Hello! Just letting you know, I haven't abandoned you, just having a bit of writer's block and being busy with region band and all that. Fourth chair in the region, in caaaase you were wondering (You probably weren't, but oh well, I've told you). But here's the next chapter, hope you enjoy...

xx

13: NAUSEATING

Gumi cleared her throat and tapped the microphone. She felt so uncomfortable, so out of place. But Mikuo had asked her to do this, and she owed him so much.

So she started singing.

"Sleeping soundly, I have a dream
Of your profile
Without noticing the overflowing tears
That are running down my cheeks
I've hidden the heartrending
Throbs that are in this chest"

There was a girl sobbing in the front row of the assembly. People turned their heads down respectively, trying to avoid looking at the girl. Gumi assumed she had some kind of connection to Akegata Rai. She kept singing, looking straight ahead.

When she hit the high notes on the chorus on "Last night, Good night", the crowd did something amazing. Every single Matryoshka joined pinkies and began to sway back and forth, staring at Gumi and looking somber. The girl in the front cried harder, and her eyeliner ran down her face in ugly streaks.

… … … … … … … … …

"No offense, and I know this sounds horrible," Gumi said, leaning against the back wall of Mikuo's office and swirling her hot chocolate with a spoon. "But haven't a whole bunch of people died here? Do you have a funeral like that for all of them?"

"In the old days we wouldn't. But a casualty is so rare these days it's pretty tragic. Kind of reminds everyone of what it was like a two years ago." Mikuo replied. He dropped a few marshmallows in Gumi's cup and sat across from her, Indian style.

"Is Luka okay? I know her arm…" Gumi trailed off, seeing the expression on Mikuo's face.

"Can we kind of…not talk about it anymore?" He fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "I'm kind of feeling sick just thinking about it. All of my friends…so close to…" He cleared his throat, shook his head rapidly. "Anyway. I have an idea."

"An idea for what?"

"For a way to cheer up. Come on." And he stood up, dragging Gumi to her feet. He dug around his office closet, murmuring to himself. Then, finally, he whipped out two pairs of…ice skates.

Makeshift ice skates, sloppily built with scrap metal and suede, laced together with string. Gumi stared at them, her heart pounding. There were memories racing through her head now, and not very good ones, either. She shoved them out of her mind and smiled at Mikuo.

"What are those for?"

"What do you think?" He grinned back and opened the door. Then he stood aside and gestured grandly. "Apres-vous, my lady."

Blushing, Gumi stepped out into the hall, followed closely by the blue haired boy. As they made their way to the elevator, he slipped his hand into hers and whispered, "This is going to be fun."

… … … … … … … …

"You haven't lived until you've skated here. This exact spot. The Matryoshka pond." Mikuo did a little hop in his crude skates, wobbling a bit before eventually crashing to the ice. Gumi had to fight the urge to laugh, and flew out to help him, gliding gracefully across the shimmering pond before coming to a smooth halt in the center.

Mikuo blinked up at her. "How…?"

"Mom went through a phase where she wanted me to be a figure skater. Twenty classes later she changed her mind. But I still remember." Gumi said, helping him to his feet. She did a little twirl in place. The ice was a perfect consistency, and the pond was surrounded by trees and frosted bushes.

"What did you want to be?" Mikuo asked curiously, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

Gumi thought. She'd never really thought about it. Mom and Dad were too busy shoving their plans down her throat. Piano lessons. Skating classes. French. But Mommy, I want to be a singer like Hirano-san. I want to be like Yui. Don't be stupid, Gumi. Singing is for stupid, silly little girls. You're going to be a skater and go to the Olympics. No, you're going to be a doctor. No, take piano lessons and become a prodigy. You don't want to? What was that? Excuse me? You'll do what I tell you and like it-

"Gumi?"

Gumi blinked and turned to look at Mikuo. With a very serious expression, he placed his hands on her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes. For a minute Gumi thought he might kiss her. Her heart started racing and her hands started shaking.

But he said in a low, dramatic voice, "I'll race you to the other side."

Gumi laughed and said, "You don't even have a chance."

"Yeah? Loser has to carry the winner home."

"That's a dumb punishment."

"Well I'm tired and I don't want to walk."

Gumi rolled her eyes and grinned, swiveling around to face the opposite end of the wide pond. Mikuo counted them off- "Ready, set….NOW."

They took off. Gumi was in the lead by several feet, her skates taking long strides, the wind in her hair. Mikuo struggled to even stay upright, and by the time she reached the other side he had fallen again, laughing and writhing on the ice.

The walk back was short, which was good, since Gumi was taller and bustier than her blue-haired friend. But somehow, he managed to carry her honeymoon-style all the way home.

They reentered through Gakupo's office, laughing at the ridiculousness. Gakupo looked up from his desk and raised an eyebrow. "Chief was looking for you."

"Really?" Mikuo put Gumi down, smoothing out his hair. He looked embarrassed- he had screwed up again. "What did she want?"

"Oh, not you." Gakupo waved a dismissive hand at Mikuo, who frowned. "Gumi."

… … … … …. … … … … … …

"Come in."

Gumi entered nervously, looking around the Chief Matryoshka's office with discomfort. "Sorry, Mikuo and I were just…"

Miku raised an eyebrow. "It's fine. Sit." The floor was bare. The entire office was bare, much like all the other rooms in this place. It wasn't a surprise- most of the ghost towns in Japan had been stripped of all valuable items years ago as thieves and rich people made their way into the new major cities. All set for the homeless to move in and take their place.

The office was bare, Gumi knew, except for a single portrait behind her. She had barely glanced at it on her way in, but she saw immediately that it was the Hatsune family. Little Mikuo and his big sister, looking happy. Now, as Gumi approached the chief sitting cross-legged on the floor, she saw the permanent damage behind her eyes, the scars and bruises that constantly covered her body, and a reserved detachment from the world.

Miku started speaking as soon as Gumi took a seat across from her.

"I don't know if you heard me say something about a traitor yesterday," She began, fiddling with the hem of her button-down shirt. Despite their lack of resources and poverty, Miku always managed to stay well-dressed and classy, Gumi had noticed.

Gumi nodded. Something was wrong. A chill ran up her spine and she waited for Miku to continue.

"Well, it's obvious. We either have a traitor within us, or another gang somehow planted a recording device in this very room. And Gakupo and I personally check this office for interference once a week, so that's out." She looked at Gumi with something in her eyes like sadness, and said quietly, "People are going to think it's you."

Gumi blinked. "Wh-What?"

"It's very convenient. You arrive a week before Meiko is captured and our hijack is sabotaged. You strangely know nothing about the Matryoshka, even though every one else does. You won't say anything about your past or history."

"I…I don't even…" Gumi couldn't get a sentence out. But she was slowly standing up, the anger boiling her insides, making her hot, she had to open a window, she had to…

Miku held up her hands. "I'm not saying you are the traitor. I'd find it hard to believe, to be honest- you're shit when it comes to street smarts. But I am saying that at some point in time they're going to come after you. Ever heard of mob mentality? One person finds a scapegoat, the rest will follow like idiotic little sheep."

Len swung open the door then, without knocking. "Chief? You're needed on the roof. It's urgent."

Miku sighed. She turned to Gumi one last time and gave her a half-hearted pat on the shoulder. "You'll be fine, I'm sure. Just warning you." And brushed past the girl without another word.

Gumi stood frozen in the Chief's office. Mob mentality. Scapegoat. Traitor. Images of a policeman beating beaten half to death for the enjoyment of the Matryoshka filled her mind. Slowly, after one last glance at the portrait of the regal Hatsune family, she turned and left the office, slamming the door behind her.