.:For the Sake of Living… Don't:.
Chapter 4
"What are you going to do?" Ameko asked the girls as she sat in the girl's locker room in front of a mirror with the three girls behind her.
"Oh don't worry. We won't hurt you. We just want to see what we can make you look like." Ikihara said.
"Since it's the last period, we're going to let you take some of our clothes home, dress you in them, and then make you look all nice and see what the boys say." Tatsuki said, already trying to measure Ameko.
Ameko hesitated but nodded slowly. "Okay." She said.
Setsumi sat next to Ameko. She smiled. "How do you want your hair up?" She asked.
"Huh?" Ameko asked, turning her head to look at Setsumi.
"How do you want your hair up?" She asked. "I have some ideas, but it's really all up to you how you want it." She said. "Here." Setsumi turned and pulled out a large stack of photos of different girls. Two of the girls were Ikihara and Tatsuki, and then there were two others that posed. "These are the different things that I can do. I think this one will look really pretty, Ameko-san."
Ameko looked at the picture and smiled. "That is pretty." She said.
"It's settled then. I'll put your hair up like this." Setsumi said. She stood up and took out a brush and a comb, as well as small clips and small hair bands.
Ikihara stepped in front of Ameko and sat down so she was eye-level with her. "How much make-up do you wear, Ameko?" She asked.
"Uh, I don't wear any at all." She said.
"I think you'd look really pretty with eye shadow and eyeliner, lip gloss, to make your lips shinier, and then a little touch of blush." Ikihara said, planning out what she was going to do.
"What colors do you like to wear, Ameko-san?" Tatsuki asked Ameko from her locker as she fished through mounds of clothes.
"I like dark colors. Black, red, blue, purple." Ameko said.
"Perfect. I have the best outfit for you." Tatsuki said.
"And I have the perfect shades of make-up for you." Ikihara added.
"And all of the ribbons I'm putting in your hair match that perfectly." Setsumi said, smiling.
"Okay, well before you two start on the make-up and hair, let me take Ameko-san to put the clothes on, okay?" Tatsuki said, taking Ameko's hand and leading her to her locker and taking out what she thought was the perfect outfit. After getting the okay from Ameko, as well as Setsumi and Ikihara, Tatsuki took Ameko to the stalls to change. She handed the clothes to Ameko and stood outside of the stall, talking with Ikihara and Setsumi about the make-up and hairstyle for Ameko.
The boys outside were sitting together, laughing and talking about the pointless crap they usually talked about. Haru walked up to them and looked around.
"Hey guys, where's Ameko?" He asked.
"She went with Ikihara, Tatsuki, and Setsumi to get a make-over." Ryuuichi said.
"Yeah, they were talking about how pretty she'd look with her hair up and stuff. I agree, actually." Motoshi said. "Not that I'd want to see her looking hot and stuff. I've got a girlfriend, thank you very much." He said after looking at Kiyotaka and Ryuuichi, who were grinning evilly.
"Anyway, I think I'd better go and get her. We're supposed to meet my cousins and her cousin after the bell for the end of school rings." Haru said.
"Dude, just sit and relax. She'll be back. Besides, the bell hasn't rung yet, so you have nothing to worry about, right?" Takashi said, leaning back in his chair against the wall. His arms were behind his head and his feet were on the desk in front of him.
Haru knocked Takashi's feet off the desk, causing him to topple over onto the floor. The guys laughed.
"Be more careful." Haru said. "Never know when you're minding your own business and then something like that happens." He said.
"What, something that surprises you like that?" Takashi asked, standing up.
"Yeah, exactly that." Haru said as the bell rang, signaling the end of school.
"Easy for you to say. No one can ever surprise you." Ryuuichi said.
Kiyotaka grinned. "Nah, I beg to differ." He said, looking past the group at the door, where Ikihara, Tatsuki, and Setsumi stood.
"Hey guys." Ikihara said.
"Introducing the new Ameko Morioka." Setsumi said, smiling.
The three took steps to the side, and revealed Ameko. She stood there, her head down, looking at the ground. She then looked up, her eyes landing on Haru. "Hey." She said. "H-how do I look?" She asked them.
Ameko's hair was pulled back, a braid on either side of her head hanging down, framing her face. A purple ribbon was braided with the hair. The rest of Ameko's hair had been twisted up into an elegant bun, the bun held together by two purple and black sticks, with a purple and black ribbon hanging from her hair. The make-up she wore matched the colors perfectly; she had black eye-liner and purple tones for her eye shadow. Her lips shined a very light purple as the light hit them.
The shirt she wore was black, a halter top. It was a low-backed shirt, and it was pretty tight. Connected to the shirt, where the neck would go, was a collar; a leather collar. It was just like a belt; connecting behind the neck with a small silver chain that ran along the back when put on. The sleeves, though not sleeves, started at about halfway between shoulder and elbow, connected to the shirt by leather bands. The front of the shirt cut off a little above the belly button, mesh finishing where the shirt should be. The design on the front was the Japanese character for "Hope", right under that was the character for "Dreams", and underneath that one was the character for "Love", all written in purple with a design of a dragon behind them.
