Chapter 11

Rio

The only reason Rio chose Nagisa as her confederate is because the blue-haired petite boy is inconspicuous. Megu and Akari would find out what she is up to the moment she acts weird. Nagisa is different. Nagisa jots notes about Korosensei's weaknesses all the time. No one would notice if he is doing another job instead.

Nagisa has been very successful with his mission. She is very proud of her co-conspirator. He managed to gather a lot of info because of his close relationship with Karma. Thankfully Karma still hasn't notice a thing.

At night, they would chat using their phones to discuss about his findings.

Rio: Nagisa, have you found out why Karma is in Akari's apartment?

Nagisa: Nope. Not yet. I asked him later that day yet he says he just stopped by for something.

Rio: It's fishy. For a devil like him.

Nagisa: I know right. But his lips are tightly sealed. If I pursue further he'll be dubious.

Rio: Looks like we'll have to find out the old-fashioned way. :3

Nagisa: ?

Rio: I have a spy.

Nagisa: Spy? :o

Rio: Ritsu. The most reliable AI who can break into any electronic device. I have her hacked into Akari's phone.

Nagisa: Seriously? =='''

Rio: For a person who is such enthusiastic about her best friend's romance, like me, I have to do the unthinkable.

Nagisa: You sound like someone who is about to sacrifice herself for war.

Rio: This IS WAR. The war to find out who deserves my Aka-chan best. XD

Nagisa: … I lost you there.

Rio: With Ritsu on our side, nothing can go wrong! Plus… I found something.

Nagisa: What?

Rio: Karma has asked Ritsu to duplicate a key. I've saw that key before. It belongs to Akari's apartment!

Nagisa: No way.:O

Rio: Waaaaaaaaaaaaay. If Karma now owns the key to her apartment, it all makes sense now! He has granted access to enter her chambers! Their relationship is more than we can see! Now Karma can enter her place as many times as he wants! This is news! What would they end up doing at night?! Would they…

Nagisa: I don't think their relationship advanced that quickly. Akari is a little….. dense. About love.

Rio: I have to agree with you bout that.

Nagisa: If it is real, poor Isogai though.

Rio: Isogai needa step up. But even I can see he really likes her. OMG this is exciting! Triangle-love tabloid! Thank god Korosensei doesn't know bout this or he'll spoil everything!

Nagisa: I don't know who I should root for. Isogai or Karma-kun…

Rio: Oh yeahhhhh. Ritsu sent me this pic that day. I'll show ya… they are soooooooooooo sweeeeeeeeet... :3

Rio chooses the picture from the gallery in her cellphone. Ritsu sneakily took a photo of it that day when Akari fell sick. She even cries for being a spy and betraying Akari. Rio sends the picture to Nagisa. But when she reads the name of the recipient, she freezes.

She has accidentally sent it to Megu.

Holy craaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaap! Rio shrieks internally.

How careless she can be! This is an unprecedented mistake that she should never ever commit! Of all people, why did she send it to Megu?! Infuriating her is Rio's taboo. Who knows how outraged Megu would be?

Her phone rings and she flusters. The caller ID is none other than Kataoka Megu. She tentatively picks up the call and she hears Megu's voice shouting from the other end.

"Nakamura Rio!" Megu shouts. "What is the meaning of this?!"

A myriad of ideas races through her mind to sluice the spark that begins to catch fire. Megu is a very patient and composed person. But when something inappropriate involves her friends, especially Aka-chan, she explodes. Her rage spreads like wildfire. But Rio knows none of the ideas can douse the flames. Megu is smart. She knows what's true and what's not. Lying to her isn't the best option, considering now she has seen the photographic evidence.

What photo enrages Megu so much Rio swears she rather die than to face her wrath?

