Special great thanks to HotelKatz for beta-reading this chapter.
"Yeah, just another boring day," sighed by Kitsune, her hair got long to cover her neck and almost her back, while her belly's size increased from the baby inside.
"At least we still together, Miko" hugged by her husband; Joko
Six months ago:
She arrived at her step father's cafeteria at 6 a.m. , Waco cafeteria, a small family cafeteria, sell sandwiches and fresh juices only, she found a distribution truck while two guys picked up the meat and vegetables to the inventory, while she found an old woman with a short hair; her mother cleaning inside with a little cute boy help her.
Kitsune saw the happy family, she felt envious 'Why I didn't have a family like those?'
She remembered her days in the dorms, sure they were happy, all her days there were happy, and that is the problem.
The old woman saw Kitsune, her face changed from tired because of work to angry because she knew her, she walked to her, her son, and her husband and the worker got their attention. She stand in front of Mitsune, crossing her hands around her, she said one thing. "ou didn't take much time, did you?" she said sarcastic.
"Hello Mom," Kitsune replied in cold voice.
"Hello Mitsune."
"So what brings you here?"
"I...I left the Hinata dorm..."
"OH NO!" she started her sarcastic "Don't tell me they finally kicked you out because you emptied your stupid manager's bank account, or they find you are useless and not funny anymore, or one of your many victims sued for sexual harassment and or fraud, don't tell me that Yakuza chasing you to get their money that you spend it on nothing but drinking and gambling only, or..."
"JUST STOP IT!" Mitsunw yelled.
"Watch your mouth, stupid girl."
"Don't talk to me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you are my mother."
"I'm your mother your idiot."
"There is no mother left her daughter and married another man."
"Funny, this coming from someone who left her family and never speaks to them."
"You cheated on my father."
SLAP
"I never cheated on Kousa, I never loved someone like him" she stopped and continued "He was my breath, his chest was my pillow. I sacrificed my own life, and what do I get, a fantastic man, but a horrible husband and father."
"Don't talk that about father."
"He was nothing but an alcoholic and gambler, he gambled on everything, even on our house."
"THAT'S ENOUGH!" Mitsune cried.
"In the end, he dead on box house, gave me and you nothing, if I didn't worked hard we would dead now, you even can't stay at that freaks dorm."
"And yet, you married that man." She pointed to Waco-san, but then received a hard slap from her mother.
SLAP
"Again I never cheated on Kousa, but he's dead and I moved on to continue"
"Then why did you get married?"
"I have a life, and it's my right to do what I want"
"Anoue...?" the little black hair boy said.
"Oh Mokoba, come here and welcome your big sister, Mitsune."
"Hello big sister," he said while he kneeled.
'Oh he's cute, isn't he?' Mitsune thought of him "Hello Mokoba" she replied while she kneeled him.
"Hi Mitsune-chan." said by an old bold man
"Hello Waco-san." she replied coldly
"Hello." said by the unknown man said
"Hello."
"OK why don't go back to work." her mother to all men
"But what about Mitsune?" said by Waco.
"Yeah what about her?" the unknown man asked
"Aren't she is going to enter?" Mokuba
"No she's not, she have a job as a freelance writer."
"But why she has her bags with her mom?"
"She lived in everywhere due to her work."
"But why can't she leave with us? She is my sister". said by her son who was smart enough to understand what happened. Her mom looked at him and her, even she's still angry from what she did, her heart still forgave her.
"Mitsune, come with me."
They both entered a small room; it was an office that has a desk, computer, and fax machine.
"So what do you need?"
"Can you lend me some cash, I'll return it."
"What happened to your freelancing job?"
"...I..."
"You don't have a job and you will return the money that I'll borrow to you." she asked sarcastically. "OK let me tell you something. You will leave here in our house and work here as a waitress, since you don't know nothing else"
"But there are rules; First no flirting with anyone, Second No drinking, smoking, or do what you want except in your free time, third no thieving, and finally no lazing, got it?"
