Authors Note: We accidentally wrote 22 pages. We are not even like two chapters into the new document and we already have nearly 50 pages. This chapter was also planned for like ... earlier than this. I want to say like chapter 10 maybe? I don't even know anymore.
Chapter 14: Impact
Sunday, March 9, 2008
I'm going out with Ayaka today to buy a film camera. A digital one is too easy to take advantage of ... just like memories.
It's amazing honestly how one small change can drastically alter the course of things. How a scenario can be so similar but leagues apart. I can't help but wonder what changes were in the past, and how much of that is a lie as well. I'm still alphabetizing everything, but it's a bit difficult because there is so much contradictory things. I can't help but feel that perhaps the same memory has more than one "versions."
Takato called to check up on me when Henry and Rika told him what happened. I told him I was doing OK ... he tends to worry a lot. Which is sweet. Wish he had more courage to act though still. Maybe in the past he did? Maybe in the past we even dated ...
Ah, but I'm over that now! I'm with Kazu. He's very loyal and always trying to please me. He isn't afraid to let me know he loves me! I feel special when I'm with him ... although I do want to repair his and Takato's friendship. It's kind of hard to balance out time between the two of them. Sometimes I feel like I'm cheating by spending time with the Tamers a lot ...
Oh that's right! For future reference me, if you lose your memories again, the Tamers are Rika Nonaka, Henry Wong and of course Takato Matsuki. Remember Digimon? They're real! I'm a Tamer too ... but Leomon died. A demon killed him. It's still a little blurry, and my chest hurts each time I think about it ...
Still ... it feels like it's a bit too ... much. Everything. And that voice ... sadness can be deleted. I never seen Henry and Rika look so scared afterwards. I don't really remember much after Renamon - Rika's partner by the way, she's a ghost, it's complicated, so just ask Rika to explain things - used hypnotism to return my memories. Apparently I was able to correctly identify things I wasn't told before or something? I'm not sure. It hurts to think about it. They didn't really expand on things beyond "it was creepy."
Part of me honestly is upset that I got dragged back into ... this. The other half is though ... I can't leave them. This involves me too, and just because things are scary doesn't mean I should turn tail and run. Leomon said I had a lion's heart. I'm not sure if I do but...
Jeri's phone buzzed, breaking her from her thoughts. Raising her pen from the page, she looked down at the whining electronic next to her. On the screen, Ayaka's name flashed.
Carefully bookmarking her place to continue later, she shoved the diary she had started writing in to organize her thoughts under her pillow and answered the phone.
"Took you long enough," came Ayaka's voice from the other end. "It took a whole three seconds for you to answer. What? Did you forget that we were going out today?"
"I'm so sorry that I wasn't fast enough to pick up the phone," Jeri replied with a smile, happy to hear her friend's voice again after what seemed to be so long as she got off her bed. "Next time I'll do better. Can you ever forgive me?"
"I'm sure I can think of something…" Ayaka replied, her voice carrying a Cheshire Cat grin behind it. "Maybe if you buy me a Nishiko-Kun while we're out, I might forgive you…"
"If I have any money left over," she hummed, grinning a bit as she peeked into her wallet. She should have more than enough for a good camera - she didn't want a terrible one which would break as soon as she used it. If that thing ever messed with her mind again ... she wanted concrete proof. Not just in general, but for herself as well.
"Don't you worry, Jeri," Ayaka chuckled. "I'll be sure to get you a good deal. I know some people at the shop I'm taking you to. They owe me." A pause. "Hey, how come you're suddenly so interested in photography? You used to just listen politely to me whenever I talked to you about it but you didn't show any…you know. Interest."
"Well ..." Jeri paused as she slipped on her shoes, putting her wallet into her purse as well as her keys, trying to think of anything else she might need. She wondered if Ayaka would believe her if she told her - they were best friends after all, weren't they?
But I didn't even believe in it at first, she thought, frowning a bit.
"What if I told you I wanted to photograph ghosts?" she asked lightly, deciding that the super watered down version which didn't even capture a droplet of the insanity which was happening would be easiest to start with.
Ayaka tsked over the line. "Well that figures. You've always been determined to find proof." A sigh. "Far be it from me to stop you from pursuing your dreams. I'll be there in a few minutes. Be ready."
"Thanks Ayaka," Jeri said, smiling over the phone. Even if she didn't understand, Jeri was happy that her friend was accepting of her explanation for the moment.
Someday I'll tell her the whole story. When we get proof, Jeri promised herself internally.
"I'll see you in a few minutes."
"Okay," Ayaka replied before the phone beeped, signaling that the call was at an end.
###
Ayaka stood by a lamp post, idly browsing on her phone, waiting for Jeri to arrive. She didn't believe she had long to wait as Jeri tended to be punctual no matter how far away she lived. Shibuya, Shinjuku...heck, even if she were in the States, Ayaka believed Jeri was the only one who could believe she would be late to something and still arrive on time.
It's like the girl has a built-in space-time device in her or something, she thought before grimacing at the thought. Jeez… I really did spend too much time around Takato and Kazu. Ugh. Can't believe she still wants to hang out with them.
"Ayaka!" Almost as if on cue as the minute turned to the designated meeting time, Jeri arrived waving her arm as she panted, jogging toward her. Slowing down to a brisk walk, she smiled at her. "Sorry, did you wait long?"
"Jeri, you couldn't make a person wait at all, I swear," Ayaka replied, locking her phone and pocketing it. She gave her friend a quick once over with a critical eye. "Looking cute today," she noted. "Where's the date?"
"That'd be you," Jeri said, sticking her tongue out impishly before offering her arm, giggling. "Shall we go, m'lady?"
"You can be such a dork," Ayaka rolled her eyes before giving the other girl a curtsy with an imaginary skirt. "We shall, sir knight."
