Chapter 2, if you can call it that…
AN: Well first off… I only got two reviews so far which is to be expected since the summery is annoyingly boring and nobody'd actually read this fic soo… anyway… off we go to continue the adventure…
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Yukio dragged me into his room, finally letting go of my wrist… You want to take a bath…?", he asked. I nodded, "Sure I need to clean up anyway." "Okay, so you have anything clean you can wear while we wash those?", he asked me casually, indicating my clothes. I noticed that his hands were still clenched tightly in a fist, probably from being annoyed by his granddad but for some reason I could see no other outward signs of his annoyance. I shook my head slightly. Outside the rain finally started to fall and a sharp clap of thunder startled me. 'Think warrior!', I chided myself, 'You're not a wimpy little girl, you're the protector!' I blinked as an oversized t-shirt suddenly hit my in the face. "You can take a bath downstairs to the right… Grandpa should've filled the furo by now.", stated Yukio. I nodded a little and headed out of the room. "There's soap and shampoo next to the furo, feel free to use them!", he called after me.
As I took the first step down the stairs I paused, studying the texture of the wood and the thin layer of dust that was piling on the banister. I continued to the dressing room and looked at my image in the mirror as I entered… There was the little girl again… the same face I'd seen over and over in the past year… it wasn't my face… The short cropped blue hair danced around my head as I stared at the image. It seemed somewhat surreal to me… like a face from a dream… or a nightmare. I've always tell myself that I don't regret my decision to become the protector but first with Ranma, and now here… I'm getting the feeling that I need to belong somewhere. I can't keep running… I need to make a stand sometime or my life will never be a shade of normal again. Of course the term 'normal' being used loosely here... I walked forwards and rested my forehead against the cool glass, staring deeply into my own eyes. There… I saw only a little kid, a scared little kid with no direction. I placed my hand against the mirror and roughly pushed myself away.
'I'm a warrior damnit!', I cried mentally though my resolve was wavering… I looked down at my wrist and saw the slight bruise that was developing there… 'I am, right?', I asked… 'Am I really? A normal eleven year old boy can hurt me… and I'm a crybaby… Argh! What's wrong with me! Why can't I just choose a personality and stick with it!' But I already knew the answer… I couldn't throw away my feelings, my emotion… they were too precious to me and yet… I still had a job to do… a duty. 'I wish this would all just end…', I pleaded to any deity that was listening. I sighed and undressed, slowly removing the bandages on my form, winching as some of the wounds started bleeding again. I walked into the furo-room and dragged a stool, bucket and bath supplies closer. I dumped the bucket over my head and took up the soap, washing the grime and dried blood off my body, taking care not to aggravate my injuries. When I finished, I rinsed off and climbed into the furo, relaxing in the warmth of the water and the burning sensation it left on my wounds… then it hit me… I'd forgotten to call the Tendos! I shot out of the tub, dried myself and pulled the oversized t-shirt over my head before running out of the furo.
Just outside, in the hallway, I met grandpa Tanaka… "Um… sorry sir, but can I use your phone, I need to call someone…" He just smiled politely at me and nodded, "Sure hun, take all the time you need." As he turned around, he suddenly went chibi again and skipped up the stairs… I looked at him strangely before shaking my head and turning to the phone…
I quickly looked up their number in the phonebook and dialed. "Hello Tendo residence, Kasumi speaking.", I heard on the other side of the line. "Um… Hello Kasumi-san… this is Aiko-chan…", I said somewhat reluctantly. "Oh my.", she said, "Ranma was out looking for you all morning, where have you been?" "I'm at a friend's house now… I'm gonna stay here for now, okay?", I said, ignoring her question. "Oh, sure… If you're okay, then it's fine, though I think Ranma wants to talk to you…" "I- I don't think I can right now… I'll see you sometime Kasumi-san… I still need cooking lessons after all…" "Oh definitely Ai-chan, you come over whenever you like.", she replied… I'd swear the receiver was glowing when she smiled.
I sighed a little and said goodbye. I suddenly realized that the shirt was sticking to my back a little… I twisted my head around and looked, only to see blood staining it. "Damn…", I whined, "Now I've gone and ruined his shirt…" "What do you mean?", came a voice from the stairs in front of me. I looked up surprised to see Yukio there… "Wha? No nothing…", I said nervously…
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In the Tendo home Kasumi turned away from the phone and stood at the entrance of the family room, listening to the conversation. She didn't want to distract them so she stayed where she was.
"I told you we should've used a paralysis point on her.", said Dr. Tofu, "She still isn't well enough to be moving around as much." "Yeah but you yourself said that she needed to wake up and get some substantial food in her body. She'd already been unconscious for 5 days when you undid the shiatsu… and besides we didn't want to scare or alienate her.", said Ranma. "I think you've done a fine job of that already Ranma.", came Nabiki's voice. "Hey! It wasn't my fault! If you want to blame someone blame Akane, she's the one who made me feel like a jerk by calling me a pedophile (AN: Of course he had to pay Nabiki to explain to him what exactly a pedophile was)! It's her fault I ignored Aiko last night!" "Don't bring me into this! You're the one that made her cry you jerk!", shouted Akane. "Hey, hey… calm down…", said Tofu, the only sane person in the room… but not for long.
