Chapter 20- Chatised
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A/N: Yeah. Still the same day.
I went double my original expectations.
:3
Enjoy.
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It was when we reached the cliffside that I finally slowed down, then dropped into the grass and rolled, despite the protest of my cuts. I looked over at Piko, who was still bleeding.
I was thankful that I'd chosen today to wear skorts- a mix of shorts and a skirt. I tore off some of the skirt part with some difficulty, then tied it around some of the bigger areas of cuts.
Eventually, I was wearing ripped shorts and Piko was nearly cream white from my makeshift bandages. I smiled softly, then scooted closer to him.
"It's been weeks since I was last here, since..." He trailed off, but I understood. Since the last day of vacation.
It's nearly Halloween in a few weeks, but it's still warm.
I feel a sense of nostalgia as I remember sitting with him here, what feels like so long ago.
Maybe it is.
I feel a slight breeze, then remember something.
He understands instantly.
I return to the outlook a few minutes later, grinning.
The ice creams.
I toss Piko his, and stuff mine all down at once as well. After he's done, he snorts.
And to think, you once chatised me for eating that fast.
I grinned, rolling my eyes.
"That's because you had just eaten three in a row."
Then, smiling still, he looked out to the city, which was nearly burning with all the commotion.
"You wanna know why I got into your house the night before that?"
"You already told me."
"No, I didn't... I..." His next words were nearly inaudible.
"...kissed you." I blink a lot, then grin.
"Oh, you are one sly, stubborn, cute jerk, you know that?"
"Hell yeah I do."
My smile falters.
"I've..."
"I know. Your parents."
I sigh.
"I'll be lucky if they don't torture me."
"So, I'll stay here, you go... I'll wait."
"I'll be watching you closely."
"I'm sure you will." I got up, then grinned ruefully.
"Sorry," I said meekly, then ran.
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"You must be crazy, Gumi, to have done that!" My father bangs his fist against the table, in an outrage. I sigh, almost wishing that I'd stayed with Piko.
"Well, staying locked in a cell to have horrible pain sort of induces insanity." I said it dryly, rolling my pencil inbetween my fingers.
"Still! It was ill considered-"
"Forget about it. It's done now. You can't do anything about it." He looks murderous.
"Are you sure about that?"
"Positive."
"I beg to differ." His cold voice made me scared sometimes.
And now was not one of those times.
"You'll see, I'm not going to be wrong." I got up, then began to climb the staircase.
"I'm staying with him for tonight."
"To get killed?"
"No, to actually know I have someone in this world who cares about my happiness more than the way people look." It was sharp, cold, and dark.
Silence accompanied me up the stairs to my room, where I grabbed a backpack of stuff, my cooler, a few other things- including my Desert Eagle- and I waited until both my parents were in their room to sneak a few ice creams from the fridge.
Then, for the... what, fifth time today?- I ran, towards the cliffside, my heart singing.
Freedom is as bliss as ignorance.
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I skidded to a stop beside the cliff, grinning.
"I'm back!" Instantly, Piko was there, scrambling up the cliffside.
"Seriously, Gumi, you need to be quieter, or we'll be heard," he muttered, crawling silently next to me.
I smiled a bit and said, "Sorry."
"Well, I just got out from having been in a dark, damp cell for a few weeks, give me a little bit of time to relax." He streched, and I noticed how filthy he was.
"You were rolling around while I was gone."
"Yep."
"Too bad the river's cold, or I'd drag you in."
"Seriously? You drag me? I think it would be, 'I drag you.'"
"Remember... linked." He narrowed his eye.
"Doesn't mean you've got amazing strength in addition to your stamina boost."
"I'd like to try!"
"No."
I pouted, then rolled out my sleeping bag. My blankets had been left in the cell.
He curled up next to me, already half-asleep. I felt incredulously tired, and I yawned before slipping into my bag.
I stared up at the stars until I became too tired to keep my eyes open, and then I fell asleep.
(((-)))
"Gumi-"
"It's all my fault! I wish I'd never hurt you like this!"
"You're hurting me more by saying that you're leaving."
"It'll be worse if I stay!"
"Gumi-"
Then, I ran.
"Gumi-" A crash. I whipped around...
..to see my nightmare come true.
It changed...
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"Can I have this dance, Miss Nemanon?"
"Certainly." I took his offered hand, regally holding myself up, head high. My face was of the sort that I considered everyone beneath me- one I'd seen enough on Neru Akita.
"So, you've already finished the next picture?"
"Yes. I'm nearly done on the twenty-third, too."
"For such a brilliant artist, you sure work fast."
"It's all about shortcuts, and how you use them."
The music washed over us as we began to waltz, my dress swaying with the beat of the music.
"Well, I would like to learn."
"I'll show you one day, just for the sake of it."
"Good."
Again, the music flooded over the lull in our conversation. I wanted to scream, to tear my hair out, to bloody my dress and cry in the corner.
But this was public, and I needed to seem like I'd changed.
At least to decency by their standards.
I was turned around, then I spun in a circle, my gloved fingers still in his.
We reconnected, then continued.
"I'm nearly done with the sixth chapter of the past story. It'll be done tommorow."
"How many chapters will be in it?"
"I'm guessing around twenty."
It changed again...
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I felt like the world was falling. Falling, falling.
"How am I supposed to do this?!" I said hysterically. "It'll kill me!"
"Remember, I'll be there for you..."
It changed a bit, to reveal the...
"No way," I whispered. I was in the past?
I knew that I was supposed to, but my heart was protesting in earnest...
And I stopped it, blocked the other guard's blade, and crumpled to the ground.
I can't do it.
It threw me into darkness, dark, dark unconsciousness...
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