Hora! A longer chapter for all of you! Thanks for bothering to read!
Xabie: Me? Groan about hearing from you? Come on… I'm practically bouncing in my already tattered seat. It was SHORT? Painfully short?? Really? Well, this chappie is hopefully long enough for you!
Teh tarik: Sorry if it was too short. ^_^ I'm making up to it now! Ah, I always suspected you were not right in the head… he he he… I don't have a CLEAR idea what mereng means, but it's sort of like lunatic or crazy or mad labels. Then again, my BM is nothing to boast about.
Crazy4U: Don't worry, more Mitsui coming your way. ^_^ Erm, I've lost my RO cd. No, actually, I gave it to my younger brother for this brother. I'd forgotten to get him something so I told him that the RO cd was a RARE one and that it cost me a bomb (but it was actually free) Of course, he believed me. E-mail me and tell me what you want me to do for your Baka Studios, kay?
Mitsui_jir: Er, actually, it was the end END. As in, "that's all, folks!" if Bugs Bunny doesn't mind me stealing his famous line. Gomen ne…
Patty g: Oh, those three are coming. Don't worry. ^_^
gianhui: He he he… Thanks a lot!
Mitchy: Thanks! I'm glad I can give you a Kogure story!
Mistress of darkness: I remember you!!! Welcome back!! *hugs* He he … sorry for the uncontrollable show of girly affection. You spelled schizophrenic right, don't worry! I read about it in an article once (which actually spurned this whole fic into being), but I've forgotten most of the contents. Haih~ Nevertheless, enjoy!
Ayako opened her door and took a step back in surprise. "Whoa! There're THREE of you." Then she noticed the silent fourth party. "Oh, hello there!"
Kara looked up briefly.
Ayako shot Akagi a confused glance. "Kogure's, uh, friend," Akagi explained as accurately as he could. "Tell you more later."
"Yeah, sure," Ayako shrugged, though Akagi's tone disturbed her. "Why don't you all come in? I was just doing some furniture rearranging, and you can help me."
Mitsui groaned. "Wrong day," he muttered. "Wrong day to come visiting."
"Don't be a wimp." Ayako told him. "What's wrong with helping me every now and then?"
They trudged in, and leaving the rest, Kogure followed Ayako as she went into her kitchen for some drinks. "What's going on?" Ayako asked quietly, looking quizzically at her senior. "Who's she?"
After a brief explanation, Ayako rubbed her chin. "It's a good thing you came to me," she conceded approvingly. "And as it is, I've been cleaning out my closet and I have clothes that I was just about to give away. They're still good as new, but they don't fit me anymore. They should fit Kara just fine."
"Thank you," Kogure said earnestly.
"Sure, sure," Ayako waved it away. "There's no way you can afford to buy clothes for her anyway. You have no idea how expensive women's clothes are these days." Ayako narrowed her eyes. "Speaking of this, are you sure you can finance the two of you?"
Kogure shrugged. "I earn enough for myself, but with two, it's going to be a bit tough. I'll just stretch the budget a little bit. Once I get my apartment debts done with, I'll be able to put aside more for spending."
Ayako nodded, and smiled softly. "You're a kind man," she said affectionately. "Others would just send her off to a shelter or somewhere worse."
"She's not a stray dog or cat," Kogure reasoned, embarrassed. "And the truth is, whenever I look at her, I keep seeing her three-year-old self whom I used to bring to the playground for a bit of fun."
"Well," Ayako lifted a tray filled with cups and cakes, "she's not three years old anymore. You watch yourself."
"Eh?"
But Ayako was already heading for the living room. "All right, drinks and cakes for everyone. Now, Mitsui, you can help me lift that stereo to that corner, and Akagi, please move those couches to that end. Kogure, you can lift the TV and put it in near the window there."
She ignored the loud groans. "Kara, come on," she beckoned, "you and me, we'll have fun playing dress-up while these guys flex some muscles." Casually, she took hold of Kara's slim hand and pulled her firmly to the bedroom.
Kogure watched them go and smiled reassuringly when Kara's terrified eyes searched for his. Then when the two girls had disappeared beyond view, he turned to the other two. "Well, it's time to get to work."
"She's using us," Mitsui muttered darkly. "That's a crime."
Just then, the doorbell rang, and Akagi went to answer it. "SAKURAGI!!" he roared, "what are you doing here??"
