Okay, so I'm a terrible person for being away for so long… and I know that many people are probably upset with me due to me going AWOL. But being a senior in college with over 30 hours of class a week is really stressful, especially when I'm moving within the next few days. I know there are other stories that I haven't updated, and I know people HATE reading author's notes, but please bear with me. I'm doing the best I can, and I've been keeping watch over my stories from afar. I love you all, and thank you for sticking with me 3 Tenshi.
Chapter Three
Satou managed to reach her class before the bell, settling into her usual seat at the back of the room before the chimes sounded. Once the teacher entered and class began, the brunette had almost forgotten her strange experience that morning. If it wasn't for the tingling warmth nestled in her chest, she would have called it a dream… but had it really been all in her head?
Despite the earlier incident, class went along as per usual, Satou taking down expansive notes for each subject. Along with the general course information the teacher provided, she made notes to herself on what to study first once she got home, putting the easiest subjects first then progressing to the harder ones.
Though this seemed like overkill, Satou was used to the over-coverage; it helped her keep herself on track at all times. She was an excellent student, always completing her work on time and with excellent precision. She was one of the top students in her class, most likely due to many sleepless nights spent studying between shifts.
The girl groaned at the memory, popping her back in discomfort as she completed another study guide. It looked like tonight would be another one spent delving into books, instead of getting sleep. As long as Shimo-chan is getting sleep and doing well, I don't care.
Right before they were to break for lunch, her teacher, Mrs. Yamaguchi, gave her a gentle tap on the shoulder. "Amai-san, may I speak with you for a moment?" Her tone was gentle but firm, brown eyes locked onto the younger girl's gaze.
Satou's eyes widened in shock, but she nodded and followed the woman into the hallway. She crossed her hands respectfully over her stomach, looking to her teacher. "Is something wrong, Yamaguchi-sensei?"
Mrs. Yamaguchi shook her head, her short black fringe swaying with the movement. "Amai-san, how are you feeling?"
The question had definitely caught her off-guard, but it was an easy answer. "I'm doing fine, Sensei." Green eyes glanced between her teacher and the wooden floor. "…did I do something wrong?"
"Oh no, Amai-san. You just looked… well, a bit frazzled when you came in earlier, and it definitely had me worried. I just wished to know if there was anything upsetting you."
Satou blinked, a wave of ice washing down her spine. So she had seen… does that mean that whatever happened was… The girl gently shook her head, both dispelling the thoughts swirling in her mind and reassuring her teacher that all was well.
"Oh no, everything's fine!" For the most part. "I was just worried I would get here late, since I'm usually very punctual."
The woman pursed her lips, and Satou feared she didn't believe her. "Mmm, alright. But if there's anything you want to talk about, anything at all. I'm here, alright?"
The girl smiled, bobbing her head in understanding. "Of course, Sensei."
Finally, the school day ended, and everyone piled their things into their bags before hurrying from the classroom, eager to chat with their friends and relax from the day's events.
Amai Satou was the last to leave the room, the brunette alone.
She was used to it, of course. Having to take care of her sister by herself, Satou hadn't really had time for socialization and friends. She had had to focus on juggling her homework, two jobs, and keeping food on the table.
Wandering the halls, she sighed lightly, thinking back on when things were simpler.
Satou's family hadn't always been so broken. She used to have a great family; a mom and dad that cared about her very much, and eventually a little sister to love and care for. Unfortunately, her father never got to meet her sister…
An eight-year-old Satou sat at the entrance to her house, bouncing on the balls of her feet and ready to greet her father home with their customary hug and tickle fight. Her mother sat on the couch in the living room, her ever-growing belly covered with a warm blanket as she flipped through a baby catalog.
Seeing her first child still in her preferred spot, Gale Amai chuckled. "Honey, Daddy will be home soon. Why don't you come sit with me for now?"
The small child shook her head, tangled brown locks smacking her face and rushing her shoulders. "Nu-uh! I always wait here for Daddy. It's tradition!"
Giving her daughter another smile, Gale said nothing, allowing Satou to continue her vigil.
Several hours later she was in the same spot, a frown marring her cute visage. The sun had long since set, casting the living room and entry in near darkness. The small child hadn't moved, only sat in front of the door in continued, though thinning, patience.
With her brow furrowed with anxiety, the girl's mother was pacing the living room. "He should have been home hours ago…" She began to move towards the kitchen, fully intent on calling her husband's business, when there was a sharp rap on the front door.
Satou leapt up with glee, immediately reaching for the knob and tossing the door open wide. "Dad-"
It wasn't her father.
A police officer stood in slight shock on their doorstep, his partner not far behind him. "Is this the residence of a Mr. Fujitarou Amai?" His eyes locked onto those of Gale, who by this point was trembling slightly. "Y-yes?"
The officers took in her form, lingering on the state of her belly. The second one sighed.
"Mrs. Amai, there's been an accident…"
The funeral had been nice, with a few of Fujitarou's friends and family there, at least ones that could afford to make the overseas trip. The ceremony was a small one, but that was what he would have wanted. Gale gave sob-filled thank you's as people gave their condolences after the service.
Satou was just… numb.
Where was her father? Why hadn't he come home weeks ago?
It wouldn't be until later that it would register. Her father was gone…
Things had been tough after that. After giving birth to a slightly sickly Shimofuri, her mother had been working as an employee of a music company in America, BigBEATZ, which had branches all over the world. She had been making good money selling music equipment and helpful software up until they offered her a promotion; they offered her the district manager's position in their new branch in Tokyo.
Of course she jumped at the chance, immediately packing up her two little girls and flying to Japan. Things had gone well for a while, they had had food to eat, a nice roof over their heads.
For two years, things were great.
Then the branch went bankrupt.