WIth that, Ayaka took the offered arm and began to pull her along. "So yeah, like I was saying, there's this shop that I know and I know the people in there too. My dad does some business with them or something so I got to see them regularly ever since I was a kid. They should be able to help out with the pricing. How much money did you bring by the way?"
Jeri paused for a minute, silently counting on her fingers as she calculated the money she had saved up from her allowance from helping out at the restaurant for the past month or so before answering. "Ah, about 24,000 yen," she said before looking at Ayaka hopefully. "I did some Google research prior. I hope that's enough."
"Should be enough." Ayaka grinned. "Leave it to me. I'll see to it that you leave with some yen to spare."
"Hehe, I'm counting on you," Jeri said with a chuckle, happy to spend some quality time with her friend. Walking through the crowds, navigating past some shops, Jeri couldn't help but stop each time something cute caught her eye.
"Aw man, why is it everything is on sale when I'm out to buy something?" she complained, looking at a particularly cute shirt sitting in a window sill.
"Because they want your money," Ayaka said pointedly. "Ignore the temptation, Jeri. Unless you're okay with not getting that camera today."
"No, I want to," Jeri assured her, dragging her eyes away from it, although she couldn't help but take a quick picture to remember to buy later whenever it went on sale again. It really was cute. "Maybe I should get a job. I mean I get money working at the tavern, but it's only so much, you know? What do you think?"
"Do the school rules allow you to get a job?" Ayaka asked.
"No," Jeri said, her shoulders dropping. It was one thing to work at a family-owned business. It was another to work at a job. As it was a good school, they wanted to keep their student's focused on academics. After all, it looked better for the school when it's alumni went on to good colleges, like Tokyo University. "But the school doesn't allow for a lot of things," Jeri said with a slight grin. "The question is, do you think I could get away with it?"
"Sadly no," Ayaka shook her head. "You're too cute to not be noticed and sooner or later word would get around. It's not really worth it right now anyway. Not many places would hire you and they'd pay you peanuts."
"I suppose you are right," Jeri agreed before flipping her hair over her shoulder. "It's a shame. Well, when we can get jobs we should work in the same place. What do you think?"
"Probably not a good idea either. From what my mom told me about when she was our age, she and her best friend started up at their first job together and before it was even over they wanted to kill each other. Office politics'll do that I guess. I promised myself to keep my friendships, and to do that I keep 'em out of my work."
"You're no fun sometimes," Jeri pouted, her cheeks puffing out, although she really wasn't put out. That's just how Ayaka was - practical. It was a good balance to her admittedly … whimsical nature.
"Hey, we can't all be party animals, Jeri," Ayaka replied, giving the girl a small bump with her hip and accompanying it with a friendly wink. "Really don't know how anyone can keep up with you. Well, besides Kazu I mean." Ayaka looked at Jeri with a curious expression. "I guess if it had to be anyone it would have had to be him who could keep up with you. Takato's got too much cold feet." A pause. "Why'd it have to be him Jeri?"
Jeri looked at Ayaka surprised. She hadn't told Ayaka about her dating Kazu due to the "don't talk about Kazu" rule because of Ayaka's rather poor relationship with her boyfriend. Not that it wasn't mutual it seemed, but still …
"How did you learn about that?" she asked instead, curious to who told her. She knew she was in class with Takato, Kenta and Kazu, but with Ayaka's distaste for the three boys, Jeri would be honestly surprised if she heard it from one of them.
Ayaka cursed silently, forgetting her rule, but pushed onward anyway. "A broken little bird told me," she shrugged, deciding not to reveal that Kenta had been the one to spill the beans to her. "And no, it wasn't your dunse of a boyfriend. So what happened that got you two together?"
"It's kind of a long story," Jeri said with a slight grimace. It wasn't exactly the happiest memory to dwell upon with Takato's eruption and rage. She didn't really like remembering the day, watching the boy she had liked for so long just give up, before getting into a fist fight with his best friend. The fact Takato could be so … demonic sent shivers down her spine. She hadn't seen it since then, but still.
Thinking about it, that day was the catalyst for everything else, she thought. If it wasn't for Takato telling them about the picture, she would never would have approached Rika, the Demon Queen and found out their own memories were a lie.
"Sounds like it's a boring one then," Ayaka sighed, not very interested in the details as she was as to what possessed her to think Kazu was a better catch. "Whatever," she decided. "It's your choice, but I think you can do better than that loudmouth." Grimacing, she glanced around her. "Great. I had to go and make everything awkward, didn't I? Where's that turn? I could have sworn that it was around here somewhere…"
"It's fine," Jeri assured her with a smile before pausing, a loud - if not familiar - voice caught her attention.
"I already checked the grocery stores, and I didn't find any Barii-san!" Jeri grimaced and rubbed her temples, as she gave a sigh praying, just, praying that a fight wasn't going to break out. There was a pause and then - "WHAT DO YOU MEAN THAT IT WOULDN'T BE IN A GROCERY STORE!"
"We should go probably check that out," Jeri said, wondering what exactly Rika was doing in the shopping district this Sunday. Just from what little conversation she could hear, it seemed she was looking for a mascot … in all the wrong places.
Or know Barii-san is a mascot it seems, she thought with a sigh, not at all surprised by the thought.
"And why are we going to check out some loud mouth girl with poor impulse control?" Ayaka asked, cocking an eyebrow and scanning the crowd for the source of the disturbance. "Because I'm pretty sure most sane people would avoid that like they avoid the giant-ass bees around here. That's a nope, Jeri. A nice, tall, glass of nope if I ever saw one."
"Because I need to make sure the idiot doesn't start a fight," Jeri said, pushing through the crowd following Rika's voice.
"IMABARI?! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW FAR AWAY THAT IS BY TRAIN?! KAMI!" Rika's voice was getting louder, and Jeri wondered if she ever had any sense of embarrassment at all.
