A Life worth Living
Disclaimer: I do not own SkipBeat or any of its characters.
Maria was a child lost in bitterness and guilt until the strange short-haired, golden-eyed Kyoko came along and changed her life forever. Now Kyoko is at it again, giving Maria a challenge she just can't pass up. In the process, Kyoko will make her own amazing discovery.
Chapter 11 – Akiko
Maria was delivered to the set bright and early the next morning. She had a moment of concern when she saw how distracted Kyoko was, but it didn't last. Kyoko saw Maria and her conflicted expression turned instantly into a bright smile. "Good morning, Maria-chan. All studied up and ready to go?"
Maria smiled. "Of course, Onee-sama." One thing that she admired about Kyoko was her attitude about work. Whatever else went on in her world, when the set went "hot," Kyoko was ready. Kyoko automatically expected the same from Maria, which the twelve year old took as the highest possible compliment. She wasn't just a walk-on, she was a cast-member, and Kyoko accepted her as an actress.
"Good morning, ladies," Harada-san's rich, deep voice startled both young ladies. Maria noticed that Kyoko was a little flustered, but she couldn't understand why. Harada was alone, walking with a cane. One of the school custodians stood by a car in the parking lot.
Kyoko bowed, and then felt silly. "Harada-sensei, you're early. I wasn't expecting to see you until around ten.
Odd, Maria thought, I didn't think that he was supposed to be here until this afternoon.
"I asked Principal Kamo for the day off," Harada replied. "I wanted to listen to the performance before our appointment."
Appointment? Maria looked over to see Kyoko's flushed face. What exactly… And then Maria remembered her onee-sama's words from the previous day. So… whatever secret she was talking about must have something to do with Harada-sensei. Grrr… I hate not knowing!
"Mogami-san, Takarada-san," a voice called, "We need you in make-up!"
Kyoko and Maria led Harada to a chair near the set and then excused themselves.
[Dr. Mikado paces the floor in Dr. Itami's spacious office. He is clearly agitated and angry. Dr. Itami opens the door, walks in, and shuts it behind him. He looks at Mikado sadly, then walks behind his desk and takes a seat.
"How dare you humiliate me in front of the patients and staff?!" Dr. Mikado said as he walked up and loomed over the desk.
"Please sit down, Doctor," Itami answered patiently.
"You have the audacity to tell me to go to your office! Like I'm some kind of…"
"SIT DOWN, Doctor Mikado!" Itami shut off the younger man's tirade with his firmly spoken command. He glared at the younger man until he was sitting, "What I did in the chapel was to prevent you from making a bigger fool of yourself than you were already doing. I didn't humiliate you, you were humiliating yourself AND the professional staff of this hospital. What is the first rule of the medical profession, Doctor Mikado?"
Dr. Mikado glared at the older man, who met his gaze and held it. "First do no harm," he answered softly.
"I'm sorry, I don't believe that I heard you."
"First do no harm!" Dr. Mikado repeated angrily.
"Good, you know that much. But you decide to verbally attack a clinically depressed patient whose only crime was to protect another patient from your unreasonable attitude. Did you even notice that Hattori Akiko was interacting with another human being?"
Dr. Mikado continued to look stubborn, but his eyebrows furrowed. "That's right," Itami continued, "furthermore, she actually talked to Ishida Tomiko! After more than two years we have a breakthrough and you almost threw it all away!"
"I suppose next your going to send Akiko off to that charlatan's school? You have one freak talking to another freak, and suddenly you're going to throw out the book and make your own rules?"
Dr. Itami looked at the younger man sadly, "'Freak,' Doctor? In one word you've just managed to explain why you haven't helped one patient in the last two years that you've been with us. I'm afraid that you don't have what it takes to work in this facility. Clean out your locker, Doctor, you no longer have a job here."
Dr. Mikado's eyes widened in shock, "You can't fire me! I'm the best-trained physician and psychiatrist you have!"
