Chapter 4- "Black Accident"
It was a lazy Saturday morning as I heard a faint knocking at my screen door. I walked to screen door and tried to figure out who it was. "Who is it?"
"Ms. Ai, it's Asuka. May I please come in?" Asuka replied. "I'm sorry if I'm bothering you."
I opened the screen door to see Asuka's star eyes, the same as her brother and mother. It was a really interesting trait they had. Asuka sat in the chair and face me as I began trying to sew some new clothes for Lum. Lum really liked a dress I was wearing and she wanted me to make her one but with different designs. It was almost done.
"A-Ai...I need to talk to you about something." Asuka seemed very curious about something as I began stitching the dress. "Will you listen?
I continued stitching. "Of course, Asuka." I smiled. "I'm just finishing the last touches on Lum's dress and then I'm starting her skirt next."
Asuka smiled. "Oh, could you make me one too?"
"Sure." I smiled. "Would you like flowers on it, Asuka?"
Asuka nodded then she looked away. "Ai...Tobimaro is my brother?"
"Yes, he is." I replied. "He is related to you and he is older."
Asuka looked at me. "Sometimes, I like to sleep with him and take showers with him. I go into his room at night."
I froze in my mind. I didn't know what to say to something like that because it wasn't right but it wasn't Asuka's fault, she barely knew what was going on. I felt so sorry since she was so naive about how a relationship should go. Tobimaro seemed to be her everything. She could not pick anyone else than him and she was to be married to Shuutaro to break the quarreling between familes.
Asuka looked at me. "Ai, do you like my brother too? You blush the same..."
I began blushing again. "Yes." I couldn't lie to Asuka because that wasn't right and my will didn't let me. "The pressure to really like him is getting greater and it seems like it's so much."
"Is that love?" Asuka questioned. "It must be, Ai."
I shook my head. "It can't be, I'm not ready to be in love again."
Asuka perked up. "You were in love before?"
I nodded. "His name was Toshi Nishimura. He was my everything and so close to my heart. I met him when dI was fifteen. I was going to Ninja Academy while Toshi worked extra hard as his village's main cook. He had very little money and poverty didn't seem to bother Toshi as he pressed on with work everyday as if nothing ever happened. Everyday, he'd put on his apron and cook and cook to feed his village. Sometimes it was overtime."
Asuka became interested. "Is Toshi gone? You refer to him in the past."
I closed my eyes. "He did die. It was the worst moment of my life after my parent's death. To think life would be cruel and stab me again, he was taken from me. I was almost seventeen and he was eighteen. I was going to marry him as soon as I turned eighteen for us to spend the rest of our lives together. I was in the car with him when he died, I was right by his side until he took the last breath and left me."
Asuka became shocked. "Y-You were...Y-you were there? Oh...Ai..."
"It's ok, Asuka." I replied. "Would you like me to stop the story?"
Asuka shook her head. "No. I want to hear the rest of it. I've never heard of so much misfortune. Of course our familes fight but...this is very different."
I tried to remember where I left off and began again. "Toshi and I were on our way to a party that one of his close friends was throwing. Ayato never forgave himself after what happened because he felt he caused the death when he didn't." I closed my eyes. "It just happened and in a heartbeat, everything changed. I saw the car go off the road as we rolled and rolled. I wasn't injuried very badly but Toshi was. His blood stained my dressed and he struggled to move. He shook so violently."
"Ai..."
My eyes were stained with tears. "His voice was so calm...He managed to get enough strength to look at me lovingly then his eyes closed and he took his last moment. I began to try to move him and I kept trying and trying. I didn't want to think he was dead and he left me but he did. He was gone. My denial took over and I still kept trying to make him look at me again."
"Toshi...Tohshi...Toshi don't leave me, don't leave me alone! Toshi, I want you to be with me!"
Asuka couldn't hear the voices of the incident but I could. My burgundy pools looked out the window to see the outside showing it's beauty. Asuka's star pools saw the reflection of hurt as the wind picked up causing the windchimes to ring mysteriously. I paused for a long time as I reflected on how the incident shaped around my life. I lost so many things and my next fear was that I would lose Tobimaro too.
"TOSHI!"
I watched the screen door as I caught glimpse of Tobimaro watching from the corner of it. He barely moved and I didn't get upset with him. He would've heard the whole story eventually. I wasn't going to shout at him for hearing about it, it was obviously interesting and he wanted to listen. I saw the screen open a little more but I looked at Asuka who took the story well. She understood that I've been through a hard time and had the look that she wanted to be there for me.
