(Disclaimer: Ikigami manga belongs solely to Mase Motoro, but Sasuke Mura and the other unknown characters I am writing about belong to me. The story is just based on the plot line of the manga. If this disclaimer is wrong, then please do not sue me.)
Chapter 13: Teacher
One Thursday afternoon, Sasuke was sitting in class listening to Mr. Fujioka's lesson. Sasuke sighed as she wrote down her notes. She suddenly spotted a folded note on her desk. She thought it was from Erin as usual, but was surprised to realize that it was from another sender.
Are you going to Kawaii Shop today?-Shiro
Sasuke wrote back and tossed it to Shiro. Shiro opened the note and had a look of disappointment.
I have to go to Tamaki's open house today.
Shiro wrote a quick note and tossed it to Sasuke. Sasuke read it.
Who the heck is Tamaki and don't you dare say that he is your boyfriend?
Sasuke giggled and wrote a new note. She tossed it back to Shiro. Shiro read the note and flinched.
Then what do you want me to say?
Shiro tossed Sasuke a new note. Sasuke read the note and giggled.
You better be joking, Sasuke.
Sasuke wrote a new note and tossed it back to Shiro. Shiro read the note and sighed in relief.
Of course I was joking. Tamaki is part of the family who has been taking care of me. He's like a brother to me. I'll try to go to Kawaii Shop next time.
Shiro nodded toward Sasuke making her smile. Shiro suddenly was hit on the head by a crumpled piece of paper. He opened it and groaned at the writing.
Are Kumi-San and you on the same wavelength? Stop writing love letters to Mura-san during class.
Shiro crumpled up the paper blushing, while the class laughed. Mr. Fujioka just smirked as he continued his lesson. Erin stared at Shiro and then at Sasuke, who was smiling. Erin felt pain in her heart as she stared at Sasuke.
Mr. Fujioka was about to write more information on the board, but stopped when his cell phone began to ring. Mr. Fujioka picked up his phone with his class looking at him. Mr. Fujioka frowned and looked back at his class.
"Something came up, so head on home for today," said Mr. Fujioka and then headed out the door with his bag in hand. The class was confused, but did as Mr. Fujioka said as they gathered their belongings.
Sasuke gathered up her things and headed toward the door, but was stopped by Erin.
"Where are you going today?" asked Erin. Sasuke looked at her friend and said, "I'm going to head toward Tamaki's school for the open house. Want to come?" Erin sighed and shook her head. Sasuke noticed that Erin's positive attitude wasn't as chipper and asked if she was all right. Erin nodded and said, "I'm just tired." Sasuke patted Erin's head.
"Just let me know if anything is wrong," said Sasuke. Erin nodded and watched Sasuke leave the room with sadden eyes.
Sasuke headed out of the institution looking forward to Tamaki's open house, but stopped in her tracks when she saw Allan Count in front of the gate leaning on the side pole.
"Count-San?"
Allan perked up when he saw Sasuke. He ran to Sasuke and embraced her.
"Sasuke, I missed you," he cheered. Sasuke looked at Allan in confusion.
"Why are you here?" asked Sasuke. Allan released her and looked behind him uneasily. He then leaned toward Sasuke and whispered, "I need to talk with you privately." Sasuke nodded as she was led away from the institution by Allan.
Allan pulled her to behind a wall of a building and looked at her seriously.
"I'm being stalked," he said quickly. Sasuke gasped in surprise.
"Are you sure?"
Allan showed a bag full of notes and said, "I am pretty sure and I receive more than notes every day." Sasuke looked through the notes.
Your hair is like Gold.
Such charming eyes.
I just want you to notice me.
Please love me.
Marry me, Allan.
I'm always watching you my love.
Sasuke stared at the notes with wide eyes. She looked at Allan uneasily and said, "You definitely have a stalker if you keep receiving letters like these." Allan nodded and added, "I once found a pile of chocolate in my driveway too." Allan gripped Sasuke's shoulders with desperation in his eyes.
"Just until the stalker gives up, can you please pretend to be my girlfriend," begged Allan. Sasuke stared at Allan in confusion.
