Warnings: Self-edited and I did not really read it over.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the idea.
Fear Me
Chapter 5
It was lunch time and I was alone. Again.
It didn't really bother me anymore—having no friends at school, that is. I've pretty much gotten used to it over the years. This was only my third month at this school. Nobody seemed to like me; nobody ever really did. The most popular girls always managed to come up with some dirt against me and it would spread across the school like wildfire. I didn't hate them, but I didn't like them either. The never even gave me a chance. The only people who ever really talked to me were a few male upperclassmen belonging to some elite group or something. The gossip was that they were some or the richest boys in all of Tokyo. I didn't really care one way or another, but sometimes, just sometimes, I got lonely.
And right now was one of those times. I almost had the urge to contact Schu-kun. Almost. I squashed that urge good.
Anyways, so I was digging into my uber delicious bento under one of the huge trees on campus when this black-and-white spherical blur headed straight towards me at like 54783215 mph. I screamed and threw myself to the ground, throwing my yummy lunch into the sky in the process. The ball slammed into the tree trunk and I got to live another day.
I sat up calmly, taking deep, cleansing breaths. Then I screamed very loudly in my head.
Screw life! My lunch was gone! I picked up the ball and sprang to my feet, ready to pound some ass. I spotted the group of snickering jerks just a little ways to my left. They were laughing at me. Laughing! I let the fury engulf me for a moment, just enjoying the sensation of the boiling pit of anger in my stomach stretch to the furthest reaches of my body. It was like lava. The tips of my fingers burned.
One of them came forward, an expression of false repentance on his butthole face. Aww. Did he want his ball back?
I readied the soccer ball in my hands, aiming with an accuracy to die for. I wound my leg back and let it snap forward. There was a muffled sound as my foot came in contact with the ball, whistling as the ball zoomed through the air, and screaming as the ball hit the prick in his now withered family jewels. He fell to the floor, clutching at his crotch. I smiled with sugary sweetness and dusted myself off before sitting down and picking up my lunchbox. There would be no saving my food today. I bowed my head in remembrance.
"Tsukino-san?"
I looked up into friendly indigo eyes framed by long, thick lashes. Omi Tsukiyono smiled at me. Stupefied, I smiled back.
"Do you mind if I sit next to you?" he asked openly, still bending slightly to look at me. I nodded and he dropped to my left. "That was a really nice kick. Do you play sports, Tsukino-san?"
"Usagi-chan," I corrected, inclining my head to the side to inspect him. He was even cuter up close with his dirty blonde hair and unguarded eyes. It didn't seem like he had any ulterior motives for speaking with me. It also didn't seem like he wanted to embarrass me. "No, I don't play any sports," I said finally. "Why are you talking to me?"
His eyes widened at my frank question. "I, uh, just wanted to be your friend. You seem like a nice person," he stammered, blushing. He was adorable. He reminded me of Nagi-kun in a way, but I wasn't about to let him go so easily.
"Why me? You're new, but you're already very popular. Why would you want to be friends with an outcast?"
His face suddenly changed as if he'd been caught. Caught with what? I pondered, vowing to find out what he was keeping from me.
"You just seem normal, I guess. I think you're the only girl who hasn't climbed all over me yet," he laughed, embarrassed.
Normal? He thought I was normal? I snorted. How very wrong he was. I shrugged off the suspicious feeling for the moment. "So, Omi-kun, where did you come from?"
"Tokyo-Eiwa High. My guardians moved. What about you, Usagi-chan?"
"What do you mean?" I asked levelly, giving nothing away. How did he know that I wasn't from around here?
"I heard you were new here, too. Is that not right?"
I licked my lips and checked his eyes. I hated to use telepathy on people, but he wasn't telling me something—something that could mean my life or death. I struggled over the debate for a while: to invade his privacy or not to invade his privacy? At the last minute, I sighed and decided against it. I was really getting too soft.
"No, you're right. I'm from all around." I paused and laughed a little sadly. "I don't think I even remember where I came from."
It was true. I've been wandering around the entire world my whole life, I barely remember where I had actually come from. My childhood was a nomadic blur.
"I'm sorry. I don't remember a lot about my past either," he said softly. His face had drooped and I felt his heart cry from old pain and past betrayal. I felt a kindred spirit in him. We were much the same, Omi-kun and I. I decided that we would become good friends.
I tentatively touched his shoulder. He turned to me, startled out of his intense reflection. "I understand. If you ever need someone to listen to you, you can count on me." I beamed at him and he looked at me almost guiltily. "Something wrong?"
"No. Thank you, Usagi-chan."
"No problem. Are you busy after school?"
"Actually, I have a part-time job."
"Oh?"
"I work at the flowershop a few blocks from here."
"You work at Kitty in the House?" I smiled in surprise. I had never actually gone into the little flowershop because the perpetual crowd of girls was so intimidating. I had been curious, but it wasn't worth sacrificing my life over. I could obviously see now why there were so many girls there.
