To Go, Please.
Hello all! Be ready to be confused, deeply confused. And
if you're not confused then CONRGRATS! But, unfortunately, your
time will come, as well. :D
And I don't know about you guys, but I hate when a sleep over
ends on a bad note...but I had to do it anyways! So suck it up
like I did, and enjoy chapter 5: "To My Aid".
"The longest day that God appoints
Will finish with the sun.
Anguish can travel to its stake,
And then it must return."
--Emily Dickinson
TO GO PLEASE
Chapter 5: "To My Aid"
Rating: PG13
E-mail: adrial06yahoo.com
In that instant my body froze up as if I had unleashed
a shine-aqua illusion internally. I was completely helpless,
caught red-handed (literally), and shaking with utter mortification.
I barely heard him ask the question, and if I had any
clue as to how to reply I couldn't have voiced it. My lips
were pursed together and I just stood there...staring.
After what seemed like hours, he repeated the question
and cracked the ice sculpture that was my body.
Heat flowed to my face and my head pounded mercilessly.
Oh my gosh--he has no shirt on.
No time for staring, Baka!
I felt my lips thaw and knew I had to respond or he'd
probably call the police.
"Uh-I...the thing is-no-you see, it was just a-I didn't
mean...what I mean is--" I handle humiliation like Usagi handles
pop quizzes.
I was about to turn and flee to the ends of the earth
but at that moment the Gods decided to shed their light on
the scene. Better late than never, ne?
"Ami-chan! You baka, heh heh heh," Makoto rushed to
my aid, "I told you not to drink all those wine coolers."
She tsked motherly, and I managed to glare daggers at her.
"Sorry about that, er, Zach, is it? Yeah, didn't
mean to disturb your sleep. I'll just take my friend,"
She tugged my arm and pretended to be helping me stand,
"And we'll be on our way."
"Come on, Ames, let's go get you some bread, OK,
and maybe some nice hot coffee-UH, NO! Not coffee how
about some...let's go!" I didn't have time to resist as
she slung me around and down the porch steps. I managed
to catch a glimpse of three more heads popping up
beside Zach through the door way.
Humiliation couldn't begin to describe it.
With another fierce tug, I was dragged off by
Makoto, past the chalk message, through the steel gates,
and down the sidewalk, all the while hanging on her arm
like a rag doll.
She screeched to a halt as we rounded the corner
of his street. The remaining three were staring at their
toes, obviously trying not to look at me. I wasn't sure
whether to hug Makoto fiercely and thank her a million
times over, or freeze her into a Jovian ice sculpture.
For a long, tense moment we all stood silent. Within
my brain, my emotions were having a field day. The levels
of humilation and anger threatened to exceed their maximum
capacities. My eyes were closed tight, and I leaned against
the wall of the building we were standing in front of.
In my stupor, I heaved my body from its resting
position and began to walk back to the temple.
I didn't remember the rest of them following or if
they even said anything at all. I kept my unblinking
gaze on the road before me and just walked.
My emotions brewed and bubbled turbulently, and
had they not been so intensely mind-numbing, I might
have acted on them.
Instantly--or so it seemed--I stood in front of
my futon in Rei's room and collapsed on to it with a dull 'Thump'.
Without thinking, I grabbed a thick pillow,
buried my head deep within it and let out a piercing
scream/groan that lasted for at least ten seconds before
I sucked in a large gulp of air and began breathing heavily.
"A-Ami-chan? I know it doesn't help or anything, but
I am so sorry. I never should have given you that dare."
Usagi's words were thick with regret and sympathy, but in
my current state I couldn't register her genuine concern.
I remained silent and after they all voiced their
apologies, the light flicked off, and I heard them crawl
into their beds. Our party was over.
For a while, I desperately fought humiliated tears
and slipped away into a dreamless state of sleep.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Reluctantly, my eyes cracked open only to snap shut
again against the burning light of the sun flooding the room.
Last night was a dream. I was only dreaming. Only
a dream. Only a dream.
I pulled the covers off of my body and crept off the
bed and into the bathroom. My hands felt grimy and dirty
and when I turned on the faucet to wash them I silently
wondered where the pinkish-red gunk beneath my finger nails
had accumulated from.
I raised one hand to my face, and the dull scent of
chalk wafted to my nose.
"Ugh, this can not be happening to me." I gripped
the sink and stared at my jeans and sweat-shirt. It hadn't
been a dream. It was never a dream.
I harshly scrubbed my hands until they were free of
filth and reached for my tooth brush.
Five minutes later, I emerged slightly refreshed and
smelled breakfast cooking. All three futons were empty and
I could hear muffled voices through the thin walls.
I changed into my pajama pants feeling the need to be
in comfy clothing at the moment.
This is going to be a bad day.
Padding across the hallway, I followed my nose to the
kitchen where Makoto was standing by the stove stirring what
would undoubtedly be our breakfast. Rei, Usagi, and Minako
were gulping down orange juice and muffins at the kitchen table.
Everyone froze when they saw me and waited for me to speak.
"Good morning, Minna-chan," I pulled out a seat and
plopped down in it, reaching for a glass of juice.
This is what I'll do. I'll just pretend it didn't
happen and everything will be OK.
"Uh, Ami-chan? Are you feeling alright?" Minako's
gentle eyes gazed at me quizzically.
"Of course I am, Minako. Why wouldn't I be?" My smile
was transparent and obviously fake because they still eyed
me curiously.
"Rei, could you pass me a muffin, please?" I held out
my hand to her but didn't feel the warmth of a blueberry
muffin in my palm.
"Ami-chan, I know what you're doing, and bottling it
all up is not going to change anything," Rei stared at me intently.
I managed a sunny smile and replied, "I honestly don't
know what you're talking about, Rei."
