Because of Small Things
Chapter 29
My eyes fluttered opened and somehow, I felt different. I knew I was Etsuko LeBlanc but somehow, I felt different. I blinked and sat up, my head dizzying before I groaned and licked my lips. Memories raced through my head and a smile graced over my lips, like a genuinely true smile. I had destroyed Kiyou for good. My parents' death was revenged, finally.
I swung my legs off the bed and stared around. I wasn't sure where I was, but as soon as the door opened showing the familiar faces of Yusuke, Kurama, Kuwabara, and Koenma, followed closely by Hiei. I smiled at them and stated, "How long was I out for?"
"About three days," Kurama answered and I shook my head. I was out for three days. It felt good though. I felt the most rejuvenated I've ever felt in my entire life so far. It was like being born again. The boys were all eyeing me in a way and I eyed them back. That's when Koenma laughed.
"We're just making sure you're all there, Etsuko! Some people come out of the rejuvenation chamber with slightly dull personalities," Koenma explained. "But I see that you're not those people! Now…I must speak with you. Boys, will you please leave?" Yusuke stared at Koenma in confusion and Koenma made a motion of "shoo" with his hands. Hiei left first followed by Kuwabara and Yusuke while Kurama smiled reassuringly over at me. Koenma shut the door and stared over at me, sighing. "Do you still want to go live by yourself?" I blinked. Why was he asking this? I had made it clear I wanted to, didn't I?
"Yes, I do," I mumbled.
"You're sure? The boys will miss you," Koenma stated. I frowned. I'd miss them too but I had two years to make up for. I missed an entire two years of my life because I was blamed for the parents' death.
"I will miss them but I miss being out in the real world, doing stuff like a normal person," I stated. "I've been around freaks for two years, Koenma. I want to talk to humans and share their interests and get to know people without them telling me I'm a demon." Koenma frowned. "The boys are my family, yes…but even some families need to break up." Koenma sighed but nodded.
"It's your life and I shall grant you your wish. Do you have a place?" I nodded. "Then I have a wish…you must give me your address so I know where you are in case there's ever an emergency, is that ok?" I nodded, smiling.
"Of course, Koenma! You are the one who gave me my life back," I stated, standing and standing beside the small toddler and kneeling, giving him a slight hug. He flushed and shoved me back, clearing his throat. I smiled and shrugged, standing. "When can I leave?" Koenma opened the door and walked out, smiling at me and turning toward me, his arms linked at his lower back.
"Whenever you tell the boys you're leaving," he stated before leaving. I glared after him and walked out, following him down the hallway and toward his office. I smiled at the boys and Koenma summoned a portal, smiling at me. I walked to his desk and grabbed a piece of paper lying there and grabbing the pencil he was going to grab. I began to write down the address and handed it to him, glaring at him and walking through the portal after the boys.
"So what'd binky breath want?" Yusuke asked and I sighed. I didn't really want to tell them but I wanted to go see my new apartment and start on rejuvenating my life. I sighed again and turned to the boys, fidgeting with my hands. They were eyeing me, even Hiei.
"I think you all should sit," I stated, softly. They all glanced at each other but didn't sit down. I blinked and bit the inside of my lip. I was about to tell my family I was leaving them to have a normal life. Saying it that way sounded rude but it was what I wanted. "I'm leaving."
There wasn't a reaction for a while.
"What?!" Yusuke yelled first, breaking out of the shock. "Where to?"
"The real world…" I mumbled.
"What for?" Yusuke yelled. I really didn't like his yelling. It was putting me on edge and after the fight against Kiyou, I really didn't feel like being yelled at. I gave Yusuke a hard look and his lips grew tight.
"Because I want to. You guys have lived your lives fully your entire lives. I missed two years of it," I hissed, holding my hand up showing the number two. "I want to regain those two years and see the world instead of being kept in this house, fighting off demons because that's totally not normal to everybody. I want to feel some normality. Is that too much to ask?" I looked at them all and sighed, turning and walking upstairs. I shut the door to my bedroom and locked it, sighing again. I closed my eyes, taking in a deep breath, before I walked further into my room and began making my bed. I walked to my armoire and reached up, stepping on the bottom of course, and grabbing one of the duffel bags kept up there, probably for the missions they were sent on before I came into the picture.
I set it on my bed and began grabbing my small amount of clothes, folding them and shoving them inside the large duffel bag that I knew I wouldn't be able to carry the damn thing. It was literally half my size and that was pretty big for a duffel bag. I'd have to manage though since I did blow a casket to the guys and I doubt any of them would help me at this current moment. I frowned when I finished my clothes and turned to my bathroom but I heard my bedroom door open. I looked over to see Kurama standing there, leaning against the door frame. I eyed him and continued walking into my bathroom, grabbing my toiletries and walking out, sighing and setting them on my bed as I felt Kurama's eyes on me. "What do you want?" I whispered as I pocketed the keys to my new apartment.
"Etsuko, we all see your reason for leaving but why are you leaving so suddenly?" he asked and I looked over at him before staring out my window.
"Because I asked Koenma a couple weeks ago, before the tournament, that when I destroy Kiyou, I want to go have a chance at the real world, reestablishing a normal life, even for just a little bit," I whispered. Kurama sighed but nodded. He walked forward and pulled out a box of Ziplocs, which I smiled at.
"I figured you'd need these for your toiletries, since I've packed more duffel bags in my life than you have I'd imagine," he stated and I smiled at him. I packed all my toiletries in the bags and shoved them in my duffel bag. I grabbed Jasper and shoved him in as well, looking around afterwards. I zipped up the duffel bag and pulled the strap over my shoulder. I went to pull it off but the moment it was off the leverage of my bed, it pulled me back. Luckily Kurama was there or I would've fallen straight into my nightstand, knocking myself out cold probably. Kurama laughed and stated while pulling my duffel bag off my shoulder and over his, "Next time, pick a smaller duffel bag. It doesn't help that the bag is basically as tall as you, Etsuko." I smirked while shrugging and walked out with him.
