Disclaimer: I do not own Hana Yori Dango
Chapter 6: Broken
Tsukushi got home Friday afternoon from her day job at the clothing store looking forward to a long soak in the tub, after which she planned to spend the whole evening pigging out on junk food and ice cream in front of the TV.
As she sank into the warm bubbly water made fragrant by the bath salts she sprinkled, she sighed in contentment and thought of the long weekend ahead of her. Thanks to Kazuya and her short singing stint at the club, she had tonight and tomorrow off in addition to Sunday, during which Frenzy remained closed.
Ah, this is the life, she thought to herself as she stretched languidly in the bath.
She stayed submerged for as long as possible in the tub until she felt the water growing tepid and her skin getting all pruny. It was very rare that she got a chance to enjoy such a luxury. Usually she only had time for a quick shower after she got home from the store before having to leave again for her work at the club.
Tsukushi turned on the TV in her room and rummaged through her closet for something comfortable to wear. She was about to leave the room to get food from her kitchen when something she heard on the evening news stopped her cold in her tracks.
". . . identified as Oribe Junpei, according to a driver's license found on the body at the scene of the crime. Investigators suspect a botched drug deal could have led to the murder. Witnesses said. . ."
Tsukushi felt her knees grow weak and fell into a crumpled heap on her bedroom floor. Shivers ran down her spine and soon she found herself shaking uncontrollably at the news she just heard.
Junpei's body was discovered dumped in a trash bin earlier that day. It was in a seedy section of town notorious for being frequented by drug dealers and users alike, so the police were probably correct in their assumption that he had been killed because of a drug deal gone bad. His throat had been slit and he had already been dead for several hours before his body was discovered.
And to think she was face to face with him exactly a week ago! Tsukushi realized that maybe his leaving her wasn't such a bad thing after all. She shuddered at the thought of being married to a junkie. She was glad she had gotten over whatever feelings she had had for him. Oh yes, she was definitely over him. If she ever had any doubts about that, last week's unexpected meeting confirmed that knowledge.
She couldn't even feel a semblance of grief in knowing that the first and only man she had ever loved was now dead. The most she could feel was a deep regret that now that he was gone, she would never get back the money he had stolen from her.
But even greater than the money, he had robbed her of something more essential. He had taken away her ability to trust and believe in the inherent good of people in general. Kazuya and Yuki were the only two people she had formed close friendships with ever since she dropped out of school. Apart from them, she kept all her other relationships superficial. It was better that way. She figured, the less people she trusted, the less chance she had of getting hurt again. She politely but firmly turned down guys who asked her out on dates because she had decided that there was no room in her life for romance. Having had her heart broken once was lesson enough for her. Shame on her if she allowed it to happen again.
Aside from the regret, there was anger. Anger at Junpei for making her the broken girl she was today. Anger at herself for allowing him into her life in the first place.
If only she hadn't met him, she'd be a college graduate by now, probably with a great job and making her mark in the business world.
If only she hadn't fallen in love with him, she wouldn't be the cold, cynical person she was today.
If only she wasn't stupid enough to fall for his lies, she wouldn't be burdened by the knowledge that she had let her parents down.
So many if only's.
Tsukushi rose from the floor and made her way to the bed. She could feel the beginnings of a massive headache coming on. She lay down and massaged her temples as she waited for sleep to claim her. Her last conscious thought before falling off into oblivion was
If only I weren't so broken. . .
**********************
A/N: Okay, that's about as much angst as I could squeeze out of my fried little brain. Finally, retribution comes to Junpei! Hey, the dude had it coming.
XxSwtDreamerxX1: Thanks! I hope you had a great holiday season too.
Invisible Rain: Yay, a new reader! Hi and welcome! Thanks for taking the time to post a review.
Sailor Angie: Hi! Thanks for the words of encouragement. Helps me want to write better. Got to warn you though. Tsukasa might not appear for the next couple of chapters yet as I haven't thought up the next scene with him. But who knows, I might think up something for him soon. ^_^ Just hope you keep on reading.
ToinKs: Happy new year to you too! Hope you enjoyed your 8-day getaway.
