GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMEN GOMENASAI!
I am so sorry for the late update, but school's almost over, and everything's crazy. I have no real excuse, just that I didn't want to write in fear that I'd write something crappy. BUT! I have finished this chapter, and I will save you from your agony of waiting.
So without further ado, CHAPTER 26!
Episode 26- We Don't Die for Our Friends, We LIVE for Them!
Shori plopped down n the couch next to Tokiya, propping her legs on his lap. "Did you hear? The police caught the guy who ran Masa-chan over."
"Good," Tokiya replied, turing a page in his book. Shori took a bite of the muffin she had brought with her, and studied the young man's face. He was wearing his glasses today, his dark blue eyes scanned the pages of his novel intently. Both wore casual clothing- Shori in a dark blue tee and Tokiya modeling a grey-blue button down. Shori nudged him gently with her foot. "Will you come with me to get some books?"
Tokiya looked over at her, "Sure, I'm almost done with this one."
"Thank you!" she smiled and planted a sweet kiss on his cheek. Shori leaned back and finished her muffin contently. When he had finished, Tokiya got up to put his book away. At the door, he put on a black cardigan and Shori slipped on a purple sweat shirt with an iPod design on the front.
Holding hands, they ventured out into the world. An early October wind chilled them, and they shivered. The pair stopped at a cafe. Shori ordered a hot chocolate and Tokiya got a coffee. Outside, they sipped contently. Tokiya glanced at his girlfriend, and tried not to laugh. "Shori, you have some whip cream on your lip."
Shori frowned, and, without succeeding, tried to see the cream. Tokiya laughed now, and used a napkin to clean it for her. She pouted when he finished, "Humph, I should be cleaning your face."
Tokiya cracked a smile, "Well, did you want to walk around with cream on your lip?"
"No," Shori grumbled.
"Then enough said."
Shori shivered. "Let's just go to the book store." They headed off in the direction of the mentioned store, teasing each other on the way. Upon entering the shop, Shori took a deep breath, taking in the scent of the multiple books before her. "Ah, the beautiful scent of new books," she said nostalgically.
They threw away their empty cups, and roamed the store, scanning the shelves for a title that jumped out to them. Shori looked up a shelf that reached the ceiling and pushed her braid over her shoulder. She climbed the rolling ladder a few rungs, and reached out for a book. Smiling triumphantly, Shori grasped the book in her hand, though that was when she lost balance on the ladder.
Yes, her fall wasn't great, but the shock of falling suddenly caused her to let out a yell. Surprisingly, her fall was cushioned. Shori opened her eyes to see Tokiya had tried to catch her. "Are you alright, Tokiya?" she asked.
He chuckled, "Shouldn't I be asking you that?" They smiled at each other, and Shori leaned forward, planting a kiss on his lips. They pulled away, and Tokiya asked, "Did you at least get your book?"
Shori nodded, showing him the book. They got up, and Tokiya read the synopsis. He nodded, "I may take that from you to read."
Shori took it from him, "You'll have to wait until I finish it."
Tokiya found a book her wanted, and Shori managed to comb out a second. They paid for their items, and made their way home. In the drive, they saw a van parked. Exchanging a glance, they headed inside. There, they found Masato in a wheelchair, Miharu standing behind him. Their friends gathered around, all expressing their welcomes. Tokiya shook Masato's hand firmly, and said, "I'm glad you're back, Hijirikawa."
Masato smiled, "I'm happy to be back. It is unfathomably dreary in that hospital." Somber laughs came from everyone.
Shori wrapped her arms around his neck, "I was so worried about you, Masa-chan."
Masato patted her back, "Thank you, Shori-chan." Shori straightened and pulled Miharu into a hug as well. Miharu was stiff in the hug, but soon calmed and hugged her friend back. "Thank you for leaving those meals, Shori."
Shori pulled back, "It was nothing."
Mai stood next to Masato, holding her brother's hand. Shori bent down to Mai's level. "You're leaving soon, aren't you?"
The young girl nodded, "I have to get back to school soon, or else I may have to make up class in the summer."
Shori hugged the young girl. "Miharu and I will keep a close eye on your brother for you, alright?"
Mia nodded and hugged her back. Shori stepped back, and felt Tokiya's arm rest on her shoulders. Leaning into him, she said softly, "Don't you dare get into a coma. I'm not sure what I'd do if you did."
