Chapter 14: The Price of Freedom
Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.
Last night I distinctly remember falling asleep in the meadow, but that's not where I am now. The first thing I notice is my change of location, the second is my change of clothes. Instead of my stuffy school uniform, I'm wearing a white nightgown, that has bunched up around my thighs. The third thing I notice is how clean I feel, usually when you sleep outside the first thing you want to do is take a shower, but I felt oddly clean like I had already taken a shower. I guessing I did because my hair smelled like lavendar vanilla instead of it's usual strawberry passionfruit.
I slipped out of bed and padded across the soft white carpet, towards the vanity. I looked well rested since I sleep like a rock through most things, my hair was wavy like I went to bed without drying it and I usually did. The smell of breakfast wafted into the room and took me by surprise.
Okay, I know the common reaction for most people who wake up in a random place is to panic, but as you know I'm far from normal.
I went out the wide door frame that looked like it was for double doors, but had none. There was a little hallway, one side was the black railing that lead to the spiral stairs and the other side was a eggshell wall covered with abstract paintings. I shivered a little as my bare feet descended the cold, iron, spiral staircase.
There's a huge window with the view of other buildings and the horizon. I guess I'm somewhere in the city. The place was modernly furnished with glass coffee tables, a wide screen televison and a white loveseat. I followed the smell as best I could and ended up in the kitchen/dining area. Marble white counter tops, state-of-the-art appliances, chrome refrigerator, spotless tile flooring, square glass table covered with food, surrounded by four chairs one of the occupied by someone hidden behind a newspaper.
"Um?" I choked out.
"It's about time you woke up." said a cold voice, from behind the newspaper.
The newspaper was folded and placed on the edge of the table to reveal none other than-
"Hotaru?" I asked.
"Sure isn't the Easter Bunny." she replied.
"What-"
She cut me off.
"I found you sleeping in the meadow and brought you back to my condo in the city." she answered, sipping a cup of coffee.
"Why the city? Why not bring me back home?" I asked.
"I figured that was the last place you wanted to be." she answered.
"You figured correct," I sighed, "Does anyone else know where I am?"
"Not that I know of." she answered, buttering a crossiant.
"So you brought me here, washed me up and put me to bed. I didn't know you cared so much." I said, teasingly.
"I don't. The maids did most of the work. Besides if you got sick it would be troublesome." She elaborated.
"How so?" I asked, sitting down across from her at the table.
"Because then I'd have to take down Sumire myself. That girl has been a thorn in my sight since day one and the fact that she has been knocked down and still conitues to rise just pisses me off." Hotaru stated.
"Nothing doing Miss Imai. I'm done with Sumire, her family, that school all of it." I stated, munching on a roll.
"You're quitting?"
"Look it's not like that. I just figure, what's the point? Not matter how many times I knock her down, she'll just rise again at my expense." I explained as a maid placed a plate of eggs in front of me.
"So what she said about you and your family, you're just gonna let her get away with it?" Hotaru asked from the rim of her China cup.
"Do I have a choice?" I asked, slicing my eggs.
"There's one last thing you could try." Hotaru hinted.
"What are you talking about?" I said over the rim of my glass.
"Think. What's the one thing you can use to get under her skin that wouldn't require much contact or effort?" she asked.
"I'm not following you." I said, resting the glass back down.
"My brother you dope." Hotaru responded.
"Whoa. Time out. Are you suggesting that I use Natsume to get back at Sumire?" I asked incredously.
"Basically." Hotaru answered.
"Not gonna happen." I replied, finishing a crossiant and reaching for another.
"Why not?" she asked.
"Because I'm done with this Hotaru. I don't want to do this anymore." I said with exhasution in my tone.
There was a heavy silence after I said that.
"So what are you going to do?" Hotaru asked.
"I'm going to start working to pay for my own place. The atmosphere at my uncle's place will be too...suffocating." I said.
She nodded in understanding.
"One question: Why do you have a condo when you live in a big mansion?" I asked.
"It's for when things get suffocating." Hotaru answered.
"Oh. Why aren't you at school then?" I asked, sipping orange juice.
"Things got suffocating." she shrugged.
I watched her pour herself more coffee and drink it.
Black.
Like her soul.
"How suffocating? I can't imagine anyone suffocating you." I chided.
"Ruka." she said as if it answered everything.
"Did you guys have a fight?" I prompted.
"We always fight." she confessed.
"Oh."
After a short silence she went on. "He thinks I'm not..." she broke off.
"Not what?"
"Not affectionate."
"No." I gasped sarcastically.
She rolled her eyes and continued, "So I told if he wanted affection, he should buy a damn cat."