She wore a short skirt, one about as short as the school uniform. It was black with purple rivets. A few safety pins were placed here and there on the skirt to add a little bit of decoration. A chain connected one side of the skirt to the other, hanging loosely.
Ryuuichi, Kiyotaka, and Motoshi stared at her until the other three girls walked up to them.
Ikihara wrapped her arms around Ryuuichi, hugging him from behind. "How'd we do?" She asked.
"You girls did great." Kiyotaka said, Tatsuki coming and sitting on his lap.
"You think?" Setsumi asked Motoshi as he put his arm around her waist.
Ameko looked up at Haru as she walked up to him. "Do I really look good?" She asked.
Haru swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, you look good."
"You look wonderful." Takashi said from beside Haru.
Ameko smiled. "Thank you, Takashi-kun." She said.
"Well, we better go and meet Tohru and everyone." Haru said to Ameko.
Ameko nodded and walked up to Tatsuki, giving her a hug.
"You have fun, okay?" She said.
"I will. "Ameko smiled. She hugged Setsumi, who was standing right beside Tatsuki.
"Yeah, don't listen if anyone tells you somethng you don't want to hear. You really look wonderful." Setsumi said to her. Ameko smiled.
"Thanks." She said. Ameko turned around and looked at Ikihara.
"Anyone gives you any trouble, you come to me, okay?" Ikihara said, pulling Ameko into a hug.
Ameko nodded. "Okay." She said.
"Ameko-san, let's go." Haru said from the door.
Ameko turned around, waving to everyone and then walked over to Haru, walking with him to where they were supposed to meet Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, and Momiji.
"Haru-kun, do I really look good?" She asked.
Haru laughed. "I already told you you did." He said.
"I was just making sure." She said as they stepped out of the hallways and emerged onto the school steps, making their way over to Tohru and the gang.
As Ameko caught sight of Tohru, she called out, waving. They all turned, Tohru's face now having a look of surprise on it. Kyo's face dropped, as did Yuki's. Momiji smiled. Ameko and Haru walked up to the group and greeted them.
"Ame-chan! You look wonderful!" Tohru said, giving her a hug.
"Yes, you look great, Morioka-san." Yuki said, smiling.
"Heck, you look amazing!" Kyo said.
"Thanks." Ameko said, smiling. She turned to Tohru.
"Onee-chan, can we go dancing tonight?" She asked.
"Well, I don't see why not." Tohru said. She looked around at everyone. "What do you guys think?"
"Since it's Friday, I don't see why it would be a problem." Yuki said. Kyo and Momiji agreed, Haru just shrugged.
"Tohru-chan, can I invite my new friends?" Ameko asked.
"Sure." Tohru said.
"My dad owns a club we can go to. No drinking at all in it." Momiji said.
"Perfect. Go get your friends, Ame-chan. We'll meet you at Shigure's." Tohru said.
"Hai!" Ameko said, running off in the direction of her classroom.
Ameko ran through the halls, her head filled with all of the fun things she would be doing later. She turned the corner, nearly running straight into a guy. She looked up, the smile on her face soon fading as she came face-to-face with one of the guys from the day before.
Ameko turned around quicklly, running into another of the guys. She tried to run, but one man grabbed her arm, pulling her back.
"Aww... come on. You get dressed up and don't even tell us?" The man holding Ameko's arm said.
Ameko struggled, trying to pull out of the man's grasp. Two more of the guys appeared and Ameko was thrown against the wall. She hit it hard, sliding down it and sitting before them, looking at them terrified. They advanced on her and Ameko put her hands on her head, letting out a high, frightening scream.
A man stepped forward, slapping her face hard. "Shut up! I don't want any of that from you!" He yelled at her.
Ameko put her hand to where the man's hand had made contact to her cheek. She put her head down as the four men walked towards her, lustful looks in each of their eyes.
Tohru, Yuki, Kyo, and Momiji had left Haru standing at the shcool, the four of them telling Haru to meet them with Ameko at Shigure's house. So Haru sat there on a benck, waiting for Ameko to return with Takashi, Ryuuichi, Motoshi, Kiyotaka, Ikihara, Tatsuki, and Setsumi.
The piercing scream rang through the school. Haru looked up at the school, his eyes going to where he heard the scream.
"Ameko..." Haru said, sprinting through the doors to the school. The halls were deserted, so Haru ran through them as fast as his legs carried him. He ran up staircases and then ran around the corner, nearly tripping over a body lying on the floor.
Haru looked down, four bodies were lying on the floor. His eyes traveled over to two pairs of feet, traveling up the bodies to see Takashi hugging a crying Ameko. Haru walked up to the two.
"Hey... what happened here?" Haru asked, stepping up next to Takashi.
Takashi looked up at Haru, then looked back down at Ameko.
