Gomen, guys. I got a little off on my updating dates. Blame my computer charger for planning to go on an adventure (without telling me of course). And, I have to say you people make me laugh with your reviews. Sailor moon...Negima. *rolls around laughing* Asuna as Sailor Moon? BAHAHA!
Ahhh...on with this story. ^.^
Runaway Baby
Part 4
"Have you ever noticed how ironic their names are?" Setsuna asks quietly, pulling up to the bank's drive thru.
This has to be a bank for people with tons of money. The ATM machine has a finger print scanner. A FINGER PRINT scanner. Setsuna glances over at me, as she throws the car into park, and rubs her finger against her shirt.
"Oh. Um..who's?" I ask, watching her type in her name on the screen.
"Your step-dad's and my dad's." Setsuna hints, pressing her finger onto the pulsing blue scanner off to the side.
"What do you mean?"
My eyes grow huge when she presses in the withdrawal amount and my jaws slackens. Setsuna collects the specified amounts of bills, divided into a range of bills and coins, and slips it into a secret compartment above the stereo.
"Yami," Setsuna begins, gently pressing the gas pedal down, and we head for the next destination, "means 'dark' in Japanese, did you notice? He seems to be the darkness in your life. Tomi means 'rich'. Ironic, don't you think?"
"I never noticed that." I add, wondering how I didn't figure that out before.
"Here," Setsuna says, passing me her phone, "Text a person named 'Negi' in my phone and tell him I'm right around the corner."
Fumbling with the keys, I type the message and send it just as the light turns green, wondering who this person is.
Carefully, Setsuna maneuvers into a parking space in front of a decent looking house. After a few seconds of waiting, a skinny boy our age walks out, tapping on my window with a kind smile.
Quickly, I roll the window down, and lean back when he lowers himself in.
"Hey, I made it last night for you. You're 21, just like you asked. Be careful when you leave, alright? You're like the older sister I never had, and I don't want anything to happen to you. Please be safe." Negi says, handing Setsuna a thin piece of plastic, as he blinks away some tears.
Setsuna nods slowly, gripping his hand, as she reassures him, "Negi, I'll be fine. If anything goes wrong, I'll be able to handle myself. Just worry about yourself when I'm gone. I'll let you know when I see Takamichi, and I'll have your dad write you a letter while he's docked in Santa Monica. I promise."
Tearfully, Negi nods, gives Setsuna another good bye, and runs into the house.
Confused, I stare at Setsuna, and she gives me a look that says I'll explain later.
Somewhat satisfied, I play with her phone in my lap, and listen to the powerful hum of her engine under the hood.
We pull into the garage and Setsuna flips the key, turning the engine off, as she collects her thoughts.
What did Negi mean by "When you leave.."? There's a painful feeling in my chest when I look at her. She can't leave. More importantly, she can't leave me. She can't. I won't let her. And what was the "You're 21.." thing about? Is she a criminal and she needs another I.D to leave everything behind?
No, no. That wouldn't work. The volleyball teams requires background checks every year. Maybe she-
"If...things go badly in my life anytime soon, I'm going to leave. Drive away. If either of my parents push me anymore, I'll break. I'll have to leave. I feel like a coward, not facing the problems, but running away from them instead." Setsuna admits, breaking the silence that surrounded us.
"I admire you," I blurt out, not really caring about anything except the thoughts that are buzzing in my mind, "I can't runaway from the problem. I have to stay, and as a result, I keep getting hurt. I want to be like you."
My eyes fly to the rear view mirror, and I trace the reflection of where my black eye was on the glass.
"No," Setsuna begins shakily, and her head falls onto the steering wheel, as she whispers, "You don't want to be like me. I'm just a chicken."
"No, you're not, Setsuna! You're so brave, dealing with your parents all the time. I don't know how you deal with it. Dealing with Yami's punches is easy, but being told money is happiness..that's crazy!" I exclaim, pleading with her to not put herself that low, and my hands find their way to her lap.
"Tell me about your plan." I add, wanting to change the direction of the conversation a little, as she lifts her head.
Taking a deep breath, Setsuna taps her finger against the leather steering wheel, and she glances at me.
"Promise me you won't say a word."
A giggle slips out before I can stop it, and before Setsuna can speak, I say, "Setsuna, I have no one to tell. I promise I won't tell."
Her eyes search for any cracks in my vow, and when she finds none, she traces over the cross-like emblem on the steering wheel.
