A/N: 'Hi' to all the new readers. Thank for giving this story a read all the way up to chapter 46, woot! And I'll show some love for JadeSkye79 for commenting, it's always nice to see what you guys think!
Weird chapter, but that's Yokoishi for ya. Let's get on with it!
Disclaimer: I was playing 'Cooking Mama' with Takeshi Konomi when he should have been working on Prince of Tennis!
Chapter Forty Six
Shikawara was up early in the morning so she could get through her routine before leaving to meet her friends. She'd spent an hour speaking to her mother, got dressed, had breakfast with Mr. Cheung's son and took off in the S65 AMG to pick up Nariko. She sat silently in the car. Nothing was really on her mind. She was exhausted because of Umeko's illusion, it gave her such a painful headache. That night she had to choose between the sedatives or the painkillers. She should have taken the painkillers. Thinking back on the pain, Shikawara knew there was something different about it. When she was under Ito's technique, she was in her memory – so she didn't feel any pain other then the emotional side of it. So why did Umeko's technique make her feel very 'heavy' and burdened once she walked off the courts? Shikawara thought it could have been because of the illusion, something to do with the woman in white… She ran her hands through her hair and lent forward to look out the front window with Takahashi.
The twenty-five minute journey gave Shikawara time to think to herself, but it wasn't long enough to find any answers. Before she knew it, Takahashi drove onto Nariko's road and they saw her standing by her garden wall with her head down and daydreaming eyes.
Shikawara sat back in her seat. Once Takahashi stopped the car she got out and called Nariko over from across the street. "You look different without your uniform on, Nariko-chan."
Nariko looked away, embarrassed. "Well, of course."
Nariko had her silky black hair out of the single ponytail that she always had it in and let the shoulder-length hair flow with her steps. The weather was warm so she wore a dark green cami, a black short-sleeve cardigan and a tight fitting pair of white jeans with flat green pumps.
"It suits you! Hop in. We still need to get senpai."
Shikawara opened the door for Nariko and scooted over so she could get in. Nariko said her good mornings to Takahashi. Shikawara told Takahashi to follow his directions to where they would meet Yokoishi.
"Did she say anything to you about today, other then getting stronger?" Nariko asked.
"Not a thing. But you know how senpai is, her heart is generally in the right place but her words don't help."
Nariko agreed and for the length of the journey, until they reached Yokoishi, they talked about the up and coming games against St Rudolph.
Yokoishi said she would meet them outside of the school gates.
"Ah, I see her… how did she get up there?" Nariko said as she peered out the tinted windows.
Through the tinted windows they could see sitting on top of the school wall. The gates were closed so they wondered how she got up there. Takashi pulled over and Shikawara got out.
"Morning, senpai."
"Ah! Taichi! You're here!" She jumped down off the wall and held her hands joyfully. "Come on, lets go."
Yokoishi tugged on Shikawara's hands as she tried to walk down the streets with her, but Shikawara refused to move.
"Where are you going?" Shikawara asked.
"To the shrine."
Shikawara pointed over her shoulder. "I brought the car."
Yokoishi looked over at the shiny black car.
"It's a lit~tle flashy, but I was hoping we could start our training by walking to Meiji Shrine."
"Senpai, get in the car."
Yokoishi surrendered to her friend and climbed in and sat with Nariko. Once Shikawara closed the door Yokoishi gave Takahashi the instructions and they took off on the hour drive. Yokoishi didn't explain anything to them. She didn't bring them out for selfless reason, she had a few things she need to straighten out for herself.
The three spoke every so often but with their senpai tight-lipped about that they were going to achieve today the girls didn't want to talk, not that Yokoishi minded, it was a great opportunity to mediate.
Soon they saw the many trees that surround the shrine and sprung to life. Takahashi pulled over near one of the entrances so they could climb out. He didn't go with them. He was well aware by now of his young master's wishes. Once they were out the car, out of habit, Takahashi went to park in a more secluded area.
"Wow, it looks so beautiful in the morning." Nariko took the few steps forward.
"Why the New Year Shrine?" Shikawara asked, switching her glasses for her sunglasses.
"Because." Yokoishi didn't say anything more and walked on ahead of them.
Nariko didn't mind too much that her senpai was in a joyous mood. She smiled warmly and waited for Shikawara.
"Still feeling sick?" Nariko asked Shikawara who hung back.
"Just a little."
"The bird songs always make me feel calm, maybe they will ease your pain too."
Nariko pulled Shikawara along when Yokoishi senpai got too far ahead of them. They saw her bowing under the *torii before she entered and once she did, she seemed to look around for something. The two watched her. They bowed when they entered and stood with Yokoishi as she looked around puzzled. She mumbled to herself until she spotted what she was looking for.
