DISCLAIMER:Rival Schools/Project Justice & it's characters are owned by CAPCOM and possibly UDON.
Chapter II: Walking Away
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Kurow lay in the hospital bed. One of his eyes was bandaged and his arm was in a sling. He seemed to be asleep. Yurika sat beside him and peeled an apple. Kurow woke and watched the girl as she struggled with the fruit.
"I didn't take you for the superstitious type."
"Anything to pass the time." Yurika put the apple on the nightstand. "The doctors say that you might be getting out soon."
"Might." He chuckled. "What a useless word."
Yurika clenched her jaw. Kurow's bitterness stemmed from his defeat at the hands of Mugen. In face, she heard that the man had taught Kurow the very technique that he used against him that fateful night.
"I'm lucky I'm alive." He leaned back in the pillow. "Now, maybe the vultures will kill me...nah, I'm too pitiful for them to pick me off."
"I ran into the younger Imawano today-"
"Did he hurt you?!" Kurow grabbed the rail on the bed and pulled himself up. "What did he do?"
"Nothing..." Her face grew hot with embarrassment. "I fell and he helped me up."
Kurow could tell that his sister was lying. Her voice always sounded terribly clumsy. He eyed her with suspicion.
"Really!" Yurika became defensive. "That's all that happened. He didn't even mention his brother. Why should you care? I thought you hated me."
"I do but you're my sister." Kurow grumbled. "I have to do something..."
"You don't have to do nothing." Yurika stood up. "I won't be a burden to you anymore, Kurow."
His eyes followed her as she walked to the door. Without another word, she left the room and quietly shut the door behind her. Kurow put his hand on his face and grinned.
"I don't think she's coming back." He forced a throaty laugh. "That's fine! She was annoying anyway..."
His arm flopped down to his side. His grin faded while he stared at the door.
"She'll be back tomorrow..." He reassured himself. "...Yurika always comes back..."
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Yurika had agreed to meet her classmates, Akira and Zaki, after Horticulture. It was the one class Yurika didn't have with them. She approached the door and paused. It sounded as if the two were in the middle of a serious conversation.
"...I dunno," Akira sounded unsure. "We'd make things worse if we just outright said it."
"Someone saw her on a fucking bridge!" Zaki was nearly shouting. "What the hell do you think she was doing, sightseeing."
"She has been a little distant but I figured it's because her brother was in the hospital. If it were me, I'd probably be pretty withdrawn too."
"I know the signs." Zaki said darkly. "She's pretty textbook."
Yurika couldn't stand lingering any longer and twisted the knob. She pushed the door open and walked in. Both girls exchanged uncomfortable glances before greeting Yurika.
"How's ol' claw-boy doin'?" Zaki asked.
"He seems fine." Yurika placed her violin case on the empty desk in front of her. "That's good because this will be the last time I visit him."
"Is he getting out?" Akira sounded hopeful.
"No." The girl flipped the locks up. "He is sick of me."
"Forget that dick-weed." Zaki waved a dismissive hand. "When we graduate, this will all be behind us."
"Have you applied to any colleges?" Akira seemed thankful that the subject was changing.
"I don't have any plans." She forced the clasps down to secure the instrument. "I never really considered the future."
She had wanted to tune her violin but she didn't really feel like being around her friends. It bothered her a little that they considered her suicidal. It bothered her even more that their concerns were right.
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Kurow fell into a restless sleep. He had never been nice to Yurika but as of late he found himself being a little more than cruel to his big sister. At first, it was merely to vent his frustrations over all of his recent failures but soon he only mistreated her because she was there.
She was the only one who was there. At first, Momo visited with her regularly but soon she lost interest. Yurika would come to his side religiously. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he was already missing her.
The click of his door cause his eyes to fling open.
"Yurika?" He sat up and looked around in the dark. All he could see were indistinct shadows.
"Wrong!" An unfamiliar voice chirped. "You've been a bad boy, Kurow-kun. You need to be punished."
From the shuffling, he could tell there were at least four opponents in the room. A challenge if he were healthy. Injured, it was impossible. His attackers surrounded him. Kurow desperately tried to peer into the darkness and make out something more than a blob.
A metallic gleam caught his attention. He rolled out of bed. Though he averted most of the blade, he had gotten a nasty cut in his side. He grabbed the I.V. Tower and swung it around. He was sure he wouldn't hit anyone but he would get some space.
