To Live a Life of Ridicule
by Satosh1

Chapter 2: A Solemn Act

A/N: I might be overstepping the boundaries of the PG-13 rating, so please inform me if this story is.

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The gun fired with a thunderous roar.

And yet, she still lives.

'...Was this an act of God?'

'Has "He" willed this to happen?'

'No.'

Opening her eyes, Ritsuko noticed a blurred image of what seemed like a tall, well-built person in a dark-blue jacket. Carefully wiping her tears away, she looked closer, seeing a man holding her in a soft embrace. She would've not been of this world if the person hadn't pushed the pistol away from her forehead as quickly as he did. The gun was simply thrown onto the ground, away from their view.

With concern and sympathy, the man spoke in whisper with a low tone of voice;

"Hey... next time watch where you're going... alright?"

With some confusion, Ritsuko glanced over the young man's face. She realized it being the same man she knocked over in the bar earlier. And to that realization, she overflowed with sorrow and disgust for having been saved by a man she had never apologized to, both for knocking him over, and for burdening him of such a situation. Ritsuko fainted in his arms unwillingly but in a peaceful manner. She was glad to still be alive.

The man lifted her legs up with his other arm, and gently carried her off to a nearby apartment.

It was morning. The sun had already shown its sparkle towards the whole city, with beautifully shaped clouds prancing by within a tranquil, cerulean surrounding. Birds were dancing around the clouds with their elegant chirps and singing. Trees were overshadowing the towering skyscrapers as if to engulf them. The outside was wonderful and full of a quiet nature, and it felt like one of the most peaceful days of the world.

Light peered through the porch window of the three-story apartment, hitting Ritsuko's eyes in her discomfiture. Annoyed, she covered the invading brightness with the blanket that was on top of her. Minutes later, she smelled something particularly alluring which triggered her sensible hunger. Taking the blanket off her face and glancing around with a squint, she suddenly recalled the dreadful day earlier and immediately propped up in fear of where she was.

"Hi beautiful... you want something to eat?"

Following the voice, she noticed the same man who saved her, holding a pan and frying eggs for the morning breakfast. The man skillfully spun the eggs around and carefully sprinkled salt and poured a bit of soy sauce onto them, which only enticed Ritsuko's hunger.

Ritsuko scratched an itchy sensation under her shirt. Feeling a sticker of some sort, she lifted her shirt up and noticed all of her wounds earlier from the children had all been taken care of with bandages and medicinal gels including the ones on her face and legs. Her hair was carefully cleaned up from its junky premise, and she no longer felt the continuing aura of hatred she had always felt around people.

To have met such a man with a compassion and sympathy, Ritsuko felt undeserving and winced with disgust upon herself.

"Aww come on, don't give yourself such a saddening look, it ruins your lovely presence."

The man slid the already cooked eggs onto a plate and offered Ritsuko some as he placed it along with a glass of water onto the opposite side of where he was seated, as his breakfast was already prepared even if it was only a bowl of cereal.

Ritsuko slowly pushed herself off the bed and inched towards the table, a little drained of energy and slightly dehydrated. Taking a seat, she immediately grabbed the fork and started filling her face with eggs as if she had been starving for a week.

"Whoa, slow down there... you might choke on them..."

Looking upwards and with a mouth full of eggs, she slightly smiled in embarrassment and then grabbed the glass of water to wash it down. It was the best-tasting eggs she had in awhile, and it seemed like the soy sauce was the one that hit the spot of her taste buds.

"So... what's your name?"

Ritsuko gave a surprised look. Usually everyone knows and recognizes her as the child of Dr. Akagi with the "despised daughter's name, Ritsuko Akagi" which was publicized all over the country along with numerous biased articles in newspapers and magazines of her and her mother. All of them saying how horrible her mother's research is, and how she was a monstrosity of a daughter. She answered with an unwavering voice.

"I... I'm Ritsuko."

She didn't want to give up her last name in fear that this person would become less compassionate as he was before.

"Mine is Kaji. Ritsuko is a beautiful name, one that's very fitting for you."

Of course Ritsuko didn't believe this herself. She despised her own name even though she wouldn't ever change it for anything simply because it was given by her mother. Saying so, she despised her own beliefs. Ritsuko began to wonder if Kaji even knew who she truly was. She convinced herself that if Kaji had known her reputation, he wouldn't have saved her from her attempt at death. She sulked, enough to capture Kaji's notice.

"Why give out such a worrisome face?"

Not knowing what to say or just not feeling talkative, Ritsuko simply ignored his question and began eating her eggs... her actions noticeably covering the truth. Kaji seemed to understand and started to eat his bowl of cereal.

In time, they both finished their meal together. Kaji noticed Ritsuko's empty plate and glass, and grabbed it along with his to add to his dishes in the sink. Ritsuko pushed out of her seat and walked towards the porch of the apartment, stepping outside and peering into the city of towering buildings with her arms leaning against the balcony.

