Chapter 2: The First Day
DATE: April, 12, 2011
Weather: Rain/Cloudy
Lightning's shot up from her futon. She panted heavily and sweat drip from her face. Her heart pounded in her chest. "The hell was that? A Nightmare?" Lightning asked herself, shaking her head. The teen wondered if that was a nightmare. Was it even a dream? It felt so real. The odd foggy place she was in, the feeling of her new sword in her hands. Even using the strange power, but, it felt familiar somehow.
Like she used it be for.
"Breakfast ready." the sound of Nanako's voice broke her train of thought.
"Okay!" she shouted. Getting up she took her towel and open the box that had her new uniform. When she opened it, she was a bit surprised to see a girl's uniform. Normally she'll get the boy's uniform as Lightning only wears men's clothing and is always mistaken as a guy. So the school will always send her the wrong uniform.
Not caring about that, Lightning went to clean herself up. Taking the only feminine clothing she has to the bathroom. Also took a red NW-S20x series MP3 player with matching coloured model ATH-EM700 clip-on earphones. Like with the coat, Lightning didn't know how she got it, but in her heart told her it was a gift from someone. What her heart also told her is that she must cherish this gift. Stopping her thoughts, Lightning went to take a bath. As she went to the bathroom, Lightning didn't notice a tear going down her face.
After she was done, Lightning head down to stairs got a warm greeting from Nanako. "Good morning." she said with a smile. The little girl then blushed as she saw Lightning in her uniform and her long pink hair flowing freely. Lightning noticed this and lightly chuckled.
"Bonjour, Nanako." she said softly and petting Nanako.
It was the second time she did that and like before, she like doing that and by the way Nanako was smiling and didn't seem bothered by it. "Let's eat!" the little girl said happily. Looking over the food, Lightning was impressed by the setup.
"Do you do the cooking?" she asked.
Nanako nodded proudly. "I can toast bread and cook sunny-side up eggs in the morning. Dad can't cook, so I buy dinner." Lightning thought to give Nanako some cooking tips, as she was self-taught because she was leaving on her own most her life and had to fend for herself. The food she made was shit, but her skills grew over the years. Some say her skills were like a top chef.
Taking a bite of the food Nanako made, Lightning thought it was not bad, it needed some work but still good. When they were done, they took their dishes to the sink. "You're starting school today, Right?" the little girl asked as both her and Lightning put away the dishes.
"Oui." Lightning nodded.
"My school's on the way, so... let's go together." Nanako asked nervously.
"Sure." Lightning then handed Nanako a hairband.
"Could you do my hair? It's my way of saying thanks for the meal." the little smiled brightly and nodded. There's no way she'll turn down a chance to touch Lightning's pretty pink hair. Going to the living room Lightning sat down and let Nanako able to reach her hair.
"Is there a style you wanted?"
"No. Do whatever you want."
This was music to Nanako's ears. Thinking for a bit, Nanako knew what hairstyle she wanted for Lightning. First she pulled away the hair that cover Lightning's eye and spread her bangs so it goes along her forehead. She found it interesting that Lightning's bangs naturally stick up a bit. Then tied the rest of the hair in a high ponytail. As she did this, Nanako loved how soft Lightning's hair is. "There all done! You look even a more pretty!" Nanako said proudly of her work.
A faint smirk formed on Lightning's lips. "Thanks. Let's go."
Before they went out. Lightning check the weather outside and what the weather report said yesterday was true. It was raining. Lightning suggest Nanako to get an umbrella, boots, and raincoat. The teen went to her room to get her black coat as it's good for weather like this. Once they got their gear on went their way to school.
Samegawa Flood Plain
Hand-in-hand, Lightning, and Nanako came to two splitting paths. Lightning had her hood up carefully on her head, as to not mess up her hair. Because it wasn't cold, kept her coat opened. Nanako was under her umbrella. "You keep going straight from here." Nanako said pointing at were Lightning needed to get to her school.
