A/N: I am so sorry for the lack of updates. School. NaNoWriMo. Life.
Sorry about that. This is one of my longer chapters. It's around 4100 words. o_o
Without further ado, here's Chapter Five. Please enjoy.
What are we going to do? That girl… Karasuma Himeka-no, Rika-sama is completely unpredictable. Now that her siblings have departed from this world, she's the sole owner of the Karasuma estate. The twins had no will, so everything is all Rika-sama's. But she's so young, and she has nobody to take care of her except us. We're just maids. We can't do anything to control her.
I know, Kiyomi. I'm scared too. This is what I've been thinking too. Kiyomi, listen. We need to quit our job at the Karasuma estate. I can't take it anymore. What do you say?
T…that's a good idea, Suzuki. I'm too scared to work here. Rika-sama is just so scary. They say she was the one who murdered Kirika-sama. She was right next to Kirika-sama's corpse, covered in blood. Her mouth was damp with the horrible substance.
Kiyomi, stop scaring me. Let's go tell Rika-sama about our leaving now. We'll just say that we have family matters. Rika-sama can take care of herself. We don't need to worry about her.
Fourteen days.
It had been fourteen days, exactly two weeks since Karasuma Kirika had passed away. Twenty-one days since Karasuma Kirio had left this world. Seven days since nearly all of her maids and servants had resigned, or mysteriously disappeared.
Himeka didn't blame them. She knew she couldn't control herself. At times she refused to eat for days, hurling her trays of food to the ground. After the satisfying clatter, she would subconsciously walk on the broken china with bare feet, ignoring the horrified gasps of the maid.
The maid who had brought her those meals, Kiyomi, had quit, as well as her sister, Suzuki. When they left, Himeka only had two maids and one servant left. She paid them well, and they stayed by her side. For a while, anyway. Before long, all of her employees had left, leaving her alone in the vast, empty house.
At school, Himeka had stopped talking altogether. Mizuki, Himeka's once good friend had not even attempted to encourage Himeka to speak again. In fact, Mizuki seemed wary, even frightened of her. She began to call Himeka "Karasuma-san" instead of "Himeka-chan" or "Rika-chan."
Karasuma Himeka was a disaster. She was a wealthy outsider, and nobody bothered to get close to her. They all knew what might happen if they did.
"Haven't you noticed something off with Karasuma Himeka?"
Himeka Kujyou looked up, surprised. She neatly placed her pen next to her homework paper. "What did you say, Kazune-chan? Something about my other half?"
Kujyou Kazune made an impatient tsking sound. "Yes, I did. Have you noticed that Karasuma Himeka has been acting oddly? I can't believe I'm even talking about the Karasumas, but…"
"You're right, Kazune-kun," Karin agreed, her pencil scribbling over a piece of paper. "She has been kind of odd lately."
"She's acting like a freak," Kazune declared.
"Kazune-sama, Karasuma Himeka's siblings have just passed away. And from what I've heard, her maids and servants have all resigned, leaving her unaided. She's going through a time of sadness and stress." Kyuu-chan looked up from his cutting board, his knife held mid-air. He resumed chopping up carrots once he had finished.
"I think that we should help her," Himeka said, in her soft little voice. "She's my other half. I…I want to be friends with her."
"You should do that, Himeka," Karin approved, rather louder than usual. "That's a great thing to do."
More importantly, it'll get me closer to gaining another soul's ring.
Stop talking already, sensei. You're saying nothing but boring, useless crap. Let me go home.
Karasuma Himeka tapped her pencil against her desk, her thumb and forefinger moving exactly together to move the pencil. Smack…smack…
If she could of, she would have stopped going to school. She was only in primary school, and she did not care about her education. It was not a top priority. But if she did not attend, people would be questioning her. Ringing the bell of her house, begging for her to come out. She would become the hot gossip of the town, and doctors would think she was ill. Himeka did not want that. She was alone…and she preferred it to stay that way. No one could penetrate that hard brick wall that covered her.
The bell rang. Sounds of bright chatter and scurrying feet filled Himeka's ears as her classmates dashed cheerfully out of the classroom. She quietly packed her school bag and clipped it shut, before beginning to walk out the door. Her shoes were just outside the threshold when a voice called to her. "Karasuma-san?"