Sakuragi blinked. "Ape-man! What are you doing here???"
"I asked you first," Akagi said darkly, "and how many times have I told you NOT TO CALL ME APE-MAN????" He was about to deliver a massive punch when another person appeared.
"Chill, Akagi. Hello, everybody."
"Miyagi!" Kogure exclaimed. "You're here too!"
"Duh," Miyagi shrugged. "I live on the upper floor, and this red-headed monkey here is – believe it or not – my roommate."
"He's here just because Ayako's here too," Sakuragi whispered.
"Sakuragi! Miyagi!" Mitsui said loudly with a broad grin. "How wonderful to see you here! You're just in time!"
"In time for what?"
"Come on in, and I'll tell you," Mitsui invited sweetly.
They had forced Sakuragi and Miyagi to do all the work, having the authority of seniors, though Kogure felt guilty halfway and helped out. When Ayako came back, Mitsui put up a convincing act of panting and wiping imaginary sweat.
"Phew!' Mitsui sighed. "That was hard work, wasn't it, Miyagi?"
Miyagi glared at him.
"Oh, Sakuragi, Miyagi, you came by too." Ayako realised. "Now the only one we're missing is Rukawa."
"Who would miss that ignorant fox jerk?" Sakuragi muttered under his breath.
"Still in the National Team, is he?" Akagi smiled wistfully. "I bet he's doing well."
All of them shrugged, except Sakuragi who continued whispering profanities to the empty air. Ayako looked around and nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad. Thank you. You must be hungry. Let me make some lunch."
"Yay! Free lunch!" Sakuragi cheered, settling himself and switching the TV on shamelessly. "And just in time for the afternoon news too!"
Akagi stared suspiciously at him. "News? You watch the news?"
"It's a stupid cartoon called 'Afternoon News'," Miyagi explained, "so don't get all impressed."
Akagi looked up to the ceiling in helplessness.
Smiling at how each and every one of them were no different from before, Kogure turned to Ayako who was already busy in the kitchen looking for instant noodles. "Where's Kara?"
"Oh, she's upstairs," Ayako assured him. "She's trying on the last batch of clothes." Ayako turned to him and her eyes twinkled. "She's delightful company."
Kogure looked surprised. "Really? She didn't talk much when she was with me."
"She's just shy, and lonely," Ayako shrugged. "She spent ten years of her life in a tiny room with only beeping machines for company, so what did you expect? She doesn't talk much unless she's talked to. You just need to do it the right way."
"That's a subtle way of saying I'm doing it all wrong." Kogure smiled.
Ayako smiled back. "No, you're just inept. She's a bit too thin," she added, "you should stuff her with anything edible the very first chance you get. And one question, what are you going to do with her when you go off to work?"
Kogure stared at her. "Oh. I haven't thought of that." He brooded on it. "Oh dear."
Ayako looked at him. "Well, as it is, I'm able to help you with that too. I won't be getting any more research assignments till next month, so I can drop by your house every other day and keep her company."
"Really? Ayako, you're a treasure."
"Sure I am, and you don't realise that often enough." She grinned at him. "I'm thinking I'll teach her how to cook, seeing she'll be spending most of her time in your apartment anyway, so she might want to do be occupied with something. Can she read?"
"I don't know," Kogure confessed. "I only met her yesterday."
"She hasn't gone to school ever since she got into the hospital, has she?"
"I … I don't know."
"Well," Ayako shrugged as she boiled noodles, "we'll find out soon enough."
Kogure lingered a little longer by the kitchen. "I really appreciate this, Ayako," he told her, "but do be careful. She's not 100% recovered yet, and I've seen her in one of her fits, and it's not something you can laugh about."
Ayako dropped in bits of vegetables and nodded. "I'll be careful," she promised, "but we should all be aware that it's not her fault. She can't control herself."
Kogure smiled briefly. "Doesn't make her any safer."
"It doesn't mean she should be treated like a criminal either."
Kogure halted in his steps and turned back. "Point taken."
"Did you, er, enjoy yourself with Ayako?" Kogure asked Kara as they made their way back to his apartment and parted from the others. Mitsui, Sakuragi and Miyagi, he learned, were heading for the nearest basketball court for a little game. Akagi had gone off to do some grocery shopping.
Kara nodded. Kogure looked at the big paper bag brimming with clothes she was carrying. "Here," he held out his hands, "let me carry that for you."
