Disclaimer: I don't own FLCL.
Just Swing
II
"B-but why'd you come back after all these years?" I asked in bewilderment as we continued down the hall. "Weren't you an outlaw?"
Keeping her head straight, Haruko's eyes shifted to me, her smirk broadening. "Still am."
Nothing was making sense. Numerous questions pounded on my head, and I was starting to get a monster headache. "W-well," I began, picking a random question that floated in my mind, "who was that guy? He wasn't a therapist."
She scoffed. "That old fart's part of the Galaxy Space Police Brotherhood; he's been after me for sometime now. He followed me here, and I guess he decided to interrogate you, hoping you'd know my whereabouts."
I didn't know what to say. I didn't know what to think. I was just happy Haruko was here. For some reason, it didn't matter to me if she almost destroyed Mabase, or the entire world, I still loved her. "But why'd you come here?"
As we exited the building, she wrapped one arm around my shoulders while the other gave me a painful noogie (sp?). I had to admit, it felt good to laugh after so long, and I almost didn't recognize the sound. "To visit you, silly!" she teased, letting go when satisfied with my laughter.
"Yeah right!" I teased back, the smile feeling strange on my lips. Maybe I had been depressed.
"And," she added a bit more seriously, "I need you to help me with something. . . something big."
My grin wavered slightly. Of course, I should've known that she'd be here for a more important reason than to visit me. She was an outlaw for Christ's sake! She took my silence as a cue to continue. Without warning she led me into an alley, where she once again wrapped her arms around my neck and placed her icy lips seductively on my ear. "I need your power, Ta-kun."
I was at a loss for words. My . . . power?
"Atomsk is here, too. Or Canti if that's what you wanna call him. We need your help, Ta-kun."
I still didn't understand. She had to be more specific. "You're not a kid anymore," she whispered, "how'd you like to come to space with me?"
At this I couldn't help but picture the possibilities. I imagined myself riding alongside Haruko on the Vespa Superior Raharu had given me, the stars whirling past us in a captivating blur, the law of physics not applying as our laughter rang through the vast blackness.
It was like a fantasy: a fantasy I'd wanted to do from the first time she had asked me, but had been speechless and didn't answer. All I knew was that this would be one hell of a chance to let slip through your fingers, twice.
But why? Why did she need me to go to space with her? Why did she need my power? "Why?"
By the uncomfortable silence, I could tell she'd been trying to avoid answering that question. She sighed heavily. "Well, it's kinda hard to explain," she said as she released me. "Let's just say I'm trying to get something back, something that rightfully belongs to me. And I need your power to help me do it."
A camera flashed in my mind, and I spun around to face Haruko. "What about Mamimi? And Ninamori?" I couldn't just leave them, even though I actually hadn't seen Mamimi in a few years. But she had sent a letter, so she was bound to come back anytime! A-and my brother! And Grandpa! Would they miss me if I left?
"Hmmmm," she pondered noisily, considering my sudden protests while rubbing her chin. After a quiet moment, she hung her head to her chest with another sigh, before looking at me with a crooked smile. "Well, Ta-kun, I can't make you come with me," she admitted in mild disappointment, "after all," she grabbed my cheeks and pinched without warning, "you are a big boy now, aren't ya! You've grown since I last saw you!"
Ow! Did she pinch hard! I leaped back while swatting her hands away.
She placed her hands on her hips. "I'll just have to give ya a ride home and let you think about it,'kay?" While saying this, she pulled me close to her as she led us back to her Vespa. All I could think about as we walked was her hair. If she was an alien, then why did her hair smell like strawberry shampoo? Or was that kinda stuff just an intergalactic product or something?
I think I sometimes get too engrossed in my thoughts. One minute we were sauntering out of the alley, the next I had my arms wrapped securely around her waist as the wind whipped viciously through my hair. All the while I stared at the sun melting into the horizon, wondering whether or not I was going to accept Haruko's offer . . .
Or if I could even trust her.
To be continued . . .