"Why me?" asked Sasuke. Allan sighed and admitted that she was the only girl he actually really knew. Sasuke thought awhile and nodded.
"Just until the stalker is caught."
Allan thanked Sasuke repeatedly as he hugged her. As Allan hugged Sasuke, she began to remember Riri wishing that he was the one embracing her.
Because of the pretense, Allan ended up coming with Sasuke to Tamaki's school. Allan looked around cautiously before entering the school grounds. Sasuke looked at the nervous Allan and sighed. She offered her hand to him. Allan took it with a light blush against his cheek.
Sasuke led Allan through the high school, which was crowded with parents and students. Sasuke spotted Tamaki near the lockers and waved toward him.
"Tamaki!"
Tamaki perked up when he saw Sasuke and smiled brightly.
"Sasuke," he cheered as he ran toward her. He stopped in his tracks when he noticed Allan holding her hand. Tamaki looked at Sasuke and asked, "Who is this?" Sasuke looked toward Allan, who had an uneasy look on his face.
"His name is Allan Count, the teller who takes care of my bank account," introduced Sasuke. Tamaki crossed his arms in displeasure.
"Why is he here?" asked Tamaki. Sasuke sighed and said, "Allan is having a problem with a stalker, so I am pretending to be his girlfriend for a while." Tamaki twitched.
"Girlfriend?"
"Only for a little while," reassured Sasuke. Tamaki groaned and glared at Allan.
Sasuke looked around and asked, "Where are Mrs. Ohtori and Yoshiro?" Tamaki rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.
"They called me saying that they would be late," admitted Tamaki. Sasuke sighed in disappointment.
"You can still have fun here with me," said Tamaki in an attempt to cheer her up. Sasuke nodded and said, "I guess that will be fine." Tamaki nodded and then glared at Allan again making Allan confused.
They walked around the school exploring each of the events of the classrooms. Tamaki looked back at Sasuke and Allan as they walked and said, "Don't go to my classroom all right."
"Why?" asked Sasuke with a cocked head. Tamaki turned pale.
"Well my teacher…"
They suddenly heard a scream of a woman down the hall. Tamaki sighed and said, "That would be the teacher." Sasuke out of concern ran down the hall with Allan and Tamaki behind her. Sasuke entered the room where the scream came from and saw a twenty-two-year-old woman cowering in a corner with other people looking at her.
"Are you all right?" asked Sasuke as she approached the woman. The woman screamed and slapped Sasuke's hand away.
"Don't touch me, beautiful creature," cried the woman. Sasuke was speechless. Tamaki entered the room and saw the woman in the corner. He gave out a sigh and said, "That's Fujioka-Sensei, she has a problem with touching beautiful people." Sasuke stared at the woman in disbelief and wondered if she should feel insulted by the woman's actions.
Sasuke withdrew her hand and said, "Nice to meet you, Fujioka-Sensei. My name is Sasuke Mura, one of Tamaki's guardians." Fujioka-Sensei gulped and nodded her head at Sasuke.
"My name is Usagi Fujioka, Tamaki's teacher, so please stay back, beautiful creature," she said with her voice shaking. Sasuke nodded and stepped back. She looked at Tamaki and asked, "Is she always like this?" Tamaki nodded.
"She does the same thing to me when I need to be tutored. I guess that makes me beautiful," said Tamaki. Sasuke giggled at Tamaki's remark causing him to blush.
"Sasuke!"
Sasuke looked toward the door and saw Allan running in gasping for air. Sasuke smiled at Allan as she approached him.
"You should work out more, Count-San," said Sasuke as she brushed off his clothes. Allan smiled as Sasuke tended to him. Usagi turned a deep red when she saw Allan. She leapt out of the corner and ran toward Allan, but was suddenly grabbed by behind her shirt. She looked behind and saw Mr. Fujioka holding her.
"Not so fast, sis," said Mr. Fujioka sternly. Usagi screamed as she struggled against Mr. Fujioka's hold. Tamaki, Allan, and Sasuke looked at them confusingly. Sasuke gasped when she saw Mr. Fujioka.
