J16: Two more chapters to go. Here we go!
Before that, props to sweetheart Angel 13 for helping me out of a hole! And thanks to all who review-you guys are the reason I keep writing!
Chapter 12: Facing The Past
"Hello?"
"Ruki, it's me, Takato."
"Oh, hey."
"Ruki, listen to me, I just got a horrible notion."
"What?"
"I...don't think Juri killed herself."
"Wha...what makes you say that?"
"I have some evidence. There was a report on the Channel Six news that there were clawed walls."
"So what does that mean? It could interpret anything."
"It means that she didn't want to die."
"Huh?"
"Also get a load of this. What kind of knife did you find nearby?"
"Um...a 6X1 Stacker."
"Right. Nikki's in Jen's class in Calculus, and she claims she saw Jen leave the classroom with a knife, the same one you just said."
"What period did this occur?"
"Third period, the one just before-"
"I left fourth. No!"
"That's what we think happened. I'm sorry, Ruki, but all signs point to that. Plus, he had a motive against you at the time."
"But, it can't be Jen, we're together now! What has he done?"
***************
"Jen!"
Ruki leaped up from her bed. She had a foreboding cold sweat that ran throughout her body and over her nightgown. Taking deep breaths, she slowly calmed herself down.
-All a dream...
"Ruki? Are you alright?" Ryo walked into her bedroom and saw her erect, staring at the wall opposite the bed.
"Jen...would never kill Juri, would he?" she said, still trying to regain her senses.
Ryo sighed and walked over to Ruki and sat on her bed. "Ruki, Ruki. Jen would never do that to you or to Juri. He loved her, and he loves you as well. Believe me, he may say things before he realizes what was said, but the truth is that he cares about you."
"It's just that, I had a dream, and it just can't shake my mind."
Ryo took a deep breath and massaged his temples. He looked over at the clock: 3:30. "I say don't worry, Ruki, because Jen loves you girls. Now go back to sleep; we're going to get you a job today."
Ruki nodded as she got back into her covers. "Alright, thanks Ryo," she said abruptly. She turned her head around and not a second later, she fell back asleep.
Ryo, meanwhile, was wide awake due to Ruki's scream. He decided to just stay up and not go back to bed.
-What if Ruki's dream is true?
Ryo stood for a moment, thinking of what might have happened to Juri. Grabbing a windbreaker from his closet, he ran outside in the dark and drove off.
*************
Juri's house still was unoccupied by the Katou family, and it also had the 'police line' tape across the door.
Ryo pulled into the driveway and climbed out of his car. It was still very cold outside, despite it being the middle of June, causing Ryo to shiver and clench his jacket.
-Gotta find a way inside.
Looking up, the boy noticed the window to the bathroom was still missing. Ryo jumped onto the garage roof, for it was one story, and jumped onto the balcony of the master bedroom one flight higher. From there he leaped across the side and caught the edge of the bathroom window with his right hand.
-Shit, that was too close.
He pulled himself into the bathroom and leaped over the bathtub. The white outline of Juri's body still lay there, giving Ryo chills down his spine, that there was the sketch of his deceased friend. He then scanned the walls, broken handles, anything that might have pointed to a possible murder and not a suicide. He looked to the left of the outline-
Nothing there.
Ryo took a three o' clock turn, facing the door, checking the door handle.
Not broken.
Again, he looked to his right, where the sink was positioned, and sought for a sign of evidence anywhere.
Thank God.
Ryo suddenly turned around, thinking he heard a noise downstairs, and knocked over a trash can with his foot.
"Who's there?"
-Shit!
He quickly looked for a way of escape. He couldn't go out the window, because it was a far drop, the door led to the main part of the house, where the listener was...
After verifying his options, Ryo picked up the blue trash can and took it with him, slowly opening the door. It made a near inaudible screeching sound as he quickly scanned both sides of the intersection. Clear.
It was about 4:15, but it was still dark throughout the corridors of the hallways as Ryo sneaked through the door and down the hall to where the stairs were located. He had to tiptoe quietly, for he did not want the person to know he was still here.
Ryo readied his trashcan as he approached the corner, still very dark for him to see clearly, as he held the tool to the side of him. Despite the darkness, he held a clear advantage, because he saw a shadow of a human right behind the corner.