"My school's this way. Bye." Two waved at each other, and Lightning followed the way to her new school. Not before putting on her earphones and turning on her MP3 under her coat. She had it off, as Lightning wanted to hear what the little girl had to say about the things they passed on the way. Now she's gone, nothing else mattered so she went on her way, walking the path to her new high school alone.
Along the way she saw a boy on a bike swerving and sliding into a nearby pile of garbage. The sounds of the crash sounded painful. Lightning didn't give him a second's glance continued on her way. But a DVD by the name Trial of The Dragon blocked her way. Figuring it was from the boy who was hunched over.
Hearing loud rock music that sounded it was When The Lights Are Down from Kamelot, the boy moved his head up a bit. Though with the critical hit to the nads, so he can only see up to the chest. It was obvious that is was a girl. A busty girl in fact. She handed him the DVD with an annoyed groan. "Thanks." he said both nervously and embarrassed because a hot girl was in front of him (he thinks it was a hot girl if her body is anything to go by.) and was embarrassed as she saw him crash.
"Right." Lightning said deadpan. With a turn of the heel, Lightning went on her way. Leaving the boy to his pain, who thought the day couldn't get any worse. Opening the case, it did. He then realized that Lightning had cut and stab marks all over legs. Also that her legs had strong muscles, so counted himself lucky to no get kicked. Yet.
Yasogami high school
Arriving at the school main gates, Lightning wonders what kind of students life awaits here. And what kind of girls and women are there for her to bang. When she entered the school one of the teachers saw the scars on her legs and demanded Lightning to have them covered. But Lightning kept on walking and get him the finger.
Angered by that he grab her by the arm, and the colour faded from his face because there were big muscles in her arm. He though her sleeves was too big for her, but they were big for a reason. This girl was muscular. And they were getting bigger. Fear crept over him by the murderous was in her eyes. It was like a pissed off lioness was looking at him.
Meanwhile, in a classroom on the second floor, a couple of students where having a conversation about who was their homeroom teacher is. And was not happy about it. "Talk about bad luck... The homeroom teacher is Morroka, isn't it?" a sitting student said in dismay.
"Yeah, it's King Moron alright... We get to enjoy his long-ass sermons every day for a whole year..." the student's friend said with sarcasm.
"Hey you guys, I heard there's going to be a transfer student from a city in this class."
"Huh!? Really!? A guy or a girl!?"
A girl with short hair in a green sweater overheard this and was intrigued. "A transfer student's from a city, just like you, huh, Yosuke?" looked over to said person, only to see him face down on his desk, looking like he's in pain. "Huh? You look dead today."
"Yeah, um... I don't wanna talk about it..." Yosuke grunted.
"What's with him?"
"Who knows?" her black-haired girl who as a long time friend shrugged and shook her head.
The sounds of the students chatter stopped when the door swung opened and Mr. Morooka stepped in with the new student came in. They were taken in by how beautiful she is. Some of the boys are planning to ask her out. That will soon change. "Awright, shut your traps! I'm Kinshiro Morooka, your homeroom teacher from today forward!" he shouted.
"First thing first! Just 'cause it's spring doesn't mean you can swoon over each like love-struck baboons. Long as I'm around, you students are going to be pure as the driven snow!" everyone (except Lightning who just looks bored) cringed at that. It's going to be a long-long-long day.
"Now I hate wasting my time, but I'd better introduce this transfer student." right when he said that Lightning's eyes slowly moved in his detection. Though her face was emotionless, her eyes were ominous. Morooka failed to notice this was continued his rant. "This sad sack's been thrown from a big fancy city out to the middle of nowhere like yesterday's garbage. And she's just as much of a loser here as she was there, so you boys better not get any ideas about hitting on her. Tell'em your name, kid and make it quick."
"You calling me a loser?" this shocked everyone as no one has talked back at his because of their lack of courage. And Lightning has a lot of it.
