In My Life
See? Don't worry, I will stick to updating this. I hope you like this chapter now, but anyway, onto this already. Shout-outs to follow!
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Ticking and tocking, ticking and tocking. Very strange.
Elli stood behind her desk, busily filling out nothing while Makoto thumbed through a magazine about nothing he cared about. Tense and taut chords struck through the dead silent air as the time ticked and tocked, ticked and tocked.
Makoto peered up at her from the magazine. A piece of her short hair had fallen in her face as she either focused on or was just staring at something on her desk. Maybe she didn't have short hair for very long… perhaps she had something longer until she cut it? Makoto sighed, glancing over to her again.
"Do you need something?" she suddenly cut in. Makoto quickly put the magazine down in his lap, turning to her and staring for a moment before realizing…
"No," he replied, turning back to the magazine.
"I hope you realize you're reading Cosmo…" Elli shot out with a glare.
Makoto turned to her, then to the magazine cover, complete with Anna Nicole Smith.
"What is this doing here?" he demanded, holding up the magazine in a claw of a fist. "And fucking Anna Nicole Smith and Rosanne giving sex advice?" He paused to look at the magazine again. "Cher shares her top picks in music, and Janet Jackson talks about plans to go on a European tour."
"You had your choice between that and the National Geographic," Elli cut in. "I don't know about you, but I would've taken the latter."
"Burn this," Makoto retaliated.
"You burn it."
"I will," Makoto nodded as he got up.
"After your appointment."
"Of course. There's no other reason for me to come here."
And from his office emerged the Doctor, hands shoved in his pockets as he strode up to Makoto.
"Been dodging some appointments, I see…" he said calmly. He turned back to head to his office, motioning for Makoto to follow him.
Ehh…well, I get my cast on in another week or so. The Doctor told me to go to the swimming festival tomorrow, that at least being by the salt water would do me some good. Sure, fine by me.
-From Makoto's Journal
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"It's so pretty up here…"
"Yeah."
They took to lying down to stare up at the jaunty blue skies turning to a pale pink, lying around in their swimsuits. Little Makoto turned to himself for a moment, trying to belt something out.
"I like you," he half-mumbled, instantly flipping over to lie on his stomach, facing opposite from his companion.
But she flipped over too, sending her best smile to him.
"I like you too."
With one clumsy motion, Makoto shoved his burnt face into the dirt.
"What's wrong?" the girl asked with concern.
"Yes, Makoto. Is everything okay?"
Perhaps a flash of green skipping off on a laugh? Makoto quickly sat up in bed to dart his eyes around the tiny house.
"No midgets…" he sighed, putting a hand to his chest. With a sigh he tossed his mop-topped head back onto the pillow, eyes slapping shut.
"It's so pretty up here…"
"Yeah."
Duke in a too-tight neon green Party Boy thong, doing the rumba in the Inn. He glided from table to table, barefoot, clad in many gold chains, Brillo-pad chest and back hair dripping with a slippery excretion, and moon walking up to Makoto while the nasty farmer boy sipped his coffee. And the nipple came ever closer to his ear…
And snapping to an out of his mind attention, Makoto let out a quick pierce of a scream. He panted for a moment, putting his hand on his chest with short, downward strokes. Then he turned to the adjacent wall, promptly and repeatedly slamming his head on the soothing hardness.
After all was slammed and done, he glanced over at the clock. 5:32 AM, and the sun already up in the sky. He got out of bed in nothing but a pair sleeping pants dotted with little yellow submarines, striding over to the bureau to get some clothes for the day.
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A lovely day of too high peaks of noon time temperatures, all the heat to be alleviated by the fresh, salty air and Duke in a neon green thong, chest hair and back hair greased over in suntan lotion and perhaps fried eggs as well.
Makoto came back from the town square, having left his disgust for the horrible eye sore temporarily behind the shrub, hoping to crack his skull in two to banish it permanently. The giant rock the brown shorts-clad Rick was standing on looked like a good place to start.