Adrenaline rushed through his head as Ryo rushed the corner and swung the can toward the intruder's direction. The figure was too fast, however, as it ducked the incoming projectile and countered with a sweep that took the boy off of his feet in a rush, making his head hit hard as he fell to the ground.
"Shit!"
The unknown person pinned his legs to the ground with his own legs and held his hands down, making Ryo squirm.
"Alright, asshole, state your business," he said.
HE said?
Ryo noticed a feminine voice originate from the figure as he stopped moving. "Hold on a sec, Ruki?"
The person held the grip on his limbs still. "So what if I am?" she said, putting a knee to his neck.
"It's me, Ryo!" he managed to choke out, making her abruptly let go.
"What?"
"Ryo?"
"Yes! Do I have to spell it out for you?"
"Well, I haven't remembered the day you gave me my first card!"
-Huh?
"It's me, Shiuchon! Do you not remember me?"
"Shiuchon? Jen's sister?"
"Boy, you have forgotten." The girl let slowly let go of Ryo, allowing him to gasp for air.
"Geez, you nearly choked me to death."
She smiled. "Sorry about that." The two sat there for a while, exchanging heavy laughs, that they mistook each other for enemies.
"How old are you?" he asked Shiuchon.
"Just turned twelve."
He snickered. "And you kicked my ass. I'll be damned."
"Well, just remember who my brother is. We don't go through life without teaching each other a few things. Would you believe that I beat up an adult who tried to attack me?"
Ryo scoffed. "What are you doing here?"
She smiled. "Just sneaking out. I wanted to see what was going on over here."
"Oh, sheesh, Shiuchon. This is no place for a twelve year old girl to be."
"Neither is it for an eighteen year old."
Ryo laughed. Where did she get her wit? He supposed Terriermon. "Come on, let me take you home. Did you walk all the way here?"
She nodded.
"You impress me more every time I see you." Ryo probably didn't want that to come out in a negatively ambiguous way, but he shrugged it off. "Let's go."
Ryo grabbed Shiuchon's hand and led her downstairs, where he opened the door and ripped through the 'police line' taping.
"How did you get in here?" he asked the pre-teen.
"Through the bathroom window." Ryo looked at her in amazement in that a twelve year old could be so flexible, but she was right. She was Jen's sister.
************
"Here's your daughter," Ryo said to Janyuu Wong, who stood outside his door.
"What do you say, Shiuchon?" Her father demanded, while she hung her head.
"Sorry, sir," she directed to Ryo, which made him slightly snicker.
-A twelve year old ass kicker who still listens to her parents. Ha.
Jenrya Wong stood in front of the doorway as well, rubbing his eyes still tired. "Dad, what's going on? Oh, hey Ryo."
Ryo looked up from Shiuchon and at Jenrya. "Hey."
"Can I talk to you?"
"Sure, Jen."
"Come on, let's go outside," Jenrya directed. He stepped out of the apartment and led Ryo down the hall.
"So what's up?" Ryo queried.
-What did he want to tell me? Probably to stay the hell away from his girlfriend-
"Look, Jen," Ryo said, waving his hands in defeat. "I'm sorry if I did anything to come on to her, I didn't think it-"
"Calm down," Jenrya said. Ryo stopped and mentally kicked himself. "I wanted you to tell Ruki something."
"Aight, what is it?"
"Tell her she's going to have to stand up to her mother soon, whether she wants to or not."
"Ok..."
"And," Jenrya concluded, "if she needs help, I'll be there also."
"Message taken. I'll relay it to her."
"Oh, Ryo. I suggest you help her too with whatever you need."
"Alright, Jenrya." He was getting impatient and wanted to leave now. "See ya." And with that, he was gone.
************
"Ruki, I'm back!" Ryo called. He suddenly realized that he should've kept his mouth shut-
"Where were you?" Came a groggily voice from upstairs.
"Um...um... I went to go get some milk. What time is it right now?"
"6:12," answered Ruki. Coming downstairs, she noticed the look on Ryo's face. It was a deceiving face, something that Ruki had learned to master-
"All right, liar. Where were you?"
Ryo stopped in his tracks, trying to think of something. He sure didn't want to tell her where he'd actually been...
-Well, maybe it would be better to tell the truth.
"I went to the Wong's," Ryo half-lied. Well, it was half true; where else did he go? "Look, Jen wanted me to tell you something..."
"I don't feel like going on a date right now..."