Then they entered their house, it wasn't big like Hinata dorm, but it wasn't bad, it was 2 floors, first floor contains a living room with a kitchen and a guest's bath, there was a small garden and the restaurant, the second floor contains three doors and 2 baths with a lobby inside to two doors. They arrived at three doors.
"The room is Mokuba's room, second is bath, and final is yours, the last two is me and Waco's bedroom and bath, unless I'm there, do not enter that area."
They entered her room, it was dusty, full of cartons and old things, somehow it li=ooks like an inventory
"Bring these boxes out, I'll ask someone to help you. I'll bring you a brawl to clean this room, after that get down to work."
She started to unpack her bag, soon Mokuba and the mysterious guy arrived to help.
"Don't you remember me, Miko?"
"It's me."
"..." 'I don't remember.'
"Joko Hanimichi"
"..." 'Still not don't remembering.'
"Your friend at school."
"No not really."
"Oh come on."
"Are you trying to hit on me?"
"What do you mean he is hitting on you?" Mokuba asked
"WILL YOU STOP LOSING TIME AND GET BACK TO WORK." her mother yelled while she was far away.
We started to work hard and fast, this old woman is scary if she pissed off.
Later we all came down to the kitchen the restaurant to eat our breakfast before opening, 'God how much I miss Shinobu's foods' later I received my uniform; a white shirt and a black long skirt, not my style, but I can't say anything. I started to work as a waitress with little help from my step brother Mokuba, while Joko is an accountant, and mother and Waco represent Management and of course cooking.
Work wasn't easy, at first hour early you will work hard for breakfast meals, then it will normal time, some people to have their meal, then it came dinner time, a lot of customers came from their homes or works to have dinners, with some songs. Still there weren't alcoholic drinks, except beer in the house fridge, and she was allowed to drink while she worked.
But then she found Waco leaving from behind the stairs, she didn't why so she hide until he left to find out, she found a small hidden door behind the stairs, inside it was a dark cold room, then she discovered the treasure.
A wall contains all a lot of alcoholic drinks from all around the world; Vodka, Champagne, Whiskey, Tequila...etc. She was like a child who found Willy Wonka factory.
I was about to pick a bottle, until I surprised by a hard voice "What the hell are you doing?"
I turned around to find my nightmare, my angry mother. She said "I said what are you doing?"
"What do you think I was doing?" I kept my cool "I think you found my precious drinks."
"I thought you didn't allow it in the house, not to mentioned expensive ones."
"I am a sociable drinker, unlike you, you are alcoholic cow."
"Wow, this coming from DEAR CHAIRMAN."
"Shut up, little girl."
"I AM NOT A LITTLE GIRL ANYMORE FOR GOD SAKE." Kitsune screamed
The woman stopped for moments "How about we meet tomorrow night, I'll take you to a nice place."
"I think I'll say yes."
"And I thought you were different from me."
Next day at night:
I waited outside, she came in formal clothes, never seen like that before, we walked, rode a train, and walked again, I thought she was going to take me to a nice bar, a bar in a famous hotel, but not to a REHAB.
Kitsune tried to go back "I'm...I think Mokoba ask me to help in his school work."
"You can help him later after you help yourself." her mother catches her.
"I don't need to, I don't have any problem."
"Yes you are, you drink like a cow."
"I don't have any problem with that, and it's not your right to do what I can."
"First; it's my right since I'm your manager, I am the one who own the house you are sleep in, and I'm your bloody mother."
Mitsune stopped, she didn't know what to say.
"Look, I was like you before, but with therapy I became better, so please come in, if not for me and your family, then do it for yourself."
We both entered the rehab, 'WOW, I never expected a lot of people...' Kitsune thought, different people, but they all shared in one problem; alcoholic.
"Well well, if this isn't our best hero?"
"Hello Dr. Takahiro, it been a while."
"Yeah you right." then he looked to Kitsune and said "I never saw an angel before, are you her little sister?"
"See you still have your flirting skills, unfortunately this is my daughter from my previous husband; Mitsune Konno."
"OOOH..." he sighed, and said "Well, what how can I help you? You aren't back to drink"
"Fortunately no, but my daughter is, she need a help."