She began to doubt Kaji and his intentions, thinking that the usual man just doesn't become caring and offer such compassion towards someone he barely even knows without an incentive. Her doubts led her to believe the worst of situations, thinking of only the most horrible and never anything pleasant. Rape, abduction, murder, these were the only thoughts she had in her mind. Fearing for her life, she gave out a slight trembling and started contemplating a way to get out of the apartment without notice.

Suddenly panicking through the whole situation, Ritsuko turned around swiftly and darted across the room and into the entry door. Kaji dropping a glass onto the floor while witnessing the unusual act Ritsuko had done, gave chase with the soap still clinging onto his hands.

Ritsuko fearfully and with a constant shaking, unlocked the door and ran as fast as she can downstairs and out of the building itself.

She's running yet again, reminding her of the day before which gave herself a painful gesture... running away from something that could potentially be even worse than suicide. Ritsuko had no idea what to do, but only to run away as far as she can from the building. This, instead of running with tears and with the intent on taking her own life, it would be replaced with the fear of her life being taken by someone else in the most horrible of manners.

Hearing a loud pounding of footsteps from behind, Ritsuko turned around and saw Kaji closing in on her. She dashed harder in hopes to lose him.

With utter confusion on what was happening, Kaji yelled for an answer.

"Hey!! Where are you going!? What the hell happened to you?!"

No response. Ritsuko kept at her actions, distancing herself from Kaji however she can, but fatigue began to bestow her. She noticeably slowed down and yet struggled to keep her normal pacing. Glancing back only to see Kaji even closer than before, she forced herself to attain a faster speed... but to no avail. Kaji was well close enough to grab her by the arm, and he did. It stopped Ritsuko on her tracks and forced her to turn around and hit Kaji's chest roughly, which also made Kaji hold her in his arms in order to gain some balance between the two.

Pushing away from Kaji with disgust and total anger as she fell onto the ground, she yelled hard enough to have a strong cackle in her wordings;

"DON'T TOUCH ME... YOU CREEP!!"

Kaji was still confused. With a hesitant and quiet voice he uttered;

"Ritsuko... it's alright..."

Interrupted, Ritsuko yelled yet again while slowly inching away from Kaji's reach;

"I KNOW WHAT YOU WERE PLANNING, YOU WERE GOING TO TIE ME DOWN AND RAPE ME WHEN I LEAST EXPECTED IT, RIGHT!?"

"WELL I WAS SMART ENOUGH TO CATCH ONTO YOUR PLAN, YOU SICK PERVERT!"

Kaji inexplicably laughed at the notion. Ritsuko was in a perplexity as she was idle on the ground, staring at Kaji with an eyebrow upwards. Still with a chuckle, he calmly answered;

"Ritsuko... you don't have to worry about me. I'm not one of those people. I simply didn't want to see someone take their own life away."

Ritsuko felt a bit embarrassed, but convinced of the proof she had, she attempted to tell Kaji every doubt she had without such a yelling vocal.

"Everyone knows who I am! Everyone knows my mother's reputation! How can you be the only one to not know about it?"

Kaji did know about it, but to withhold such a painful knowing was what he thought was best. Apparently it wasn't.

"I do know of your reputation, I just don't believe in hating someone simply because of their mother's endeavors."

Ritsuko stood up with blushing red cheeks. She looked away as not to give notice to Kaji who was staring at her. Dusting her clothes off, she observed herself to see and tend to any wounds she might've had. She felt like an idiot to be so paranoid and unappreciative towards Kaji's previously kind gestures and the offer of sanctuary, and felt that she had to say something to apologize.

Glancing at Kaji and then looking back onto the ground with a tiresome sigh and slumping her legs, Ritsuko spoke with a sorrowful tone;

"I... I apologize for doing something so... foolish... and for accusing you of something so terrible..."

"I... just don't trust anyone anymore... with all the hate and ridicule that bestows upon me... I didn't want to live after that moment in the bar..."

Kaji stared at her with a sympathetic notion. He said nothing as he noticed Ritsuko following it up with more... as gradual tears formed in her eyes.

"Maybe I ran because... I had never experienced such kindness from a person before... I was scared... and I ran away because of that..."

"I just wanted to say... thank you... for saving my life..."

Ritsuko was now crying, and in deep sympathy... Kaji grabbed and pulled her onto his chest and embraced her in a loving way. She clutched onto him and they embraced even more, Ritsuko feeling a sensation she had never felt before.

Lifting her head up, she asked in a sweet tone while in what would now be tears of happiness;

"Please... just kiss me... I need you here with me..."

Kaji acknowledged the request, clutching Ritsuko and touching his lips with hers giving each other a sweet, affectionate kiss. In the provoked yet otherwise soothing moment, Ritsuko burned and threw away every one of her problems throughout, and she was finally rid of the pain from the constant ridicule she receives and had received every day of her life. All her troubles were utterly diminished through that single, beautiful embrace.

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dekiru...