Wow, that was quicker than I thought. I updated. Anyways, if you'll notice, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi has its own group now, wrongfully under the 'Anime' section, but, eh whattya gonna do about it? Makes things easier. Anyways. This chapter, which was completely inspired by my buddy MonkeyHill's ideas, focuses on Yumi and regret. No spoilers. Just jump right in folks. R&R. - Kyo.
Chapter 4 – Why Erasers Were Invented…
'The least she could do is call…'
Yumi, wearing her black-leather jacket with the skull under the left collar flap, was found, leaning against the bus on an early Tuesday morning. Too early in fact. It must have been at least 3 or 4 in the morning, judging how dark it was to officially 'start her day.' She's probably awake early because of Midori, who doesn't go to bed until morning, and decided to wake Yumi up because 'she was in the mood'. After all that, Yumi HAD to step outside to clear her mind… and this time WITHOUT her usual box of cigarettes.
'What if... what if I was wrong? Maybe the book wound up there by accident! I'm sure Ami wouldn't deliberately put it there… but I told her not to write it either… but maybe I was a little rough on her. I'm forgetting that my world doesn't just revolve around me now, but for what makes Ami happy. Well, I really boned it up now.' Yumi just slid down the side of the bus with her back and just sat there thinking to herself any options out of this messy situation. Right as she was going to think about it, the girl who seems to have put a fender in everything shows up.
'Miss Yumi, you're not in bed! Is everything ok?' La le da, here comes Midori, checking up on her favorite person in the world. The one she nabbed off of Ami by ANY means, even by lying. She moved in closer to sit down next to her and lay her head on her shoulder. 'Something seems to be on your mind…'
'More than you know it, kid.' Yumi wanted to tell her she's starting to regret this whole thing but what was done was done. Just remembering that Ami told her to basically 'kiss her ass' is what made her upset the most. 'I'm fine. I'm just not in a sleepy mood. Go back to bed.' Midori just looked to her and then smirked rubbing a finger on Yumi's arm. 'Y'know, if you wanted to go there again, we could… I mean, that jacket makes you look so…'
Without hesitation, Yumi just backhanded her hand off of her. 'Knock it off, will ya?' Yumi just then looked off into the horizon, just waiting for that sun to come up. Midori was confused and looked at her in a perplexed way. She then sighed and hugged herself, knees and all in that 'comfort-seeking' way. 'If I'm going to far, Miss Yumi… I'm sorry… it's just that – I've never had anyone who actually took a liking to me… or kissed me before.' Yumi then shifted her eyes to her. 'Hm?'
'Everyone finds me an annoying mooch; just a third wheel to everyone's bicycle – not necessary. No one finds me attractive at all; I'm just some "scrawny bitch" who walks around on the streets making the best of her life. Add to the fact I find boys icky; I hate the way they look and they lack that "feminine" touch that at LEAST makes them half-way charming. Which is why I like you, Yumi – you're not all 'cutesy', yet you are a hot girl who is as tough as nails.'
Yumi just blushed and scratched the side of her head. 'I see… so I'm a guy, minus the wang and plus the boobs. Welp, I've been called all things… but uh, going back to the whole street thing… don't you have a fam – '
'Yumi, my dad left me at an early age and it drove mother to the edge of insanity. She committed suicide shortly after. My brother has raised me until he got arrested for being involved in some "gang" thing. It's funny you know? Every time a man in my family leaves in my family, a woman suffers. Dad leaves, mom blows her brains out. Brother leaves and look at me. Trying to survive on my own by mooching off of people. Mostly women though, because men are good for nothing… and oh geez! Mom! What a depressed wreck. Always depressed because she was afraid Dad was going to leave her…'
Yumi just sat there sighing as she said that. 'I sorta know that feeling, kid.' Midori then went on – 'Hmph. Mom deserved to die. Suicidal people who cut themselves over the dumbest things like that should –'
And before Midori could finish that, she was on the hanging end of Yumi's fist, which was clenching her collar. 'Should WHAT? Huh! I dare you to finish the rest of that sentence, you little SHIT.' Midori just froze; she was on a pre-beating end of her lover's fist. 'M-Miss Yumi?' Yumi just stared at her, clenching her other fist, ready to put it right at her gut. But just tossed her against the bus and went inside. Midori, now confused, just looked on as Yumi went back in.