"Ami-chan, come on. We know you're upset, and we want
to help, because we know we're to blame," Usagi said.
"Usagi, what do you mean we? It was YOUR stupid
dare!" Rei glared at her over her OJ.
"You guys, come on. I'm not angry with anyone. Usagi
couldn't have known it would have turned out like that,
and I have to deal with the humiliation on my own. Right
now I am choosing to ignore it. Now, dear friends, after
all you have done for me in the past 10 hours, all I am
asking for is a MUFFIN. IS THAT TOO MUCH?!" Unbeknownst
to myself, my words had escalated in volume and by the
time I reached 'MUFFIN' I was steaming red and harshly
gripping the edges of the table.
Rei obligingly fulfilled my request, and I
roughly tore it up, placing a few pieces in my mouth
but leaving most on the table.
With a loud 'CLUNK' my head fell to the table,
and I covered it with my arms.
Minako reached over and began rubbing my back
comfortingly, and I just lay there, silent.
Eventually, I rose and thanked them for worrying
about me. I accepted their profuse apologies and said I
needed to go home to think some more. Gathering my things,
I hugged them all goodbye and descended Hiwaka's steps
hurriedly.
My shaking hands fumbled with my keys to unlock the
door, and I tore into my apartment. I ripped off my book
bag and plopped on to the couch. After a few comforting hours
of soap operas--which I never watch--I climbed into my bed.
Somehow watching the over dramatic display of emotions on
"All My Estranged Children" eased the raging storm of
feelings swirling in my head.
Groggily, I flipped over in my bed and curled deeper
into the cave of warmth I had created in my sleep.
A blanket of hazy, silver light fell across my bedroom, and
the weather report blarred from my radio which I'd left
on from earlier that afternoon.
"...all areas expect frozen roads. Ninety percent
probability for a blizzard in downtown Tokyo. This is
Wolfman with the weather for WKZ--"
I killed the annoyingly chipper voice with my
heavy hand.
I longed to sleep for another hour or so and
would have had my stomach not voiced its protests of
emptiness rather rambunctiously. I let out a tired yawn
and stretched my arms above my head eyeing my pajama bottoms.
I walked home like this?! In my self-pity
party on the way home from Rei's, I had failed to notice
my powder blue PJ's.
Sighing, I flipped on the light and combed out
the mangled mop of blue that was my hair. My ears
registered the distant sounds of water running and pots clinking.
Mom's home.
I grabbed a sweatshirt--now aware of the mild
chill permeating throughout our apartment--and slipped
it on while walking towards the kitchen.
"Hey, Mom, you're home early tonight, ne?" I sat
on a stool at our counter and folded my arms, smiling at her.
"Hai, my patient canceled on me so I have the
night off. How was your sleep-over, sweet-heart?" She
untied her apron and wiped a colony of suds off of her
cheek.
My insides deflated as I remembered the events of
the previous night. I forced a grin and swallowed the pang
of remorse.
"It was--eventful, to say the least."
I stood up and curiously sniffed at a pot on the stove.
My mother wasn't exactly Betty Crocker, but at least she tried.
"I promise it's edible, dear--just some curry and rice."
She chuckled slightly and wrapped me in a one-armed hug.
"I think I'm going to eat and then go for a walk, Mom.
That OK?" I spooned a generous amount of food on my plate and
retrieved some chopsticks.
"Sure, hon, just be back before it's too late.
The last thing I need is to see my daughter on the missing
persons list."
I knew she was only joking, but she failed to hide
the brief flash of worry that crossed over her eyes.
"Mom, don't worry. I'm a big girl now." She patted my
head softly and kissed my cheek, exiting the room.
I practically inhaled my meal and paused to wonder
if Usagi could have finished that quickly. I thought better
of challenging her to an eating contest and placed my plate in
the dishwasher.
After changing into a pair of light flared blue-jeans
and a long-sleeved shirt, I said bye to my mother and grabbed
my jacket and shoes before trudging out the door.
By the time I emerged from our building the sky was
splashed with hues of foggy blues and gray, and a shadow of
the sun's stay in the sky lingered beneath a thick cluster
of silver clouds. By my fifth step the street lights flickered
to life, earlier than usual due the over-cast skies.
Not really following any particular path, I rounded
a corner and headed in the direction of the Juuban U., my
home away from home. Half-way there, I decided to visit the
library and check out a book on Sir Isaac Newton for my physics
exam. Three more weeks and five exams remained until winter
break arrived.
I could see the stone steps that would lead me into a
vast sea of literature but stopped dead in my tracks at the
eerie silence that suddenly filled the air.
My hand automatically reached for my henshin pen, and
my senses were alert, ready to do battle with any youma
lurking about.
My steps were soft and steady, as I tried to remain
calm and collected in case any pedestrians happened to appear
and question the odd girl walking around like Jackie Chan.
Unfortunately, my eyes fell upon the ever-present
Starbucks across the street, and I couldn't help but crane
my neck to catch a glimpse of the person at the counter.
I have to talk to him and explain last night,
no matter how mortif-
"Mmff--"
Hard hands grabbed my face and pulled me backwards
roughly. I didn't have time to register what was even
occurring before another pair of hands twisted my arms
backward and dragged me away.
My lungs burned with every attempt to scream or
release my arms from the foreign hands that held them, and
shots of pain attacked my body.
I inhaled sharply when the hand covering my nose and
mouth shifted and grabbed my neck loosely. Immediately,
I wished he hadn't taken his hand from my nose as an
indescribably disgusting and foreign stench filled my
nostrils.
I kicked for a while until they anchored my legs,
too.
"Now, now, pretty little girl, we don't want you
to get hurt," His sinister voice filled my ears and I
shook with fear.
"Let me go!" I writhed in their hold and he
softly traced a line across my neck with something
thin and sharp.