Thousands of people lost their jobs, including Gale. Turns out, BigBEATZ had counted on the downfall of their Tokyo building, and had stockpiled millions of dollars in insurance to cover it. While they'd gotten rich, Satou, her mother, and her sister were now in crippling debt. They had had to relocate to the shadier part of the city, where the apartments were cheap and awful.
Gale found a job working as a waitress at a local Italian restaurant, not far from her apartment, and Satou managed to get some odd jobs here and there. Things were fine… for now.
Satou soon found herself in front of Deikan Junior High, watching the middle-schoolers scuttle through the doors, excitedly jabbering to one another. Her gaze flitted over each child, searching for that head of familiar black hair until she found it strolling alongside a rather vibrant redhead.
Shomofuri caught sight of her sister, a wide smile growing on her face as she waved her tiny arms in greeting, tugging the pigtailed girl along with her. "Onee-san! I didn't expect to see you today!"
Satou smiled, looking down at her smaller sister. "I guess I just wanted to check up on you, Shimo-chan."
While her sister giggled, Satou took in the sight of her. Skin a healthy peach color, cheeks no longer sunken and pallid. God, it was good to see her so full of life again, after the hell she'd been put through…
Satou hustled into the apartment, shaking rain from her thin jacket as she slipped off her shoes. "Jesus it's cold… better not go out today, Shimo-chan."
Silence was her answer.
Satou's brow furrowed. "Shimo-chan? C'mon, answer me." Still nothing. Growing worried for her sister, the brunette trekked into the smaller girl's bedroom. She gasped.
Shimofuri was on the ground, convulsing violently. Foam gathered at the corners of her mouth, and her eyes were rolled into the back of her head.
"Shimofuri! OH MY GOD!"
Immediately calling an ambulance, Satou rode with her sister to the hospital, her mother arriving not long afterwards once she had been contacted by the hospital.
The doctors took into account the sudden seizure, looking over the small child's current status. They decided to run some tests, and the outlook was grim.
She had leukemia.
The doctors had warned them that if left untreated for long, the ravenette wouldn't last to her 8th birthday. So Gale and Satou both sought more work, stockpiling the money to help pay for Shimo's hospital bills.
But with all of the other payments long past due, and bill after bill stacking up on the kitchen table, it didn't take long for the already stressed Gale to snap.
Satou was awoken from her sleep by the sound of sobs, a dull thudding sound accompanying the low sobs in a sort of staccato rhythm. Sliding from between the mattress and her comforter, creeping from her bedroom and into the small living room.
Her mother stood at the kitchen table, arm rising and falling shakily, with a large knife gripped in her hand. "Damn bastards, taking my fucking money. While my baby's wasting away in the damn hospital. Why can't you leave us the fuck alone?!" Each word seemed punctuated by the knife stabbing and ripping into another bill, the bits and pieces already shredded fluttering to the floor.
Satou's eyes widened, and the teenager carefully approached her mother. "K-kaa-san, please s-stop…"
Gale whipped about, knife still clutched in her right hand. "W-what are you doing awake, Satou-chan? G-go back to b-bed…" Before she could turn around to finish her work, Satou stepped closer, reaching for the knife.
"Mama… give me the knife-"
"NO!" Gale swung blindly at her daughter, anger and despair clear in her eyes. "They're taking away everything, Satou! Your sister is dying and these assholes can't even spare us a couple of weeks without sending more fucking bills!"
A small grunt of pain drew her from her monologue, the tip of her knife stained red. Grey eyes widening, the woman looked in fear at her daughter.
A fairly long gash had been cut into her left shoulder, crossing over her collarbone through her shirt. Crimson liquid began to seep through the grey sleepshirt she wore, staining her breast down to her stomach a deep burgundy.
"Oh-oh my God… what have I done…" The mother murmured, dropping the knife in agony, hot tears cascading down her cheeks as she reached for her daughter. Satou flinched back, fear and betrayal in her green eyes, soon coated with tears.
"Mama… why?"
Satou came back to the present when she felt a soft tug on her arm. "Hey, Onee-chan. This is Ichigo-san, the girl I was telling you about. We're in the same class together."
The brunette turned her gaze to the redhead, the smaller girl sending her a shy wave and a smile. "W-wow, Amai-san, you never told me your sister was so p-pretty…" This sent a rather deep blush to Satou's cheeks, earning a giggle from her sister.
"Ichigo-san, you're not very subtle, are you?" While the redhead began to flail and ask for forgiveness for being so blunt, Shimofuri looked to the older girl. "Ichigo-san says there's a café down the road that sells really good cake. Can we go, Onee-san? Please~?"
Satou hummed, glancing between the two girls pensively. "I… suppose… but we're not staying out too late." Both girls squealed with delight, bouncing in place. Satou merely shook her head, a small grin working its way onto her cheeks.
She turned away from the girls and started to walk down the sidewalk. "Well come on, then. We want to get there before dark, right?" The middle schoolers stopped their squeals and immediately followed, side by side while Satou took the lead.
Ichigo looked over at the older girl, still in awe that her good friend had such a cool older sister. The Mew still had her two best friends, but she had been drawn to the smaller ravenette after seeing her by herself often. Being the bubbly person she is, she immediately struck her up in conversation, and soon the two were nearly inseparable.
The Mew gave out directions for the other two, the Amai sisters following until they reached the doors to Café Mew Mew.
Satou blinked, staring up at the cupcake-shaped building.
"It's so…"
Ichigo grinned. "Pretty? Cute? Absolutely adorable?"
"…pink."
And here we go! The sisters finally reach Café Mew Mew! The next chapter will be much more interesting, I promise. And we get a bit of a peek at what Satou and Shimofuri's past was like. This is rated M for a reason, folks. Prepare to go into the dark…