"Hrnh... That's it, you're on my shitlist, effective immediately." Morooka growled, jabbing a finger on her shoulder. "Now listen up! This town is miles away from your big city of perverts and assholes, in more ways than one. You better not even getting involved with the boys here, like some kind of sl-"
He was cut off when Lightning grab him by the collar and raised him high in the air. Everyone was shocked by how strong she is. Lightning then spoke in an icy murderous tone. "Call me a slut and I break every bone in your body. I'm not desperate and pathetic like them. I have standards, unlike them who will get on their knees or bend over for a hairy fat man just because he's size and of how much he paid them."
Lightning may like sex, but only once she sees someone she finds interesting, takes her time to them to seduce them. Working on the girl's (ranging from a year older to a year younger than her) or woman's primal needs. Making them want her, need her. To take them to sexual bliss. Some thought Lightning was a succubus. Because just how good she is at seduction. Numerous times, she makes someone who was straight, gay.
Sensing how dangerous things are getting, the short-haired girl raised her hand. "Excuse me! Is it okay if the transfer student sits here?"
"Huh? Yeah, sure. Ya hear that? Your seat's over there." the students were taken back that fear in his voice. Never had they heard that. They came to admire their new classmate, but also fear her as they do not what to make her angry. And thus Lightning got the Ice Queen title.
Lightning drops him and as she was to go to her set, looked at Morooka and said. "For the record; I'm into girls." The room was dead quite as Lightning casually said that she was a lesbian. Some of the girls found that inspiring. She's gay and not afraid to show it. Lightning has met people who had a problem with that. Her solution to that was with pain and fear.
As Lightning sat down the girl next to her and whispered. "He's the worst, huh?"
"You said it. Why the hell they hire this that buck-tooth asshole?"
The girl in the green sweater only shrugged. "Rotten for you to get stuck in this class... Well, we just have to hang in there for a year."
With her keen ears, Lightning heard her classmate whispering about her. "Sucks to be the transfer student, ending up in King Moron's class on the first morning here... Then again, she did manage to scare him." the male student was planning to ask her out, but he values his life.
"He won't think twice about suspending you if you get on his bad side. Then again, we're all in the same boat." The whiny looking student whispered to Lightning.
More and more began to talk until Morooka heard enough. "Shut your traps! I'm taking roll, and I damn well expect you to respond in an orderly manner!" he said more to the other students then at Lightning, as he's fucking scared of her. Morooka regretted no heeding the advice of the teacher who talk to Lightning earlier.
After school
"That's all for today. Normal lectures will start tomorrow." Morooka said as he ended class.
He rushed to the door to get out school as he want to get away from Lightning because she scares him. However, was stopped when the intercom came on. "Attention, all teachers. Please report immediately to the Faculty Office for a brief staff meeting. All student must return to their classrooms and are not to leave the school until further notice." everyone in groan when they heard that they have to stay in school a little longer.
"Hrnh. You heard the announcement. Don't go anywhere until you hear otherwise."
"Just go already you shit." Morooka jolted and bolted out of the room. Lightning didn't shout, but the way she says those words sends an icy chill down his spine.
"He's seriously getting on my nerves. Hey, you were awesome sticking it to King Moron." a brown-haired girl said, approaching Lightning. She felt nervous because it felt like she's talking to royalty. It didn't help considering Lightning was sitting cross-legged with her right arm over her lap, and she leaned back with her elbow resting on the desk behind her, with her fist resting on her cheek.
"I dealt with assholes like him." Lightning said with a hint of confidence. That did go undetected by the brown-haired girl and decided to gay. She use to only like boys and drool over them. Meeting Lightning changed that. She was going to ask Lightning something when the sounds of police cars were heard very close by.
A few students rush at the windows to see what happened. "What happen? Don't those sirens sounds really close? Ugh, I can't see a damn thing. Frickin' fog." a male student complained, wanting know what are the cops are doing.
"Yeah, like every time it rains lately, it gets all foggy."
"Hey, did you hear? I hear that paparazzi's looking all over for that announcer."
"Oh yeah. You mean Mayumi Yamano, right? I heard some guys spotted her at the shopping district."