Dr. Itami leaned back, both hands flat on his desk, "That's why I hired you, Mikado-san. But all of your book-learning didn't teach you one ounce of compassion. You have thirty minutes to be out of this building."]
[Dr. Asai, Maestro Shimada, Tomiko and Akiko sit in the Doctor's office. Akiko sits right next to Tomiko, holding her hand.
"Well, it seems that Hattori-san has attached herself to you. That does present a few problems," Dr. Asai said, watching the two girls.
"What problem? Keep that quack away from her and she'll be fine. Better yet, send her home with me," Tomiko said defiantly. Shimada raised an eyebrow in amused surprise as he looked at Asai's scowling face.
"As I said, a few problems," Dr. Asai started counting off on her fingers, oblivious to the fact that Tomiko couldn't see her, "One: she is not blind. Two: you are a student, not a teacher and not a physician. Three: she is listed as clinically depressed, so she isn't allowed to leave."
Shimada remained silent as he looked back and forth between the lady doctor and the two girls. His face showed the intensity of his thoughts.
Tomiko was clearly unimpressed with the Doctor's reasoning, "I'll give you some numbers of my own, Doctor Asai. One: you said that she's been here for two years. What good has it done her? Two: she will speak with me. She's scared of that other jerk. Three: I'm supposed to be clinically depressed, but you let Sensei take me." Then Tomiko turned her blind eyes towards the smaller girl. Her voice softened slightly, "And Four: does it look like she's letting go anytime soon?"
Before Asai could answer, Shimada spoke up, "Tomiko-san, you haven't shown any interest before this week in anyone else. Why are you suddenly getting serious about a girl you've never met before one hour ago?"
Tomiko started to reply sharply and then stopped. She used her free hand to feel Akiko's hand. Then she touched Akiko's face, examining her features, "I don't know, Sensei. But she found me, and I have to protect her." Tomiko slowly moved her hand back to rest on her lap.
"What if she gets on your nerves, or cramps your movements, or becomes a bore? What then? She is not a pet you can adopt. Hattori Akiko is a twelve year old girl with serious life issues. Are you ready to deal with that?" Shimada spoke calmly and seriously, one adult speaking with another.
As the two older people watched, Tomiko's face became a mask of conflicting emotions. She reached a tentative hand towards the younger girl's face again, stopping mid-reach. Akiko reached for the hand and pressed it against her face. Tomiko's expression was suddenly filled with wonder, as if she were recognizing another human being for the first time. Abruptly she stood up, as if to escape the intensity of her emotions. Akiko began to stand up as well, but Shimada waved a hand, making it clear with his eyes that she should wait.
Finally, Tomiko squared her shoulders, "I would need help from others, but yes, I can deal with her. If she can't go with me, then I will remain here with her." Her words had an air of finality about them. Akiko stood then and went to her side.
Dr. Asai leaned back, rubbing the bridge of her nose with two fingers, "Dr. Itami's going to have my hide for this."
Shimada wasn't finished, "One more thing. Hattori Akiko, I know that you can hear and understand my words. If you won't speak with me and with my staff, then we can't help you. Do you understand what Tomiko-san is asking us to do here?"
Akiko looked skittishly at the friendly, elderly man. Then she looked up at Tomiko's face. Tomiko, sensing that the girl was looking at her, nodded and squeezed the girl's hand. "Yes."
Shimada smiled his kindest smile, "'Yes' what, Akiko-san?"
"Yes," she repeated softly, "I understand... please?"]
[Tomiko and Akiko sit at the piano in the chapel again. Akiko is paying attention as Tomiko teaches her.
Maestro Shimada, Dr. Asai, and Dr. Itami stand at the door. Itami allows the door to shut so that the three can talk in the hallway.
Dr. Itami crossed his arms and held his chin with one hand, "It was different with Ishida. She's nineteen years old. But Hattori is twelve. Granted, she's our ward, since her parents are dead. But if word of this leaks out…"
"But this is the first time that she's spoken a single word. Tomiko-san even got her to speak with Maestro Shimada." Dr. Asai clearly wanted to say more, but she understood the gravity of the problem herself.
