CHAPTER 1
Wooden-soled sandals clicked on the rough stones of the old country shrine as ravens shrilled out in the waning light of the evening sun. The staid figure clad in a simple purple yukata stopped and looked about casually before moving deliberately towards the dilapidated shrine building.
Stopping just outside the entrance, Fujino Shizuru smiled.
There was a whine of the still air being cut and the briefest flash of red, and, sliced in two, the shrine roof groaned perilously as it lost its support and gave way, collapsing in a crash and plume of dust. A man stumbled out from the entrance, narrowly escaping the falling structure. Noticing Shizuru, he backed away and looked for route of escape – and found none. Defeated, he dropped the wooden beam that had been his only weapon and collapsed, nowhere left to run and his time run out.
She regarded his fearful face, and smiled. "This thing," she indicated her element by raising the dire red blade up towards him, "—is simple-minded. As long as it sheds blood, it's happy. But people have more complex desires, don't you think, Smith-san?" she asked rhetorically.
John Smith, soon-to-be-former-chief of Searrs' 4th Publicity Sector, just looked at her and waited for that evil blade to fall.
"People live together with other people in this world," she continued. "But even so, people can only pretend to know one another. What others know, what others think, want, and what others truly care about, all of it is a mystery. To touch and be touched in return -- people seek this and are also inevitably hurt by it. Afraid of being hurt, people withdraw, but all the same, they crave to confirm their existence."
Shizuru lowered her element and gazed directly at him. "But people who can't pretend in such a world are cursed, don't you think? Unable to deny one's own true desires, one can only be cursed to be eternally frustrated, never able to confirm their existence, never able to touch and be touched. But, nevertheless, one must try in order to live. You're the same, aren't you? Unable to live in happiness with others, you sought power over others – the power to hurt, to see them move in the way you predict, because everything jumps when pricked, don't they? Everyone knows pain. Am I wrong?"
She held him in rapt attention, her eyes, now as sharp and clear as the edge of her element, pinned him like an insect. "When you told Natsuki that her mother sold her to Searrs, what was her reaction? What face did she show you? Although you two were strangers and all you had was a little bit of information, a few words pierced through all protections and Natsuki showed you her dear, true self. Natsuki's true face. What did it look like – Natsuki's true heart?"
John Smith struggled to follow her words, tried to collect his thoughts and form a plan of action, but couldn't move. Couldn't do anything under that implacable gaze.
"Smith-san, won't you show me?" she asked, the blade of the red element rose up in preparation of the killing blow. She beamed in anticipation.
"Won't you show me your true face?"
"I was looking all over for you! Where were you, Shizuru?" asked the perplexed Natsuki.
Shizuru just smiled. "Just taking care of some chores. Did you need something?"
Natsuki averted her eyes. "Um…actually, I have a favor to ask," she said in usual cool, tough-girl demeanor that made her a star amongst so many of the 1st-year students. Shizuru wondered idly if she knew that it just made Shizuru want to push her to the ground and ravish her right there.
"You know Tokiha Mai, right? The truth is, she's in a lot of financial trouble with the loss of her part-time job and no way to pay rent and continue taking classes. She was already in debt before sending her little brother to America for an expensive operation. I'm afraid she's going to end up going to far and getting work at some disreputable place to get by."
"I understand," Shizuru said. "If it's Natsuki that asks for it, I can come up with something."
"Really…thank you, Shizuru," she said, moved by the automatic generosity, and perhaps a little bit of guilt at having relied on someone else.
"Now for my payment," Shizuru added, and moved in. But Natsuki was on her guard and quickly erected a defense, but then looked ashamed, and lowered it but only with such extreme willpower that Shizuru didn't have the heart to take advantage of it.
"Just kidding," she said, and Natsuki sighed in relief and blushed. "Really, Shizuru. This means a lot; Mai's helped me out in a lot of ways and I can't just ignore what she's going through right now, even if she pretends it isn't a big deal."
