Pretear Fan Fiction ❯ Field Full of Daisies ❯ Maki�s Out ( Chapter 6 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Field Full Of Daisies- Maki's Out

Kagura watched TV for a while with Himeno so she wouldn't seem suspicious before heading directly up to her room. As soon as she got up there, Kagura sat at her desk and tore the letter open.

HEY KAGI BABY! It's Psy! How are ya?

Kagura sighed. She was always one to be happy when she should be serious. Then continued reading.

You and your sister doing good? I hope so! And I saw you on the news miss `tryin to keep a low profile'. So who was the blonde you showed up to that school thingy with? Hot! Does he have a brother? And if you're wondering if Maki saw it, yeah. He did. First he thought he was going crazy so he made me Google it. I knew if I didn't find it or something that looked just like it, he'd fucking cut me! I'm sorry. But don't you just love Google. It's like you don't even need a dictionary anymore. Just Google it. Wanna find out when the Americans are gonna try and invade Japan too? Google it! Lord knows their business is all over the internet already. Can't keep anything a secret. By the way, you better torch this letter after you're done reading it. I don't want to go getting myself killed because I helped you. Which reminds me. He gets out at the end of this week Saturday. K? I taped you a present on the back! I'll mail you again if something happens!

Talk to you LATER KNOCTERN!

Kagura smiled sadly. Her friend was quite the lively one. She missed her already. But the fact that she could be so happy when delivering such bad news made Kagura wan to laugh and cry at the same time. Crying…it'd be her first time since…that night. She turned the paper over and tore the photo on the back off. It was a picture of her, Psy, and Berserk. It only made her feel worse. Things were great then. That was the only time she was every really…happy. Kagura never smiled the same after she left. Each smile she had now was either sarcastic, for someone else, or because she was hiding something. Himeno came upstairs and opened Kagura's door.

“Hey Kagura. The Ayanami's invite…ed…” Himeno trailed off when she saw Kagura quickly try to hide something. “What's that-“

“You were saying?”

“…The Ayanami's invited us over for dinner. Their mother over cooked.”

“I'll be out in a minute,” she smiled.

Himeno just frowned at her. “What are you hiding?”

“I'm not hiding it. Just keeping my personal business out of your nosy vision.”

“Hmph. Be that way. I'll just tell them to start eating without you then.” Himeno stuck her tongue out at Kagura before smirking and closing the door. Kagura sat there for a while before her stomach growled.

“Shut up,” she muttered to herself. The girl got up from her seat, stuck the picture in her mirror, then went down stairs to burn the letter over the stove.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllll

“We'll be moving onto a new book this month,” the teacher smiled. She walked around and passed them out. “I think you'll like this one…or at least the girls anyway. It's one of my favorites.”

“…You've got to be kidding me.”

“But I'm not. Kaoru Awayuki is the best novelist in all Japan and this is his best selling novel.”

“Was the best selling novelist in all Japan,” Kyoko smirked. She tossed the book back down onto her desk. “He's just a washed up novelist who went and got himself in a car accident.”

Himeno glanced over at Kagura. Her expression was hidden by the fact that she had her face tucked away in her arms on the desk. She knew Kagura hated their father, but she still tended to attack other people who made fun of him anyway. To her, she hated him enough for the rest of the world, so it only made her want to take her anger out on people who reminded her of how pathetic her father is. I know I'm angry too but at least I'm staying calm.

“Then his poor children were orphaned. Poor things probably couldn't show their faces in public ever again after that.”

Kagura stood up too fast for Himeno to notice. “You DIE now.”

“Kagura don't!” Himeno stood up and dragged her out of the room. “Excuse us for a moment.”

“Let me GO!” There were some muffled shouts heard, followed by paper tearing, the sound of slamming, a loud thud, then ending in glass breaking. The door opened again and the two walked to their seats. “I'm fine now. What were we doing again?”

Both girl's hair was messed up and their clothes, jumbled. Outside in the hall…it looked like animals stampeded through it. And the hall glass window was broken. “Sorry for interrupting,” Himeno apologized. She usually doesn't put up that much of a fight. She must be angry about something else.

“…Okay…For all of the people here who are on the kendo team, and going for that match in Yokohama, it'll be your responsibility to get the book read over the weekend when you're gone.”

Himeno smiled. I've already read all Dads books. All I have to do is flip through it to refresh my memory. Then just focus on my match.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllll

“It's alright Sanma! Go already! Have fun.”