"Are you sure that is a good idea?" Mitsune asked.
"What are you talking about?" her mother replied.
"This Doc is looks like a pervert." she explained.
"Hello" came from a stranger.
They both looked into who welcomed them, it was the accountant.
"Is that you Hanimichi-san?" her mother asked.
"Hello Waco-san, what are you doing here?"
"I bring Mitsune for a therapy, what about you?"
"I'm the same."
"I didn't expect you to have drink problems!" Mitsune said.
"You have no idea."
"Since you are here, please help my daughter to be better."
"Well I'll do my best to help her."
"You are not going to love her, right?" she teased him while Mitsune blushed.
"NO NO WACO-SAMA, I WILL HELP HER." His face was red like tomato.
"Well I'm going to work, take care of her" and she turned her to Mitsune "Be at home before 10 pm." and she left.
We were both alone, usually I talk with guys with no shame, but this I felt shy, my heart working fast that even I heard it without touching my chest, while he looked away with a red face.
"HEY GUYS DON'T YOU WANNA COME?"
Both of jumped from the surprise.
"Let's go Mitsune."
We sat on a class, a circled table with seven chair, Dr. Takahiro sits in the middle, he said "Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a new guest, her name is Mitsune, say Hi to her."
"Hi" everyone said.
"Hello" I replied.
"Well Mitsune since you are here please tell us what's your problem?"
"My problem."
"Why are you drinking?"
"EEHH..." I don't how to say it.
"Can I start?" Joko asked.
"If Mitsune got no problem with it."
I nodded my head.
"It's all start after I made my own business, Rozana building Co., it was one of fast 20 building companies in Japan, at first two years I was gaining a lot of profits, till the economic collapse, the business start to slow, I got less from customers than before, I stopped paid salaries including me so I pay for debts, the suppliers put high rules before selling to me, my unique employees started to leave because they got better offers, in the end I went broke."
"I start to drink during this problem, at first I started to drink with my friends, then I drink alone, and after my life was nothing but drinking, my fridge was nothing but beer cans and sake bottles."
"In the end I lost my business, my friends, my family, my fortune" then with tears in his eyes "Even my lovely wife Sakura, who died in a hospital while I was in the bar, I didn't even said goodbye to her."
'I didn't know he faced that much of problems, and I thought my life was the worst' Mitsune thought.
"Well everyone, let's thanks Joko for his starting, what about you Mitsune?" said by a doctor.
'I didn't listening to him or to anyone, after hearing Joko's speech I was lost in my memory' Mitsune thought.
Mitsune flashback begins:
'I remembered when I was a kid, I was spoiled by father, always playing all the time, goes everywhere, even to horses races, and while he was happy, he wasn't like that with mother.'
'All the time they were fighting, even they were fighting in while they were sleeked'
'After days we left from our house to a small cheap ugly flat, I didn't understand at that time, but after that our life gotten to worse, their fights increased, my father goes to homeless, in the end he was found dead in a garbage box.'
'Everyone told me that my father traveled and he will be late, but they didn't know that I was understanding what death means, in myself I blamed everyone, his work, his friends, our relatives, mostly my mother, but in the end it was my fault for being a dense child.'
'After that I and mother moved to Grandfather's house, we stayed there till my mother married while I went to Hinata dorm.'
'But during that time, I promised myself that I would be a better person, I study hard, I worked in a part time job, everything were good, until I met the second person who I hate the most Naru Narusegawa; aka my best friend.'
'She was shy and innocent, but we became friends quickly, except in one thing we were competitors; attract boys, and while my sassy behavior attract the most, her innocent behavior attract all, until our first love came, Seta sensei.'
'It was officially that he will not our goal, but our family man, I start to study more than before, so she, my body got hotter that even the Headmaster became shy while he talks to me, but somehow he preferred that flatted bitch over me.'
'When we talked to him and he smiling to us his smiles to me were bitter unlike his sweet smiles to her, he called Na-chan while he called Konno-san, he only thanked me when I gave my expensive gift in a Teacher Day while he appraised Naru's pathetic gift. HOW DARE HE? I worked hard to get more money to buy his gift, and he only thanks me. This made me want hate both them; my best friend, and my first love.'