"Don't move, bitch, or you'll be feeling more
than this inside you!" His words caused my adrenaline to
pump in over-drive and I silently prayed for help, hoping
that my telepathic message would reach the senshi in time.
Oh, God.
His hands felt for my pant's zipper and I tried to
kick away. I recognized the alley we were in from having
transformed in it before, but transforming would be impossible
with my henshin pen being currently tucked in my pocket
out of reach.
I could hear the tell-tale sound of a 'ziiip' and
tears trickled down my cheeks. A hand muffled my screams
once again as he fingered the hem-line of my underwear.
One of the two men felt around my shirt and lifted it up
with his grimy hands which felt scaly and calloused
on my exposed skin.
My insides churned and threatened to regurgitate
a load of curry. Pure, utter disgust coursed through
every nerve and fiber of my being, and my back shivered as
it came in contact with the icy coolness of a brick wall.
Please, God, someone help me.
I heard him undo his pants and he rubbed against me.
I could feel hands on my chest and I writhed with all my
might.
I stopped my futile attempts to escape and tried to
find an opening to attack. It came when the man had to shed
his pants and released his hold slightly on my right leg.
With all my might I jammed it into his exposed groin and
grunted as it hit its intended target, and he moaned
loudly in shock and pain.
I wasn't out of danger yet, and his partner gripped
my arms harder and cursed at me. He pinned my legs with
his own. His towering form intimidated me, and I cowered
back as he raised the knife to my neck again.
The victim of my knee rose and punched me viciously
across my left cheek. The agonizing pain spreading over my
face sent me into mild shock, and I was close to fainting.
As I reached the brink of unconsciousness, I tasted
blood in my mouth and let my head go limp. I could feel
him advancing on me. Senshi...please...
I used up my final hope. If the senshi didn't get
my message, it was over. My vision blurred and their voices
merged together in muffled dialogue.
Before I succombed to the abyss of darkness lurking
behind me, my vision exploded in a burning blue light that
made my body quake with an unknown emotion and my heartbeat
trob in my chest. As soon as the foreign sensation came, it
dissolved into the frigid night air surrounding me, and my
body buzzed slightly.
"...alright, didja catcha that light? She's nearly there;
now we'll let Myor-"
Fearing the worst, I felt his hands move and loud
grunts. I thought for a moment that he had entered my body
and I was too delirious to feel it.
When my arms were let go and my legs unpinned, I
knew something had either gone terribly wrong or extremely
right. I opened my clamped eyes and saw a mass of arms and
legs, kicking and punching. I could make out the top of
one of the heads through the blur of flailing body parts.
Blonde. I thought. Another face, unfamiliar to
my frightened eyes, was also amid the scuffle.
My arms were throbbing madly, but the pain on my
face practically trippled that amount.
I stood, gaping at the scene before me. I knew I had
to help them somehow; my attackers were quickly gaining the
upper hand. I forced my body to forget the throbbing pain
and searched for a weapon. My eyes landed on a discarded
load of garbage, and I rummaged for anything to use as a
weapon.
Poking out underneath a slab of cardboard was a
rectangular box, and I didn't bother to see what it was. As
long as it was big, heavy, and capable of doing bodily harm,
I had nothing to complain about.
Armed, I thrust it at the man responsible for the
throbbing of my face and with every ounce of strength, brought
it down on his neck. His hold on Zach's arms was released
and he wriggled out of his grasp to face the other man.
I slid down the wall of the alley where only minutes
before I had been brutally assaulted and nearly raped. My hands
numbly zipped up my pants while the other man who's face I couldn't
place finished off the second man with mild difficulty.
Disheveled, panting, and bleeding slightly, Zach knelt
by my side and reached for my arm. I stared at him for a moment,
letting the river of salty tears steadily descend my cheeks and
splatter on the ground.
He gently touched my unharmed cheek and I fell against his
chest, sobbing out my pain. My lips formed 'thank you' a million
times, but they came out muffled and broken.
My senses felt a burn within my heart, and before I
could ponder it, he moved to stand, raising my with him.
"Ami, are you OK?" As he stood there dirty and lip
bleeding, I gazed at him, taking in his presence and thanking
God for answering my plea yet again. His left hand gripped
his right shoulder, and his teeth gritted in pain. I gasped
and touched it with my own.
For a moment he seemed to relax. His luminous green eyes widened.
I realized what I was doing and wretched my hand from his shoulder
and wincing when his face screwed up with pain again.
"Are you alright?" I squeaked, wondering what on earth
made me so deserving of this horrible moment. His companion,
a tall, built male with strikeningly grey eyes and almost
identical platinum blonde hair stood beside him, his face a mask
of concern. I felt utterly grateful for their presence.
He merely shrugged and told me it was nothing.
"What the hell...?"
I gasped, and Zach pushed past his friend's shocked face.
"Where'd they go?" He whipped his head around the empty
alley and cursed underneath his breath. He returned to me,
looking as if he'd been defeated all over again and gently
placed his hand on my arm.
I sniffed and wiped my face, careful of my bruised and
bleeding cheek. When he asked if I was alright again, I nodded
shakily. Swirls of black were invading my vision, and the pain
in my head became unbearable.
"I-I'm fi-," Was all I got out before I fainted, going
limp against his body.
Gentle beeps filled my ears, awaking me from a restless
slumber. I inhaled sharply and stale air swept into my lungs,
tasting mildly of medicine and anesthetics.
Hospital...I'm in the hospital. Why?
Scene by scene, my attack came charging back at me,
spilling into my vision like oil, and I clamped my eyes
shut, trying to block them out.
As they passed, I gazed at my surroundings. A stirring
form near my bed drew my attention and I took in the sight of
my mother. Stains of tears covered her cheeks and she held a
wad of tissue in her hand.