"Actually, I heard that..." the knowledgeable student then whispered to his rumour-loving friend.
"Are you serious!?" he was shocked by what his friend told him. Wanting confirmation walked the beautiful girl with long black hair. "H-Hey, Yukiko-san. Mind if I ask you something? Is it true that announcer's staying at your family's inn?"
"I can't discuss such things." she said look away. Looking very uncomfortable about the subject.
"Y-Yeah, I guess not." he ran back to his friend as the girl's friend was approaching them.
"Sheesh, how longer is this gonna take?" the short-haired girl sighed.
"There's no telling." she felt better that her friend was with her. She was always there to defend her.
"I shoulda left before the announcement came on." she then remembers something. "By the way, didja try what I told you the other day?" Her friend looked confused and shook her head. Not understanding what she's talking about. "You know... That thing about rainy nights." she reminded her.
"Oh... No, not yet. Sorry."
"Ahh, that's okay. It's just, I heard a guy in the class next door yell something like, 'My soulmate is Yamano, the announcer!'"
The school intercom came on again. "Attention, all students. There has been an incident inside the school district. Police officers have been dispatched around the School Zone. Please stay calm and contact your parents or guardians as soon as possible, and quickly leave the school grounds. Do not disturb the police, officers. Head directly home. I repeat..."
Though it said to go straight home, it excited them and wanted to see what happened.
"Incident!?"
"What, something actually happened?"
"C'mon, let's go take a look!"
Lightning found the whole thing dull and got up to leave when two girls approached her. One of them she recognized. "Hey, are going home by yourself? Why don't come with us? Oh, nearly forgot! I'm Chie Satonaka. You know I sit next to you, right?"
Lightning looked at Chie seductively, lifting her chin with one finger. "How can I forget a cutey like you."
Chie's flushed and her heart skipped a beat. "Huh!? M-Me a cutey?" she wondered why another girl is making feel this way. Questioning if she swings that way. Then again, no one had looked at her in a way Lightning is. Or called her a cutey. Chie composed herself and introduced her friend. "A-Anyway. This is Yukiko Amagi."
Lightning moved one of her arms behind her back and kissed the back of Yukiko's hand. "The name's Lightning Narukami. Nice to meet you." like with Chie, Yukiko's face was as red as her shirt and when through same thoughts as Chie. Out of everyone who pulled the prince routine on her. Lightning's was the best.
"Oh?! I-It's nice to meet you too. I'm sorry that this is so sudden."
"C'mon, don't apologize like that. It makes me look like I got no upbringing. I just wanted to ask some stuff. Really, that's all."
When the three girl was about to leave, a bleak-looking student came up to them. Lightning recognized him as the guy who hit his balls when he crashed in some garbage this morning. "Uh, umm, Miss Satonaka? This was really awesome. Like, the way they moved was just amazing to see. And... I'm really sorry! It was an accident! Please just have mercy until my next paycheck! See ya! Thanks!" he gave the DVD to Chie and ran for the exit.
"Stop right there! What did you do to my DVD!?" Chie ran after him and kicked him in the family jewels. Yukio was shocked by her action, thinking that's going a little too far. While Lightning had her earphones on and was bored. Not really caring what's happening. Just wanting to head home and spend time with Nanako.
Chie opened her DVD and was horrified. "What the!? I can't believe this! It's completely cracked. My Trial of the Dragon!"
"I think mine's cracked too. C-Critical hit to the nads."
"A-Are you all right right?" Yukiko asked concerned.
"Oh, Yukiko-san. Are you worried about me?"
"He's fine, Yukiko. Let's ditch him and go home." Chie said without sympathy. Lightning didn't give him a second glance as she walked passed him. Even though he was in pain, he can still hear the song playing in Lightnings MP3. If he heard it correctly, it was the song Shadows by a band named Red. When someone listens to a song for two reasons, it sounds nice or it's something personal.
School Gates
When the Three girls were about to leave the school. A strange student with short black hair, pale skin wear a different school uniform, approached Yukiko. "You're Yuki, right? Y-You want to go hang out somewhere?"