'So I made a little plan called rumor, a small sentence said "There's something between Narusegawa-san and Seta-sensei".'
'First person said that he harassed her in his office while other said that she seduced him in her class, like a small flame became a massive inferno, the others put oil on fire, some said that they saw them in a love hotel while others swear that they saw those two only got out from a locker room...etc. Everyone turning against those two, except me, I acted like a real friend to those two while I laugh sarcastic in my heart.'
'In the end, they were approved innocent, but After the destruction of Malta, both of their reputations destroyed, he wasn't accepted in any school, so he left to America to do his Doctorate degree, while Naru stay, but with no respect from teacher or students, except me.'
'I saw them in the airport, he waved his hands with a happy face while she said good bye with tears, I hide and saw them, I was happy to made complete their relationship, but my eyes were I didn't why!.'
'My revenge plan didn't destroy them only, it destroyed me too. I met a girls gang during my revenge plan, a real bad girls, I start to drink, it wasn't tasty at first, but later I found it better than anything, with drinking I start to do bad things, skipping classes, stealing, conning, seducing, even sleeping with anyone for some cash. After that my grades start to below, my mother fights with me for that, so I left home because I didn't take anymore, I became a freelance writer, but with low income and bad habits, I got refused even from girls' dorms, except Grandma Hina who opened her heart to received not as a guest but as a daughter, six months later, Naru came, another six months later, Keitaro came.'
'He wasn't that great man, but he was cute enough, Shinobu fall in love with him from the first sight, Su liked him because he looked like her big brother, Motoko started to get interested in him, my best friend got angry if he talked with another girl and worry if he isn't with her, even I started to like him, he reminded me of Seta-sensei.'
'So what I do is playing pranks and putting him in troubles, enjoys seeing him run away from the three stooges; Su, Motoko, and Naru, it was fun all time, until Seta-sensei came back.'
'I saw him that day with his daughter; Sarah, a cute little girl, seriously how this handsome guy is the father for this annoying brat!'
'So in the festival, when Naru want to confess her love to Seta-sensei, I got a video camera to record her moment, to embarrass her after, but what surprised me is Keitaro.'
'He said he will help her to get Seta's heart, it was obvious that he loves her, but since she loves Seta he will help her for that.'
'This made me want to kill him, WHAT HE SAW IN HER AND NOT ME!'
'So I prepare the camera to catch their embarrassing moment, Keitaro went to Seta and told him that Naru love him, but what Seta did was shocking, he said he loved Naru, he loved Keitaro, he loved me, he loved everyone.
'I thought he was a freak, but he only love us as his students. Damn you Seta. It's Like, not love, FOR GOD SAKE WHAT HAD I DONE?!'
'I destroyed my best friend's and my first love's reputations, I destroyed what I expected of their relationship, I destroyed myself.'
'But since bad habits die slowly, I still to continue what I do, drinking, gambling, conning, esc and lazing. Also seeing the four stooges running after the poor manager was funny enough to forgot everything.'
'But it turns out that our cute manager is changed to worse I think, I remembered when I tried to seduced Keitaro as a prank and to escape from paying the rent, I thought he was going to panic like he always do, but this time he scared me, he was willing to do that thing that I even blushing from thinking of it. I didn't want to, it's funny to joke but it's scary in reality, he is a good guy but he isn't my type, but he refused to back off, he was going to take advantage on me, but in last moment he returned back and fix my clothes, he was joking with me, everyone love to laugh at others but no way to be victims of others' jokes. He kissed my forehead and wish good night, then he left with no back, it affect everyone, mostly Naru, she cried most of time, under her strongest punches and cruel words there is a little girl inside who want a Teddy bear to hugging her all time. She couldn't take it anymore so she left after Motoko.'
Mitsune flashback End
"Konno-san" said by Doc, 'he cut my memory film moments' I thought
"Are you OK?" asked by Joko.
"I'm fine" I replied.