"A while ago, I started to notice my patience was slowly fading, and my temper was growing. I think it started to happen when I got to, you know, puberty. It was like everything clicked. And, it was like they started pressing me more and more. It was money this, money that. All I ever wanted was their love and attention, but all I ever got was money shoved in my face." Setsuna tells me, rattling off everything effortlessly.
The only thing I can think of right now to describe this moment is the quote "Still waters run deep."
Popular people often are stereotyped and placed into the 'Hot body, no intelligence, shallow mind' category.
..Just now, Setsuna just changed in my eyes. Yeah, I've liked her for...quite a few years and thought she was different, but I never realized just how much.
"I, uh, had to research route 66 for a project last year, and it seemed so perfect. It's the mother road. If I ever leave, that's where I'm heading to. It's the ultimate road trip...the ultimate road to freedom and away from money obsessed people. I just want to drive down that old road and let myself go," Setsuna takes a deep breath, and I can see the longing in her eyes when she continues, "I've planned tediously. Asuna and Negi are in on the whole thing, Takamichi too. It's the reason why there are so many spare parts in here, and why I changed the seats. The old seats weren't exactly the comfiest thing to sleep on." Setsuna jokes, and I nod in agreement. These seats are pretty comfortable. I could probably fall asleep if I wanted, but that wouldn't be the best move right now.
"Asuna gave me the idea of buying those little pay phones with no contract and some minute cards, because when I leave, my parents will go insane and track me with the one in your lap. I'll put all my tools and spares and clothes in the trunk and leave. Every couple of days I'll call Asuna or Negi and keep them posted on everything. And, uh, that's my plan." Setsuna concludes, wiping her clammy hands on her jeans.
"What about school?" I ask, licking my incredibly dry lips, dreading the answer.
Setsuna shrugs her shoulders, "What about it?"
Konoka, she isn't leaving right now! Why are you going crazy? There's no reason at all for it.
I ignore my thoughts, while my heart and I persist, "Well, what are you going to do for money? Eventually, it will run out."
"I already have a four year degree in auto mechanics. I can stop at a few towns and work a little." Setsuna counters, smirking when I twitch in response.
"What about the your teammates?" I shout.
"Asuna is taking my place as captain."
Growling a little, I give up, defeated, but then I feel her hand grab my chin, making me look Setsuna in the eyes.
She gives me a heart warming smile, and gently cups my cheeks with her hands, "You can come with me if you like."
Oh sweet Jesus, YES! A million times yes! Take me away now!
Brtzzzz.
Brtzzzzzzzz.
Cursing my phone for ruining the moment, I dig it out of my pocket, frowning when I see it's Yami's number.
"Hello?" I say, and Setsuna takes the hint and quietly takes her hands back.
"I'm coming home today."
"W-what?"
"I expect dinner to be on the table in exactly an hour and five minutes. You know the consequences if you disobey me."
Click.
I pull the phone away from my face, gaping in shock, as I try to process what just happened.
"Konoka?" Setsuna says, delicately shaking my shoulder.
I gulp, giving her a very nervous look, and I slide my phone back into my pocket.
"I-I need to go home. Yami's coming back today." I whisper, sorting through recipes in my mind, as Setsuna sighs and starts the car.
"Tell me your address."
"If anything happens, call me and I'll be right here." Setsuna vows, watching me dash into the house, as I promise I'll call her if something does happen.
When I get in the house I wave, signaling that it's alright for her to go, and I start preparing Yami's dinner.
He likes American food, so I decide to make him a reuben. I cook the meat slowly, timing it all perfectly.
I don't eat. I don't have an appetite tonight. I can only think of Setsuna. Her plan in genius. Along with the fact she's slowly taking money out of her account, she has it all planned out. I really hope she doesn't forget about her offering to take me along too. I would love to leave this miserable place.
A car rumbles to a halt in front of the house and I quickly throw together his sandwich and place a drink at his seat at the table.
I nonchalantly begin washing dishes as Yami busts through the door. He checks my room, and I gulp a little.
Finally, Yami walks into the kitchen, drools over his sandwich, and without a word, begins scarfing it down without any signs of appreciation towards me.
This is usually the best situation for me.
Silently, I go to my room and fall asleep.
No abuse tonight.
I'm safe.
Setsuna, Asuna, and I hang out today. Thankfully, not at Setsuna's or my house, but at Asuna's.
She's actually a really nice person, I can see why she and Setsuna are so close.
We're in her room, playing a baseball game (purely Asuna's choice) for Xbox, and I'm watching the other two go at it.