The way he spoke unnerved Yukiko. It did help he had soulless black eyes. "What? Wh-Who are you?"
While this is going on, two male students oversaw the scene. "What's up with him? What school's he from?"
"Never mind that, he's going for Yukiko-san? Man, you'd think he'd at least wait until she's alone to make his move." the spectacled student laughed.
"I bet you a can of Tap he gets knocked out."
"And I bet I'll fucking kick you ass if you piss off." Lightning growled. The anger in her face frighten the male students and ran off. Her glare, the turned to the boy who's trying to ask Yukiko out. "And you.
If you don't beat it, I'll pound you until you can walk." to prove her point, she cracked her knuckles.
The strange student foolishly still tried and ignore Lightning's warning. "Um, S-So... are you coming or not?"
Lightning snarled and walked up to him intimidatingly. "Hey fuck face! Are you deaf! I'll make it clear to you." she then grab him by the collar. "GET LOST!" Lightning yelled at his face. She let go and he fell on his ass. He looked at her if she was a demon. By the look in her eyes, he doesn't want to be where, got up and ran for his life. If Lighting was like two years ago, she'd beat him until he's at death's door. Thankfully her once brutal and unforgiving ways was lessened significantly.
"This is one of many reasons why I'm into girls." Lightning said, letting a breath. She breath in and out to calm herself down. She does this lately. Whenever she meet someone who gets on her nerves or in a fight. Steadying her breathing help her from going out of control and reverting to her old ways.
"Wh-What did he want from me?" Yukiko wondered.
"What did he want? Obviously, he was asking you out on a date."
"Huh? Really?"
"You really had no clue? Sheesh. But then again, that was way over the top. It was creepy how called you Yuki all of a sudden." Chie then smiled and patted Lightning on the back. "Thanks for scaring him off, Narukami."
"No problem. There was a time a creeper who called me Light-chan for no reason. Then I send him to the hospital for three months. Or was it five."
"Wow, what did you do?" Chie kind of regret asking that as considering how Lightning is, it may be something extreme.
"You don't what to know. Don't worry he was the principal of one the schools I went to, so he can pay the bills, but he was charged with sexual assault, so doing a lot of time in jail instead of the girls. The bastard tried to get in my pants number of times." Yukiko and Chie noticed when Lightning was thinking back to that memory. She almost had a sadistic grin.
Whatever she did to that principal must be horrifying. "He viewed use like playthings and I made him feel the unforgiving punishment of justice." Lightning said under her breath. Chie was going say something about Lightning's views of justice.
When the sounds of a bike came to their ear. "Yo, Yukiko-san. Turned down another lovelorn fool, huh? I remember last year, you cruelly turned me down."
"I don't recall doing that." Yukiko said confused.
"Whoa, you serious? So then, you wanna hang out sometime!?"
"I'd rather not." there way no hesitation in her response.
"That'll teach me to get my hopes up. Anyways, you two better not pick on the transfer student too much." he teased as he road off.
"We're just curious, is all!" Chie shouted defectively.
"U-Um, I'm sorry for dragging you into this."
"C'mon, let's go. Everyone's staring." Chie said nervously. Lightning just glared at the crowd looking at them and they immediately dissipated. Not wanting to feel the wrath of the Ice Queen.
Samegawa River
During their walk home, Chie asked why Lightning had to move to Inaba. "Ah... so you came here because of your parents' job. Haha, I thought it was something way more serious." Chie noticed whenever Lightning spoke about her parents. There was an intense hate in her eyes and venom in her voice.
She figured that they are not the best of terms.
"It may be the fact that I bring girls and or female teachers home for sex." Lightning said casually, like it's no big deal.
The two girls blushed and were shocked to hear this. "You had sex with your teachers?!" Chie said with wide eyes.
"To be fair one of their husbands was cheating on them."
