Our Story
By Kitara Lira
Chapter Fourteen: All Night Long
For several hours Natsuki thumbed through the files. First she had started with the medical files. It contained all the details pertaining to the boys' injuries.
The first had suffered mild injuries in comparison to the other boys. Two fractured ribs, sprained ankle, black eye, broken nose and a broken index finger upon his left hand – all "minor". At the time he had been sixteen; Haruki Setsune. He was under the care of the hospital for a total of three days.
The second boy had also been sixteen at the time; Gigi Tai. His condition? Four fractured ribs, dislocated arm, shattered knee cap, broken jaw, and minor internal bleeding. His stay in the hospital lasted a total of two months.
The third and most severe was a European (1) transfer student; James Hillock. The list of medical infractions upon the boy's body was detailed in a three page write up. Some of them included: sever head trauma, broken arm, multiple fractured ribs (one of which came close to puncturing the delicate skin of the lung), multiple fractures upon both legs, and internal bleeding. His stay had lasted eighteen months; most of which were spent in and out of consciousness.
Immediately after finished the medical reports Natsuki turned to the police documentation.
It was said that the parents of all three children demanded the case be set to a high profile status with all available agents set to the case. However, only two were assigned to the case and after the first week of investigation… the case was closed. The report stated the case to be gang involvement. Though there was no evidence to back the statement, the boys were accused of having involvement with a local gang and the incident had been a result of gang war violence. According to the report, all boys were exempt of any charges due to the severity of injuries sustained.
Statements made by any of the boys or their family were disregarded by the press and within several months the case was forgotten – buried under a stack of old files no doubt.
There were no witnesses to the accident and so any accusations taken were never supported. There were however mentions within the files referring to the family names of Greer and Yuuki – not to Natsuki's surprise. However, what astounded the bluenette was the lack of mention to the family name of Fujino. According to all documentation neither Shizuru nor her family had been involved in the incident.
It seemed strange considering what Nina had disclosed. Even if Natsuki new little of the other bluenette, the first impression and the reference from Mai gave Natsuki all the more reason to believe in Nina's unsupported statements. Shizuru was the entire reason for these files; yet her name never appeared once.
-
By the time Natsuki closed the last file it was half past four, the sun beginning to peak above the horizon. The woman raised her hand, rubbing at the swollen lids that wanted nothing more than to close for all eternity, "Bloody eyes," She murmured under her breath, taking special care to arrange the millions of papers sprawled across her bed into their assigned folders and the collective upon her night table.
Once those were taken care of the bluenette crawled under her covers, not even bothering to hit the switch to the light that had long ago lost its purpose, "Just for… a few minutes..." Sleep was quick to take hold as it should have done many hours ago ushering the young woman into yet again a dreamless sleep.
-
It was early afternoon when Natsuki's eyes were granted permission to again open. Ever since running away from the world she knew, Natsuki had trained her body to survive on bare minimums. Food once or twice a week; sleep for an hour or two at most each night; and a heart of ice. Bare minimums were nice. Bare minimums were life.
When normality had entered Natsuki's life – stable job providing the basis of it – the young woman found herself at a loss. With all of her bare minimums met the extra money felt… wrong. As if it didn't belong to her. She didn't spend any more than she customarily had and all extra amounts had been hidden. Some within the confines of her own apartment, others kept in bonds, and the remaining tucked away in three offshore accounts. Yes, money was nice, but it was nicer forgetting you had it.
-
A small beeping sound resounded from the drawer of her nightstand, "What the…" Dragging her upper body across the bed Natsuki groaned, groping blindly for the source of the noise. True, it was light out, but remember when one first opens their eyes not all senses tend to function instantaneously.
Slender fingers crept across the pillow – still nothing. Those same fingers then contacted solid wood, shrinking away in pain for but a moment, "Ah! Shit!" Of course this was merely a temporary pothole, the ultimate goal was still in reach; the noise was still emanating from somewhere.