He staggered back. He knew he was bleeding. The draining sensation was all to familiar. He didn't even have the energy to gloat. His vision faded in and out of focus. He tried to regain his posture and fall into a stance but that only served to make him lose his footing. Kurow slipped and fell back into the window. His back hit the glass and the surface cracked underneath his weight. The man toppled out.
He was sure that he could see his attackers watching him fall. Much to his surprise, he hit water. Pain shot through his body. He floated for a moment and then slipped under the surface. Everything was immediately swallowed up in darkness...
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Yurika walked down the hall of the hospital. She knew that she was going back on her word but Kurow was all that she really had. The thought of cutting him off made her sad.
"Miss Kirishima?" The receptionist called to her.
"Yes?"
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Yurika tucked the violin under her chin. She focused all of her energy and directed it towards the instrument. She lifted up her bow and began to play a melancholy tune.
Kurow was missing. His room was trashed and the man was nowhere to be found...but there was a trail of blood that lead to a broken window that fell into the local river. After the news, she had decided to wander to the park. At least she could share her pain with others here. She fell into the music and attempted to shut out her sorrow. She knew it was futile but this was the only thing that wouldn't keep her from leaping off a bridge...not again.
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"We keep running into each other." Yurika looked up to see Kyosuke standing in front of her. He was clad in jeans, a scarf, and a green jacket. "Must be fate."
"It must be." She headed to a bench and gestured to him. "Please, sit. I need to talk to you."
Kyosuke followed, sitting close by her side.
"What's the matter? Kyosuke grew concerned.
Yurika reached in her bag. She fished out her paring knife and presented it to Kyosuke.
"Kill me." She ordered. "It's only fair."
"It's not fair-"
"Your brother is dead because I did nothing until it was too late." She snapped. "I have as much blood on my hands as anyone involved. Take your revenge. I won't even fight."
"I see." Kyosuke took the knife out of her hands and inspected it. He then tossed it into the fountain. "You may think you're expendable but I see differently. I'm not going to kill you because I think it's wrong. Killing you won't change the past."
"Oh." Yurika breathed disappointed.
"Why do you want to die so badly anyway? Is life that bad for you now?"
Tears wallowed up in Yurika's eyes. She put her hand over her face and quietly wept.
"I'm sorry." Kyosuke put an arm around her. "Is there anything--"
"Kurow is gone!" She wailed. "There was blood and his room was trashed! He's gone!"
She buried herself in his chest and continued to wail. Kyosuke began to rub her shoulders.
"It's alright." He attempted to soothe her. "Things will be alright."
"I should have been there!" She blubbered. "I-I shouldn't have gotten mad."
"I think Kurow is happy you weren't there." He assured her. "Even he wants his sister to be safe."
"B-but I'm his sister! I should protect him! What kind of sister am I if..." She could see that Kyosuke was wincing. "...I'm sorry."
"It's fine." He turned from her wiping the tears away. "My glasses just got foggy."
He pulled her closer. Yurika took the invitation and leaned into him, crying even harder.
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The sun began to dip behind the horizon. The scenery made Kyosuke nostalgic. His thoughts shifted to happier days. He and Hyo would play catch by the riverside around this time of day when they were little. He sighed and looked down at Yurika.
The girl had exhausted herself. She had curled up and fallen asleep, using Kyosuke's arm as a pillow. He had draped his jacket over her. She instinctively pulled it tighter around her body to warm up. She looked peaceful but it was getting late.
"Yurika." Kyosuke gently shook her. "Yurika."
"Wha..." She opened her eyes. Yurika then jolted awake. "I fell asleep?!"
"Happens to me all the time." Kyosuke shrugged. "All that crying must have tired you out."
"Here." She pulled his jacket off of her and handed it to him. "Thank you, Kagami-san."
"No problem." He took it and got to his feet. "You can call me Kyosuke."
"Alright...Kyosuke." She wrapped her arms around her middle. "I am having a recital tomorrow night. Would you like to come?"
"Yeah...sure..." The sudden invite threw him for a loop. "If you wouldn't mind me there..."
Yurika remained quiet. She started to walk off. Kyosuke decided it was best to let her go. If there was something that baffled him, it was women—especially women like Yurika. He shook his head and continued home.
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Author's Note: In Japan, it's a superstition that if you peel an apple while waiting at the bedside of a patient that it will serve to aid in recovery. Also probably a good way to get a snack and kill time.
