L- Ah! I return!
K- Um... Whatever.
L-... Ignoring her! Yes, I DO live, even after two weeks or something. Loooong Thanksgiving weekend... Veeeeery long...
K- Just get to the point. I don't even have to be here. Wait, whyam I here!
L- Sure! Um, well, sorry to tell you all, but my cookies got confiscated by the FBI. They said something about danger...
Random FBI Person- They are a threat to national security, ma'am.
L- Yeeeah... Um, thanks for the review, Shadow Rose. Well, your review was appricated so you get a SPECIAL CUPCAKE THAT I BOUGHT FOR YOU FROM A CANADIAN HOBO ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD!
K- ...
L- Why so silent? Um, and I know that you can't reply to reviews anymore on here ((cough))whichsucks((cough)), but I'm happy that SOMEONE took the time out of their lives to review. Even though only, like, six people read it. Whoa, I really suck, huh?
K- That's enough. I'm leaving. ((throws a shrubbery at Laura as she walks away))
L- COOL! KATHLEEN WOULD NEVER REALLY DO THIS! Um, following note: I know practically zip about Japanese culture, so I'm kinda taking the easy way out in this chapter and using my American culture. As I said, I suck like that. I'm trying to make it funnier...
Disclaimer: I think, I forgot it in the first chapter, but I don't own anything. As hard as that is to believe, I'm sure. ((Really, I mightbe respondsible, but a COMAPANY! All my potted plantsdie, sothink of trusting me with your tax dollars... Scary, huh?)) Well, I own my characters. Sue my mind.
"So how do you looo-ove… How do you looove… When your angels can't sing, and your world is still lacking of me…" Akari Atami sang loudly over the blaring Collective Soul CD. "The space where you've been living, has gifts you've never given, that's the face you always show…" She hopped around her bedroom, awkwardly picking up clothes that had been left on the floor at the same time. There was a loud groan from downstairs.
"Akariii-i… Be quiet…" She frowned as she recognised her mother's voice. "And stop jumping, it's shaking the china cabinet." Scowling, she walked over and turned up the CD volume another three notches, receiving a satisfying torrent of music. She smiled impishly. Three… Two… One…
"AND TURN DOWN THAT MUSIC! Put on a pair of headphones or something and come down here!" Akari sighed as she turned down the sound, and then turned it off. Not wanting to leave the sanctity of her room, she slumped down onto her bed, creating more of a mess then there already was. Picking up a paper that was obstructing her view out the window, she stared at it incredulously. Come out and join the racquetball club? Not a chance. As someone very devoted to going against everyone else, it was a no-brainer that she wouldn't participate in some stupid school function. It's not like anybody will miss me. Her expression grew grimmer as she thought about her school, Domino City High School. She hated it. She had no friends, no one to support her. But it's not like I really care, she thought, throwing the paper off to the side. She was a lifelong outcast and was fine that way. Maybe not happy, but fine.
"AKARI! GET DOWN HERE!" Jumping up, the girl tripped over a pair of sneakers, falling flat on her face. Muttering, she rubbed her cheek and unlocked her door.
"Whaaaat?" Akari whined, gliding down the stairs with a gloomy look on her face.
Akari's mother turned around, her short brown hair coming to rest easily around her face. She took in the sight before her. Sixteen years old, she looked nothing like the child she had imagined having. Her thin, shining black hair which her father had given her reached down to her mid-back, contrasting brightly against her pale white skin. Her eyes were unsettling, a light grey tinged with the slightest hint of baby blue which radiated defiance. She wasn't short, just a bit over the average height for a girl her age, but it was accented by the elevation of the boots she wore. The older woman frowned. "Why can't you wear anything other than black?"
Her daughter slumped sulkily. "…Why? What did you call me down here to do?"
She plunged on. "You look so pretty in pink. And there's that dress that your aunt got you last spring. Why don't you wear that? You're always wearing such… dark clothes."
Akari glowered, trying to hide her enjoyment. It was fun to annoy her mother about her clothes. "But what if I like these clothes?" She stared at her mother plaintively.
She didn't take the challenge. "Still. It makes you look so mean and gloomy. And there isn't a lot of it."
And maybe that's what I was going for. She looked down. She was wearing a pair of knee-high lace-up boots, coupled with a pair of dark purple socks that went just over her knees. The black jean skirt was circled by two silver chain belts, both with hanging accents. A corset-like tank top and a pair of black arm warmers finished the outfit. "… Why did you call me down here?"