She hesitated, looking at him.
Kogure waited. "I don't mind," he said quietly and carefully, "It looks pretty heavy and we still have a long way to walk." He wondered if Kara was going into another frenzy and sighed in relief when she handed him the paper bag.
"Thank you."
There was something about her voice that made the hair on the back of his neck stand up. It wasn't really a bad feeling, but it was strange. Maybe it was because she rarely ever spoke, and that when she did, and with such a deep yet soft voice, it came as a surprise. "No problem."
They walked further and passed the row of shops along the road. Kogure decided to give another attempt at starting a conversation. "Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
Kara shook her head, her eyes looking around curiously.
"Do you know where your parents are?"
She looked briefly at him. "No."
"When was the last time you saw them?" He watched as Kara lifted her face to the sky, trying to recall. "That long, huh?" Was it possible that the Ubikis left her in the hospital on purpose? Their very own daughter? He shook his head. Of course not. There must've been a mistake.
Then he noticed that Kara's eyes had widened again, and he braced himself. No, no, not another fit here, of all places. She was trembling now, a sure sign of an upcoming explosion. "Don't –" Kogure tried. Keep asking, just keep asking questions. "Do you like the clothes that Ayako gave you?"
Kara's shoulders relaxed fractionally. "Yes," she said, thinking about the clothes. "They're very nice."
"Do you like to cook?"
She looked confused. "I – I don't know how to cook."
"Well, that's okay, because Ayako will be coming tomorrow to teach you."
She blinked, but didn't reply.
"I'll have to go to work tomorrow," Kogure went on, seeing she was okay and that all traces of unstableness had disappeared. "I'm an accountant, and I work for the Gogokuwa Trading. It's quite far from here, actually, so I go by train. Maybe someday I'll show you where I work?"
She nodded.
"Anyway, I won't be home until after dusk, so Ayako will keep you company. She's excited to spend some time with you."
Kara looked at him sharply, eyes wide in surprise and astonishment. "R-really?"
Kogure nodded. "Yeah, really. She really likes you. Why do you look so surprised?"
She shook her head quickly and looked away. "I – I never –"
Kogure looked understandingly at her. "It must've been very lonely in the hospital," he murmured, "but don't worry. You're got friends now. Ayako, Akagi, Mitsui, Miyagi and Sakuragi – they're all your friends. Did you see Sakuragi's mouth drop open when you came back to the living room? I think his jaw reached the floor. He thinks you're very pretty, and that's saying something because Sakuragi has eyes only for Haruko, Akagi's sister," he smiled down at her. "And of course, I'm already your friend. Do you remember that we used to build castles in the sandbox?"
Kara lowered her head and shook it.
"That's okay. To be truthful, that's the only thing I remember. We haven't seen each other for a long time – Kara?? Why are you crying?"
Tears were dropping from her eyes straight down to the ground. "I – I don't know," she stammered. "I can't – I can't control them – I –I'm sorry…" She lowered her head even further.
Kogure froze at the sight of a woman's tears. He had no idea what to do when they poured out. "Er… look, do you know how to read?"
Kara nodded, desperately trying to quench the tears away. "Yes. I read sometimes. They have books at the hospital…"
"That's good, because just right around that corner," Kogure pointed, talking fast now, "there's a bookstore. Would you like me to buy you a book to read at home?"
It seemed he'd said something wrong again because the tears came even harder.
"Home," Kara murmured, fighting against tears she couldn't stop. "My home?"
Kogure stared at her. "Well, home would be my apartment. I… I don't know where your home is."
"I don't think … I don't think I've ever had one." Her breath caught, and her shoulders shook hard. Hysteria bubbled up her throat.
Kogure took hold of her shoulders and steadied it. "Come on, let's go buy a book," he said pleadingly, "any story you like, okay? Then I can make some chocolate drink and you can read by the window."
He watched her struggle to control herself. Gradually, her sobs softened and she wiped the last of the watery droplets on her face away. "Okay," he murmured, glad. He lifted her chin up and impulsively helped her clean her drenched face. "Let's go buy a book now, all right?"
She watched his face as he clumsily dabbed at her face with his handkerchief, and for a moment felt something stir in her memory. In a flash, she saw the face of Kogure's seven-year-old-self bending over her. And then it was gone, and it never came again.
