Chapter 35
Takara's First Best Friend
A few days have passed. Takara is doing much better. She can stand by herself. She cleared her mind. She's still traumatized by everything, but overall she is happy. Takara just wishes Leiji could come back to life.
Takara is looking at some old photos she had glued into the back of her songbook. Neji comes over to sit with her.
"I'm about to get the rest of my things princess, do you need anything before I go?" Neji asks.
"Oh, wow," Takara says while looking at a photo.
Neji looks down to see the photo. The photo is of a younger Takara with some girl showing off their freshly new colored nails. Takara's are purple while the other girl's nails are a pale pink. Takara looks genuinely so happy.
"Who's this girl next to you?" Neji asks.
Takara takes a deep breath. "Miki. Miki Akabana. She... She was my very first best friend. The way we met was, very awkward."
"How so?" Neji asks.
Takara's face turns red. "So um, after a while of living in the Cloud village, I went out one day to go to a bakery and..." She looks up at Neji. "Remember the second you asked me out how I said that you are my first TRUE boyfriend?"
"Yeah?" Neji asks.
"Well, I kinda had a boyfriend before you, but none of it was legit, so I don't count it," Takara says and looks down.
"That's fine princess," Neji says and puts his hand on her shoulder. "Even if you did have real boyfriends or girlfriends before me, it wouldn't have mattered, because I'm with you now, and what we have is real."
Takara nods. "But, I say that because I met Miki because of him..."
Flashback:
Takara finally feels somewhat comfortable going out and exploring the Cloud Village, as long as it's close to home. A new bakery has just opened up and Takara really wanted to try it out. Bee would give Takara money every so often so she can go out and buy whatever makes her happy.
On this particular day, Takara was looking through the glass of the bakery, almost drooling. She hears footsteps behind her. Naturally, she turns around and sees a guy around her age.
"First time here?" asks the boy.
Takara nervously chuckles. "Yeah, there are just too many options."
The boy smiles at Takara. "You look kind of familiar."
"I- I do?" Takara asks.
"Yeah, are you that Takara Uta girl from the Leaf" he asks. Takara starts to sweat. "Hey, hey it's okay! I'm not gonna rat you out. I just... think it'd be cool to... date, possibly. Like being boyfriend and girlfriend"
"A- are you sure?" Takara asks.
"Why not?" the boy asks. He reaches out his hand for a handshake. "My name is Kouya. How about you come over to my place later, at 3?"
Takara smiles. "Yeah sure!"
Kouya writes his address on a napkin and hands it to Takara. "See you then, girlfriend."
"Bye!" Takara says excitedly.
Takara watches Kouya walk away. Then, Takara sees Bee walking her way. Takara runs up to him excitedly.
"Bee! Guess what!" Takara says excitedly.
"What's up Bumblebee?" Bee asks.
Takara shows Bee the napkin. "I got asked out! His name is Kouya, and he wants me to come over in a few hours!"
Bee cocks an eyebrow. "Um, are you sure you want to date this kid, Bumblebee? I would like to meet him first, just in case."
"Just in case?" Takara asks. "You might be overthinking things, Bee. He seems like a nice guy!"
"Anyone can put on a fake persona to fool anyone, fool YA FOOL- sorry," Bee says.
"I'm just worried if you come along, he'll think you're over protective, or that I'm a wuss who 'needs my parent'," Takara says.
Bee kneels down to be at Takara's height. "Bumblebee, I worry because I care about you. I just don't want you to go through the hell you've been through again. What if this kid is a sibling of one of the 4 men? Or what if one of the 4 men put him up to this? To have you fall for this guy without realizing what's going on, then POOF! You're gone. I'm sorry Bumblebee, my instinct is telling me not to trust this guy. But, since you seem really happy about him, we can go by his house a little earlier so we can all meet."
Takara nods. "I understand. I'm really happy you care about me. I don't know why, but I ALWAYS try to see the best in someone, even if they are a horrible person."
Bee stands back up. "Let's go meet this fool."
"But he said not until 3," Takara says.
"If he's a bad guy, maybe we'll see what he's up to beforehand," Bee says.
Takara takes a deep breath. "Okay."
Bee takes the napkin from Takara's hand and reads the address. Bee and Takara quickly walk over to Kouya's place. Takara's heart starts to race rapidly.
