A/N: Many thanks to those of you who reviewed my fanfic. It's nice to know that people are interested in my writing. Did any of you get the "Hibike! Euphonium" reference in the last chapter? ;)
Chapter 3:
At first each day that passed by for Hiyori was no different from the one before it. Most days she would just sit motionless in Takirihime's chair, eyes fixed on the wooden floor. Eventually, she would have to get up once in a while to take care of Kagari. The hours, when she wasn't woken up in the middle of the night by Kagari's crying, were haunted by nightmares of Tagitsuhime appearing and taking away her daughter.
The first two days of Hiyori's confinement were difficult, to say the least. Living in a bare cell with nothing to do was hell enough in itself. The contrasting difference between the cell and her own home was strikingly great. It wasn't until a day later that the metal doors opened to reveal Akane along with a group of men behind her, carrying several huge boxes. Household furniture and other necessities all ordered and paid for by the Origami sisters. One could barely tell that the cell was a prison at all, once everything was taken out of their boxes. Akane had kindly even gone to the bookstore and bought some novels for her.
"Your mother had once told me in one of her letters that you love to read," Akane said, with a wink. Hiyori honestly didn't expect this much and made an effort to turn her usual frown into a grateful smile.
Days eventually turned to weeks. Kanami would visit once in a while, sometimes with the rest of their friends, bringing along a fresh tub of mint-chocolate ice cream. Even Maki and Suzuka would come now and then just to check up on her. However, their last visit didn't end quite so well after Hiyori's powers accidentally singed off a few inches of Maki's hair. Suzuka literally had to wrestle Maki out the doors after that.
Hiyori hoped that after that there would be no other incidents. She couldn't have been more wrong.
On one of the few days when Kanami was free from school and aradama-hunting duties, she brought an unexpected guest with her. Hiyori's eyes narrowed slightly when she saw the uniformed woman beside Kanami.
"Origami Yukari," Hiyori muttered, not exactly thrilled.
Kanami twiddled her fingers for a few seconds, trying to figure out what to say. "Um, Hiyori-chan...Yukari-sama wanted to come today because-"
"Shidou Maki told me of the accidental hair incident," Yukari interrupted. "I understand you are uncertain on how to control Ichikishimahime. Therefore, I thought it would be best to come and at least try to help you, Juujou Hiyori."
"You think?" Hiyori scoffed. "And why does Kanami have to be here? We seriously need another 'accidental hair incident'?"
Yukari was known to rarely show any emotion, but Kanami could see the slightest hint of annoyance in the woman's eyes. If she shared the same gentle-mannered demeanour as her sister, Yukari might've had more patience with Hiyori. However, Yukari was straightforward and collected when it came to getting to the point, and therefore had no intention of saying something that could increase Hiyori's temper.
"I came with Etou Kanami in the hopes that her presence would make you feel less...abrupt. I know that I'm probably one of the last people you want to see right now, but please think about why I'm doing this. Think about your daughter and your friends," Yukari said.
It was really the mention of her loved ones that made Hiyori grudgingly agree to go along with Yukari's training. Kanami was instructed to stay as far away as possible, so she drew up a chair against the wall, ready to come forward in case she was needed.
Yukari took the role of Hiyori's trainer, giving her clear and prompt instructions on what to do and what not to do. Hiyori tried to follow them as best as she could, but Yukari could see that her emotions posed a problem. All Hiyori could think about was how Tagitsuhime was to blame and that the aradama princess was the reason why she even had to go through this in the first place. The longer the training went on, the more Hiyori's temper started to rise.
"All right, stop," Yukari said. "This approach is clearly not helping. Not only can you barely control the aradama, but your anger is also starting to resurface."
"Do you think I don't have a right to be angry?" Hiyori yelled.
"Juujou Hiyori!" Yukari sharply said. "While your indignation is a natural response to what Tagitsuhime has done, you cannot let it control you!"
"Why?!"
"Hiyori-chan!" Kanami cried.
A look of hopelessness and exasperation crossed Yukari's face, as she said, "Smell that?"
"What?" Hiyori growled.
"Smoke."
Hiyori turned to see that in her rage, she had started a fire the size of a baseball. Fire alarms rang throughout the building. The ear-splitting noises roused Kagari from her sleep and she started wailing just as loud. Yukari crossed the room to a small table where a few glasses and a pitcher of water sat on a table. She grabbed the pitcher before pouring the water on the small blaze, putting it out.
"Etou Kanami, let's go," Yukari sighed. But Kanami stared at the steaming girl that was her friend and knew that she couldn't leave Hiyori like this.
