Kakera VII: Eternal & Internal
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///None of the older children is here. Mion, Rena, Rika, Satoko, or even the newest student Keiichi… I won't allow a National Skip Day! /// How is it that the same group of students miss school all on the same day? This bothered Chie as she sat at her desk watching the young ones play outside through the window. There wasn't a chance at her calling home to any of the students: Rika lived on her own, Mion's parents were uninterested about her future in school, Satoko's uncle couldn't care less (when he did answer the phone), and Rena's father was always very busy. Keiichi's parents even left for Tokyo apparently, Chie wondered where the hell all of them were. She just hoped that they were in good hands…
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Satoko and Rika traveled the town which was growing in full bloom for the nearing festival. Rika saw something special: the light in Satoko's eyes as she was filled with joy. "Rika, it's always best this time of year, don't you think?" She was clearly excited, and a few decades ago, Rika would have wanted to wipe that smile off of her face. "It is! Let's celebrate with food! Nipa~!" Rika grabbed onto her arm and pulled her to the nearest restaurant: Angel Mort.
"Anything you want," Rika repeated enthusiastically as she giggled at Satoko's surprised face. They were seated promptly at a booth once they recognized that she was in fact Furude Rika. One of their best waitresses was sent to seat them and although Satoko did not notice—the young woman was Shion Sonozaki. Her head was bowed with humiliation, so that only Rika could really tell, and Shion herself pretended not to notice them. "Hey, can't we get some damn service 'round here?!" An obnoxious yell came from somewhere across the room. Shion left immediately to the table which seated a man and a woman who issued the demand whilst laughing.
The couple was Teppei and 'Reina'.
Rika internally pondered on just how differently things were turning out. Originally, Rena was supposed to hear their diabolical conversation (at least that's what happened a few times in the past), yet Satoko and herself was a witness. "Hey Rika, did that sound like Rina-san, and my Uncle Teppei as well?" Rika shifted closer to Satoko who was beginning to worry. "It's just a coincidence." She nodded in agreement and scanned through her menu book. "You promise Rika?—"Her eyes suddenly left the booklet and into Rika's eyes. ///I wish it was that easy, Satoko—/// Rika did not hesitate in her reply.
"—I promise Satoko. And from now on I want you to live with me. I won't have you stay with him and suffer any longer. And 'no' is not an answer." Rika looked back at her with respect. "You have more power than you'll ever know of. When Satoshi comes back, he'll tell you what I am saying: you do not need to hold onto that burden." Would this act change anything? Rika didn't, maybe this she could spare Satoko extra pain…Like what she felt. "Rika… Won't he find me?" "That is the least of your worries. He won't be able to get to you," Rika traced a finger around Satoko's chin, pulling her face close. "He won't take my girlfriend away from me again." The blonde blushed from her touch; she was shy about being intimate in public (especially if that was her uncle nearby).
"After we're done here, I want you to pack up anything you need inconspicuously at home, and head over to my house. I'll handle everything from there." Rika felt her become tense as she shifted closer. "Satoko…" The other girl had never felt this way inside…
… …. !
After all, not many people were attracted to her like this, except for—
`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`
"Ouka… I don't understand; please tell me why you are here?"
"Why are any of us here? I am here because you are here, Hanyuu."
That did not mean it made any sense. Ouka had grown into a woman long ago, and her spirit had passed from this world. So why was her soul here, in a younger form of herself? And personally to Hanyuu, was how flirtatious she was the night before; too many question stirred in the goddesses head.
"I am happy to see you, Ouka," Hanyuu finally settled with embracing her daughter, though she now felt a bit awkward. Ouka opened her arms, wrapping her arms around her parent as a lover would. She clenched tight, and pulled in close sot Hanyuu could here. "I want you," she said in the lowest decibels possible. "I can't Ouka and you know I—"
"Why don't you want me?! What's so wrong with me that you run away…? So much you have me kill you!?"
Her body shivered with the power of her words. Did she ever love anyone after Hanyuu?
Hanyuu wondered when these feelings developed—She clung onto Ouka tighter
And whether she could live with doing this—Ouka caressed one of her horns
To her own blood; her own creation—And Hanyuu looked into her daughter's eyes
Nothing mattered; it was useless—They kissed each other with forbidden longing.
`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`
Rika and Satoko left the restaurant before Shion had a chance to even come back to see them, she was one of the busiest and most requested waitress there. She was concerned of Mion; Shion hadn't spoken to her since the incident with the doll… ///How dare he trample my sister's heart/// Shion thought as she cleaned the tables of the disgusting customers. There was not many people she loved, and she wanted to protect the ones that were still left…
…Even if that meant killing someone.
Shion scrubbed the table of its filth harder. She wanted to leave early.
`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`*`
"…Even if that means killing someone, Mion."
Rena's words barely reached her. The strain of everything was…too much even for Mion.
What Rena had decided to tell Mion in her hideout of the town dump was… disparaging. The both of them ultimately decided to skip school and hole up for a while until they could sort everything out. Then Rena opened up to Mion all of her worries and suspicions. Last night, Ritsuko was talking to Teppei, which didn't seem right to Rena. 'Perhaps I have said too much,' was what she had told Rena.
Then there was the incident with the shopping items Rena found on Satoko, items that the young girl certainly didn't need or would know about… Only an older woman would use them.
And by now, everyone could no longer stand to see Satoko suffer in an abusive home—
… …
So this year would be the last. The end of everyone's suffering.
Mion knew it as well; they could not go on with this any longer. But the last sentence that beautiful girl issued to her… She wanted 'Oyashiro-sama' to 'spirit' Teppai away, and Ritsuko as well. The older teen tenderly bit the inside of her mouth and ground her fingers into the seat of the hide-out bus. ///Reina…/// And as a true leader, she came to a brawny decision—
"When the cicadas cry… I'll end this darkness. I promise Reina."
/*****\
*thump-thump*-*thump*
