Ch 25. Hope you guys are enjoying the story thus far. This chapters a bit angst heavy but don't worry I do plan on writing a bit more levity in Yuzu's life soon... followed by more angst... sorry this isn't a very happy story most of the time but I hope the depth of the darkness makes the light and happier moments all the more touching and worth it. Anyway without further ado let's get going!
Himeko jotted down notes from her most recent stop on her morning rounds sighing to herself and thinking about Mei and the blonde delinquent.
'What is it she sees in her that is so much better than me?' Himeko wondered.
"That sounds awful Yuzuchi." Harumi said from around the corner causing Himeko to stiffen as the delinquent posse rounded the corner. Yuzu was holding one arm with the other not looking up at anyone in particular and looked rather upset. Harumi had one hand on Yuzu's shoulder in a comforting gesture but she too looked upset though her gaze was strictly on the blonde. Aime was in a more relaxed position with her arms behind her head but she also seemed to be upset by whatever Yuzu must have told them given her gaze towards the blonde as well. Himeko moved quickly hiding in a small alacove and peered out from the corner watching the group as they stopped.
"It's... the same nightmare I get every year around this time." Yuzu sighed. "Though not entirely the same..."
"What do you mean?" Aime asked.
"That being of light was never there before... usually I'm just alone entirely." Yuzu said
"Well from what you were saying it's probably a good thing it was there. Though it's a bit weird that it had violet eyes and long black hair." Harumi said. Himeko narrowed her eyes at that. Long black hair and violet eyes sounded an awful lot like Mei.
"Yeah well... Whatever it was it wasn't able to catch me before I sunk under." Yuzu said, "So I don't know how big a difference it really made."
"Well if you normally are so crippled by that nightmare that you can't even get out of bed to go to school, I'd say it's still a pretty big difference." Aime said.
'Crippled by a nightmare? What nonsense is that? How is a nightmare so scary you can't get out of bed afterwards to go to school?' Himeko thought. 'Whatever... I've gotta do something to keep her away from Mei as much as possible.' Himeko exited the alcove walking straight up to the group causing Harumi and Aime to look up hearing the footsteps. Both gave unhappy grimaces as she approached, Harumi moving to stand between Yuzu and Himeko.
"Aihara Yuzu. I need to speak with you. In private!" Himeko said giving Harumi a 'don't try me' glare. She was the vice-president of the student council. She outranked Tanaguchi... even if her older sister was one of the scariest student council presidents the school had ever seen the Tanaguchi's had their day in power already and now She and Mei where in charge. If she needed to talk to a student in private, she wasn't going to let Tanaguchi get in the way. Yuzu looked up at her words.
"Did I do something wrong?" Yuzu asked her gaze hardening from depressed to curious but also defiant. Good... if she put up a fight the victory when she was crushed would be all the more sweet.
"Yes. Yes, you have." Himeko said giving a dismissive 'shoo' wave at the other two. Aime sighed and turned to leave but Harumi stood her ground defiantly. "I distinctly recall stating that this was to be a private disciplinary discussion!" Himeko growled at harumi
"We both know Yuzu hasn't done anything wrong. She's hardly been at school to even have been able to break any rules!" Harumi growled
"And yet she's done so anyway. For that back sass alone your both getting punishment cleaning today after school! Now... if you don't want to make the situation worse for the BOTH of you, I suggest you do as your told Tanaguchi!" Harumi shot back.
"Why you little...!" Harumi growled though Aime would grab her in a half nelson
"Knock it off Tanaguchi your only gonna make it worse!" She said exasperatedly "We're leaving Vice-Prez." Aime said pulling Harumi back who glared at Himeko before shoving her way out of Aime's grip before turning and following Aime away.
"What'd I do now?" Yuzu growled annoyed that she was getting stuck with punishment cleaning for basically existing.
"Wasting student council time, fraternizing above your station, and being a detriment to the student body!" Himeko said
"Excuse me?" Yuzu asked confused
"Do you really think we haven't noticed how much you monopolize the student council presidents time?" Himeko said "Walking to school together, spending most of your lunches together, walking home together, causing problems that she is required to deal with in order to spend more time with her! You've gotten good at it but we can no longer ignore your antics, so I have been sent to deal with you!" Yuzu tssked at her in annoyance
"I don't believe you." Yuzu said placing her good hand on her hip with a defiant and angry sneer "Mei is my step-sister. I think your just jel-" She was then cut off.
