The dramatic click of the pistols safety lock release punched the air. The fox was cornered.
''Cr-,'' he half hissed through gritted teeth as the gun buried its telling barrel between the short hairs of his neck.
''Yeah, crap; you got that shit right. Now, lose the knife.''
Mei felt the muscles running up her neck scrunch as the knife shifted apprehensively, the cold touch of the blade losing its winning edge by the bucketload. The steel tickled the base of her throat and then ghosted the area below her chin as it's wielder considered his scarce list of options. Inevitably, surrender was chosen.
Slipping from the fox's jagged claws, the sharp point of the blade whistled downward; the teeth of two adjacent floor panels found its tip and the knife vibrated life for a moment before it came to its final harsh stillness. Standing as vertically as it had fallen, the shining metal made a point of its last defiance against gravity.
Disbelief, coupled with nausea balled up in her throat as Mei failed to outstare the stainless steel hilt winking by her feet. She swallowed roughly as the fatty kernel blocking her airway began to choke her. She immediately regretted her haste as the sudden motion triggered the onset of a ruthless cramp.
The sporadic aches brought about a fresh wave of nausea, the unpleasant sensation crashing down on her already unstable shores without a moment's hesitation. She was going to be sick.
''Over there. Sit down and stay down. Got it?''
The commanding tone of the gun wielder made her freshly assumed control patently clear. The fox was beaten, and he knew it. Wiser than protest, he padded as quietly as he had come over to the loose string of staff fronting the austerity of the peacock screen. The cornered rats had barely risen to the call of duty during the toss-up of power, and now they slumped once again as the wily fox too joined their ranks.
The world span before Mei's eyes, she put her best foot forward, increasingly disregarding baby steps as the mounting desire to confirm her saviour's identity swarmed her strangled senses. The sickening sway of her surroundings followed her clumsy swivel, heavy feet tripping her as she tried in vain to restore her weakening balance — the result: her half-turned body, barging heavily into the shoulder of the woman behind her.
Harumi moved to catch the newborn deer as it fell.
Mei was distantly aware she'd hit something solid, but that reality wasn't one she was willing to confront right now. The sickness filling her head lessened its grip in her paper world, a delectable relief from the ugly nature of her reality - a reality filled with stinging knives and aching guns. It was warmer here, the cloying scent of honeysuckle hung about the orchard, and the hum of surrounding bees wasn't invasive but pleasant.
Cherry blossoms were falling, their petals merging softly with the pond below. They were beautiful, all different in their own unique way and yet all belonging to the same tree. Amongst its pale neighbours, a blossom of strikingly deep pink floated with the slight breeze ghosting the idyllic pond. Mei watched curiously as it waltzed alone. Closer now, dancing achingly near to where her slender fingers paddled the warm water. She wanted to touch its gorgeous petals, find out if they held the same papery texture of its paler cousins. But she knew if she did so, to this tranquil world, she could never return.
Curiosity killed the cat. Mei pondered this, the blossom a breath away. It hurt to admit it, but she knew it then; her and the leopard were undoubtedly one and the same. She plucked the lone blossom from the pond and paradise died.
Mei snapped open her eyes; the world's muddy blur still present in the two seconds passed. She blinked twice and settled her renewed clarity on the strands of plum hair caressing her trembling fingers. She dug her hands further into the black material of the familiar jacket collar, disbelief betraying the physical reality her sensitive fingertips insisted on. Inhaling the nostalgic scent of the leather, Mei buried herself further in the warmth of the soft breast upon which she rested. It was surely too good to be true.
''Guess, that's two - one now, huh Prez.''
Mei sniffed as the clear ringing of Harumi's voice so effortlessly shattered the might of her misgivings. Her incredulous mind fell to its knees as every avenue of denial was taken away and replaced by gorgeous certainty. The fleeting hope of a frightened girl had been incredibly realised.
Tracing the melody of Harumi's clear voice, Mei gratefully exhaled as the rise and fall of the crystal tone began to wash away the chaos of fear and unknowing. With the passing of the sixth second, Mei allowed the soothing river to free her entirely of burden. The beginning of the seventh whispered she could let go entirely. At the close of the eighth, paradise could gladly go to hell.
''Mei?''
The woman in question inclined her head softly.
''You ok?'' Harumi finally buzzed.
Mei didn't reply immediately. Her tongue stiff and unwilling, barely formed the words her constricted vocal cords eventually strained to produce.
''I don't think so.''
''Look, Mei, I'm not exactly sure what I just saw…''
Mei swallowed, ''How much did you see?''
''Enough.''
''Oh.''
A silence filled with too many racing thoughts consumed the gap between words.
''Do you - think I'm insane?''
''I think that - maybe I do.''
'' So do - you think - I'm cruel too?''
''Maybe.''
Mei said nothing in response. Harumi took her silence as an opportunity to say what she needed to.
I think what I just watched was...was about a little more than just Yuzu. You seemed to be - almost, enjoying yourself.
Mei opened her mouth to defend herself, but her only response was a stream of her silent tears.
''I don't know what's going on in your head at the moment,'' Harumi continued,'' but I also think… perhaps the end justifies the means.''
Mei tensed at the unexpected words.
''And besides, being a psychopath isn't all that bad, I guess. Some people might even say its kind of hot.''
A sad humour shook Mei's painful vocal cords at the impossible lack of scornful judgement.
''Maybe you're a little twisted too - if you think that,'' Mei barely whispered into Harumi's chest.
''I never said I was one of those people, but as soon as the police take their next coffee break I'll make sure to pop by my local psychiatric ward, you know get someone qualified - just to be on the safe side.''