He nodded and looked at me thoughtfully. "Why don't you come by today?"
It didn't sound like a bad idea. I didn't have anything better to do, so I agreed.
"I'll meet you after school at the gates then," he offered, suddenly lowering his eyes shyly.
I grinned at him, spirits lifting, but they soon plummeted as the bell rang. Drat. "That sounds great, Omi-kun! I'll see you then!" I jumped to my feet and we headed out separate ways to class, waving.
I couldn't help but smile as I slipped into the classroom and into my seat. I had made a friend. The day was looking up.
-----
Omi-kun was waiting at the gates, surrounded by a moat of girls. Mournfully, I was reminded of Nagi-kun's and my first 'date.' He caught sight of me and struggled with an apologetic smile as he tried to wade over. I was extending my arm to pull him out when something tapped me on the shoulder. I spun around.
"Schu-kun!" I squeaked. He grinned at me, cigarette dangling haphazardly from his sensual lips. Two clingy girls were on each of his arms. I stared at them blankly and they narrowed their evil and possessed schoolgirl eyes at me. Then I wondered how he had managed to tap me when he was obviously occupied.
This wasn't good. I had completely forgot about my ride and just how crazy Schu-kun could be. My eyes darted back to Omi-kun who was staring at my bodyguard with. . .controlled rage? I frowned and looked back up at Schu-kun, who smirked not at me, but at Omi-kun. Had I missed something?
The girls suddenly fell back from his arms like a discarded robe. "Come on, Usa-chan, let's go."
"Actually, I forgot to tell you something. I'm going to the flowershop right now," I informed, suddenly backing away from his eyes gone cold. They glinted like sharp, broken glass at me.
"We're going now." He made a grab for me, but I ducked out of the way. What the hell was wrong with him? I glared.
"Usagi-chan, you know him?"
The girls had gone quiet around him, watching us with deep interest. They gave me the creeps.
"Yeah, he's my—" I stopped and stared him. He's my what? My bodyguard? An assassin and kidnapper? My favorite pervert? "—My friend."
"Your friend?" he warily questioned. The convex indigo of his eyes rippled with confusion. I started at his vacant gaze.
Heart leaping in my chest, I rounded on Schu-kun, who continued to maliciously stare at Omi-kun. Everything crashed into place. "Schuldich!" I shouted, shoving at him so that he stumbled back. His focus of concentration snapped. "Stop it!"
He grabbed my wrists painfully and squeezed. I felt the bruises blossoming around my skin, the push of bones when he gripped me. His face was a mask of wrath. I had never seen him so angry before. I was genuinely frightened.
But like that, the dark aura that had overwhelmed him dissipated and he loosened his hands until his touch was like a whisper on my skin.
"I'm sorry," he exhaled, concerned with my petrified state. "We have to go."
I wet my lips with indecision. I really wasn't sure if I wanted to go with him, nevermind that he was back to being as normal as he could be. His display had really scared me, made my heart freeze into a cold, shivering block of ice. Schu-kun didn't seem capable of being severely angry the way he had just been. I guess I didn't know him as well I wanted to.
"Usa," he said, drawing me gently towards the car.
I sighed, looking over my shoulder at Omi-kun. I wondered what he was thinking now. "Sorry, Omi-kun. Maybe another time?" I murmured softly even as I walked away from him. He nodded and let me go.
This terrible feeling clutched at me as Schu-kun drove. The car was drowning in a cold, awkward silence. It wasn't because of the earlier episode or the threatening aura that had surrounded him. I couldn't explain the feeling—it was like a sense of foreboding. My world was getting darker and darker by the minute and I was powerless to do anything about it. The apprehension grew and grew within me like a flowering weed. Its sticky and poisonous sap invaded every cell in my body, plaguing me like an infection. I felt blights shoot up across the insides of my body, inside my head, my brain, impeding the normal flow of signals that was the implication of thought and human life.
I shrank within myself. The awareness was so palpable. I could almost taste a bitter flavor in my mouth like I could taste my death.
With a weak draw of breath, I steeled myself. Whatever this something was, I would meet it head on. I had promised my parents, my family, my friends, that I would not give up. I had promised to myself that I would fight, if not for myself, then for the people who depended on me.
I repulsively swallowed back the bile that had risen to my mouth. I wasn't going down without a fight.
-----
My mood was less than agreeable. I had moped around in my room after we had returned and I was still moping around. My stomach was still being a pain in the butt and the very thought of food forced me on another trip to the bathroom. I was bored. I was cranky. I was antsy. I was ready to scream my head off. I needed to get out.
Half-heartedly, I eased my door open and peeked out. The hallway was empty on both sides. I took a breath and with all the stealth that I could gather, I slipped out into the eerily quiet world that belonged outside of my room.
I trudged along with glum and silent footsteps. I didn't feel like seeing or speaking to anyone at the moment. After Schu-kun and I had returned, I had told him that I wasn't feeling well, which wasn't a lie at all, and headed straight for my room. Schu-kun had apologized again, thinking I was still upset at the way he had acted, but I put him at ease, which was also the truth. I didn't blame him, but I still felt shitty.
