Disclaimer: It still stands. This part of the story happens a few days
after the first five chapters. I've brought in another original character.
Please R&R. I really do enjoy hearing what you think.~ Arzetta
(Three Days later)
Sakura Fujitani walked through the door of the little flower shop and began pushing, shoving and weaving her way through the crowd of girls that gathered in the doorway. When she finally got to the front she began to look around for some one familiar. She saw Aya (or Ran as he some times liked to be called) arranging and de-thorning roses with Kasumi helping him. She was saying some thing that was making Aya smile. Sakura wasn't sure she liked Kasumi she always looked at Sakura funny. What was Aya smiling about? That was out of the ordinary.
As she continued to look around she spotted Yohji surrounded by about a dozen ogling admirers. But he didn't seem to paying the attention he usually afforded them as he nodded and took orders without all the usual gusto. Some where behind him, Sakura couldn't quite see, but there was Iria sweeping the floor, some thing that was normally Omi's job. But Omi had been indisposed that last three days.
She looked back towards the cactus plants, and then she spotted him. There was Ken, poking around one with a handful of flowers in one hand and a spray bottle in the others. Smiling, Sakura stood on her tiptoes and waved "Ken! Ken Hidaka! Hey, over here!"
Ken could hear some one yelling his name. He looked towards the crowd of girls. Then he spotted the person. It was a girl, but he knew her. She was as tall as Omi, with long raspberry colored hair, light skin and dark coffee colored eyes. She was wearing a plain blue v-neck t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Ken smiled. Setting the spray bottle down he made his way over and he let in past the others girls. The shop was always crowded on Friday afternoons, so they had to make people wait in line and take a number. The two hugged and then he looked at her. "Hey, Sakura! Are you here to relieve Nagi? He's been here since this morning."
"Yeah. I'm sorry I'm so late. But I had to pick up his homework and Bombay's. Not to mention the fact that I stopped by Nagi's favorite chocolate shop. I thought perhaps it would soften the fact that I'm late and bringing homework." Sakura replied and laughed. She picked up a gray book bag that had been sitting at her feet.
Ken smiled. "I'm sure the chocolate will help. Just follow the hallway around to the stairs. I'm sure you know the way from there."
"I'm sure it will. Of course I know the way. I've been coming here almost every day after school since fourth grade." She smiled back and opened her bag and reached into a smaller brown paper bag that sat inside on top of everything. Pulling out a chunk of dark chocolate, she gave it to Ken "Here cousin, some thing to brighten your day and bring you luck with the crowd."
Ken took the chunk of candy from her. He loved dark chocolate almost as much as he loved his motorcycle and soccer. "Thank you. I'm sure I'm going to need it."
"Well, I'm off." With that she left him standing there and headed toward the back of the shop and followed the hallway to the stairs. Going up them she went straight to Omi's apartment and through the door. Once inside she headed for the bedroom, when she got there she saw Nagi asleep with his chin on his chest sitting in a chair by the bed. In the bed lay Omi he had been unconscious for the past three days. During those two days Nagi and Sakura, his best friends, had been keeping watch. Sakura went over to the chair and gently took Nagi by the shoulder and began to gently shake him awake. "Nagi? Come on wake up Nagi- naga!" She used his pet name.
Nagi began to stir. He yawned and rubbed a hand over his eyes. As they began to focus he looked up at Sakura. "You're late!"
"Yes, I know. But I had to stop by and pick up your home work and Omi's." Sakura replied. She set her bag down, opening it up she pulled out the small brown paper bag. Reaching into it she pulled out two smaller bags and held them out to Nagi.
"Home work! Why did you pick that up?" Nagi asked. He hated homework.
"Because if I didn't pick it up and make you do it. Your grades would suck! I brought you some coffee beans dipped in mocha creamed white chocolate and some of those double espresso death truffles smothered in caramel. Just the way you like them."
