All I could do was stare at her.
I couldn't believe that it was her…it was actually her—in the flesh—looking the same as she did several years ago. That vibrant, fair complexion hardly tainted by the Sun's harmful rays; her long, chocolate brown hair that framed her face and swept down along her neck; those eyes—the eyes I once made myself home in.
"Akinoyo-chan?" Rangiku softly questioned at the stunned silent atmosphere.
"M-My apologies for startling you, Kiteyama-san!" Miyuki bowed in sincere apology.
She rose back up; her fingers tightening their grip on the paper bag she held due to the uncomfortable state I left her in. The bag made a subtle crumbling noise that no one other than me could hear; I was so entranced in every single movement and sound from her now that it was like I'd had the keen focus of an owl about to seize her prey.
I wanted to run to her; to pull her into me and just sob. I wanted to ask her so many questions; why she did what she did, why she chose to leave, and ultimately why she didn't take me with her.
She looked up at me, doing her best to display a small, formal smile out of respect even though I'd already encouraged it to be wiped off her slender face.
"Forgive my informality—h-have we met?"
Her question registered, and immediately caused my throat to tighten and my eyes to moisten.
She didn't remember me.
I looked away from her; my hands falling down to my sides and clenching into fists to control myself. It was stupid, but I…I couldn't help myself.
"Do…do you know who I am?" I managed to question back.
She seemed confused by my question, but stated the obvious as formally as possible. "H-Hai; you're Kiteyama Akinoyo—correct? Kotetsu-Taichou sent me to deliver your medication,"
"I…I see," I mouthed out.
Kami this was hurting more than I ever thought possible.
My hands instinctually began preparing my coping mechanism; one took hold of the metal tin and the other shakily, and as delicately as possible pried off the lid. As I scooped out some tobacco directly into my kiseru, she cleared her throat to clear the atmosphere before speaking.
"It's nice to meet you; I'm assuming that Kotetsu-Taichou informed you about me, but nevertheless, I'm Nankai Miyuki—it's nice to meet you," she leaned slightly in effort of a soft formality.
"Kiteyama Akinoyo."
I tucked away my tin, and quickly struck a match. I'd just finished smoking but my nerves were an absolute wreck; the list of issues to bring up if I ever saw a therapist just kept getting longer and longer.
She took a half-step forward, to which I subconsciously took a half-step back. I didn't mean to do it, but I just couldn't…
"I'll go ahead and explain your medications," she managed through the awkward atmosphere. "There are two for you to take daily, and one as needed," she reached into the paper bag, and took out the first blue container.
"This one is to fight off infection—take it once a day after a meal." She put it back in and took out a green one. "This one is to aid the healing process as well as help replenish your reiatsu—take it once in the morning and once at night," she took out the last one, colored in yellow. "This one is for pain. Now that we aren't administrating pain relief through an IV, you will need to take this as needed, but no more than four times per 24 hours. You may experience nausea and dizziness, however the side effects should subside within a half hour or so after consumption."
I nodded so she could see my acknowledgement while I shakily took a drag, and she held out the bag toward me. It took everything in my power to keep up my already poorly kept façade as I seized the bag quickly. She shifted uncomfortably at my swift movement, and—albeit it being my own fault—her subtle shift made the emotions I tried sowing shut tear at the seams.
"Thanks," I sounded lowly.
"You're very welcome," she replied eloquently. "I'll be on my way then; please enjoy the rest of your day," she forced a smile and quickly bowed toward me along with the others. "If you will excuse me,"
She began to turn, but quickly halted in what seemed like remembrance.
"Ah, my apologies! I neglected to also inform you that I will be the one tending to you for the next several days. Per Kotetsu-Taichou's request, I will stop by every other day to check your vitals and make sure you are recuperating without difficulty."
Wait. She…she was going to what?
She turned to Toushirou before continuing as my brain imploded at her statement. "What time would be a good time for me to visit? It would be better if I checked her after a meal time, so perhaps after breakfast or lunch?"
"After lunch would more than likely be the wiser choice—how about 13:00?" he bargained.
"Perfect! That is actually the best time for me as well," she smiled up at him.
Kami—what did I do?
"Well then, I don't believe I've forgotten anything else—I'll be on my way then. Enjoy the rest of your day, Hitsugaya-Taichou, Matsumoto-Fukutaichou, Kiteyama-san," she nodded at each of us.
"Matsumoto will escort you out; thank you for the delivery," he nodded.
