Chapter 12—Resurrection
"Mom…?"
Turning, she scanned the crowd frantically. No one even remotely resembled her mother.
"Nabiki?" Concern was evident in Kuno's voice. "Are you…"
"Shut up," she said absently, eyes still hastily searching the mass of people. Had the image in the store window really been her mother? Had she been dreaming? Hallucinating? She scoffed the idea. Nabiki Tendo didn't hallucinate, period. So what had it been? She glanced back at the store window.
It was déjà vu all over again.
Suntai Electronics.
The store still carried the shiny, sleek, newest technology in Nerima—all the objet d'art of modern day Japan. Beautiful. It was here that Nabiki had lost her heart, one late summer's day, while window-shopping with her mother. A decade had passed, but the wonder and fascination of the store's display still beguiled with alluring temptations of sophistication and style. At any other time, Nabiki would have entered and browsed around, maybe weaseled Kuno into getting her a contraption or two. But today…
Kuno touched her shoulder. "Do you feel ill? Shall I take you home?" He followed her glance to the store. "Do you see something you like? I would buy it for you, Nabiki. All you have to do is ask."
"No, no…" she waved her hand dismissively. She looked intensely at the window showcase, a contemplative look on her face. Kuno recognized that look; he'd seen it every time she was about to do something sneaky. "No… wait… Actually, Kuno-baby, I change my mind," she said, half to herself. Then she blinked, straightened, and shot him a dazzling smile. "I think I'll take you up on your offer. Shall we go in?"
"Umm… not anything over fifty…"
"Why Kuno-baby! You're not going back on your honor, are you?" She pulled playfully on his sleeve for a second, then strode forward impatiently. "Come on!"
*
A lot of work had originally been put into the interior decoration of Suntai Electronics, though it had not been renovated for more than fifteen years; while the merchandise was spanking new and up to date, the décor was faded and its old-school charm made it barely acceptable.
But while the furnishings irked her sense of fung-shui, Nabiki was more than appreciative of the gleaming merchandise piled around the store. She fingered a laptop, mentally calculating cost versus efficiency.
A pale, scrawny, pimply young man with watery eyes approached her. "Welcome to Suntai Electronics, miss." Nabiki noticed that his plastic nametag was pinned upside down. "How may I assist you, miss?"
"I'm fine, just browsing."
"Would you like to see our newest product, miss? It's right over here." He gestured to a quiet, dimly lit corner.
Creep, Nabiki thought with contempt. "No thanks. Why don't you go attend to your other customers?" She looked pointedly at an old woman who was hobbling around the cashier's desk.
"Oh, I would much rather help you, miss." He stepped closer. "By the way, how old are you?"
Now, Nabiki was perfectly capable of taking care of herself. She was in no way frightened or intimidated by the pervert who was accosting her, but she was disgusted and impatient. She wanted to look around, scout out for clues, if there were any. She did not want to be wasting time with a hentai clerk who seemed barely past puberty. "I'm twenty eight."
"Haha, miss, you're such a tease," the clerk giggled. "And I'm thirty," he said, putting his hand on her arm.
She smacked it. Hard. He whipped his hand away, flinching. "Don't make me call your boss and have you fired for molesting a customer, buster."
He giggled again, while rubbing his hand, and stepped closer. "My dad's the manager, miss. He wouldn't fire me." He scratched his head, causing a shower of dandruff. Nabiki stepped back to avoid being powdered. Any second now…
"Are you sure you don't want to check out the new products, miss?"
Three… two…
He reached out for her again.
One…
BLAM! The door exploded open.
"Fine, Nabiki Tendo! All right! What do you wish me to procure for you? I will graciously allow you to buy…" Kuno, coming into the store, stopped short at the sight of Nabiki and the clerk. "Fiend! What do you think you are doing to my… ahem… this young maiden?"
"Oh, Kuno-baby!" Nabiki exclaimed, trying hard to look maidenly, and failing because she was suppressing laughter. "Save me! Get this pervert off of me!"
"Wha….???" The clerk, going even paler than before, snatched his hand away and took a step back. "I never… "
"Scoundrel!" Kuno shouted. "Are you trying to take advantage of Nabiki Tendo?"