My voice cracked as I spoke, "Mo-om."
She bolted up from her half-sleeping state and rushed
to my side.
"Oh, Ami, dear! I was so worried, are you OK? I'm so
sorry, Ami-chan. I knew I shouldn't have let you go--oh, my
precious baby girl," She fought the tears as they spilled over
her lids and I lost the battle I was waging against my own.
Her hand gently brushed my unharmed cheek.
"Mom...it was so horrible...th-they wouldn't let me go
and I tried, Mom, I did--they just..wouldn't let me..go,"
I dissolved into tears in her arms, ignoring the throbbing
in my face.
After a few minutes, my tears subsided and I was able
to breathe evenly.
"Sweetie, it wasn't your fault, you couldn't have
stopped them. If it hadn't been for those boys-"
Zach.
I remembered him holding me...his bleeding
lip and shoulder...and his eyes--so worried, and his friend.
"Where are they? Where'd they go?" I twisted my head
painfully and looked around the room. Empty.
"Don't worry, darling, they're both fine. The doctor
had to clean up one of their lower lips, and bandage his
shoulder--it was only twisted--but he'll be just fine, and
the other managed to only get a bruise over his eye." She
stroked my hair.
"Can I see them? I need to see them, Mom."
"I'll send them in, Ami-chan. Are you sure you're up
for visitors? You really need to rest after s-something like..."
She wiped her eyes harshly.
"Mom, I'm OK, really," I lied. I wasn't okay.
I was beaten, tired, terrified of what happened, and aching
with the need to see Zach and find out who his nameless friend was.
She gazed at me intensely for a moment.
"Alright, sweet-heart, but not for more than
10 minutes. I want you to get plenty of rest."
With one more long glance at me and a slight
squeeze of my hand, she departed and seconds later
his form filled the doorway.
"Ami..." Zach let my name linger in the air and
slowly walked to my bedside.
"Zach...thank you--for saving me today." My cheeks
flushed and I looked away timidly.
"Ami, I-I couldn't have let them hurt you," He
grasped my hand, and I felt a wave of calm wash over me,
"I mean...we...wouldn't let them..." He trailed off.
My eyes met his in an intense gaze. I took notice
of my other savior's absence.
"Where's...where's the other guy?" I looked around,
my true motive being to get away from his alluring gaze.
He grinned, "He had an exam." He laughed slightly
and squeezed my hand.
"That's just like Kyle. The man could get hit by a
4-wheeler, have both of his arms chopped off, and bounce
right back in two seconds."
"He was here, though, before, when you were sleeping,"
He idly ran his thumb over my knuckles, completely obvlivous
to the sparks that were shooting up my arm at this gentle motion.
I smiled a small, sad smile, "I wanted to thank him, too.
I owe you guys everything."
His eyes darkened, "I'm sorry we didn't get there sooner.
Maybe this wouldn't have happened," He ran his fingers around
my cheek, barely touching its surface but enough for a pang of
pain to shoot through my face.
"Sorry," He noticed my wince.
"It doesn't matter. I don't know what would have
happened if you two hadn't have shown up when you did,"
I tried not to picture it, but it filled my vision nonetheless.
"H-How did you know?" I said softly.
"Well...actually, Kyle and I were heading home--
he needed to grab his notes for the exam and Matt had
been preaching about no one taking the garbage out--but
anyway, we passed the library and there you were...and
those two bastards," He paused to wipe a tear from my face,
his eyes filled with something acutely identical to a Rei-glare,
not directed at me, of course, but more likely the memory of
my attackers.
"If I could have, I would have killed their sorry asses
for doing that to you, Ami. You didn't deserve that, no one
deserves to go through that."
I turned my hand in his so that I was holding his
instead and squeezed.
He smiled--a smile I instantly melted at.
Crimson drowned the regular coloring of my face and
my heart sped up considerably.
"How's your shoulder doing?" I blurted, relieved to
find something to keep me from sighing loudly in happiness.
He fingered it slightly and flinched, "It hurts like
hell, actually," His rich chuckle danced with my soft laughter
in the air before dissolving into an uneasy silence.
"I-I better go now. You're probably dying to
go to sleep."
As much as every nerve in my body begged for him to stay,
I had to admit that I was fighting a losing battle against
consciousness.
"Yeah..." I returned his grin as much as my throbbing
cheek would allow, "Tell Kyle that I said thank you a million
times, and good luck on his exams."
Zach looked at me with a look of...adoration? No...couldn't be.
For a minute, I felt a pang of longing for him to envelope me
in his arms, and kiss away the pain in my face and my heart.
"Um, just one more thing, Ami-chan." He looked at me smiling,
and his tone was smug.
I nodded, urging him to go on.
"What kind of beans do you prefer?"
Huh? Instantly, I realized his meaning and gasped, feeling
the ever-present flush flood my features.
His soft chuckle lingered in the air long after he
disappeared from the door frame, and I rubbed the place he'd
kissed on my cheek before leaving.
The image of my message on his driveway floated in front
of my eyes.
'YOU CAN GRIND MY BEANS ANYTIME, COFFEE BOY!'
Ugh.
I fell back on my bed but couldn't contain a stream
of giggles caused by the mere stupidity of the words on his
driveway and the feeling of having finally talked to him.
Although, it only took a near-rape and a soft-ball sized lump
on my face to get there.
"God...what if I have to break my leg for him to kiss me?"
"What was that, dear?" My mother had just re-entered my room.