Takara and Bee arrive. Kouya's home is surrounded by tall trees and mountains. Takara looks around at the beautiful nature until she hears someone moaning. Takara turns around to see who is in pain.
"Bee, it sounds like someone is in pain!" Takara says.
"Uh," Bee says. "I would say quite the opposite." Takara cocks an eyebrow. "Bumblebee, we should get going."
"Why?" Takara asks. She walks up to the house and looks inside the window. Takara gasps loudly.
"Damn it," Bee mumbles to himself while putting his head in one of his hands.
Takara takes a few steps back. "That girl is repeatedly headbutting Kouya's junk!" Takara's eyes get teary. "Hiroshi made me do that to him a lot..." Tears fell down Takara's face. Bee sees Takara's tears and gets angry.
Kouya and the girl on her knees look over at the window.
"HEY! Get out of here!" Kouya yells.
The girl looks over at Takara with confusion. "What is going on here?"
Takara keeps crying, unable to speak. Bee steps forward.
"What's going on here is that this fool is about to feel pain instead of pleasure!" Bee yells. "How could you receive a blowjob from this young girl right after you asked Takara out?!"
"Wait, Kouya... You asked out this girl right before I came over?" the girl asks.
Kouya sighs. "Damn it Miki, yes.. I asked out Takara Uta. I thought it would have been so cool to take the missing girl from the Leaf's virginity. I wanted to be her first."
Takara covers her mouth and gags. Bee gets genuinely angry. He then turns into the 8 tails. Takara immediately stops crying and her eyes get big from being scared.
"B- Bee?" Takara asks.
Bee then picks up Kouya with one of his tentacles. Kouya looks down and realizes how high up he is.
"P- Put me down!" Kouya yells.
"Why should I?" Bee asks. "You're a horrible person! You hurt Takara!"
"Who cares? Her feelings don't matter to me!" Kouya says.
Without thinking, Bee flings Kouya across the whole village. "Fool."
"Bee!" Takara calls out. "D- D- Did you just kill him?!"
"Not sure," Bee says, then goes back to his normal self.
Miki looks around awkwardly. "Takara?"
Takara turns around and looks behind her. "Hey."
"Look, I genuinely had no idea about any of this, I really hope you're not mad at me," Miki says.
"Why would I be mad at you?" Takara asks. "None of this is your fault. Kouya is scum. You had nothing to do with any of this."
Miki smiles. "Hey, we don't need him. Let's be best friends!"
Takara smiles. "Are you sure?"
"Yeah girly!" Miki says. She then messes up Takara's hair. "This ain't yo' natural hair color. Let's change that up."
"What? How can you tell?" Takara asks in pure confusion.
"I can just tell," Miki says. "I get my hair did all the time."
"Yeah," Takara says and nervously laughs. "My natural hair color is black. Eito made me blonde for a malicious mission."
"Let's go get your hair did now!" Miki says excitedly.
"I don't have enough money for that, but I appreciate it," Takara says.
"Don't worry about it girly! I gotchu!" Miki says.
"This is too generous of you," Takara says. Takara looks back at Bee. "Can I hang out with Miki?"
"Sure Bumblebee!" Bee says. "I don't think Miki would want to mess with you after what she just saw."
"I'm terrified of your dad," Miki says to Takara.
"He isn't my dad," Takara says. "He took me in after escaping my kidnappers."
"Oooh girl!" Miki says with a disturbed face. "You gotta tell me about that when we're getting our hair done!"
Takara smiles. "That'd be nice!"
About an hour has passed. Takara and Miki arrive at the hair salon. This salon offers hair cuts, hair color and styles. It also has a nail salon inside, along with a massage spa.
Takara walks inside and inhales the good smells of the products being used. Miki looks down at Takara and chuckles.
"Hey Miki!" calls out a hairdresser without any clients. She comes up to Miki and Takara.
"Hey girly!" Miki says excitedly. "Takara, this is Hayami! Hayami, this is my new bestie, Takara!"
Takara shyly covers herself behind Miki. "H- hi."
"Aw, no need to be shy, girly!" Miki says with a chuckle. "Ain't she just the cutest? Anyway, my bestie here wants her natural hair color back."
"T- That would be nice," Takara says.
A girl goes up to the checkout counter with half black hair and half purple. "Thank you so much! My hair looks amazing!"
Takara looks at the girl's hair in awe. "Wow! Her hair is so pretty!"
Miki looks down at Takara. "Do you want to do a color split?"