She spun around. It was her sensei. "Make sure you study more. Your grades are dropping at a more rapid rate than ever, and if you're not careful, I'll have to put you in the extra tutoring class after school. You're not turning in your homework either. I know what happened to your siblings, and I'm sorry. But you must work harder."
"Yes," she answered, trying to keep hate out of her voice. "I will."
Damn. I have to go to the convenience store and buy my evening meal. Oh well. At least it'll only take a few minutes. Then I can go home.
Himeka walked out the front gates, her hands clasping the handle of her school bag. While most girls walked in groups and chatted loudly about boys, movies, and makeup, she walked alone, her dark black curls bobbing slightly with every step. Every time she passed someone, they abruptly stopped talking and turned to stare at her.
With a sigh of resentment, she walked down the street to the store and flung open the glass door. Imperiously, she walked up to the selection of instant meals. Extending a hand, she plucked a package of soft buns out of a wicker basket and turned to grab a cup of instant ramen.
She bumped into someone-no wait, someone bumped into her. Angrily, she spun around. "Who—"
Instantly she recognized the flowing blonde tresses, the wide blue eyes, the flawless rose-petal lips. "Oh. Karasuma-san," Mizuki said, backing away slowly. She held a strawberry ice cream cone in her hand, and her mouth was pale pink it. "I'm sorry." With one last terrified look, she fled back to her friends, whom looked just as frightened as their companion.
Her frown deepening even more, she paid for the food and shoved the door open, stomping out. Those girls. How I hate them! What a shallow lie…"I'm sorry"…? What kind of person says that to me anymore? Lies.
"Ah! Himeka-chan!"
Himeka-chan? Who dares to call me by such…such a name! My name is Karasuma Rika. Furious, she haughtily turned around. "It's Karasuma Rika. Who are you?"
"Oh, Himeka-chan, you don't recognize me?" Himeka's eyes registered a girl with rippling black hair and a three blue pearl-like beads in her hair. She was wearing a Sakuragaoka uniform, just like Himeka herself. "It's me."
Himeka squinted. She did look a bit familiar…but she realized how much a fool she looked like, squinting. "I don't know you," she said coolly. "Stranger. Stop calling me 'Himeka-chan' like you know me. You don't."
"But I do know you." The girl gave an encouraging smile, and took a step forward. She pointed a finger toward her chest. "Do you not remember? My name is Kujyou Himeka. I am your other half."
Impossible…! Well, okay, she might be my other 'half'. Then what does she want?
"Oh. Kujyou-san. What do you want?"
"I heard you lost both of your siblings recently, and I wanted to offer my condolences—"
"Cut the crap."
She seemed taken aback by that. "Ah…well, you can call me Himeka-chan. I know it's the same name as you…" She gave another tentative smile. "You don't mind, do you?"
Of course I do.
"I do not share the same name as you. My name is Karasuma Rika. Go away. I don't want to be near you. You are tainting me."
"Himeka-chan, I just want to be friends with you." Himeka Kujyou's boots came closer and closer to her. And what was Kujyou-san doing? Himeka Kujyou took her hands into her own.
"Don't touch me!" she instantly reacted, pulling her hands away, wiping them on her skirt. "Stop it!"
"Hime—ah, Rika-chan, I just want to help you. May I be your friend?"
"No." She attempted to give Kujyou Himeka the coldest glare she could attempt. To any normal person, hell would have frozen over with such a look. But not with Kujyou Himeka.
"I'm sorry then." But the girl was smiling. "Well, if you won't accept my friendship then, at least let me give you this." She held out a small package.
Himeka cautiously took the package and undid the wrapping. Inside was a pastry wrapped in plastic-ichigo daifuku.
"Karin-chan told me that Kirika-senpai told her that you liked ichigo daifuku," Himeka exclaimed in a cheerful tone. "Enjoy it, Rika-chan!"
Kirika…Rika gritted her teeth. This girl…who does she think she is?
She narrowed her eyes. "Shut up." Without another word, she walked right past Himeka Kujyou, and headed for the Karasuma estate, her dark red eyes glowing with anger. On her way there, she threw the pastry into a rain gutter.
I have been waiting for this day!
Himeka sat on the edge of her bed, still in her nightgown. It was a weekend, and there was no school. That meant Himeka did not have to face any of the brats at school.
Especially Mizuki. That Hatoba Mizuki makes my blood boil.
