A/N:
G'day m8, First off, thank you to everyone for the amazing feedback on the previous chapter! I'd like to thank each and every one of you for being adults about it, too :)
Heart's Cry - Kusuda Aina
*pat pat pat*
Something was touching her face, making Nozomi stir. It took all of her might to open her eyes, to see a strange white cat staring back at her intently.
Puzzlement filled her mind, taking in the feline resting on her chest. It's yellow eyes locked with Nozomi's bleary turquoise, as if trying to tell her something.
"...Cat…" was all Nozomi could mumble. The cat stood up and stretched, then jumped of the bed and sauntered towards the door. This gave Nozomi an opportunity sit up slowly and recognise the soft plush pillows that were against her head and back.
Upon shifting, her skin caught onto more soft texture, which she identified as bed sheets. It was cold, in all areas except for her chest and nether regions. She looked down, blinking upon the sudden revelation that she was in her underwear and bra. The sheets were cold against her skin, and Nozomi moved her right leg out to stretch. She looked down and took in the large mermaid piece on her right thigh. Her left leg, to coincide with her arm of flowers, was a vine of poison that curled up her entire leg.
How Nozomi ended up on a small bed in a light yellow room, she had no idea. Her eyelids weighed a tonne, and her entire body felt like she had just swallowed five sandbags. What made it stranger was that after a night of smoking weed, Nozomi would normally feel refreshed and clear. That clearly wasn't the case.
Whatever Erena had mixed clearly was the absolute opposite of weed.
'...Erena...she's a dead woman!' Nozomi put in all of her effort to snap her eyelids open and heave herself into a sitting position, but that was a very bad move. Her head spun, and she felt like she was going to be sick.
'Uh oh,' Nozomi clapped a hand to her mouth and focused on her breathing. She wasn't doing much to comprehend the stereotype of herself at that current moment. She did her best to balance herself out by staring at a picture on the wall. It was a colour picture of a woman in a ballerina tutu, performing some sort of leap. She was smiling, clearly enjoying herself.
Nozomi couldn't help but notice that she looked rather familiar. Short brown hair in a bun…
She wasn't able to figure out who it was, because the door to the room opened, and in stepped a rather small woman. Her dark brown hair was down, and she had a mug of steaming liquid in her hand.
"Oh! You're awake, that's good," the woman gave a small smile as Nozomi stared at her. The artist was trying to remember where she had seen this woman from. Surely they had met before?
"How are you feeling? You looked a right mess when she bought you in," The woman placed the cup on the bedside table, and Nozomi instantly knew that aroma.
'Chai…' Nozomi looked from the cup to the woman, who had concern in her eyes.
"Um...You're not feeling any better?" She seemed fairly weirded out out Nozomi's staring, to the point that she actually moved back against the wall.
"I'm sorry, but who are you and why am I in this bed?" Nozomi looked down at the sheets, then back at the woman with a raised eyebrow.
"And how did you know that chai tea is my favourite?"
"I didn't?" The woman looked as though Nozomi was interrogating her.
"She didn't," a new voice entered, along with its owner. Nozomi snapped her gaze over t teh doorframe, and her jaw dropped.
She knew this woman. She knew this woman very well. She was short, about the same height as the woman next to Nozomi, with short brown hair and smirk on her face. Her arms were folded, revealing intricate tattoos of ribbons that laced around her forearms and up her bicep.
"But I know."
Nozomi continued to stare at the woman in absolute awe. She hadn't seen her in four years.
"It's been awhile, Non-tan."
Kusuda Aina was not always a tattoo artist. She started her life out as an aspiring ballet dancer, but upon getting a tattoo, was shunned away from the profession. She decided to take up a career in art, rather than dance, but still kept her pictures of her former life around the house, and for some reason, in her guest bedroom.
Aina had taught Nozomi everything she knew about the art of tattooing at her own studio, Brilliant Wave. Nozomi had actually known about Aina's work before becoming her apprentice - many late nights after university seemed to end with Nozomi standing in front of Brilliant Wave's doors, watching the woman draw or rearrange her ink bottles.
After graduating from university, Nozomi spend months and months of practicing on pigskin. This led to the decisive moment that Nozomi was ready to perform her first tattoo on Aina, who preferred to be called 'Kussun,' for some weird reason. Nozomi was able to apply all the visual art rules into her apprenticeship with Kussun's help. The older woman was able to teach in such a way that Nozomi's talent blossomed instantly. Sure enough, Nozomi was a tattoo artist in no time, but decided to still work at Kussun's studio for a year, and in that time, saved up to start her own.
Nozomi ran over her teacher's history in her mind as she sat in her hoodie and bra opposite Kussun and the woman, who revealed herself to be named Yoshino. Turquoise eyes fell upon that very tattoo on her master's wrist - the butterfly made of glass.