Nagi grinned and licked his lips. He loved chocolate and coffee and putting the two together for him was like having his own little slice of heaven. Taking the bags from Sakura he said, "Well, I guess you're right about my grades, but these more than make up for it. So what kind of torture have our teachers devised for us this week? Also what of Bomb's needs to be done?"
"Of course I'm right. They sent, French 1, Western Civ, Geometry, and Government for him. For you it's all of the above plus Chemistry. For me it's all but Chemistry. Instead I have Psychology." Sakura replied as she pulled books from her bag and began stacking them up. She gave Nagi his books. "So are you coming back here for dinner? My dad is cooking again."
"Sure. Boy, I'm not sure if this is my lucky day or not. I get chocolate and a famous Fujitani dinner. But in exchange I have homework, go figure. I'll take Omi's Geometry and Government assignments." Nagi said and smiled. Using his telekinetic powers he lifted the books off the floor and began to walk to the door with the books following him.
"Alright I'll see about seven of so. By the way don't go out on the streets with those books following you. You'll scare people." Sakura said and followed him to the door.
"I promise I won't scare any one." Nage laughed and walked out.
Sakura laughed too and closed the door then she made her way back to the bedroom. Picking up her homework she began to sift through it, she looked up at Omi. "I'd sure like to know what going on in your head Bomb." With that she sighed and started reading over her Psychology book.
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He was running, but from what. He ran till his legs hurt and he couldn't catch his breath. Even then he kept running. He could hear them they were calling his name.
"Omi! Omi! Where are you?"
"Here I am!" He would try to scream but it only came out as a whisper. Then he would see her. She was always walking away from him. "Wait, Wait for me. I need answers! Hitomi don't go!" He would cry out to her, but she seemed not to listen and kept walking.
Dozens of images would flash before him some fond memories and others would be horrific. He wanted to turn away, but some how he couldn't help himself. He watched them, not sure if they were just his imagination or some kind of terrible prophecy about the future. Everywhere he turned he saw people dying.
Tears streamed down his face, "Why? Why must I be tortured like this?" He looked down at himself. The necklace, the crystal it was glowing. He heard a small voice say "Ask Sakura."
He felt him self being shaken. Some one was saying "Omi? Omi wake up!" He was being pulled from this dreamscape that had seemed so real. As if he had fallen into an alternate universe.
***************************************************************
"Omi! Omi wake up! Oh please wake up." Sakura said as she shook him. Then to her relief, Omi's eyes opened. Throwing her arms around him she hugged him.
Omi looked at Sakura and smiled. He had never been so happy to see her. He was back. He had left the darkness and nightmares behind. Hugging her close he cried, but this time for joy. It took awhile for both of them to find their voices.
Pushing away from Omi, Sakura looked at him. "Oh thank heaven, you've woken up. I was so worried but so were a lot of other people. We all missed you so much!"
Omi had kept hold of one of Sakura's hands he didn't want to let go afraid that maybe this too may be a dream. "How long have I been," he searched for the word.
"Unconscious?" Sakura finished.
"Yes. How long has it been?" Omi asked.
"It's been three days and this is the evening of the fourth day. It's just now six –thirty. Oh Nagi will be so happy when he comes back in half an hour, of course so will everyone else. Do you want any thing?" Sakura asked. She was so happy he was awake. She hadn't tried to pull her hand from his.
"Just a glass of water. I'm so thirsty. What have a I missed?" Omi asked and ran one hand through his hair and found it to be greasy. "Ugh! I need a shower." He thought.
Letting go of his hand Sakura went and got a glass of water. Coming back she gave it to him then proceeded to tell him all that happened. "Then there's that girl that Ran brought home, Kasumi. I don't think I like her much." Sakura didn't mention the fact that Kasumi made her feel weird. "Yohji has picked up nice girl for the first time in forever. But, get this he treats her like a little sister. Everyone is going to be up here soon for dinner. They'll all be so happy. We've been gathering here for the last couple of days, my dad has been really nice and been bringing us all dinner."
