Part 4

Fatality

Chapter 34

Strung

The creaky door of the (very) small wooden hut blew slightly in the wind. However it didn't move too much, thanks to the thick red rust that covered the cheap hinges. Akiko walked away from the small structure. It hadn't been far away from where Erika sat feebly. The girl had mentioned walking past it before collapsing. Akiko had gone to it on the premise of finding something to help the girl.

Of course, she'd only gone there to find something to kill Erika with. The collar was a waste on the almost dead girl. And the knife just seemed…uncreative…boring. She'd already used it once. The hut was almost completely empty. A few dead weeds, a few rusted buckets- and one split plastic container. However there was one useful object she had found. A loop of thin, but strong looking rope. She'd picked it up. She knew that this would be very useful.

"D-did you find anything?" asked Erika weakly as Akiko returned to her. "Anything to help?" she asked.

"No, not really" replied Akiko. "I'm sorry Erika. Here, have something to drink" she said, gently pouring a small amount of water into Erika's mouth. She swallowed.

"Thank you" she said.

Akiko walked away, and quickly flung the rope over a thick branch that jutted out from a gnarled but strong looking tree close to the two. Erika glanced across at what Akiko was busy doing.

"A-Akiko, what are you doing?" she asked.

"Just something I need to do" replied Akiko, "Don't worry I'll finish in a minute."

She carefully positioned the rope and then returned to Erika. She grabbed the injured girl and dragged her along the ground, the girl questioning Akiko weakly. She placed her gently on the ground- she was about to kill her, but she could at least be kind now.

"A-Akiko?"

She grabbed hold of the rope and wrapped it around Erika's neck, tying it carefully. Erika's eyes widened slightly as she realized what was happening. Pathetically she tried to resist, attempting to grab Akiko's hands, as well as the rope. However Akiko was able to push the hands away with ease. Erika looked up at Akiko.

"Please Akiko. P-please. Don't do this."

"I don't have a choice."

She gripped the rope and slowly began to move away from the tree. The rope creaked slightly as it taunted, but it held as Akiko was just able to start lifting Erika off of the ground. Erika choked, now in a standing position. Akiko wrapped the strong rope around a tree trunk once to hold Erika's weight, and continued to pull. She eventually stopped, wrapping the rope around the trunk a few more times before tying it up. Erika swung slightly, suspended a few inches above the ground.

Weakly her feet tried to make contact with the ground as she started choking. The thin rope began to lacerate the suspended girls neck- her weight tightened the noose, the thin rope, almost wire like, digging into, and then cutting the skin. Already the girl was pale, and she whimpered slightly as a small trickle of blood flowed down from the rope. She looked directly as Akiko, hurt, before her eyes rolled. She sighed once and then died.

Akiko turned away from the girl. She left the girl hanging. At least that way she could be recovered intact unlike other students- and none of the wildlife (if there was any) could get a meal. She also felt it offered a warning to anyone who passed through the area.

She picked up the bottle and wiped the top clean, having unscrewed the cap. She wiped her hands on her skirt and put it back in her bag. She'd done well so far. But now she wanted a proper test. She wanted to fight one of the boys. Preferably a few more then that.

---

Just past eleven years old, Kasumi stood outside the oak door of her fathers study room. She didn't know why, but she respected it- nothing more then a door. The unmarked wood and polished surface reminded her of her father in some way- the respectful and confident but loving figure. She reached up and pulled on the door, slowing pulling it open. Sadly it was not quite as well maintained as expected, letting out the familiar shriek.

She stepped inside, her feet, in small white socks, padding gently across the floor. Her father sat hunched over a desk, but turned, removing his glasses as the girl entered. He placed them on the desk and turned back, smiling.

"Ah Kasumi, what brings you here this late" he said.

Kasumi looked down at the girl, her arms crossed behind her. "W-well I just heard something today. I've been thinking about it."

"Oh really Kasumi? I hope it isn't another sporting event. My back still hasn't quite recovered" he said, putting on a fake grimace.

"No it isn't that" she replied, smiling slightly. The smile soon disappeared. "I got into an argument with someone- one of Mr. Takeshi's sons. He said something- I think he said it to hurt me."

"Oh? And what was that?"

"He said that despite how you acted you were actually disappointed with me. All you really wanted was a son- but instead you ended up with a daughter."

The father frowned and stood up. "Kasumi, you are intelligent enough to comprehend many things. And I do not wish to lie to you."

Kasumi's head bowed down further.

"There was a time- once- when I wished for a son. I discovered the sex before you were born. And I am sad to admit I was annoyed slightly. Unfortunately, thanks to my own fathers influence, I had perceived it was best to have a son- that they were more capable. Nothing but sexist bulls-I mean rubbish."

The man bent down and put his arm around Kasumi.

"However at heart I am, and have always been, a very soppy individual. When you were born, I was the first person you saw- the first person you smiled at. Well to cut a long story short- that was the very instance any 'disappointment' vanished. Sure my father wasn't too impressed- but I had you, your mother and her caring parents."

The man tightly embraced the girl, hugging her. "Dad" said Kasumi, embarrassed.

"I did tell you I was too sentimental. Besides, how could I be disappointed with my intelligent and caring daughter?"

Kasumi gave him a look.

"My intelligent, caring and beautiful daughter" he said, patting her on the head. "Also smelly."

Kasumi grinned. She knew some people had problems with parents. But not every single child had to put up with an angst filled childhood. Many parents do, and will always, love their children.

"Oh and Kasumi before you go to bed, two things. First- don't watch that horror movie. However since I know you will, don't come crying to me about nightmares."

Kasumi grinned again.

"And two. As cheesy as this sounds, and you might not comprehend it, I want to tell you before you grow up into the sarcastic teenager I once was. Love, compassion- relationships. Friends and family. These are the most important things in life- if I put all my energy into my work, I could grow rich- get a big house, spoil you and your mother. But I'd never have time for you or your mother."

Kasumi looked at her father. She understood most of what he was saying. But she was a bit too tired to fully understand it.

"I could have lots of money. But thirty years down the line I'd look back and realize I don't even know my forty year old daughter. And I can't do that. I just can't. Money might have been all my dad was interested in-apart from me- but his drive all but destroyed him in the end."

He looked down at Kasumi, realizing that he might have gone a bit too complex for an eleven year old. He switched off his lamp.

"Come on Kasumi, I'll go watch that movie with you. I need someone to tell me when the scary bits are over- and your mum thinks I'm a wimp as it is." Holding her hand, the father walked out of the room.

---

Friends…family.

Takamasa put the gun away. As he turned to check on Aya, Kasumi grabbed his arm.

"T-Takamasa."

"Yeah Kasumi?"

"You-you still trust me don't you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I just killed someone. I spent all this time saying I couldn't- and I didn't even hesitate."

Takamasa took Kasumi's hand.

"Kasumi, if you were going to do anything, you'd have shot me when I approached you. I trust you as much as I ever have. The only thing about you I'm worried about is the emotional effect of what happened."

Kasumi shook her head. "I'll be ok. I'll feel guilty for a while- but I had to protect my friends."

Takamasa nodded. "Come on Kasumi, lets see how Aya is. And don't look back at Takuya."

Kasumi followed Takamasa across to Aya, who had stood up.

Friends.