Her mom sighed, obviously resigned from the ages-old struggle over clothes. "I need you to go to the store and pick up some things." She handed the girl a short list. "But you can't take too long. I need this to make dinner. This should be enough," she said, offering Akari a handful of money. She bent down and kissed her on the forehead. "Be safe…"
Akari gave her mom a skeptical look, and then turned for the door. She couldn't stand it when her family did that to her. The 'guilt' ploy. Well, I'll never be what they want. She unlocked the door, the familiar clicking soothing her ruffled nerves. Opening it, she went to walk down the apartment building's narrow stairs, but stopped as something brushed her shoulder. Her mother was standing there, holding a muted blue coat. "You'll catch a cold out there. It's still spring."
She glared back, grabbing the coat and muttering thanks. But as the door slammed behind her, she stared back, eyes holding a silent gratitude. Whipping around, the girl ran down the stairwell. Why can't I be someone else?
…
The spring air was frigid, filled with the sights and sounds of life. People were busily bustling through the streets, trying to get from one place to the next. People sat on benches waiting for transport, huddling within themselves for warmth. Nobody paid a passing glance to another, all just passing faces. Akari glanced silently around, cradling the heavy bag of groceries. It was tough, working to avoid running into anyone. Normally, she didn't care, glaring at anyone who bumped her. But something today made her uneasy, like there was someone who was watching her. Her eyes raced back and forth, looking for something to reassure her tired mind.
Come… come to me…
People shuffled faster as the girl's head flew up. She cast a worried glance at the people around her. Didn't they hear that? Their faces betrayed no emotion.
Come…now…
Her eyes filled with fear. Who said that! She slowed her pace and spun her face around. A few people grumbled under their breath, jostling her forward. But she didn't move. Standing stock still, her breath came out in white puffs in front of her lips. The haunting voice hung in the suddenly still air. Where is that coming from…?
Come on… Stop resisting…
Her heart was racing and her hands as cold as ice. A few people glanced at her, curious as to why she defied the flow. She could feel a presence, something else prying into her soul. The feeling brought a bitter warmth with it, like the last leaf of fall still hanging to a tree, only to be frozen off by winter. Something… Someone… Who…
Come on… By, Ra, hurry it up a bit! There was a twinge of frustrated anger in the voice now. What are you waiting for, next winter?
Akari swiveled around inquisitively. That was different…
God, you're slow. Over here…
She scowled. Whatever this was, it wasn't very friendly.
No, I'm not so get over it already. Now COME OVER HERE.
"Ow!" Akari clutched her forehead. And it hurt when it yelled. It was almost like the voice was in her mind…
You're dense. I'm really starting to rethink this. OVER HERE, TO YOUR LEFT.
"What!" The girl turned, irritated that her head was throbbing. She glared from under her bangs in the indicated direction. Seeing nothing, she walked over to the edge of the sidewalk, where the concrete met the still-brown grass. Nothing.
Sighing, she turned to walk away, but stopped as she spied a small spark of light out of the corner of her eye. "This had better be-" She stopped herself, staring at the sight before her.
"Wow, you sure take a while." Standing in front of her was a beautiful woman, giving her a one-eyed glare. Her shoulder-length thick, black hair caressed her bare, tan shoulders as she stepped forward, her body straining against the fragile outlines of the light tan dress she wore. Akari stared into her face, watching for a clue to emotion. Creased with scars, her cheek was relaxed, a betrayal to itself. Half of the woman's full, sun radiant face was covered by a flow of black hair, like there was something to be hidden. The only eye visible was a rich hazel, light brown with bight green specks which stood out brilliantly against the tan of her skin. It radiated of a venomous nature. "One who will serve me cannot be so… spacey."
Akari chose this time to drop the heavy bag. "…Wha… What!" She bent over and began to pick up the fallen groceries. "Who are you!"
A wave of mixed feelings passed over the woman's face, finally settling into haughtiness. "I am Ishara, Akari."
Akari dropped the head of lettuce she had been holding. "How do you know my name!"
Ishara chuckled. "I can get inside your mind. It's not that hard. But that is beside the point." She approached Akari. "You have something I need…"
Akari was getting uncomfortable. Ishara's eyes… They were holding something else. Something she couldn't trust. Whipping around, she stuck her hand out to push the woman away.
Nothing happened. No thump as she fell. No sound of the girl running away.
Her hand went right through Ishara's shoulder. She wasn't really there.
…
L- Okay! If you could sit through it long enough, HERE'S THE END! ((throws confetti))... I'm really bad at writing this... Ah, so please keep reading and REVIEW!