"Nothing, Mom."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Man, this chapter SUCKED, I know. But I promise promise promise
promise PROMISE that there is a reason for EVERYTHING that has gone
on so far in this fic, and that it will get a million and one times
better! :D
REVIEWS PLEASE!
adrial06yahoo.com
Hello all! Be ready to be confused, deeply confused. And
if you're not confused then CONRGRATS! But, unfortunately, your
time will come, as well. :D
And I don't know about you guys, but I hate when a sleep over
ends on a bad note...but I had to do it anyways! So suck it up
like I did, and enjoy chapter 5: "To My Aid".
"The longest day that God appoints
Will finish with the sun.
Anguish can travel to its stake,
And then it must return."
--Emily Dickinson
TO GO PLEASE
Chapter 5: "To My Aid"
Rating: PG13
E-mail: adrial06yahoo.com
In that instant my body froze up as if I had unleashed
a shine-aqua illusion internally. I was completely helpless,
caught red-handed (literally), and shaking with utter mortification.
I barely heard him ask the question, and if I had any
clue as to how to reply I couldn't have voiced it. My lips
were pursed together and I just stood there...staring.
After what seemed like hours, he repeated the question
and cracked the ice sculpture that was my body.
Heat flowed to my face and my head pounded mercilessly.
Oh my gosh--he has no shirt on.
No time for staring, Baka!
I felt my lips thaw and knew I had to respond or he'd
probably call the police.
"Uh-I...the thing is-no-you see, it was just a-I didn't
mean...what I mean is--" I handle humiliation like Usagi handles
pop quizzes.
I was about to turn and flee to the ends of the earth
but at that moment the Gods decided to shed their light on
the scene. Better late than never, ne?
"Ami-chan! You baka, heh heh heh," Makoto rushed to
my aid, "I told you not to drink all those wine coolers."
She tsked motherly, and I managed to glare daggers at her.
"Sorry about that, er, Zach, is it? Yeah, didn't
mean to disturb your sleep. I'll just take my friend,"
She tugged my arm and pretended to be helping me stand,
"And we'll be on our way."
"Come on, Ames, let's go get you some bread, OK,
and maybe some nice hot coffee-UH, NO! Not coffee how
about some...let's go!" I didn't have time to resist as
she slung me around and down the porch steps. I managed
to catch a glimpse of three more heads popping up
beside Zach through the door way.
Humiliation couldn't begin to describe it.
With another fierce tug, I was dragged off by
Makoto, past the chalk message, through the steel gates,
and down the sidewalk, all the while hanging on her arm
like a rag doll.
She screeched to a halt as we rounded the corner
of his street. The remaining three were staring at their
toes, obviously trying not to look at me. I wasn't sure
whether to hug Makoto fiercely and thank her a million
times over, or freeze her into a Jovian ice sculpture.
For a long, tense moment we all stood silent. Within
my brain, my emotions were having a field day. The levels
of humilation and anger threatened to exceed their maximum
capacities. My eyes were closed tight, and I leaned against
the wall of the building we were standing in front of.
In my stupor, I heaved my body from its resting
position and began to walk back to the temple.
I didn't remember the rest of them following or if
they even said anything at all. I kept my unblinking
gaze on the road before me and just walked.
My emotions brewed and bubbled turbulently, and
had they not been so intensely mind-numbing, I might
have acted on them.
Instantly--or so it seemed--I stood in front of
my futon in Rei's room and collapsed on to it with a dull 'Thump'.
Without thinking, I grabbed a thick pillow,
buried my head deep within it and let out a piercing
scream/groan that lasted for at least ten seconds before
I sucked in a large gulp of air and began breathing heavily.
"A-Ami-chan? I know it doesn't help or anything, but
I am so sorry. I never should have given you that dare."
Usagi's words were thick with regret and sympathy, but in
my current state I couldn't register her genuine concern.
I remained silent and after they all voiced their
apologies, the light flicked off, and I heard them crawl
into their beds. Our party was over.
For a while, I desperately fought humiliated tears
and slipped away into a dreamless state of sleep.
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
Reluctantly, my eyes cracked open only to snap shut
again against the burning light of the sun flooding the room.
Last night was a dream. I was only dreaming. Only
a dream. Only a dream.
I pulled the covers off of my body and crept off the
bed and into the bathroom. My hands felt grimy and dirty
and when I turned on the faucet to wash them I silently
wondered where the pinkish-red gunk beneath my finger nails
had accumulated from.
I raised one hand to my face, and the dull scent of
chalk wafted to my nose.
"Ugh, this can not be happening to me." I gripped
the sink and stared at my jeans and sweat-shirt. It hadn't
been a dream. It was never a dream.
I harshly scrubbed my hands until they were free of
filth and reached for my tooth brush.
Five minutes later, I emerged slightly refreshed and
smelled breakfast cooking. All three futons were empty and
I could hear muffled voices through the thin walls.
I changed into my pajama pants feeling the need to be
in comfy clothing at the moment.
This is going to be a bad day.
Padding across the hallway, I followed my nose to the
kitchen where Makoto was standing by the stove stirring what
would undoubtedly be our breakfast. Rei, Usagi, and Minako
were gulping down orange juice and muffins at the kitchen table.
Everyone froze when they saw me and waited for me to speak.
"Good morning, Minna-chan," I pulled out a seat and
plopped down in it, reaching for a glass of juice.
This is what I'll do. I'll just pretend it didn't
happen and everything will be OK.
"Uh, Ami-chan? Are you feeling alright?" Minako's
gentle eyes gazed at me quizzically.
"Of course I am, Minako. Why wouldn't I be?" My smile
was transparent and obviously fake because they still eyed
me curiously.
"Rei, could you pass me a muffin, please?" I held out
my hand to her but didn't feel the warmth of a blueberry
muffin in my palm.
"Ami-chan, I know what you're doing, and bottling it
all up is not going to change anything," Rei stared at me intently.
I managed a sunny smile and replied, "I honestly don't
know what you're talking about, Rei."