"Boy, I have missed a lot. Ran, brought home a girl? Is the world ending? Yohji, has found a nice girl, but treats her like a sis'? Are you sure he is still himself or has he been replaced with an alien?" Omi said and smiled. He reached up to scratch his neck when he felt the chain on his neck. It felt warm. Pulling it from beneath his shirt, he looked at it. It was glowing, just like in the dream.
"What's that?" Sakura asked as she stared at the necklace.
Omi didn't say anything. He looked up at Sakura, then back at the necklace, then back at her. "Ask her." A voice in his mind said. He took the necklace from his neck. Taking one of Sakura hands he place the necklace in it. "What is it?" he whispered.
Sakura looked at it, she could feel the information racing up her arm to her mind. Images flashed.
Omi watched, her brow was furrowed in concentration and she blinked as if taking pictures.
Sakura took a deep breath. Just then the door of the apartment opened and some one yelled. "Sakura, I'm back. Everyone will be here in a few minutes. They're all helping your dad carry dinner up. I brought you a," Nagi stopped as he walked into the bedroom and saw Omi. His face lit up with a grin and he ran around to the side of the bed then threw his arms around his friend. "Omi! Little marmoset, you're awake." Pushing himself away he ruffled Omi's hair with one hand and began to laugh. Soon all three of the friends were laughing.
It wasn't long before they heard the door of the apartment open again and many more voices filled it. Nagi raced out to the living room and began to get everyone to come back to the bedroom with him. Soon Omi's room was filled, everyone saying how good it was to see him returned to the real world. There was much laughing and Omi got slapped on the back more than once.
During all of this Sakura had slipped the necklace back to Omi. But avoided any questions.
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Authors Notes; Here's chapter six. It took me several days to put together. Please let me know if it's okay. I realize it may be short and may not all sound like it ties in, but believe me I am getting to the point. Enjoy.
P. s To those of you who read "Shuie" Have no fear, chapter two is on the way!
(Three Days later)
Sakura Fujitani walked through the door of the little flower shop and began pushing, shoving and weaving her way through the crowd of girls that gathered in the doorway. When she finally got to the front she began to look around for some one familiar. She saw Aya (or Ran as he some times liked to be called) arranging and de-thorning roses with Kasumi helping him. She was saying some thing that was making Aya smile. Sakura wasn't sure she liked Kasumi she always looked at Sakura funny. What was Aya smiling about? That was out of the ordinary.
As she continued to look around she spotted Yohji surrounded by about a dozen ogling admirers. But he didn't seem to paying the attention he usually afforded them as he nodded and took orders without all the usual gusto. Some where behind him, Sakura couldn't quite see, but there was Iria sweeping the floor, some thing that was normally Omi's job. But Omi had been indisposed that last three days.
She looked back towards the cactus plants, and then she spotted him. There was Ken, poking around one with a handful of flowers in one hand and a spray bottle in the others. Smiling, Sakura stood on her tiptoes and waved "Ken! Ken Hidaka! Hey, over here!"
Ken could hear some one yelling his name. He looked towards the crowd of girls. Then he spotted the person. It was a girl, but he knew her. She was as tall as Omi, with long raspberry colored hair, light skin and dark coffee colored eyes. She was wearing a plain blue v-neck t-shirt and a pair of jeans. Ken smiled. Setting the spray bottle down he made his way over and he let in past the others girls. The shop was always crowded on Friday afternoons, so they had to make people wait in line and take a number. The two hugged and then he looked at her. "Hey, Sakura! Are you here to relieve Nagi? He's been here since this morning."
"Yeah. I'm sorry I'm so late. But I had to pick up his homework and Bombay's. Not to mention the fact that I stopped by Nagi's favorite chocolate shop. I thought perhaps it would soften the fact that I'm late and bringing homework." Sakura replied and laughed. She picked up a gray book bag that had been sitting at her feet.