"You saw me standing here, why didn't you call me?"
Shikawara and Nariko were about to answer her when they noticed she wasn't looking or talking to them but to one of the *guardians that stood tall by the Torii's right side. Yokoishi marched right up to it and started to tap its head.
"Tell me she's not?" Shikawara hoped, but Nariko was all the more intrigued. She watched. Shikawara looked elsewhere.
"Hello? Come out, come out… I know you're in there. Ohayou! Me again!" Others who walked through glanced at her. "One of your friends attacked me the other day. They crossed the line… I'm after a favour. Pardon? I said I'd like a favour." She took to her tiptoes and whispered in its ear once she said all she needed she dropped her heels. "Okay? Thank you. Huh? What! I… but… really… are you sure? I did wonder about that… Oh, you don't… it's okay, I am amazing so I won't bring any harm to your home. Just give me until we go home… She's gunna hate me… If she's hates me you'll owe me another favour." She patted its head and went to stand with a stunned Nariko and Shikawara.
Nariko couldn't stop staring at the statue. "Yokoishi-senpai that was…"
"What?"
"Never mind. Why are we here anyway?" Nariko tugged on Shikawara's arm to call her round.
Yokoishi lead the girls around the shrine but she didn't take them inside the buildings, for fear she upset the guardians. They walked up and down a few times and stared at the barrels of sake and read some of the prayers that were pinned up. For most of the morning they walked through the forests and around the iris gardens. Once Yokoishi saw that they were getting a bit tired and bored she found a bench for them to sit on that over looked the gardens. They took a quick sip on their drinks and sat quietly.
Considering what Yokoishi said to them yesterday, they didn't feel any stronger. Whatever Yokoishi wanted them to gather from being at the shrine didn't reach them… well, it didn't reach Shikawara as much as it did Nariko who felt like she was in her natural element. Nariko glanced up at a flock of birds that flew around the mainly trees in the area while Shikawara stared ahead with a bothered gaze. While the two busied themselves, Yokoishi wondered how she would explain to them what the guardian told her. She held the bench with both hands and rocked backwards and forwards. She decided she would start off with Nariko, as her obstacle was easier to deal with.
"Nariko-senpai, when I look at you I see a colour."
"Pardon? I wasn't listening."
"You're green."
"What?"
She lent over Shikawara and pointed at Nariko. "You are green. Wanna know what that means?"
"I… I guess."
Yokoishi sat back and stared at the large trees surrounding her and crossed her arms. "Hmm, has Arai-senpai spoken to you recently? Anything about making the team better at all?"
Nariko hesitated. "Ye… yeah. Did she ask you too?"
Yokoishi signed. "I'm warning you, don't rely on her."
"Why? She only wants the best for the team."
Shikawara popped the peach juice straw from her month. "As much as I admire Arai-senpai, even I don't believe that. She wouldn't do anything for the team unless it was for her own benefit. She just has those type of eyes."
"You guys, don't say that." Nariko said, not wanting to hinder the prospects. "It would be nice if we were all on the same level but… it doesn't feel comfortable. I just want us to be a little closer. Even Fuji-senpai is acting weirdly and she won't let anyone help her."
Shikawara looked straight at Yokoishi. She flinched. "I know you know. What's wrong with captain?" It was an order and it sounded threatening.
"You guys, it's not as if I can predict the future. I see colours, I feel energy. All I gotta do is put two and two together and I can kinda figure out what someone is going to do, but there are thing's that I can't say, less I lose my ability."
"So we have to wait and see?"
"Yeah. Me too."
"Is the energy negative?"
"My lips are sealed."
"Oh, now I'm curious." Shikawara dropped her finished can in her bag and faced her senpai fully.
Yokoishi met her with the same gaze, but it wasn't fair that Shikawara wore sunglasses. "Don't worry about Fuji-senpai. Today, is for you and Nariko-senpai?"
"What about us?"
Yokoishi paused, Shikawara wasn't backing down. How could she explain this to her friend without her freaking out? It's not something that can be said with a smile. It was a serious matter. There was no doubt in Yokoishi's mind that Shikawara was the same 'type' as Aihara, and Nozomi but would Shikawara believe her?
"You feel heavy, don't you?" She started.
Shikawara's eyebrow moved slightly. "And?"
"…And… it's got something to do with erm… well… you are… possessed."
She waited for Shikawara to react, to tell her to stop joking around or to laugh, but she didn't do anything but continue to give Yokoishi that same, cold glare.
"Go on." She persisted to want to hear more.
"Yeah… You know that guardian over there? It… it told me that there's a spirit hovering around you, but it's not just any spirit."
"Get to the point."