"I heard the scream and I came running. Everyone else had already left, so they couldn't do anything. I got here and she was up against the wall and... and..." Takashi paused as Haru reached out his hand, patting Takashi on the shoulder.
"I know, Takashi, I know." Haru said. He removed his hand from Takashi's shoulder, placing his other hand on Ameko's shoulder.
Ameko jumped, turning her head to reveal her red, tear-stained cheeks and eyes full of nothing but hurt; sadness; sorrow. She looked up at Haru, her hands resting against Takashi as well as her arms. She was standing up close to Takashi, his arms around her. Ameko's tears stopped for a quick second as she saw Haru, but started up again as she ran into his arms, her hands grabbing his shirt as she pulled her body to his, her arms between them. She said no words, made no other movements. Instead she stood there, holding onto Haru's shirt as Haru wrapped his arm around her.
Haru looked up at Takashi. "Thanks for helping her when you did. It could have got a lot farther if you hadn't been here."
Takashi nodded. "No problem. I'm just glad I got here when I did."
Haru bent down, placing his arm behind Ameko's knees andlifting her up carefully. He looked at Takashi. "Tomorrow night we're going to a club; me, Ameko, my cousins and Ameko's cousin. She wants you and everyone else to come too, so call them and ask if they can go. It's at Kurayami Club." Haru told Takashi, who nodded. The two of them said their goodbyes, Haru walking towards the stairs, Takashi towards the classroom.
Haru looked down at Ameko; her eyes now closed and her breathing deep. She had gotten major abuse today. Her shirt was torn; now it housed a cut from the top extending down to her side, showing some of her bra. The mesh was torn off, as was one of the sleeves. The back of the shirt was torn badly, leaving only a thin strip of cloth to hold it together. The chain that had hung down her back was in knots, now wrapped around her neck. Ameko's makeup was smeared all over her face, the eyeliner she wore now making it seem like she got a black eye, blending with the purple eye shadow. The ribbon once in Ameko's hair was now torn, ragged. The chopsticks had either fallen out or were hanging loosely in the now very loose bun. The braids on either side of her face still hung, now with strands of her hair sticking out in places.
Haru walked towards Shigure's house quietly, Ameko sleeping in his arms. The whol ewhil ehe was trying to figure out how someone coul dbe so tormented, so hurt. This gave him a whole new reason to protect Ameko, if she'd let him.
The patio appeared ahead and Haru walked swiftly up to it, walking through the open door and up to Tohru's room, where he kicked the door softly.
Tohru opened the door, looking up at Haru. Her eyes then dropped as she looked to Ameko. "Ame-chan!" Tohru squealed stepping out of the way and letting Haru walk through the door.
Haru placed Ameko gently on Tohru's bed, fixing her head so it lay gently on the pillow. "Don't worry, Tohru. She's just sleeping." Haru assured Tohru, who looked as if she was about to faint. "A but after you guys left, I heard her scream. Takashi had gotten there before I did, so he saved her. I just brought her home." He put the blanket over Ameko, turning to look at Tohru. "Watch her until she wakes up, okay?" He said, walking out of the room and down the stairs.
Not moments later Ameko shot up in the bed. She looked downa t her clothes and her eyes started to water. Looking up, she scanned the room to see a very distraught Tohru sitting at the desk.
"Onee-chan?" Ameko said quietly, the water once occupying her eyes now slowly trailing down her cheeks.
Tohru looked up at Ameko, rushing to the bed and hugging the young girl. Ameko's head rested on Tohru's chest, TOhru's hands craddling it close to her. Ameko put her arms around Tohru and cried.
Haru sat in the livingroom, his hands holding his head as he tried to figure this whole dillema out. Momiji came and jumped over the couch, landing next to Haru on the couch.
"Hey Haru." Momiji said. "You goin' to the club like that?"
"We're not going today." He answered.
"What? Why?" Momiji asked, surprised.
"Ameko had a run-in with those guys again. She's not in the shape to go tonight." Haru told him. "We're going tomorrow instead."
"Oh... okay." Momiji said. He stood up. "Well, Ameko's awake in Tohru's room, in case you were wondering. I'll be up in Yuki's room." Momiji said, walking up the stairs and passing Ameko, who had her arms in front of her, covering anything that might have lead Momiji to think of anything.
"Ummm..." Ameko said from the top of the stairs.
Haru looked up at Ameko, standing up quickly. "Ameko..." He said before Ameko raced down the stairs and tripped on the rug, falling to her knees in front of Haru. She grabbed onto his pant leg and put her head down, her forehead resting against his leg.
Haru bent down, puttin ghis hand on Ameko's head. "Ameko?"
She looked up at him. "Haru-kun. I'm sorry." She said.
"What for?" Haru asked.
"I'm such a clutz." Ameko said, laughing slightly.
Haru smiled, putting his hand out to help her up. "Are you all right, Ameko?" He asked her.
She smiled back at him, taking his hand and standing up in front of him. "Fine."