I chuckled a bit at this, but stopped when she glared at me.
"Then he told me that he rather have a cat for a girlfriend, than a stuffy, prude unfeeling girl like me." Her voice had dropped a few octaves and a tear rolled down her cheek.
She swatted it away and I'm trying to revive myself from temporary shock.
She looked up at me with tear brimmed eyes, "I think we broke up."
"Oh." I dragged out with sincerity.
I sat across from her in understanding silence. Normally this is the part where we would hug and laugh it off, but life isn't like the movies. So we sat and listened to the deafening silence.
"Tell anyone I cried and I'll kill you." she threatened, breaking the silence.
"My lips are sealed." I promised, pretending to zip my mouth, lock it and throw away the key.
"So what now?" She asked, the nonchalance back in her voice as she sipped more coffee.
I blew my bangs out of my eyes. "Wish I knew. I'm kind of just making up as I go along. I know I can't go home so the best thing to do is get a job and a place to live."
"What about school?" she asked, eyebrow raised in genuine curiousity.
"Well, I never really had my heart set on a university or a career so completing high school seems like a waste. I mean I like to sketch and paint, but I can't see myself doing it for a living."
"I have nothing against working for a living, but I can't abide to dropping out of high school. So I'll make you a deal." she said.
"I'm listening." I egged her on.
"I'll let you rent this condo from me as long as you promise to work hard to graduate. In addition to five thousand yen a month of course." she proposed.
(A/N: For the sake of my lack of accuracy when it comes to currency exchange, let's just say that 5000 yen is equal to 500 US dollars. So whenever you see a yen amount in my fics just drop the last zero if you want to refer back to dollars. Unless I tell you otherwise. Carry on reading now.)
Money hungry chick.
"Well it's not like I have much a choice given my age and the circumstances." I sighed.
"Then it's agreed." she slid the news paper across to me.
"What? Did someone interesting die?" I asked scanning the cover page.
She stood up ignoring my question. "The 'Want' advertisments are from pages six through eight."
"Oh. Thank you." I said opening the newspaper.
"I'll be heading off now. I expect to see you at school tomorrow. There's a train that runs from here to near the school. It's a ten minute walk from here a thirty minute train ride and another fifteen minute walk to the school. Don't be late because the trains run exactly one hour apart. I don't have many clothes here so you should go pick up some of your own. Besides it'll be troublesome if your aunt and uncle don't see you for a few days without knowing what's going on. You should also speak to the Ogasawara sisters about your transfer here. The maids don't really work here I just borrowed them for the day so cooking, cleaning and grocery shopping will be your responsibility. No guest for long periods of time, no pets, no parties. You break it you bought it and I should mention nothing here is cheap."
As she said all this I walked her to the door where she put on her coat and shoes.
"Get it?" she asked.
"Got it." I replied.
"Good." she dismissed as she opened the door.
"I'll be checking in on you now and then. Rent should be in cash or check inside a white, clearly labeled envelope on this side table." She said, placing three delicate fingers on the rectangular wooden table.
"Check." I nodded.
"I'll give you an extension on first months rent, but that's all." Hotaru stated.
"I understand completely." I responded.
"Pleasure doing business with you." She said opening the door.
"Like wise," I smiled. "Ja ne."
She raised a hand in response and continued down the hallway, maids at her side.
I closed the door and leaned against it. I went over the to do list Hotaru made for me in addition to her list of rules. She sounds like such a drill sergent, but I can't complain I'm grateful to have her as an alli. Seemingly out of the blue, Sumire's words crowded in my head
'No one wants you.'
'Pathetic waste of breathing space.'
I shoved the thoughts into the dark corners of my mind and buried them under Hotaru's to do list. If I just concentrated on everything else, I won't think about it again.
I walked back into the kitchen and started reviewing the want ads. In my pursuit of getting a job, I'll have to bend the truth a little since high school students aren't suppose to get one without guardian permission. After a half an hour of circling, crossing out, calling numbers and eating crossaints, I manage to get a interview with a classy restaruant as a waitress.
With a sigh, I put down my cell phone, ignoring the blinking voice message signal.
"Let's see what's next?" I ask myself aloud.
I start up the spiral staircase again and search for the bathroom. After a shower and a change of clothes I try to mentally prepare myself for going back to my aunt and uncles place. Hotaru's boobs are slightly smaller than mine so her black t-shirt is snug around me. It says 'Life. Get One.' on the front. She likes long jeans so I have to fold hers over twice so I don't step on them. Luckily our feet are the same size so her Vans fit me perfectly.