Yokoishi didn't much like the tone of voice so continued to sip on her drink, taking her time. "Your mother wants to know why you never ask her about what happened that night?"
Shikawara lifted her head a little, that was her reaction. It caused Nariko to lean forward and signal to her senpai not to talk about 'that'. Yokoishi didn't ignore Nariko but she couldn't let the subject go either.
"Your mother also wants to know why you never let your father or Takahashi speak to her?"
"Right. I've had enough of this. Come on Nariko-chan." Shikawara stood up and pulled Nariko with her. Nariko didn't resist, not wanting to annoy her further and gave Yokoishi a sympathetic gesture with her eyes. Yokoishi returned it.
Yokoishi stood up too. She didn't follow them. She couldn't let them leave without sorting both their issues out. If she didn't, the guardian would not do her a favour. She needed to get serious, lucky she didn't have to interfere with everyone else's atmosphere because Shikawara was already 'heavy'. She only needed to make a few changes around the shrine's garden. The changes wouldn't make other passers-by shudder.
She dusted down her clothes and watched Shikawara walk off.
She didn't have a choice. "Crush her." Yokoishi murmured and waited for Shikawara to stumble in her knees.
It only took two seconds for Shikawara to fall over, accidentally dragging Nariko with her. That heavy feeling that she wanted to ignore or thought was a headache now pounded down on her, greatly. Knowing that the two weren't going anywhere, Yokoishi walked up to them and crouched down in front of Shikawara. Shikawara shut her eyes tightly, and naturally tried to get back up, tensing every muscle in her body. Her sunglasses had fallen off and were in Nariko's hands.
"What's wrong with her?" Nariko tried to help her up unsuccessfully.
Yokoishi turned to her left. "Nariko-senpai?"
Nariko glanced up. Yokoishi jabbed Nariko with her index and middle finger on the left side of her chest, just below her collarbone, sending an electric pulse from Nariko's heart through both of them. Nariko fell down on her side when the large pulse pushed her away from Yokoishi's hand. She rubbed her chest in shock and confusion. Yokoishi flicked her fingers out.
"What's happening to me?" Shikawara managed to breathe through the strain.
"You guys didn't play last year, did you?" Yokoishi signed. "As you are now, you two aren't enough to take on the other schools. Taichi, you're the worse... You should have noticed by now that everyone has their own style Taichi but they basically fall into four or six categories. You, Taichi, are the type that can summon spirits."
Shikawara was starting to lose to the force crushing her.
"Remember my match that I lost? My opponent summoned something. You're the same as her. Only on this occasion Umeko-senpai opened something that allowed your mother's spirit to take something else's place."
"Yokoishi-senpai… I-I… I wouldn't expect this kind of harassment from… from you!" She fell onto her elbows. "Get this off of me!"
"You need it. Everyone else is going to use their energies against you, and they have. Ito-senpai and Umeko-senpai did that to you and you couldn't even defend yourself! Accept the spirit?"
"I refuse. Send it back."
"You need it."
"I don't."
Yokoishi throw her arms up and hit them down by her side. "How can I turn your mother away? She's damn scary! She's wants you to accept her… quickly… she's giving me the crepes."
Shikawara fought against the stain on her body and positioned herself into zazen. Her arms shook with the stress. "Tell me my mother's name. If you do that I'll believe you, but I can't say I respect you anymore senpai."
"You hear that Nariko-senpai? Don't keep your hopes up for harmony in the team." She faced Shikawara. "She is The Quiet Branch, Shizuye Shikawara, but her business name is Tomoyo because she had both wisdom and beauty with an unmatched strength."
Shikawara didn't move. It was 'word for word' perfect, just like how her mother would title herself. The heaviness had lifted a little, it was still there but she didn't shake. She kept the eyes closed, refusing to say or do anything more. She really was tired of the intrusion. And now even the impossible was happening. She knew her senpai wasn't lying, which made it all the more saddening.
"You okay Nariko-senpai?" Yokoishi asked as she took to her feet.
"I feel prickly. Is Shika-chan okay?"
Yokoishi smiled. "You guys are in good hands with me. We've finished here. Let's find a tennis court for some more training."
…tbc…
A/N2: Is it me, or is this story getting, bizarre? Just like PoT, eh?!
And before you say it! I know Meiji Jingu doesn't have any guardians. For the sake of the story – this very, exaggerated story, allow me this one thing amongst many. T_T
*Torii: Giant, doorless gate, main variations. Stick it in google and find out for yourself (other search engines are available.)
Chapter 47: (I lied) before the drama, Kikumaru, while on a date, is approached by someone from Hyotei.
Thanks for reading thus far!!! Tons more; not even near the end let alone the middle (-.-)