Once the stinging became numb, the set of fingers continued their onward plot, careful this time to avoid damaging themselves upon the unkind surface. Locating the fine edge of the drawer, Natsuki tugged upon the handle, Success! The ear-splitting sound echoed more clearly upon the opening of the small compartment. Just a little more… The tips contacted cold metal and in one practiced motion the noise was silenced the hand falling back in glorified triumph. Five more minutes!
-
To say the bluenette rolled immediately out of bed and into the shower would have been an exaggeration. It had taken nearly an hour - slender fingers running through the practiced routine time and time again until finally they refused to listen, the shrill cry going unanswered.
It wasn't that this happened often, no, a day like today was a delicacy to the strict daily routine the young woman set. The basis of life was followed by rules and guidelines. These rules and guidelines were nothing shy of God; the ultimatum to which should never be broken no matter the cost. It was this belief, this strict adherence to the rules, that had allowed the bluenette to have come this far. Where others failed to stir, Natsuki dared to crawl. In a world with no forgiveness, no tolerance, no true clear path, Natsuki bulldozed her way through ensuring never to pause for anything. Not even herself.
Blue locks shook back and forth, the owners body swaying back and forth as it sought to find the shower, "Stupid head… I shouldn't have to think… Weekend…" Groaned the woman before closing the bathroom door shut behind her. It appeared time was beginning to slow or perhaps finally she was beginning to slow – the long await pause creeping fast upon her heels.
-
Hot water cascaded down her torn form. Emerald eyes sealed closed, Natsuki basked in the warm, searing pain that was sent through her body. Each drop clung to her body as it fell creating a thin coating of liquid – her own defence.
As she stepped from the shower a trail of steam seeped out, cloaking the entirety of the enclosed space. From the rung Natsuki tugged her towel free, wrapping the fraying piece of cloth about her midsection not bothering to eliminate any of the excess water from her lengthy tresses. With each step she took, droplets of water ran down her partially exposed figure.
Before her closet, or rather shelf built into one of the many holes within her wall, she stood pondering what to wear for the day. Simple; the usual solution. Thus dark denim jeans and a comfortable t-shirt were selected.
While reaching for the said pieces, the towel slipped just enough revealing the midsection of her back. As well it exposed a fraction of the imperfection which had become as much a part of her as the two arms she possessed or her emerald orbs; Natsuki's scar.
-
"Afternoon," Chirped Natsuki as she walked in, waving to the boys, "Is Takishi in?" She asked curiously, receiving several return greetings and a motion to the back room, "Thanks."
There was a soft knock followed by the permission to make an entrance. The man at the desk was furiously scribbling away at the papers upon his desk. Work orders no doubt, insurance claims, company appeals, all were common and a bloody nuisance, "What can I…" The voice trailed off as his eyes left the focus of the sheet and met nervous emerald orbs, "Natsuki!"
The chair scrapped back against the ground and the said woman prepared herself for the long lecture. In an attempt to preserve herself, Natsuki began, "Look Takishi I'm really…"
"Natsuki!" Cried the voice again before enveloping the bluenette on a full on hug.
Moments passed, Natsuki too shocked to comprehend let alone respond to the situation, "I… uh… Takishi…"
Reminded of her fond dislike of physical contact, the middle aged man took a step back, holding the young one at arms length, "I'm glad to see you're safe. But what brings you in?" He said, turning the discussion to business, sure his "adopted daughter" was uncomfortable as it was.
A slender finger pointed over to the calendar hanging upon the wall, followed by a simple, "I work." To which the middle age man could only stare. "Takishi, I have a job, I work here. I work today, here. Remember?" Natsuki bent forth offering a curious gaze to the apparently frozen man, "That and I wanted to apologize for the way I acted the other day…" The once sturdy voice soon became laced with fear; doubt.
Brought from his daze, Takishi opened his mouth as if to speak, but was silenced by the light motion of Natsuki's hand.
