Nijuusei

Chapter 3: Convenience Store Mishap

Hiashi sighed as he placed the last box in the entryway of their new house. It had been a long move and the sight of cluttered boxes in total disarray was not comforting. Although the new house was not small, it was not by any means large either. And comparatively, it was not nearly as beautiful as the home he was used to. This house was built in almost a Victorian style, but the overruling New York City atmosphere made it seems dark and glum. As expected, Hiashi hated it, but he refused to let on any signs of that to his parents. He knew that they were already tense from the risk of this move and they surely didn't need any more worries.

Turning away from the mess that was the hallway Hiashi turned and walked up the creaky steps to his new bedroom. It was at the end of the hall, but it was the only room with a decent view. It overlooked an alleyway, but beyond that there was a nice view of the city's vast skyscrapers. Being quite different than what he was used to, the city naturally amazed Hiashi. He was a bit anxious to go exploring, but perhaps now wasn't the time. Then again, he had already helped move in furniture and boxes, and wasn't that all they had planned on doing today? Maybe he could go out just for a little while; perhaps just to get a bottle of soda or something like that. Hiashi recalled passing a 7-11 or some other convenience store on the way through the neighborhood, and it was only a few blocks away. Weighing the choices in his mind Hiashi's thirst eventually got the better of him and he raced down the steps to find his heavy, blue jacket. He just couldn't get used to how cold this city was…

Upon finding the jacket amidst the chaos that was the living room, Hiashi put it on and wrapped it tightly around himself.

"Mom! Dad! I'm going to that convenience store down the street. Do you want anything?" Hiashi called out into the practically empty house. After a moment's pause, his mother's voice came from upstairs somewhere requesting a bottle of Diet Coke, while his father asked for a root beer. Hiashi checked his wallet to make sure he had enough money and when he was satisfied, he opened the front door.

"Be back soon!" Hiashi told his parents as he closed the door and began walking.

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Kokuei shifted in his sleep as his skin was exposed to the cold city air. Unable to ignore the chill any longer he awoke and took in his surroundings. He was in one of the nicer neighborhoods and, knowing exactly how welcome he was there, he forced himself onto his feet and stretched. In mid-stretch his stomach let out a loud growl and Kokuei dropped his arms and stared down, thinking. How long had it been since he had eaten anything? One, no… two days… Groaning, Kokuei began roaming the streets looking for anything that was still edible. He shivered as the cold wind permeated his thin shirt and he closed his eyes, attempting to keep some warmth in his body. When the wind had died down some, Kokuei reopened his eyes and caught a brief glimpse of a piece of green paper floating down the street, caught in the wind. He squinted, trying to see better, and then the realization hit him like a brick. Money!

Chasing after the money like the broke fool that he was, Kokuei succeeded in knocking over two trashcans, tripping over a fire hydrant, tearing the a hole in the knee of his pants, and cursing rather loudly. After a long and difficult "journey," Kokuei finally caught up with the stubborn bill and clutched it tightly in his hand. Grinning in obvious pride, he opened his hand. He grinned even wider when he saw that it was a twenty-dollar bill, probably the most money he'd had at once in his entire life! His small celebration was cut short as another cold wind whipped him, finding the new hole his already tattered jeans.

Kokuei's smile faded to a frown, but then brightened again. He could go shopping! Well, maybe not to the most prestigious shopping center, but Goodwill had always been satifactory to him. Beggars can't be choosers… he thought glumly, his thoughts returning to his appearance. He was wearing a pair of jeans with holes now in both knees, sneakers with one of the toes almost completely torn away, and a bloodied, faded green plaid, button up over shirt with just a few buttons. On his right forearm were the bandages that his newfound friend, Yui, had tied. He still hadn't checked the wound, but then again that was only last night.

Kokuei missed Yui already. There was something about her that was so endearing to him and he just couldn't place it. Even though he was probably one of the lowest classes of people in this world, Yui had talked to him and helped him. It was just the way that she had looked at him at first that made him feel almost… out of place, like he was expected to be someone else. He shouldn't be reading so much into it though. The poor girl was probably too frightened to be thinking logically anyway. Kokuei was brought out of his thoughts by the stares of the habitants of the neighborhood. They had probably been lured to their windows and front doors by the crash of the trashcans and the significantly loud profanities. Pocketing the money while smiling nervously, Kokuei walked back to the cans and picked them up, replacing the bags that had fallen out. When he felt his task was complete, he turned around and began walking towards the Goodwill. It was a good four-mile walk away, but it was definitely worth it. It was way cold not to be worth it.

