to do that anymore." The police chief rolled his eyes and shook his head in disbelieve.
Izanami ate quietly, observing the exchange between her father and her acquaintance, trying to figure out the relationship between them. To her, it seems as if her father is desperately trying to let Ranma into their lives as more than just an acquaintance, while Ranma is resisting trying to put more distance between them, even though he might want more contact.
"Yes, but it's only proper." Ranma replied and continued to eat.
The elder Watanabe sighed, "So how's your school term been up til now Iza-chan?"
Izanami blinked and blushed, "Erm... it could be better, it's harder than I thought."
"You'll get used to it." Ranma muttered in between bites of food.
"Oh yes, you would know all about the hardships of schooling, right?" Izanami's father said with a smirk.
Ranma blushed in reply and hide behind his rice bowl.
Izanami gave Ranma a curious glance, "You had a hard time in your first year too?"
Her father burst out laughing, "Iza-chan, a hard time is putting it mildly, he needed two tutors for every course he's taking in the first year just to get him a passing grade!"
The young man glared at the elder, "Thanks for keeping THAT a secret..."
"Oh lighten up!" The police chief replied all the while laughing like a hyena, "Just wait till you hear what Ranma did to the swim team in Waseda!"
"I was just enjoying a swim." Ranma grumbled, "Now I can't even use the swimming pool there without being harassed."
"I was wondering how Kano knew you can swim faster than him." Izanami said thoughtfully, "So how fast CAN you swim."
Ranma gave her a knowing smirk but stayed silent.
"Let's just say Saotome-san can swim REALLY fast." The elder Watanabe answered for Ranma.
"That is SUCH a cop out!" Izanami pouted.
"Well thanks for inviting me to dinner." Ranma said bowing deeply.
"I'm glad you finally accepted Saotome-san."
Izanami nodded in agreement with her father, "It was nice to have an extra person at the dinner table."
Ranma smiled knowingly, "Of course."
"Well come again soon." The elder Watanabe said cheerfully, "And Ranma, I told you, you don't have to come check in with me again! That whole thing was over with years ago."
"It's only proper Watanabe-dono." Ranma replied once again.
" 'Check in'?" Izanami frowned, "What does that mean?"
"There is a court order for me to report in to Watanabe-dono to ensure that I won't have a relapse to avoid an incident couple of years back." Ranma replied curtly.
"Ranma I'm sure you have to go home now." The police chief said with a hint of nervousness.
"I'm sure your daughter would like to know the truth, of why I can't protect her, and why I have to report to you every once in a while." Ranma replied flatly, "She has been really curious."
Izanami frowned as the conversation slowly left her realm of comprehension. Truth, she's always believed that the truth is what people should hear. She's heard about white lies before and never thought them to be more of a polite gesture.
"Why do this to yourself Ranma."
"Repentance is a very important thing don't you think Watanabe-dono."
"What are you talking about..." Izanami whispered, shivering unconsciously, knowing the answer will shake her to the core.
Ranma smiled sadly, "You see my ring?"
Izanami looked at the ring on his hands glittering slightly, a simple band of silver with a sapphire mounted on top, "You're married."
"I was never married, this ring was the ring I would receive on my wedding to my fiancée."
Rumors from school echoed in her mind quickly mixing with scenes from years ago that placed her mother in the hospital, in a coma. Her mother bleeding to death slowly, her mother's blood spraying all over her; the dark figure looming over her fallen mother as people all around her shouted.
"I killed the women I loved, I killed my family, I killed my friends. I almost killed your mother Watanabe-san." Ranma stated quietly, "I'm a long way from repenting my sins, but maybe someday, if I keep this up, I could..."
Izanami took a step back and starts shivering uncontrollably. The looming figure from her memories is replaced by the man in front of her. Feelings of warmth she's gotten only days ago from him is quickly replaced by feelings of coldness that is freezing her body in place, "Why..."
Ranma's body slumped, "I can't answer that."
"stay away..."
Izanami curled herself up into a ball trying to rub away the cold, chilling feeling away from her body.
"Watanabe-san..."
"Please... stay away!"
The world around Izanami ceased to exist as she shut her eyes tightly while hiding her head beneath her arms.
"Iza-chan..."
The night sky is filled with clouds. Even as many families beneath the same skies stare up at the gloomy skies, knowing that tomorrow will give them a bright day, one man stare up the same sky, unknown of what will happen in just a few days, unknown to what part he might play, he stared up hoping for the rain to come down to wash away his guilt.
I usually update before the year has ended usually around Christmas or at least before new years, kind of an annual ritual even if it's not one of the stories I'm working on. But this year... I WENT ON A TRIP! Yes folks who bother reading my work the reason why I didn't get anything done this time was because I didn't even have an internet connection! On the plus side, the trip really gave me lots of inspiration which let me finish this chapter, and there you have it!
What can I say about this chapter... I think I'll be coming back to redo this chapter some time in the future. I sadly, this is one of the chapters that is WAY beyond my skill in writing but I still have to write. So it's either, stall the story until I get better at writing or do this chapter and get it on so I can redo this chapter later.
And since I plan on finishing this quickly anyways (Reads at least a year), I shrugged and did the best I could anyways. Sorry to disappoint everyone who thought the first chapter was good. Hopefully the next chapter would be much better! But I wouldn't know until I did a layout of the next chapter.
The conversation between Ranma and Izanami, I kinda let Ranma's character slid a bit here. There's a reason, or at least that's what I told myself, even though you can wall yourself up for a long time and not reveal much of yourself to the world, there are times where the wall cracks a bit and you'll let a bit of yourself go. I felt that this was one of the times Ranma would let his guard down a bit. He always was a sucker when it comes to girls... heh.
And about Izanami's friends... nope, won't be seeing THEM again. In the grand scheme of things, they're just here so that I can show Izanami's insecurities and anxieties about going away from her home after the whole attempted kidnapping incident.
Have I mentioned how I HATE adding the line breaks AFTER I loaded up the story into the database? Is there anyways I can get around that? If someone knows please tell me!
Hmm, Comments and suggestions are REALLY needed on this chapter so I know what to change I think. But anything is ok, flames? Sure! Donations to a poor university student? Of course! I'll take them all! Suggestions for me to go back to elementary school so that I can learn English all over again 'cause I'm just that bad at writing? Well... I'll take that too! It'll give me an excuse to have nap time again!
Just click that nifty button down there!