"No, don't say it wasn't nothing." Emerald eyes grew distant as they drifted to the window which overlooked the shop. Hands buried deep within her pockets, Natsuki smirked, "If there is one thing Haha (2) taught me it was to never let others accept the blame for the actions you rightfully caused." Turning to face the man, Natsuki offered a deep, graceful bow, "I regret my actions earlier this week that I cast upon you. They were childish to say the least. In this moment I would like to ask for forgiveness to my rude behaviour and if not than I must accept that and move forth."
The tone was genuine, the expression authentic, the gesture sincere. The meagre fact that Natsuki made reference to her Mother, the one true thing the bluenette never mentioned but loved dearly… made it all the more real. Takishi smiled, setting his hand upon the woman's shoulder, drawing her attention upward, "You know you are always forgiven Natsuki, no matter the action. To me you are like a daughter and to harbour anger towards you would be impossible for I love you too much." Neither Natsuki nor Takishi were familiar with the gestures of expressing emotions openly and thus, with a broad grin, Takishi motioned back toward the entrance, "Take the day off, enjoy being a kid for once Natsuki. Work can wait another week; I'll even pay your normal wages for the day. Just go enjoy yourself."
A grin snuck its way to her lips, "Hai!" Natsuki beamed. A few minutes before three in the afternoon and already Natsuki could tell… today would be one of those good days.
Author Notes: I didn't do much with this chapter I suppose. I can't even remember what I did in the last chapter that's how long ago it was... anywho! Story notes below, author rants here.
Originally I went extremely in depth at the injuries of the boys. Now one may ask (or most of you should): How the bloody f*ing hell do two girls managed to cause that much damage. I know reading back on it I asked myself the same darn question. I was going to change it, but after another re-read decided against it (just a few additions and subtractions here and there). I want to show just the magnitude that both Miyu and Nao are willing to go to in order to protect Shizuru. This isn't like other stories. Here, Nao and Shizuru aren't enemies. Here, Miyu is not Alyssa's pet. This story steps away from a few of the Mai-HiME molds. Why? Hahaha, because I can! And I'm evil!
Okay, maybe I'm not. I just don't like some of the things that due to the plot line of the series, most Authors tend to get caught into writing.
That and I think Nao needs more air-time.
... I'm not sure if I had anything else really to say... I'm extremely tired... oh! Though I haven't started the next chapter I (since I have the bad habit of taking eons to update) wanted to say a single word about the next chapter just to keep you on your toes.
The word: Ducks.
Yep, ducks, you'll see em! Next Chapter! Maybe mice, toads, fungi, asparagus... yuck...
Again, thank you for the reviews, I love reading them - not sure if you love posting them... Heh, but when you post them I know people haven't completely fallen asleep on this story yet, though I'm sure you're all getting close.
1. There is no particular reason I choose the character of the boy to be a European transfer student. I could just have easily said he was Canadian, American, Australian… ah… I'm not really good at converting countries into the names of what you would reference their citizens by… if that makes any sense… Point is! European – holds not meaning. It was just the first thing that came to mind. Okay wait, I lied. American came to mind first but I went against that due to the fact that I have a tendency to pick upon the poor behaviour of American's. I know it is a bad stereotype, but all I can say is: 90% of the American's I have met in person… have been jerks. Not online; online I tend to find the cool ones. But offline? God the good ones are in bloody hibernation of something…
2. Haha is mother… if I Google'd that correctly. I remember Natsuki (ignore the spelling here) referred to her mother within the series as Hahaie? Or to that effect.
Edit: To Egio, if you say so, I'll believe you! Hehehe, I have faith that hopefully there is someone out there that has watched the entire series and taken the time to remember things. I don't; haven't; and most likely... won't. I'm one of those half series watchers... if you can call it that. Anyways, point? Natsuki refers to her mother. Let's be happy with that.