Chapter 11: Beware
Ayamei knocked on Juline's front door in the freezing rain. Juline answered after a few seconds and let her in. "The whole family wants to kill you," Juline began, "They think you killed my father…But you and I both know who did it if I know you correctly." Ayamei remain standing. She had no clue what to do or say.
"You've got to stay away from most of them or they'll try to kill you," Juline explained. "Juline…Why all of a sudden do you care about me now? Nine years ago, you acted like I didn't even exist," Ayamei finally said. "Nine years ago…After her, that weekend…You weren't the only one who wanted to die," Juline looked down at the floor.
"What happened?" Ayamei asked, sitting down on the floor. "I…I…I remember, my husband yelled at me until you came. Then…I left. I wanted you to come with me so bad. But I couldn't cross him," Juline said, sitting down next to Ayamei. For the first time, Ayamei noticed that she and Juline's eyes were the same color.
"Why? What are you talking about?" Ayamei asked, getting a little angry. Juline looked back down at the floor again, "He…He'd hit me. He always did ever since the day I was married to him…I hated him…Constantly, he'd pound on my back." Ayamei observed Juline's actions closely. "She reminds me of someone…Someone I've met. But I don't know who anymore," Ayamei thought.
"Uh…So who did you leave with?" Ayamei asked after a few minutes of thinking. "A friend," Juline replied quickly, "Just a friend." "Uh, okay. So is there anything else I need to know?" Ayamei asked. "Um, no that's all I can say for now," Juline said, standing up. Ayamei stood up as well and headed for the door. "If something happens, please let me know," said Juline, hugging Ayamei.
"Wow, I haven't hugged her since I was seven," Ayamei thought. Just then, something finally hit her: Did Juline know about Toshiki's death? "Juline, there's one more question I have to ask you before I go: What happened to your husband?" Ayamei questioned. "I know what you did. Thank you," Juline replied. "But how do—" "Don't worry about it right now," Juline answered, cutting Ayamei off.
Later: Ayamei opened the door to Shikamaru's apartment and walked in. He was lying on his back, on the floor. "Hey, what took?" he asked. "Oh, you're up. Uh, my aunt Juline wanted to see me," Ayamei answered, hopping over Shikamaru, onto the couch. "Okay," Shikamaru said. "Man…" Ayamei sighed, "I'm tired."
"So what happened?" Shikamaru asked. "She's sayin' that my whole "family" wants to kill me pretty much," Ayamei began, "It's because her husband, my rapist, killed her father, and most of them think I did." "Oh man, but you did kill her husband, right?" Shikamaru questioned. "Yea, I did that purposely," Ayamei answered. "But do her sons know?" he asked. "I don't know," she responded.
"Damn, I hate talkin' to him about this! It's all a drag for him. I shouldn't do this to him," Ayamei thought. "What is it?" Shikamaru asked, reading Ayamei's body language. He could tell she was thinking about something and that her mind was wandering. "Oh, it's nothing really. I gotta get somethin' to eat," Ayamei answered, sitting up, "Did you eat somethin'?" "Uh…No," Shikamaru responded.
Later: Ayamei and Shikamaru lay on the floor in the living room. They had just got out of a pointless conversation. "Shikamaru, I can't stand hospitals," Ayamei whispered out of the clear blue. "Huh? What's so wrong with them?" he questioned, whispering back. "Everything: Their smell, the needles, and the people. I just hate it all so much," Ayamei shivered.
"Okay?" he said, suggesting that she go on. "If something happens and I wind up in a hospital, you better stay with me, the whole time," Ayamei continued, almost falling asleep. "I'll be there," Shikamaru promised, falling asleep. Ayamei moved a little closer to him and kissed him. After kissing him, she fell asleep too.