Kussun's own tattoo collection was rather scattered, as she preferred to not stick to one particular style. Her left arm consisted of ribbons and bows that laced around down to her wrists, and her right arm was a mixture of dot-work on her bicep and a chain of lilies circling her lower forearm. Her legs were exposed, due to the shorts she was wearing, to reveal the ballet slipper outline on her feet and ankles.
"So, you want to tell me why the hell you were smoking a mixture of drugs outside of your store?" Kussun raised an eyebrow as Nozomi picked up her tea. They had relocated to the living room. Nozomi bit her lip, feeling like a schoolgirl who just caught making trouble by her favourite teacher.
"...Stress" was the response Nozomi gave while she averted her eyes. Kussun snorted and took a sip of tea, while a small, curly-coated dog jumped onto her lap. Kussun scratched behind the dog's ears.
"Did you know there's a search party looking for you?"
Nozomi froze, blood running cold. Kussun's expression was etched with a slight smugness.
"That blondie of yours has been looking for you all night."
Nozomi felt her heart sink. Eli didn't deserve this, and she sure as hell didn't deserve Nozomi after what the artist just did. She shut her eyelids and grit her teeth.
"She is going to kill me."
"That she is. You snagged a real winner there, Non-tan," Kussun smiled from behind her tea cup. The former apprentice felt herself grow smaller and smaller - Eli was far too good for her.
"Wait, blonde?" Yoshino perked up. Kussun nodded.
"Non-tan has been dating Ayase Eli for...how long now? Eighty-four years?"
"Four, actually," Nozomi's voice was lifeless as realization dawned on Yoshino's face.
"That Ayase Eli! She's lovely,"
"How many blondes do you know?" Kussun raised an eyebrow, but Yoshino ignored her and kept talking.
"She was such a talented ballet dancer, just like this one," she nudged the older artist's arm. Kussun shook her head with a small smile, then snapped back to Nozomi.
"You're an absolute donghead, Non-tan. I can't believe you still did that awful thing. Are you still smoking cigarettes, too?"
"Trying to quit, Elichi shoved an e-cigarette down my throat," Nozomi mumbled. To be fair to Eli, Nozomi did feel a lot more lighter than usual since she stopped inhaling pure nicotine.
Nozomi's eyes moved to another photo on the coffee table. It had Kussun and Yoshino, both wearing white and smiling happily at the camera.
"Wait, you got married?!" Nozomi shot back to her tattoo master. Kussun grinned, and raised her tiny third finger, revealing an thin, intricate designs that swirled around her entire finger. Nozomi looked from Kussun's finger down to the ballet instructor's hand, and also noticed that her ring finger had the same design.
"And you got it tattooed, wow," Nozomi kicked herself back into the couch with raised eyebrow. Kussun waggled her own eyebrows and took Yoshino's hand in her own.
"I've been married for three years now, Non-tan."
"And you never bothered to tell me?"
"That's beside the point," her voice was curt, face full of disappointment. It hit Nozomi hard, seeing Kussun disappointed in her was awful, and it made it worse that she was disappointed in her.
"The tattoo industry gets a bad enough reputation without you slapping a sign over yourself that just screams look at me! I'm a druggie who puts ink in your skin for a living! Honestly, Non-tan, what were you thinking?!"
"I wasn't," It was Nozomi's turn to avert her gaze. It was true - it was a stupid action that was inflicted by rage and stupidity. Kussun was right, she wasn't doing herself any favours by getting high outside of her shop.
"Was there a reason as to why you decided to inhale some stupid combination of weed and ice?"
"Erena never told me it was ice in the mix," that would explain the extreme hallucinations, and the fact that she wasn't feeling a hundred percent currently. The artist felt disgusting, and her insides started to churn. If it were regular weed, that'd be a different story.
"This is why you should never get weed from some low-life ever again," Kussun scolded, her brows angling down.
"What possessed you to do that, anyway?"
"I'm up shit creek," Nozomi answered flatly, folding her arms and locking her gaze with her tattoo master's. Instantly, Kussun's eyes went wide at the sudden revelation.
"How so?"
Nozomi explained everything that had happened, and Yoshino's face fell at the recount, clearly sympathetic towards the younger artist. Kussun frowned in thought, tapping her chin with her left hand.
"You didn't sign the form? And that's it?"
"That's it," Nozomi sighed while she leaned back into the cushions. Kussun looked into her tea cup before speaking.
"Is the lawyer any good?"
"I think she is?" Nozomi squinted one eye, still not entirely sure.
"I need to get an appointment to go over our very little evidence to tackle the shit-bat."
"When was your meeting?" Kussun asked, ignoring the language that came out of her former apprentice's mouth. Nozomi's mouth went slack in thought - she honestly couldn't remember.
"I...um…"
"Tell you what," Kussun picked up her tea in her left hand.
"When you get the date for your next meeting, bring me along."
Nozomi nearly bit her tongue. Kussun must have read Nozomi's mind with some instant telepathy because she continued speaking and answered all of Nozomi's questions and retorts.