"If you don't to say anything, it's no problem with us, there will be another time."
"No, no, it's OK with me" I didn't want to be that coward anymore "But where to start" I was confused.
"Say anything, we won't judge you or send you to prison, except if you kill someone." one of guys joked and everyone laughed.
'What I did is worse than you will expect' then I start to tell my story, as but not what happened, I didn't told about what I did to my best friend, I don't even want to hear myself what I did.
After half hour
When I finished I turned to see others' expressions, like I expected what I did was horrible.
"Why we don't we rest for ten minutes?"
I went with Joko to the coffee table, I drink latte while he drink espresso, but his eyes was focusing all the time, I didn't like it, it's like what perverts and rapists do before they do their crime, so asked him with a glare.
"What do you want?"
"What do you mean?"
"You looked at me with suspicious, it frightened me."
"I'm sorry, you just like someone I remembered before."
"It's not polite to stare at people just to remember."
"Again I'm sorry, but I remembered you from high school."
"Just because I looked beautiful, doesn't mean you can hit me that easily?"
"No seriously, you just like...Miko."
"Miko?"
"Yeah, you look like her, except her hair is longer than you."
"My hair was longer before in high school like you said" then it hit my mind "Are you the 4 eyes fat guy who can four languages beside Japanese"
"Yes I am. Man, you were pretty like I remembered."
I glared to him quickly "What do you mean?"
"But now you look prettier than before" he replied quickly.
"Well, watch your mouth again Mister, or you will be sorry." I said with happiness inside me.
"OK I'm sorry."
"It's OK."
"So friends." he move his hand to shake
"Friends."
We went back to our class, the others continue their discussions about problems, after that I discovered that my life were better than others who some lost fortunes, families, jobs, health, and everything, also I felt better when I released all my sins, but somehow I felt something missing.
"Now everyone said their stories, all of you share a lot of things" he said "You all got problems, but instead of solve it you run away to drinking" he explained "Now drinking won't solve your problems, instead it will increase it more and more, plus it another problems like health diseases, spending too much...etc."
"So first I want you to do four different things together; exercises, reading, doing a hobby, and working. also for drinking; only on social activities, and one glass every week, and if not it's will better, if you ever find yourself in bad mood and feel hunger for a glass, go on running or biking for half hour at least. Now see you next week everyone."
I walked outside to my home, Joko accompanying me, he said a gentleman never let lady goes alone in night, I felt flattered, and it was safe, especially in this time.
I start to do what the doctor, at first it was horrible; working hard in long times, serving with worst customers and being supervised under the mother, WITH NO DRINK.
But somehow I started to feel relaxed, I became friend with Mokuba, Waco-san, Joko-san, everyone, and even my mother. I start to wake up lively, my body became more beautiful than before, my income increased. God how I spent on those drinks, instead I may be the richest woman in the world. My friendship with Joko became stronger, I knew everything about him, and even I don't feel myself happy without him being me.
Until that night when I thought I was going to lose him.
We start to walked after we went to a Cinema, at first we walked separately, then the space between us decreased, his eyes focused on my left hand all time, but every time I looked to him, he avoided his eyes while he blushed, it was funny.
"Well what we have here?" a scary male voice coming from a long hair man wear black leather jacket between two men.
"She is a really cute" said by bold guy.
"And she's delicious" came from an ugly creepy guy, he wears a red Bandana.
"Hey stay away from her." Joko said.
"Oh, what are you gonna do?" replied by the bold guy.
"Look if you want money then takes" Joko empty his pursue and give his money to them.
"We need more than that, especially this piece of cake." said by the creepy, he licked his tongue while he looked at Mitsune like a cat looked at mouse.
One of them tried to touch my breasts but Joko kicked his stomach. The gangster back off, then come back with the others, each one with his weapon; a knife, a spiny stick, and a nunchaku, while Joko got nothing, he looked at me and said "Run Miko!"
"But you can't..." I replied
"RUN." he yelled.