"Miyuki you said it was?" Rangiku began as she strode toward her—Miyuki fell into her flank as Rangiku complimented her hair; Rangiku steadily strutting into her default conversation starter as a non-alcoholic coping mechanism for the awkward.
I could feel Toushirou's eyes on me, but I didn't look up at him. I knew what he wanted, and I knew he was about to formulate the question no doubt all of them wanted answered.
I bent down to a knee to quickly sweep up the ash from the ashtray I dropped.
"Akinoyo,"
I didn't dare look up at him. I held the kiseru between my lips; held in a firm position by my teeth as I continued cleaning and evading eye contact. I didn't want to talk to him about it; I wanted to cry until my eyes dried out, drink until I drown in liquor, and smoke until my lungs give out.
I've said it once, and I'll say it again—Kami is a cruel, sick bastard. He gave her back to me, yet gave me only an empty shell of her; a walking-talking reincarnation with absolutely no idea of just who she really was. Who she was in her past life, what she meant to others, and what she meant to me. It was like my life was such a sick joke. First, I was the one with my memories zapped from me and zero recollection of anyone, now the one person that I kept fond memories of that I've bonded with and treasured for the past several years had her memories zapped? What else would you like to take from me, Kami?
"Akinoyo, stop," Toushirou broke me out of my trance—I didn't realize I was wiping at nothing.
I set the ashtray down, and cleaned my hands before taking a deep, shaky drag. I sat down at the edge of the engawa; leaning against the wall and letting my feet dangle off. I wanted to just be alone, but now there was no way I could even take a quick stroll. I knew better than to ask based on what Toushirou told me earlier, but maybe if I could finish inhaling this necessary cancer-causing, mind-numbing form of comfort, I could just go back inside and fetal-position myself in the corner. That sounded like the perfect remedy to this situation.
"So that's her," Toushirou sat next to me.
Oh Kami.
I took another drag; evading eye contact at all costs so that I wouldn't let my prior promise to myself break publicly. His hand set on my shoulder, and I stiffened at the touch that made all of my senses tingle and focus on the warmth exuding from his hand.
"It's okay to be upset," He said.
He didn't have to spell it out for me to know that he implied empathy; he understood the obvious, and understood the underlying pain that came with it. The only thing he didn't understand was just how deeply engrained she was in me.
Rangiku's footsteps came within earshot, and soon enough she rounded the corner with cautious concern. I could feel her eyes on me, but kept mine focused on the barren tree across the decently sized garden the two of them shared.
"Akinoyo-chan," she called—I took a drag as my response. She leaned down toward me, and set a hand on my shoulder. "I'm here if you need anything,"
I snuck a peek up at her; thanking Kami her gaze didn't make me feel obligated to explain the situation. Instead her gaze was warm; her powder-blue eyes soft with understanding more than anything else. I pursed my lips in my own attempt to hold my emotions back.
"Thanks Rangiku—I appreciate it." I nodded.
"I can bring some booze if it helps!" she whispered with a covered mouth. At the curvature of my lips, and my short grunt of a laugh, she earned a stare of disapproval from her Taichou—not that she cared.
"I'll be back later to see how you're feeling—I have a few things to attend to. Need me to bring you anything else Taichou?"
"No; just make sure to report back to me at the end of the day." He instructed.
"You got it!" she winked. "See you both in a little while!" she left back the way she trekked previously, and was soon enough back out of earshot.
I took another drag; realizing halfway through my diver's breath that I'd smoked all of the leaves of my poorly prepared, quarter-filled bowl. I took the ashtray, and quickly cleaned out the kiseru before returning the instrument to my inner pocket.
"Come on, let's go inside,"
I nodded in reply; I wanted to get away from the spot she previously occupied immediately. The longer I was in the ghost of her presence the more likely I was to break, and I'd had just about enough of that lately. He took the medicine, and stood up first to offer his hand. I took it and let him help me up; squeezing his hand as we walked to help calm the emotional rush still consuming me.
I thought about the man guiding me forward through his home; my smaller hand securely held with enough pressure to provide unspoken emotional relief. Last night, I decided that he was going to take her place on that pedestal she previously inhabited. I'd set her to the side with recognition that she would still be a part of me, but with less immediate importance. I'd decided that right now in my life, he was more important to me than a ghost of my past. If anything, her lack of memory only aids the situation, and should help me get over relocating her quickly, but for some reason seeing her just…
He led me toward the bed, and helped me get back under the covers at the middle part of the bed. He settled the sheets comfortably atop me, and straightened out the rest of the sheets while I sat up motionlessly against the wall. Once he'd finished making sure that I was comfortable, he came to my side and held his hand out.