"Ami-chan, come on. We know you're upset, and we want
to help, because we know we're to blame," Usagi said.
"Usagi, what do you mean we? It was YOUR stupid
dare!" Rei glared at her over her OJ.
"You guys, come on. I'm not angry with anyone. Usagi
couldn't have known it would have turned out like that,
and I have to deal with the humiliation on my own. Right
now I am choosing to ignore it. Now, dear friends, after
all you have done for me in the past 10 hours, all I am
asking for is a MUFFIN. IS THAT TOO MUCH?!" Unbeknownst
to myself, my words had escalated in volume and by the
time I reached 'MUFFIN' I was steaming red and harshly
gripping the edges of the table.
Rei obligingly fulfilled my request, and I
roughly tore it up, placing a few pieces in my mouth
but leaving most on the table.
With a loud 'CLUNK' my head fell to the table,
and I covered it with my arms.
Minako reached over and began rubbing my back
comfortingly, and I just lay there, silent.
Eventually, I rose and thanked them for worrying
about me. I accepted their profuse apologies and said I
needed to go home to think some more. Gathering my things,
I hugged them all goodbye and descended Hiwaka's steps
hurriedly.
My shaking hands fumbled with my keys to unlock the
door, and I tore into my apartment. I ripped off my book
bag and plopped on to the couch. After a few comforting hours
of soap operas--which I never watch--I climbed into my bed.
Somehow watching the over dramatic display of emotions on
"All My Estranged Children" eased the raging storm of
feelings swirling in my head.
Groggily, I flipped over in my bed and curled deeper
into the cave of warmth I had created in my sleep.
A blanket of hazy, silver light fell across my bedroom, and
the weather report blarred from my radio which I'd left
on from earlier that afternoon.
"...all areas expect frozen roads. Ninety percent
probability for a blizzard in downtown Tokyo. This is
Wolfman with the weather for WKZ--"
I killed the annoyingly chipper voice with my
heavy hand.
I longed to sleep for another hour or so and
would have had my stomach not voiced its protests of
emptiness rather rambunctiously. I let out a tired yawn
and stretched my arms above my head eyeing my pajama bottoms.
I walked home like this?! In my self-pity
party on the way home from Rei's, I had failed to notice
my powder blue PJ's.
Sighing, I flipped on the light and combed out
the mangled mop of blue that was my hair. My ears
registered the distant sounds of water running and pots clinking.
Mom's home.
I grabbed a sweatshirt--now aware of the mild
chill permeating throughout our apartment--and slipped
it on while walking towards the kitchen.
"Hey, Mom, you're home early tonight, ne?" I sat
on a stool at our counter and folded my arms, smiling at her.
"Hai, my patient canceled on me so I have the
night off. How was your sleep-over, sweet-heart?" She
untied her apron and wiped a colony of suds off of her
cheek.
My insides deflated as I remembered the events of
the previous night. I forced a grin and swallowed the pang
of remorse.
"It was--eventful, to say the least."
I stood up and curiously sniffed at a pot on the stove.
My mother wasn't exactly Betty Crocker, but at least she tried.
"I promise it's edible, dear--just some curry and rice."
She chuckled slightly and wrapped me in a one-armed hug.
"I think I'm going to eat and then go for a walk, Mom.
That OK?" I spooned a generous amount of food on my plate and
retrieved some chopsticks.
"Sure, hon, just be back before it's too late.
The last thing I need is to see my daughter on the missing
persons list."
I knew she was only joking, but she failed to hide
the brief flash of worry that crossed over her eyes.
"Mom, don't worry. I'm a big girl now." She patted my
head softly and kissed my cheek, exiting the room.
I practically inhaled my meal and paused to wonder
if Usagi could have finished that quickly. I thought better
of challenging her to an eating contest and placed my plate in
the dishwasher.
After changing into a pair of light flared blue-jeans
and a long-sleeved shirt, I said bye to my mother and grabbed
my jacket and shoes before trudging out the door.
By the time I emerged from our building the sky was
splashed with hues of foggy blues and gray, and a shadow of
the sun's stay in the sky lingered beneath a thick cluster
of silver clouds. By my fifth step the street lights flickered
to life, earlier than usual due the over-cast skies.
Not really following any particular path, I rounded
a corner and headed in the direction of the Juuban U., my
home away from home. Half-way there, I decided to visit the
library and check out a book on Sir Isaac Newton for my physics
exam. Three more weeks and five exams remained until winter
break arrived.
I could see the stone steps that would lead me into a
vast sea of literature but stopped dead in my tracks at the
eerie silence that suddenly filled the air.
My hand automatically reached for my henshin pen, and
my senses were alert, ready to do battle with any youma
lurking about.
My steps were soft and steady, as I tried to remain
calm and collected in case any pedestrians happened to appear
and question the odd girl walking around like Jackie Chan.
Unfortunately, my eyes fell upon the ever-present
Starbucks across the street, and I couldn't help but crane
my neck to catch a glimpse of the person at the counter.
I have to talk to him and explain last night,
no matter how mortif-
"Mmff--"
Hard hands grabbed my face and pulled me backwards
roughly. I didn't have time to register what was even
occurring before another pair of hands twisted my arms
backward and dragged me away.
My lungs burned with every attempt to scream or
release my arms from the foreign hands that held them, and
shots of pain attacked my body.
I inhaled sharply when the hand covering my nose and
mouth shifted and grabbed my neck loosely. Immediately,
I wished he hadn't taken his hand from my nose as an
indescribably disgusting and foreign stench filled my
nostrils.
I kicked for a while until they anchored my legs,
too.
"Now, now, pretty little girl, we don't want you
to get hurt," His sinister voice filled my ears and I
shook with fear.