But nobody could spoil Himeka's good mood right then. There was no school, nobody to tell her off for walking around in her nightgown without a coat. Jovially, she opened her bedroom door and headed to the kitchen, where she buttered a slice of soft bread. The salty taste of butter filled her mouth, and she washed it down with a refreshing gulp of green tea. Life was not all that bad right now, was it not?
Ding. Ding. Ding. For a moment, Himeka looked around, as if she had left an appliance on. She couldn't have possibly left the oven on. She never turned it on in the first place. Then she realized it was the doorbell. Her brow turned downward. Who in the world was calling her? Nobody cared about the Karasuma girl anymore, and the bell was never rung, save for a few idiot door-to-door sellers.
She slapped down her butter knife and slung a long black coat over her nightgown, concealing the much too girly dress. She then proceeded to open the front door and glare evilly at whoever was at the gate.
Oh, joy. Her grip on the doorknob tightened as she realized who it was. It's them. What the heck do they want?
Kujyou Himeka, Kujyou Kazune, and Hanazono Karin were waiting at the gate. Himeka's brown eyes brightened when she saw the girl. "Ah! Rika-chan!"
Dammit.
"Good morning, Rika-chan! We all came to visit you to see how you were doing. Do you mind letting us in?" Himeka beamed. Even Kazune's mouth appeared to be turned up at the corners (though it looked somewhat forced), and Karin was giving her a gentle smile.
What kind of sick attack is this?d
Her fingernails scrabbled against the gilded doorknob, her fingers reflected in the false golden surface. Leave. Go away!
"I…I'm sorry," she said, her voice laced with anger. She swallowed and forced away the hatred, attempting to conceal it. "I cannot allow you into the house right now. I'm…still mourning. Yes, that's right. Maybe another time. Good-bye!"
Without further ado, she slammed the door shut. What are they doing? They should know by now how much I don't want them to visit. Stupid idiots!
The minutes slipped into hours, which slipped into days. Time ticked faster, faster, until it threatened to shorten the day into twenty-three hours instead of twenty-four.
Everything was still the same. Himeka took the public city bus home now to avoid any more awkward encounters with the Kujyous, and bought her meals from a different convenience store. It cost her a few yen more than the other shop, but at least she didn't bump into Mizuki or anyone like that. She had enough of those awkward moments.
On a normal day after school, Himeka waited at the bus stop, holding her report card in her hands. "It's not like I care about my grades anyway," she muttered, crushing the yellow cardstock in her hands. She had gotten straight D's.
"Karasuma-san," her sensei had told her. "Your grades are quite unstable at the moment. If this continues, you will have to sign up for cram school, or apply for a tutoring program. I will not let you pass into the next grade without a better report card. Understand?"
"What a lousy bitch," Himeka muttered. "Seriously."
Screech! The bus's tires squeaked to a halt. The door opened. "Lousy," she whispered to herself as she boarded the bus. "Very, very lousy."
"Rika-chan! I finally found you!"
Himeka skidded to a halt. It's her. What is she doing?
"Rika-chan, finally! I was looking for you all over town but it seems like you've decided to take the bus home. I thought you walked. Oh well!" Himeka Kujyou gave her other half a cheeky grin. "How are you?"
"Fine."
"Oh, okay. Is that you report card? Why is it all crumpled up like that? Let me see."
"N-no!" She hurriedly attempted to stuff it into her schoolbag, struggling with the plastic buckle. "It's okay. I don't want you to…"
She felt the yellow sheet being snatched from her hand. Himeka's eyes widened. "Oh wow. You get even worse grades than Karin-chan!"
Was that supposed to be a compliment? "Give that back." Himeka lunged for the offending piece of yellow, but the older girl held it out of reach.
"How about I come to your house and help you with your work, Rika-chan? I've always wanted to go back to your house. Okay? You might have to go to cram school if you don't get those grades up, right? I'll help you!"
"N-no! It's all right, please! I don't mind going to cram school, uh…you don't need to teach me. I can manage just fine on my own…"
"But at least I can help you, Rika-chan. Come on, let's go!" Without further ado, Himeka Kujyou had Himeka by the arm and was dragging her along, a bright smile plastered on her face.
Dammit.
"Rika-chan! Your house is so big! It's just like mine. Oh, have you been to my house yet, Rika-chan? Oh yeah, you haven't. Well, maybe you can visit my house next time!"
Her head swam with the cries and shouts of the other girl. What is this she doing?