Dr. Itami turned and looked out of the window on the other side of the hall. Piano played softly and haltingly in the background as the elderly doctor held that position.
The scene switches to the two girls playing in the room. The camera is filming through the wired glass of the door. Tomiko is showing Akiko how to position her hands better to reach a note. The scene fades back and switches to show Itami's face as the light outside of the window illuminates his worried features.
Shimada spoke up, "What if we had a psychiatrist on-site at least part of the day?"
"What are you suggesting," Itami asked.
Shimada looked at Dr. Asai. The lady doctor's eyes went wide, "Wait a minute. I have responsibilities here. I can't just drop everything for one patient."
"What if you just stayed there during the evenings?" Dr. Itami asked.
"Doctor! She's not even my patient! She's assigned to Dr. Mikado."
"Dr. Mikado is no longer working for us, Asai-san."
Dr. Asai's eyes grew even wider. She met the chief doctor's eyes, and then looked past him through the rectangular glass in the door to where the girls played piano.
The scene fades after focusing in on the girls again. Akiko is plunking out her first tune on her own.]
oOoOOoOo
Lunch was called. The studio where they were filming the hospital scenes was only five minutes away from LME. In the interests of discretion, Ren picked Kyoko and Harada up as soon as a break was called, and drove them to LME. Lory's personal physician was there waiting for them. It took less than five minutes to collect the necessary samples.
In two days they would know the truth. Ren couldn't tell whether his wife or Harada was more nervous. I hope that I haven't gotten her hopes up for no reason. But when he glanced into the rear-view mirror and saw the reflection of the older man's sightless golden eyes, Ren was more certain than ever.
oOoOOoOo
[Dr. Asai pulls her car up next to the van, in front of the school compound. She climbs out of her car and waits as Shimada, Tomiko, and Akiko climb out of the van.
"This is a two-day trial-period, ladies. Akiko still has to come with me to the hospital during the day, but she will be allowed to spend the next two evenings and nights here. Dr. Itami is a very good man, and he's sticking his neck out here." She did not mention the fact that she was doing the same thing. They were all highly aware of Dr. Mikado's powerful family connections.
Akiko held Tomiko's hand as the four of them walked along the garden path toward the left wing. Akiko, for the first time, took an interest in her surroundings. The ornamental bushes and trees were wonderful, and she was trying to look in every direction at once. There was a student trimming one of the hedges. Akiko stopped to watch, pulling Tomiko up short.
"Akiko-chan?"
"She's just watching Namiko-san sculpting a hedge. It is quite beautiful," Shimada said, clearly pleased that Akiko was taking an interest. Then he turned to Tomiko, "Have you apologized to her yet?"
Akiko and Dr. Asai looked back and forth between the teacher and Tomiko, "I haven't," the girl replied, "I have honestly tried to, but I can never seem to get her to stop and talk to me."
Akiko's face became decisive. She ran over to where the other girl was trimming the hedge. The doctor and Shimada watched, perplexed. After a short minute Akiko was leading a reluctant Namiko over to the path. "Here she is, Onee-sama," Akiko said softly.
Tomiko looked startled, "Onee-sama? Um… Akiko-chan, who's here?"
Namiko, having heard Tomiko's voice, began to look angry and was trying to pull back, but Akiko was determined. Shimada spoke up, "Namiko-san, what's our rule about conflict?"
Namiko stopped struggling and slumped a little in embarrassment, "Never let the sun go down on your anger."
Before Shimada could speak again, Tomiko spoke, "Namiko-san, I'm truly sorry for how I treated you on that first day. I was… it was a bad… I won't make an excuse. I was wrong."
Namiko seemed to leave the moment hanging, "Shimada-sensei told me that I shouldn't have rushed you. I'm sorry too," she heaved a sigh of relief. "At least I didn't throw away all of your CD's like I was going to."
Tomiko's face turned red, "You... have my CD's?" Her face became pensive, "Maybe you should have thrown them away."