"I don't know who's crazier," Ayaka mumbled to herself, chasing after her friend. "You for deciding you need to be responsible for someone yelling loud enough to break wine glasses, or me for following you."
She suspected herself. Sane people avoided life-threatening situations after all. Not that Jeri was any better, but still. She at least knew to leave well enough alone. Jeri...less so.
Rika was easy to find - she always was with her bright red hair and just very intense aura. However, when Jeri managed to push herself to the front of the crowd, she was surprised to see Takato with her. For his part in all of this, he looked embarrassed and a bit worried. For the first, it was as if he were searching for an explanation as to why he was with her beyond something that could likely be classified as a keychain, and the other afraid that she would turn her frustrations on him if he so much as stepped out of line.
"Look you asshole-" Rika growled into her phone only to pause and pull it away from her ear with a look of surprise. "He hung up on me." She turned to Takato and pointed to it. "Can you believe him?"
"Um...I'm sure he had something come up," Takato offered. He then chuckled nervously. "Although you did just call Henry an asshole. I'm pretty sure that's not going to win you any points in his book."
"Well, now what are we going to do?" Rika sighed as she crossed her arms, seemingly oblivious to the crowd which was now going about their own way the show was over. "It seems that this Barii-san is in Imabari. I don't know what he was thinking …"
"Barii-san is a mascot, you know," Jeri said suddenly causing the two to look at her, their eyes shooting up. "What are you two even doing?"
"Jeri…" Takato breathed, his cheeks tingling a little in heat upon seeing her. Tugging at his jacket, he glanced over at Rika. "U-Um… We're shopping for Henry's little sister, Suzie. One thing led to another and the next thing I know Rika…" His eyes drew up in fear as he stopped just short of saying Rika 'kidnapped him' for no reason that he could see. He didn't believe that Rika would like that term being used, but really what else was there to describe a situation where a friend just walks up and snags one by the arm and drags them off against their will?
She still wouldn't like it being used, he thought, not for the first time wondering what he could have been thinking for Rika to end up as his friend. He had to have been crazy!
Jeri looked over to her to finish Takato's half explanation.
"Well Henry said Suzie wanted Barii-san for her birthday, and I was like that sounded like something crunchy," she explained, and Jeri immediately began to regret asking. "So I thought that if it was something food related, Takato would know, right? So I go and get him, but the clerk tells us they don't have any Barii-san in the store. And so I decided to call Henry and ask him what was up, and well … he wasn't helpful. At all."
"I tried to explain to her," Takato shrugged helplessly. "But… She kept insisting she was talking about food and… Well, I was pretty sure if there was anything like that it'd be here. Or close to here. Or, you know, somewhere nearby."
"Still as goggleheaded as ever," Ayaka observed, drawing up behind Jeri, a deadpan expression on her face. Takato's eyes widened at her, and at the familiar insult, one levied against him by the class president from when he spent a couple years wearing the piece of plastic on his head as though it made him somehow special.
"Ayaka! What are you…?" He pointed a finger between the two girls. "Are you two together? Or is this like the biggest coincidence ever?"
"Gogglehead?" Rika asked him confused, turning to him raising an eyebrow.
"Ayaka's taking me camera shopping," Jeri explained. "We heard Rika arguing over the phone with Henry and decided to investigate." She paused, remembering the two girls wouldn't know each other. "Oh by the way Ayaka, this is Rika Nonaka, one of my friends from school. Rika, this is Ayaka Itou, my childhood friend."
"Uh, hi?" Rika said with an awkward wave wondering what the hell she was supposed to do in this sort of situation. "Nice to meet you?" she added on as an afterthought of it seemed like a thing people with social skills far beyond her own would say.
"Hey yourself," Ayaka nodded, giving the girl a quick once-over. She was fairly boyish in appearance, but nothing out of the ordinary, save for that earlier angry twinkle in her eye while she threatened to reach through her phone's wifi signal and pummel whoever was on the other end. Takato's hanging out with this girl? Jeez… First Kazu and now this. It's like he's a masochist or something.
"Sooo…" Takato leaned back on his feet for a brief moment, sensing an awkward atmosphere descend upon them. "Ummm… Yeah. So… Am I just going to stand here making myself look stupid or...what?"
"You're already stupid, so that doesn't change anything," Ayaka snorted. "How're you doing?"
"Um…" Takato blinked at the sound of concern in her voice. "Fine?"
"Is that a question or an answer?"
"Ah! I'm fine. Yeah! I'm…" He glanced at Rika nervously. "...Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'm fine."
Ayaka groaned mentally.
"Why are you looking at me that way for?" Rika asked with a slight frown, noticing Takato's skittish behavior toward her. He's been like that all afternoon. Was it because she insisted he come with her? It wasn't like she kidnapped him or anything.
"N-Nothing," Takato laughed anxiously, attempting to inch away from the irate redhead while making it look like he wasn't trying to do so. Ayaka looked back and forth between the two before shaking her head.
"Jeez Takato," she said. "You're really going to let her bully you after finally standing up to Kazu?"
"Bully?!" Takato's eyes went wide. "Ayaka! What're you talking about?"
"Wait, what?" Rika asked flabbergasted wondering where this girl got in her head that she was bullying Takato. "I haven't done anything!"
Why does everyone keep assuming I did something to Takato? she thought frustrated, remembering her first discussion with Jeri.
Hohhh boy, Jeri grimaced, not sure what to do, but didn't want another fight to break out because Rika had the tendency to make people think the wrong things about her - not that she exactly helped herself. Jeri could guess why Takato was probably skittish and that was because Rika was irate.
"You mean you're not?" Ayaka raised a disbelieving eyebrow at Rika. "He sure acts like you do."
"No I don't!" Takato countered, trying to contain the situation. Ayaka didn't believe him either.
"You don't have to defend her, Gogglehead."