"Let's go to your room, Rika-chan. I can teach you there. I completely forgot where it's located. Can you lead me there?"
Irritated, she showed the other Himeka to her room. "Here."
"Oh, your room is so nice, Rika-chan. I like your decorations. They're so pretty."
Scowling, Himeka sat down. "They're nothing."
"Oh, but they are something, Rika-chan. Let's do mathematics then. Is this your math book? Okay. Here. What do you not get?"
"Everything."
"Oh, okay then! See this triangle? This side is twenty four meters long, this one is x meters long, and this one is fifty meters long. How long is side x?"
"I don't know."
The conversation repeated itself over and over, until sun began to slip behind a large mountain. Himeka Kujyou rubbed her eyes. "Oh, it's late. But you haven't learned much yet. I'll go prepare a snack for us. Okay? Then we can finish the lesson." She slipped off the fancy bedspread and left the room, humming.
This isn't your house.
Himeka clenched her fists. Why was this stupid, stupid girl here anyway? She should just…just die. She wasn't even an invited guest. She should get out!
Hated boiled in her veins. You…I will never forgive you! Never!
"Kazune-kun, I'm going to go out now."
Kazune looked up. "Karin? But it's already starting to get dark. You shouldn't go."
"That's why I'm going out!" Karin exclaimed. "Himeka-chan is at the Karasuma estate. She needs to go home now. I'm going to fetch her."
"Karin, no. I'll get Kyuu-chan to pick her up. I don't want you going out there." Kazune walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder, lovingly touching her golden locks. "Please."
"Kazune-kun. I want to go fetch Himeka-chan. Please. Just this once."
He seemed to contemplate this for a moment. "Fine. Only if I go with you."
Karin's hands curled slightly into a fist, but she immediately released it. "Fine then."
I don't think it will be a problem if Kujyou accompanies me. I will escape him eventually. For now, I can feel it…my ring is hot …it will not be longer. Soon.
"Rika-chaaan! I brought back some snacks."
Himeka at once dropped her pen to the ground, and shoved her hand behind her back. "Uh. Yes."
"I really hope you like sweet buns," she said, setting two packages on the ground. "They look very good to me. Your cupboards are pretty bare. How often do you go to the market? I should take you sometime."
Himeka clenched her teeth. That was my evening meal! And no, I don't want you interfering in my private life. She watched, eyebrows furrowed, as the dark-haired teenager unwrapped the clear plastic surrounding the soft bread and sank her teeth into it. "Rika-chan? Are you not going to eat?"
"Shut up!"
Again, Himeka had lost it. "You…junk! You go into my house without my consent… interrupt me… visit me… eat my food… against my own will! I don't want you here?"
She swiped the sweet bun from Himeka's hands. "You don't deserve to eat such food! You are a piece of low-level trash! Get out of my house. Now!" She tossed the sugary pastry into the garbage can.
"Rika-chan, what's wrong?" Himeka picked up the plastic wrapper of the sweet bun from the ground. "Don't be angry."
"Shut up! Dammit, I want you to die. Go die!"
"Rika-chan, please stop. You're scaring me! Please settle down. Take deep breaths. I'm here, Rika-chan. Just calm down. Let the anger get out of you." The soft-eyed girl extended an arm to her other half.
"Stop it! Don't touch me. I don't want to be polluted by…by you! You're disgusting. I don't even want to look at you."
Something touched Himeka's mind. D… didn't I say something similar to this… to… Kirika… chan?
"Rika-chan…"
No! I don't want those memories! Go away! I have to stop them!
Himeka's hand curled around something. A knife. Where had that come from?
"Rika-chan, stop this. You're really scaring me! I just wanted to help you. I'm your friend, Rika-chan. Friend."
Something…a whisper touched her mind. Do it. Now. Make whatever keeps her talking stop… unwind her. She is like a clock. When you take out the batteries…the ticking stops.
"Rika-chan! Listen to me. Please. Wait, why is your hand covered in ink?"
She wouldn't stop talking! How annoying. Himeka Kujyou grabbed Himeka's hand. Her gentle brown eyes widened once she saw the elegant hiragana over her white skin. "What…?"
"You know too much." Himeka stood up, a knife clenched in her hand. "Way too much. That is why…the clock must stop ticking."
"What…?" Himeka Kujyou whimpered. She glanced at the darkened face of her other half. "What's… going on?"