"Here, I'll put your kiseru and tobacco on the shelf for you," he offered—I took out the items and he walked them over to the desk.
I was so stupid; I was still letting her get the better of me, and she didn't even remember just who in the Hell I was. I put my face in my hands; taking deep breaths to attempt calming myself.
He sat next to me on the bed; leaning back against the wall next to me, and setting his hand on my lap in an offer for comfort. I leaned against him; resting my head against his shoulder as I tried to collect myself. I took more deep breaths, and closed my eyes as he weaved his arm behind me and pulled me into him.
"She was so important to me…and now she doesn't remember me at all. She-she's the reason I am who I am now; everything that happened made me into this…this…" I let my hand fall over my face. "This fucking train-wreck you're currently dealing with."
"With the situation you're currently in, it's natural to have the reaction you're having; to also discover a close acquaintance no longer remembers you only worsens the situation. It's healthier to deal, and react to your emotions rather than casting them to the wayside. You're not wrong in feeling this way, and before you say what I know is going through your mind—you're not being troublesome; I made you a promise last night, and I fully intend on keeping it."
I inhaled deeply to suck back in my tears, and took his free hand with my own to give it a good squeeze to mentally assist myself.
"Toushirou, you don't understand—it isn't as simple as you phrase it; the type of relationship I had with her at one point was my only means for existence. She was the only one I lived for; the only one I cared about; the reason I-I—"
I pursed my lips, and clenched my teeth as I mustered the courage to move his hand over my stomach.
"The reason I have these," I let out a shaky breath.
I thought about what I'd said to him the other day; that an emotion such as love, and giving up everything for a person was a waste of time. While my reasoning was in every way shape and form the default effect from what I'd been through, it wasn't fair for me to give my all to Miyuki and not to Toushirou. While I wished that I'd never have let myself fall back into feelings for anyone, it wasn't right for me to promise something and not deliver. If I was going to continue this with him, I had to make him understand.
"Toushirou, I need to be honest with you." I moved his hand back to my lap, and took a deep breath. "I really don't want to talk about this at all, but I need you to understand the relationship I had with her, and why she became so important to me. She was my only friend while I lived in that room; she was the only one that gave me the time of day, and made me feel human. She holds my first memories of experiencing emotions other than fear; if I'd have been left alone, I fully believe that I wouldn't be here beside you right now. While she wasn't the one that saved me from the horrors of that facility, she was the one who saved me from deteriorating. Since day one she—"
Day one.
The terrible dream from last night that derived from actual memory I'd buried away. That was the day that I met her; the day that began my sick reliance on her as my only means of survival. The reason she came to me; the reason…that our enemy more than likely—
I sat up with such a fierce realization that I couldn't do anything but stare into Toushirou. He looked back at me in confusion, and I finally was able to take a breath and assess what I had to do more importantly.
"What's wrong?" he questioned.
The memory itself was a painful one, and one that I really didn't want to talk about. Hell, I didn't know how to talk about it without reliving it.
"I've remembered something that could be crucial to the situation. I shoved this memory so far back in the filing cabinet of obscenities that I didn't remember it until now. It could be relevant to what's happening, or it could be just some vile, disgusting fetish whoever captured me has. Nevertheless, it involves her, and is one of the main reasons why she became so important to me." I took a deep breath; my shoulders shivering without my consent.
"I told you that I wanted to give you my everything, and to do that, I need to overcome this. I just…seeing her just..."
"Akinoyo," He took my hand, and I turned to look at him.
"I'm here to hold your hand, remember?"
-x-x-
My head hurt.
I didn't know when I fell asleep, but I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want to go back to that horrible nightmare, but if I didn't keep my eyes closed I'd have to recognize the pain, and I'd lose the opportunity to will myself back to sleep while I still had the chance. My neck felt stiff; as if I hadn't moved it from its current position for days—perhaps if I positioned myself more comfortably it would alleviate some of the pain. If I could just move my body—
Cold, slick surface rubbed against my bare shoulder; startling my eyes open from the unexpected icy touch of the smooth surface.
The first visual my eyes opened to made my mind completely stop.
What...
