Ragnarok Solstice
Part I: The Admonitions
By Healing Spirit
Chapter 8: Signs of Warnings
"Sarah!" Her black locks brushed her shoulder as Sarah swirled around to greet Min Sung face to face. She smiled in answer as he neared her.
"Hey Idiot. What's up?"
He broke out a dazzling smile, sheepishly scratching the back of his head, ruffling his hair. "I have to tell you something before everyone else."
She leaned in more to emphasize her point. "Is Yukari better?"
"Yeah. She just woke up."
"Are you serious?" She rushed past him to see for herself when she was pulled back by her arm. Glancing down, his hand was secured onto her elbow. She looked at him queerly, analyzing his expressive eyes. 'What is so proverbial about his expression that I know I have seen before?'
"Min Sung…"
"That was not what I wanted to tell you."
She watched as he matched his gaze to her's, once again weakening her knees into useless jelly. "Idiot," her lips curled into a smug smirk. "What do you want to tell me then?"
"Do you-" he cut himself off, his lips trying to form the sentence that would determine their future. Little did Sarah know, Min Sung was already preparing herself for the answer he would receive that would break his fragile heart.
"Do you… love me?"
000
"Anzu?" The brunette looked up to see Mai and Shizuka loom above her. She peered around at her surroundings to conclude that she was in a hospital room. However, when she looked out beyond the wide windows… she observed how very familiar looking those skyscrapers were that looked very similar to the ones that towered all over New York… wait. "New York?!"
She sprinted up in the bed. "What are we doing in New York?!"
"Relax, hon," Mai eased her back into bed, pulling the covers up to her chin. Stepping back to consult Shizuka, she whispered something into her ear. Anzu looked on bewilderedly.
"Hey! I just remembered!" she bolted up in bed again and stared at her two friends in fear. "Yukari, Sarah, Susan and I are going to Washington D.C. for the competition in two weeks!"
"Anzu…" Shizuka whispered soothingly. "Yukari is in no shape to go anywhere…"
"What? What happened to her?" She asked fearfully.
"She- she was hurt…"
000
National Conference on Weather Changes - New York City
"Washington is astonished. Just recently, a few hours ago, South Korea and North Korea has been assaulted by a series of hail the size of grapefruits. Thousands were killed and millions more injured. South Korea's capital, Seoul has been hit the hardest. South Korean residents are now currently being moved to temporary homes in neighboring Japan, China and Taiwan. North Koreans are still refusing to be moved out of their country, despite all their losses."
"Impossible!" A slam hit the smooth surface of polished wood. All eyes lay on the Vice President, who was now enraged with incredulity. "Please, Mr. Hawkins! Enough with this nonsense!" He had finally cracked, his fists clutched tight in anger. "How dare you fill our respectful senators with this nonsense!"
"Mr. Vice President," Professor Hawkins said nervously, uneasy that he had angered the Vice President. "I-"
"You… WHAT?!"
Silence engulfed the tranquility of the room, tension building dangerously. The silence was shattered with the doors slamming open, causing everyone to jump in surprise. In the doorway stood a shaking scientist, clutching a clip board.
"Mr. President! A hurricane is approaching the eastern seaboard of Japan!"
"What?!" The finely-dressed president stood from his seat in the middle of the commotion, trepidation reflecting in his old eyes. Mutterings filled the air.
"Should I signal the rescue team, sir?"
000
"Christine! Christine, wait up!" Pausing to the sound of her beloved sister, the sixteen-year-old raised to her tippy-toes for a better view of her among the raging sea of students.
"Dorothy?" Scanning the crowd for her freshman sibling, Christine pushed her way towards her.
Finally reaching a struggling Dorothy caught between the heavy hordes, she pulled her out of there with all the strength she could muster. Stumbling for a few moments, they eventually regained their posture. "Thanks Christine!" Dorothy breathed, bending down to catch a few extra breaths. Her short hair tickled her rosy cheeks as her midnight eyes were covered with her closed eyelids.
"It's all right! Just remember," she bent down as well to match her eyes with Dorothy's. "Use the side doors, nobody goes out that way!" Christine had pretty pure-ebony locks that trailed close to her waist. Her almond shaped eyes twinkled whenever she flashed a charming smile.
"Okay!" Dorothy grinned at her older sister.
"Dorothy! Christine!" They turned their heads to spot an out-of-breath Miyuka running towards them, lugging her huge bag.
"Miyuka! What's in the bag?" Dorothy questioned as her companion dropped the bulging bag onto the ground in front of them. Miyuka was a cute freshman, with long silky black-tresses that framed her oval face. In an instant, her small hands swooped down to hold down her navy-blue skirt as a strong wind blew up unexpectantly.
"Whoa!" Christine and Dorothy caught on and copied her actions.
"It sure is windy today!" Miyuka commented while her friends nodded in agreement. Smoothing out her pink jacket, Dorothy gazed up to the bright blue sky spotted with fluffy clouds tailing across its surface. It seemed like a nice enough day. The birds were chirping noticeably, teenagers their age were out hanging out and celebrating the weekend.
"So, what's in the bag?" Dorothy repeated, referring to the bag Miyuka picked up off the ground. She fumbled with it, shifting her weight to satisfy it.