Holding a megaphone and his glassed fizzed in the saline water, Rick shoved his fist in a proclamation into the air.
"Yeah!!" he cried, pulling out a white 3X5 card from his back pocket. "It's the 3rd Annual Swimming Competition!" he read. "And let's meet our contestants!" He took a moment to wave his hand to the line of boys, and Ann, who were all ready to swim.
"Read it already!!" Kai shouted with cupped hands around his mouth. As he stood there with a slick grin, Rick took a moment to shoot a weak "glare" in Kai's direction, and all the swimmers burst out into a laugh.
"Well," Rick started with a hand on his side. "There's EVERYONE'S favorite seaman from abroad, Kai."
Kai took a moment to bow his head and nod, completely self-assured. Rick moaned from his post, continuing on.
"And," Rick finished. "Makoto, who could not participate because of his broken arm."
This prompted the whole town to turn to stare at Makoto. He didn't look back, and let out a sigh. Sitting from the dock in his red swim trunks, he was curled up like a scared little kid near the shallow end of the pool. He watched as Rick pulled a pop pistol from his pocket, raised it to the sunny sky, and fired off.
Kai shot himself up and forward, propelling and slaying the competition in the lead. Ann was tailing at a close second, Harris a bit behind her, and Jeff trying his damn hardest to get onto his opponents.
Gray, who also participated, was still at the starting line. Saibara was putting him down to the bottom in everyway possible, Gray finally stepping out of the water and darted under the hospitable shade of the Seaside Lounge.
Kai gained on the giant rock where Rick stood, Ann gaining on Kai, Harris gaining on Ann, and Jeff struggling with himself far behind.
Makoto brought his eyes down to the water for a moment, and then back up at the salty clean competition. And with a snap, he shot them down again to see something in the water.
Whatever it was, it was bearing a vivid resemblance to a manatee with its bloated body and hairy back. Face down and a slight blueberry tan on deathly pale skin, it casually made its way to the party, entering the race in a slow float.
And just as Rick was looking down to possibly kick the winner of the race, the fat, hairy, swollen corpse made its way into full sight.
Rick's piercing scream transcended all bounds in decibel level and pitch. Everyone's eyes were pitched forward, including Makoto's. And of course, the screams broke out.
"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT?!?"
"Eww…"
"It kinda smells…"
"HOW DID THAT THING GET THERE?!?"
It truly was gruesome. Some of the flesh had separated from the swollen, waterlogged body and it began to smell of sour elderberries and ten-day old gouda cheese.
Finally, between all the outcries and panic attacks, the town's very own Doctor stepped forward, his tight body frame exposed in a pair of green and white swim trunks and his charcoal hair brushed back. He walked to the edge of the dock, peering to the body circling the rock.
"Died a little less than forty-eight hours ago," he said flatly. "Male, possibly did weigh about three hundred or so pounds, damaged skull… Tsk tsk…"
He turned halfway around and motioned for his nurse to join him, Elli stepped forward, flip-flopping out of the crowd in a blue one piece and a pair of white shorts.
"We've got to get him out of there. And we'll need a bag," the Doctor said to her, barely turning around.
"We don't have one big enough…" she replied, giving a cringe herself.
"Then get some black trash bags."
Elli nodded.
"I'll be right back."
She turned back, past Makoto and into the crowd that had huddled around the dock. From behind Makoto heard Kai say:
"I'll get you some of those Glad trash bags, okay?"
In no time at all as the Doctor and some held at gunpoint volunteers were jumping into the water, Elli came bag with a handful of trash bags, Glad brand of course. The Doctor had led Gray to the body, and Kai ran passed Makoto to heroically dive in. Elli, still holding the trash bags stepped up to the edge of the dock where Makoto was, watching on as the heroes struggled with the manatee of a corpse.
"That man has impeccable timing," Elli said with a nod.