It is a photo Ritsu took from Akari's phone when she is soundly asleep on her couch when she was sick the other day. Sounds normal, but there is a catch. A redhead sits on the ground beside her. Akabane Karma's head tilted to the left to rest on Akari's forehead. With his eyes closed, anyone can tell he was sleeping. The emotions unfolded on his face—smiling peacefully, something which seldom happens to him—suggests clearly he was enjoying sleeping next to her. Of course, the main problem is how did Akabane managed to enter Akari's premises considering the latter would have never let him? Rio believes this is the main factor contributing to Megu's rage.

Megu, living close to Rio, appears at her doorstep with the excuse of sleeping over. Rio can't reject her demand as her best friend politely greeting her parents when she arrived—even if Megu is seething inside. When the bedroom door closes behind them, Megu begins her reprimanding. Rio has no choice but to listen to her. Nagisa has been found out as well, and he is forced to turn on his webcam so that Megu can chide him through the Internet.

"What are you guys thinking? Stalking?" Megu chides. Her voice is not loud but enough to terrify the two. "Have you gone out of the border just to get some gossip?"

Rio pouts. "I'm just worried about Aka-chan's romantic life."

Megu sighs. "Akari's not going to like it if she founds out you're stalking. No one does."

"You don't understand. I didn't stalk her for some juicy gossip. I did it for her best interests."

Megu rolls her eyes. "What best interests? Love is something that comes naturally. If Akari really has one, and she intends to keep it as a secret, then so be it."

"I don't care if she's having one! Either secretly or openly, I need to know! I need to know if that person is worthy for her! I'm just worried of her! After all, she is our Aka-chan!" Rio cries. "I want Aka-chan to find a person she likes a lot and he likes her back too. I want that person to be someone she can lean on whenever she's tired. I want that person to be there whenever she's hurt. I want to find a person that is suitable for her, someone who is possibly husband potential so that… so that…"

Megu pats her head as if she understands her. Nagisa remains silent listening to her revelation. "I know. You want to find someone Akari can depend on for the rest of her life." She sits in front of Rio. "After all, she's already lost the parents in that dreadful accident."

"All these years, she never cries," Rio says. Her tone is sad. "She never cries in front of us even if she lost her parents, even if she became a murderer on self-defense. She shoulders everything. She never confides her pain to us because she doesn't want us to worry. If her parents are still here, things would be easier for her. At least she would be nestled under their protection. But losing the most important people in her life takes a toll on her. She became fiercely independent. She rejects her uncle's protection. Even if she has us, it's not enough. At least, all I can do to help is to find someone who can play the role of protecting her in her parents' stead. We as her best friends can only do this much. The rest of her life will depend on the person who shall become her life partner."

Tears brim in Rio's eyes. "Maybe I overthink things. It's ridiculous, is it? After all, it all depends on Aka-chan's feelings. But I… but I believe I need to do something for her. I failed to protect her when she was called murderer, when she was bullied. And I was so weak I ended up bullied. She left for US to protect us. So I need to do something to compensate her. I'm her Ri-chan, right? I have to something for my best friend."

"Nakamura-chan,"Nagisa's voice speaks through the computer's speakers.

Rio breaks down. She cries on how ridiculous she is. She cries on how much suffering Akari took without telling her. After Akari left for the US, Rio constantly blamed herself. She believed it was her fault Akari left. It was because she was weak and frail that everyone picked on her. When Akari came back, she was relieved. Akari didn't blame her, but she won't beg for her forgiveness because she knew she didn't deserve it. So Rio tries to make compensation for her—find her a boyfriend. She wanted to ease her guilt that stuck in her throat for years.

Megu hugs her, stroking her hair and coaxing her. "It's ok. Akari will find one. We just need to protect her before she does. And we'll be there when she does find one. Even after she found one, we will continue be by her side. Forever and ever. We will not let anyone bully her anymore."

Crying, Rio nods. She wipes her tears as Megu lets go.

After some deep contemplation, Megu gives in to Rio. "You can continue your stalking—"

"Correction, observation. Stalking is such a vulgar word," Rio and Nagisa correct her unanimously. Rio lights up a wide grin as her usual bubbly self returns.