Takara looks down and smiles. "I mean, that shade of purple IS really pretty."
"Takara!" Hayami says. "I bet you would look so cute with black all over with a purple streak!"
"Ooh!" Takara says excitedly. "That would be pretty!" Takara then thinks about how she'd look with that description of that hair. "Hmm, that would look so cute! Let's do it!"
"Yaaaaay!" Hayami says excitedly. "Follow me to my station! I then have to go to the dispensary to get the hair color! Is it okay if I do Takara's hair first, Miki?"
"Of course!" Miki says. "While I'm getting mine touched up on, Takara can look at her hair and play with it! Let her enjoy her new look!"
"This isn't going to hurt, is it?" Takara asks.
"No of course not, silly!" Hayami says.
"Because when Hiroshi and Eito colored my hair, it really hurt," Takara says. "It would burn the top of my head, and the stuff they put in my hair would drip down my face and would stain me. And the smell was so strong and gross."
"Sweetie, sweetie...," Hayami starts to say. "The scent might be strong, but sometimes it actually smells good! I promise it doesn't hurt, in fact, people find it therapeutic!"
"Therapeutic?" Takara asks. "Look, I was hidden away for years and I don't know much about anything."
"Therapeutic is a good thing. It helps you either relax or feel better about something!" Hayami explains in a cheerful tone.
Takara smiles. "Yay! Let's do the black hair with the purple streak! I'm so excited- I think!"
Hayami and Miki laugh.
Takara then sits down in the comfy black chair and lays back. She rocks her legs back and forth while Hayami goes and gets an apron. Hayami puts the apron around Takara.
"Is this comfy?" Hayami asks while buttoning the back of the apron.
Takara nods while looking down at the logo of the salon on the apron. Hayami takes a step back and looks at Takara.
"Okay love, I'm going to mix the solution and get the colors ready!" Hayami says excitedly and walks back to the dispensary. Takara looks over at Miki feeling anxious.
"Girl, you're gonna look amazing! After you have your black and purple hair and gain some weight, you're gonna make so many guys, or girls, fall in love with ya!" Miki says.
Takara chuckles. "I would love to find someone to love. Someone who will accept me, who will accept my fragile marked up body, accept my past, and who will love me for me, not use me, ya know?"
"Oh girl, you definitely will," Miki says. "You're too precious and loveable not to find someone!"
Hayami comes out with two bowls. One with black hair dye, and the other with purple. Tori also is holding two hair color brushes. "Let's get started!"
Takara's hair color is finished. She has her hands covering her eyes so when it's completely finished, she can be surprised. Right now, Hayami is blow drying it, and it will be finished.
Takara keeps wiggling her feet in excitement. "Oooooh I can't wait to see it! I bet it looks so pretty!"
"Girl, it looks amazing! I can't wait to see your pale skin and blue eyes against your hair!" Miki says.
Hayami turns off the blow dryer. Takara squeals in excitement.
"Can I see? Can I see? Can I see?!" Takara asks.
Hayami chuckles. "Give me a sec, love!" Hayami grabs a brush and combs Takara's hair. After brushing Takara's hair, she puts the brush down. "Okay love, whaddya think?"
Takara slowly brings her hands down and looks up at the mirror. Takara's eyes light up and she smiles so big.
"Oh my God! I love it! I love it! I love it!" Takara says loudly from excitement. Takara claps then her eyes start tearing up. "I've never been this happy in my life, and I've never felt... pretty before." Takara wipes away her tears. "Thank you!"
Hayami smiles. "I'm touched, I'm so glad you like it!"
"I love it!" Takara says. Takara then touches her hair. "Ooh, so soft!"
Hayami chuckles. "I'm so glad you love your hair! It was such a blast to do! Now, I'm going to clean up and do Miki's hair!"
Hayami then takes the cups and brushes she used on Takara and takes them in the back to sanitize. Hayami starts to prepare Miki's hair colors.
Takara looks over and sees two sisters come out of the nail salon.
"This was my first time getting my nails done! Look! My nails are my favorite color!" says one of the sisters.
"They look so cute!" says the other sister.
Takara looks at the nails. "Ooh!'
Miki then looks at Takara's nails. They are all uneven and dirty. Takara has never had the chance to take care of her nails.
"Hey girly," Miki says while still looking at Takara's nails.
"Hm?" Takara asks.
"Have you ever gotten a manicure?" Miki asks.