What was…
I was soaking in a reservoir of thick scarlet.
My lip quivered in an attempt to formulate words. My body trembled as my limbs attempted to recede into me; failure when I realized my hands and feet were bound under the chest-level liquid I marinated in. What I thought was a dream…really happened?
My heart threatened to burst through my chest; the stupefied first level of fear now evolving into complete panic. My two oceans raged over their set boundaries; fresh abundant tears set in motion down my face in an reverse estuary effect. My yelping from my choked sobs couldn't be held back any longer; the evolved sobs ripped from my lungs in a terrified panic that echoed off the sloshing liquid around me.
I thrashed and pulled as hard as my weak arms could at the restraints, but they were too durable for me to break through.
"S-S-S-Someone help me!" I screeched. "Please! Anyone! Get me out of here, please!"
The door at the opposite end of the room slammed open ferociously; a shadowed man's hand still lingering against the door as he stood in the threshold. My violent jerking at the restraints halted and I cowered into myself.
This was it.
This man came to ruin me again, and damage me far worse than they did during my last consciousness. My breathing stuttered alongside the uncontrolled beating of my heart.
"That's fucking right—you better keep fucking quiet," the man growled as he strutted forward.
Upon his first step, my cowardice came into full effect—my body curling up as much as possible while I held my head down to evade any form of further conflict. Maybe if I just submitted he would refrain from harsher torture?
I listened as his footsteps grew closer to me; watched my own reflection in the blood ripple and blur with each heavy step he took. What was he going to do to me? Why was I in a bathtub of blood? What kind of blood was this? Was this the blood of other—
He stopped next to me on my left; the sound of his breathing causing every one of my senses aside from hearing to slow to a stop. My heart beat so loudly with each ticking second that it felt like an eternity had passed.
What was he doing? Why was he just—
Without any form of verbal warning, he seized my forearm and jerked it in front of him. I tried to resist, but my strength compared to his was like an ant versus an elephant. Keeping my panic at a manageable, non-combative level wasn't going to last very much longer; as soon as he grabbed me, hysteria bubbled from within me, and all efforts to try to maintain myself were slipping away.
"P-P-Please, d-d-don't—"
"Didn't I say to keep fucking quiet?" he jerked me so roughly my body slammed against the bathtub, and the my elbow popped temporarily out of it's socket; making me whimper and tremble beyond my control.
At my torturer's body movement, I gained the courage through my blurring world to look toward him; the visual resulting making me swallow down any chance that I'd make it out of here alive.
He gripped the knife unsheathed from his hip-holster firmly, and pointed the tip at my face. "You make this hard for me, then I'll have no problem chopping off all your fingers one by one," he threatened.
I tried to muster enough courage to look up at his face, but my eyes couldn't steer away from the tip of the blade pointed at me, and the fear what a seemingly small point could do to me.
I was done for.
Whatever the reason was that they kidnapped me, raped me, and beat me didn't matter. There wouldn't be anyone here to save me. This man was going to savagely gut me like an animal; the liquid remnants I soaked in already said that enough as it was. While my trembling and terror hadn't dissipated, my mental fortitude was slipping now, and it was only a matter of time before I just didn't feel or think at all.
At my lack of response, he moved the knife away from my face, and a pain I'd never felt before snapped me out of my trance. As I lurched out of subconscious, he pulled me back and continued; the point of his blade continuing to slice diagonally across my palm. I yelped and grunted from the pain; my fingers, toes, and teeth clenched so tightly I'd fear they'd break.
Once he was done with the incision, he shoved my hand down into the liquid I soaked in. He held it there firmly, as if waiting for any type of reaction other than my wincing at the sting and burn the liquid had on the fresh wound. A few minutes passed like this—wordlessly—and the man finally took my hand back out to inspect the wound.
He released my hand with a push, and it plunked down underneath the liquid harshly.
"Drink it."
Drink it?
Drink…the…the—
At my lack of adequate response and execution, he took my hair in his hand and yanked me forward.
"I said fucking drink it!" He shoved my head down into the blood, and held me there while I thrashed and struggled against him.
I gulped in the metallic, iron enriched liquid by default; my nostrils and eyes penetrated by the same cold thickness that washed down my throat. My hands found the sides of the tub, and I used every ounce of my power trying to rise for oxygen. After almost a minute of one-sided struggling, he ripped me out; my sobbing gasps and choked coughs that followed causing me to thrash and struggle against him. At the act of—what he thought was—defiance, he promptly slammed my head against the rim of the tub.
