Disclaimer: I do not own Azumanga Daioh, which is copyright Kiyohiko Azuma. Mamoru, however, is my property.
A/N: Yay, second chapter Whee! Thank you to anyone who has R+Rd.
Yomi: I like Roses!
Itena: You got a problem with that?
Yomi: Um, no.
Chapter2 : Fate
An announcement was broadcasted, a woman's voice spoke projecting throughout the airport, announcing,"Plane arriving from America has now arrived."
A few minutes later, Yomi saw a young girl with orange hair tied up in two pigtails slightly in the back, waving at them with a huge smile on her face. Chiyo-chan had returned, shouting a recognisable,"Hi everybody!". It was the same Chiyo-chan, only with a slightly taller height and a slightly bigger chest than when they last saw her.
Everyone smiled. Other than her height, and chest, it was the same Chiyo-chan. Going to her, they greeted Chiyo- chan warmly with a sisterly kind of compassion. Except for Tomo, who just asked if she could have Hawaii now. "Um, that's impossible, Tomo-san."
"So Chiyo-chan," said Osaka with a serious look on her face,"Did ya' ever get kidnapped?"
Everyone groaned in irritation. Chiyo-chan just looked flustered."N-no of course not Osaka-san."
Yomi shook her head. Osaka was at it again. She sighed as Osaka kept telling Chiyo-chan all the ways she could of gotten kidnapped, almost scolding her, with Sakaki reminding the two about Chiyo-chan's father. Chiyo-chan was looking confused and bewildered. 'The only way this could get worse is if--'
Tomo jumped and thwacked Chiyo-chan on the head."When I finish my police training I can protect you!" she exclaimed.
'--Tomo joins.'Yomi sighed. She needed to stop the insanity very soon or she would burst, so she interrupted them suggesting," So Chiyo-chan, where should we go for some fun?"
Osaka completely forgot about the conversation earlier and instead came up with another weird idea from among the strange and mysterious thoughts in her head. Yomi could tell by the look on her face. "I know, let's go to the pet shop to set free all the bug pets, like the cicadas!"
Everyone stared at her, and a few long seconds of silence followed. Yomi could sware she heard a dog laugh at them as it walked by. Finally, Chiyo-chan spoke up,"Um, I don't think there are any cicadas in a pet store. Maybe a tarantula, but that's about all the bug pets they have."
"...Oh!..." . Everyone groaned once more.
Suddenly, Tomo had a face that seemed to have thought of a brilliant idea. "I know! Let's go to Magical Land!"
Everyone was nodding. Tomo actually came up with a good idea. Only Osaka seemed too disagree, for she still wanted to go to the pet shop and free all the tarantulas. Being the polite person she always was, Chiyo-chan said she'll pay. 'I forgot she was rich,' thought Yomi.
"Okay then! Now that that's settled, let's head out, and go!" yelled Tomo who was just about to sprint out of the airport and into the parking lot. But Yomi grabbed her arm, stopping her.
"Wait. We first have to check the news and weather forecast."
Tomo looked at her, almost awe-stricken at Yomi's sudden exaggerated will for planning. " Since when have we ever needed to do that?" she spoke.
"I don't know, just call it intuition," she replied. Yomi couldn't put her finger on it, but she had a strange urge that insisted on making sure everything would go right before going. Yomi suprised herself, even though she was the one in the group who wanted to be prepared, and was the one with the most common sense. But news? That was going a bit far, even for Yomi.
But despite how overcautious it seemed, everyone seemed to think it was a good idea." We can all go to my house and check the news there!" said Chiyo-chan with that same cheerful smile they all knew and loved. And it was that innocent look they were all grateful for, because Chiyo-chan wouldn't be Chiyo-chan if not for that lovable grin. Yes, for that, they were all grateful.
As everyone headed to their cars, Yomi thought of how everyone's changed. 'No one really changed,' she thought to herself, 'not really.' A warm smile grew on Yomi's face as she followed Sakaki's car to Chiyo-chan's home.
The large green gates to the large house opened as the cars drove slowly into the driveway. To Yomi's amazement she saw Yukari and Kurosawa-sensei's cars parked in front of them. As they came out of their cars they were greeted by theit two former highschool teachers. Yukari was first to shout,"Yo!"
Nyamo looked slightly embarressed as she greeted them properly, saying," Hi everyone, it's been a while hasn't it?"
