Disclaimer: The original lyrics to ''Endless Night'' (from the Broadway musical version of The Lion King) belong to Disney.
I went to bed later than usual that night. There was still much on my mind,enough to keep me awake for quite a while before finally dozing off. When I woke up the next day it was already quite late...well,I had slept longer than Ami and Kaz had. I wasn't all that concerned about it all,though. I was sure that they had handled Koja's needs well,there was no need for me to worry about that.
I sat up in bed. To my surprise,Jang Keng had slept on top of the bed the whole night. As I got out of bed she jumped off,startled. I couldn't help but laugh a bit. After putting on the same old skull shirt,studded armbands and the like,I went to go find everybody.
Ami was sitting at the table,she had apparently been waiting for me.
''There you are.'' She said.
''Good morning. Is Koja all right?'' I asked.
''Kaz is watching him right now.''
''Good.'' I sat down.
''Oh,yeah...Kaz made us pancakes.'' Ami said.
''That was nice.'' I told her,but I really didn't care. I sat there deep in thought,still feeling that gentle but miserable,restless stirring within,thinking of all the trouble I had brought upon myself simply by not talking to anyone about the misery of being back in Osaka.
I should just go ahead and tell Ami,I thought,I should just get over it. But...it...is...so...difficult to talk about...I don't want to make matters worse...
Gruuuu...
A low growl interrupted my thoughts.
''Wh-what was that?'' Ami asked.
''What...was what?'' I told her,laughing nervously.
Gruuuuu...
''Oh...uhmm...I guess it was my stomach.''
''Well,then why don't you eat those pancakes?''
''Oh.'' I did just that.
''Yumi...'' Ami said, ''I know you don't really want to talk to me about your stuff,but...you seem so...so...depressed lately.''
Ah,here was my chance. ''I know.'' I told her.
''Why? What is wrong with you?''
I sighed deeply. ''When I still lived here...my father...he...''
''Okay...this doesn't sound good...'' Ami said.
''He...did...horrible things to me.'' I lifted up my sleeve to show Ami the scar on my arm where he had stabbed me with a shard of glass.
''Did that scar come from something he did?''
''Yes.''
''So...you don't want to be here because he'll do that stuff to you again?''
''N-n-no...it's just that...I...I..I...''
''What?''
''I did...I did something very wrong,Ami.''
''What did you do?''
''I wanted...for him...to...'' I couldn't stand it. ''I'll...I'll...I'll tell...you...later.'' I thought I was going to lose my mind if this kept up. I went to go find Koja,still stinging inside.
''THAT KIMONO WAS TEN THOUSAND TIMES MORE VALUBLE THAN YOU!'' Father shouted,slamming me up against the wall. I had accidently gotten some melted ice cream on his luxurious silk kimono.
He then threw me to the ground like a flour sack. I sat there staring at him in fear. Then,when I thought it was over at last,he picked me up by the shirt collar again and took me upstairs to my parent's bedroom. Now,what on earth was happening now? I wished I hadn't wondered,for the answer was miserable: he locked me in the closet.
''Let me out!'' I shouted,banging on the door. ''Let me out! Let me out! Let me out! Father! Father!'' But he had left,not a single thought of mercy in his head,not a single thought,I tell you.
I lay there sprawled out on my stomach,my head on the floor,hair in my eyes somewhat,sobbing hard. The thought in my head,the only thought in my head,was...why? Why was he doing this to me? Why?
But just then when I thought all hope was lost,the closet door opened. Mother was home. I ran out and hugged her tight,overjoyed.
Yes,I always had hope when she was around. And that,my friend,was what I deserved.
But then Sakura came running up to me too,and she wanted to play with Koja. I sat Koja down and let them play.
Koja looked at Sakura happily. ''Mama said she loves me...'' He said,smiling. I smiled,too,somewhat.
But part of me felt miserable,for it all reminded me of Mother. Why didn't I just go back home? Why couldn't I? What is stopping me?
One evening in winter,Buyo was ill. This was not good news at all,because for Father,Buyo was the centre of attention,more so than I had been or would ever be...to him,at least.
''Is...is Buyo going to be okay?'' I asked shyly. Father said nothing and kept on standing at Buyo's bedside.
''Is...is...is he?'' I asked again.
Father had had enough. He looked at me,eyes ice cold and cruel. He grabbed my arm and dug his fingernails into it as until it bled.
''AAAHHH! FATHER! IT HURTS,FATHER!''
He let go. I stared at my bleeding arm in horror.
I walked outside. All seemed peaceful,except for me. I walked down the streets,my heart filled with an anxious fury.
''Yumi,where are you going?''
I looked behind me. It was Ami.
I sighed. ''I...need to get out for a little while.'' I told her,then I walked off. She followed me.
''Yumi,'' She said, ''I know you're sad,but just avoiding everybody isn't going to solve anything.''
''I know,'' I said, ''but I do it nonetheless.''
We both stood on the street corner. The sun's position in the sky clearly said it was late afternoon,almost sunset. It was not too hot,not too cold. Cars came,cars went,and so did people. I can clearly remember it all being like this when I was younger,however dark those times were.
''I wish it could be this nice forever...'' Ami said softly, ''but nothing lasts forever.''
''No.'' I said,softly but angrily, ''No,not at all.''
''I'm sorry about your dad.'' Ami said,still rather softly.
''What...what...what are you talking about? Who told you that he is--''
''I mean,I'm sorry for what he did.''
''Oh...okay,I see.'' I sighed in relief.
I looked up in the sky. ''It's my fault...'' I whispered to myself, ''It's all...my...fault...'' I swallowed back my tears.
''What are you talking about?'' Ami asked.
''Uh...uhh...uhh...I...have...'' I thought quickly, ''I...have...to...go...now.'' I ran off. Ami called after me,but I was already gone.
I stopped at the door of a cafe,out of breath. I looked. Ami and the bus were out of sight. Good.
The sun had set,and the cool breeze was blowing. Not far from where I was,there was the old tree-lined road,its remaining pink blossoms falling in the wind.
I stood and stared at it. ''Where has the sunlight gone?'' I sang, ''Dark is the day...how can I ever go home?''
I looked up. One by one the stars appeared.
''Hope is an empty dream,lost in the night...Mother,I feel so alone...''
I walked on. ''You promised you'd be there whenever I needed you...whenever I call your name,you're not anywhere. I'm trying to hold on,just waiting to hear your voice...one word,just a word will do,to end this nightmare...''
Tears ran down my face,and I didn't care who noticed. ''When will the dawning break? Oh,endless night...sleepless I dream of the day...when you were by my side,guiding my path...Mother,I can't find the way...''
''You promised you'd be there whenever I needed you...whenever I call your name,you're not anywhere. I'm trying to hold on,just waitng to hear your voice...one word,just a word will do,to end this nightmare.''
I looked,my eyes blurred with tears. The bus was only a few blocks away.
I sighed and walked in that direction. ''I know that the night must end,'' I sang to myself, ''and that the sun will rise,and that the sun will rise. I know that the clouds must clear,and that the sun will shine,and that the sun will shine...''
I kept on repeating those words until I reached the bus. I walked in with renewed peace...for the moment.
A/N: Well I promised more songs...there you go! That song had to be shortened just a bit,though.
Well,now it seems that Yumi has finally told Ami about her problems...but it ain't over till the fat lady sings! You all better stay tuned! (hee hee)
In the meantime,please review me,but don't flame or else I'll make you listen to the Barney theme song day in and day out! (evil laugh) Oh and Happy 4th Of July!
------------------------------------------Shaddie-chan-------------------------------------------