I followed him downstairs where I saw Yusuke and Kuwabara standing, waiting for me, while Hiei sat on his windowsill, staring out the window and refusing to look at me as I walked in. I was confused as a quick, sharp pain shot through my chest and a frown found its way on my lips. I blinked and shook my head as I smiled up at Yusuke and Kuwabara, who sulked down at me. "You know I'll miss you guys and you guys can always visit if you miss me," I stated, reaching up and hugging the two tall oafs that I know I'll miss the most.
"I wish you weren't leaving…" Yusuke mumbled, sulking while crossing his arms. I rolled my eyes and leaned up, pulling him down and kissing his cheek and doing the same with Kuwabara, who blushed a nice cherry red while sucking in his bottom lip, staring up like he was going to cry, or something.
"Don't cry, Kuwa-san," I teased, my shoulders shaking with laughter. Kuwabara grinned at me and did the impossible. He wrapped his large arms around me and literally crushed my spine in the biggest hug I've received in a long time and I found myself enjoying the love. I smiled and grunted when it started to hurt. I felt my face grow hot and coughed.
"You're going to kill her, you baka," Hiei's voice echoed and Kuwabara flushed, releasing me and setting me down as I took a big breath in. I looked over at Hiei, who was now standing beside Kuwabara (looking shorter than usual for some reason). I sighed and stared at him.
"Try not to kill the two tall ones while I'm gone, ok?" I stated in a very teasing voice. Hiei smirked over at me.
"Hn." I smiled and shook my head, looking over at Kurama, who refused to put my bag down.
"Why don't you guys go with me?" I asked, my eyes widening at my brilliant plan. "Help my settle in and say final goodbyes in like…a couple hours." Yusuke and Kuwabara grinned and instantly agreed. I looked over at Hiei and frowned. "I already know your answer so… I'll see you around, Hiei."
"Hn," he mumbled, looking away. I looked over at Kurama and smiled. A portal appeared after Yusuke yelled for Koenma and we walked through it. I couldn't help but glance back at Hiei. For some reason, I didn't want to leave him behind. I was suddenly standing in a dark alleyway. I looked around and saw a street sign, smiling when I notice it was the street name of where my apartment was. I walked out of the alleyway and stared around. The street was pretty empty except for a few empty buildings and a nearby house that had a few lights on here and there. It was a pretty well lit street and I sighed. I looked back at the boys and something bubbled up when I saw Hiei standing behind everyone else.
I cleared my throat, shoving that feeling aside, and walking onto the sidewalk. I walked around and pulled the note out with the name. I looked around and saw the building instantly. "There it is," I pointed out and began walking toward the building, the boys trudging behind me. I walked to it and pulled out the keys, opening the front door and pushing it open. I let the boys in and began walking up to the receptionist. She glanced at me and then eyed the boys behind me. "Hi, I'm Etsuko LeBlanc and my godfather Tsutomu used to live here… but he's away on business and needs me to stay here for a while." The girl popped her bubble gum and asked me which apartment it was. "It's apartment room number 56."
"That's on the fifth floor, all the way down to the right," she answered. "Do you have keys?" I nodded and began walking toward the elevator. I pushed the up button and sighed. I was getting nervous because an apartment says a lot about a person and stepping into Tsutomu's apartment will make me feel like he was there with me, I knew it.
We rode the elevator to floor five and began walking down the hallway. We found 56 at the end, like the girl said, and I fumbled with the keys before unlocking the door and pushing it open. It was a very beautiful apartment with cream colored walls and a very neutral tone was everywhere. It was mainly done in browns and soft yellows. I liked it, a lot.
I smiled and breathed in, smelling Tsutomu's scent instantly: the musky smell of oils and rain. I liked it a lot. I turned to the boys, grinning, and they grinned back. "I'm going to go find the bedroom," I mumbled, before heading toward the door to the left. It was an office type of room so I moved to the next door, which happened to the bathroom so I hit bingo when the next door was the bedroom. I smiled and hollered for the boys, who came over instantly. Kurama set my huge duffel bag on my bed and I began unpacking, smiling the entire time.
The boys watched me for the most part and my small mumbles of excitement. I had my own apartment, even though I didn't have to pay a single cent for it, and I was no free to do whatever I wanted without being looked at oddly by anyone because this was my apartment. I finished soon and turned to the boy, grinning. "Isn't it beautiful?"
"It is a nice apartment," Kurama stated, running his hand down the wall.
"It's too manly for you," Yusuke commented and I narrowed my eyes at him. "What? It looks like a man lives here."
"Well, a man did live here you dolt," I commented, smiling. Yusuke grinned and shrugged, walking out into the living with Kuwabara. I sighed and smiled at Kurama and Hiei, only Kurama smiled back. Hiei just left the room. I looked over to see a window and outside was a small fire escape balcony, which I knew I'd sit out on a couple of times. It wasn't a nice view but it was a view nonetheless. "Let's go see my kitchen," I stated to Kurama, who nodded with a small smile. I walked out and sauntered over to my new kitchen. It has all stainless steel appliances and I knew I'd destroy them within a couple weeks.
"Hey, you have a message, Etsuko," Yusuke's voice stated and I peeked out of the kitchen to see him pointing at the telephone. I blinked and walked over, staring at the blinking "01" on the machine. I blinked once more and hit play. Instantly, I was overwhelmed by the voice coming out of the voicemail.
It was Tsutomu's.