"No, it's not that," he said. "He wants you to stand up to your mother."
"What?" Suddenly she felt wide awake.
-Why the hell should he care about my problems?
"Why the hell should he care about my problems?" She responded.
"Um...because he loves you. Need I say more?"
Ruki paused, then blushed. "I guess you're right." She stood still, deep in thought, much to Ryo Akiyama's curiosity.
-I don't know how I'm going to do this...
"I'm going to go visit her and see what is going on," she concluded. "But only by myself."
Ryo shook his head. "No."
"What?"
"Jen said whatever you plan to do, he will be alongside."
"Hell no he isn't! This is strictly between my mother and I."
"Then who was it that got you in this situation in the first place?"
Ruki thought hard for a moment, drawing blanks with the exception of one guy. "Jen..."
"Damn right. Just let him go with you."
Ruki groaned. This was not going to be a good idea. "...Fine. I'll take him today. I just don't think this is a good idea."
"What's your mother going to do? Kill him for nearly sleeping with you?"
She shrugged. "That's what I'm afraid of. Seriously though, forbid me to ever see him, file for statutory rape, etc."
"That's ridiculous."
"I know. Why didn't she file for statutory rape seventeen years ago? She's the biggest hypocrite in the world. Oh look, I fucked a guy when I was seventeen, but I'm not going to let my daughter do it either," she mocked, sticking her chest out and rolling her eyes.
Ryo scoffed.
-Who's the hypocrite?
"Ruki, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Huh?"
"Look, here you are, being pissed off at your mother for what she did those years ago, and look here, you're mad that she's not going to let you do it either!"
Ruki hesitated. "Who said that I wanted to do what she did? I certainly didn't."
"Well, by the way it sounds, it seems that you want to."
"Yeah?" She exclaimed. "And what the hell seems to give you that inference?"
Ryo didn't answer, afraid of her sudden jump at him, and then turned around. "I'm...sorry."
"I'm going to go take a shower," she said. She started to head back upstairs but not before turning around again. "Sorry for blowing up at you, Ryo." With that, she was gone.
*************
Ruki pulled out a pair of tan Capri's and a blue tank top and put them on. Tying her hair in the usual bun, she couldn't help but worry about her mother.
-Why should I worry? It's her fault all this bullshit started. Why did she have to sleep with my father? Couldn't it wait?
Suddenly she flashed back to the prom, more precisely the prom party, where she almost repeated what her mother had done.
-She should be happy that I kept my ground, and not gone any further.
Her mother was like one of those whose children had good grades. They want them to get straight A's and are pissed off when you don't, but when you look at their cards, they get C's.
-I'm sure if I just take everything slowly, and explain it to her in a calm fashion, she'll understand.
Ruki grabbed her purse and headed out the door of the guest bedroom. She would go shopping, maybe get something to eat, then at the end of the day, pick Jen up and go talk to her mother.
-It's a bad idea taking Jen...
************
8:00.
Ruki pulled into the parking lot of the Shinjuku apartments where she would pick up Jen. She had told him that he would take him to her original house, and there they could sort things out. But still, there was that nagging in the back of her mind, telling her that it wasn't such a good idea in inviting Jenrya...
-No! Must remain positive. Remember what Juri said about optimism.
She got out of her car and started walking toward the building. She stepped through the elevator, taking her up to the seventh floor, where Jenrya's apartment was located.
-I don't think I should do this.
Before she knew it, she had already pressed her finger around the circled button, causing an annoying ring to sound.
-Dammit!
The door slowly opened, revealing the little pre-teen.
"Hey Shiuchon."
"Jen just left a couple minutes ago. Didn't you see his car?"
-Obviously not.
"Look, do you know where he went?"
She nodded. "I thought he was meeting you at your house."
-My house? He knows that I don't live there...
"Shit!" exclaimed Ruki.
"What's wrong?" Shiuchon queried, tilting her head.
"Um...nothing. Gotta go!" she said, running back down to her car. Suzie, meanwhile, shook her head.
"She's crazy."
***************
Ruki jumped in her car, spun her tires out, and drove directly to the freeway, shaking her head.
-What the hell is he thinking? He's more dense than I thought.
Ruki put more weight on the pedal as she peeled down the freeway toward her house.
***************
J16: To be concluded in the next chapter, I guess. Stay tuned!
Please review. Comments, flames, I don't care, just be constructive.