I run away from this place, I couldn't turn my face to see one unarmed man fight three armed men. I kept running to the house, but before I saw a police patrol, I called and told them everything, they came quickly to the crime scene, and found Joko's body on the ground, covered by bruises.
"Why did you stay? Why you didn't run away?" I yelled at him while my tears start falling.
"If I run away with you they would chase us, so it was better idea."
"But you're injured."
"As long as you're safe, it's OK."
"How you can..."
"Please go away, miss." said by a female stranger.
Mitsune turned around to find a 2 nurses came to pick up Joko's body to the ambulance, I came with them, seeing him covered in blood while pipes covering his mouth and nose for breathing was more scary than Stephen King's novels, he was fighting to stay alive.
I did something that no one even me expect to do, I prayed to God while I hold his hand. We arrived at hospital but the stuff didn't allow me to enter the operations room, and not to make anyone except my mom worried I made a call.
"Hello, this is Waco residence, who's speaking?"
"It's me, mom" I surprised when I called her by mom.
"YOU KNOW WHAT TIME RIGHT NOW YOUNG LADY? WHERE THE HELL ARE..."
"FOR GOD SAKE, JUST LISTEN, I'M IN THE GENERAL HOSPITAL BECAUSE JOKO GOT HURT BECAUSE HE PROTECTED ME FOR SOME YAKUZA, and NOW HE'S BARELY SURVIVING!" I END WITH CRY and TEARS.
My mother stopped for a moment then said "Hold on, we'll coming."
I sat on a seat, I was waiting for him, my head start to fill with bad ideas, like Joko is dead, or I was raped by those gangs, or...etc. But I tried to focus on thing, that Joko will be safe.
After my Mother arrived with Waco and Mokuba, she hugged me, it was shocking, but instead of try to get away from her, I found myself hugging her more and more.
"Their their Mitsune, everything will be OK." She started.
"No Mom, Joko is injured and I don't know what to do."
"You are safe now Mitsune-san, As for Joko, we have to wait, it is the only we can do" said by Waco-san.
We wait for 15 minutes, but somehow I felt like it was 15 years, the doctor came out.
"How is he doctor?" Waco asked.
"He's safe now."
"Thank God" her mother replied.
"But you can't enter because he slept and we are waiting for medicine to do their job."
"Where is big sister?" Mokuba asked
I entered his room without listening, founding his body covered by bandages.
"Miss, please, get out." one of nurses said.
"But," I replied.
"It's better for him, Mitsune," my mother said.
"OK."
Then something happened, his heart start to work fast, then he wake up and screamed "MIKO... MIKO"
"I'm here, I'm here."
"Thank God you are alive, I thought I was gonna lose you."
"I thought I was gonna lose you, you were almost dead."
"As long as you are safe."
"Ehem ehem" the doctor coughed "Since you woke up, there is no need to stay in the hospital. You can go home now."
"But Doc, isn't better to stay?" I asked.
"Miko please." Joko said
"There is no need to, he is OK right now" the doctor replied.
"What if he got internal injuries, what if..." I asked.
"I'm OK" Joko said and hugged Mitsune "I'm OK."
Mitsune hugged him while she was crying on his chest "I was scared, I thought you were dead." "I don't wanna be alone, I don't want you to leave, I don't even wanna leave you or Mom or Mokuba or Waco-san" then I stopped and try to say "I...I..."
"It's OK Mitsune, I Love you too."
"What?!" said by doctor.
"What?!" said by Waco-san.
"What?!" said by her Mother.
"What?!" said by Mokuba.
"Whaaaat?!" said by nurses and everyone around.
"What?" said by Joko.
"Ammm..." Kitsune stopped "I just want to say to not do that again."
"But I...I..."
"Just say it big sister." said by Mokuba.
"I Love you too" I said it with no thinking.
They were going to kiss "Ehem...ehem" her mother She looked "Please, do it in private place, after you got married." she turned to Joko. "Joko-san, I can call you Joko-kun."
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Call me mother."
While everyone congratulated the new couple, Waco pulled his wife and asked her "I thought you didn't want to lose your daughter again!"
"I didn't lost her, instead I got a new son" she replied happily.