"Fujioka-Sensei?"
Mr. Fujioka and Usagi looked at her. Mr. Fujioka looked at Sasuke and smiled.
"Mura-San, what brings you here?" asked Mr. Fujioka as Usagi struggled in his hold.
"I just came here with Count-San to see Tamaki's open house. Why are you here?"
Mr. Fujioka chuckled and ruffled Usagi's short hair.
"I came to see my little sister," answered Mr. Fujioka. Sasuke was shocked that Mr. Fujioka had a sister. Usagi looked at Mr. Fujioka in despair.
"Please let me go, Kaoru, I'm going to break out into hives," begged Usagi. Mr. Fujioka, known as Kaoru by first name basis, shook his head and said, "You need to get rid of that condition anyway."
Kaoru began to walk away with his sister in a choke hold. He looked back at Sasuke and said, "See you in school tomorrow." With that Kaoru was gone.
Sasuke looked at Tamaki and asked, "Your teacher is strange, isn't she?" Tamaki nodded and said, "I think your teacher is responsible for her condition." Allan and Sasuke nodded in agreement.
They continued to walk through the school after the whole ordeal waiting for Yoshiro and Mrs. Ohtori to arrive.
Meanwhile, Kaoru and Usagi were heading out of the school. Usagi struggled in his hold scratching her rashes.
"Why are you here, Kaoru?" demanded Usagi in agony. Kaoru looked back at her with seriousness in his eyes.
"Mom and dad told me."
Usagi's eyes widen. Kaoru gripped Usagi's shoulders sending chills down her spine.
"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" demanded Kaoru. Usagi clenched her fist.
"What would be the point in telling you?"
Kaoru growled and asked, "So what were you planning for today? Were you going to stay here until the appointed time?" Usagi shook her head.
"I just wanted to see my students for a short while and then I was going to see my one true love."
"True love?"
Usagi nodded and added, "He was in that room that you dragged me out of." Kaoru remembered Tamaki and Allan and asked, "Who was it?"
"My blonde haired knight," she admitted with flushed cheeks. Kaoru immediately realized that she was talking about Allan. Kaoru shook his head and said, "The one with my student?" Usagi nodded.
"I write to him every day and leave him presents. He's beautiful and I can touch him, so he must be the one for me."
Kaoru thought back at Sasuke as she held Allan's hand and said, "I don't think he feels the same. He seems to be in a close relationship with Mura-San." Usagi gasped and shook her head.
"That can't be true. He only has me," said Usagi close to tears. Kaoru at that point knew that it was all in her head. Kaoru reached to pat her head, but she slapped his hand away and ran off. Kaoru ran after her calling her name. Usagi managed to slip away leaving Kaoru in the middle of a crowd.
"Usagi."
In the mean time, Sasuke was walking through the open house with Allan and Tamaki. Sasuke looked at Tamaki and asked, "So how are your grades so far here?" Tamaki smirked.
"I'm the third highest grade in the whole school."
"That's wonderful," congratulated Sasuke. Tamaki smiled proudly at himself. Sasuke then looked at Allan and asked, "How is work for you?" Allan scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I was offered a raise along with a promotion."
"That's great."
Allan nodded and added, "I accepted the raise, but turned down the promotion because I want to stay as your teller." Sasuke smiled.
"How sweet."
Allan blushed at her smile. Tamaki noticed this and grabbed hold of Sasuke's other hand making her look at him.
"I'm also the best in my sports class you should see me sometime when we do basketball."
"That sounds nice."
Tamaki smirked toward Allan and stuck his tongue at him. Allan glared at Tamaki sensing a challenge. Allan smirked.
"Well I am the top worker in the bank and everyone wants me as their teller."
"That just shows how smart you are."
Tamaki groaned and yelled, "Well I am the best worker in the convenience store."
"I know all the bank funds."
"I can cook all types of food."
"I can cook French cuisines."
"Japanese food is better."
"Who says?"