As Kokuei was leaving the subdivision, he caught scent of some sort of food and his stomach growled. Placing a hand over his abdomen he looked around and spotted a 7-11 at the corner. Would he be able to afford anything with what he was saving his money for? Smirking, he realized that he didn't need to pay. He often didn't anyway, but who could really blame him? No one would hire such a scruffy-looking kid, and in this city not many people cared about charity. Stealing wasn't exactly the moral thing to do, but it was the only way to get by. Picking up his pace with newfound initiative, Kokuei couldn't help but smile in the anticipation of something to eat. After all, it had been two days.

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Hiashi walked down the street absentmindedly. This place felt so familiar, yet distant at the same time. It was a strange feeling, and Hiashi just couldn't come to terms with it. Looking up to check his surroundings Hiashi was caught off guard by a plain, yet intriguing, sight. He was starting to get into the more run-down area of the neighborhood, and so the sight of an old dark deserted house should have been expected. But something about the three-storied house stopped him dead in his tracks, and he stared. In a sudden lapse of thoughts, Hiashi lost himself in an obscured memory.

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Hiashi watched as a well-built man threw him, a much smaller form of him, to the wall. He heard the screams of a woman, but he couldn't see her form very well past her long light brown hair. He watched in horror as the man flung the woman around and grabbed the woman by the neck, lifting her completely off her feet. The woman gasped for air, but couldn't seem to take in any and she struggled hard against the man's violent hold. She finally stopped struggling and after what seemed like hours the man dropped the woman to the ground and she lay there motionless. Although Hiashi could see himself slumped down unconscious against the wall, his perspective was different, like he was hiding under a sofa or some other piece of large furniture. The room stayed as it was, until the last rays of sunlight finally died and the room darkened completely. The man hadn't moved, either. He just stood there, staring at the woman's body, almost expecting it to just get up and start walking around or something equally improbable. When he finally seemed to confirm for himself that she was dead, he shrieked. He continued screaming for help, but abruptly fell silent again.

The man calmly walked over to the window and opened it, and in a moment was staggering up to the roof from the windowsill. The man was lost from his viewpoint from under the furniture, but the loud scream and sickening thud were unmistakable… Hiashi's viewpoint stayed still for a long time before getting up slowly and walking over to the fallen woman, dropping to his knees as he continued to look upon her lifeless form. A sob escaped into the area surrounding and he turned to see… himself… looking over the viewpoint's shoulder at the woman. He stayed like that staring for a minute or two, and then turned and took off at a dead run towards the door. Someone had shouted something then, but Hiashi couldn't remember what it was. He just watched himself run away, and his viewpoint's position slumped, and it fell dark.

When his viewpoint awoke, it was bright outside and an unfamiliar man was gently shaking him awake. The next few moments were all a blur and all he could remember was the soft weeping as his viewpoint was escorted out of the house, hand-in-hand, by a large woman who was speaking soothing words like a gentle prayer. He got one last glance at the house, and then everything faded.

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Hiashi snapped out of his reverie with a start, his heart beating so loudly and rapidly that he could hear it in his ears. What in the world was that?!? He took a huge gulp of air, trying to calm his adrenaline-laced body. He noticed that he was shaking, swaying on his feet, and that people were staring. Many people were staring. He smiled timidly at the gaping citizens who were just going about their daily lives when they were rapt by Hiashi's strange display. Feeling incredibly nervous, Hiashi took off in a sprint towards the 7-11 that was two blocks away and didn't stop until he had reached the front doors of the small store.

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Kokuei browsed the aisles stocked with food, enthralled by the thought of each one he laid his eyes on. It all looked so delicious… Although many of the munchies did look yummy, few looked filling. It wasn't until Kokuei had reached the bread that he found something of his liking. Grinning in satisfaction, Kokuei picked up the loaf and knelt down behind the aisle, hiding him from the store's clerk. Lifting up an extremely baggy pants leg, Kokuei stuffed the bread inside and secured it with its twisty to his shoe. Quickly standing up, Kokuei took a few trial steps to ensure the stability of his food and when he was satisfied continued browsing the aisles as if he was still looking for something. It was then that he noticed the security camera. Pointed right at him.