"Fine," Megu sighs. "You can continue your observation under the condition that Akari does not find out or else she will definitely loathe the three of us."

The blonde's eyes sparkle with anticipation. "Three? Y-you're helping us?"

Megu stares sternly at her. "Of course! Akari's happiness is my utmost concern. And how dare you count me out from the beginning?"

Rio sheepishly fumbles with her fingers. "I thought you might not approve with our means."

"So she found me instead," Nagisa sighs. Rio assumes she hears exasperation and relief mixed together in his sigh.

Megu looks at the computer screen. "Well, you are inconspicuous. No one would know if you're doing another job with your usual jotting habits." Rio agrees unanimously.

Nagisa sighs. "Karma-kun is gonna torture me if he ever finds out."

"Speaking about that devil," Megu says. "How did he get into Akari's apartment? That idiot! I told her to be careful yet she follows her precedent mistake! Who knows what Karma can do to her when she's asleep?!"

"Calm down. Ritsu's there too. She says Karma didn't do anything indecent to her…" Rio pauses. Megu glares at her to coerce her to continue. "…until he carried her into her bedroom." Her voice is tiny yet Megu can hear it.

"HE WHAAAAT?!" Megu furiously shakes Rio by her shoulders. Her nostrils are fuming with rage and agitation. Rio can see despite outraged, Megu has some slight blush on her face, as if she is playing the scene into an erotic direction in her mind.

"Calm down!" Rio slaps her cheeks. Megu regains her composure. "Nothing indecent happened… Probably." The last word comes out as a qualm. Ritsu doesn't know what happen next in the bedroom. She only knows that it took a while for Karma to exit the bedroom.

"A while can make all sorts of things possible!" Megu shouts infuriatingly after Rio explains further.

"I don't think Karma-kun can do anything," Nagisa says. "Akari-chan is a girl and she knows tae-kwondo while Karma-kun can—" Nagisa stops abruptly in mid-sentence. Doubt creases his eyebrows. "Oh wait. We're talking about Karma-kun. A lot of things can happen."

"Nagisa! You're not helping the situation!" Rio retorts while Nagisa sheepishly rubs his head. Megu mumbles about something like 'I'll kill Karma if he does anything to her'.

Rio rolls her eyes. "Look, if Karma does anything to her, we'll pulverize him. We'll wipe him off the face of Earth, ok, Megu?"

Megu sternly nods. She is serious about this. In fact, both of them are serious about this. Akari is their utmost concern. Anything happens to her means her best friends—Rio and Megu, will be there for her, and also exact revenge on her behalf.

Megu's eyebrows crease as she ponders on the matter at hand. "I don't know about Karma, but he wouldn't be my best choice for Akari. Hmm… maybe Isogai?"

"Isogai?!" Rio gasps. "You know he has a crush on her?"

Megu peers at her with disbelief. "Please. It's so obvious."

"Is it?" Rio questions silently. Megu has extraordinary keen sense of perception in people. But somehow it took that long for her to figure out what Rio and Nagisa is up to. If not for Rio's mistake, Megu probably doesn't even realize of their stalking—correction, observation mission.

"Isogai is a nice guy," Megu adds. "A little bit too nice. I mean, he's an ikemen. He's perfect. He has good looks, great personalities, enthusiastic in learning, a perfect leadership role model. But a lot of people have crushes on him."

Rio waves her hand in dismissal. "He's not like Maehara. So he's good in a way. And he's definitely the loyal kind. I bet Akari's the only thing on his mind."

"Karma-kun is a little bit unpredictable. Who knows what's he up to?" Nagisa says. "I believe both he and Akari are mere friends on the surface, but on the inside, I'm not sure what he thinks. Even after I gathered so much intelligence, his affection for her isn't evident. Maybe there are a few hints and clues, but I don't have solid proof just yet. But I did notice that he's protective of Akari against Isogai, though. Like she's his property."