"Ayaka! What are you…?" Grabbing the sides of his head, Takato groaned. "Rika's just annoyed with Henry! We're trying to find a plush for his little sister and…didn't explain things well to her and…neither did I when I tried. That's all that happened!"
Ayaka tilted her head to one side, looking back and forth between the two. "Jeri? This legit? Or is Gogglehead trying to save face?"
"That sounds about right," Jeri shrugged before grinning at her friend who seemed even more irritated than before. "Rika tends to be rather ... stubborn, and not really caught up to date on things that don't interest her. Although honestly Rika, remember what Henry told you? You need to work on your temper. This is the reason you have trouble."
"Hmph," Rika scowled, as she crossed her arms and proceeded to sulk. She knew Jeri was right, but still - it was irritating that everyone just assumed things about her, even if she was used to it.
Jeri sighed before scratching her head.
"Look, you're looking for Barii-san, right? I'm pretty sure there is a shop near here that sells it," she said, taking pity on the two of them. Rika was stubborn and Takato was having trouble clearly, and leaving them to their own devices they'd never find it. "If you want, we can help you find it."
"Jeri…" Ayaka complained. "Are you saying that we're going to have our outing take a detour just to help Gogglehead and Firebrand here?"
"It won't take that long," Jeri promised with an apologetic smile. "So ... please?" she begged, putting her hands together in a clap and bowing her head.
"Ugh…" Ayaka groaned. She always had a hard time saying 'no' to Jeri. "Fine… Let's just make it as quick as we can, okay?"
"Yay!" Jeri squealed, throwing her arms around Ayaka in a hug. "Thank you!"
"Yeah, yeah…" Ayaka grunted, attempting to untangle herself from Jeri's embrace. "It's real great. Come on already. Get off me."
Takato gave a light chuckle, remembering when she had been a part of their group. In spite of Kazu, Ayaka had brought a welcome atmosphere. He glanced over at Rika, a part of him wondering if Rika had filled the same spot before they all lost their memories again.
Quickly looking back at Jeri, he smiled. "So where are we going first? Any ideas?"
"There should be a place nearby," Jeri suggested, tapping her finger thoughtfully before pointing down the street. "Don't recall the name off the top of my head, but it has a really bright neon sign outdoors and a lot of weird things in the window."
"Oh, I know what you are talking about," Rika said as she uncrossed her arms. "It's called Kimwaii."
"Sounds as good a place as any to start," Takato nodded eagerly. "Let's check it out."
###
"This place just got weirder," Rika said as they walked through the door, chipper music playing over the speakers and if she had to describe the smell ... it would be glitter and candy. It was sickeningly sweet.
"Ohh, looks like you two are in luck. Looks like there is a sale going on," Jeri said, looking at the flyer that the woman out front handed to her on the way in. Rika looked over her shoulder interested. While money was not really a concern, she still liked to be frugal.
"Ah yeah? Oh hmm ... looks like stuffed animals are on sale." There was a pause and then, "... Would it be a stuffed animal?"
"It's a plush, isn't it?" Takato asked, scratching the side of his head in confusion. Unfortunately, he didn't have much of a head for this sort of thing. "That's kind of the same thing, right?"
"It can be," Jeri said, rolling up the flier amused as she put it into her pocket - for later, in case she had money left over. "I'm sure Suzie would appreciate a plush more than some stickers or a keychain or something. As a mascot, it's on a lot of merchandise."
"Well, let's go with a plush then," Rika said as they moved out of the way of a couple leaving the store. "Hopefully they have it."
"Hmmm…" Takato looked around, wondering where they should start. Unlike Rika, he wasn't the least bit familiar with the place, and so much of it looked the same at a glance. Spying what looked like a toy bin in the middle of the store, Takato pointed to it. "How about over there?" he asked. "It kind of looks like that's got a bunch of plush toys."
"Good place as any," Rika shrugged. However, something else caught Jeri's eye.
A rather large display showcasing Sailor Moon merchandise. Even if she wasn't going to buy anything, she still wanted to check it out real quick.
"I'll be there in a minute," she promised. "Just look for a cute chicken with a crown."
"Hah?" Rika asked in confusion, only to watch Jeri run off somewhere else. Putting her hand on her hips, she sighed. "Jeez ... well at least we have a description. Come on Takato."
"Uh… Right," Takato agreed reluctantly – being something of a Sailor Moon fan himself – before following after Rika with Ayaka shaking her head. She couldn't understand Jeri's continued obsession with the anime, having outgrown it herself.
"She's such a kid," Ayaka muttered under her breath, causing Takato to blush lightly.
"Hey! There's nothing wrong with liking the show."
"I didn't say there was," Ayaka hummed. "But seriously? She's going to look at Sailor Moon stuff when she's supposed to be helping you two look for a plush?" She rolled her eyes. "Like. A. Kid." She grinned at Takato. "Just like you, Gogglehead."
"It's fine," Rika said, feeling the need to defend Jeri. "I don't mind really - if it was Digimon, I'd be doing the exact same thing honestly." Her face turned red slightly as she scratched the back of her head. "It's actually the reason I know this store. When it was super popular, they used to sell so much Digimon merchandise. They always had good deals too ..."
"Ahhh mannn…" Takato complained. "Now I wish I knew about this place before."
"How about you two nerds stay focused, okay?" Ayaka sighed as they neared the toy bin. "Hmmm… Looks promising," she said, noting the plush toys lying within. "I think I see what you guys are looking for."
"Ah, really?" Rika asked, her eyes lightening up as she jogged over, grasping the edges of the plastic and looking at the multitude of plushes when she noticed a silver sparkle. Looking closer, it seemed like ... a chicken wearing a crown. "Ah! Is this it?" she asked excitedly, reaching to grab it only to have another hand grasp the yellow chicken at the same time she did.
Rika looked up, face to face with a guy who could be arguably handsome to anybody else that cared and the current obstacle to getting her prize.