Before that, props to sweetheart Angel 13 for helping me out of a hole! And thanks to all who review-you guys are the reason I keep writing!
Chapter 12: Facing The Past
"Hello?"
"Ruki, it's me, Takato."
"Oh, hey."
"Ruki, listen to me, I just got a horrible notion."
"What?"
"I...don't think Juri killed herself."
"Wha...what makes you say that?"
"I have some evidence. There was a report on the Channel Six news that there were clawed walls."
"So what does that mean? It could interpret anything."
"It means that she didn't want to die."
"Huh?"
"Also get a load of this. What kind of knife did you find nearby?"
"Um...a 6X1 Stacker."
"Right. Nikki's in Jen's class in Calculus, and she claims she saw Jen leave the classroom with a knife, the same one you just said."
"What period did this occur?"
"Third period, the one just before-"
"I left fourth. No!"
"That's what we think happened. I'm sorry, Ruki, but all signs point to that. Plus, he had a motive against you at the time."
"But, it can't be Jen, we're together now! What has he done?"
***************
"Jen!"
Ruki leaped up from her bed. She had a foreboding cold sweat that ran throughout her body and over her nightgown. Taking deep breaths, she slowly calmed herself down.
-All a dream...
"Ruki? Are you alright?" Ryo walked into her bedroom and saw her erect, staring at the wall opposite the bed.
"Jen...would never kill Juri, would he?" she said, still trying to regain her senses.
Ryo sighed and walked over to Ruki and sat on her bed. "Ruki, Ruki. Jen would never do that to you or to Juri. He loved her, and he loves you as well. Believe me, he may say things before he realizes what was said, but the truth is that he cares about you."
"It's just that, I had a dream, and it just can't shake my mind."
Ryo took a deep breath and massaged his temples. He looked over at the clock: 3:30. "I say don't worry, Ruki, because Jen loves you girls. Now go back to sleep; we're going to get you a job today."
Ruki nodded as she got back into her covers. "Alright, thanks Ryo," she said abruptly. She turned her head around and not a second later, she fell back asleep.
Ryo, meanwhile, was wide awake due to Ruki's scream. He decided to just stay up and not go back to bed.
-What if Ruki's dream is true?
Ryo stood for a moment, thinking of what might have happened to Juri. Grabbing a windbreaker from his closet, he ran outside in the dark and drove off.
*************
Juri's house still was unoccupied by the Katou family, and it also had the 'police line' tape across the door.
Ryo pulled into the driveway and climbed out of his car. It was still very cold outside, despite it being the middle of June, causing Ryo to shiver and clench his jacket.
-Gotta find a way inside.
Looking up, the boy noticed the window to the bathroom was still missing. Ryo jumped onto the garage roof, for it was one story, and jumped onto the balcony of the master bedroom one flight higher. From there he leaped across the side and caught the edge of the bathroom window with his right hand.
-Shit, that was too close.
He pulled himself into the bathroom and leaped over the bathtub. The white outline of Juri's body still lay there, giving Ryo chills down his spine, that there was the sketch of his deceased friend. He then scanned the walls, broken handles, anything that might have pointed to a possible murder and not a suicide. He looked to the left of the outline-
Nothing there.
Ryo took a three o' clock turn, facing the door, checking the door handle.
Not broken.
Again, he looked to his right, where the sink was positioned, and sought for a sign of evidence anywhere.
Thank God.
Ryo suddenly turned around, thinking he heard a noise downstairs, and knocked over a trash can with his foot.
"Who's there?"
-Shit!
He quickly looked for a way of escape. He couldn't go out the window, because it was a far drop, the door led to the main part of the house, where the listener was...
After verifying his options, Ryo picked up the blue trash can and took it with him, slowly opening the door. It made a near inaudible screeching sound as he quickly scanned both sides of the intersection. Clear.
It was about 4:15, but it was still dark throughout the corridors of the hallways as Ryo sneaked through the door and down the hall to where the stairs were located. He had to tiptoe quietly, for he did not want the person to know he was still here.
Ryo readied his trashcan as he approached the corner, still very dark for him to see clearly, as he held the tool to the side of him. Despite the darkness, he held a clear advantage, because he saw a shadow of a human right behind the corner.