They all just stared, until Kagura spoke up,"Um, sensei, how did you know we were gonna come here?"
"Oh that? I don't know anything, Yukari just told me."
Yomi noticed Chiyo-chan was staring up at the sky, trying to remember something. Then she looked like she just remembered seeing some kind of ghost. She kept muttering something about summer house and phone. 'What is she thinking?' thought Yomi.
Everyone entered the mansion went to one of Chiyo-chan's rooms. As soon as Chiyo-chan opened the door, Tomo ran inside like a canonball and threw herself infront of the television. Once everyone settled in, Chiyo-chan turned on the tv, flipping a few channels until she found the news. Luckily, it was weather than local news.
"Forcast today is windy with a 50 chance of rain later in the evening. Tomorrow's forcast will be cloudy with short rain showers throughout the afternoon. Wednesday sunny with clouds. Thursday cloudy with a bit of sunny breakthroughs throughout the day," said the weather reporter,"and finally Friday will be mostly sunny with a bit of clouds. And now for local news."
Everyone sighed. Rain wasn't gonna help an amusement park.
"A cold wind started blowing yesterday evening. Medics are suspicious of this gust and insist that everyone stay inside if possible until doctors have more information. We will keep you updated on this issue."
The television was turned off. Everyone stared at Yomi. Yomi had a shocked face, heart thumping, eyes wide. 'Yesterday evening.'
" Are you okay Yomi?" asked Chiyo-chan.
Yomi took a hold on herself. " Yeah, yeah I'm fine Chiyo-chan."
Tomo jumped up, eyes wide in awe, yelling," Holy shit Yomi! You're like, a psychic or something!" . Osaka nodded in agreement.
Yomi shook her head." It was a lucky hunch. That's all."
Kagura sighed," We can't go anywhere now."
"Aah whatever! Who cares about the stinkin' news! Let's go anyway!" . Yukari-sensei nodded enthusiasticly.
Tomo was about to run through the door when Yomi stopped her for the second time, a serious look on her face. " No," said Yomi assertivly. Tomo's eyes widened, and for the first time, she couldn't think of a comeback.
Nyamo agreed fullheartedly with Yomi, nodding." It's better not to risk it," she said.
Sakaki looked out the window. Like the forecast said, it was cloudy, wind blowing the trees, making them bend a bit. As she watched the wind blow, she suddenly turned away from the window, towards the kotatsu (A/N: A kind of foot warmer that looks like a table covered with a cloth). Yomi knew how she felt. 'That wind gives me the friggin' creeps,' she thought,'Like that one yesterday,'
They all sighed, as they sat around the kotatsu. Chiyo-chan tried to cheer them up. " It's okay guys! We can stay at my house and just visit! I have cake and coffee!"
At the sound of cake, Yomi ws fine staying at Chiyo-chan's house. Everyone else nodded, though they were still a bit dissappointed. " Okay then!" said Chiyo-chan cheerfully," I'll go get the cake and coffee."
Sakaki got up." I'll help you," she said quietly.
As thetwo left and closed the door, Yomi noticed a vase with red roses that had been hidden behind the door. A small smiled grew on her face. Tomo looked curiously, then looked at the vase. "Oh roses, so what?"
Yomi blushed, "Well, I kinda like them."
" Oh yeah, now I remember."
Yukari butted in, " I think snow crabs are better. You can't eat roses."
" Why are we talking about crabs and roses?" asked Kagura
Just then they were interrupted when the door opened with Sakaki holding a tray of coffee and Chiyo-chan a tray of slices of cake. They handed one of each to everyonee. Tomo smacked her lips and shouted," Itadakimasu!"(A/N:a japanesesaying whenever someone starts a meal). Yomi ate slowly, chewing her food properly, but she was as happy as Tomo was, maybe a bit more. But everyone noticed she was eating slower than usual.
Mamoru turned on the television. He flipped a few channels until he reached the news channel, which seemed to reel him in at the moment.
" A cold wind started blowing yesterday evening. Doctors are suspicious of this gust and insis that everyone stays inside if possible until doctors have more information. And now for an update on this issue.
"Many people who have experienced this mysterious gust have fallen ill with an uknown illness. If someone you know has fallen victim of this new disease, doctors advise to keep them in bed and to search for an ambulance that drives by. Ambulances have been scattered around Tokyo, searching for any victims of this illness."
