Thank you all for waiting so patiently! Here is the next chapter! I hope you all enjoy it! Thanks Tallulah for being my beta...YOU'RE THE BEST!
Double-Z: -glows- Oh yes, I'm writing an excellent story and don't you know it! Thank you!
Margarite Estella: I made someone's day interesting? Really? COOL! I'm glad you like it and I hope you think this chapter is just as good!
Tallulah: I got cured -nods enthusiastically-
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter 8
(Masago)
Lying on my bed, I tried to figure out what to do. After Kiyoko had told about what had happened, I had told her I needed to think about it, and comehome. Yuki wasn't here so I was left to entertain thoughts of what could be and what had been. Questions buzzed around in my brain. Should I tell the gang? What would they do? Who should I talk to? Why me?
Next to me, the phone rang. For a moment I lay there and contemplated whether or not to pick it up. On the third ring I gave in and answered.
"Hello?" I knew I didn't sound myself, but I didn't care enough to even try to mask it.
"Sago?" Katashi's voice traveled down the line. "Are you ok? You sound like shit." A wry smile twisted my lips as I took in that piece of information. Yeah, I probably did sound like shit.
"I'm ok, not the best and not the worst." I traced patterns on the blanket underneath me. "Where are you?"
"At home; I was going to see if you wanted to head out to Serenia's bar."
"I wouldn't mind that; I got something I need to get off my chest."
"You know I'm always ready to listen."
"Thanks, I'll meet you there in a few."
X-X-X-X-X
"Masago, are you alright? You look like crap!" Serenia came out from behind the bar, concern etched on her face. "Katashi said you sounded a little off."
"I'm fine," I assured her. "Where's Katashi?"
"In the corner; he bought you a drink, and I think you should take it.You need it." Serenia ushered meover to where the colorful guy was sitting.
"SQUAWK! Bring me two piña coladas! I gotta have one for each hand!" Captain Morgan cawed, startling me.
"Shut it, Morgan!" Serenia hissed, giving him a good glare as she sat me down next to my fellow gang member. "If you two need anything, just give a holler." With that she walked away, leaving me slumped across from Katashi.
"What's wrong?" The alcoholic beverage was pushed closer to me and a heavy hand patted my shoulder. Staring at the amber liquid I tried to find the words to verbalize what I was feeling.
"My life is so screwed up." I swirled the drink around as I spat out that understatement. "He was just too good to be true. I knew it but…you still hope…" Katashi sat there, quietly waiting for me to get out the rest. That's what's so wonderful about him, he always gives you time and space. Heaving a long sigh, I tried to find a good place to start.
"You know that I have these special powers, right?" I didn't wait for him to respond, but plowed on heedlessly. "I met this guy a few days ago…I wanted to see what he was thinking…he had a barrier…I pushed it too hard and I collapsed." How can you explain a mental defense? It's something unlike anything else; it reflects the person's inner strength. "Well, I went to get some space after that, and I met this old guy who told me about my grandpa and grandma." I broke off and looked away,trying to explain what had been told to me.
"Your grandparents, were they like you?" Katashi asked cautiously. Silently, I thanked him for easing the way into the harder part of the conversation.
"My grandmother was a medium, she was used to channel other's powers; my grandfather had nothing." Swallowing hard, I traced patterns on the table. "He said that there was a boy, Tetsuo, who had very strong powers; he said that Tetsuo killed many people with these powers."
"You're afraid that you'll do the same?" Katashi always knew what to say, what to ask. Tears welled up in my eyes and I blinked furiously to keep them down.
"Yes." The whisper was torn from me. "I'm terrified. What if my control snaps? What if I unleash armageddon, you know I have the power. You know what happens when I'm upset. And she says that I have to help Akira, another one who's like me, but he hasn't received his powers yet. She thinks that I'll be able to help him! I can't even keep mine under my direction all the time!"
"Hey." Katashi reached out and patted me on the shoulder. "It's going to be ok."
"How do you know?" I hated the despairing note in my voice; I was no damsel in distress, but that's how I sounded. "What if I do something wrong and everyone dies?"
"Everyone makes mistakes and does things the wrong way; you are no different," Katashi assured me. "I have complete confidence in your control; you are always on top of everything and know exactly what is going on. When you are upset, yes you tend to be a little destructive, like that one time, but besides that you're very safe. I know you are powerful, but I don't think that you have the power to bring about the world's demise; maybe a few city blocks, but not the entire earth."
"But what am I to do about Akira?" I moaned, burying my face in my arms.
"Who is he?"
"A guy I know who is supposed to wield ultimate power."
"Well, if you don't want to help him you don't have to. It's up to you, your choice. No one can make you do anything, you always have the option to say no." Katashi pushed the glass of alcohol closer to me. "Have a drink, it will calm your nerves."
"I'm fine." I waved the drink away.
"Drink it or I'll force it down your throat." Katashi gave me a warning look. "I know what's best in this situation."
"I don't want to get smashed," I muttered, picking up the glass and taking a sip. The drink burned a path down my throat and I closed my eyes as it settled in my stomach, warming my insides. Another taste and I began to relax a little, allowing my taut muscles a reprieve. Katashi downed his cup as I ran my finger around the rim of my glass, unwilling to drink the entire thing.
"Do you think I really have a choice?" I looked up at him and he gave me a gentle smile.
"Of course, everyone has a choice."