"I suggest you let go," she growled, deciding to make use of her Demon Queen persona to her advantage for was the point of being feared if you couldn't manage to win a fight over a plush with it?
"Rika?" Takato began, coming up behind her, eyebrows raised at the sound of her voice. "Everything all right?"
"Akio?!" Ayaka called before the girl could respond, her eyes lighting up happily. "What're you doing here?"
The teen's face paled noticeably and he dropped the plush as he sat up. Sensing something was amiss, Ayaka and Takato both tilted their heads to one side in confusion.
"Uh…hey, Ayaka," the teen replied. "I'm…uh…here to get a plush." He scowled at Rika, seeing that he had just surrendered the prize in question. "Dammit…"
"Heh," Rika smirked as she pulled back with the plush, happy to have won her prize, although she - like the other two - was surprised at the teen's reaction.
"Akio, wait up!" A girl appeared, and Rika recognized some of the clothes from the store her mother dragged her into when she insisted on shopping together. She was cute, and rather small. Upon noticing the three other teens, she gave a confused smile before noticing the stuffed animal in Rika's hand. "Oh, that's Barii-san! I love him! Are you a fan too?"
Akio's apparent discomfort went up even further as the girl approached him and slipped a hand around his arm. The alarm bells that were already ringing – however distantly – in Ayaka's head began to grow louder. "Uh… Akio?" she began, working to keep her voice even. "Who's this girl?"
Probably just his cousin coming in for a visit or something, she told herself. That sounded about right.
"I'm his girlfriend, Yuki," the girl responded with a slight frown, Jeri coming back from her brief detour. "Why?"
Shock. It was like a lightning storm had gone off in her brain and the power went out. Ayaka's mouth trembled as she struggled to speak. She… She didn't just say…what I think she just did…did she? She felt something splinter inside her. She felt her blood grow cold. Her vision darkened and for the briefest of moments, she wondered if she had fainted on her feet.
C-Couldn't be… Why…Why would she say something like that? That's…That's just crazy…
"Ayaka?" Takato asked worriedly, and at once she snapped back to reality. Shaking her head, she locked eyes with Akio.
"You mind repeating that?" she asked in a chilled voice, fingers curling into her palm. "Or better yet, how about you explain what she means? Aren't I your girlfriend? Haven't we been dating for the past six months?" Her voice kept getting louder. She couldn't stop herself. She felt a tidal wave of emotion rising within her – hot and explosive like a volcanic eruption – and it wanted out. "Didn't I just fucking introduce you to my parents?!"
Akio flinched at the intensity in Ayaka's voice and causing Takato to look around them worriedly to see if anyone had heard.
He honestly couldn't say if it was a good thing or not that so far no one else did.
Oh no... Jeri's face paled as she walked to stand next to her friend, trying to catch up with what just happened - although it didn't need much catching up.
"Ayaka..." Jeri said softly, not sure what to do, her body temperature, her heart beating uncomfortably in her chest wondering what one even did in this situation.
However, she did know that her friend needed support as she put her hand on her shoulder reassuringly, her mind scrambling to figure out what exactly to do. The last time she was in a situation like this, it ended with Takato punching Kazu. While she doubted that the relationship would survive, Jeri wanted to prevent any escalation of violence this time around.
"Girlfriend?" Yuki asked surprised before untangling herself from Akio and taking a step back, looking upset as well. "What's the meaning of this? We've been dating for the past year and a half!"
"Yeah, Akio," Ayaka seethed, trembling beneath Jeri's touch. "Just what is the meaning of this? Did any of this mean anything to you?"
Akio's expression hardened just then. "Well I guess that cat's out of the bag," he grumbled, running a hand through his hair and barked a laugh. "Kind of glad actually. Ichiro was right about you. Your crotch is too much trouble to get into. It was getting kind of hard to keep a straight face every time I was with you." He made a nasty face, like he thought of something he found unpleasant.
Rika had tried hard to keep out of it. She really, really did. It wasn't any of her business, but -
"Ahh," she said, her arm extended, blood from the guy's now busted lip dripping down her knuckle. She didn't even notice that she had thrown the punch. It was just a natural reaction. "Guys like you really piss me off."
"Akio!" Yuki exclaimed worriedly, although any other form of protest died on her lips when Rika looked at her. It seemed she had the common sense not to further interfere on behalf her boyfriend - ex-boyfriend if she was smart.
"Rika! Stop it!" Jeri yelled despite finding the boy unpleasant. Even though she wanted to slap him herself, violence was not the way to go about it. Violence was never the answer.
However, it seemed like Rika was unable to hear her as her fist drew back again, clearly going for another punch. Jeri was about to say something again, but the words caught in her mouth as for the first time since she met her, she saw the truth behind Rika's nickname at school.
When Takato had punched Kazu that day, he was like a demon. It was a shock from the normally gentle boy. However, from Rika was a common expectation. When she punched Kazu, her face was like a wild animal. This time, her eyes were cold as if she were looking for blood.
Oh my god, she's going to kill him, was the only thing Jeri was able to think.
"Stop it!" Takato shouted, moving faster than he could think. Just as with Jeri, images from his fight with Kazu flashed through his mind, and the memory from the fight propelled him forward, looping his arms up, he dropped them over Rika, catching her arms and pinned them down, much to her surprise. "Rika...!" he grunted, straining against her as she thrashed to break free– straining and failing. Kami, her strength was incredible! She was going to break free! "That's…enough!"
"Let go, Takato!" Rika demanded, surprised that Takato - who was typically rather skittish or nervous –would hold her back when it came to beating up someone who clearly deserved it.
His strength was somewhat surprising considering he wasn't exactly like Henry who did martial arts. Still, it wouldn't be that hard to get free ... she just didn't want to hurt him by accident while trying to kill the jackass in front of her ... who had now disappeared, as one does when faced with an opening to escape from someone who wanted to clearly kill them.