At the blow along with the lack of oxygen, the amount of nausea, and the complete overdrive my nervous system was in, my vision began to waver, and my breaths became heavier with each struggled inhale.
The man moved his lips, but his words reached only deaf ears as I struggled to stay conscious. More footsteps rippled the fluid I soaked in, and before I knew it, two masked men fell into flank on both sides of the tub. They reached down to free my limbs from the restraints under the blood, and they heaved out my limp body onto the floor. Since I was completely unresponsive, they settled on dragging me by my arms out of the room as I slipped into unconsciousness.
-x-x-
I startled awake to the dim sunlight illuminating the room, hitting something warm and fleshy on my way up.
"Kami!" a female voice mumbled.
As I panicked and heaved my breaths loudly, I took in my surrounding as my right shoulder slammed into the wall beside me. I scrambled back to the wall as multiple irritated moans rose from the half-naked female bodies sprawled out across the room.
My thoughts fled through my mouth in tremors before I could even take a moment to assess the situation.
"W-w-what is this? Where a-am I? What's going on?" I cried. "W-Who are you people? What are t-t-they—w-w-why are they—"
"Oi," the woman directly next to me growled.
Now that my tongue ceased formulating words due to the tone of the woman rising up beside me, choking sobs began ripping through me beyond my control.
"Stop that fucking crying," she warned; now fully facing me as she held her upper body up by her elbows.
I couldn't help myself anymore.
The scarring scenes that took place in my last waking moments rattled me to my core. The grotesque, horrifying atrocities that these men put me through set my mind and heart ablaze; the fear of them finishing me off the next time they felt like toying with me sending me into a state of complete audible hysteria.
"Oi, I said to stop fucking crying!"
The woman shoved my leg, and I crumbled at the touch. I receded to a fetal position, rocking back and forth in crippling anxiety through moan-like sobs.
"Seriously, shut the fuck up—we're all trying to sleep!" she sat up now, squatting in front of me with thick anger radiating off her.
I didn't respond; I was immersed in hyper-active wheezing and sobs to do anything or say anything. How was everyone else here so calm? Didn't they get the same treatment as I did? Weren't they all prisoners too?
"I swear to Kami, if you don't shut the fuck up, I'll beat you until you do." Another woman said.
"Fucking Kami; I can't stand fucking new meat," another one said.
Two hands took both my shoulders and pulled me forward to slam me against the wall. "Shut up!" The woman commanded.
It was hopeless. The demons that kept playing the images on repeat in my head wouldn't stop; the only thing that felt like it would provide relief was the sobbing my body and mind could no longer control.
At my lack of initiative to steel myself, the woman next to me slapped me in the face. I numbly took the blow; nothing compared to the Hell I'd been through.
"That's fucking it!"
I could hear heavy footsteps coming my way; the floor vibrating with each step. The sound stopped in front of me, and the woman previously shoving me scooted back for the woman standing.
"I'll give you to the count of three to get your fucking shit together. You take any longer, and I'll give you something to cry about." She threatened.
I didn't even look at her; the demons held my attention and dominated my actions.
"One," she began.
I knew she was serious; I needed to stop, but I…
"Two,"
Now the panic was back. I wouldn't be able to stop myself. She was going to hurt me, and all I was going to do was accept her torment.
With a scoff, and stretch in preparation for what she was about to do, she cracked her neck in anticipation of the next word that sealed my fate. I buried my face in between my knees and closed my eyes.
"Thr—"
Quick footsteps, struggle, and a loud thump against the wall.
My eyes shot open at the sudden movement; my surprise at it temporarily pausing my convulsing sobs as I focused on what was happening. Through my legs, an ankle caddy-corner to me and frontal faced toward the rest of the room took my attention. I mustered enough courage to look up with heavy eyes at the woman standing in front of me as my sobbing commenced once again.
Fists clenched, and head turned toward the other woman holding her shoulder, stood a woman with mid-back length chocolate hair. Although she wore lingerie as everyone else, her body language meant business—she was ready for a fight, and ready to win that fight.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing, Nankai?" The woman holding her shoulder said as she squared up with this Nankai she aimed her words at.
"Back down now if you know what's good for you. Just lay down and go back to sleep." Nankai cautioned; her gaze so intense on the other woman that I could tell just by looking at the receiving end's facial expression.
