A/N: Ah Damn, people! I love you guys!
Disclaimer: I do not own.
Title: Second Chances
Chapter: 5: Nobody, No Body
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She sat, her long black hair clipped loosely, kept off of her back and neck. It was summer, and so it was hot, but she never once thought to tie up the long bangs that shield her eyes.
What was more of a wonder was the fact that the girl was out- at a cafe, no less -sipping slowly on a Fijan Dancer (strange bubble tea).
What baffled her most was who she was with.
How did she get here?
She couldn't really say. Simply that she was asked. She wanted to leave the house, and this was an opening.
It wasn't until after they had ordered their drinks that she realized just how serious this situation could be...
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Kyohei sat stubbornly on the couch.
He'd been trying to focus on the feature for forty-five minutes now.
Forty-five minutes and he still wasn't into it...
It wasn't the movie's fault. It was actually a really good film. An 'A rank' film... But he still couldn't get into it.
Sunako left thirty minutes ago. Around twenty seconds later, everyone else followed.
Except for Kyohei.
They didn't even try to get him to do it. Even on good days, normal days- he'd refuse if he knew they were just being nosy.
Even then, though. They'd still try to get him to come along.
But this wasn't normal. He'd been quiet for days. Two whole days. That may not seem like a lot to you, but this was the boy who shook the ground with a mere yawn, made the walls vibrate with a stomach growl...
Fact was, he'd been avoiding Sunako.
She knew it, too. They all did. They thought he was pissed because she'd bled all over him, but they weren't sure...
He was pissed, but not at her.
At her, there was mostly fear.
It seemed like the past months had been so blissful, he had actually expected things to go wrong. He knew he didn't deserve it this good.
Not with her. Never with her.
He didn't want to be right. He didn't want to face her and find out he was still just a 'creature of the light.' He didn't want to know that he would never be more than her friend...
True, this type of thing had happened before. She'd bleed all over him and then he'd always confront her, reprimand her, and -unnoticed by all- get her to slowly see things his way.
What was keeping him from doing it again now?
He then remembered where it was Sunako had gone thirty-five minutes ago.
Where she had gone, who she was with, and what they were talking about...
Hmm... Maybe that was a clue...
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Nobody knew what she was up to. Nobody.
The ex-classmates sat quietly for a while. Finally, Sunako set her tea on the table and slowly lifted her violet eyes to Hikari's pale ones.
"What did you want to talk about?" Her voice was even. Only those who knew her could tell how forced it really was.
"Oh, it's... Nothing," The girl finished lamely, sweating slightly under that heliotrope gaze.
"Nothing?" Sunako scoffed, "nothing made you cry on the phone to me last night?"
The sweat beading on her high forehead increasing, her gaze became shifty.
"What? Why me? Why call me?" Sunako's tone picked up more emotion as she spoke, enunciating every syllable, "After all this time- all those years you tried to humiliate me- now you come to me for help?"
"Yes..." Hikari whimpered in humiliation, tears budding near the corners of her eyes, "Sunako... I... I wanted to apologize!"
Sunako stood still. Her expression was wary. She knew who Hikari was. She knew she'd be daft to trust this girl... But something in her made her want to hear the good, seek some redemption.
"Please... I've always regretted how horrible I was to you! It was jealousy! Forgive me!" Hikari caved into herself, her volume raising gradually, "I need you to forgive me! I need your help!"
Her voice escalated to a point where everyone's attention was drawn to the pair. As silence settled between them whispers echoed through the cafe.
It was so like Hikari Ogawa to cause a scene. She was just so good at it.
Sunako unnoticeably rolled her eyes as she led the girl out of the shoppe, and onto an isolated park bench.
Sunako mumbled her, "It's okay"'s and "you're alright"'s, rubbing the girls shoulder blades in comfort until Hikari finally calmed herself into a soft hiccupping.
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There was no one around.
The devil could kill her. Wipe her out now with one blow and Koichi could finally be hers.
Because nobody around, meant no body would be found.
Hikari could get away with murder once more.
But she wouldn't. Not yet, anyway. It wasn't the time.
She knew she needed Sunako right now, at least until she could spin this in such a way that would show some good in her evil ways...
But that was the problem... There was no good. There was only Hikari. Selfish, evil Hikari.
No matter how much she wanted to, she couldn't change.
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The two girls talked quietly on the bench for hours, and soon enough it began to get dark.
It got as dark as their conversation became. It was plunging into the past, deepening into history too big for Sunako to handle... But she didn't let it show.
Somehow, Sunako knew she needed to talk about this. She needed to liberate herself.
She needed to fight.
Sunako looked up as the skies last traces of orange and red disappeared.
There was quiet for a moment.
"... Shouldn't you head home soon, Ogawa?" Sunako stood lightly, standing in a naturally catlike pose, she shoved her hands into her hoodie's pockets, "if you don't go now, you'll miss the last train."
Hikari looked up warily. She had no clue how to read this goddamned woman! Had she fallen for her trap? Was there still doubt? Nakahara was such an annoying person to deal with. She hated being out-shined by someone so good. She hated her. The comparisons...