Ken smiled. "I'm sure the chocolate will help. Just follow the hallway around to the stairs. I'm sure you know the way from there."
"I'm sure it will. Of course I know the way. I've been coming here almost every day after school since fourth grade." She smiled back and opened her bag and reached into a smaller brown paper bag that sat inside on top of everything. Pulling out a chunk of dark chocolate, she gave it to Ken "Here cousin, some thing to brighten your day and bring you luck with the crowd."
Ken took the chunk of candy from her. He loved dark chocolate almost as much as he loved his motorcycle and soccer. "Thank you. I'm sure I'm going to need it."
"Well, I'm off." With that she left him standing there and headed toward the back of the shop and followed the hallway to the stairs. Going up them she went straight to Omi's apartment and through the door. Once inside she headed for the bedroom, when she got there she saw Nagi asleep with his chin on his chest sitting in a chair by the bed. In the bed lay Omi he had been unconscious for the past three days. During those two days Nagi and Sakura, his best friends, had been keeping watch. Sakura went over to the chair and gently took Nagi by the shoulder and began to gently shake him awake. "Nagi? Come on wake up Nagi- naga!" She used his pet name.
Nagi began to stir. He yawned and rubbed a hand over his eyes. As they began to focus he looked up at Sakura. "You're late!"
"Yes, I know. But I had to stop by and pick up your home work and Omi's." Sakura replied. She set her bag down, opening it up she pulled out the small brown paper bag. Reaching into it she pulled out two smaller bags and held them out to Nagi.
"Home work! Why did you pick that up?" Nagi asked. He hated homework.
"Because if I didn't pick it up and make you do it. Your grades would suck! I brought you some coffee beans dipped in mocha creamed white chocolate and some of those double espresso death truffles smothered in caramel. Just the way you like them."
Nagi grinned and licked his lips. He loved chocolate and coffee and putting the two together for him was like having his own little slice of heaven. Taking the bags from Sakura he said, "Well, I guess you're right about my grades, but these more than make up for it. So what kind of torture have our teachers devised for us this week? Also what of Bomb's needs to be done?"
"Of course I'm right. They sent, French 1, Western Civ, Geometry, and Government for him. For you it's all of the above plus Chemistry. For me it's all but Chemistry. Instead I have Psychology." Sakura replied as she pulled books from her bag and began stacking them up. She gave Nagi his books. "So are you coming back here for dinner? My dad is cooking again."
"Sure. Boy, I'm not sure if this is my lucky day or not. I get chocolate and a famous Fujitani dinner. But in exchange I have homework, go figure. I'll take Omi's Geometry and Government assignments." Nagi said and smiled. Using his telekinetic powers he lifted the books off the floor and began to walk to the door with the books following him.
"Alright I'll see about seven of so. By the way don't go out on the streets with those books following you. You'll scare people." Sakura said and followed him to the door.
"I promise I won't scare any one." Nage laughed and walked out.
Sakura laughed too and closed the door then she made her way back to the bedroom. Picking up her homework she began to sift through it, she looked up at Omi. "I'd sure like to know what going on in your head Bomb." With that she sighed and started reading over her Psychology book.
********************************************************************
He was running, but from what. He ran till his legs hurt and he couldn't catch his breath. Even then he kept running. He could hear them they were calling his name.
"Omi! Omi! Where are you?"
"Here I am!" He would try to scream but it only came out as a whisper. Then he would see her. She was always walking away from him. "Wait, Wait for me. I need answers! Hitomi don't go!" He would cry out to her, but she seemed not to listen and kept walking.
Dozens of images would flash before him some fond memories and others would be horrific. He wanted to turn away, but some how he couldn't help himself. He watched them, not sure if they were just his imagination or some kind of terrible prophecy about the future. Everywhere he turned he saw people dying.