"I bet he was a punctual guy," Makoto replied in a mutter.
"Now a moment of silence?" Elli asked.
"Yeah, it'd a nice thing if everyone shut up…" Makoto groaned.
The screams and horrified chatter continued as the heroes strained, dragging the body ashore. Elli ran to meet them and Makoto followed, not wanting to stand around by the dolts of Mineral Town.
"Alright," the Doctor began in a drab tone, sun glimmering on his wet hair. "Let's get him into the bags."
So they worked, starting with a bag on his head and around his legs and layering the bags from there. Still, the bags didn't cover him all together, but it was good enough for now.
"Elli," the Doctor turned to his nurse. "I'll stay here to calm these people down. You take Kai and Gray to get this body away… and…" He looked at Makoto. "And have him get the door."
Kai and Gray got down to grab the body, Gray muttering some choice words under his weak breath as they struggled and strained to lift it. Elli took an end and even Makoto pitched in his good arm, and they slowly trudged their way back into town.
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As they dragged the body through town, they were making what Elli referred to as "Mortician's talk". They had to bring the body to the clinic, normally a nice walk turned into a painful trudge with the dead weight not helping much.
"Kai, you always wear that bandana?"
"Yep. Gray, you always wear that hat?"
"Yep."
For a moment, there was a hovering silence as they continued working. Makoto looked to Elli briefly, but turned back to himself. Then he looked to her again.
"Elli?" he asked.
"Yes?"
"Where's the morgue?"
"Under the clinic," she replied. Then she managed to let out a laugh and a warm smile. "Don't worry, we'll ask you to do some work down there sometime soon."
"I'd enjoy myself so," Makoto replied.
And finally, they reached the clinic, Elli almost immediately handing the key to Makoto, who also immediately handed over a little more dead weight to everyone else. He keyed and opened up the door, making way for everyone else to enter.
They practically ran down to the basement without even flicking on the light, dumped the dead weight on the nearest table, and ran back up, Elli closing the door behind them.
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They took a more relaxed walk back, Kai and Gray exchanging introductions a bit ahead while Makoto walked with Elli next to him. Elli kept turning her eyes to Makoto's stomach, either checking him out or reviewing something or another.
"What's wrong?" Makoto asked, not looking to her.
For a moment, Elli hung on the edge of what to say, halfway falling into it.
"That… that scar…"
"Got shot."
Elli took it, saying nothing at first but growing into a murmur of "Scar on his stomach… scar on his stomach…" This hooked and drew Makoto into her eyes.
"I've had a feeling…" Makoto began. They stopped. "Something vague…"
They turned their heads away for a moment, their murmuring continuing as they fully turned back to back.
And it flashed brightly, spinning around to meet the other once again.
"It's you!" And they stood there.
"I can't believe I've found you!" Elli said with a smile.
Makoto stood there, nodding.
"I wish I'd known sooner…" he replied, trailing off a little. But with a shake of his head, he snapped back into it. "But first, the Doctor's expecting us back. We'll talk later."
"Mother's Hill?"
"Mother's Hill."
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They were greeted back at the beach with a less panicked crowd, that bunch someone turning to more anger now. They stood, watching in the middle of the sand to see the scene. A small stray mutt was sniffing and digging around in the sand for something or another, but just uncovering more sand, red sand. And all around the disgusted Doctor crowded the scantily clad Duke and the equally disgusted Officer Harris.
"For the last time, Duke!" the Doctor half-shouted out of vexation. "There is no way in hell Makoto could've done it!"
Overhearing this, Elli commented
"Could Duke get any dumber?" she asked, sighing. "Or any more disgusting?"
"I hope not," Makoto replied, shaking his head.
Duke put his hands at his sides for probably the umpteen-millionth time during that pointless argument.
"And what makes you say that??"
The Doctor slapped his hand to his forehead.
"Because when it occurred…" he got the first half out. "Everyone in town was at the Inn."