"Oh, just some notes that I borrowed from my friends to make up for when I was sick."
"All those books! Miyuka, you were only sick for two days," Dorothy commented.
"But, maybe one of them missed something!" Miyuka shot back, following the two out of the school yard. Exiting the school grounds, they passed a giant sign placed purposely in front of the school that read off: "Domino High School."
"Hey, do you two want to come to my house today?" Miyuka suggested, slightly stumbling on a little pebble that rolled mischievously under her heel. "Careful!" Christine held out her hands to steady her.
"Sure! What's the occasion?" Dorothy asked.
"My sister, you know. Yukari? She's coming back to Japan for a few days after she's done shocking Anzu with her surprise birthday party!" She squealed excitingly.
"That's so awesome! Does that mean that we get to meet her?" Dorothy exclaimed. "Anzu's told us so much about her!"
"Of course! Now, do you want to come over to help us put up the 'Welcome Home!' decorations?"
"Sure!" The three girls quickly treaded down the sidewalk, merrily passing the everyday scenery of the western part of Japan. Tall buildings loomed above them, connected to stores that lined the sidewalks. What seemed like hundreds of people walked the streets; at this time of day, only teens from their school filled the walkways.
Knowing the path to Miyuka's house by heart, since they've been there several times, they arrived at the doorstop in record time. Fumbling in her bag for the keys, she slipped one into the keyhole and it clicked.
Stepping inside, Dorothy and Christine respectfully pulled off their shoes to slip on the 'in-door' shoes Miyuka brought out for them.
"Tadaima!" (Tadaima: I'm home!)
"Miyuka!" Her mom emerged from the kitchen, capturing their attention to the wonderful smells drifting towards them.
"Ojama shimas!" (Ojama shimas: A greeting the house guests call out upon entering the house. No, I don't know exactly what it means. Ask Yuki. Because I'm stupid. -)
"Konnichiwa Dorothy; Christine."
"Konnichiwa, Ito-sama."
Making their way into the living room, they were astonished at the beautiful decorations. Steamers hung from every nook and cranny, colorful balloons scraped the ceiling as glitter sparkled from every inch of the walls.
"When's Yukari coming home?" Christine asked, curious why they decorated so… extravagantly.
"Probably in about 3 days or so!" Miyuka grinned and took a bag of balloons to blow up. "Help, please?" While the three girls were breathing air into the balloons, an older male strode into the room.
"Ya, Yuske," Miyuka waved a free hand.
"Hey." Silently nodding politely to Dorothy and Christine, he left for the kitchen. Yuske was Yukari and Miyuka's older brother, who's in his last year of college but came home to visit for the summer. Tall and skinny, he often teases his younger sisters about their obsessions with their weight. He could be perceived as tall, dark and handsome, but his two younger siblings sure didn't think so!
He could be heard watching TV in the kitchen, sports blaring from the kitchen.
"So Dorothy, did you hear what Densai-sensei said about our proje-"
"Miyuka!" Pushing herself of the floor, she answered back: "What is it, nii-sama?" (nii-sama: older brother.)
"Take a lot at this," he motioned to the television screen. Their mother crept up behind them.
"We interrupt this sports game to bring a special announcement from our weather reporters…"
"Bakas," he muttered softly Baka: idiot and prepared to shut off the TV when Miyuka stopped him. "Matte! This could be important."
"This is Kaizawa Tahoshi. There are warnings coming from our American allies of a hurricane forming in the far Pacific, near their island state, Hawaii. We have launched testers to track its route and it is headed for the eastern seaboard of Japan. All residents there flee as far away from the ocean as fast as possible. The president suggests taking only supplies that are needed. Please do not bring large furniture..."
000
Min Sung lowered his head at the silence that followed. "I understand. Very well, Sarah. I know that you must hate for me to have come back. As you can see, my feelings for you have grown to… something stronger and meaningful. If you won't return them, then I bid you farewell. Sorry to have wasted your time." Turning on his heel, he proceeded to leave.
"Wait!" Making no notion to stop, Min Sung continued to stride down the concrete path, feeling something wet brim the edges of his eyes.
Flashback
"Do you… love me?"
"I…" The silence said it all.
"I see. So there is someone else."
"No, there isn't," she averted her eyes from his, hoping that he wouldn't notice…
"Then why are your eyes uncertain?" He gently moved her head so that she was facing him. She shrugged softly, wishing to scream and run away.
End Flashback
Sarah remained silent as he left. Releasing the grip on her jacket that she didn't know she was holding, her eyes glittered with what seemed like… tears? Sniffing childishly, she went the other way.
After a few minutes of mindless wandering, she looked around herself. 'Where am I?'
"Hey, Miss!"
She turned at the sound of an unfamiliar person. A long, slick limo drove up beside her as she faced her head to the other way, not wanting the stranger to see her dried tear-streaks.
"Yes?" she asked.
"Do you know the way to- hey! Aren't you?" The stranger paused, waiting for Sarah to turn his way. "It's only polite to look at someone when they're speaking to you."
When she leisurely matched her eyes with his, she gasped.
"It's you!"