"But what if our futures aren't up to us? What if everything is already planned? We aren't in charge of what we do?" I swallowed hard as I revealed my deepest fear. "Bullshit," Katashi said cheerfully. "Utter and complete tripe. You can't tell me that everything you see for the future always happens."
"It does!" I argued. "Everything!"
"It's always the same? There are no variations?" Katashi raised his eyebrows and I paused. Kai.
"Yes, there have been variations." I was struck dumb.
"There, you see? We are as much in charge of our destinies as anyone else; there are some things we can't avoid, like death, but besides that, we are in charge of what we do and how. Only a fool blames fate, and a weak one at that." Katashi dismissed my darkest horror with only a few words. "Now, drink up!"
X-X-X-X-X
"Whoo!" I screeched, punching the air with one fist. I was feeling deliciously light and airy, like I was floating. Grinning broadly, I did a quick little dance step that required a lot of butt shaking. Music was pounding and I was utterly lost in it. The amount of drinksin my system was unknown to me and I really could care less, only the beat mattered. All around me people were dancing as well.
The bass pumped to the same pace as my heart and I twisted and snapped my body to it. I had danced with almost everyone in clubmale or female; it didn't matter, it was all the same. My long heavy hair was free, falling everywhere and sticking to my sweat-soakedskin. The person who was dancing with me now slipped their hands down to my hips and I did an obliging wiggle. The words to the song burst from my parched lips and I longed for something to drink to drown my thirst.
As if in answer to my thought, a bottle was passed to me. Not bothering to check the label, I tipped it up and drained what was left in it. The sweet substance slipped down my throat like the elixir of life, giving me more energy. All my senses seemed to heighten, from the brightness of the lights to the taste of the air. Giggling, I pressed closer to my partner. It felt so good to just get lost in the sensations of skin and touch.
Rough, unrelenting fingers grasped my shoulders and whipped me around to face the owner of them. My eyes refused to focus in on the features of their face, but I swore they were trying to say something. Shaking my head I reached up and placed my fingers over what I assumed was their mouth. This was no time for talk, this was time for fun and letting loose. Reaching up, I tried to pry their hands off me, but in the process dropped the bottle I had been clutching.
Suddenly everything tilted and swam. Colors were crowding in on me as sound seemed to fade away; I could still feel the vibrations but it was like someone had muted the music. Reaching out, I tried to grasp onto something solid to steady myself, but nothing was there. Whatever I tried to touch I went right through, as if it was all an illusion. Squinting, I lunged for one of the figures in my line of vision, only to stumble and fall.
(Akira)
Masago abruptly jerked forward and I barely caught her. She was quite a sight to behold, her beautiful black eyes glazed from alcohol and drugs. As she swayed back and forth in my arms, her full black hair stuck her pale skin and tangled around me.Scowling at the guy who had been dancing with her -if you could call it dancing, it was more like foreplay- I hauled her out of the club. She was barefoot and her worn clothes added to the effect of her looking like she had just been ravished.
"S'going on?" she slurred, more to herself than to me, and a fresh wave of anger swept over me and I compressed my lips together. It was a damn good thing that Kiyoko had sent me to the club to see what was going on; a few minutes later and Masago would have been in a shit load of trouble.
"I'll tell you what going on!" I snarled, scooping her up, bridal style. She hung in my arms like a broken doll, her unfocused eyes randomly moving around. "You got hammered and then someone drugged you!" Her face turned toward mine and she reached out, but since her perception was skewered she missed me by a mile.
I was not in a charitable mood; Kiyoko had refused to tell me what she had told Masago and Masago hadn't come back to the apartment. Now the lush was too drunk and drugged to be able to comprehend anything. Making my way through the empty streets, I concentrated on keeping her in my arms and getting to my apartment, neither of which was very easy because Masago would start jerking around or squirm without warning and when I focused fully on her I easily missed turns.
Finally I got us to my apartment and ushered her into the bathroom. With a little difficulty I leaned her up against the wall and ran a warm bath. Next to me she muttered things under her breath and traced patterns in the air with her fingers. As I was lifting her to set her in the tub (clothes and all) she threw up, covering both of us in her stomach's contents.
"Damn it!" I hollered at her just before she burst into tears. Why she was crying I had no idea, but it must have had to do with either barfing or my angry voice. Forcing myself to relax, I pulled her into a hug and stroked her back in an effort to placate her. The stench of vomit was terrible and I gagged a few times, but I managed to ignore it for the most part, until I got her settled down and in the tub. Keeping an eye on her, I stripped my shirt and pants off. Hurriedly I grabbed Masago as she lurched forward.
"Here goes." I carefully peeled off the girl's outer layer and washed her thoroughly in her underclothes. When I was satisfied, I pulled the plug and lifted her out of the tub and wrapped her up in a towel. She didn't respond to anything I did, but that didn't mean she was quiet or motionless. Through whatever I did she twitched and murmured things under her breath; it made me wonder what the hell they had given her. Setting her on the floor, I toweled her hair so it wasn't sopping wet, and then pulled one of my t-shirts on her over the towel.
"I have to save him," Masago whispered hoarsely. "If he dies, so does the future of the human race." Sighing, I pulled off the towel and took offher underwear, not looking at anything under the t-shirt. Picking her up again, I was appalled at how light she was; it was very unhealthy. Pushing that aside, I tucked her into my bed and rummaged around in my closet for a pair of pants. After struggling into them I sat down in a chair next to her. I was going to have to watch her all night to make sure she was ok and didn't puke and inhale it. Yippee.
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