Tokiya pressed her closer, "Same goes for you, missy."
Shori swatted at him playfully, "Don't call me that, Ichinose-san."
"Yes, Saotome-san."
They smiled at each other. Shori stepped away from his warmth, and said, "So, who wants to help with dinner?"
October passed peacefully. Masato soon recovered fully, and his play was back on. He resumed his rehearsals and Shori went with him to let the press know he was doing fine again. Once again, life resumed to it's normal routine. Shori buzzed about, Yukino was in and out of the mansion, and Miharu was usually in a music room, scribbling on a song sheet. The boys were busy and lively.
Towards the end of the month, Otoya and Shori were visiting the orphanage. The children greeted Otoya fondly and when he introduced Shori, they were overjoyed. "Shori-nee, will you come to our haunted house on Halloween?" a little boy asked her.
Shori bent down, and said, "Well, I might." The children rejoiced, and Shori glanced at Otoya. "Oto-nii, you know Cecil's birthday is the 31st, right?"
Otoya replied, "It is?"
"Are we going to do anything for him?"
Otoya pondered this, then snapped his fingers, "We could bing him to the haunted house and throw a party here."
"That's great!" Shori said. Together, they asked for permission, and after receiving it, told the children. Happy to help 'Cecil-nii,' they bustled about. Shori left Otoya to tell the others the plan.
XoXoX
Cecil was being led down the street by Shori. His sister was wearing an odd outfit. White pants, knee-high, brown boots, a white shirt, and a tan jacket with double wings on the back. Instead of her usual glasses, she wore strange goggles and her hair was up in a pony tail. "Shori-nee," Cecil whined, "why do I have to wear this? Where are we even going?"
Shori cast a glance at him. "It's Halloween, Cecil. We dress up and eat candy, scare each other, and-"
"I know what Halloween is," he sighed. "I just don't see why I have to wear this."
Shori laughed. He was wearing black ears, a black shirt with a white a gold coat, and grey pants with a white a black striped belt. Around his neck, he wore a gold chain. "You're supposed to be Anubis, Cecil."
"Where are we going?"
"You'll see," she replied vaguely.
After a while, they arrived at their destination. Shori stood before Cecil, her arms spread out as if to say 'Ta-Da.' Cecil was unimpressed. "Shori-nee, this is the orphanage Otoya-nii grew up in. What's so special?"
Shori smile broadened. "It's what's inside that counts, dear younger brother. I thought you'd have learned that by now."
Shori led him inside. They stood in a dark room, and Cecil gazed around in confusion. "Shori-nee, what's-"
"BOO!" little voices cried out. The lights flipped on, and revealed a group of children, dressed as zombies, mummies, witches, fairies, etc. Behind them, stood Quartet Night, Yukino, Kaoru, Starish, Nanami, Maki, and another tan girl. "Happy Birthday, Cecil!" they said together.
Maki ran up and hugged him. When she pulled away, he planted a kiss on her lips and twirled her around. Cecil set her down, and examined her costume. "A cat?"
Maki nodded, "Yes. You were turned into a cat weren't you?"
Cecil kissed her forehead, and swatted her ears. "That's right."
Shori stood next to Tokiya, and glanced the costumes her friends had donned. "Um, would you guys care to explain your outfits?"
Yukino twirled around in a blue dress. She had a black bow on her head, and white stockings. Her black shoes were shiny clean. "I'm Alice, from Alice in Wonderland, and Syo is the Mad Hatter."
Syo wore green shoes and pants. He had a blue button down-shirt and orange jacket. He had white gloves, and a green hat upon his crazy, messed up blond hair. Otoya let out a woof. "I'm dressed as a dog." Indeed, he wore a tan suit with brown spots on it. His nose was painted black, and he had ears on his head.
Haruka giggled, "I'm dressed as an angel." She twirled, displaying her white dress and golden wings.
Reji bounced and said brightly, "I'm dressed as Kotobuki Reiji!" Yes, he did in fact come as he had when his roommates had first met him.
Shori laughed. "But you are Reiji!"
Reiji put on a look of fake confusion. "Why indeed I am."
"Tch, you are so stupid Kotobuki," Ranmaru grumbled.
Reiji whined, "Ran-Ran, you're so cruel." Ranmaru was dressed in a black suit and wore a plastic silver gun at his side. Shori assumed he was a spy, but hesitated to ask him, because, again, she assumed that gun was fake.