Mei felt herself laugh again, her pain dissipating in the face of Harumi's stupid humour.
''Hey''
''Yeah?''
''You know what.''
Harumi shook her head softly.
''Two-one, is still two off winning.''
Mei smiled herself as she felt Harumi grin,'' I feel like I should probably get two points for this one though.''
''How's that?''
Mei felt Harumi's body suddenly tense up against hers. She looked out from her place of solace as her fragile knot of comfort loosened.
Harumi's finger teased the trigger of the black revolver occupying her right hand, its deadly muzzle trained on the heart of a terrified chef. He stopped fast in his attempt on a rack of kitchen knives, an opportunity he had spied and mistakenly taken at the apparent distraction of his most recent captor. Having underestimated Harumi's ever-present vigil, the man quickly made to amend his blunder, allowing the barrel of the gun to guide his tentative steps back to the slump of the peacock screen. Harumi clenched her jaw as he reluctantly sat down once more; no mistake, this was still a battlefield.
She was running out of time. Despite Mei's obvious symptoms of shock, Harumi knew she had to emphasize the danger of the powder keg that only required a single match to blow. She opened her mouth reluctantly upon returning her attention to Mei, but to her amazement and no small amount of admiration, she found she didn't need to. Mei was already returning her weight to her unsteady feet.
She let go of Harumi's now crumpled jacket entirely as the last remnant of calm stilled her trembling body. Turning her back to Harumi, Mei padded three paces across the wooden floor and stopped at the point where he lay. She stooped. Following the wood of his hilt to the steel-alloy of his tip, Mei stared for a long time into the dull metal of the shotguns treacherous barrel, giving every opportunity for any sign of reluctance to make itself known. She found no such waver in the certainty reflected in his stare. She relaxed, her predatory status undoubtedly renewed; he was hers to wield as she so desired once more. Mei collected her prize unhesitantly.
Mei drew herself back up to her full height, the stable weight of the shotgun providing additional ballast upon her rising sea of calm. She focused on the cool water flowing over her previously arid lands, and it occurred to her that during the last few seconds, the blockage that had dammed her strength had been unwittingly destroyed. Turning to Harumi, she realised she was now a free-flowing river; stones such as fear and worry could quell her rich stream no longer. At least, not right now.
The brown-haired woman stood before her in all her visual glory, a slight sheen of sweat glossing her face as she eyed the crowd before her. So she did exist. Mei looked from the revolver clutched between her two hands and back to the intensity of the expression on her face. Harumi had fixed her with the same expression an hour ago. It was ironic. She'd told her then she could never rob an innocent person for her own gains, yet here she was, pistol and all, a mere hour later.
Harumi sensed the other woman's stare and flicked her occupied gaze over her shoulder. Mei looked into her amber iris's and life surged into the basin of her hollowed resolve once more. She was wrath alone, but with this woman who had stood idle whilst her precious morals bled to death on her account, she was utterly unstoppable. The weapon gracing Harumi's grip and her improbable appearance fell away as unimportant details. All Mei knew now was that there was something terribly right about all before her that was terribly wrong. And, perhaps, in some sick kind of way, she was enjoying herself.
Mei raised an eyebrow humorously, taking her sudden bipolar sway of mood in her stride,'' I asked, how's that?''
The focus saturating Harumi's features slipped to confusion at the uncontextualised question. Mei couldn't help but grin as the amusing sight of Harumi's usual quick-witted self-drawing a complete blank. Finally, a gradual grin bared her teeth as understanding dawned on her.
''Well,'' Harumi began picking up the thread of the forgotten conversation,'' I had to save your high and mighty ass from a knifeman for one, which might I add was definitely not part of the job description. The way I had this thing figured, we were just taking a quiet cycle upcountry. But when you're involved everyone almost has to die, we get robbed, my dog gets shot, you decide to pull off a heist and drag my sorry ass into it and now you're onto the knife threat stage. If you have anything more to add, please just let me know ahead of schedule.''
''Still, sounds like one point to me.''
''I'd have to disagree, I mean the way you were shaking during your miniature breakdown over there, both the knife and the aftermath were probably quite fatal, to be honest. So, I think we should consider this a draw. ''
Mei nodded sarcastically, '' Is that how you see it?''
''Yeah, it is, oh and I hope you didn't get any tears on my jacket by the way. It's dry clean only, a real pain to take to the cleaners when you're wanted by Japan's entire police force.''
Mei felt embarrassment steal a smile from her.
'' Did you come here for a reason other than to make fun of my gross failure.''
''Yeah, actually.'' Harumi continued, smiling at Mei's rare embarrassment,'' And don't beat yourself up, Miss Aihara, I wouldn't call it a complete failure just yet - a little more practice, and you'll be a stellar armed robber. Just remember to check your rearview mirror before you pull out next time.''
''I'll bear it in mind, professor.''
''Good, now I'd say it's about time for a re-test.''
''Excellent idea, but my schedules a little tight this week, I do have an opening right now, mind you.''
''Perfect. In that case, I'd say we have about five minutes at best for the exam.''
''Short and sweet, just how I like it.''
''All the time?'' Harumi questioned, grinning slyly.
''Depends on my mood,'' Mei replied, replicating the rebellious glare.
The forgotten cashier squirmed uncomfortably as the twin predators ended their enigmatic exchange and fixed two resolute pairs of eyes on him. Funnily enough, he thought as the brown-haired one descended upon the crowd whilst the other took a step towards him; this wasn't even the worst day he'd had at work.
/