At this point Kasumi decided to make her entrance(AN: Sarcastic smile). As she walked in, Nabiki asked her, "Who was that on the phone sis?" "Ka-ka-ka –sumiiii! Heeeeheee", you can guess who that came from. "Oh, that was Aiko… she just wanted to let us know she's fine and she's staying at a friend's house.", replied Kasumi. "What! You mean I've been worried for nothing!", cried Ranma angrily. "Would you rather you'd been worried for something?", commented Nabiki. Ranma paused at that and sighed, giving in and letting his anger go, "At least she's okay. To Kasumi Did she say where she was?" "Oh. No, she didn't. She only told me she was staying with a friend.", replied Kasumi.
Well enough of that… their pathetic banter is already starting to bore me so let's get back to the heroine of the story… me.
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I backed away from Yukio with a nervous smile on my face. "Really, it's nothing, you must've misheard me or something.", I said moving towards the bathroom but not turning my back on him… I walked towards me with a confused look on his face. "What are you hiding?", he asked. "Nothing, I swear… You don't need to worry about it." He suddenly reached out and grabbed my shoulder, touching a particularly raw spot… The sudden pain startled me and my foot slipped as I lost my balance, tangling with Yukio's feet and sending us both tumbling to the ground… I hit the floor hard but managed to keep from crying out in pain. Yukio quickly pushed off and apologized as he crouched over me… but I wasn't listening… My face was scrunched up in pain and I was biting my lip to keep from crying out.
Yukio paused when he felt something wet on the hand that'd touched my shoulder… He lifted it from the floor, leaving a red print there and started at it in disbelief. "…blood?", he muttered… Suddenly he was panicked… "Aiko! Are you hurt!" "I told you it was nothing to worry about, it's my problem, okay?", I managed in a strained voice. He put his hand behind my neck and lifted me into a sitting position. Noticing the blood stains on the back of the shirt. "Stay here, I'll get some bandages!", he cried as he quickly ran up the stairs. I, of course, didn't listen. I stood up slowly, winching at the slight pain and headed back into the furo-dressing area. 'At least it hurts less than when I got them.', I thought to myself while looking at the blood that was finally seeping through the front of the shirt as well. The wounds weren't too bad… It wasn't like I was bleeding non-stop or something… They were just a few cuts.
As I stood, bracing myself against the wall, I felt a bit dizzy. The long day was finally catching up to me and my teleporting the great distance from the Tendos to the park hadn't been such a great idea either… I hadn't had enough mana so I had to supplement it a little with my ki… It worked but the result was showing now… I plopped down on the floor, alleviating some of dizziness, just as Yukio walked into the room… He dropped the first aid case next to me and reached for the shirt. I quickly grabbed the edge of the shirt, pushing it down and cried, "Just what do you think you're doing!" "We have to take off the shirt to treat your wounds you know…", he replied calmly. "But you'll see me!", I cried. "Can you think of a better way!" '… … I can't very well treat the wounds myself, can I?... right? …', I thought to myself, very reluctantly... "Fine! But you'd better not look!", I cried as I turned my back on him and slowly removed the shirt, trying to keep the pain at a minimum… I was already hurting enough from the fall.
"You'd better not try anything funny.", I glared at him over my shoulder my face crimson with embarrassment. "And why would I try anything with you? It's not like you got anything worth looking at, You're flat-chested and you're built like a beanpole." My eyebrow twitched and a vein popped up on my forehead… I would've beaned him over the head it wasn't for the fact that I'd give him a free show if I moved. He made quick work of cleaning the wounds on my back, not saying a word, he even allowed me to clean the cuts on my front and arms. Then he started wrapping the bandages around my form, careful not to hurt me or aggravate my wounds any further. When we were finally done he handed me another oversized shirt he'd swiped on his way down with the first-aid kit. I quickly pulled it over my head. I turned around and looked him in the face, but he refused to meet my eyes. He grinned nervously and gulped, a slight blush on his cheeks. I glared at him… the blush on my own still going full blast… "Don't think you're ever doing that again!", I growled, "It was a one time deal, okay!" "Hey!", he cried defensively, "Is that anyway to treat the guy who just helped you out? Besides you might need someone to change the bandages again in the future.", he said with a smirk, though he still wouldn't meet my eyes. "Baka-Hentai.", I grumbled as I left the room but stumbled slightly… as a wave of dizziness passed over me again. He was at my side in a second, taking my arm to keep me upright… When I regained my footing I shoved him away… "I don't need your help!", I cried as I ran up the stairs to my room, locking my door.