'Til the next update, ciao!
Chapter 6: Broken
Tsukushi got home Friday afternoon from her day job at the clothing store looking forward to a long soak in the tub, after which she planned to spend the whole evening pigging out on junk food and ice cream in front of the TV.
As she sank into the warm bubbly water made fragrant by the bath salts she sprinkled, she sighed in contentment and thought of the long weekend ahead of her. Thanks to Kazuya and her short singing stint at the club, she had tonight and tomorrow off in addition to Sunday, during which Frenzy remained closed.
Ah, this is the life, she thought to herself as she stretched languidly in the bath.
She stayed submerged for as long as possible in the tub until she felt the water growing tepid and her skin getting all pruny. It was very rare that she got a chance to enjoy such a luxury. Usually she only had time for a quick shower after she got home from the store before having to leave again for her work at the club.
Tsukushi turned on the TV in her room and rummaged through her closet for something comfortable to wear. She was about to leave the room to get food from her kitchen when something she heard on the evening news stopped her cold in her tracks.
". . . identified as Oribe Junpei, according to a driver's license found on the body at the scene of the crime. Investigators suspect a botched drug deal could have led to the murder. Witnesses said. . ."
Tsukushi felt her knees grow weak and fell into a crumpled heap on her bedroom floor. Shivers ran down her spine and soon she found herself shaking uncontrollably at the news she just heard.
Junpei's body was discovered dumped in a trash bin earlier that day. It was in a seedy section of town notorious for being frequented by drug dealers and users alike, so the police were probably correct in their assumption that he had been killed because of a drug deal gone bad. His throat had been slit and he had already been dead for several hours before his body was discovered.
And to think she was face to face with him exactly a week ago! Tsukushi realized that maybe his leaving her wasn't such a bad thing after all. She shuddered at the thought of being married to a junkie. She was glad she had gotten over whatever feelings she had had for him. Oh yes, she was definitely over him. If she ever had any doubts about that, last week's unexpected meeting confirmed that knowledge.
She couldn't even feel a semblance of grief in knowing that the first and only man she had ever loved was now dead. The most she could feel was a deep regret that now that he was gone, she would never get back the money he had stolen from her.
But even greater than the money, he had robbed her of something more essential. He had taken away her ability to trust and believe in the inherent good of people in general. Kazuya and Yuki were the only two people she had formed close friendships with ever since she dropped out of school. Apart from them, she kept all her other relationships superficial. It was better that way. She figured, the less people she trusted, the less chance she had of getting hurt again. She politely but firmly turned down guys who asked her out on dates because she had decided that there was no room in her life for romance. Having had her heart broken once was lesson enough for her. Shame on her if she allowed it to happen again.
Aside from the regret, there was anger. Anger at Junpei for making her the broken girl she was today. Anger at herself for allowing him into her life in the first place.
If only she hadn't met him, she'd be a college graduate by now, probably with a great job and making her mark in the business world.
If only she hadn't fallen in love with him, she wouldn't be the cold, cynical person she was today.
If only she wasn't stupid enough to fall for his lies, she wouldn't be burdened by the knowledge that she had let her parents down.
So many if only's.
Tsukushi rose from the floor and made her way to the bed. She could feel the beginnings of a massive headache coming on. She lay down and massaged her temples as she waited for sleep to claim her. Her last conscious thought before falling off into oblivion was
If only I weren't so broken. . .
**********************
A/N: Okay, that's about as much angst as I could squeeze out of my fried little brain. Finally, retribution comes to Junpei! Hey, the dude had it coming.
XxSwtDreamerxX1: Thanks! I hope you had a great holiday season too.
Invisible Rain: Yay, a new reader! Hi and welcome! Thanks for taking the time to post a review.
Sailor Angie: Hi! Thanks for the words of encouragement. Helps me want to write better. Got to warn you though. Tsukasa might not appear for the next couple of chapters yet as I haven't thought up the next scene with him. But who knows, I might think up something for him soon. ^_^ Just hope you keep on reading.
ToinKs: Happy new year to you too! Hope you enjoyed your 8-day getaway.
'Til the next update, ciao!