Takara looks at Miki like she has 3 heads. "A... What...?"
"A manicure!" Miki says excitedly. "Where you get your fingernails all cleaned up, painted, make your nails stronger depending on what you get, and maybe get a hand massage!"
Takara looks down. "No, but that sounds amazing."
Miki smiles, then she lifts Takara's head up. "Hey, after I get my hair colored, do you want your nails done?"
Takara gasps. "A- Are you sure? Like, you're already paying for BOTH of our hair, I'd feel bad if you also did our nails!"
"Takara. Do. You. Want. Your. Nails. Done? Yes or no?" Miki asks.
"But I'd-," Takara says until Miki cuts her off.
"Yes or no?" Miki asks.
Takara looks down at her nails. She imagines them being all nice and pretty. "I mean, it would be nice, but-"
"No buts!" Miki says. You're getting your nails done afterwards."
Takara looks to the side and blushes. "You're too nice to me."
"Of course, you're my friend!" Miki says.
Takara smiles at Miki's comment. "My first friend..."
Bee walks into the salon. Both girls are in the back looking at each other's nails. Takara has jumpy legs because she is the happiest she's ever been.
"Bumblebee and non bumblebee!" Bee calls out.
Takara and Miki look up. Takara has such a big smile, and her eyes are full of life.
"Bee! Look at me!" Takara says.
Takara twirls around to show off her hair. She then lifts out her hands and shows Bee her nails. They are round gel nails with the same shade of purple in her hair.
"Wow! Looks like my bumblebee is having a cow of a time!" Bee says.
"You bet!" Takara says.
"Well, I should probably get ya home, girly," Miki says.
"Aw, you should hang out for a little bit!" Takara says.
"I would love to, but I have to meet up with my teammates for a mission tomorrow morning," Miki says. "We leave in about 4 hours."
"Ooh a mission?" Takara asks. "Good luck!"
"Will do!" Miki says with a wink. "Before we go..." Miki pulls out a digital camera. "Yo Bee, take our pic!"
Miki gives Bee her camera. Miki goes back to Takara and she smiles while showing off her nails. Takara looks over at Miki and does the same pose as her.
"Cheese fools, ya fools!" Bee says.
Then... SNAP!
The picture starts to come out of the camera. Bee grabs it and starts to wave it around so it'll dry. Once the picture dries, Takara and Miki go to Bee so they can see the picture they just took.
"Oh girly! We look so cute!" Miki says and closes her eyes with a big smile. "Let's take another one so we each can have a picture!"
Takara smiles and nods. Takara and Miki go back to where they were and do the same pose.
SNAP!
Bee dries the photo and hands it to Takara.
"Okay girly, after my mission, I'll come over and we can have a sleepover! I will be back in about 3 days, so that's when we'll have our sleepover!" Miki says.
"Okay!" Takara says with a smile. "I would love that!"
Miki hugs Takara. Takara freezes for a second. Her eyes get teary and she hugs Miki back.
"My first best friend," Takara says softly.
"Best friends forever!" Miki says. "See ya girl!"
Takara smiles and waves at her new best friend. "Bye Miki! Thanks for everything today!"
"Of course!" Miki says.
Miki turns around to see her teammates already dressed in their flak jackets.
"Come on Miki, we need to pack up and get going!" cries out one of her teammates.
"Calm yo self!" Miki shouts while walking quickly to them.
Takara looks up at Bee with a smile. Bee looks down and smiles at her.
"Let's get home bumblebee!" Bee says.
"Okay!" Takara says. "I'm hungry."
"Don't worry, I'll feed you!" Bee says. "My main goal is for to gain some weight!"
3 Days Later:
Takara runs out of her room excitedly. She sees Bee sitting down with his rap lyric journal. Takara runs in front of him and starts to dance excitedly.
"Beeeeee!" Takara says.
"Are you excited for your sleepover?" Bee asks.
Takara nods her head quickly multiple times.
Before Bee could say anything, there's a knock at the front door.
"SHE'S HERE!" Takara shouts and runs to the front door and opens the door. "MI- Huh?" Takara sees a tall man at the front door. "You're not Miki!"
"I'm here because it's about Miki," he says. "May I come in?"
Bee goes to Takara and sees the man Takara is talking to. Bee personally knows this man, and he does not deliver good news. Bee takes a deep breath and holds Takara's hand. Takara looks down with confusion.