"Mei told me herself that she was sick of how much time she has to spend with you!" Himeko growled "She's tired of how you play the suffering sister card to gain her sympathies!" Yuzu looked like she had just been suddenly slapped in the face which Himeko noticed and capitalized on. "The poor girl was exhausted and talking about how much of a pain you are trying to keep you happy and that she was only doing it because your new and your family but that she just can't keep it up for much longer! Your actions have made her look like she's neglecting her duties and have actually kept her from focusing on the student council body as a whole with you forcing her to focus so much on you!" Yuzu stood silently looking like someone had just punched her in the gut.
"I see... so that's how she sees it huh?" Yuzu said nearly inaudibly."I'm sorry for taking up so much of her time. Have a good day." Yuzu's words where shaky as she turned and started walking away, her head low as she clenched her fists tight trying not to cry before breaking out into a run sprinting off as Himeko gave a satisfied smirk before turning and walking away.
Yuzu found a small shaded spot outside before she finally stopped running and collapsed to her knees sobbing heavily into her hand, her shoulders heaving with her sobs as she cried. She pulled her cellphone out and tried to wipe away tears that wouldn't stop coming as her hand shakily tried to tap out her mother's cellphone number. She held the cell to her ear as it dialed her mother's cell sobbing quietly. After a few minutes, her mother picked up.
"Yuzu? What are you doing calling me in the middle of the day?" Ume asked with a yawn on the other end of the line "Shouldn't you be in class?"
"Mama c-can you come p-pick me up from school please? I can't do it today and I d-don't think I could make it h-home alone." Yuzu said stuttering between sobs and heavy in breaths as she tries to keep it together.
"Yuzu are you alright?" Ume asked sounding alarmed. "Are you safe? Stay where you're at I'm coming to get you don't do anything till I get there!" Ume said the sounds of her frantically getting ready coming over the line. Yuzu tried to reply but only got out more sobs before her hand fumbles her cellphone dropping it to the ground beneath her as she buried her head into the crook of her arm and sobbed... alone.
Yuzu didn't know how long she cried, she didn't know how long she sat there, she didn't know when one of the student council members and members of the faculty had found her there. She didn't know when her mother arrived... she only remembered the pain and the tears only got worse when Mei tried to talk to and comfort her... and she had to reject her for her own good. She knew now what Mei really felt, that Yuzu was just a pain... just another problem on Mei's list of duties. Mei had come to see her and try to offer a comforting hand... and Yuzu had turned away from her... she had to. She couldn't let Mei shoulder her problems anymore. No matter how much it felt right... Mei couldn't be happy if Yuzu continued to cause her problems. All of these thoughts ran through her head as she lay her head on Ume's lap on the couch, wrapped up in a small ball under the cover Ume had wrapped around the two of them as she gently rubbed Yuzu's shoulder quietly watching TV only able to be there for Yuzu... having nothing she felt she could say to help the blonde at the moment. Ume picked up her phone and would call her boss at work.
"Hey it's me... I'm sorry but I need to stay home tonight. Yes, it's my daughter again... I don't know what changed from when she left for school this morning but she's not doing well. No it's a mental thing today. I'm really sorry about this I know you wanted me to help put the finishing touches on that presentation, but she needs me. Thank you so much I promise I'll make it up to you when I return to work. You're too kind. Alright have a nice day. Thank you. Goodbye." Ume put her phone down after hanging up and would bend down placing a gentle kiss on the side of Yuzu's head squeezing her shoulder whispering "I'm here for you Yuzu." Yuzu made no movement or reply. "When you're ready to talk just let me know." she said before sitting back up and returning to watching tv holding her daughter as her heart remained squarely in the pit of her stomach just wishing she could do SOMETHING to help Yuzu.
Mei had a hard time focusing on her work as she continued to think back to Yuzu. She had been ok when they arrived at school... what happened? Yuzu wouldn't even talk to her, which was what concerned her the most. Mei couldn't remember Yuzu ever doing that to her. Was it something she did? Was it an anxiety attack? Did an anxiety attack trigger a particularly potent depressive spell? Was her nightmare so bad it left her in shock and that was her falling out of shock? Mei rubbed her forehead trying to wrack her brain for what the problem could be and how she could help.
"Meimei we should go get lunch." Himeko said "You look like you could use a break." Mei gave a sigh but nodded none the less getting up and grabbing her bento following himeko to the cafeteria. Once the arrived Himeko went to the vending machines as Mei searched for Hyato and Tanaguchi. Maybe the two of them would have an idea of what happened with Yuzu. It wasn't hard to find them... Tanaguchi was giving Himeko a rather violent death glare and Hyato shot Mei a puzzled look before diverting her eyes back to her food. Mei walked over to them setting her bento down next to Tanaguchi who immediately shifted her death glare from Himeko to Mei before suddenly standing up and grabbing her food moving to walk away.
