Ju San arose the next morning to the clatter of coffee cups in the kitchen. Juuzou offered the young ghoul a cup of the steaming hot liquid, which she gratefully accepted. The downpour over the night had subsided to a trickle, and the pit pat sound on the windows calmed the servant. She curled up in the chair and sipped her coffee, entertaining herself by watching Suzuya prepare for work.
Her wide brown eyes studied the man's every move. He moved with fluid grace; a purpose behind every muscle movement. She pondered what Eto had seen in him. He was not like most; with his red eyes and white hair. He was attractive in his own way, but Ju San was quick to decide that Naki was better looking.
She allowed the last of the coffee to dribble down her throat and slumped down in the chair. She waited for Suzuya, and he was ready before the woman's eyelids could completely close once again.
"Ready?" he asked, hand on the door handle.
"Aren't you gonna grab your stick thing?" Ju San asked, rubbing her tired eyes and pointing at the quinque.
"No," Juuzou said, opening the door. I sheet of rain was swept inside the apartment from a sudden gust of wind. "I'm coming back. I don't have to be at work today until one. I have a meeting."
Ju San nodded and walked out of the apartment with the investigator. They walked into the streets, and Suzuya smirked and rolled his eyes at Ju San soaked in the rain. He opened up a black umbrella and pulled the servant close to him. Ju San blushed and then continued to direct him to where his children were.
She told him to stop just before they turned the corner to go down the alley.
"I can't have them see me," Ju San explained.
"Alright," Juuzou said.
"You'll find them in this alley," Ju San said, and then gave the man a mournful look. "Please, treat them well… What they are— it's not their fault."
"I know," Juuzou said. "They have done nothing wrong."
"I should probably leave," the servant said, looking down and crossing her arms.
"Going to by the mask?"
"What?" Ju San said, looking in his eyes. Then, her head dropped again. "Oh yeah. That. Right. Yeah, I will."
"I'll see you Saturday then," Juuzou said, frowning.
Ju San nodded and walked away into the rain. She wandered for the streets for some time; trying to decide if what she had done was the right thing or not. Would Juuzou really delete the files? As she splashed along, she continually told herself she was doing this for Naki.
But was she really? Deep down she knew she was doing this so that Naki and Eto wouldn't become, well, a family. She felt even more guilty when she remembered once long ago on a bench asking Naki what he wanted if he was not a servant. He had said a family.
Now, here she was, depriving Naki of his longtime wish because of her own jealousy. But at the same time, what did she ever get? She had never known her parents, her brother had been brutally murdered in front of her, and the only friend she had ever had now was her master and abuser. What had she done to deserve this?
Ju San stopped in front of an all purpose store. She hesitantly walked inside, wiping her feet on the mats. She gazed at the brightly lit aisles, trying to decide where to go to find a ski mask. She opted to look under a brightly illuminated sign displaying the word 'sportswear'. She looked around a bit, and then spotted a couple ski masks hanging on a rack.
She had to stand on the tips of her toes to reach them, and she pulled down all they had. There was two black ski masks and one white one. Both black ones looked a little too big, so she opted to go with the white one. Ju San walked hastily to the counter, waited in line, paid, and fled outside without meeting anyone's eyes.
She stuffed the mask inside her dress; she had nowhere else to put it. It was still raining, so the doe eyed servant walked inside a coffee shop to sit out the rest of the day. She sat in the shop and walked the rain splatter on the window. Was being Juuzou's informant a good idea? She knew inside that it was not; in fact, it was a terrible idea. But she was doing it for Master Naki.
When it was getting close to nine at night, the barista kicked Ju San out. It was dark out, and the servant knew she had to be getting back to Master Naki's residence. She scuffed up the long driveway, heart in her throat. She prayed that she wasn't late.
Hands shaking, she opened the front door. Naki was at the foot of the staircase. His arms were crossed and he was scowling. He was impatiently tapping his foot on the floor. Her stomach twisted. She was definitely late.
"You!" he shouted at Ju San when she came in the door. "Get over here!"
Ju San bowed her head and walked quickly down the hallway toward her master. Eto was nowhere in sight, and a few other servants dotted the entry room. They all gave her looks of pity.
"Yes Master Naki?" she asked when she stood in front of him. Her entire body quivered. She kept her eyes on the ground; she could not bare look into his eyes.
"You're late," he growled. "So you have the kids, right?"
"N—no Master Naki," Ju San said, trying not to cry.'
"You come here late, without the kids?" His voice was low and threatening. Ju San closed her eyes. Where did his cheery laugh go?
"Y—yes Master Naki."
"Look at me when I'm speaking to you, you worthless piece of shit!" Naki roared.
He grabbed the collar of her dress and lifted the servant up to his eye level. Ju San choked and kicked her feet in the air helplessly.
"Why do you not have the kids, worthless bitch of a servant?" he screamed, shaking her midair.
Ju San stared into his eyes, ignoring the fact that her dress was choking her.
What happened to birthday presents? What happened to that flower crown? What happened to those late night talks? The welcome home hugs? Sitting out on the bench? Sneaking out at night? Where was it all? Where did it all go? Why did it have to go away?
"Are you even listening to me?" Naki screamed.
That shook Ju San from her trance, but it was to late.
"You ugly fucking servant!" Naki yelled.
He threw Ju San into the ground with all the force he could. She stuck her arm out to brace her fall, and a sickening snap cut through the air. Ju San crumpled into a ball, screaming in pain. Her hand hung limply from her arm; her wrist ha completely snapped.
"Get out of my sight," Naki said, giving the woman a sharp kick to the ribs.
Somehow, Ju San managed to get to her feet and run down the hall to the nurse's room. She burst through the doorway, holding her limp hand and sobbing.
"Good heavens Ju San, what happened?" Nijuhachi said, looking at the crying and rain drenched servant.
"M—Master Naki threw me and kicked me," she sobbed.
"Oh God, your wrist," Nijuhachi said, sitting Ju San down on a bed. "I'll give you some ice, and it should heal in a couple minutes or so.
Ju San held the ice to her wrist, and five minutes later, it was good as new. She sat on the bed, staring at the tiled floor with eyes blank.
"What's on your mind?" the nurse asked, taking the ice off the younger girl's wrist.
"Just wondering."
"About what?"
"How he ended up like this."
Nijuhachi sighed. "I remember Ju Roku trying to warn you something like this would happen. But you didn't want to listen."
"Ju Roku's been dead for over five years," Ju San growled.
"Doesn't make what he said any less true," the nurse pointed out. "He knew something like this was going to happen."
"Whatever."
"I'm guessing that's what you said to Ju Roku too," Nijuhachi said, jabbing her finger at Ju San. "Why can't you get it through your head that the Naki you knew is long dead?"
"I don't know," Ju San said. With that, she left to the sleeping quarters without thanking the black haired woman.
Very late that night, when Ju San was sure all the servants were asleep, she scrambled out of bed. She opened a little box beneath her cot and took out her white ski mask. She pulled it onto her head, and then adjusted it so she could see and breathe.
Add some own personal flare to it
Juuzou's words ran through her head. She didn't really own anything, let alone something to add to the mask. Suddenly, she thought of something. Hands shaking, she pulled it out from the box.
She then climbed out the window, raced across the courtyard, and opened the heavy wooden door. She looked back at the quiet mansion, and then took off toward the city, with a pink and white plastic flower crown atop her head.