vi. title of mine
***
why is it, that when I can't seem to get to sleep,
no matter how long I wait,
I end up listening to a song I should be sick of hearing by now.
Stiffly, she sat in bed, surveying her room. From her tired eyes, she slowly looked over the hazardous splash of photographs on her wall, and the pile of clothes on the floor, and the single teacup resting on the set of drawers. Her neck itched from the high collar of her cream-colored (to match her walls) nightgown. Her hair hung limply.
Kaho was asleep in a rocking chair in the hall. Eriol sat there as well, pouring over a thick book on runes or other such nonsense, with Suppi perched on his left shoulder, licking himself like a cat would (well, Eriol did base him on a cat...a panther, but that wasn't the point).
Nakuru's head ached. For everyone's constant probing into what had happened, she couldn't for the life of her remember. It frustrated and confused her; all she really could remember was a violent feeling of terror and sickness...after all, when they had found her, bits of dried-up vomit clung to her.
At the foot of her bed was a large pile of stuffed animals; some from England, some from Japan, all of them squishy large things perfect for snuggling and hugging. Picking up a panda called "Kana" (she had named her herself-that was another thing, she assigned all of them genders, as she was all too familiar with the stigma of having none), she did just that: she hugged the stuffed animal close to her, tears dripping from her eyes onto the panda's head, staining the fur.
She fell asleep in this position.
***
what am I afraid of? what do I need?
even if I think it over til the sparrows sing,
come morning, I don't understand a thing.
Deep in a sleeping world, Nakuru stood in silent terror, eyes like a deer's as she stared at the figure before her. Dark, menacing...it smiled like an animal; feral, wild. Its hand was raised...it was holding something...it brought it's thumb down onto it, and the distinct beep of a stopwatch echoed in the drafty room...
"Aaaah!" Nakuru screamed, waking up. She ran out of the room, hopping over the sleeping forms of Eriol, Kaho, and Suppi-chan, rushing to the bathroom. She felt like she was going to be sick.
Nothing came out as she waited patiently positioned over the porcelain bowl. Nakuru felt dizzy, and waited...and waited...but she didn't throw up.
She turned over, sitting on the cold hard floor of the bathroom. A sterile white, it smelled of disinfectant (Eriol was one of the believers that "cleanliness is next to godliness"), and everything shone brightly from being cleaned so thoroughly. Nakuru traced a flower-speckled tile with her finger, blowing a strand of hair away from her eyes; she was relieved she hadn't been sick.
"Ruby Moon?" Eriol asked through the perfectly painted door. His voice was muffled from the wood. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, Eriol," Nakuru called. "I'm...I'm fine!"
"That's good," her master sighed. "So...can you come out now? I need to go to the bathroom..."
Nakuru jumped to her feet, feeling brighter then she had in a long time. "Right-o, Eriol!" she shouted, saluting the door. "Coming right out!"
"Good to see you acting yourself again," Eriol said gently as she marched past him.
***
I pretended to want loneliness
I was well aware of the warmth of your hand.
I was just afraid that if you touched me with those hands,
I'd someday have to leave you.
The garden was green, tranquil, and vibrant with life. A sparrow's song exploded from the bush, twittering loudly as Nakuru poked it. She laughed as she let it go. "Fly away!" she shouted at it.
A rose bush twined it's way around the ladder that hung against a tree trunk. Skipping, with a blue tin watering can in hand, Nakuru proceeded to (all in good nature) drown the poor little buggers. Happily, she danced around the garden, accidently killing everything in sight.
A robin chirped feebly, after being hugged tightly by her.
Kaho watched, smiling, from the window. It felt wonderful to see Nakuru back to normal, without any of those nightmares she lately had had. The authorities still where on the watch to see if any kidnappers were running around, but Eriol had managed to keep the doctors away from Nakuru (just think what they would do if they discovered she was actually genderless...). How, Kaho didn't know, but then again, she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
Nakuru bounded into the house, her pale blue skirts twirling about her as she ran to the library. "SUPPI-CHAN!" she shouted. Kaho closed her eyes, bracing herself for the fight to come.
***
The figure snapped her hands together, glancing behind her. "So...she seems normal..." it murmured.
Beside her, sitting on the ground, another girl smiled shyly, grabbing onto a doll. The other figure glanced down, smiling benevolently. "Let me see," she whispered, and watched as the other girl delicately, carefully snapped the head off the doll.
Up in the tree, the third lay on the branch, kicking the tree. Something was hanging from her mouth, swinging bloodily, as she cuddled the broken body of a rabbit in her lap. Blood was smeared over her cheeks as she hungrily chewed the rabbit's heart.
"I guess we're ready," the first figure said, staring at the house. She set off her stopwatch, and a wild beeping began.
***
I've done such a good job of suppressing
my sobbing, embarrassed at the thought
of wanting to be touched by others,
I dared call it pride. Aa
***
"Ah, Nakuru-chan, you have a package from someone!" Kaho exclaimed, stepping in from checking the mail. Smiling, she handed the medium-sized white box to the curious guardian.
Nakuru rushed to her room, ripping the box apart on the way. Laughing from excitement, she flipped the box open, letting whatever was in it drop onto the pristine white sheets of her bed.
Her scream resounded around the house, as she ran out of the room, covering her nose from the stench, trying to escape the image imprinted on her mind of the rotting, half-eaten rabbit.
***
Is it alright, if I sing that I want to be touched by others?
***
Okay, then. Everyone seems so scared that I'm going to stop this story! Don't worry, the adventure's barely begun! This thing is going to be long, and probably hell for me, but that's okay, because I'm wonderful person (ha).
All my reviewers are so kind! I've decided to (finally) address them! So...
~~~PUCK'S SUPER SPECIAL OMAKE DEALIE~~~
Lizzie - I'm not turning suicidal. Don't worry. ^^
sign58 - Ah, you're catching on. Yes, these are song excerpts. At the end of the story, I'll post a "soundtrack" thing. Thank you for reviewing my other story! I wish more people would (hint, hint).
Infamous Monk - I don't want to anger any gods/religious figures! *hides from religious figures* Thank you for the huge compliment! This story's going to be a LONG one...
Cygna-hime - Oh, you're so nice! I love the little Nakuru comment. And, I checked out your profile--you're making a Dragonlance site! *squeals* You have instantly been elevated in my eyes. *steals away all the kender and hides them under her bed*
Okay! See you, space--er, that's not right! I need a catchphrase. Anyway, see you next time, all my lovely readers! Review or I'll eat you!