Tamaki and Allan were soon in a heavy pointless argument with Sasuke in the middle of it. Sasuke sighed wondering how the argument came about.
"What's going on?"
Sasuke looked at the source of the voice and saw Mrs. Ohtori and Yoshiro looking at them with quizzical looks.
"Nice to see you guys," greeted Sasuke with Allan and Tamaki still in a shouting competition. Yoshiro groaned and approached them. He pulled Sasuke from their grasp and whacked them on the head causing them to gasp in pain.
"Act more mature," chastised Yoshiro. Tamaki and Allan nodded holding their pain throbbing heads. Yoshiro took notice of Allan and asked, "Who are you anyway?" Allan introduced himself as Sasuke's bank teller. Allan then approached Sasuke and added, "I am also her boyfriend." Yoshiro felt like he was struck by lightning, while Tamaki was glaring daggers at him.
Mrs. Ohtori held a hand to her mouth in shock.
"Since when did Sasuke start going out with boys?"
Sasuke looked at Mrs. Ohtori with a smile and said, "Count-San and I…"
Her words were cut off, when she felt Allan hold her hand. She looked at Allan confusingly. Allan looked at her seriously and whispered, "I know that us dating is a lie, but act like my girlfriend in the open." Sasuke nodded.
"…are really close," finished Sasuke. Tamaki growled and was about to scream that it was a lie, until he saw Allan smirk at him in triumph. Tamaki at that point tried to punch him, but Yoshiro grabbed his hand before he could react.
Yoshiro forced a smile at Sasuke and said, "Congratulations on your relationship." Sasuke gave a small nod. Tamaki was shaking in anger as Yoshiro held him back.
Allan suddenly dragged Sasuke away from Yoshiro, Tamaki, and Mrs. Ohtori. He looked back at them and said, "I'm just going to borrow, Sasuke, so enjoy the open house." With that he dashed out of the school grounds with Sasuke in hand.
When they were out of sight, Tamaki told Yoshiro and his mother the truth in a low tone. Mrs. Ohtori seemed disappointed, but Yoshiro had a look of relief.
Allan and Sasuke walked away from the school grounds. Sasuke trailed behind Allan with her hand still in his grasp and said, "We could have stayed there you know, Count-San." Allan stopped in his tracks and looked at Sasuke.
"Can you try to call me by my first name?"
Sasuke looked at Allan confusingly and asked, "Why?" Allan squeezed her hand with a troubled look.
"I know that we are only pretending, but the truth is that I really love you, ever since I met you a year ago, so please call me by my first name."
Allan was completely red as he admitted his feelings to Sasuke. Sasuke stared at Allan not sure how to react. Sasuke clenched his hand.
"Count-San, I…"
Sasuke suddenly sensed something and jumped to the side with Allan still in hand. Sasuke managed to avoid a pocket knife that only grazed her arm. Allan saw Sasuke's wounded arm and gasped.
"Are you all right, Sasuke?"
Sasuke nodded and looked at her attacker with seriousness in her eyes. Usagi stood firmly in front of them with a pocket knife in her grasp. Sasuke held her bleeding arm and said, "I think we found your stalker."
Allan looked at Usagi, whose hand was shaking, and said, "She's one of my clients in the bank." Usagi held the knife in Sasuke's direction.
"Why are you with that girl when you have me?" she demanded. Allan shook his head and held Sasuke to him.
"What are you talking about? I was never involved with you."
Usagi had a crazed look in her eyes. She growled and charged at Sasuke with the intent to kill. Sasuke shoved Allan away and grabbed Usagi's wrist with great force. She twisted Usagi's arm causing Usagi to cry out in pain and drop the knife to the ground. Sasuke squeezed Usagi's arm. Sasuke's Soul's Eye suddenly activated.
Sasuke loosened her grip and whispered, "Ikigami." Usagi looked at Sasuke with eyes. Sasuke looked at Allan seriously and said, "Fujioka-San has an Ikigami." Allan was shocked.
"An Ikigami, is that why she's acting like this?"