"Boys," Megu sighs. "So predictable when they are in love."

"So does this mean…" Rio's voice trails off. She snickers. My Aka-chan sure is some hot stuff, huh? This is so exciting! Two candidates at once!

Megu and Nagisa nod unanimously. The photo Ritsu took says it all. No boy would have such eagerness to get close to a girl unless he likes her. Isogai is damn obvious. Karma tries to hide it well but it will soon be exposed to the world.

"Then what should we do?" Nagisa asks.

"Nagisa, you continue your observation on the boys," Megu replies. "Rio, you just focus on Akari-chan. Find out how she feels."

"OK!" both of them agree.

The trio snickers maliciously. "Let the battle for Akari's love, BEGIN!"

Akari

My uncle's mansion is located quite far from my apartment. It'll probably take 10 minutes of the train to reach there. It is a huge European-style mansion inherited from my grandparents. I used to live there with my parents and my uncle's family. But after they passed away, the huge building becomes empty. The hollow hallways lost its joyfulness, only to be replaced by an air of solitude. My uncle thus became the only man in the empty place. He always stays in his room, listening to the echoes that once roam the place—the voices of his wife, the laughter of his son. Whenever I step into the place, memories haunt me. I hear my mother's laughter as my father tells her stories from his work. I hear them calling my name whenever they see me. I feel their warmth as they hug me into their arms. I see my family and my uncle's family living with each other, laughing, eating and talking.

But those are distant memories. Memories I tried so hard to push away so that I'll never remember the pain that comes with it.

I decide to go back for dinner because I haven't seen my uncle for a while. Despite being a lonely man, he loves me a lot since I'm the only once left of his family and he mine.

My uncle is already in the dining room when I arrived. The maids lead me to my seat next to him. His eyes are glazed as he stares at the food served in front of him. When I sit, he looks at me. Happiness and joy replace that hollowness.

"Long time no see, Akari-chan," says Himura Shou, my uncle. He is my mother's younger brother. He's supposed to be in his fourties, but his look says otherwise. He dresses up shabbily, with a thatch of greying hair on his head. Despite looking old, he has a large build because he is a former martial arts expert. He is the one who taught me tae-kwondo. During my absence, he probably stressed himself out for staying alone and thus the old-man look.

"Hello, uncle. It's been awhile," I reply with a wide grin.

Uncle lights up a smile on his wrinkly face. "How's school? You like it?"

I nod as a maid serves a rack of lamb to me. I thank her. "No one seems to know about my past. But now my new friends do, they didn't loathe me. Instead they accept me. It feels… nice."

"That's good. You've finally found people you can depend on."

I smile. 3E is definitely more than friends to me. They are my comrades, my partners—my family. It is just a scant few months till 3E graduates. I treasure my time with them.

"How's your life, uncle? During my absence," I ask warily. Uncle didn't approve me leaving the mansion in the beginning, but slowly accepted the fact I need to start being independent. I did nestle under his wings for quite some time and it's about time to spread mine as I grow into adulthood. Thus he became the only one living in this huge mansion, aside from the maids and servants. Uncle treats them like family as well, but they can never replace blood.

He looks into the distant as if he is reminiscing his past. "The usual. Reading. Lounging. Working from my room. I reopened the dojo, by the way. I'm teaching younger kids now."

It's nice for him to find something to kill time. After the death of his family, he mourns for too long. A few months he stayed in his room, refusing to come out because he believed their death was partly his fault. Dwelling in that room where his family lived was like retuning to the past where none of the tragedies tainted his life. He completely cut ties from the world, even from us. My mother tried to console him but was fruitless. However, one day he did stopped mourning and came out from his room. Not because he thought things through. Not because he believed continue living his life was what his family would hope for.

Because that day was the day my parents died in an accident.