"Tanaguchi... if you have a second can I speak to you in private?" Mei asked confused at the hostility
"Anything you have to say to me can be said in front of Aime. Or is this another one of your 'private disciplinary meetings'?!" Harumi growled
"Private disciplinary meetings?" Mei asked confused as Himeko moved quickly over having gotten her food and noticing the look in Harumi's eyes.
"Tanaguchi, you better watch your tone around the Student council president!" Himeko snapped "I tolerated your attitude, but I will not tolerate it around the president!"
"Himeko your antagonism isn't helping here." Mei said with a sigh. "Now... Tanaguchi, what are you talking about?"
"You know damn well what I'm talking about! The things you told Himeko to tell Yuzuchi!" Harumi growled
"What nonsense and lies are you blathering on about delinquent!" Himeko shouted
"Momokino! ENOUGH!" Mei shouted at Himeko causing the girl to shut up looking stunned as if Mei had just slapped her in the face.
"M-meimei..." she said softly in shock
"I know you more than well enough now to know when you're lying Momokino!" Mei growled before turning back to Harumi her gaze softening. "Now what has my misguided vice-president said this time?" she asked
"She told Yuzu that you told her you were tired of having to deal with her playing the suffering sister card and that trying to keep her happy was exhausting you and taking up all your time you would prefer to spend working on student council affairs!" Harumi growled
"I see." Mei said refusing to look at Himeko. "Momokino... I have told you not to speak to my stepsister as negatively as you have been and you have disobeyed me for the third time. I have been lenient because of our long friendship... this time you will not go unpunished. Leave my presence... I will determine your punishment later." She said coolly and calmly though every word was dripping with ice. Himeko look truly shook but backed away slowly under the glare of Harumi before turning and leaving without eating her lunch. Mei gave a deep sigh and placed her hand on her forehead nursing a creeping headache. "Explaining this to Yuzuko is going to be difficult." she said more thinking out loud than anything else as she sat down. "To be clear... you specifically heard her saying these things to Yuzu?" She asked Harumi
"I barely trust Hyato here around Yuzuchi why would I trust Himeko a known bully of Yuzuchi's and a manipulator? I hid in a nearby alcove and listened to the whole thing! If Yuzu hadn't been so fast when she ran away, I'd have found her and tried to comfort her as best I could." Harumi said with a heavy sigh.
"Gee thanks..." Aime said rolling her eyes picking at her food. "Anyway, I heard it to. I was in the same alcove as Tanaguchi."
"Do you recall the hall and the time?" Mei asked
"Uh... over by the 1st year lockers and the main gate atrium." Harumi said
"Around first break." Aime added.
"Thank you." Mei said standing up and taking her bento with her as she left
Mei arrived home after the end of the school day. Himeko had skipped the student council meeting... just as well since she didn't have a proper punishment sorted yet. "I'm home." She called out before going quiet seeing Ume with her finger to her lips
"Welcome home Mei." Ume whispered softly before pointing to the sleeping form mostly curled up on her lap. Mei's heart sunk, Yuzu had gotten so frail and that frailty coupled with her small posture made her look so small and fragile. She was a teenager but from certain angles one might mistake her for a young child where it not for her breasts and long legs. "Finally managed to get her to sleep."
"Perhaps you should move her to our bed then?" Mei asked to which Ume shook her head.
"She needs to know subconsciously someone is here for her. I don't think she'll feel that in her state unless there's a physical connection.
"What about work?" Mei asked
"I took the night off." Ume replied gently rubbing Yuzu's shoulder. Mei gave a quiet nod walking over and sitting down on the chair near the couch. "Any chance you figured out what might have set her off?" Ume asked
"I believe she was bullied and misled by my vice-president into thinking that I did not care for her and that I thought she was being a faker and a burden." Mei sighed
"What? Why would she do such a horrible thing?" Ume asked
"My only guess is jealousy with the time I have been spending with Yuzuko. Himeko has been my best friend since we were young, and we have spent most of our time together. I didn't think her to be the type, but I suppose even after these years I don't know her as well as I thought I did." Mei said "Anyway... how is Yuzu doing?" Mei asked
"Well she spent all morning in a near vegitative state... she barely at anything for lunch... and I tried to get her to talk to me in the afternoon but she wouldn't give me anything beyond one word answers... and even then only if I pressed her. I only recently managed to get her to try and sleep." Ume sighed. Mei gave a nod as she stood up.
"I'm going to shower and then work on homework. Let me know when she's awake. I'd like to clear this issue up as soon as possible." Mei said to which Ume nodded before Mei headed off to do as she had said.
Wow... Himeko's kind of an ass who woulda thunk... /sarcasm. Anyway as always please feel free to leave a review to comment, suggest, or critique. Ciao for now!