Disclaimer: Takaya Natsuki is the rightful owner. I'm merely borrowing her creations for my own diabolical ideals. No, really.
A/N: Not much of a back story, but I'm content with the watery results. Hey, this was harder than I thought it would be to write, since I am mashing it all in one go. Please do read and review. Thank you.
Life's Many Indulgences
Chapter 19: My One and Only
Mie gazed at her cell phone every now and then, obviously waiting on a call. She was out in the busy streets of Tokyo, with the hustling and bustling of busy-bodies all around her. The night time scenery was nothing new to her, so unlike the tourists that were gawking at every little lighting they saw. Yet, it was to be expected - Koyuki, her friend, was the exact same way when she first came to the theatrical realm of Tokyo - so much like the wide-eyed people of right here and now.
Something stirred from deep within her heart; indeed, she is waiting on a call, but some other feeling aside from happiness chewed away at her. An uneasy feeling she could not explain wouldn't go away, or rather she chose not to acknowledge what this feeling was.
A ring. At last.
"Hello?" Mie said into the phone, anticipating the voice on the other end.
"Oh, it's me, Yoshisato. I'm really sorry about not being there already, but some things came up and I still won't be able to make it just yet. If you're tired of waiting, you can just call it a night and we'll set up another date."
"Ah, no, no, Sato, it's fine. Really. I will wait here until you come."
Murakami Mie and Akazuki Yoshisato are long time friends, and they have known each other since the beginning of high school. Their meeting was of a typical one, and either said person met one another through a match-making process. However, it turned out they didn't see each other as fit-for-dating at the time, and things like that did not come as a surprise, as compatible as they seemed. Most school rules prohibited students from dating one another, believing it would drop one's study standards and the like. In Japan, the need for well educated members of society is in high regard in the ever-growing metropolis of technology. And though it's several years later and they are dating now, this was merely an unexpected outcome.
Yoshisato let out a small nervous laugh. "Well, despite you insisting on doing that, it'd make me feel bad knowing I made my girlfriend wait so long for me."
"I don't mean to make you feel that way, but I want to see you. Even if you must work long hours into the night, I'll still wait."
"Mie, you'll develop bags under your eyes, and I know how you hate it."
"Fine, then. Promise you'll call me first thing tomorrow morning?"
"Yes, I promise. I need to go because the press conference is starting soon. I'll probably have another meeting tomorrow, too. ""All right. Good luck, Sato."
"Thank you, Mie."
Mie shut her cell phone lid, ending the short call. She sighed; nowadays she didn't see her boyfriend much because of his job. It took him only a few years to rise up the ranks of a well-paid salary man. This wasn't his ideal job, but he's still in college (his last year) and already getting paid a decent amount as a part-timer was no easy feat.
"I'll just wait for his call tomorrow morning. He promised me he would."
XOXOXOXOXOX
"Awww, he can't see you again? See what I told you? You two should have gone to the same college, so that way you guys can see each other more often than you two do now."
"He and I are aiming for different goals, and going to the college best suited to our ambition seems like the most logical thing to do, Koyuki." Her voice held mock sternness, but her friend knew better than to get mad over something like this. "Besides, this is his last year in college, so once he's done he can find a better job closer to home."
"Ah, makes sense, but doesn't it make you feel lonely to have to be waiting all the time?" Koyuki asked. "A long distance relationship, to me, would be something I'd not be able to stand."
"Not really," Mie lied. In truth, she was very, very lonely, and recently, she found only listening to his voice alone wasn't cutting it anymore. A long distance relationship is a fickle thing, and she could only wonder how people manage to get through it. "Look, Koyuki, let's cut it off here. I don't want to talk about him for the rest of the night. Speaking of which, you said you wanted to go watch a movie tomorrow, didn't you?"
"I did say that and don't think I don't notice you're trying to change the subject. But I'm going to be a good friend and not push your buttons any further. We can talk more tomorrow, okay?"
"Sure."
"Good night then, Mie. We'll definitely watch that horror flick so many people have been raving about."