"Please, come in, Hajime," Bee says while looking down.
While holding Takara's hand, he moves out of the way to let Hajime inside. In one hand. Hajime has a ripped up Flak jacket. He shuts the door with his other free hand. Hajime walks farther into the house. Bee and Takara walk behind him.
"Are you Takara?" Hajime asks Takara.
"Y- Yeah?" Takara says.
Hajime pulls out a small plastic baggie with a photo inside it. "Do you recognize this photo?"
Takara looks at the photo. The picture is one of the photos Miki and Takara took just the other day at the salon, except it's covered in blood and kind of beaten up.
"W- Why is the picture bloody?" Takara asks with tears forming in her eyes.
Bee sighs.
Hajime looks down with his eyes closed. Takara, we found this picture in Miki's hand, her... lifeless hands."
Takara gasps loudly. "LIFELESS? BUT THAT MEANS... MEANS..."
Takara drops to the ground and starts wailing loudly. "PLEASE TELL ME YOU'RE KIDDING ME!"
"I'm so sorry," Hajime says with his head still down. "We also found her flak jacket miles away from her body."
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP! I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING ELSE!" Takara shouts while still crying.
Bee kneels down and holds Takara. Takara puts her head in Bee's chest and screams. Bee then puts his hand on the back of her head.
Bee looks up at Hajime. "Thanks for letting us know, Hajime."
"Of course," Hajime says.
Hajime puts the photo down on the counter along with her ripped up jacket. He then puts his head back down and walks out of the home.
"Why Bee? Why?" Takara asks, still wailing.
"I'm so sorry Takara, I really am," Bee says.
"She was my best friend!" Takara screams out.
"I know," Bee says.
"IT'S NOT FAIR!" Takara yells. "I WANT MY BEST FRIEND BACK!"
Present time:
Takara sees tear drops fall onto her photograph of her and Miki. "I miss her so much."
Neji rubs Takara's back to comfort her. "I- I'm so sorry that'd happened. I'm glad you have that photograph of the two of you though. You genuinely look so happy."
"I really was," Takara says. "That was the first time I actually felt happy in my life. I'm beyond happy where I'm at now, but I just wish her and Leiji weren't dead."
"I understand," Neji says. "But at least Leiji isn't suffering anymore, and Miki... I'm just glad she was able to show you that there IS good in the world."
"I think about her everyday," Takara says. "But that's why I still have a purple streak and purple nails. Because she made me feel beautiful for the first time. And, it's kind of a memory of her." Takara sighs. "Her funeral was so depressing. I cried the whole time, and when they lowered her body, I was loudly crying, they almost made me leave." Takara turns to a page in her songbook. "Why did you have to go? You were taken too soon. I wish I could see you when I look at the moon. I feel so low, I miss you. Miki, an angel taken too soon. I love ya girly."
"Aw Takara," Neji says. "That little song is beautiful." Neji notices that the page is kinda wrinkly. "I noticed that this page isn't straight like the others."
"Because I cried a lot while writing it. After I wrote what I wrote, I put my head in the book and cried for hours," Takara says.
"I know Sakura is different from Miki, but I'm really glad you have Sakura as your best friend," Neji says.
"You're also my best friend," Takara says to Neji.
Neji smiles and puts his hand on Takara's thigh. "You're my best friend too. You're the love of my life."
Takara smiles and puts her hand on top of Neji's. "I love you Neji."
"I love you too," Neji says. "Do you want to come with me to get my stuff?"
"Sure," Takara says.
Neji stands up and offers Takara his hand. Takara smiles and takes his hand and she stands up. When they walk to the door, they hear a knock. Neji and Takara stop walking and look at the door.
"I wonder who that could be?" Takara asks.
Takara then goes up to her door and looks through the peephole. Takara then screams. Neji gets in a pose as if he's ready to fight.
"What's wrong?!" Neji asks.
"How is that even possible?!" Takara asks while shaking.
Neji uses his byakugan. Then he sees who's behind the door.
"Are... you serious?" Neji asks in pure shock.
Takara slowly reaches toward the door knob while shaking.
Takara has her hand on the door knob and she is still shaking. Then, there is another knock at the door. Takara takes a deep breath and slowly opens the door. Takara's heart beat is beating crazy fast and feels her blood go cold. Then... the door opens.
"Hey Takara, can I talk to you?" asks the person behind the door.
"S- Sure... Leiji."