'M-Miss Yumi… what did I say to offend you?'
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Seven in the morning hit. Kaz was ready to start the day with a happy smile on his face! 'Ah! Nothing like a good night's sleep! Just 5 more days and we'll be at our destination earning the greens!' Then he realized he's missing the other member of PUFFY. 'Oh, right… this… could be bad…' As he said that, he heard some rather-blues-like guitar playing from the living quarters of the bus. He poked in to see a very depressed Yumi playing on it. 'Yumi? Daijobu?' Yumi just simply shook her head and stopped playing. Kaz sat down with Yumi. 'Want to talk about it, champ?'
'Well, Kaz, it's basically like this – '
Yumi told Kaz about everything, starting from when she was still wondering if she liked Ami like that. Right down to when Midori got into her life and changed everything.
'So yeah… that's the whole shtick of it, Kaz. Sorry, I never told you about this.'
Kaz was just sitting there, and without making a smart-ass comment, without asking for cash, without trying to leave the situation – he patted Yumi on the back.
'Yumi, why didn't you say anything before? We're all friends, right? Heck, one would even say "family".'
'I know, I'm sorry. I can already tell, this is my entire fault; I over-reacted. Now the last thing Ami's going to remember about me is that I'm an over-acting "ticking time-bomb" ready to explode.' Yumi just sigh after mentioning this.
'Ah yes, that reminds me.' Kaz pulls out what seems to be a black motorcycle glove. 'You left this in my room the other day.' Yumi took a closer look at this. 'What is my glove doing in your room… ' She then took an even closer look. 'Kaz, you must be mistaken… this glove has a green stripe on th- ' Then Yumi just realized something… Kaz just smiled and patted her on the back and got up to go to his room. 'I'll leave you to put the pieces together.' Yumi was staring at a black motorcycle glove with a green stripe on it. Then out of nowhere, she started giggling. Then she started laughing. In return, this turned into a basic maniacal laugh you'd hear from evil villains in the old movies.
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Midori was just sitting outside. She hasn't left there since she first got out there. 'Yumi is mad about something. I hate seeing her upset. I can't go one like this. I seriously... seriously want to change and actually be the only one in my family to be successful at something.' Just then, her indigo-haired hero stepped out to lean against the bus right next to her. 'M-Miss Yumi?'
'Oi, Midori-chan.' Yumi just smirked at her. 'Sup?'
'M-Midori-chan? That's the first time you referred to me as Midori-chan!' Midori got up and smiled at her. But then she remembered something she said and looked back Yumi. 'Ummmm… Miss Yumi? Can I tell you something, and you won't get mad?'
Yumi shrugged. 'Dunno. OH! By the way… this is yours?' Yumi just tossed a black glove with a green stripe on it to the ground. Midori looks at it, and then checks her back pocket where she always kept a glove. Surprise, surprise – it wasn't there. 'Miss Yumi – where'd you find that?'
'In Kaz's room.' Yumi just smirked looking at her.
Midori then realized she left her glove in Kaz's room by accident! She then put two and two together and thought that maybe Yumi knew what was going on.
'Midori, you know you can tell me anything… come on, now.'
'Uhh…M-Miss Yumi… promise not to get mad?'
'Sorry, Midori, not allowed to keep promises I might break…'
END OF CHAPTER 4. NEXT – FINAL COUNTDOWN
I know what you are thinking - Midori is that character you love to hate. Yeh, again if you want to know what she looks like, give me a buzz, I'll send ya the sketch. As for the rest of my Puffy art, check the DeviantArt link I have in my profile. You know you want to. The next chapter could just very well be the final one in this story. Gee, y'think? Anyways R&R please. Flamers get to play Capcom Fighting Evolution (That's a crappy game..so it's bad.). - Kyo