"Come on," Sunako smiled flawlessly. A small, gentle smile, "I'll wait for your train to come, so nobody bothers you..."
Demon hated Sunako Nakahara. She hated her so, so much.
Nakahara was an idiot. Why smile so honestly at your enemies? Why trust someone who was going to rip the carpet from under you?
Hikari smiled widely, hopping off the bench and following Sunako like an admiring little sister.
They had walked in a comfortable silence before entering the station. Both knew it was only comfortable because they were too preoccupied to notice the silence, but still- neither felt on edge.
It was now 11:30 and Sunako was waving from the entry bars. A smile was spread smoothly on her lips as Hikari waved energetically behind the train window.
The train left, and Sunako's smile fell.
Her hands stayed by her sides. Her long, fitted white hoodie allowed the night chill to penetrate right to the bone. Her eyes stared straight ahead, and she was quivering. Slightly. Almost unnoticeably. It was not because of the cold.
Where was she now? Where did she stand- really?
Not knowing... Never knowing.
There was nobody who could tell her, nobody had the answer.
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It was nine o'clock when the gang had quit and left the two to their private moment. They entered the mansion and Kyohei jumped on them immediately. He ranted for about two full minutes before finally shouting, "And where the fuck is Sunako?!"
You could feel the anger in his voice. How could they have left her alone with that girl?
How could they have left her alone?
How could he have let that happen?
The guy's pitched in about how Hikari Ogawa had made a scene at the café and then they had went to talk alone on a bench nearby.
With the name of the café known, he rushed out the door, grabbing a wool blazer on the way out.
It was now 11:20. He'd finally found the stupid café and asked the clerk whether he knew which direction the two girl's had gone. Thankfully, he'd remembered that Ogawa because she was a "cutie." Kyohei shivered at the word. The clerk pointed in the direction he'd seen them leave, and Kyohei was out the door before the clerk could ask for her number, or whether those two were lesbians. Tard.
He didn't know where to look, but that wouldn't stop him.
He'd keep looking; but why was he looking?
Why was he trying so frantically to find her?
What was wrong with him?
There was no park nearby, so he thanked God he wouldn't have to look through some maze of nature...
But damn, it was dark out now... Another twenty minutes had passed before finally, he saw a light.
The train station.
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They sat around the TV quietly, anxiously.
"... Should we go look, too?" Noi asked absently, looking as the clock chimed 12:00.
There was quiet.
"... He'll find her." Ranmaru smiled confidently at his friend, and Yuki took up on it.
"Noi-chan! Make some soup! We should make soup so Sunako-chan won't feel guilty or anything!" Yuki beamed happily at his fellow brunette.
Noi laughed happily, "You're so smart, Yuki-chan!" She rubbed his head, "Soups always the best comfort food."
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She should go home. She knew she should go home. She knew her friends were looking for her...
It was irresponsible to worry them like this.
But her thoughts kept her from instructing motion.
So she stayed.
And then she heard an angel.
He whispered her name heavily. What a sweet hallucination...
Then hands grabbed her by the arms and whipped her to him.
Sunako awoke from her daze slowly, with hazy eyes.
Slowly, her lips curled into a small, sleepy smile.
Kyohei had prepared to scream at her, but his voice caught in his throat.
He caught her gaze, then looked away.
He gripped her hands, and turned towards the exit.
Sunako complied without a word. She wanted to say something, but she didn't know what.
She didn't know what she needed to say, what he needed to hear...
But something had sparked unconsciously, like when she would blink; it was without thinking.
Talking with Hikari let her realize something. She was going to fight. She would liberate herself.
Kyohei walked a step ahead of her, but didn't let go of her hands.
Like a blink- her fingers tightened on his, and she refused to let the blood spill from her nose...
But somewhere on their faces, both held red.
A tiny amount of blood trickled from her nose, but unconsciousness had no hold on her tonight.
Kyohei was red... And it had to do with blood... But it was rushing under his skin.
They didn't speak. At some point, Kyohei paused to toss the warm blazer onto her, and still, neither said anything. He brought his hand behind her neck and freed her long hair from the back of the jacket. He looked at her, strongly, firmly.
No words.
He grabbed her hand again and they walked.
Nothing was said.
But something was exchanged.
Something changed.
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Ah Damn! Did you enjoy your read?
Well, I was pretty depressed about this one little thing- I lost one of the most wonderful things I have ever written! Ah! It was beautiful, and really really long so I can't remember anything!!! Agh! It was for the Wallflower, I was going to post it after this was finished, but now I can't remember all of it's content... I'll rewrite it though, for you! By the way- just in case I don't write it soon- it has spoilers based on what happened after vol. 18 (chapter 74)
I will be busy for a while because I have founded a new and improved Film-Maker's club at school, and I'm the president- so yeahhh. Clubs don't start until mid October, but I'm getting a head start with people in my grade, so I'm not going to have too much time to write. I'm very sorry- really, for myself.
Well, that's all I've got to say for now. I'll try to update as soon as possible.
Later Days,
NerdSavvy