Fan Fiction ❯ Chosen ❯ Midori ( Chapter 5 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chosen...
Author: Byakko Rei


Chapter 5
Midori

Midori's flight to New York City took her physically away from Tokyo and her empty home, but distance couldn't remove the ache of Yuriko's loss. A note. Just a bloody, hasty note saying she was leaving with Kishi for the Middle East! Why hadn't Yuriko made the effort to say goodbye in person? She closed her eyes, tuned out the noise of people tittering around her and listened instead to the drone of the trans continental aircraft's jet engines. Her mind sifted through the events that had taken place about a month ago....

A well known producer had contacted Midori about making a movie from her latest novel and negotiations had taken her out of town for a week. She had called that morning to let Yuriko know she would be home for dinner, but when she arrived, she found an empty apartment and a scrawled message tacked to the refrigerator that said:

Midori, I'm sorry I couldn't be here for
your homecoming, but my flight leaves at
four this afternoon. Kishi's current film
has taken our crew unexpectedly to the
Middle East for about a month. When I find
out where we are staying, I will send for
you. Please don't worry; we aren't filming
where the conflicts have been taking place.
Congrats on landing a movie deal. I hope I
can be your heroine! :P

Yuriko :)

PS. I made us a casserole for dinner.
PSS. I love you and miss you already!

Midori put what her mate had fixed into the oven to heat, then settled tiredly on the couch to wait. She turned on the television to watch the six o'clock news. The focus seemed to be on a flight that had been en route to Israel. It had apparently been shot down by terrorists and there were no survivors. Midori's heart thumped hard in her chest as the flight's passenger manifest scrolled along a blue strip at the bottom part of the TV screen like stock market quotes. Her heart stopped as she saw Yuriko and Kishi's names crawl slowly across. When the initial shock wore off, Midori screamed into the couch pillow until she had no more voice.

During the days that followed, Midori didn't shower, didn't eat, barely drank and didn't leave the house. The apartment became as unkempt as she was... and she didn't give a damn. She wore Yuriko's clothes, fondled Yuriko's possessions and slept with Yuriko's picture.

Mariko had come over to practically hand feed her once a day and to lend what measure of comfort she could. In truth, though, Mariko was in as much pain as she was. Yuriko had been Mariko's best friend and partner in crime since early childhood. When Midori showed no signs of recovering from the depression after a month, Mariko finally suggested that the grieving author go to NYC for a change in scenery. She had the address of Yuriko's perky red-headed friend, Shannon, and was sure it would be all right for Midori to stay with her for a while. The brunette also offered to keep up the apartment in her absence. So here she was....

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Shannon met Midori at the airport terminal with a friendly smile and a helping hand with the luggage. The New Yorker held onto her guest's elbow and steered the slender Japanese woman through the throngs of people. She lead Midori out to a small blue car in the airport's parking garage. The two strangers lapsed into long awkward silences between comments about the scenery as Shannon expertly navigated her way around the city's congested streets. In about an hour they were parked in another garage under an apartment complex.

Shannon's one bedroom apartment was cozy without looking cluttered and Midori warmed to her host almost instantly. She plunked her luggage down next to the couch and looked at it longingly. She couldn't decide which she wanted more; real food... or a bed.

Shannon hadn't missed Midori's tired glance at the divan. "Make yourself at home! The bathroom's the first door on the right," she informed her guest, pointing towards the hallway, "go ahead and soak in the tub if you want to. I'm going to fix us some dinner... do you have a craving for anything?" The red-head asked with a grin. "Peanuts?" Shannon inquired impishly.

The travel weary woman wore a blank expression for a moment before shaking her head 'no', then headed for the bathroom.

When Midori emerged from the shower, the tantalizing aroma of steak and vegetables wafted through the air. She dressed herself in a red silk nightgown, threw a house coat over it, then addressed her long black hair. By the time she was finished the food was, too.

Dinner was filled with small talk while the women got to know one another. Midori thought the food was delicious, and though she ate only small amount, she was stuffed. Shannon allowed Midori to help with the clean up process, and in doing so, showed her guest where everything was in the kitchen.

Shannon could see that Midori was fading fast. "I've put fresh linens on the bed for you, why don't you turn in?" When her guest looked hesitant she added, "Don't feel like you need to keep me company, Midori. I have a few things I need to get done tonight for work tomorrow. I'd probably end up ignoring you anyway." Shannon smiled at her ruefully and winked.

Midori gave her a grateful look and headed for the bedroom. She looked around at the knick knacks, pictures, books... and manga. There was an old three by five photo of Yuriko holding Shannon in her arms on top of the chest of drawers, partially obscured by a collectable Sailor Mars action figure on a stand. Midori choked. 'I can't stay in here,' she thought with a pang. She ran out of the room close to tears. "Shannon, may I sleep on your couch, please?" she entreated hoarsely.

Shannon was puzzled for a moment, then understood. 'Oh goddess... poor thing!' She could have kicked herself for not going through her mementos and removing the ones of Yuriko and herself. "Of course you may, sweetie... I'll have it ready for you in a jiffy," she answered contritely.

The next day, to Midori's delight, she found that the office of one of her American consultants was only a block away and contacted him. She knew her arrangement with Shannon was temporary, but while she was there, she might as well contribute financially... plus it would give her mind something to do.

Somewhere between Shannon's kindness and patience, Mr. Cromwell's temporary projects to keep her busy, and the new surroundings... Midori slowly began to rejoin the human race. The thoughts of Yuriko had become less agonizing and had slowly begun to be replaced by a dull, lonely ache.

Midori was on her way home from Mr. Cromwell's office rather late one evening when she observed a group of boisterous male teenagers loitering near the local cinema entrance on the street corner. She crossed the street to avoid them, but was spotted anyway.

Midori's heart hammered painfully in her chest as she saw the youths cross the street after her, and when she sped up, the boys did too. She was officially petrified when the teenagers surrounded her and prodded her roughly into an unlit one-way street. She screamed repeatedly as her clothes were torn off and the largest of the lot mounted her. Two other teens had 'a turn' before she heard a shout from a passerby and police car sirens.

All but one disgusting, smelly, street urchin she hadn't noticed before remained as the police stomped loudly past. This one seemed more desperate than the others, and kept hissing at her hoarsely through thick, cracked lips as he tried to grab hold of her. It seemed like the fellow said ''ere we go'... but whatever was uttered sounded enough like 'Yuriko' that Midori's fragile mind just... snapped.

"Yuriko's dead," she shrieked as she pounded her assailant's face with her fists. She took advantage of the shock on his dirty mug and groped with her right hand for the small switchblade she had started carrying around with her. "Even if she were alive now, I never want to see her again... " Midori yelled and grunted once as she stabbed the straddled youth in the side under the ribcage. "This happened because of *her*!" she screamed.

The filthy boy's emaciated torso fell forward on top of her, and as it did, something felt oddly soft and familiar about it. Midori dropped the knife and her hands shook as she cradled the dying boy's head. She lifted it so she could have a better look. Horror filled her being when she saw the abject sorrow etched into the visage of her only beloved. Midori's keening cries echoed between the buildings and faded only as her own life's blood pooled away from her body....


To be continued....