"I have been a tattoo artist far longer than you, Non-tan. Like you, I am also a business woman and care for my apprentice. You don't think I've dealt with someone trying to mess with my business before?"
Nozomi made to open her mouth, but Kussun was too quick, "Not to mention I am a very reliable source for your skills and professionalism. Also, it seems like you can barely stand on your own two feet in a courthouse without caving for a joint to whinge over."
Nozomi's mouth dropped open, as if Kussun had just slapped her in the face.
"Let's be honest, Non-tan. You need my help, rather than want it."
It was extremely irritating, but the older artist was right. Nozomi needed all the help she could get. She ran a hand over her face and let out a soft groan.
"I hate it when you're right."
"You and me both," Yoshino grinned next to her wife. The two artists laughed at the comment, although it was painful for Nozomi. That had been the first time she had genuinely laughed in who knows how long.
Nozomi had moved to the dining table from the couch, staring at her tarot deck nervously. She wrung her hands together while Kussun sat opposite her, holding the dog named Chip and running her nails through this curly coat.
"You're going to pull some?" Kussun asked as Yoshino took out her phone and went into a room that Nozomi could only assume was the master bedroom of the place.
"May as well," The younger artist sighed, and drew her first card.
Hanged Man.
Nozomi quirked an eyebrow up at the card. She set the card down and racked her brains as to what that could mean. It was hard since her head was still throbbing from her stupidity the past night. All she could think of was the suspense that loomed over her of going home to a very anxious and very angry Eli. She wiggled her fingers and pulled another card, ignoring the purring from the fluffy cat that had jumped onto the couch behind her.
Judgement.
"See, that makes sense," she murmured - going to court and dealing with all of that formed a perfect connection. Kussun peered at the card and snorted.
"I don't know the first thing about your heart-of-the-cards crap, but even I know what it means."
Nozomi ignored her words and pulled her last card with baited breath.
The Chariot.
"...huh?" She was stumped. Genuinely stumped. What the hell? Surely for the first time in her twenty-six years of living the cards were wrong. Nozomi had no control over her life, so what the hell is the chariot doing, grinning up at her like some child staring at an animal in a zoo? It didn't make any sense, but she had to accept the card would play in an importnat part in her future.
Yoshino had called Eli to tell her that Nozomi was 'in their custody.' Nozomi couldn't help but feel like a child that had run away at a shopping centre, and was currently in the care of centre management.
"So you knew people were looking for me, and you didn't tell them I'm with you?" Nozomi failed to see the logic in her tattoo master's actions.
"How many people would believe me if I said I took you home while you were having a bad trip? What would the police think of that?"
Nozomi fell silent as Yoshino got ready for work.
"You don't want a lift to the ballet studio?" Kussun asked her wife, who was putting on her coat and taking the fluffy cat that woke Nozomi up off of her leg.
"No, it's fine. The walk will be refreshing," Yoshino managed to remove the cat like a velcro strip and plopped it onto the table in front of Kussun.
"Take care of Mugi, and don't forget to walk Chip," she stroked the dog's head lightly, clearly seeming to be happy that the cat and dog weren't fighting like the stereotype.
"See you tonight," she kissed her wife's cheek, and bid farewell to Nozomi. She stopped at the door, and turned around to smile at the younger tattoo artist.
"You should drop by the ballet studio sometime. Some people find it relaxing."
With that, she left. Nozomi blinked after her as Kussun let out a chuckle.
"Emphasis on some."
"You didn't find it relaxing?" Nozomi raised her teacup to her lips. Kussun shrugged, "I still enjoy ballet, but there was no point in doing it professionally."
Nozomi remembered the stories Kussun had told her about her days as a ballet dancer. It was such a shame that the prejudice towards those with body modifications couldn't be helped in any industry.
"I sometimes help out at the studio, but only when I have five seconds to myself," Kussun explained, stroking the dog's head again.
"Plus, the children love Chip when he comes to visit, don't they buddy?" she cooed down at the little brown dog. Nozomi couldn't help but smile down at the little dog. He had been apart of Kussun's life for some time, but didn't seem to remember Nozomi at all.
"So, do you want a lift home?" Kussun asked her former apprentice.
"I guess that'd be handy," Nozomi sighed and put down her teacup. It had been a rather long time since the two had been in a car together.
"Great! Now put on your clothes on and let's head out. I still need to work today," Kussun smiled and stood up, pointing to the guest bedroom Nozomi was in last night.
The younger artist looked down, realising that she was only in her underwear, bra and hoodie, and let a grin quirk onto her face.
"You sure you don't want me in this?" She suggestively crossed one leg over the other. Kussun's face fell.
"I am married and you will be a dead woman when you get back to Eli. For the love of all that's good in the world, put your damn clothes on," she deadpanned, getting a chuckle out of Nozomi.