Cuxie: For some reason, I feel like updating Lost more than anything right now. Wonder why.

Himeka: Because you enjoy watching me suffer...

Cuxie: I for one, am shocked! Over a year and only four, well five now, chapters! Appalling!

Kazune: So true.

Cuxie: So without further ado, I now roll you chappy 5! ROLLING!!

I didn't regain consciousness until early the next morning. The sky was lightening and it was just before dawn. In other words, around 5 o' clock.

The morning brought on a headache and stiffness that didn't allow me to get up for several more minutes. I found myself in the position he had left me in; sprawled in pain on the floor. My joints ached and my body throbbed from staying in that position for so long.

I sat up, not moving until after my head rush faded. After which, I tried to push myself up into a standing position. I placed both hands on the floor in front of me and yelped as I tried to apply pressure to my right hand. I quickly covered my mouth with my left hand and waited, scarcely breathing, to see if any one would wake up.

Nothing happened.

My wrist...The memories flooded back with the pain. I cradled it against my chest, moving it slowly and wincing every now and then. It wasn't broken. Badly sprained, yes. But maybe not completely useless. I crawled miserably towards my dresser on my knees and one good hand. On top, was a small yellow notepad that contained my list of chores for each day.

Micchi's Arrival

1. Floors; sweep, mop, wax

2. Kitchen; clean/disinfect

3. Bedrooms; make beds, dust, organize (prepare guest room for Micchi, new sheets)

4. Living room; dust, general cleaning

5. Bathrooms; sterilize

6. Garden; weed and water

7. Clean the windows.

8. Do laundry.

9. Vacuum; EVERY room

10. Get mail.

Complete by 7AM.

Breakfast by 8AM.

Note to self: Wait until Karin-chan and Kazune-san are awake to vacuum.

This is how I stay on task. It may not look like much, but each task is actually a small list of tasks within itself. I quickly assessed the situation. I had less than two hours to do everything perfectly or else Kazune-san would explode. I'm not sure I'd mind much.

OK. If I put in the laundry now then that might be done by 7AM and I can work on everything else. And if I do the floors right after they might dry in time...This has been my train of thought for months; how to complete my chores quickly and completely to save myself a beating.

I struggled to my feet and into the bathroom where I quickly washed my face and brushed my teeth. I wrapped my wrist in gauze and chose an old, long-sleeve dress to cover it. The dress was just to clean in, but I needed to be prepared in case I ran into Karin-chan, which I would avoid doing at all costs.

My next destination was the laundry room where I found that separating lights from darks is a lot easier with two perfectly functioning hands. Still, it only took a few minutes to get the first load going. I set the machine to One Rinse so it'd get done faster.

The floors was another thing entirely. Mopping with one hand is extremely awkward and tiring. The hit on my head made me a bit sluggish, but I knew better than to let that effect my work. It had already eaten up a lot of my time. And the few hours of unconsciousness didn't revive me like actual sleeping would've.

Kazune-san found me on my hands and knees, waxing the floor with my good hand. "Why isn't this done yet?"

"I-I-I thought y-you said 7 o' clock."

He took slow deliberate steps towards me and I started to crawl back, imagining how pathetic I must look. "It had better be done by then. Stay still!"

I flinched.

"Your working awfully slow."

"M-My wrist--"

"I don't need your damn excuses! Just get it done!" He walked past me and I cringed, expecting him to kick me or something equally cruel. He didn't.

The next hour passed by too quickly. My entire body ached with exhaustion. By the time it rolled around to seven, I still hadn't done the windows, weeded the garden, or gotten the mail. I knew I'd pay for that later, but I didn't have the time or energy for a speed job. Karin-chan and Kazune-san were finishing their 'training' and I needed to shower, dress, and start breakfast.

Freshening up took the most time. After a shower, I rewrapped my wrist in an Ace bandage and started applying cover-up to some of my old bruises. If theres anything this recent turn in my life has taught me, it's how to find the perfect shade of cover-up to match my skin tone.

After I dressed in a nicer, long-sleeved dress that would cover my wrist, I heard Karin-chan call up the stairs:

"Himeka-chaaan! Micchi's here!"

I quickly added two clips to my hair and checked myself in the mirror. I looked...

Normal.

I tried to smile a few times until it didn't look so forced. I can't remember the last time I smiled a real smile. It feels like years...

I guess this mask will have to do.

With one last glance at the mirror, I went out the door and downstairs to face my fate.

000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

A mask. A cover-up. That's all anyone had seen of me for the longest time. I found it hard to believe my anguish was invisible. Maybe it's because no one really looked. Or maybe they just didn't want to see...

Cuxie: Wow. How am I doing? I don't have a lot of experience writing Angst.

Himeka: Well, my life is a horrible tragedy if that's any consolation.

Cuxie: Great!

Himeka: So whats next on your Updatapalooza?

Cuxie: Hmm...I was thinking maybe "Angel meets Goddess".

Himeka: As long as its something more...er, cheerful than this, please.

Cuxie: Heehee! Don't tell me what to do!

Himeka: WAH!!(runs away)

Cuxie: R&R!!^-^