I stood at the window, looking out into the storm. The world was already darkening with the approaching night. I thought back to what I'd just experienced… I felt… violated somehow… I knew I was being childish but I was still embarrassed about the whole scene. There was a knock on the door, "Aiko! Open up… I need to talk to you…", came Yukio's voice, "Listen, I'm sorry for making fun of you. I still want to know what happened and how you got hurt like that." "I told you it's none of your business… Best you stay out of it.", I mumbled, not loud enough for him to hear through the door. I heard a distorted sigh behind the door… "Fine… I'm going to make supper… Come down in about twenty minutes.", he said before I heard his receding footsteps. My stomach suddenly made itself known with an extremely loud growl… I hadn't eaten anything all day… I guess that it must've attributed to that dizzy spell I had in the bathroom…
Twenty minutes passed and I could barely stand it anymore… the thought of food in my stomach made my mouth water… but I was afraid… I was embarrassed… I didn't want to see Yukio again… Unfortunately my stomach loudly protested against my staying locked in my room. I straightened out the make-shift nightshirt and unlocked my door quietly… 'It's best to just forget about it and act normal…', I tried to convince myself… I walked down the stairs, speeding up as I smelled Yukio's cooking… I walked into the dining room and took my seat, giving Grandpa Tanaka a quick smile. Yukio walked out of the kitchen with the dishes in hand… I quickly jumped out of my seat and helped him carry it to the table, trying to repress my blush… I think I pulled it off quite nicely… I've always thought of myself as a bit of an actress. "Thanks for the help Aiko.", said Yukio politely, his face back in that blank, emotionless look that I've come to realize is normal for him. We sat down and waited until Grandpa Tanaka tasted the food before we cried thanks(Itedakimasu) and dug in with vengeance.
The conversation at the table was next to nothing… It was strange being in a setting like this… The Tendo home was much less traditional with their dinners… There was always fights and angry shouts… When we were finally done, I helped Yukio carry the plates back to the kitchen feeling more at ease around him by now. I'd calmed down and my childish streak had passed so I took it upon myself to help him wash the dishes. It was silent for all of five minutes, "Care to tell me how you how you were hurt like that?", he asked. "It doesn't matter… it has nothing to do with you.", I said solidly. 'It's really none of his business… He doesn't have to get involved in my troubles, he'll only get hurt.', I thought to myself… I did notice a slight frown appear on his face but I ignored it and continued drying the plates meticulously. We finished the rest of the dishes in silence and went to our separate rooms with a curt goodnight.
I sat in the darkened room staring out at the pouring rain… It reminded me of that horrible night over a year ago… it felt like the same storm… I was afraid that I'd bring misfortune and death upon yet another family… I needed to run, to get away and yet… there was something… something different about this family, something about Yukio that made me want to stay. I plopped down on the bed and slowly fell asleep, my eyes never leaving the falling darkness outside the window for fear it might come alive at any second.
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I awoke with a start as I heard a voice yelling right in my ear… at first I was disoriented, not knowing where I was but it finally came back to me… Then I looked to my bed-side and saw a smirking Yukio there. I drove my fist into his skull without a second thought… "Just what are you doing in here!", I asked at the downed boy. "I brought you your clothes… They've been washed and dried…", he groaned, "And Grandpa decided if your gonna stay here long then you should go to school. We're picking up a uniform for you today.", he finished a bit stronger and sitting upright on the floor. I blinked at him, "School?" 'But I've already graduated…', I thought to myself… 'Oh well, it can't be that bad.' "Um… okay… I guess.", I replied… I paused for a moment waiting but he just sat there looking up at me innocently. "Um could you leave so I can get dressed?" "Oh! Sure!", he said as he dashed for the door. "What was that all about?", I wondered to myself, "He better not be having perverted thoughts."
I quickly jumped out of bed and pulled on the leotard, denim shorts and jacket, feeling a bit more comfortable in my normal attire… I paused for a second and concentrated, checking my mana and ki resources. They were way too low… From what I could tell I had barely regained anything… 'I guess that teleport yesterday put a bit too much strain on my damaged system.', I thought to myself… I could do nothing but wait for it to heal… Even the minor healing spell after my tampering with Ranma's curse was already too much for my expended resources. 'I really wish I could get back on track… I won't be able to do anything if they show up now.'
The day was spent in the town square where a 'Sunday market' was being held. I found it bit strange since it wasn't really part of the Japanese culture as far as I knew but I let it slide. No use worrying over something like that… Fortunately for us… or rather unfortunately for me, Grandpa Tanaka was friends with the owner of the local 'School supplies' shop and he opened it just for us so I could get my new uniform ready for Monday… I also found out that Grandpa Tanaka was a very influential man in this district… He even got my signed up for school without any prior records, how he did that was beyond me. I suspect Nabiki may have had something to do with that to I might just be paranoid.
The long day finally drew to an end without much trouble… but I knew that middle school would have problems of it's own to deal with tomorrow. Nerima was definitely not a place for the normal so something was bound to happen…
AN: Well I told you this chapter would be shorter... and I decided to leave it on a high-note so I'll at least get some more reviews this time... I expect at least one review for every 1000 words but it seems unlikely that you actually enjoy this fic and I'm not in the mood to play Ukyou for now so I guess we're at an impass... Let me ask you people something... Did you like 'Once more, Trust' more than the start of 'Once more I'll trust you, the Remake' ? Which one should I continue... Email me with your opinion please and I'll see what I can do about adding another chapter to whichever one...