"Let me go!" I writhed in their hold and he
softly traced a line across my neck with something
thin and sharp.
"Don't move, bitch, or you'll be feeling more
than this inside you!" His words caused my adrenaline to
pump in over-drive and I silently prayed for help, hoping
that my telepathic message would reach the senshi in time.
Oh, God.
His hands felt for my pant's zipper and I tried to
kick away. I recognized the alley we were in from having
transformed in it before, but transforming would be impossible
with my henshin pen being currently tucked in my pocket
out of reach.
I could hear the tell-tale sound of a 'ziiip' and
tears trickled down my cheeks. A hand muffled my screams
once again as he fingered the hem-line of my underwear.
One of the two men felt around my shirt and lifted it up
with his grimy hands which felt scaly and calloused
on my exposed skin.
My insides churned and threatened to regurgitate
a load of curry. Pure, utter disgust coursed through
every nerve and fiber of my being, and my back shivered as
it came in contact with the icy coolness of a brick wall.
Please, God, someone help me.
I heard him undo his pants and he rubbed against me.
I could feel hands on my chest and I writhed with all my
might.
I stopped my futile attempts to escape and tried to
find an opening to attack. It came when the man had to shed
his pants and released his hold slightly on my right leg.
With all my might I jammed it into his exposed groin and
grunted as it hit its intended target, and he moaned
loudly in shock and pain.
I wasn't out of danger yet, and his partner gripped
my arms harder and cursed at me. He pinned my legs with
his own. His towering form intimidated me, and I cowered
back as he raised the knife to my neck again.
The victim of my knee rose and punched me viciously
across my left cheek. The agonizing pain spreading over my
face sent me into mild shock, and I was close to fainting.
As I reached the brink of unconsciousness, I tasted
blood in my mouth and let my head go limp. I could feel
him advancing on me. Senshi...please...
I used up my final hope. If the senshi didn't get
my message, it was over. My vision blurred and their voices
merged together in muffled dialogue.
Before I succombed to the abyss of darkness lurking
behind me, my vision exploded in a burning blue light that
made my body quake with an unknown emotion and my heartbeat
trob in my chest. As soon as the foreign sensation came, it
dissolved into the frigid night air surrounding me, and my
body buzzed slightly.
"...alright, didja catcha that light? She's nearly there;
now we'll let Myor-"
Fearing the worst, I felt his hands move and loud
grunts. I thought for a moment that he had entered my body
and I was too delirious to feel it.
When my arms were let go and my legs unpinned, I
knew something had either gone terribly wrong or extremely
right. I opened my clamped eyes and saw a mass of arms and
legs, kicking and punching. I could make out the top of
one of the heads through the blur of flailing body parts.
Blonde. I thought. Another face, unfamiliar to
my frightened eyes, was also amid the scuffle.
My arms were throbbing madly, but the pain on my
face practically trippled that amount.
I stood, gaping at the scene before me. I knew I had
to help them somehow; my attackers were quickly gaining the
upper hand. I forced my body to forget the throbbing pain
and searched for a weapon. My eyes landed on a discarded
load of garbage, and I rummaged for anything to use as a
weapon.
Poking out underneath a slab of cardboard was a
rectangular box, and I didn't bother to see what it was. As
long as it was big, heavy, and capable of doing bodily harm,
I had nothing to complain about.
Armed, I thrust it at the man responsible for the
throbbing of my face and with every ounce of strength, brought
it down on his neck. His hold on Zach's arms was released
and he wriggled out of his grasp to face the other man.
I slid down the wall of the alley where only minutes
before I had been brutally assaulted and nearly raped. My hands
numbly zipped up my pants while the other man who's face I couldn't
place finished off the second man with mild difficulty.
Disheveled, panting, and bleeding slightly, Zach knelt
by my side and reached for my arm. I stared at him for a moment,
letting the river of salty tears steadily descend my cheeks and
splatter on the ground.
He gently touched my unharmed cheek and I fell against his
chest, sobbing out my pain. My lips formed 'thank you' a million
times, but they came out muffled and broken.
My senses felt a burn within my heart, and before I
could ponder it, he moved to stand, raising my with him.
"Ami, are you OK?" As he stood there dirty and lip
bleeding, I gazed at him, taking in his presence and thanking
God for answering my plea yet again. His left hand gripped
his right shoulder, and his teeth gritted in pain. I gasped
and touched it with my own.
For a moment he seemed to relax. His luminous green eyes widened.
I realized what I was doing and wretched my hand from his shoulder
and wincing when his face screwed up with pain again.
"Are you alright?" I squeaked, wondering what on earth
made me so deserving of this horrible moment. His companion,
a tall, built male with strikeningly grey eyes and almost
identical platinum blonde hair stood beside him, his face a mask
of concern. I felt utterly grateful for their presence.
He merely shrugged and told me it was nothing.
"What the hell...?"
I gasped, and Zach pushed past his friend's shocked face.
"Where'd they go?" He whipped his head around the empty
alley and cursed underneath his breath. He returned to me,
looking as if he'd been defeated all over again and gently
placed his hand on my arm.
I sniffed and wiped my face, careful of my bruised and
bleeding cheek. When he asked if I was alright again, I nodded
shakily. Swirls of black were invading my vision, and the pain
in my head became unbearable.
"I-I'm fi-," Was all I got out before I fainted, going
limp against his body.
Gentle beeps filled my ears, awaking me from a restless
slumber. I inhaled sharply and stale air swept into my lungs,
tasting mildly of medicine and anesthetics.
Hospital...I'm in the hospital. Why?
Scene by scene, my attack came charging back at me,
spilling into my vision like oil, and I clamped my eyes
shut, trying to block them out.
As they passed, I gazed at my surroundings. A stirring
form near my bed drew my attention and I took in the sight of
my mother. Stains of tears covered her cheeks and she held a
wad of tissue in her hand.