Then Duke finally sparked something to his potato brain, retaliating.
"What about afterwards, eh Doc??"
The Doctor slapped his head again.
"Makoto has a broken arm. How would he get the victim in the water?"
Something caught Harris's eye, and he peaked over the Doctor's shoulder, prompting him and Duke to turn to the stray mutt. The little mutt was sitting accomplished on the gruesome start of a whole trail of red sand that stretched to the point of high tide.
"The victim was bludgeoned to death over where the dog is, and was dragged from Point A," he pointed to the dog "to Point B." And he pointed to the water.
Harris took it, nodding.
"Case closed," he capped. "And… festival closed."
Elli turned to Makoto with a smile.
"See?" she said. "You got off!"
"At least there's something," he replied. Then turning to her, he continued. "Meet in an hour?"
"In an hour."
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Hour moving on passing. Makoto, now dressed, made his way past the spring and to the summer spot that was just implied as the place to meet. The afternoon sun flickered around on all the trees, bringing the heat down to a more comfortable cool. Not another soul around to get involved, Makoto realized, and he looked from the trees in the clearing's vicinity and found her sitting on a large rock by the lake as she stared out and into the water.
He decided to approach, giving a quick "Hey!" as he made his way there. She turned around, and giving him a smile she moved over and patted the space next to her. With a slow nod, Makoto came up to her, pulling himself onto the rock and settling down next to her.
For a lasting moment, it was a kind of nice and assuring feeling just sitting together. They both stared out into the lake, gazing back and forth between everything it had mirrored off clearly. Maybe they had almost forgotten why they met there, but they stayed for a little while.
Makoto stared up ahead at some kind of unreachable gaping entrance past the distance of the lake, utterly focused.
"Ten years…" he murmured almost unconsciously. He caught Elli's attention, and she looked over to him with an ambiguously strange look. She cracked a smile, turning back to the lake.
"I can't believe it…" she replied. She let out a little laugh. "I know we haven't exactly been great to each other lately--"
"Or mostly me being a bastard."
Elli sighed, shaking her head with a wry smile.
"Come on Makoto…" she said, complimenting it with a rather straight giggle. "I've given my fair share of bitchiness to this friendship."
"Friendship?"
Elli looked to him.
"Yeah… I guess..."
No reply, not for a good moment.
"What's wrong?" Elli asked, concern rising in her voice.
"Nothing…" Makoto replied, shaking his head. He turned to her, eyes up and head down. Then turning back to himself, he continued. "Just something new."
And from there, they looked up at the sky going a pastel shade of pink.
"Feels good," Makoto added with a nod.
I never realized how it feels to have a friend like her. Guess that kinda explained what I felt about her, well, anyway, it's off to summer work. Community service, bah. I feel a little better about myself now… a little.
-From Makoto's Journal
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Here are the shout-outs!
Kirjava Deamon- There's some other great ones too! I'd highly recommend Country Home Living, it'll makes you feel good! Thanks for reading!
anime26angel- Have fun on your band tour, and hopefully things will work on in the story. Thanks for reading!
Zomaelgustar the Wanker- Viva Makoto! Thank you for reading and all your support!
This was used a couple chapters back, so here are the lyrics.
Strawberry Fields Forever- By John Lennon and Paul McCartney
Let me take you down
cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
Living is easy with eyes closed
Misunderstanding all you see
It's getting hard to be someone
but it all works out
It doesn't matter much to me
Let me take you down
cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
No one I think is in my tree
I mean it must be high or low
That is you can't, you know, tune in
but it's all right
That is I think it's not too bad
Let me take you down
cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
Always know sometimes think it's me
But you know I know when it's a dream
I think I know I mean, ah yes
but it's all wrong
that is I think I disagree
Let me take you down
cause I'm going to strawberry fields
Nothing is real
and nothing to get hung about
Strawberry fields forever
Strawberry fields forever
strawberry fields forever