"Let me guess: it was a younger girl." Chie deadpans
"Yup." Lightning fondly thought back how good she was. How her tongue and fingers brought them more pleasures, that was not thought possible.
"Figures." Chie sighs. She then looks around the empty landscape. "There really is nothing here, huh? That's what makes it nice, but there is nothing much we can show to people from outside. Though, there is something from Mt. Yasogami... I think our dyed clothes or pottery or something is kind famous." Chie then recalled want brings people to Inaba. "Oh wait, and there's the Amagi Inn! Yukiko's family runs it. It's the pride of Inaba!" she said with pride.
"Huh? It's... just an old inn." Yukiko said bashfully
"No way, it's been in all sortsa magazines as a hidden treasure. It's a great inn! It's been going for generations, and Yukiko here is going to take over someday." when Chie said that, Lightning noticed Yukiko looking way with a sorrowful expression. Lightning deduced that she does not want that. She looked trapped in her own life. She was and Yukiko wanted freedom.
"Their inn actually attracts a lot of visitors to Inaba. It pretty much keeps this town going." Chie continued.
"I don't think that's entirely true."
Chie then leans towards Lightning and asked. "So, tell me. You think Yukiko's cute, huh?"
With no hesitation, Lightning answered. "I think you cute Chie. Yukiko's more beautiful than cute." they were taken back by how blunt she was and blushed that she said it truthfully. Lightning really thought they were cute and beautiful.
"T-Thank you." they said together.
"Yukiko's really popular at school, but she's never had a boyfriend. Kinda weird, huh?" Lightning was taken back that some like Yukiko did have a lover. Now that though about it, Chie does scare any guy who tried to ask her out.
"C-Come on, stop it. Y-You shouldn't believe that, okay? It's not true that I'm popular or that I've never had a boyfriend!" Yukiko then realized what she just said and her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "
Wait, n-no! What I meant to say was, I-I don't need a boyfriend! Geez... Chie!"
Said girl laughed and playfully patted Yukiko's back. "Sorry, I'm sorry. But this is our chance to talk to someone from a big city, and you barely said a word!" then something caught her eye. "Hey, what's that?"
In front of them was a couple of housewives overlooking something and talking to each other.
"So that high schooler left school early, as she came this street."
"Wow. Who could imagine THAT hanging from an antenna?" the other housewife said
"I wanted to see it too." the housewife with a shopping bag said disappointedly. One of the housewives was disturbed that housewife wanted to see THAT. Was this town really that boring that the townspeople will find enjoyment in anything?
"Uh, you got here too late... The police and fire department took it down just a moment ago."
"Well, I think it's terrifying. I can't believe a dead body show up around here."
Chie and Yukiko were shocked by what she said. "Wait... What did she just say? A dead body!?" She wondered if the announcement was talking about this.
"Hey, what're you doing here?" Dojima asked.
"This is the shortest way back home." Lightning answered her uncle's question.
"I should have figured that'd happen. That damn principal. We told him not to let them through here."
"This is the same school who has teachers that fucking swears to their students and have a shit list." Chie and Yukiko were shocked that Lightning swore in front of an officer. But, he did look offended. Just sighed and shook his head. Because he knows of the questionable teachers at that school. Dojima hopes by the time Nanako gets to the age to attended at high school that they'll get their act together.
"Yeah, you got a good point."
"You know this guy?" Chie asked.
"I'm her guardian. Uhh... Well, should I say this. I hope you get along with her."
"You really ought to head straight home. I don't want anything to happen to you. Your family and I care about care about your well-being." Lightning did know what to say to that. To hear someone say something like that, and in a tone she didn't hear before. Was alien for her. No one said they cared for her. She looked into his eyes to see if Dojima was lying, but he wasn't. He does care for her.
The moment was killed when a young detective ran passed and threw up. "Adachi! How long are going to act like a rookie? You want to be sent back to the central office!?" Dojima shouted at his partner.
"I-I'm sorry."
"Go wash your face. We're gonna go around and gather information!" Dojima sighed pinching his nose. Leaving the detectives to their work.