Setsuna's up to bat and Asuna's pitching. The score is seven to nine, and Setsuna has bases loaded.
I recline in my bean bag chair and watch Setsuna's face. It's calm, betraying no sign of nervousness, as she expertly rolls the joystick with her thumb.
Asuna presses a button, sending her player's arms back to throw the pitch, but the game pauses suddenly on Setsuna's screen.
"Hey!" Asuna whines, frowning when Setsuna goes to her character's settings and changes it so he bats left handed.
"What?" Setsuna asks, catching me staring at her, as she slowly turns back to the screen and un-pauses it.
I fidget a little at being caught, turning my head to the screen, as Asuna prepares herself for the pitch again.
Swish.
Crack.
Setsuna smiles when her bat makes contact, sending the ball flying over the grandstand. Asuna growls, futilely pressing buttons, and I giggle when her character pops up on the screen, comically jump up and down while trying to catch the long gone ball.
Setsuna wins, pumping her fist while she cheers a set of compliments to herself; Asuna whines like a toddler.
"You cheated somehow!" the red head accuses the dark haired girl beside her, lunging at her.
Setsuna's too quick for her, throwing up her hands to grab the human projectile flying towards her, as she effectively tosses the red head off to the side.
"No, Asuna. I'm just skilled." Setsuna declares, dusting her hands off, as she tosses her controller off to the side.
"Yeah, yeah," Asuna growls, rubbing her reddened forehead, as she picks herself up.
"I never knew you swung that way...in more ways than one." Asuna adds, suggestively waggling her eyebrows, as Setsuna sits down beside me.
"Asuna!" Setsuna whines loudly, blushing pink, as she reaches up and smack said girl upside the head.
What in the world did that mean?
I alternate between looking at the blushing Setsuna to the laughing Asuna.
Setsuna blushes darker when she looks at me, whispering, "Ignore her."
"Getting down to business." Asuna says, doing some stretches before she drags her bean bag chair over to us, and stares at Setsuna expectantly, "What's up?"
"This is Konoka, the girl I've been eating lunch with-"
Asuna giggles a little, and Setsuna gives her a charlie horse in the leg for interrupting.
"And she's...if I leave, I'm taking her with me." Setsuna continues, grimacing when Asuna quirks her eye brow and looks at me.
Suddenly feeling small under her bi-colored gaze, I'm happy when Asuna grabs Setsuna and hauls her out of the room, quickly excusing them both.
I try to listen in, but their words are effectively muffled by the door.
"Setsuna! -sly -!"
"Shut-! Don't you-for me!"
"Well, alright. I -. -protection."
"...Don't make me kick your ass down these stairs."
"Rawr, kitty got claws."
Unable to help myself, I burst into giggles the moment Setsuna walks in, clearly irritated with the grinning girl behind her.
"What's so funny?" Setsuna shouts, twisting to glare at Asuna, who raises her hands up in defense.
"I did do anything! Gosh, always blaming me for stuff. Now, let's get down to business already."
Setsuna only grunts in response, dropping beside me, her eye twitching slightly.
"Konoka, do you really want to go with Setsuna?" Asuna asks, watching me carefully.
Setsuna looks at me hopefully, also watching my actions closely.
I nod my head in affirmation, "I do."
And those are the only words I can conjure up. I could have talked all day about my reasons, but I don't think they would've wanted to listen to my ramblings.
Setsuna grins and grabs my hands, pressing them to her lips, "That's great!"
Blushing in response, I fidget as butterflies take flight in my chest, and barely catch Asuna smirking at us.
Realizing what she just did, Setsuna blushes as well, letting me go as she scratches the back of her head.
"Well then, you two. I guess you both have everything worked out. Konoka, if you ever need help with..eheh...Bonehead over there, call me on one of the phones she has, alright? And I mean anything." Asuna winks, just as my phone goes off.
"T-time to go?" Setsuna stutters out, and I nod in response.
"Awwww. Well, we'll have to hang out again sometime, but who knows about playing any video games. It's supposed to storm next week sometime. Anyways, Konoka, I think me and you are going to be closer than bonehead and I!" Asuna cheers, dodging one of Setsuna's fists when we walk out, and I nearly fall down the stairs laughing.
This is the last good day of the week. It all goes downhill from here.
This chapter is kind of a set up chapter. The next chapter...is amazing, if I say so myself. It's when we really shift into high gear. Expect an update Monday or Sunday.
Let me know what you thought!
Zai Jian!