I tuck my phone into my back pocket and start down the stairs again, then I remember I don't have any keys for this place and start to search around for an extra key or something. Turns out there's a row of hooks by the front door, one of them occuppied by a single key with a note attached.
'Don't lose this or else.' it read in Hotaru's cursive.
That girl never misses a beat.
On the reverse side it says, 'No I don't.'
I dropped the note in shock.
That's just plain scary.
I pick up the note and discard it approiately, before leaving and securely locking the door. Thankfully this place has a sign for everything so it was easy to find the elevator. After exiting the lobby and asking a nice couple on the street, I was on the train heading towards my Aunt's house. I made myself comfortable for the half hour ride and checked my messages.
Three calm messages from Nonoko, two worried ones from my aunt, six frantic and two angry ones from Anna and an oblivious one from Akira.
Akira's message: 'Hey Mi-chan! Just calling to say what's up. Haven't heard from you in a while. Anners (Anna) and Nono (Nonoko) are giving me weird vibes whenever I ask about you. Call me.
Much to my surprise that it sounds like neither twin has spilled the rice and even more to my surprise when my fingers start dialing Akira's number on their own accord. I didn't realize I did it until I pressed the phone against my ear and heard him pick up.
'Hello?' he said for the third time.
"Hey." I said quickly.
'Hey Mi-chan! How goes it?' he asks in his usual perkiness.
I sigh audibly, "Not so good."
'Operation destroy Sumire is a slow go?'
"Actually it's a no go." I sigh.
'What happened?' he asked.
"Let's just say she reopened old wounds and made new ones." I replied.
He got it almost immediately. 'Only she would sink so low.'
"Yeah well it got me thinking about alot things and I think it's time I flew the coop." I said.
'Mikan, you're only sixteen. Where are you gonna live?' he asked.
He only calls me Mikan when he's serious.
"Well I worked something out with Hotaru, I'm renting her condo for five thousand yen."
'How are you gonna pay that?' he asked.
"I'm going to get a waitressing gig." I replied.
'You're not old enough to work.' he stated.
"That is the beauty of make-up, high heels and lieing. Duh." I answered rolling my eyes.
"I don't like it Mikan." he said.
"Thanks for your support." I said sarcastically.
'I know things are bad, but-'
"Let me stop you right there because if you say things are going to get better I'm going to have to maul your face off. This is my decision so you'll just have to deal."
'Fine.' he grumbled.
"I have to do this, Akira. Please understand that."
He didn't answer for awhile so I just hung up. After a while, I reluctantly dial Anna's number. I know she's in class, but she'll see my number, excuse herself abduct Nonoko and rush the nearest washroom to call me back. I hung up and waited. After exactly seven minutes my phone rang.
"Where the hell have you been?!" she screeched as I picked up.
I held the phone away from my ear as she did this.
"I'm sorry, okay? I needed breathing space." I said.
"You could've called." Nonoko's voice said into the phone, which she probably confiscated from her hysterical sister.
"I know I should have, but I had alot of things to think about and alot of decisions to make and you guys deeply influence my decisions so this was something I needed to do on my own." I explained.
"What decision?" Nonoko asked.
I took a deep breath. "I'm moving out of my aunt's place."
For awhile it was quiet, then Anna exploded. "WHAT?!"
The rest of her tirade was muffled and there's was a struggling sound. Probably Nonoko covering her sister rather large pie hole.
"I'm moving into Hotaru's condo, she renting it to me for five thousand yen and I'm going to lie about my age to get a job. Don't try to talk me out of it because my mind is made up." I elaborated a tad defensive.
"Of course we wouldn't, it's understandable how you might not be able to stand the atmosphere there." Nonoko said, over Anna's muffled shouts of protest.
"Yeah." I agreed quietly.
"What are you going to say?"
I sighed quietly. "I don't have a clue, but I guess I got to come up with something fast because this is my stop." I said, as the train started to slow.
"Good luck." Nonoko said.
"Thanks." I replied.
"I'm not done with you Sak-" Anna began, but I shut the phone.
I'm definitely getting an ear load for that, but now's not the time.
I watched my feet as I walked the familiar path to my Aunts house. There were a few police cars outside. Great, Aunt Yumi over reacted. I jog up the front steps and opened the door. I follow the murmur of voices into the living room and see a few men in blue. One of them was talking to my Aunt with a notepad open. Her eyes are red and she looks awful. My uncle is sitting on the couch in a suit looking stiff and tense.
"Hello?" I call out tenatively.