My voice cracked as I spoke, "Mo-om."
She bolted up from her half-sleeping state and rushed
to my side.
"Oh, Ami, dear! I was so worried, are you OK? I'm so
sorry, Ami-chan. I knew I shouldn't have let you go--oh, my
precious baby girl," She fought the tears as they spilled over
her lids and I lost the battle I was waging against my own.
Her hand gently brushed my unharmed cheek.
"Mom...it was so horrible...th-they wouldn't let me go
and I tried, Mom, I did--they just..wouldn't let me..go,"
I dissolved into tears in her arms, ignoring the throbbing
in my face.
After a few minutes, my tears subsided and I was able
to breathe evenly.
"Sweetie, it wasn't your fault, you couldn't have
stopped them. If it hadn't been for those boys-"
Zach.
I remembered him holding me...his bleeding
lip and shoulder...and his eyes--so worried, and his friend.
"Where are they? Where'd they go?" I twisted my head
painfully and looked around the room. Empty.
"Don't worry, darling, they're both fine. The doctor
had to clean up one of their lower lips, and bandage his
shoulder--it was only twisted--but he'll be just fine, and
the other managed to only get a bruise over his eye." She
stroked my hair.
"Can I see them? I need to see them, Mom."
"I'll send them in, Ami-chan. Are you sure you're up
for visitors? You really need to rest after s-something like..."
She wiped her eyes harshly.
"Mom, I'm OK, really," I lied. I wasn't okay.
I was beaten, tired, terrified of what happened, and aching
with the need to see Zach and find out who his nameless friend was.
She gazed at me intensely for a moment.
"Alright, sweet-heart, but not for more than
10 minutes. I want you to get plenty of rest."
With one more long glance at me and a slight
squeeze of my hand, she departed and seconds later
his form filled the doorway.
"Ami..." Zach let my name linger in the air and
slowly walked to my bedside.
"Zach...thank you--for saving me today." My cheeks
flushed and I looked away timidly.
"Ami, I-I couldn't have let them hurt you," He
grasped my hand, and I felt a wave of calm wash over me,
"I mean...we...wouldn't let them..." He trailed off.
My eyes met his in an intense gaze. I took notice
of my other savior's absence.
"Where's...where's the other guy?" I looked around,
my true motive being to get away from his alluring gaze.
He grinned, "He had an exam." He laughed slightly
and squeezed my hand.
"That's just like Kyle. The man could get hit by a
4-wheeler, have both of his arms chopped off, and bounce
right back in two seconds."
"He was here, though, before, when you were sleeping,"
He idly ran his thumb over my knuckles, completely obvlivous
to the sparks that were shooting up my arm at this gentle motion.
I smiled a small, sad smile, "I wanted to thank him, too.
I owe you guys everything."
His eyes darkened, "I'm sorry we didn't get there sooner.
Maybe this wouldn't have happened," He ran his fingers around
my cheek, barely touching its surface but enough for a pang of
pain to shoot through my face.
"Sorry," He noticed my wince.
"It doesn't matter. I don't know what would have
happened if you two hadn't have shown up when you did,"
I tried not to picture it, but it filled my vision nonetheless.
"H-How did you know?" I said softly.
"Well...actually, Kyle and I were heading home--
he needed to grab his notes for the exam and Matt had
been preaching about no one taking the garbage out--but
anyway, we passed the library and there you were...and
those two bastards," He paused to wipe a tear from my face,
his eyes filled with something acutely identical to a Rei-glare,
not directed at me, of course, but more likely the memory of
my attackers.
"If I could have, I would have killed their sorry asses
for doing that to you, Ami. You didn't deserve that, no one
deserves to go through that."
I turned my hand in his so that I was holding his
instead and squeezed.
He smiled--a smile I instantly melted at.
Crimson drowned the regular coloring of my face and
my heart sped up considerably.
"How's your shoulder doing?" I blurted, relieved to
find something to keep me from sighing loudly in happiness.
He fingered it slightly and flinched, "It hurts like
hell, actually," His rich chuckle danced with my soft laughter
in the air before dissolving into an uneasy silence.
"I-I better go now. You're probably dying to
go to sleep."
As much as every nerve in my body begged for him to stay,
I had to admit that I was fighting a losing battle against
consciousness.
"Yeah..." I returned his grin as much as my throbbing
cheek would allow, "Tell Kyle that I said thank you a million
times, and good luck on his exams."
Zach looked at me with a look of...adoration? No...couldn't be.
For a minute, I felt a pang of longing for him to envelope me
in his arms, and kiss away the pain in my face and my heart.
"Um, just one more thing, Ami-chan." He looked at me smiling,
and his tone was smug.
I nodded, urging him to go on.
"What kind of beans do you prefer?"
Huh? Instantly, I realized his meaning and gasped, feeling
the ever-present flush flood my features.
His soft chuckle lingered in the air long after he
disappeared from the door frame, and I rubbed the place he'd
kissed on my cheek before leaving.
The image of my message on his driveway floated in front
of my eyes.
'YOU CAN GRIND MY BEANS ANYTIME, COFFEE BOY!'
Ugh.
I fell back on my bed but couldn't contain a stream
of giggles caused by the mere stupidity of the words on his
driveway and the feeling of having finally talked to him.
Although, it only took a near-rape and a soft-ball sized lump
on my face to get there.
"God...what if I have to break my leg for him to kiss me?"
"What was that, dear?" My mother had just re-entered my room.
"Nothing, Mom."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Man, this chapter SUCKED, I know. But I promise promise promise
promise PROMISE that there is a reason for EVERYTHING that has gone
on so far in this fic, and that it will get a million and one times
better! :D
REVIEWS PLEASE!
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