Adrenaline rushed through his head as Ryo rushed the corner and swung the can toward the intruder's direction. The figure was too fast, however, as it ducked the incoming projectile and countered with a sweep that took the boy off of his feet in a rush, making his head hit hard as he fell to the ground.
"Shit!"
The unknown person pinned his legs to the ground with his own legs and held his hands down, making Ryo squirm.
"Alright, asshole, state your business," he said.
HE said?
Ryo noticed a feminine voice originate from the figure as he stopped moving. "Hold on a sec, Ruki?"
The person held the grip on his limbs still. "So what if I am?" she said, putting a knee to his neck.
"It's me, Ryo!" he managed to choke out, making her abruptly let go.
"What?"
"Ryo?"
"Yes! Do I have to spell it out for you?"
"Well, I haven't remembered the day you gave me my first card!"
-Huh?
"It's me, Shiuchon! Do you not remember me?"
"Shiuchon? Jen's sister?"
"Boy, you have forgotten." The girl let slowly let go of Ryo, allowing him to gasp for air.
"Geez, you nearly choked me to death."
She smiled. "Sorry about that." The two sat there for a while, exchanging heavy laughs, that they mistook each other for enemies.
"How old are you?" he asked Shiuchon.
"Just turned twelve."
He snickered. "And you kicked my ass. I'll be damned."
"Well, just remember who my brother is. We don't go through life without teaching each other a few things. Would you believe that I beat up an adult who tried to attack me?"
Ryo scoffed. "What are you doing here?"
She smiled. "Just sneaking out. I wanted to see what was going on over here."
"Oh, sheesh, Shiuchon. This is no place for a twelve year old girl to be."
"Neither is it for an eighteen year old."
Ryo laughed. Where did she get her wit? He supposed Terriermon. "Come on, let me take you home. Did you walk all the way here?"
She nodded.
"You impress me more every time I see you." Ryo probably didn't want that to come out in a negatively ambiguous way, but he shrugged it off. "Let's go."
Ryo grabbed Shiuchon's hand and led her downstairs, where he opened the door and ripped through the 'police line' taping.
"How did you get in here?" he asked the pre-teen.
"Through the bathroom window." Ryo looked at her in amazement in that a twelve year old could be so flexible, but she was right. She was Jen's sister.
************
"Here's your daughter," Ryo said to Janyuu Wong, who stood outside his door.
"What do you say, Shiuchon?" Her father demanded, while she hung her head.
"Sorry, sir," she directed to Ryo, which made him slightly snicker.
-A twelve year old ass kicker who still listens to her parents. Ha.
Jenrya Wong stood in front of the doorway as well, rubbing his eyes still tired. "Dad, what's going on? Oh, hey Ryo."
Ryo looked up from Shiuchon and at Jenrya. "Hey."
"Can I talk to you?"
"Sure, Jen."
"Come on, let's go outside," Jenrya directed. He stepped out of the apartment and led Ryo down the hall.
"So what's up?" Ryo queried.
-What did he want to tell me? Probably to stay the hell away from his girlfriend-
"Look, Jen," Ryo said, waving his hands in defeat. "I'm sorry if I did anything to come on to her, I didn't think it-"
"Calm down," Jenrya said. Ryo stopped and mentally kicked himself. "I wanted you to tell Ruki something."
"Aight, what is it?"
"Tell her she's going to have to stand up to her mother soon, whether she wants to or not."
"Ok..."
"And," Jenrya concluded, "if she needs help, I'll be there also."
"Message taken. I'll relay it to her."
"Oh, Ryo. I suggest you help her too with whatever you need."
"Alright, Jenrya." He was getting impatient and wanted to leave now. "See ya." And with that, he was gone.
************
"Ruki, I'm back!" Ryo called. He suddenly realized that he should've kept his mouth shut-
"Where were you?" Came a groggily voice from upstairs.
"Um...um... I went to go get some milk. What time is it right now?"
"6:12," answered Ruki. Coming downstairs, she noticed the look on Ryo's face. It was a deceiving face, something that Ruki had learned to master-
"All right, liar. Where were you?"
Ryo stopped in his tracks, trying to think of something. He sure didn't want to tell her where he'd actually been...
-Well, maybe it would be better to tell the truth.
"I went to the Wong's," Ryo half-lied. Well, it was half true; where else did he go? "Look, Jen wanted me to tell you something..."
"I don't feel like going on a date right now..."
"No, it's not that," he said. "He wants you to stand up to your mother."