I didn't know how my uncle felt that day. It took me probably a year later to understand the look on his face—the poisonous concoction of despair, fear, horror and regret. He realized there's no one left except me. He has lost his family once again. He regretted not spending time with his beloved sister. He should have, should have come out that forsaken room that bounded him physically and mentally—the room where the voices of his wife and son echoed through the walls and resonated in his heart.

I can remember his words as he looked at me, holding in his tears so that he doesn't break down like I did.

"You're all that's left now. I'll take good care of you. I promise, Mamoru-neesan."

I am all that's left for him.

"The dojo? That's good," I reply. He worked as a CEO in a company from his room. Before that he has a dojo to train young kids and adults tae-kwondo. Interacting with younger kids can bring exuberance back to his face. I can see a little of life in his eyes as anticipation glimmer in them.

Uncle cuts a piece of lamb and eats it. "Did you manage to meet Rio-chan and Megu-chan?"

He knows them when I brought them here when I was in first grade. "Yeah. They're in the same class with me."

"So it must be fun in that class." My uncle isn't the stereotype guardian who thinks the best for their children is to join the elites at school. He lets me do whatever I want as long I'm happy. I'm also not the kind who rebels like an emotional teenager and do drugs or stuff. So he knows well to give me just enough freedom.

I smile widely. "Yes, it's fun." It's fun killing an octopus teacher with a bunch of friends. Not fun if you failed to do so the Earth will be destroyed next year.

"Did you find someone you are interested in? As in future husband potential?"

I choke and cough. "Seriously?" I can feel my cheeks redden.

He laughs like bells chiming. I haven't heard that beautiful laughter for some time and it's melody to my ears. Uncle has a nice laughter that spreads joy to everyone around him. It took him some time to resume his laughter after those unfortunate incidents. I used to tell him jokes so that he can laugh. He chuckled only to say my jokes were lame. Now, teasing me is a way of his entertainment and I don't mind at all. As long as he's happy, I'm happy.

"Well, you are old enough," he says.

"Uh yeah. Whatever."

"Come on, you're a pretty girl growing after your mother. Your mother used to have lots of suitors till she found your father. He's a nice guy, but he's a little… too chirpy? Maybe she likes chirpier men."

I remember my mother was pretty, but her face was a blur. I can't recall her distinguishable features that made her a beauty. But I do remember my father's optimistic way of living. He was chirpy as he always makes my mother laugh no matter what he did.

"I don't even have a boyfriend," I say, stuffing my mouth with the delicious food. I try to distract him away from the sensitive topic which tormented me quite a while now.

"Hmm… maybe a crush?"

I choke again and he laughs.

"I don't have one either!" I retort. My face is burning.

"But I believe there are good-looking boys in your class." He taps his chin as if he tries to remember something important. "What is his name again? Isogai?"

I peer at him. "Seriously? You investigated my entire class?" My uncle has developed a stalking hobby and it's mortifying.

He ignores me and continues to mumble. "Maehara? No. He looks like a playboy. Hmm… what's the other's name again?" He turns to me. "You know, the one who stands out in your class."

"Karma?" I respond automatically then clamp my mouth. My uncle has a way of luring innocent people into his traps unknowingly. I always fell for it.

"Oh. So he's called Karma. Weird name. But there are so many boys in your class but you thought of only that name?" He smirks. That smirk reminded me of that annoying redhead. "How interesting."

I sigh. "Can you please turn your hobby onto someone else instead of me?"

"Well, you are my niece. What's better than to tease my own niece?"

I sigh with exasperation. I need to divert his attention from the current topic. "So… did those voices come to you anymore?" I carefully tiptoe over the subject which is supposed to be a taboo. Once I asked him without being careful and he was mad at me for some time.

He takes a sip from his juice. "They come when I ask them to. But at least they don't bother me that much anymore. I can't completely block them. No, I don't want to cut them off. These voices are the only proof that Misaki and Yuji-chan ever existed. Photos are too hollow. They have no soul in it. Voices remind me of the times I spent with them. Their voices keep me living till now. I can hear them, asking me to live on. Asking me to bring good to this world where they can never contribute."