"What do they mean... it was hanging from the antenna?"
"Hey, Yukiko? Why don't we go to Junes some other time?"
"Good idea." Yukiko was relieved that Chie suggested that as hearing a dead body was close by made her uneasy, and wanted to head home where it's safe.
"Alright then, we're taking off. Starting tomorrow, neighbor, let's do our best!" the two friends waved goodbye and headed back to their respected homes. Knowing Dojima will be busy with work, Lightning planned to tell Nanako that her father will not be at home for a long while. The pink-haired teen wondered if that little girl had spent many nights alone. Looking where her uncle left. Began to doubt what he said to her earlier. Does her really care about her?
Turning on her music, Lightning walked to the temporary home.
Dojima Residence
When Lightning switched to her pajamas, Nanako was amazed by how muscular her cousin was. Arms and legs thick. When Lightning lifted her superman tank-top to scratch her stomach, scared six pack abs was seen. The little girl noticed the battle scars that littered limbs. She looked like a battle harden warrior. Naturally, Nanako was going to ask how Lightning got those marks but thought that will be rude. So, she kept it to herself.
"I ran into your dad and he look like he's not going to coming home today."
"Is it because of work?"
"Yeah." there long silence between the two as they ate dinner. It was made by Lightning and Nanako found it tasted delicious. Even though how good the food was, Nanako felt it missed something. But she can't figure out why. As she ponders about this, the news came up.
"Our top story this evening concerns a bizarre case in a quiet suburb. Around noon today, a woman was found dead near the Samegawa River in Inaba." the TV screen showed the school zone. "The deceased has been identified as Ms. Mayumi Yamano, a 27-year-old announcer at the local television station.
The initial results of the Inaba Police Department's investigation have revealed."
Nanako shot up when she heard her father's police station. "Ah! The Inaba Police Department! Th-That's where Dad works!" Lightning noticed Nanako was worried about her dear father.
"He'll be fine."
"I know. That's his job, so this stuff happens."
The TV announcer continued with the news. "The body was found hanging from a large television antenna atop a local resident's roof. Authorities are uncertain as to why the body was in such a state. With the cause of death also uncertain, police continue to investigation whether the death is an accident or a homicide. A thick fog common to the area has slowed their progress and plans to fully canvass the area are delayed until tomorrow."
"They found her on the roof? That's scary." then her uneasiness vanished when her favorite commercial came up. "oh, it's Junes!"
"At Junes, every day is Customer Appreciation Day. Come see for yourself, and get in touch with our products! Every day's great at your Junes!"
"Every day's great at your Junes!" Nanako sang.
"You sound better than the lady in the commercial."
"Thanks. I'm the best singer in my class!" Nanako's bright smile did the imposable. Warm Lightning's heart. But only for a bit.
"I believe it." Nanako sings the song to herself over and over again. Then Lightning thought of something. "Stay right here, I'll be right back." Nanako watched with curiosity as her cousin when upstairs. A minute later, Nanako heard the sounds of a music box playing. It was a soft, slow, gentle melody. She liked it. When Lightning came back, she had something that was playing the music in her hand. Lightning show it to the little girl.
It was a pendant that was the shape of a lightning bolt. The frame was silver with a red interior. Inside the open pendant was moving small gears that played the song. Lightning closed the pendant, stopping the music. "It's for you." Lightning said, putting it in Nanako's little hand.
"Really?!" Nanako looked at Lightning with a shocked expression. Lightning nodded. "Thank you. I love it." Nanako smiled. She then hugged Lightning who eyes widen by the unexpected embrace. The teen noticed Nanako yawning and rubbing her eye. Picking her up she took the sleepy child to her room. When she put the little girl in her futon, the small arms around her neck didn't let go. From the look on her face, she wanted some to be with her.
And that's what Lightning did, she stayed with Nanako. Taking Nanako in her arms. Before she went to a deep, Nanako mumbled "Mommy."
A/N; I got the pendant idea from Pirates of the Caribbean-Dead Man's Chest.