Mie giggled and then said, "yeah, good night, Koyuki. See you tomorrow."
As she found herself shutting her phone lid for a second time that night, a thought came to her: despite the vast space and time, she could talk to almost anyone she wanted to talk to. For once, she found her cell phone to be an amazing item; something she'd come to treasure far more than she hoped she'd ever would.
However, for tonight she was going to call it a day. She was going to go home and sleep the remaining hours of night time, waking again to see the light of the sky the next morning.
XOXOXOXOXOX
"Yup, change of plans. You should be happy I'm coming back today."
"I am most definitely happy!" Mie couldn't help grinning like crazy, and her family members were wondering if there was something wrong with her, as she talked on her cell phone. "So, when can I come meet you?"
"Around five in the afternoon. Well, it's closer to the evening time, but you know what I mean."
"Okay, I'll meet you at the bus station. Promise me you'll be there, because I don't want to be waiting there for nothing again."
"Yes, I promise you. I am coming back today. No lie, no farce, and no teasing on my end."
The uneasy feeling gnawed at her again - this was something she was not able to explain . . . Not even to herself. Koyuki was going to need to be informed of the unexpected turn of events - no point in having a friend yelling at you.
And so . . .
"Cancel it? Why, though?"
"Sato's coming back today and I want to be there to greet him as soon as he gets off the bus."
Koyuki sighed, and at this moment Mie was guessing she was rubbing at her temples with one hand. "Would it hurt if I tagged along, Mie? Or else I'd feel left out somehow."
"If you're going to put it that way, of course I cannot say you aren't allowed to come . . .!"
A bout of silence passed between the girls before Koyuki began speaking again. Her voice came out as somewhat low in tone. "You know, Mie, I am having this uneasy feeling about Yoshisato. Don't ask me to explain myself clearly, but it just doesn't feel too right somehow. His coming back now is a bit . . . odd."
"I feel the same way."
Koyuki and Mie weren't friends for nothing; as strange as it sounds, the two girls had an affinity for one another, and at times when one was feeling a certain emotion, the other was sensing it as well. They found out about this bondage at the time of their friendship blossoming, and it was through this that they became all the more closer.
"Wouldn't surprise me if he brings someone back with him. If so, I bet they're gonna invite us out to go drinking or something, you know?"
"Prepare for it, Koyuki."
"I can hold out better than you; it's more like you should be the one preparing."
The uneasy feeling wore on throughout the whole day. Even when they were at the bus station waiting, the uneasiness just wouldn't fade. Mie didn't understand what she was fretting about, but it was something. Was she expecting her boyfriend to bring along a female friend as well? Why was she feeling so out of place, so discontent? Could she be jealous? Did she not want to admit to her impeding jealousy?
"Ah, they're here! Look, look, Mie! I can see Yoshisato from here!" Koyuki slightly jumped, yanking at her friend's shirt sleeve. Mie turned the other way, counting from one on up within her head. How many people was he going to show up with? Himself? A friend? Friends? "Mie, what are you doing? Turn this way, silly!"
"Mie!" Yoshisato called. "Mie, can you hear me!" She slowly turned, eyes moving a millisecond after her head. "I'm back!"
Her worse fears were confirmed - he brought along another guy and two girls. Why two girls, Mie wondered.
"Sato, welcome back!" she greeted, as soon as he was close enough. She quickly gave the other two females a quick glance or two. Yoshisato caught the movements.
"Mie, these are my friends, Welsher Youko," the girl addressed nodded, light-blonde tresses moving, "and she here is Yonekura Mamiko, and he is Serizawa Nishiyuki."
"It's nice to meet all of you. I am Muneto Mie and my friend is Inagaki Koyuki." Koyuki nodded while smiling.
"Mie's my girlfriend; I've mentioned her before to you all." The other three nodded, confirming Yoshisato's words.
The girl with the light-blonde tresses spoke. "I've heard many great things about you. One thing Yoshisato has said about you is that you are very attractive, and I can see for myself that you are." She spoke with an accent uncommon to the Japanese, but her last name gave off the impression she was of mixed decent. "From the look on your face before I believe Yoshisato hasn't told you we were coming to visit?" Mie was quick to shake her head. "Ah, I apologize on his behalf; he should have told you."