"Oh no, are you crazy? They're great. I even have the one you made when you were seven."
Tomiko groaned in embarrassment, "Maybe, if you've forgiven me, you could promise not to play them for anyone else?"
"But… but… everyone's already heard them, Tomiko-san; lots of times."
Dr. Asai's eyes met Shimada's as she covered her mouth to hide her laughter at Tomiko's horrified expression.]
[Maestro Shimada stood in front of the packed dining room with Dr. Asai. Tomiko and Akiko are not in the room.
"Students, faculty, I've told everyone here my story. When I lost my wife all that I wanted to do was die. I attempted suicide twice, and would have done so again, had it not been for Doctor Asai. He devoted his life to helping lost souls such as myself. He even helped me to found this school. Standing next to me is Dr. Asai Nori. She has followed in her father's footsteps. She is Ishida Tomiko's attending psychiatrist. You have also probably already heard through the school's gossip-line that there is a new girl here; a girl who is not blind?"
There were murmurs at this. Not every student seemed especially happy to have an able-bodied girl running around the school. Shimada spoke again, "Please remember that this is a school for the broken, not just for the blind. Over the years we have specialized in helping those who have lost their sight, but that is not exclusive." He paused to let his words sink in, "Please welcome Dr. Asai. She has a few words for you."
"Thank you, Maestro. Hattori Akiko is a twelve year-old girl who has undergone an extremely traumatic experience. She has not spoken for the last two years, until today. She barely interacted with any other human beings either. But today she opened up to Tomiko-san. After that she has interacted with me and Shimada-sensei and even another young lady from this school. We want to capitalize on this breakthrough, so we are allowing her to remain with Tomiko-san for a short trial-period.
"Neither Tomiko-san nor Akiko-san are out of danger yet. I am not at liberty to discuss their cases with you. But I do know that Shimada-sensei is very open and honest with you about the need to care for each other and to assist each other in times of need. Today both girls may be pleasant to you. Tomorrow one or the other, or even both, may be rude. Please be tolerant. Certain behaviors are unacceptable, of course. All we ask of you is the same respect and care that you were shown when you were brought here."]
oOoOOoOo
Maria's time was up and it was time for afternoon school. Kyoko gave her a big hug, "You were wonderful, Maria-chan. I love the way you play Akiko."
Maria smiled brightly, "That's because I have the best character actress in the world for an example." She suddenly looked tentative, as if wanting to ask a question, "Kyoko-chan… your secret…"
Kyoko knelt down a little so that they were at eye-level, "Soon, Maria-chan, I promise. Things are a little… confusing right now. In two days, no matter what happens, I'll tell you. I promise."
Maria heard her chauffer calling, "Okay, Onee-chan. I'll wait. Ja-mata."
As she watched the pretty blond girl climb into the back seat of the Rolls-Royce, Kyoko sighed, Two days is going to seem like forever.
oOoOOoOo
A very handsome young Japanese man sat with one ankle resting on his other knee. His eyes never left the boarding gate as he waited for the first boarding call. Even when several young ladies tried to flirt, his gaze remained fixedly in-place. His face was set in a pleasant smile, so nobody around him had the slightest idea of the dark and dangerous thoughts racing through his mind.
"Good afternoon and your attention please: We will now begin boarding first-class passengers for Flight 867, direct to Tokyo. Please have your boarding pass and passport ready as you approach the attendant."
Notes: Before anyone writes to say that it doesn't make sense for Tomiko, or Akiko for that matter, to be so cheerful, let me write this in my defense. One of the frustrating problems with depression is that it is hard for a layman to spot precisely because the person is not always depressed. Often a person with clinical depression will have wonderful, uplifting days in the middle of the worst periods of depression. (No, I'm not providing spoilers here.)
Just because the two girls have found each-other as friends doesn't mean that either is out of danger. On the contrary, crippling depression can attack suddenly, often when the person is alone with nobody to keep him or her from injury. Mood shifts are also common. One day a person may be pleasant, the next day she may offend everyone around her.