Camus, was dressed as Count Dracula. And Ai, well Ai was an android. Shori looked at Miharu and Masato. "Are you two supposed to be Victorian nobles?"
Miharu sighed. She wore a light pink and white dress that frilled at the bottom. On her head, she even wore a bonnet. Masato donned a dark blue tailcoat, and wore a pink rose in his pocket. "Ren's girlfriend, Katsumi, made my dress and Ren found the suit for Masato," Miharu said.
Shori looked over at Ren and the tan girl whom she assumed was Katsumi. They were dressed as a maid and butler, most likely to match the couple Shori just encountered. "That was a very well made dress," she commented.
Katsumi smiled, "Thank you, Saotome-san."
"Please, just Shori."
Nearby, Shori saw Natsuki hug Kaoru. Sensing danger, she walked over. "Hi, Kaoru, Natsuki."
"Oh, Shori-chan, you look so cute in that outfit!" the taller boy exclaimed.
"Who are you two supposed to be?" she asked.
"I'm Finnian, from Black Butler, and Natuski is a shinigami," Kaoru replied.
"Interesting. Remember, Natsuki, stay calm and don't kill Kaoru," Shori warned.
"Alright!"
Shori turned around to finally examine what her boyfriend wore. He wore an outfit similar to her own, although he had a green cape with the wings on the back. He also had a white cravat on his neck. "Are you supposed to be Levi?"
Tokiya smiled, "That's right, Hange."
"Ah, so you figured out who I was supposed to be, huh?" Shori replied.
"It was quite easily, believe it or not."
"Only because you watched the show with me," she said.
Tokiya shrugged, "It's not like it was a bad show or anything . . . ."
"Shori-chaaaaan!" Shinning beamed. "I need you to do Papa a favor."
"Sure," she replied, "what is it?"
"I left Cecil-san's present in my car, can you get it for me?" he asked.
Shori shrugged, "Sure, just gimme you're keys."
After being handed the keys, Shori made her way outside. "I'll come with you," Tokiya said, a few steps behind her.
"It's alright, I need you to make sure Cecil doesn't do something crazy," she called over her shoulder.
Tokiya watch her for a few moments, a sickening feeling in his gut. Sighing, he headed in side slowly, then quickened his pace when a loud crash came from inside.
Shori took a deep breathe of the cool night air. Gazing up at the stars, she felt nostalgic. Long ago, she and her brother had gazed up at a sky glittering with billions of stars. She longed to gaze up at the sky again like that, peaceful and serene. Shori smiled, she would never give up the life she had now, though. Her friends were everything to her, and she would do anything to make them happy.
In that moment, Shori's life took a drastic turn. The life she was so used to now could possibly never be in her reach again. That is, if she didn't have the strength to snatch that still small thread of hope and get back to everyone she knew.
A hand clasped over Shori's mouth. Her eyes were wide, and a man's deep, raspy voice sounded in her ear. "Don't make a sound, or I might have to hurt you."
A second man appeared, dressed in black. He pulled something out of his pocket and tapped it to Shinning's car. What could they possibly want? Shori wondered.
She was being pulled towards a grey van. Shori felt hopeless. She couldn't call for help, and escaping now seemed like a treacherous idea. What could she do?
Memories. Shori's memories seemed to come to her when she was in need of hope. Images of Yukino, Miharu, her brothers, STARISH, Quartet Night, Tokiya- they all came to her. The people she cared about most, and the people who cared about her. Her parents. Laughter, crying, singing, talking, hugging, arguing- every memory of her friends and what they'd been through together.
Through all the good times and bad, they had never left her alone. Shori couldn't and wouldn't think of their sadness when they found out she was missing. An idea emerged in her mind. Shori was wearing a ring Otoya had given her. If they found it on the ground, he would know that she was fine, and waiting for them to get her.
Before the man stuffed her into the van, she slipped the ring off her finger, and watched it fall to the hard concrete. The door closed on her, and the car drove off.
As the second man put a gag into her mouth, Shori had one, fierce thought ringing in her mind:
We don't die for our friends, We LIVE for them!
Well well well, what have I done to myself now. I hate to say it, but my poor readers will have to wait for the next chapter to find out what happened to our young manager.
This chapter is dedicated to GarasuRin-chan, M, and AkimotoAyumu023.
Until next time!
*smoke engulfs her and she disappears*