"What?" Suddenly she felt wide awake.
-Why the hell should he care about my problems?
"Why the hell should he care about my problems?" She responded.
"Um...because he loves you. Need I say more?"
Ruki paused, then blushed. "I guess you're right." She stood still, deep in thought, much to Ryo Akiyama's curiosity.
-I don't know how I'm going to do this...
"I'm going to go visit her and see what is going on," she concluded. "But only by myself."
Ryo shook his head. "No."
"What?"
"Jen said whatever you plan to do, he will be alongside."
"Hell no he isn't! This is strictly between my mother and I."
"Then who was it that got you in this situation in the first place?"
Ruki thought hard for a moment, drawing blanks with the exception of one guy. "Jen..."
"Damn right. Just let him go with you."
Ruki groaned. This was not going to be a good idea. "...Fine. I'll take him today. I just don't think this is a good idea."
"What's your mother going to do? Kill him for nearly sleeping with you?"
She shrugged. "That's what I'm afraid of. Seriously though, forbid me to ever see him, file for statutory rape, etc."
"That's ridiculous."
"I know. Why didn't she file for statutory rape seventeen years ago? She's the biggest hypocrite in the world. Oh look, I fucked a guy when I was seventeen, but I'm not going to let my daughter do it either," she mocked, sticking her chest out and rolling her eyes.
Ryo scoffed.
-Who's the hypocrite?
"Ruki, what the hell is wrong with you?"
"Huh?"
"Look, here you are, being pissed off at your mother for what she did those years ago, and look here, you're mad that she's not going to let you do it either!"
Ruki hesitated. "Who said that I wanted to do what she did? I certainly didn't."
"Well, by the way it sounds, it seems that you want to."
"Yeah?" She exclaimed. "And what the hell seems to give you that inference?"
Ryo didn't answer, afraid of her sudden jump at him, and then turned around. "I'm...sorry."
"I'm going to go take a shower," she said. She started to head back upstairs but not before turning around again. "Sorry for blowing up at you, Ryo." With that, she was gone.
*************
Ruki pulled out a pair of tan Capri's and a blue tank top and put them on. Tying her hair in the usual bun, she couldn't help but worry about her mother.
-Why should I worry? It's her fault all this bullshit started. Why did she have to sleep with my father? Couldn't it wait?
Suddenly she flashed back to the prom, more precisely the prom party, where she almost repeated what her mother had done.
-She should be happy that I kept my ground, and not gone any further.
Her mother was like one of those whose children had good grades. They want them to get straight A's and are pissed off when you don't, but when you look at their cards, they get C's.
-I'm sure if I just take everything slowly, and explain it to her in a calm fashion, she'll understand.
Ruki grabbed her purse and headed out the door of the guest bedroom. She would go shopping, maybe get something to eat, then at the end of the day, pick Jen up and go talk to her mother.
-It's a bad idea taking Jen...
************
8:00.
Ruki pulled into the parking lot of the Shinjuku apartments where she would pick up Jen. She had told him that he would take him to her original house, and there they could sort things out. But still, there was that nagging in the back of her mind, telling her that it wasn't such a good idea in inviting Jenrya...
-No! Must remain positive. Remember what Juri said about optimism.
She got out of her car and started walking toward the building. She stepped through the elevator, taking her up to the seventh floor, where Jenrya's apartment was located.
-I don't think I should do this.
Before she knew it, she had already pressed her finger around the circled button, causing an annoying ring to sound.
-Dammit!
The door slowly opened, revealing the little pre-teen.
"Hey Shiuchon."
"Jen just left a couple minutes ago. Didn't you see his car?"
-Obviously not.
"Look, do you know where he went?"
She nodded. "I thought he was meeting you at your house."
-My house? He knows that I don't live there...
"Shit!" exclaimed Ruki.
"What's wrong?" Shiuchon queried, tilting her head.
"Um...nothing. Gotta go!" she said, running back down to her car. Suzie, meanwhile, shook her head.
"She's crazy."
***************
Ruki jumped in her car, spun her tires out, and drove directly to the freeway, shaking her head.
-What the hell is he thinking? He's more dense than I thought.
Ruki put more weight on the pedal as she peeled down the freeway toward her house.
***************
J16: To be concluded in the next chapter, I guess. Stay tuned!
Please review. Comments, flames, I don't care, just be constructive.