All eight pairs of eyes look at me. My Aunt wraps her arms around me and sobs, shoulders raising and falling. I could hear my uncle dismiss the officers and thank them for their time and apologize for the inconvienience. My Aunt lets go of me as if I suddenly combusted and she looked at me with a stern look and my uncle reentered the room.
"Sit." my uncle ordered.
I sat down in the center of the love seat as them both stood in front on me. Not knowing whether to hug me or yell at me.
"Where were you?" My uncle asked, suspisciously calm.
"Out." I replied with a shrug of my shoulders.
"You could've called or texted or something. When the school called and said you weren't there and Sumire said she had no idea where you were I was so worried-
"Yuki." my uncle said, silencing my aunts tirade.
She started biting her nails and pacing the room as my uncle turned to fix his gaze on me.
"What do you have to say yourself? Starting up all this drama, having your aunt on brink of hysteria? I thought you were finally shaping up, but I guess I was wrong." he said, there was a strain in his voice as if he was trying to keep himself from yelling.
"Yeah I guess you were." I replied.
"And what's that's suppose to mean?"
"It means that I'm not perfect. That I'm not like any of your daughters and I never will be." I could feel the tears rising in my throat, but my anger came out first.
"Do you want me to apologize?! Fine! I'm sorry that I screwed up your life by being here! I'm sorry that my parents died and you got stuck with me. I'm sorry that I've been a thorn in your sight for my entire existence. I'm sorry that I was even born in the first place!" I was yelling and standing, with my fists clenched tightly.
"Are you happy now?!" I screamed in his face making him back up into my aunt.
Here comes the tears as I race up to my room, slam and lock the door. After a minute or so my aunt and uncle are banging on the door begging me to talk about it, but I drown them out with my Paramore cd. I get my twin black suitcases from the back of the closet and start packing my favorite clothes some post make over most pre make over. After my first suitcase is filled with shirts, blouses, jeans, a black skirt, bras, underwear and a few dresses, I start packing my second with the necessities: cd's, cd player, i pod, chargers for ipod and cell phone, hair stuff, make up stuff that I actually like, hair accesories, socks, my posters and other band memorobilia.
After I felt sufficently packed, I turned off the stereo and packed it in my back pack with my school stuff and placed the back pack on my back. I held the suitcases tightly in each hand and left my bedroom. The hall was empty so I crept down the stairs hoping that everyone was asleep.
No such luck.
My aunt and uncle were sitting in the living room drinking coffee. As soon as she saw my luggage my sunt was on her feet.
"Where are you going Mikan?" she said in this tiny voice that made my chest hurt.
"I'm moving out." I replied.
"You're just a teenager you can't live by yourself." my uncle stated.
"A friend of mine is renting me a place."
"You can't just leave Mikan. We're a family and we have our issues, but that's no reason to just pack your things and go." Aunt Yuki said.
"I have to I can't live in this suffocating environment anymore," I turned a harsh gaze to my uncle,"and don't worry I have all intentions of graduating high school so I won't ruin your precious family name"
He was silent, but my aunt started another tirade about getting through this and family counseling.
"There's no need I don't want anything to do with this family anymore." I stated simply.
I placed my bags down and took their house key from my pocket. I placed it on the coffee table and said good bye. My aunt started bawling, but I wouldn't let my determination waver. I took long, strong strides over to my bags and picked them up and headed to the door.
"You can't just leave." my uncle said, coming out of whatever trance my vicious gaze had put him in.
I threw him a hard look over my shoulder and replied darkly, "Watch me."
Then I was out of the house, my aunt cried and beckoned to me from the front porch, but I let her voice fade and kept walking. I felt bad about it I really did, but what choice did they give me? I'm just glad Sumire wasn't there to see me bail. I could already envision the superior smirk on her face. After walking in the brisk cold for a few blocks, I waved down a cab and headed to the condo. The elevator guy offered to help me with my bags, but I was to numb to accept I just thanked him and locked the door behind me. I stood against the door for a awhile and before I knew it I was crying.
I guess I was crying for a number of reasons:
My uncles actions confirmed Sumire's harsh words.
My Aunt's tears are fresh in my mind.
I was the war
I was all alone in a new environment
But I was also crying because I was finally away from it all.
All the stress and yelling.
I'm free, but what's the price of this freedom.
Loneliness.
Thanks for reading everyone!
Sorry for the long update, but you shoudld know by now that I make this stuff up as I go along. HeeHee
Um So I'm thinking for the next Chapter maybe some NatsuMikan moments maybe? Bring back Youichi?
I don't know for sure yet, but I'm playing with some ideas.
Please Review!!
Lots of Love and HomeWork
Chi-chan!! 3