Clank. The remote fell from Mamoru's hand, who shook with eyes wide in fear and dread. " Yomi."
Yomi felt dizzy. Suddenly, the painful feeling in her chest returned, but with a ferocity unlike the other times. She gasped, fork dropping from her hands, which grasped the area of the lungs as she fell to the ground, curling up with one hand clutching her chest and the other pulling the carpet floor, as if trying to tear it, eyes clamped shut and teeth clenched in pain, groaning.
"Yomi!" cried out everyone, and hurried to her, a few cups and cakes spilled in the process. Just then, the door slammed open. Mamoru ran to Yomi's side, and held her as she writhed in pain from an invisible force, buried in her lungs. Her breathing was sharp and painful. 'Gotta speak,' she thought,' I need to say something.' She struggled but managed to whisper a single word. " Ma-mamoru...-kun..." She fought against her body's will to shut down and black out.
"Yomi!" exclaimed >amoru, a bead of sweat dripping down his face, his brow furrowed with worry.
Tomo started panicking, running around the room, yelling," What should we do! What should we do damnit!"
Mamoru decided to take hold of the situation, " We need to get her to a bed!" Chiyo-chan nodded. " Follow me to my room!" she said then led them to the other side of the hall and quickly opened the door. Engulfed in pain, Yomi gave up, and let herself slide in to unconsciousness, though her body still shook with pain. They placed her on the bed, and pulled the covers over her. They winced as they heard Yomi's painful groans.
Nyamo put her hand on Yomi's brow, then gasped. " She's burning up," she said in a worried tone.
A wet cloth was placed on Yomi's forehead and her glasses were removed. Being the most athletic, Sakaki, Kagura, and Kurosawa-sensei went to find an ambulance. The rest stayed by Yomi's side. Tomo was shocked. " But how? She was the one who wanted to check the news first."
Mamoru frowned." Yesterday in the evening, Yomi had taken another one of her strolls in the park near here. When I found her there, many people were getting out of the park in a hurry. Yomi herself seemed disturbed by something. My guess is that something happened in that park, and that was probably the wind."
Tomo stared at Yomi silently. Then without without warning, she slammed her fist on the floor, " Damnit! Yomi's such an idiot! Moron!" she yelled, tears springing from the corners of her eyes. Yukari patted her on the shoulder sympatheticly.
" Who are you calling a moron?"
Tomo's eyes widened. Everyone sighed with a tone of relief.
Yomi's eyes opened. She smiled but it was hard. God she hurt like hell.
"Yomi! How are you feeling?"
"Like shit Tomo. Like shit."
Tomo tried to laugh but only managed a small smile.
Mamoru put held Yomi's hand, with tone of relief as he said," Thank God Yomi, thank god."
Yomi gave him a weak smile and held his hand back. She then turned to Chiyo-chan with a guilty look on her face. " I'm sorry Chiyo-chan. Today was supposed to be a fun day back for you."
Chiyo chan shook her head. "Not at all! You're not to blame!" she said. She felt a lump on her throat, but refused to cry. She didn't want Yomi to feel more guilty.
Yomi nodded. She tried to sit up but when she moved a white hot pain shot through her spine, making her groan. Yukari made her stay down, scolding, " What the hell were you thinking?"
Just then they heard sirens getting louder. Osaka looked out the window. " They're here," she sighed with relief.
Two paramedics aswell as Sakaki, Kagura, and Nyamo ran up to Chiyo-chan's room. "We... found them," spoke Kagura, breathing hard from running. All three were exhausted.
The two paramedics made quick work, quickly yet carefully placing Yomi on a stretcher, and transported her through the mansion and into the ambulance. The rest followed.
" Is she going to be alright?" asked Mamoru with a worried look on his face that has been stuck on him for a while now.
The medic shook his head guiltily." We don't know anything about this new illness, so we can't guaruntee anything."
Those words had everyone in shock. As the ambulance drove through the green gates and onto the road, sirens blazing, everyone was silent. It was then that Chiyo-chan broke down and cried.
A/N: Please R+R!
Mamoru: How did I know where Yomi was?
Itena: Isn't it obvious? Love always finds a path!
Mamoru: Oookayee then.
Talking Corner:
Kimura-sensei: This is just too sad!
Everyone else: 0.0
Kimura-sensei: Not one single girl wore a bikini!sob
Everyone else: -.-; oh my god...