After exchanging some pleasantries they parted ways.
"So, that's the deal, Tokiha-san," Shizuru concluded, delicately holding her tea in both hands. "The pay is okay, but the work is hard! Do you think you can handle it?"
Mai, fired up, responded right away. "Leave it to me!" she enthused, pounding a hand to her, Shizuru couldn't help but notice, very well-developed chest.
"Additionally," Shizuru continued, "—as the council president, I can't have you living someplace that will cause a problem with your classes. So, for the time being, you can rent a room in my place. Since it's just a room the rent will be low but because of that we'll have to share the kitchen. That's good enough, isn't it?"
Mai looked like she just swallowed something bitter. But she couldn't deny that the lower living expenses in addition to time saved on transportation to and from home every day were major benefits. Finally she agreed.
"That's good, then. It's settled," Shizuru proclaimed, genteelly sipping on her tea.
Mai dragged herself out of the lingerie shop with barely enough energy left to avoid the manager who had managed to intercept her at the entrance.
"Good work as always, Mai-chan," the middle-aged manager said.
Mai collected herself and gave a polite response and tried to quickly edge her way out of his sexual harassment. Too slow today, however, as he managed to get in a pat on her backside. It was all she could do not to knock his head off.
"Are you done for today?" asked a familiar voice. Mai turned around and found Shizuru there.
"Y-yes, kai—er, Fujino-san. Ano, where you doing some shopping?"
"Just a bit," she responded, and then turned a look to the manager of the shop. "Please excuse us."
"N-no problem at all! Mai-chan I look forward to seeing you tomorrow, okay?"
Mai did her best put up a cheerful face. "Count on me!"
Shizuru continued looking at the manager even as he went back inside.
"Tokiha-san – is everything alright at work?"
"Y-yes, yes! Everything is fine! Ha ha ha--!"
"Well if that's the case, then okay. It's been a week now, how's it been so far?" she asked.
Tiring, she wanted to say, but no way is going to complain to the person who got her the job to begin with. "It's a bit rough but nothing I can't handle!"
Just then, a motorcycle roared to a quick stop on the curb just in front of the two girls, and the driver removed her helmet unveiling a familiar face. "Mai and Shizuru together – that's a rare sight," she commented.
"Jealous?" Shizuru asked mischievously.
Natsuki blushed. "Baka!"
Mai just blinked. "Eh?"
Shizuru giggled. "It's okay. Tokiha-san, I'll be coming home late so feel free to make use of anything you want."
"Okay, thank you so much Fujino-san I will."
Natsuki's eyes widened in surprise. "Home--?"
"Well then, I have some more chores to do. See you again, Natsuki, Tokiha-san," Shizuru said, walking off.
"What's this about home? Oi, Shizuru--!" Natsuki called after her, and then turned back to Mai. "What does she mean by 'home'?"
Mai looked embarrassed. "Although I'm ashamed to admit it, I let Fujino-san talk me into renting a room at her place. I think she just offered it out of pity but since I already agreed to taking the job she arranged I didn't want to disrespect her generosity, so…"
Natsuki looked at her in shock.
"Ano…is there a problem?"
"Mai, did anything…happen?"
"Happen?
"Anything at all?" Natsuki asked again, blushing.
"No…why?"
"You're sure? I mean, between you and Shizuru there aren't any…problems?"
"Why would there be problems?"
Natsuki just looked at her. "Well…if you say so, than okay."
After parting ways with Natsuki, Mai was glad to finally make it home. She had originally planned to go straight to bed, but noticed that she had some homework left to finish. Looking at the books, she realized it was from literature class – two days ago. Staring at the assignment Mai wondered how she could possibly forget homework. She never forgot to do her homework.
But then since moving in and starting her new job a week ago she had been so worn out that she had been forgetting things recently. Mai dismissed the thought as weakness and resolved to just get stronger and tough it out. After all, she'd been through worse and it was all for Takumi's sake. Mai blinked herself awake and got to work.