"I believe so. She was so close to death that she believed that this was her only chance to be with you. I was in the way, so the thought to kill me crossed her mind."
Sasuke looked down at Usagi and asked, "Am I right?" Usagi nodded.
"I was given an Ikigami yesterday. I just wanted to see my students one last time and spend my last moments with my true love," said Usagi as she began to cry.
Sasuke loosened her hold and asked, "Do you even know his name?" Usagi looked at Sasuke filled with confusion. Sasuke repeated her question.
"Do I need to know it?"
"You do, to claim to love him. Knowing a name means you are close to that person. The way you have been stalking him is not a form of love. Can't you tell he's troubled?"
Sasuke released Usagi allowing her to fall to her knees. Sasuke kneeled in front of her and added, "If you really love him, then you should speak to him with your own voice." Usagi clenched her fist.
"I can't do that. I only have a few more hours before I die. I can't speak to him alone. I rather die than know that he hates me."
Sasuke slapped Usagi forcing Usagi to stop talking. Usagi placed a hand to her cheek and looked at Sasuke.
"Stop feeling sorry for yourself and act. Get to know people instead of running away. Have more respect for your life. Besides…"
Sasuke placed a hand to Usagi's cheek and added, "Your family can never hate you." Usagi suddenly remembered Kaoru before she ran off and felt tears escape from her eyes. Usagi then looked at Allan.
"You really found a wonderful girl to love," said Usagi accepting reality. Allan nodded with a small smile. Usagi looked at Sasuke with a sad smile and said, "Please tell my brother that I love him and that I no longer hold any resentment towards him."
Sasuke thought of Kaoru and how he looked at Usagi in the classroom before dragging her off. Sasuke shook her head and said, "I won't." Usagi looked at her with wide eyes. Sasuke pulled out a syringe from her bag and said, "You will." Sasuke stuck Usagi with the syringe and injected the clear liquid. Usagi passed out.
"What did you do to her?" asked Allan in shock. Sasuke began to take out her medical supplies.
"I just knocked her out," replied Sasuke. Allan stared at the medical equipment Sasuke pulled out and asked, "What are you going to do to her?"
Sasuke pulled out the scalpel and replied, "I'm going to save her of course."
"That's impossible."
"It's not. I saved many people from the Ikigami with this method of operation."
Allan's eyes widen in realization and asked, "Are you the rumored Moon Child?" Sasuke nodded. Allan held her hand and said, "Don't you know that what you are doing is illegal? She's supposed to die."
"I know that, but she has a loving brother that needs her and she still needs to change herself, so she can fall in love again. I know what she did to you was wrong, but please let me save her."
Allan could sense the desperation in her voice and nodded as he released her hand. Sasuke did the operation with her hand on Usagi's body. As she worked, Allan could see how focused she was in saving Usagi. Allan smiled as he felt a wave of warmness in the surrounding air.
"You really are kind, Sasuke."
When the surgery was complete, Sasuke checked Usagi's pulse and smiled.
"The operation was a success. She'll live a little longer," said Sasuke in relief. Sasuke looked at Allan and said, "Stay with her until she awakes because I have a feeling that she will want to speak with you." Allan nodded. Sasuke gathered her materials into her bag and then headed down the sidewalk.
Sasuke looked back at Allan and said, "You are wonderful man, Allan." Allan blushed when Sasuke said his name. Sasuke ran off leaving Allan with Usagi.
Usagi soon awoke and looked up at Allan. She sat up and asked, "What happened?" Allan was about to speak until he heard another voice calling Usagi's name. Running down the sidewalk was Kaoru looking at Usagi with desperate eyes.
"Usagi!"
Usagi smiled when she saw Kaoru and called out his name. Kaoru embraced Usagi and said, "I was so worried." Usagi nodded as she hugged Kaoru. Usagi pulled away from Kaoru and then looked back at Allan.
"So what happened?" asked Usagi. Kaoru was also eager to hear what happened when he noticed the blood on Usagi's clothes. Allan scratched the back of his head and said, "Well a miracle was performed by the Moon Child."