"Oh, shit…"

He jumped slightly as a loud banging came from the door near him, as if someone was having problems with the knob or something. Not giving it much more thought, Kokuei ran out the back door of the 7-11 and continued to run until he was safely hidden in a dark alley, several blocks away. Luckily, the clerk had been too busy with a customer to notice the youth's abrupt departure. 

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Somewhere in the back rooms, the store manager munched lazily from a bag of potato chips. He was a large man, easily two hundred pounds and didn't seem to care very much about his appearance; evident from the way he stuffed his face with junk foods. He was balding and attempted to cover the spot up with a comb-over, a very bad comb-over, but aren't they all? He stared intently at one of the screens in his office, and let out a sudden yell.

"No! You idiot! What the hell is wrong with you? When the quarterback throws you the ball, you're supposed to catch it! That was a perfect throw!! What the hell is wrong with you?!?"

As predicted, he wasn't watching the security monitors… As the game went into a commercial break, the large man discarded the empty bag of chips as his face returned to a normal hue. By some freak accident, the man actually glanced up at the security monitors just in time to see a rough-looking kid stuff a loaf of bread up the leg of his pants... Blinking in confusion, the man focused the camera on the face of the kid. When he was content with the visual confirmation of the bread-thief, he stood up from his chair and burst from his office. That was one little thief that wasn't going to get away.

Fumbling with the door that led to the main part of the store, the fat man lost patience with the stubborn knob and began banging on the door. Why'd that thing choose now of all times to get stuck?! Stopping to tug on the door, he cursed as it again refused to open. It was a minute later that he finally realized that it was locked… and that all he had to do… was twist the deadbolt.

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Hiashi opened the door to the 7-11, placing his coat on a nearby bench. His light blue short-sleeved flannel shirt clung to him slightly as he removed his jacket. He panted slightly, still out of breath from his sprint. He paused for a moment, leaning on the bench. When he regained some of his energy, Hiashi walked over the refrigerators housing the sodas while his baggy, yet comfortable, pants swishing softly. He picked out a Dr. Pepper for himself, a Diet Coke as his mother had requested, and root beer for his father. Satisfied with his selections, Hiashi made his way up to the counter and put his items on it. It was then, as Hiashi was about to pay for his selections, that a man burst from the back room and glared at him.

"Stop right there, you little thief," the man growled menacingly, and Hiashi couldn't do anything but stare as he lost his grip on his money and it drifted to the ground.

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Kokuei panted heavily as he slumped against the wall of a house. He had succeeded in his operation, but it was probably best to keep on going until he was out of the area. His thoughts turned to his stolen bread and he sat down, preparing to feast upon his victory prize. He was reaching down towards his left shoe as the voice of a woman called to him.

"Hiashi! There you are! We were getting worried! Get inside now; we need your help moving furniture… What are you doing down there, anyway?"

Kokuei blinked. Hiashi? Who's that? "Sorry, but I'm not Hiashi…" he tried to explain to the woman looking down on him from an upstairs window.  It was really starting to get to him; that was the second case of mistaken identity in two days.

"Stop fooling around and get up here! We're moving your things up to your room now, anyway! Get in here and help out!" the woman called again.

"But I'm not-"

"NOW!!!"

The lady sounded pretty pissed, but could he really enter some stranger's house? It didn't seem to matter to her. He guessed that he and her son must look alike. Oh well… He'd just have to go inside and explain to her that he's not who she thinks he is. Kokuei sighed and made his way to the front door. He paused for a moment, debating with himself once again. He had to meet Yui in about two hours and to make his way across town in that amount of time was already cutting it, so did he have time for this? Groaning, Kokuei forced himself to open the door and go inside, shutting the door firmly behind him.

So, now what? Just kidding! It's going to be a lot harder for me from here on out, though. I just want to tell you how much I appreciate your reviews! I've had… *counts on fingers* … six reviews so far! Yeah! From what I'm getting, you'd all like me to continue writing, so I'll keep at it. Just keep reviewing, okay? I'd still love to hear any ideas you may have for upcoming chapters, so please don't hesitate to let me know. I'll try to have the next chapter up soon, but not tonight. It's 11:33 p.m., so I'm done writing for now. Thanks for reading and good night! ^^

-Kaen

PS- I don't own Fushigi Yugi, Goodwill, or 7-11. 7-11 was just the first convenience store name that popped into my head and as for Dr. Pepper, it's just yummy, but I don't own that company either. And no, I don't own the Coca-Cola Company. I don't own much of anything, do I? ^^&