After an indeterminate amount of time passed, a knock at the door snapped Mai out of her half-asleep trance. Shizuru was there, holding a platter with a steaming cup.
"I thought you might be staying up to do your homework Tokiha-san. Here, I made you a special tea my grandmother used to make; it will help take the edge off your fatigue," she explained with a wink.
"J-ja, thank you so much," Mai said, accepting the mug. "You keep doing this nice things for me—"
"Make no mention of it," the older girl dismissed. "Please make sure you get enough sleep, okay?"
Mai emerged from the black pit of deep slumber. She willed herself to move, but her body just wouldn't comply. It took a supreme effort of will just to sit up, and the motion made her dizzy. Her eyes didn't want to stay open, and she felt horribly muddled. In addition, she was sticky with sweat all over and it felt gross.
Again, she thought to herself: it's happened again. Several times this week she's woken up covered in sweat, disorientated and aching from some weird exhaustion. She wondered what was wrong with her; she knew she could handle the workload. She should be stronger than this. Had she gone soft?
She even considered calling in sick, but then decided against it. After taking a shower that did little to wake her up, she noticed her Japanese literature book on the desk in her room and figured she must have been pulling a late-night study session and got herself so tired that she forgot about it.
The first few classes that day were hell as Mai struggled to keep from constantly spacing out. Faces and voices blurred together, and all she wanted to do was just go to sleep. The thought that she had a part time job after school was just too much to bear.
And then she collapsed during PE.
When Mai came to, she found herself in the nurse's office, and surrounded by what appeared to be half the school. Chie and Aoi, Mikoto, Natsuki, Tate and even Reito and Midori was there. "Everyone…"
After being assailed my multiple demands to know what happened, how she felt, and so on, Natsuki shoed everyone out.
"Mai, the nurse took a blood sample while you were out," she confided.
"Blood sample…?"
"Since you've been complaining of heavy fatigue and loss of memory recently it's a good idea to get properly checked-out."
"Natsuki…you didn't have to—"
"Yes I did," she cut off, and smiled. "Because you're my precious friend, I can't stand by and watch you break. If you have some condition, I want to make sure it's diagnosed and treated quickly. So forget about me apologizing for telling sensei about your personal issues."
"Natsuki…"
"And about your classes, don't worry. I spoke with Shizuru. You're grades won't be effected," she affirmed matter-of-factly.
Mai was embarrassed. "I can't keep relying on Fujino-san, it's like I've become a dependant or something."
"Shizuru's happy to help, trust me," Natsuki proclaimed arrogantly.
"You two are good friends, aren't you?"
"Yeah. We've been friendly for a long time," Natsuki affirms, looking down briefly, a small smile touching her face.
Shizuru was in especially good mood today.
She did have to sit through the tedium of the Student Council meeting and pay attention to Haruka's long tirades over something or another and generally do things that held no interest to her.
But that was okay, because tonight was going to be a lot of fun.
Before she could get properly absorbed in anticipation, however, a student from the Council approached her.
"Fujino-kaichou, the Chairman needs to see you right away."
The scene that met her at the Chairman's office put a massive damper on her mood. And she wasn't pleased – not in the least.
Inside, sitting in front of the new Chairman, Fumi-san, was Mai, and, more oddly, the school nurse. And most oddly of all, they were joined by a uniformed policeman.
Shizuru wasn't nervous in the least. Instead, she kept smiling, breaking her expression into one of mild concern as she entered. "Ara—" she said at the sight of the policeman. "Don't tell me Tokiha-san is in trouble."
"Not exactly," said Fumi responded. "Rather, Tokiha Mai may be a victim of a crime. Since you are living with her, Fujino-san, we thought it might be best to ask for your input as well. Sensei?"
"In short, my findings from the blood test conducted yesterday show positive results for the drug Rohypnol, which is illegal in Japan and popular as a date-rape drug."
TO BE CONTINUED