The ring flared, burned. It grew hot, so hot that Karin's flesh turned bright pink under the heat. But she smiled at the beauty of it…of death. She was so near, so close.
Kazune hopped over the Karasuma's gate and opened it for Karin, who stepped inside the threshold. Home…I am home, she thought. Finally.
"Karin! The door is locked." Kazune hopelessly looked at the lock. "Nobody answered the bell either. It chimed about ten times every time I pushed the button. I did it twice. What…"
Fool. Soundlessly Karin breezed over and while pretending to be tugging at the doorknob, she bent over so the ring dangling off her silver chain bumped against the lock. Instantly it creaked open.
"I guess…maybe I didn't try hard enough." Kazune looked thoroughly bemused. "Well, let's go in."
The two of them stepped in. While Kazune marveled at the many ornate paintings and decorations in the Karasuma household, Karin had her hand pressed tightly to her necklace. It's so hot…
"Let's go search for Himeka-chan," Karin decided. "Split up. We'll meet back here. Okay, see you!"
Without waiting for Kazune's response, Karin ran off. Her hand gripped the necklace like a lifeline, and her green eyes shone. I've been waiting for this…I'm growing so much stronger…
She rounded a corner and stood in front of a room. No, Himeka's room. Wait for it…
"KYAAAAAA!!!"
Hurriedly Karin broke open the door. When it's freshest…
Himeka Karasuma was lying on the ground, something clutched in her bloodied hands. Her eyes were open, but instantly fell closed once Karin waved her hand at her.
Karin knelt by the still-warm body. At her arrival, a glittering silver ring emerged from the body. She cupped her hands around it and pressed it against the ring dangling off her necklace, until it melted in. There was now another plating around the ring-three extra ones. Once the silver ring had completely dissolved into her ring, she sighed in pleasure. How…strong I feel.
"Karin! Are you okay?"
Kazune rushed into the room. "I heard someone scream…I thought it was you!"
"N…no…H…Himeka…" Tears beaded in Karin's eyes. She forced herself to look ill.
Kazune clapped his hands over his mouth, horrified. "Who…"
Kujyou Himeka lay on the ground, her arms flung to the ground. Her brown eyes were wide open, except her eyes with no longer the caring, gentle pupils that everyone had known. Instead, they were glazed over and had a ferocious look to them.
The area around her mouth was covered in a dark, tarry substance-blood. It ran all over her cheeks, clotting and clumping her lovely black hair in reddish-black chunks. The stuff appeared to still be running out from her mouth.
Kazune gently touched a finger to her mouth. "H-Himeka…" he whispered, his voice shaking. "Who…"
He pried her mouth open with care and picked up a tissue from the nightstand. He wiped her lips clean of the substance and began to wash her teeth. He stiffened, and he dropped the tissue. His hands began to shake, and the bright blue eyes of his beaded with pain and horror. "Who…"
"Kazune-kun?"
"H…her…someone cut out the muscle in her mouth. She has no tongue."
Rest in peace, my darling girl. Sleep well. Not!
Karasuma Himeka stirred, her eyes gaping wide open. "Ah…"
Something sticky was in her hand. She turned it over and carefully opened her fingers. She glanced at the object, and memories flashed back to her. Terrible memories, memories darker than a midnight sky.
"Rika-chan…" A voice struck her. She whipped her head around. She found herself staring into the tear-stained faces of Hanazono Karin and Kujyou Kazune.
"D…do you know anything about this?" Kazune pointed at the girl-her victim. Furiously, Himeka shook her head.
"No. I don't know anything about it. I was sleeping in my bed, waiting for Himeka-chan to return with snacks… and now… this."
Himeka tentatively touched her back. "I'm sorry. You may take Himeka-chan…for…funeral services. I am very sorry I cannot supply you with any more information."
Once they were gone, Himeka pulled off her shirt and unsnapped her bra. With guilt, she stared at the bits and pieces in front of her.
A bloody tongue. A knife. A pen. And her own hand… Himeka stared at that, too. On the back of her hand, she had written something in hiragana.
The clock must stop ticking. You can make it stop.
A/N: Very bloody chapter. Somewhat explicit as well. Are you guys sure you don't want this rated "M"? I actually have a poll on my profile on this. Feel free to express what you think I should rate this.
Ichigo Daifuku is a Japanese mochi-like pastry, stuffed with red beans and strawberries.
I'll see you later~ Hopefully the next chapter won't be as delayed =_=