The other girl had disappeared as well as the commotion was starting to finally attract attention.
"Damn it!" she growled as she broke lose out of Takato's grasp.
"Rika, what is wrong with you?!" Jeri demanded, her heart pounding in her chest. "You can't just punch people! Violence isn't the answer, no matter how detestable they are!"
Takato, breathing heavily – and too stunned by events to realize that he had actually attempted to keep Rika from killing someone – looked around them to see a store employee jogging toward them. "Uh oh…" he said. "Um… Maybe we should take this conversation outside…"
Rika noticed the employee jogging toward them as well and dropped the plush back into the bin. She would find someplace else to buy it now that she knew what it looked like, and she would like to avoid getting kicked out of a shop she frequented sometimes.
"Agreed," she said, already on the move.
Breathing a sigh of relief that something was resolved, Takato prepared to follow her when he saw Ayaka, standing stock still, head bowed and shoulders shivering.
"Asshole…" she choked under her breath. "I really thought he was the one too…"
"Ayaka…" he began, reaching out for her. "We've got to get out of…"
Her response was to smack away his hand, causing the boy to blink in surprise. "Ahhh… Ayaka?"
The girl could only glare venomously at the spot where her now ex-boyfriend had stood before the movement of rapidly approaching employees caught her attention.
"Let's get out of here," she grated, turning and chasing after Rika.
###
It was easy enough to avoid trouble the minute they left the store. Still, it was an unsaid agreement that they should probably remove themselves as far as they could just in case. Now they were sitting on a bench next to some vending machines on a side street.
"Are you OK, Ayaka?" Jeri asked tentatively when she caught her breath, not used to running around as the others seemed to be.
"I'm absolutely fine!" Ayaka snapped, shooting a glare at the girl. "My boyfriend was just caught cheating on me! I'm positively farting rainbows and pink fuzzy bunny-rabbits! Do you think I'm okay?!"
"Hey!" cut in Takato. "Take it easy, Ayaka! She's just worried about you! We all are! I mean…" The teen's crimson eyes softened a little as he looked at Ayaka. "…like you said, this had to have upset you. We just…want to help you."
"There's not much she can do either besides beat him up, and I beat her to the punch on that," Rika said, inserting some yen into the vending machine as a bottle of water rolled out. Unscrewing the cap, she poured some of the liquid over the dried blood before she began to pick at it. Last thing she wanted was questions when she got home.
"I still don't approve of it. Even if he was vile, he isn't worth getting into trouble over," Jeri said with a small frown, feeling hurt at Ayaka's backlash. She understood the girl's pain though, so she didn't fight back.
Looking down, she played with her thumbs, feeling though there was something she could possibly due to help Ayaka feel better. Something nonviolent would be ideal.
"How about we get some ice cream?" she offered after a minute of thinking. It was a delicious treat and would hopefully calm down some heads.
Ayaka turned away, feeling awful for having snapped at Jeri. After all, she didn't mean for everything to happen the way it did. If anything, breaking up with him had been an inevitability. Today's outing merely accelerated things.
Like ripping off a Band-Aid, she told herself, tightening her hands together. She sighed heavily. "Sure," she said. "I could use something to take my mind off this crap. I'm sorry Jeri. I didn't…I didn't mean to…get…angry with you."
She barely choked out the words as she attempted to smother her feelings. Inevitable or not, the betrayal hurt deep all the same.
"It's fine," Jeri assured her with a smile, placing her hand on her friend's comfortingly. "You're hurting. It's perfectly normal to be upset."
"Dork," Ayaka muttered, joining her hand with Jeri's and giving it a soft squeeze. "I don't deserve you."
"Nah, Akio didn't deserve you," Jeri said with a smile before pulling her to her feet. "So let's go, OK? I know a really good family-owned place down the street. They have over a hundred flavors."
"Okay," Ayaka sniffed. "Over a hundred flavors, huh? That gives 'em over a hundred chances to make me feel better." She forced a small smile that did not in the least bit look honest. "Guess that means I'm about to make someone very rich."
Getting up, Ayaka let herself be led by Jeri while Takato followed after, dropping back just enough to stay nearby Rika. He looked at her warily, uncertain if she would accept his presence, having intervened with her pummeling Ayaka's jerk ex-boyfriend, but he knew that he couldn't just avoid her. His gaze fell on her hand as she continued to scrub at it, flecks of dried blood coming off, though with some difficulty. Sighing, he unzipped his jacket and held it out for her.
"Here," he said. "It's not a towel or anything, but it's better than nothing."
Rika looked up at Takato and smiled gently, flicking some water at him.
"Thanks, but I don't want to freak your mom out with blood on your jacket," she said as she picked at the blood again. "It's sort of the reason I'm not using my own clothes. I could only imagine what Himiko would say if she caught sight of it when I came through the door." She paused and altered her voice to sound older than she actually was. "Rika, you have brought dishonor on this family again I see." She snorted derisively.
"I would have just told my parents that I spilled strawberry ice cream on my jacket," Takato replied, still holding out the jacket. He felt a bit relieved that she smiled. Smiling was a good indicator that their friendship was still solid…wasn't it? "And Himiko must really be one weird person if punching a jerk means dishonoring your family."
He sometimes wondered about this Himiko Rika occasionally complained about. Beyond hearing that she was currently living with Rika's family and the business with Renamon stealing the top-secret files from her ultra-top secret place of employment, he had yet to see her in person and suspected he would eventually, even with Rika doing everything she could to keep her world separate from the woman.
Such was how his luck operated these days.
"Hmm ... well if you insist," she said taking the jacket tentatively. Even if she was a bit annoyed with him from holding her back, she knew the crimson eyed boy meant well. The fact he even offered his jacket as a peace offering in of itself was sweet. "Thanks."