"Ai." Asuka replied. "I know you're already a big sister but do you think you could be mine? I like that I can come to you for anything."
I looked outside as my eyes went back on Asuka. "Of course. If you need me, don't be afraid to ask."
Asuka smiled and was very excited then her expression changed. "Oh! You didn't finish the story. I'm so sorry I interrupted, please continue."
I smiled and retraced my thoughts. "Well, after all that. We had Toshi's funeral and it was very packed. Over one-hundred people came to his funeral since he was well liked. He was very good to his customers and village and people rarely forgot him. The funeral was very hard for me to go to and even go through with but I did it but I collapsed towards the end. It was so hard to let Toshi go. I couldn't just let him go because our story is unfinished and now I really wondered what life would be really like if Toshi had lived."
Asuka remained silent as she looked at me. It was a lot to take in but she understood most of what happened and it showed. She bowed in front of me. "Ai..." Asuka looked up. "You have my respect..."
Asuka walked out of the room not noticing that Tobimaro was there. I put Lum's clothes and Asuka's down, I would finish them later. I began to clean up my sewing objects. I straightened up the room and opened the blinds to let the sun in. I just looked out at the outside, I began thinking that I needed to pay a visit to Cherry to see if more misfortune was headed my way.
Misfortune had a face, and many of us couldn't see that face. I could and as soon as it was going to start, I could see earlier than others. The air was dark and Tobimaro and I should've seen the warning to stop but we didn't. We decided to go ahead anyway.
If Tobimaro knew it was risk then why did he stand by me?
I slid the door as Tobimaro stood at the side of me. "I'm going out, Ton. I'll be back later this evening."
Tobimaro nodded. He looked like he wanted to ask me something. "Ai? You're a good fighter, right?" Tobimaro's hair shaded his eyes. "...Will you...fight me?"
I blushed as I stepped back. "Are you sure? Tobimaro, are you really sure-"
"Yes." Tobimaro's hair still shaded his eyes. "I-It would be an honor to..."
I blushed further as I looked away as Tobimaro's star eye caught mine. He meant it, he wanted to fight me. This was coming from the boy who called himself wimpy and not worthy of a warrior title when he really was. Tobimaro got a little closer as I stared deeply into his star eyes then I looked away.
Tobimaro's hand touched my the side of my face as I locked eyes with him. "I like...when you look at me."
"Tobimaro...I can't..." I stopped my thoughts. "Why are you saying that?"
Tobimaro went stiff. "I-I can't..."
I slowly backed away from Tobimaro as he still looked at me. "I will see you later, Tobimaro."
Tobimaro blocked my entrance. "Protecting you is one of my duties. If it will cost me my life, I will honor you and protect you. I promise that to you."
"Tobimaro..." I replied softly. "Do you know what...y-you're promising?"
He turned away, his eyes still shadowed by his hair. "Is that a...stupid thing to promise?" Tobimaro's eye came up to mine.
"No." I said quietly."It's such a powerful statement."
Tobimaro still stood there as if he had more to say but cut it short. "...I'll let you go..." Tobimaro looked at me. "I'll always protect you."
I almost couldn't believe he said what he said.
X X X
I walked down the street as I saw Ataru coming down the street. He was very happy to see me as he ran up to me.
"Ai! Hi babe, were are you going?" Ataru asked. "Going shopping?"
"No. I'm going to see Cherry about misfortune." I replied. "I'm kind of fearing it."
Ataru became angry. "Ai, don't go to Cherry! That monk isn't worth your time, it's always bad luck or misfortune with Cherry."
"Well, I need some guidence from him." I replied. "I really need to know about this."
Ataru sighed. "If you want to go, then you can but..." Ataru grabbed my arm. "Not without me, I want to go with you. I need to make sure my babe, doesn't get hurt."
"Ok." I replied. "Does Lum know you're out?"
Ataru laughed mischievously. "No...She had something to do and I got out. I also made sure Ten was distracted. You see, Ai. I have my ways."
I laughed. I was the only girl that didn't hit Ataru or curse him. Like I said, he was good inside but he just didn't show it but I made sure to give him my respect for that. Ataru still wasn't happy we were going to see Cherry since Cherry always got in Ataru's way a lot of the time. It didn't matter as long as I got a reading about the misfortune that was soon to come because I know it was coming.