I rounded a corner and ended up walking into a wall. Doused with a chilling sense of dread, I looked up to see Bradley Crawford staring at me behind perfectly proper wire-framed glasses. I stood rooted to the spot in surprise. I hardly ever saw him and he barely acknowledges my presence when we do enter each other's presences.
I wondered if he had been able to predict running into me. "Hello, Brad-san," I finally managed when I found my voice.
"Hello. Is something wrong, Miss Usagi?" he inquired. His voice was middling.
In my head, I puzzled over his question. Is something wrong? Yes. And yes. And yesyesyesyesyesyesyesyesyes. Everything is wrong. This mansion is wrong. The people I'm living with are wrong. The whole world is wrong. My life is wrong. I'm wrong.
In an intense moment of anguish, I wished fervently that Setsuna had not sealed away my foresight. I wished that I could see what people wanted with me, what I needed to do, what I was meant to do, why I was so important, why I so strong, why I was so weak, what was wrong with the world, what was wrong with me, what was wrong, what was wrong, what was wrong?
"Yes," I answered grimly, but spoke again before he could. "What does it feel like when you see the future?"
He studied me and I felt like a frog with its belly open for dissection. I felt vulnerable and exposed.
"Powerful," he whispered.
Powerful. Powerful like what? Like energized? An adrenaline rush? Invincible powerful? What kind of powerful? "What do you mean?"
"Wouldn't you feel powerful if you knew what was going to happen? I get to decide which I lives I change and which lives I don't."
"I didn't mean that. I already know that."
Brad-san frowned at me. I don't think he liked not understanding me. Not many bad guys did.
"I meant, what does it feel like the second the vision hits? Is it like a moment of euphoria? Is it a flash of surprise? I meant the very instant of it."
He answer didn't answer right away. His brown eyes flickered with disorder and then recollection. Was he confused? Because I certainly was.
"It hurts."
I was flooded with sadness. I didn't understand anything. "I'm sorry."
"You always were," he said softly.
I looked up at him, at a loss at his unanticipated comment. What did he mean by that? I had always been sorry? Had we met before? Something familiar slithered at the back of my mind, but as I was about to catch it, it bared sharp fangs at me, dripping with venom. I snatched my hand back and the creature left. I was left shaking with trepidation.
"Miss Usagi."
I turned entreating eyes upon him. Words came out of my mouth before I even had the chance to process them. "It won't let me remember."
Brad-san's lips curled sardonically. "It never does."
I reached out for him without knowing why. "Tell me."
"No."
"Why?"
"It's not time."
I pressed my lips together in an angry line. What was I saying? What did I want to know? What did he know? Frustrated, I glared at him, tears gathering in my eyes. It was all just so stupid! I didn't even know why I was crying.
His large, warm hand came up to cup my cheek. I trembled under his inviting touch.
"You'll see." He pulled away and brushed past me. I stared, insides twisted with unrest, at the dark hallway that lay before me as it shivered with mocking laughter.
"Don't you remember?" it asked, ancient shadows and spirits parading before me in a contemptuous dance.
My hair curled and uncurled around my cold body as icy fingers touched the back of my neck. I squeezed my eyes shut in a vain attempt to block them out. I didn't know anything. I didn't remember anything. "I don't know!" I screamed as I willed my legs to move. They felt as if they were glued to the ground. I was frozen. I was in a pit of quicksand and slowly sinking. I scrambled for breath and screamed again, tugging at my legs. The carpeted floor yawned, reaching with crushed velvet teeth at my feet. They stretched and I realized in horror that they were stained with blood, red, fresh, and warm. Its red pink tongue unfurled upwards and caught me around the leg.
I screamed again, voice rasping as it burned against my throat. Arms crawled around my waist and I fought blindly at my captor. I was suffocating in tears and fear. Dimly, on the edge of the darkness, I saw a liberating speck of white. In my consciousness, I scuttled towards it on my hands and knees. Save me, I whispered to it. The light pulsed and brightened and I paused.
"Usagi-chan!"
"Save me," I implored, staring into troubled blue eyes.
"It's okay, Usagi-chan. You fainted," he whispered soothingly to me. Nagi-kun knelt by me, helping me up into a sitting position.
I leaned against him, casting a fearful glance over his shoulder into the darkness that hovered beyond. "Can you turn on the light?" I requested hoarsely. Instantly, the shadows dissolved and I sagged wearily. "Thank you, Nagi-kun."
"It was nothing," he replied gently.
But it wasn't nothing, I thought as I squeezed his hand. It would never be nothing.Eh, yeah, this was a weird chapter. o_o I have no idea where it's going, lol. Also, no one has responded to my desperate cry for help with beta'ing and ideas and such. T.T I'm so depressed. At this rate, this fic is going to Hell. Someone save it. ;-;
