Chapter Four: The Ankle Brace
Inner Taro: At my price... U-.-
"Kin-chan," he panted behind her, "Matte!" Kin was far too out-of-breath for words, but she slowed her pace. They arrived at the checkmark: the rusted old bench. She checked her watch.
"1:34."
"Wasn't it 1:46 when we started? We are a lot more tired now than before," Taro pointed out desperately, trying to find something to cheer her up.
"Unacceptable. I have to make it to 1:30. If you're tired, just sit here and wait for me to come around the corner," she suggested.
"Okay-" Taro started, but she was already gone. "Geez, that girl is serious." He collapsed on the bench, happily savoring his much-needed rest. He checked his watch. It's been a minute already. He took long gulps of water and tossed a tennis ball around. Two minutes. 'What's wrong?' Three minutes. Then five. 'Nani? What's happened now?'
---Meanwhile---
"Chikusho, chikusho, chikusho..." she cursed quietly, staring at her sprained ankle. "That stupid outcrop and my pathetic klutz-ness..." She sighed, rubbing her right ankle gently. She moved it to an awkward angle. Mistake.
"Itai!" she exclaimed, blinking back tears.
"Oi, you're blocking my sidewalk and you're loud. Move it," a man with a green bandana said in front of her. He looked condescendingly on her, his intimidating beady eyes unnerving her. 'Ah, Seigaku? So he's only a Junior High student.'
"G-gomen," she said, dragging her bad leg to the other side and letting him pass. Mustering her voice, she asked, "Do you know, by chance, Tezuka Kunimitsu?"
He stopped in his tracks, turning back towards her. "Nande?"
"N-nothing. I-I could use his help right now," she stuttered, grimacing at her ankle.
"Why his help?" he glared at her suspiciously.
"Never mind. Forget I asked," she smiled nervously.
"Humph," he snorted and ran down the sidewalk. The moment she sighed with relief, a sharp pain went up her ankle. 'It's no big deal. I just have to hop my way back to Taro-chan, that's all. Easier said than done though. That baka, where is he?'
---After an Hour---
"Kin-chan! Kin-chan! Where are you, Kin-chan? Don't leave me here alone!" Taro shouted and hope had long deserted him. "Kin-chan!" A lump formed in his throat, but he pushed it back. 'No, I can't cry now. Kin-chan could be in serious trouble. What if...'
Inner Taro: A truck crashed into her and her insides spewed?
"No, that couldn't have happened."
Inner Taro: A cat bit her and her eyes got gorged out.
"She loves cats."
Inner Taro: Doumoto found her and beat her to a pulp.
"Why are you so violent?"
Inner Taro: Then what do you think happened?
"I don't know, but the problem is... I'm lost!"
---Evening---
Dinner was silent, except for the utensils hitting their plates.
"So, Kin, did you finish your homework today?" Ayana asked cheerfully. Kin cringed, unable to hide it.
"A-almost," she lied. Tezuka glanced at his younger sister, thinking, 'She is so simple-minded. I almost envy her.'
"Kunimitsu, I heard the regulars tournament is next week," their father pointed out.
"Hai," he replied.
"Good luck, onii-chan," Kin smiled.
"I don't need luck," he replied.
"Kunimitsu! Be nice to your sister," their mother rebuked.
"Maybe after she finishes her homework," he suggested. 'Arrgh. He never fails to piss me off. Just you wait, onii-chan, just you wait.' Simmering in tenacity and envy, she glared at him, absolutely determined to defeat him and prove herself. It was almost scary- a dark aura followed her everywhere, even her shadow.
"Good night," he said, not glancing at her and put his plate in the sink.
"Nani? It's only six o'clock," Kin protested. His only reply was absolute silence as he walked up the stairs.
"Kin, don't worry about him," her grandfather smiled, "He can take care of himself."
"Well, he couldn't two years ago," she grunted. The image of Tezuka's broken arm and her desperate attempts to cheer him up popped into her mind.
"Just as you are now," he replied. She sat up, alarmed and glanced at her foot. 'Could he know? Nah, he's probably bluffing.'
"Well, I've got homework," she set her plate in the sink, taking intentionally small steps to hide her limp.
Halfway up the stairs, her mother called, "Did you forget? It's Wednesday, so it's your turn to wash the dishes." 'Chikusho...' she sulked, 'I forgot.'
"I'll be back," she waved and continued climbing. When she slammed the door to her room, she noticed that something was on the table. When she picked it up, she blinked in surprise.
"An ankle brace?" she was shocked, "Onii-chan can read me so well." Smirking, she put it on. 'Perfect fit. It must be small for him, so now I'm inheriting it. Kuni-nii-chan... Mada Mada Dane.'
---Before Midnight---
"Aahhh! No matter how I look at this problem, it's only screwing up my brain more! Stupid algebra!" She threw her book across the room freely, it hit the lamp and the bulb flickered and went dead. 'C-chikusho... Aw well, it's about time I get to sleep anyway.' Still simmering in frustration, she changed and propped onto bed.
The nanosecond before she fell asleep, she suddenly remembered something.
"TARO-CHAN! I FORGOT!"
---Meanwhile---
Taro sat on the bench, sobbing pathetically.
"I'm so scared, and it's getting colder," he sniffed, inhaling and exhaling sharply. He glanced at his ankle. He had tripped over an outcrop and now his ankle was throbbing painfully. 'Could things get any worse?'
Suddenly, a loud rumbling roared overhead and the sky flickered momentarily. He heard sheets of rain splatter. He sighed, tucking in his legs.
"WHY DID I EVEN COME?!"
Review, neh?