It was easier with the jacket, although she did feel guilty with getting it dirty. Still it felt nice to have her hands clean and not stained with jackass. Handing him the jacket back, she scratched the back of her head, feeling a bit self conscious.
"Thanks Takato. I really appreciate it."
"No problem," Takato smiled awkwardly, taking the jacket back and tying it around his waist. He hesitated before continuing. "Nice punch by the way. That guy really didn't see it coming."
Rika snorted, slightly amused.
"Thanks. I had no idea I even punched him until my fist connected with his face."
"Well…people like that can have an effect on people…" Takato nodded in understanding. He opened his mouth to say something more but soon closed it, finding himself with little left to add. For once, he decided to just let silence reign.
Better that than me messing things up again, he thought to himself.
###
"A hundred different flavors," Ayaka said to herself as she gazed at the ice cream tubs, the man behind the counter waiting for her order. She felt a hot lump in her throat. She didn't think there was enough ice cream in the world right now - no matter how good it tasted - that could help her feel better. She turned to Jeri, her eyes glistening with unwept tears. "Jeri…" she began, only to look away and bite her lower lip. "I...I don't think this is a good idea."
Jeri blinked a bit, not quite understanding Ayaka's sudden change of heart but her eyes softened all the same. Reaching up, she gently rubbed Ayaka's arm, smiling slightly.
"That's OK," she assured her. "We don't need to get ice cream. Do you want to go home?"
"Yeah," she nodded after a moment's hesitation. "I'm sorry Jeri, it's just… I think I'd rather be alone right now."
Ayaka hated herself right now. There was no way Jeri could have known that the ice cream shop in question was one where she and Akio had one of their first dates at. She felt sorry for the shop owners too. She would have drowned them in money trying to eat her sorrows to death, but right now she didn't want to deal with so much as a single reminder of him.
She grated her teeth together, feeling a sick heat in the back of her throat. Swallowing, she looked at Jeri apologetically. "Sorry," she croaked again. "I know you wanted to get that camera…"
"Don't worry about that!" Jeri insisted, grabbing Ayaka's hands and clasping them in her own. Even after everything what happened, Ayaka was still thinking about everybody else but herself. "Don't think about that, think about yourself first! Come on, I'll walk you home."
"I...Thanks Jeri," Ayaka smiled softly. "But...like I said. I just want to be alone right now."
Behind her, Takato exchanged a look with Rika, wondering what she thought about this. He hated the idea of leaving someone alone when they were hurting, but all the same, he knew that sometimes one had to step back and give someone their space. Did Rika feel the same way?
"But-" Jeri protested only for Rika to cut her off.
"I know you mean well, Jeri, but sometimes a person needs to breathe alone when they want to break down," Rika said, closing her eyes. "Nobody likes being a wreck in front of other people." She opened her eyes and looked at Ayaka appraisingly. "Although if you could text her when you get home safely, I'm sure she'd appreciate that."
Ayaka looked back at Rika, grateful to find an understanding soul in the group, something he hadn't expected from her. "I'll do that," she said, turning back to Jeri. "I won't drop off the face of the planet Jeri. Trust me."
Jeri didn't look sure, but it seemed she was outnumbered. Giving a heavy sigh, she hugged Ayaka tightly. "When you want to talk, you know where to find me," she said before pulling back. "I'm sorry that this happened. I wish there was more I could do."
"I'll keep you in mind," Ayaka replied, giving her hair a ruffle. "I'll talk to you later."
Giving Takato and Rika a goodbye nod, Ayaka departed, leaving the trio alone to their own devices.
"I feel that someone should say something," Takato said after a moment, "but I don't think I'm the right one for that."
"Say something in what regard?" Rika asked before looking at the menu as Jeri played with the ends of her jacket, fighting back the desire to chase after her friend despite her protests. It didn't feel right to her to just leave someone alone when they were hurting.
"I don't know," Takato said uncertainly. "Just...something? I guess?" Takato scratched the side of his head, feeling befuddled. "Sorry. I'm not very good at this sort of thing."
"I don't think anybody is," Rika said. "Nobody should be good at knowing the right words to fix a broken heart though if I'm going to be honest."
"Why's that?" Jeri asked, frowning slightly. She wished she knew what the right words were to say to make Ayaka's pain easier. Knew the right actions. But she didn't; she couldn't help her best friend when she needed her the most and it bothered Jeri more than she cared to admit.
"Well … because that means they are too used to seeing people hurt, doesn't it?" Rika pointed out. "Who wants to see people they care about hurt on such a regular basis that they know what to say to make it better? That's something you only get good at through practice and experience."
"I think the whole point is to be good enough to be able to fix broken hearts when they happen," Takato said. "I don't think seeing people you care about getting hurt on a regular basis even enters the equation. It's just...wanting to take care of your friends and making sure they're all right."
Takato wasn't sure if he was explaining himself well, causing him to shift on his feet uncomfortably.
"Takato's right," Jeri said, happy that at least one of the two understood it.
I can always count on Takato for this sort of thing, she thought, glancing at the other boy. While she could see Rika's reasoning - as different as it may be - she didn't exactly agree with it.
"Well either way, there isn't anything we can do," Rika said as she gestured to the ice cream board. "She wanted to be alone, and that's something that ought to be respected. Anyway, you two want ice cream since we are here? I'll treat."
"Ah…" Takato's hand went to his pocket where his wallet was, feeling a bit awkward. Usually it was the boy who treated a girl. That's stupid, he berated himself, resisting the urge to swat his hand. Besides, it's not like I'm dating Rika or Jeri… "Thanks?"
He glanced at Jeri anxiously before looking at the rows of ice cream tubs. He winced at the prices. "I'll take chocolate," he said finally.
"You sure?" Jeri asked, blinking in surprise. While she wasn't exactly going to protest if Rika was insistent, she felt a bit weird to allow the girl to pay for all three of them. Especially since while the ice cream was delicious, the price was reflected in the quality.
