Your Smile
Chapter 2
When the flowers will bloom
Aiko walked to school. She was feeling really nervous and kind of tired. She felt kind of sick, but brushed it away when her two best friends, Ryoko Genji and Taka Takahashi, came over. They talked for a bit until the bell rang.
School was over and everyone was walking outside. Aiko was walking to her work. She really was kind of out of it at work.
'I don't know. Maybe that I should apologize for this morning. I just kind of barged in without permission,' thought Aiko.
"Hey! You going to let this trash sit here all day?" asked a man, who walked in.
"Oh," said Aiko. She grabbed the trash bags. Then she ran around with the mop moping the floor really fast. She also cleaned the walls with a rag.
'Like my motto says, never give up no matter what life throws your way,' thought Aiko.
"Man, if we keep eating out like this, I'm going to have to buy a bigger robe," said Haruki.
"Then, why don't you cook something?" asked Ryu.
"But whenever I do, you complain," said Haruki.
"Pickled radish in curry is disgusting," said Ryu.
"Your so picky. Let's get a housekeeper," said Haruki.
"No," said Ryu. "Hold on."
Aiko was walking to her tent. She was so exhausted from work. She also had a fever. She crawled into her tent.
"I know mom. I need to rest, but I have a paper to write. I'll just go and wash up at the stream," said Aiko, her fever getting a bit worse.
She grabbed a towel and headed out of the tent. But, when she did, Haruki and Ryu greeted her. Haruki started laughing as Aiko looked embarrassed and confused.
Haruki was still laughing as they were at the house.
"So, you have been living in a tent?" asked Ryu. Aiko nodded. "For how long?"
"I don't know. Just over a week," said Aiko, her fever getting worse.
"That explains the strange reason. All of this land is Takashi property. It was kind of strange that we suddenly had a new neighbor," said Ryu.
"But, it's only for a little while. I'll leave very soon. Please let me stay for a little longer," said Aiko.
"That isn't such a wise decision. The woods aren't too safe. There are some wildlife, bugs, land slides, the occasional weirdo crawling around. I doubt it is a safe place for you to live in," said Haruki.
"So you stopped laughing?" asked Ryu.
Aiko stood up, looking proud. "Don't worry about me. If I can stand up to all of the bugs and wildlife, I can stand-," began Aiko, but she fell to her knees.
Ryu put his hands centimeters from her face. "She has a fever," said Ryo.
"I'll get ice. It's-," said Haruki, when he opened the door, he stopped in the middle of his statement. Everywhere you looked, trash was piled up. I think there wasn't even a trace of the floor anymore, or maybe even some windows if this keeps up.
Ryu sweat dropped. Aiko let out a sigh of astonishment. "And you call the woods unsafe?" asked Aiko.
Haruki sweat dropped also then looked serious as a distant howl was heard. "Hear that? There's been another landslide," Haruki.
"Um…how do you know?" asked Aiko.
"Let's just say it's instinct," said Haruki.
"Was it close?" asked Ryu.
"Close to ten- I mean not at all," said Haruki, giving a fake smile.
Aiko, Haruki, and Ryu were going to go get Aiko's stuff when they saw what happened. Almost the entire tent was buried in a landslide that Haruki warned about earlier. Aiko looked astonished. She ran to the tent and started to dig.
"Mom! I'm coming! Mom!" yelled Aiko, as she dug.
Ryu went to her and stopped her from digging. Her hands were covered in dirt and scratched up from digging.
"Don't push yourself too hard. You already have a fever," said Ryu.
"But mom…If she stays in there too long she'll be hurt," said Aiko, about to cry.
Haruki placed a comforting hand on her hand. "I think your mom is glad that it wasn't you in that tent. If you were hurt, she would be in even greater pain," said Haruki.
Aiko lay on the floor. Her head was resting on a pillow as a blanket covered her. She was having a fever still.
"Ryu is still looking for some ice," said Haruki.
"It's ok. Thanks," said Aiko.
"No problem," said Haruki. "It's my pleasure."
"It's sad. But not as sad as other things," said Aiko.
"Like what?" asked Haruki.
"Like not telling your mom 'Be safe' on the day she died," said Aiko. "I told it to her every morning. "Bye. Be safe." And I always meant it too. Then, that day. I had a test, so I stayed up almost the whole night studying. I overslept so I couldn't tell my mom goodbye. I couldn't wake up to tell her those words. "Bye. Be Safe." That's when my mom never came home. That's when my mom died in a car accident. I was thinking about quitting school after that. Start working." Aiko's voice grew softer as she was starting to fade to sleep. Haruki was still listening. "But, mom told me that she never graduated high school."
"So, I want you to take my place. Feel the happiness, so you can tell me what it is like to have that diploma in your hand," said her mom's, Kyoko, voice.
"So, I must go to school for her," said Aiko. "I must get that diploma in my hand. I must do it. And I can't stop now." Her voice was fading faster. "All…. because of a…. fever…like…this." Aiko fell asleep.
Haruki watched her a bit when the door behind him opened. Ryu was leaning against the wall, holding an ice pack in his hands.
"You would have never guessed. That she has been suffering like this. She seemed so happy at school," said Ryu. "There were times when I wanted to run away from the Takashi's house. Just to run away. I could have lived in the woods. I could have lived in a tent. I could have done what she had done."
Ryu put the ice pack down on the floor. He walked to the other side of the room is. That door led out to where outside was.
"Would you mind keeping an eye on her? I will be out for a bit," said Ryu.
"Huh? What? Where are you going?" asked Haruki. "You're not going to dig out that tent, are you? You are, aren't you? Want me to come with you? It won't be an easy task for you alone."
"Yes. I know. But I never said that I was going alone," said Ryu.
Ryu walked outside, as the yard was swarmed with black rats with red eyes. Their eyes shown in the black night. Ryu closed the door after him.
A/N: Ok. This is my 2nd chapter. It's a really stupid chapter. Anyways, I will make an author's note, telling you all who's who. Some things may add to it. But anyways, please Read and Review. I really need it. I only have one review so far.
