Hey everyone! This chappie's pretty short but that's the way it's supposed to be. Sorry, I know it's frustrating. :) One note.
Gorilaz: I'm not saying a word. LOL. You can think whatever you want but just keep reading. :)
Chapter 3
"Saki, you're late, we were about to send Megumi out to look for you," her mother said as she walked through the kitchen doorway.
"Were you reading over at the Shiraki Bookstore again? Your dinner's getting cold."
"I'm fine," she said plainly, sitting down at the table and picking up her chopsticks. She looked at Megumi sitting across from her and he gave a nod. He had sensed trouble ever since she had entered. He didn't have the power to sense feelings; his power was the ability to curse others with the knowledge of their names. However, he could just feel that something was not quite right because he and Hana both shared the abnormality of these abilities.
"How was school?" her father asked, looking over the rim of his glasses as he lifted his head from the newspaper.
"I failed another test," Hana replied nonchalantly.
"Well, we'll just have to bring that up, won't we?" he replied with the same tone, turning back to the paper.
"Finishing high school is my goal, of course I will work hard to bring it up," Hana said decisively.
"Atta girl," her father mumbled, flipping the page in the newspaper.
"You can do it, Saki!" her mother encouraged energetically.
"Oh, Saki, your black nail polish is chipping," her grandmother said, taking one of the girl's hands in hers. "Do you want me to repaint them after you've finished eating?"
"Of course, Obaba," Hana replied with a small smile.
She's trying to cover something up, I can see it in her eyes, Megumi thought.
"Rin, it's good to see you're out of the hospital," Hatori said solemnly, turning as he felt a cool breeze on his back, indicating that the door had been opened. He could see the figure of the young girl standing in his doorway. He sat in his large black chair looking her over; almost as if he was checking to make sure she was all right.
"A lot you care, you didn't even come to see me," she replied harshly.
"Only when you were asleep," he said.
"Hiro even came," she argued. He didn't reply, just sat there. "That's not why I'm here though, you called me, so what do you want?" She stared at him with malice written in her expression.
"I'm worried about Hatsuharu; I've been seeing him recently about health issues which are caused by mental issues. He told me everything, Rin, and I should have expected it," Hatori said.
"What are you talking about?" she asked. Her face was fierce but her voice and eyes were filled with fear.
"You know what I'm talking about," he replied, his eyes staring into hers. The fear in her eyes disappeared instantly; obviously she had come up with a good comeback.
"You're weak, Hatori," she spat at him. "Everyone else thinks you're so strong, but they're wrong. I've moved on, you, however, hold on to the past and pain. I refuse to do so; I refuse to be regarded as weak."
"Your words don't hurt me like they would somebody else, Rin; they only reflect your own recklessness," Hatori said. She stared at him with just a look of disgust, appalled by his words. She should have known her insult would not have affected him, it was almost impossible to reach him. She should have also known he would turn it back around on her. It hurt her; she was reckless, and she knew it, but she would never admit it, especially not to Hatori.
"Bury yourself in your own pain, Hatori, drown yourself in it for all I care, but I won't be around to see it happen," she said, rushing out the door. As Hatori looked after her he grinned slightly for only a second. He knew he had reached her.