"Please Yukari-sama, let me talk to Hiyori-chan," Kanami said. Yukari stepped out of the room at once, grateful to have an excuse to do so.
"Hiyori-chan," Kanami began, but then stopped, unsure of what to say.
Eventually, she went over to Hiyori and wrapped her arms around her. For a few minutes, neither of them said anything.
"I try to stay positive," Hiyori whispered, "but I'm scared."
Kanami remained silent, waiting for Hiyori to continue, to pour her feelings out herself.
"I destroy everything I touch," Hiyori continued, swallowing, "because I'm emotionally unstable."
She vacantly stared at the smouldering ground, where the fire once was.
"I'll die eventually," she at last whispered.
"Oh, Hiyori-chan, don't say that," Kanami said.
"Why? It'll be better if I did," Hiyori choked.
Kanami locked her eyes on her friend with a look of disapproval, before resting her chin on Hiyori's shoulder. She buried her face in Hiyori's flowing black and blue hair using one of her hands to gently comb through her locks, comforting her. A slight blush was on Hiyori's cheeks as she closed her eyes, wanting to stay in this embrace forever.
"If you died, who would take care of Kagari-chan? She needs her mother, just as much as I and all our other friends need you," Kanami said. "So please, please don't wish for your own death, Hiyori-chan."
Kanami's last statement hung in the air, giving Hiyori time to think over her words.
"Okay," she whispered.
She fidgeted slightly when she felt Kanami's warm breath on the nape of her neck. For Hiyori, embracing Kanami like this was just as heartbreaking as the loneliness she'd constantly feel. She slowly took Kanami's hands, slightly pushing her away.
"Kanami, can you promise me one thing though?" Hiyori asked, hesitantly.
"Of course."
"If ever...I do become too dangerous," Hiyori began, "please take care of Kagari for me."
Kanami smiled, as she said, "I promise. We all will."
A heavy pressure seemed to lift itself off of Hiyori's chest at Kanami's reply. It would be okay. Kagari was safe, and if she truly was, Hiyori had no other reason to worry. For now.
"You should go. I'm fine now," Hiyori insisted.
Kanami met Yukari outside in the main foyer, looking slightly downcast. Despite giving Hiyori her promise, just the way her friend spoke made Kanami realize that Hiyori felt hopeless. It only took Kanami a few words to explain the conversation between her and Hiyori to Yukari.
"I think it'll best for us to send a different person. In the meantime, Etou Kanami, can I trust you and your friends to continue visiting Juujou? Something tells me she's far more cheerful around you than me," Yukari said.
She added, "And I think the best thing for Juujou Hiyori is for her to do what she just did with you. Get her to tell you what she's feeling. The last thing we need is for her to bottle things up until she explodes."
But even in those later moments of laughter and fun shared with Kanami and the other girls, Hiyori never once tried revealing the emotions and insecurities hidden inside of her. The fear of her erratic powers and of Tagitsuhime. The stress of taking care of Kagari. And above of all, the constant misery and bitterness that she always had inside of her, ever since her mother's death. In her own mind, Hiyori told herself that it was best to not burden her friends with her troubles. Despite trying to desperately hold onto the happiness her friends brought her, it'd eventually slip away once they'd gone, leaving Hiyori lonelier than ever.
When a full month had gone by since the first day of Hiyori's imprisonment, the metal doors opened once more to reveal a young woman whom Hiyori had never seen before. Judging by her outward appearance, she appeared to be in her late twenties. She had stormy grey eyes and wore a military uniform similar to Yukari's, the only difference being that it was the colour red. A large okatana was strapped to her belt.
There was something about her physical appearance that gave Hiyori the sense of déjà vu. That dark green hair... Where had she seen that before? Thinking the mysterious woman was an intruder, Hiyori immediately put a hand on Kogarasumaru.
"You must be Juujou Hiyori," the woman said.
"Yeah. And you are?"
"Origami Yukari sent me. I am the Origami family's new ambassador, and have been sent to check up on you every morning starting today," the woman explained.
"Well, nice to know that Origami Yukari thinks I need a babysitter," Hiyori replied, with sarcasm dripping from her voice.
"I see you share your mother's wittiness," the woman laughed, not the least offended by Hiyori's comment. She strode up to the aradama Toji, taking her hands in her own.
"You look just like her," the woman breathed. "You both have the same eyes."
"You knew my mother?" Hiyori asked, a trifle surprised and curious at the same time.
"I was closer to her than you'd think," she replied. "Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Hiiragi Konoka, your mother's younger sister."