Her calling him by his first name sparked a twinge of jealousy in Mie, but she needed to contain herself, opting to ask her boyfriend about the Welsher girl later when they were alone. Somehow, the other girl, Yonekura, did not worry her as much. It was too apparent she was linked to the other boy who tagged along., although a look of uncertainty filled her eyes.
"Don't forget our deal," Serizawa suddenly spoke up, directing his implication towards Yoshisato. "Tomorrow."
"Ah, yeah, Nishiyuki. I haven't forgotten."
"What deal?" Mie asked.
"It's nothing you need to worry about. You'll find out tomorrow."
XOXOXOXOXOX
"Fuck! How could he let him do this! I am so fucking mad!" Tears were streaming down the girl's face as she wailed. "Koyuki, I am so sorry! I . . ."
"At least . . . I'm still alive and that's all that matters, right? The uneasiness we felt was probably because of this, right? Except we didn't notice it at the time? Their true motive?" Koyuki had the guts to laugh, despite the situation not being a laughing matter.
"He . . . Sato set us up. I can't believe he duped me - us." Mie wasn't sure her uneasiness was because of this at all; her jealousy of the other girl clouded her mind at the time. And maybe loneliness lingered, too.
The both of them were lying side by side on one single bed, stark naked and feeling used. They had been raped repeatedly - not by Yoshisato himself, but by his friend, Serizawa. The "deal" he mentioned was this . . .
While it was happening, Welsher explained the whole story as she watched.
"It's too bad this has to happen, but Yoshisato loves me now. He said he's dumped you the moment he left for college; he said you couldn't satisfy him and that I was the one who made him feel fulfilled. It's a pity he used you like a game piece, gambling with your body."
The pain was excruciating - Mie could barely focus on anything else other than the burning sensation. Koyuki watched on helplessly as her friend was being sexually abused. She only assumed her part in this by showing up as well. The invitation only extended to her friend, but as a good buddy, she willingly tagged along uninvited.
"In the end he made a bet with his friend in college, saying that he would willingly hand you over to him as soon as he was back from college. May it be for a trip or for the holidays, but there is a reason behind this. The bet was about me - yes, me, Welsher Youko. The details aren't too important and there was too much drama involved, so I won't delve deeper."
Though the actual rape only lasted for a good twenty to thirty seconds, and yet it felt like an eternity for Mie and she was so afraid. She laid there on the bed, unable to move (having been drugged) and hearing the wailing of her friend as she was being harassed next. Welsher Youko and Yoshisato watched from the sidelines - the smug looks on their faces horrible . . . Forever etched within her memory.
XOXOXOXOXOX
"We're both pregnant?" The two test results proved it and both girls sighed in dismay. "Koyuki, would it be wise to abort before it's too late?"
"No way! I can't kill someone who's living inside me!" her friend retorted defensively.
"But it's not even a baby yet. Once it actually has the form of a live baby, then it is a baby."
"Well, I'm not going to have an abortion. Putting my child up for adoption would be a whole lot better than what your idea is."
"Ah . . . That makes sense."
Koyuki's brows furrowed. "I can't say I am happy about this pregnancy, but this child is going to be mine and I won't let it die. I want it to be born safely into this world. The father of this baby won't matter - it'd be better if my baby never finds out, really."
"Are you sure about that?" Mie asked. "Your child will become curious as to who its father is, as soon as its old enough to understand."
"You can tell my baby that for me if he ever asks."
"How do you know it's going to be a he?"
"I don't, but I hope it is. I wanna give him a cute boy name - one that I've liked since I was a kid."
"Kouki, was it?"
"You remember!" Koyuki beamed, smiling. "Almost like my name, eh? Cute sounding though, right? What will you call your baby if it's a boy, Mie?"
"I don't know, but one will come to me when the time comes. Given if my child is a boy."
Chapter 19: END