A thick silence fell between them; the atmosphere so nerve-wracking that my sobs only intensified. The tormenter holding her shoulder scoffed as she rolled it to alleviate the pain.
"You think you're so fucking bad-ass—don't you Nankai?" she turned to begin making her way back to her spot on the other side of the room. "The day will come when I fucking bury you, Nankai—don't you fucking worry." She turned completely, and began walking over the other females laying on the floor.
"Keep her quiet, Nankai; if the handlers come I'm not taking the fall for your stupid fucking crybaby," she threatened before laying back down on the floor.
The amethyst lingerie garnished heroine still standing tall in front of me loosened her guard; her left hand resting on her side while her right tucked some of her stray hair behind her ear. She turned to me; her unusually colored eyes entrancing me instantly. She turned and knelt down toward me, and I immediately buried my face back in between my knees.
"Are you hurt?" The angelic voiced heroine whispered.
I shook my head; still refusing to make eye contact, and breathing still completely sputtering.
"I didn't think you would wake up so quickly—can you tell me your name?"
I was hesitant, but something about her voice made my breathing ease slightly; as if her voice itself was soothing. I mustered up enough courage to speak.
"K-Kiteyama Akinoyo," I stuttered out.
"Kiteyama Akinoyo," she repeated. "The northern mountains on an autumn night—its beautiful," she complimented.
While the compliment made blush at the time she said it, and all I wanted to do was focus and disappear into the feelings the first complement I'd ever received left me in, the weight of my situation trumped over the bliss.
"I saw what they did to you, Akinoyo-chan," she broke my train of thought. I lifted my head to look at her; my throat restricting from the thought.
"My handler was in the middle of escorting me when he got the call—my blindfold was loose enough for me to see when they put you into….well," she paused at her own words; fear of saying the next crippling words no doubt causing her halt.
"That was only four hours ago; I can understand your tears aren't just in response to the façade of this new dwelling. May I ask if you know why they did it?
I shook my head. "I-I don't know," I managed.
She contemplated my answer before her next question. "Are you a valuable person on the outside?"
The reminder of the fact that I couldn't remember anything from when I woke up on the floor less than a day ago crumpled me again.
"I-I don't know…I-I only remember my name," I squeaked. "I d-don't r-remember anything; W-Who I was, w-where I was—n-nothing,"
Much to my disbelief that I had any left, fresh tears escaped the rims of my eyelids—the tremors exuding from me panging me with more pain each time.
The smooth, warm feel of skin gently met my shoulder; the comfort of the touch alone calming me in a miniscule fraction—but a fraction I was desperate enough to take.
"I don't know what they want with you or why they would do something as horrible as they did a few hours ago, but I will say this: you're going to be okay. You're here now, and I'm sure that translates into a respite from their goal at the very least. Take comfort in the fact that you're alive; you're here now,"
Her hand cautiously crept to my cheek; her fingertip moving some of the hair stuck to my wet face. I brushed her off; moving my face away from her and back into my knees.
"W-Why are you being kind to me? I-I don't even know you,"
She paused for a moment, and her hand that lingered retracted back with her answer.
"You've made me remember how hard my first day was; made me remember how much I shivered and cried alone…how much I wished that someone would help me,"
My sobs dissipated down to sniffles at her words; the ache in her own voice, and the sincere sympathy she showed me lifting my own pain enough to breathe. This woman—just what was she?
"I want to give you the choice I never had; the choice you will not receive from anyone else,"
I sneaked a peek at her, and she let a small smile form on her lips in response; the golden rays that seeped into the room dimmer than a match compared to the brightness she displayed in the small gesture.
"Seeing you made me remember the thing I wanted the most—thing that I never had the opportunity to have. I feel as though you need it now more than I ever had, and that maybe you could let me be the person I've always wanted to be,"
She paused; her next words the first to make my heart quiver with hope,
"My name is Nankai Miyuki—can we be friends?"
-x-x-x-x-
Note from the Author
Hello readers!
I re-read this story and saw all of the horrendous typos and grammatical errors, so I wanted to apologize for the inconvenience. I'm going to look into a beta reader so that this doesn't happen anymore, however until then, to prevent this from happening, I'm going to update ever 8-10 days rather than every 7. I may surprise you with an early update every now and then, but until further notice I'm going to be taking more time to make this story great.
Thank you all for reading, and thank you for your wonderful reviews! Hope you all have an awesome day!
-Vi