"Ai, you should just turn around." Ataru replied. "No one wants to deal up with an annoyance such as Cherry. All he'll say is that you're doomed for more misfortune."
I looked at Ataru. "Well, if you were me, wouldn't you want to know?"
Ataru laughed. "Yes but I would want a fine babe like you by my side!"
I laughed. Ataru was so funny but Shuutaro didn;t like that I defended him and that I liked being around him. It irritated Shuutaro but I didn't care since Shuutaro couldn't see the good at all. I continued going up to shrine as Ataru followed closely behind me. Cherry was busy praying as I tapped him on the shoulder.
"Excuse me, Cherry?" I replied. "I need to know if misfortune is coming my way."
Cherry turned around. "Ah, Ai. Wasn't expecting you or Ataru. I don't see why you are surrounded by that curse we call Ataru." Cherry put his hands together. "It is fate."
I looked at Cherry. "Cherry, will there be more misfortune in my life? It is important that I know."
Cherry looked at me closely. "Hmm...I see." Cherry placed his hand on my forehead as he began chanting to get in touch with his spirtual powers. "Yes. Ai, if I was you I would be very careful of your feelings. It would seem your feelings are extending towards a boy who is also in many misfortunes himself."
"So, more is to keep happening?" I asked. "Should I prepare for it?"
Ataru growled. "Don't believe what he says! He's a deranged monk! This is all made up."
Cherry scoffed. "Deranged? I read Ai fine, it is what is. She is headed for a hardship and it is dealing up with a relationship she will be in."
I stopped stiff as I went pale. It was another warning. "Oh..."
Cherry nodded. "I couldn't see much more past that since Ataru curses my powers. Your heart won't deceive you but hardships may start occurring when you won't expect it."
Ataru stepped back. "Babe, who are you after? Is it Shuutaro?"
"No." I shook my head. "Tobimaro..."
Ataru realized it was serious and became serious. He realized things were going to be very hard for me and knowing misfortune there was no way to prepare and I thought I could prepare for it this time. I knew with this misfortune that fighting and endless issues would plague Tobimaro and I constantly as our feelings began getting more and more serious.
I looked at Ataru. "Ataru, I have to watch out for Ryoko. She loves Tobimaro and I know I'm heading there myself but that won't come without severe consequences."
"Severe consequences?" Ataru grabbed my top. "Ai, you have to get out of this! I go through enough consequences a day but you..."
Cherry came in. "It is fate, Ataru. There isn't anything Ai can do but accept that getting Tobimaro will be no easy walk. I don't know how severe but I saw black."
Ataru was more concerned and begged me to reconsider. Ataru wasn't doing this to get my number or chase after me, he cared. This was the good that was inside of him that was coming out. Ataru became so concerned that he began to panic a little about the situation. I didn't blame him, I was panicking myself but it showed out very little of the time.
"Ataru." I said carefully. "Please don't worry about me. If there isn't anything we can do different then I guess Ton and I will just have to do this at our risk."
Cherry put his hands together again. "It is fate."
Ataru growled. "This isn't fate, Cherry! This has to be wrong!"
I shook my head. It wasn't wrong, I didn't think it was fate but it was the situations in both of our lives at this point. I looked out towards the grass as the wind blew again. I was realizing just how serious this relationship was going to be on Tobimaro and I. Tobimaro was falling for me but it was slow, he wouldn't announce his feelings until he was sure. He was getting very close to me as I was to him.
I looked out to the trees. I began thinking it was time to run away. It wasn't like to me to run away but I felt that things may come up where if the only way out is to run then Tobimaro and I will. I saw how Tobimaro looked in the beginning, he felt hopeless and that he couldn't anything right. The saddness was clear across his face, and he felt that living here was getting to be too much out of hand for him.
If Tobimaro ran away, he would be a coward. If I ran away with him, then you can't call us cowards. How could we be cowards if the situation got too out of hand? Cowards only run away in the beginning. We weren't at the beginning of this story anymore.
We had been through enough chapters. The real story was about to really start.
"Protecting you is one of my duties. If it will cost me my life, I will honor you and protect you. I promise that to you."
If Tobimaro said he was so screwed up then what man would offer his life to protect someone he really cared out? That wasn't cowardice, clumsiness, worthlessness, misunderstanding, or whatever else they labeled Tobimaro to be.
He cared so much about me and even promised his life. I couldn't say no to him and if I did, I would only run back to him and want him even more.