Tears streamed down his face, "Why? Why must I be tortured like this?" He looked down at himself. The necklace, the crystal it was glowing. He heard a small voice say "Ask Sakura."
He felt him self being shaken. Some one was saying "Omi? Omi wake up!" He was being pulled from this dreamscape that had seemed so real. As if he had fallen into an alternate universe.
***************************************************************
"Omi! Omi wake up! Oh please wake up." Sakura said as she shook him. Then to her relief, Omi's eyes opened. Throwing her arms around him she hugged him.
Omi looked at Sakura and smiled. He had never been so happy to see her. He was back. He had left the darkness and nightmares behind. Hugging her close he cried, but this time for joy. It took awhile for both of them to find their voices.
Pushing away from Omi, Sakura looked at him. "Oh thank heaven, you've woken up. I was so worried but so were a lot of other people. We all missed you so much!"
Omi had kept hold of one of Sakura's hands he didn't want to let go afraid that maybe this too may be a dream. "How long have I been," he searched for the word.
"Unconscious?" Sakura finished.
"Yes. How long has it been?" Omi asked.
"It's been three days and this is the evening of the fourth day. It's just now six –thirty. Oh Nagi will be so happy when he comes back in half an hour, of course so will everyone else. Do you want any thing?" Sakura asked. She was so happy he was awake. She hadn't tried to pull her hand from his.
"Just a glass of water. I'm so thirsty. What have a I missed?" Omi asked and ran one hand through his hair and found it to be greasy. "Ugh! I need a shower." He thought.
Letting go of his hand Sakura went and got a glass of water. Coming back she gave it to him then proceeded to tell him all that happened. "Then there's that girl that Ran brought home, Kasumi. I don't think I like her much." Sakura didn't mention the fact that Kasumi made her feel weird. "Yohji has picked up nice girl for the first time in forever. But, get this he treats her like a little sister. Everyone is going to be up here soon for dinner. They'll all be so happy. We've been gathering here for the last couple of days, my dad has been really nice and been bringing us all dinner."
"Boy, I have missed a lot. Ran, brought home a girl? Is the world ending? Yohji, has found a nice girl, but treats her like a sis'? Are you sure he is still himself or has he been replaced with an alien?" Omi said and smiled. He reached up to scratch his neck when he felt the chain on his neck. It felt warm. Pulling it from beneath his shirt, he looked at it. It was glowing, just like in the dream.
"What's that?" Sakura asked as she stared at the necklace.
Omi didn't say anything. He looked up at Sakura, then back at the necklace, then back at her. "Ask her." A voice in his mind said. He took the necklace from his neck. Taking one of Sakura hands he place the necklace in it. "What is it?" he whispered.
Sakura looked at it, she could feel the information racing up her arm to her mind. Images flashed.
Omi watched, her brow was furrowed in concentration and she blinked as if taking pictures.
Sakura took a deep breath. Just then the door of the apartment opened and some one yelled. "Sakura, I'm back. Everyone will be here in a few minutes. They're all helping your dad carry dinner up. I brought you a," Nagi stopped as he walked into the bedroom and saw Omi. His face lit up with a grin and he ran around to the side of the bed then threw his arms around his friend. "Omi! Little marmoset, you're awake." Pushing himself away he ruffled Omi's hair with one hand and began to laugh. Soon all three of the friends were laughing.
It wasn't long before they heard the door of the apartment open again and many more voices filled it. Nagi raced out to the living room and began to get everyone to come back to the bedroom with him. Soon Omi's room was filled, everyone saying how good it was to see him returned to the real world. There was much laughing and Omi got slapped on the back more than once.
During all of this Sakura had slipped the necklace back to Omi. But avoided any questions.
*********************************************************************
Authors Notes; Here's chapter six. It took me several days to put together. Please let me know if it's okay. I realize it may be short and may not all sound like it ties in, but believe me I am getting to the point. Enjoy.
P. s To those of you who read "Shuie" Have no fear, chapter two is on the way!