His glassy eyes look to the family photo framed in front of him. It is a younger version of Uncle, with a beautiful blonde, my aunt, Misaki and their lovechild, Yuji, a teenager with neatly-cut hair. Standing next to them was my family—my father, tall yet scrawny, Okumura Akira. I have the cerulean eyes he had, which is my mother claimed to be the only thing on him that's handsome. My mother stood next to him, a gorgeous elegant lady with dark brown hair that I inherited from—Himura Mamoru. I finally remember how my mother looked like. She was indeed a beautiful brunette, with glimmering jade orbs and a sweet smile—though I recall she is straightforward, dauntless, quick-witted woman that contradicts her appearance. My father said she was cunning to trick him into loving her. My mother would retort saying he had already fallen for her yet timid to confess so she had to take the initiative. A younger version of me stood in front of them, while their hands rested on my shoulders.

Uncle turns to me. "Do you hear them too?"

"Sometimes whenever I come back here. I see them. I feel them… I…" I can feel tears brimming as my recollection of them flash before my eyes.

I miss them a lot.

He pats my head. "Maybe we should change the topic. It's too solemn." He smiles. "Well then, tell me more about this Karma. How long have you been together?"

"Uncle!" I shout as I glare at him. For him to change the topic so quick just to tease me is annoying. But I understand why he does this. Staying in our memories doesn't help us move forward. He knows when I'm about to cry he'll too cry. At least, he doesn't seem to be burden by their deaths anymore since he is so much interested in my love life instead. Maybe while it serves as my distraction, it becomes his as well.

Fine, he can tease me all he wants. I make a pact with myself. As long as he can keep moving forward like his family wanted him to.

He hums. "Maybe not Karma. I hear he's a delinquent. Maybe Isogai? From his looks I know he's the 100% perfect boy."

I let him talk without disrupting him. But I'm dying on the inside.

"Isogai… I think I heard that name before… where did I hear it before?"

My face is planted on the table. "If you say you hear it from a clairvoyant that he will be my future husband or so, I'll slam my head through the wall," I grumble.

"No no no. I really did hear it before somewhere." Uncle contemplates the matter seriously. "But your idea is good. I'll go to a clairvoyant and divine your future. This house needs some children laughter. I'm counting on you to make some."

I cry from exasperation. "Make some?"

"Then I can have grandchildren to play with. Ahh… it'll be nice! I'll be a granduncle!" He nods fiercely as he revels in his fantasies and aspiration—my nightmare.

Dear Uncle, you should go adopt children. That is the fastest way to get children laughter in your mansion. Please don't count on me. I still need to live my life before I decide to let children take away my freedom.

But I can't help to smile at how lively my uncle is. I wish he'll never be bound by the chains of the past again. I wish he'll become a free man of his future. I wish…

I wish our family is still here with us.

This chapter lacks romance because I think it's too much last chapter. It delves into Akari's past. I hope you like this:D Please review so I can know how you feel about chapters like this.

##I'm sorry for any confusion made from the Chapter 2. I've stated that Akari dislikes her uncle but now I have cut off that sentence. Fear not! Akari doesn't dislike her uncle XD Sorry for the mistake.

Reviews:

Scarlet0127: The cover is all thanks to P-Neko. Karma winning the battle? Not so sure about that yet XD ( I still got plenty of ideas)

Animeandfangirl: sorry, but Akari is not wearing a bathing suit. My description is kinda bad perhaps… sorry… she's actually wearing a cotton cosplay costume that looks like Happy from FT.

SilverSapphire34523: Happy is cuuuute and Fro is too! We're cover buddies! Yay! Update ASAP, don't worry!

Mikila94: Don't worry if things advance too fast because I got plenty of interludes upcoming. It'll take some time to catch up the manga perhaps.

TomoUchiiSan: Thanks!