"Yeah," Rika said with a shrug. It wasn't like she wasn't exactly strapped for cash with a famous model for a mother. "It's fine. And Takato do you want a bowl or cone?"
"Cone is fine," Takato replied, still feeling a bit uncomfortable.
"I'll get the same then," Jeri answered uncertainly as Rika nodded her head and turned toward the vendor, pulling out her wallet and handing some yen to the teenage girl.
"Two chocolate cones and a sweet potato cone," she said as the girl nodded her head, taking the money and putting it into the cash register and handing back the change. Rika pocketed it as Jeri raised an eyebrow at Rika's taste.
"Sweet potato?" she asked curiously as Rika grinned slightly.
"Grandma and I like to eat interesting things," she explained, taking a moment to thank the girl as she handed her two of the chocolate cones, handing them to both Jeri and Takato. "It can be a hit or miss, but you really can't go wrong with something that says sweet, right?" Turning again, she thanked the girl for her own ice cream cone - which was orange in color, like the potato.
"Not when it comes to ice cream," Takato grinned. "But I might be wrong. To each their own." With that, he took a lick of his ice cream.
###
Her head hurt. Her body ached and her hands shook ever so slightly, though whether from the copious amount of caffeine or the poor state her body was in, one couldn't exactly tell.
It had been about a couple weeks since the files went missing, video footage of a yellow kitsune being the one to take them had happened - not that she remembered any of it. The only reason she knew it happened was her own articulate notes explaining - in detail - what had happened. Despite searching for proof on the servers, she found nothing. If it wasn't written in her own handwriting, she would think the entire thing was an immature prank by Yamaki to make him as paranoid and crazed as him.
It seems in the end he didn't need to do anything, she thought as she ran a hand through her hair as she forced her legs forward, the bag of groceries Aunt Seiko asked her to pick-up on her way home from work hitting against her leg almost as if to remind her it was there and what she was doing.
It seemed as if nothing was as she knew it anymore. There was holes in her memory, things she swear she recalled differently only for her own notes to insist otherwise.
Nobody else at Mnemosyne remembered a damn thing. According to her notes, when she demanded to know why the staff wasn't looking for the yellow kitsune which stole the files, Yamaki had looked at her oddly and told her no such thing had happened. She also felt the need to note that he asked if she wanted to lie down and if she was feeling alright.
I bet he took great relish in that, she thought darkly, her knuckles turning white as she gripped the plastic bag tighter. Kicked out because he was going insane, and now his replacement seemed to be going through the same illness ... too bad Yamaki, I'm not like you. I'm not going to lose everything.
It was hard swallowing the idea Yamaki might have not been as crazed as she was lead to believe. However, there was no way she could turn to him nor his minions for help - even if she was the boss. There was no good feelings between them, and she knew better to show weakness. Especially to those who would enjoy to see her fail.
Still, it was becoming increasingly apparent that something was wrong - not just with her own memories but those around her. She wasn't sure how far it spread - she had tested it at dinner a few times as casually as she could, to see if the other three women of the household remembered what she did. She even took to writing a diary of day to day life. So far everything lined up from that, but that didn't mean she should let her guard down.
###
Ayaka walked down the street, hands in her pockets and eyes staring straight ahead of her in a mechanical fashion; seeing, but not actually 'seeing'. She was on autopilot as the rest of her remained in the daze she had been in since the incident with her now ex-boyfriend. The lump in her throat constricted her breathing and made her eyes hot.
Don't cry… Don't you dare cry… she told herself, clenching her fists tightly. At least hold on until you get home, stupid! I…
Damn it…
In spite of her determination, a lone tear slipped down her cheek, but she refused to wipe the offending thing away. She had pretended enough in front of Jeri and her friends. She was tired of putting on the brave face. So just this one time, she allowed a crack to show in her mask, if only to relieve some of the pressure.
Her breath hitched in her throat. She felt the crack widen, causing another tear to join its companion.
"Don't…" she whispered, closing her eyes. I had been so sure he…he…
When she opened her eyes again, the world appeared…different. Darker. Foggier, but otherwise still there. The people continued to mill around her, going about their day, but they were dim. She shrugged it off as her tears getting in the way of her eyes. She felt as though she were crying enough for it now.
She barely noticed that there were considerably more tears now than there had been when she closed her eyes a second ago, and that she was starting to break down into a gut-wrenching sob.
She wanted to scream. She wanted to hit something…someone. She wanted to cry and pretend none of what happened had been real – all some bad dream from her fears. She wanted to know why it happened. Why he hadn't been honest.
She wanted to sleep.
###
Stopping at a crossing, the 'Don't Walk' sign flashing red, Himiko turned her head slightly upon hearing a sob. A girl about the age of her cousin with tears running down her cheeks was walking past her.
"Hey," Himiko said, her obsidian eyes widening when the girl took a step into the street. The girl continued, heedless of Himiko's warning. Panicking, she stepped forward, only to stop when she remembered the traffic; a car zooming past her and honking loudly.
"Move!" she yelled only for the girl to finally stop in the middle of the road, turning to look back at her, the child's eyes glassy.
Don't interfere, Himiko Hata, a voice whispered in the back of her mind.
The bag dropped on the pavement, milk splattering across the sidewalk as Himiko rushed forward ignoring the voice - wherever it came from - and pushed her as hard as she could out of harm's way. Breaks squealed and pain shot through her body like a bullet, and as she fell to the ground, she could hear people screaming.
With the last remaining ounce of consciousness in her, her obsidian eyes fluttered over to the sidewalk to see if the girl was OK. However, she wasn't able to make her out before the world turned completely black.
Authors Note: I hope that made an impact on all of you. Hahaha. Ahh. No? Too soon?
If it isn't very clear by now, the chapter titles are thematically important.