"Oh… eh… heh… no… no of course not… I'd never try and take another guy's girl…" The clerk stammered, eyeing Kuno's muscular frame. "Sorry… I didn't know…"
Kuno raised both arms above his head, intending to smite the devil that had tried to molest his Nabiki, but paused. A look of confusion spread across his face. Nabiki raised an eyebrow, then stifled a giggle. Kuno had left his bokken at home.
"Ah… I shall deal with you later, cur! I am Tatewaki Kuno, the Blue Thunder of Furinken High. You would do well to keep out of my path from now on. And do not harass any more young maidens… or you shall find my wrath upon you." He glared at the clerk, who scuttled backwards into the shadows, bowing and muttering apologies. When Kuno was satisfied that the clerk would leave Nabiki alone, he turned to her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Thanks, Tate. You were great."
"Truly?" Nabiki smiled at the astonished look on his face.
"Truly."
*
The problem was, Nabiki mused, that she had no idea what she was looking for. A picture of her mother? A message? A sign? An affirmation? A ghost? An angel? God? They had spent half an hour browsing the store, looking for something that would answer Nabiki's questions. Or, rather, Nabiki had looked, and Kuno had hunted. For the clerk. He had found a stick (telescope) that would serve as a bokken and punishment for the rascal who molested innocent girls. Nabiki had tuned out his rantings after spending ten minutes of listening to curses and threats.
Why had she seen her mother in the window? Was it a reflection? Or was it a real person on the other side of the glass? Nabiki fiddled with a joystick. It couldn't have been someone inside the store—Nabiki had scanned the place and seen no one who might have posed as her mother. And… why on earth had she seen her while she was kissing Kuno? It only brought a sense of guilt, Nabiki thought, poking a keyboard. She had finally resolved her problems with Kuno (mostly, at least), but… was she NOT supposed to resolve them? Was her mother turning over in her grave, because Nabiki was fraternizing (smooching) with the enemy? She hated to think so. Nabiki had at last forgiven. Maybe her mother never had.
She pushed the thoughts out of her head. Good grief, Biki, get control of yourself. You know that mom would never have held a grudge against anyone, especially Tate. You know that. Stop second-guessing yourself. And her. You didn't see mom in the window, you didn't see mom in the window, you didn't see mom in the window. You were imagining. There. She tucked her hair behind her ear and picked up a cd player. Ok, Biki, you were just imagining. Just check out the nice cd player. Try and estimate how much it costs. Go over your plan to haggle down the cost to one fifth of the selling price. See if you can get Tate to buy it for you. Think about how great it will look on you, how good the acoustics are. She slipped the headphones on.
"…Biki…"
"What…?" She turned around, scanning the store. Was someone calling her?
"…Biki…"
"Oh my God… this has to be a joke…" Why was she hearing a voice in the headphones?
"…don't be scared, little Biki…"
That voice… she would never forget it… could it be…?
"…mom…?"
"…sometimes… there are things that none of us can explain, Biki… we just have to take them as they come…"
"…mom…? Is that you…?"
"… we can't blame people for what fate has decided… we can't stop what fate has decided…"
"… my god…"
"… but we can fight back…"
Nabiki's hands were ice. The cd player hummed in her grip.
"… we can fight… we can take the sorrow and make it happiness… take the hate and turn it to love, Biki… are you understanding me?… we can live for those who cannot… take care of those who need care… Biki… my little Biki…"
"…mommy…"
"… you were always such a clever girl… and proud…don't let your pride conquer you…"
"…is that really you…?"
"… don't let your pride stop you… Biki… don't let it stop you…"
"… stop…I…"
"… I miss you, Biki, and Akane, and Kasumi, and Daddy… I miss you so much…"
"… how…"
"… I love you…"
"… I love you too…"
"…love… you……… love…………"
"Mommy?"
The hums from the cd player quieted, then stopped.
"Mom?"
Silence.
She ripped open the cover of the machine. It was empty.
My God…
"Tate…"
Nabiki collapsed.
To be continued…