“O-Okay. If y-you say so.” Sanma got in the car with Ayanami and the two drove off. It was Friday after school already. The week had gone by so fast and Maki would be getting out tomorrow. Sanma and Ayanami were driving out to Yokohama to watch the kendo match. Usually Ayanami would go to see Hayate fight while Sasame watched the house but now Himeno was going too. Kagura didn't want to ride with Ayanami alone so she convinced Sanma that she could watch the house. Though, with no one to cook for her, she was stuck eating the food Ayanami pre-cooked in the fridge. Kagura walked inside and changed out of her uniform before going to knock on the neighbor's door.

“Kagura? Don't tell me you're hungry already?” he said with a small smirk on his face.

“What's that supposed to mean?” she asked with a strong trace of annoyance in her voice.

“I'm just kidding. So what is it?”

“…What? You're not going to offer for me to come in? Are you usually this rude to your guests?”

Sasame looked a little surprised for a moment, then stepped aside. “Would you like to come in?” Sasame smiled.

“No I wouldn't. I was just saying, you could have asked.”

Sasame looked at her oddly again. “Then what is it you want?”

“I need a favor. A ride to the bank really. I'd take the bus but it doesn't come for another hour.”

“Uh…okay.” Sasame went to go get his shoes and the two pulled out of the driveway. “Which bank exactly?”

“It's in Shinjuku nearest Tocho. I'll point it out when we get there.”

Sasame paused for a while before mentioning anything. “So you're not going to sit behind the driver's seat this time?” he said with a smirk.

Kagura smirked back only hers seemed to be out of sheer amusement. “Like you'd try anything. I'd hurt you beyond belief.” Before the boy knew it, Kagura had flicked a knife out on him. “Then again, you never can tell with the nice ones. Heh, I'd cut you up and feed you to street dogs to cover it up. Teeth and all.”

“Well wouldn't that be pleasant,” Sasame replied with a nervous smile.

“To be honest? It would. Not for you of course. But then again, that's not my problem.”

llllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Once they arrived after a pretty silent car ride, Kagura insisted he stay in the car. Sasame sat there in the parking lot, wondering why it was that she'd want to come to a place like this. On top of that, why it was that he just agreed to go, no questions asked. It wasn't like she'd give him gas money when they got back. Or at least something as simple as a thank-you. She even threatened me. If I weren't such a nice guy, I'd leave her here. Then again, she'd surely find her way home and I'd be killed with no one at home as a witness. He ran a bored hand through his pale golden hair. It could be worse. I'm still alive aren't I?

Kagura waited in her office until an older man with raven hair entered the room. He held a pleasant smile on his face. “Ah! The girl with the beautiful hair. I do indeed remember you! Last time you were here, you were with a young man, yes?”

“Yes, that was me,” Kagura smiled back a bit fake.

“You haven't been making any large deposits lately. I rather missed our meetings.”

“You really were kind.” Kagura spoke but she barely remembered the man's face. Last time she saw him, his hair was gray. “So how is my money doing?”

“Very well. Next to a couple other friends of yours, it's been piling up by interest. Did you come to make a deposit.”

“No, I actually came for something else. The man who was here with me before. Maki. I'd like to deny him privilege from accessing my account, remove his name as trustee, and deny him the ability to deposit money into my account. I'd also like Sanma Awayuki Himeno to be able to access the account any time she wants. Got all that?”

“You are not old enough to-“

“I'm seventeen. I was legally aloud to do it last year. So you can't tell me no…”

llllllllllllll(That Friday, earlier in the morning) llllllllllllllll

“Hey Hayate!” Himeno smiled.

Loud woman. “Hey…”

Himeno walked over with her small flower printed duffle bag hanging from her back. She was dressed in white, pink, and pale yellow from head to toe. “You mind if I sit here?” she asked with a grand morning smile.

“It's not my bus. Sit wherever you want.”

Himeno sat beside him and smiled. “Thanks.” Hayate looked up at her, then quickly turned to face the window while muttering a `no problem'. The bus started moving and not once had Hayate made an attempt at small talk. And Himeno was becoming bored. “So, the big captain of the kendo team.”

“Yeah?”

Himeno was a little surprised he even heard her. For a moment, she'd thought he fell asleep with how long he stared out the window without once looking up. “You nervous about your big fight?”

“No. There's a scout coming out but nothing big.”

“Congratulations! You must be really good!”

Hayate looked away from the window and stared at her for a moment. Why's she getting so excited about it?

“What's wrong? There something on my face?”

“Eh? Uh…no. Just that goofy smile that's always there anyway,” he responded before turning back toward the window.

“Goofy? Heh, well I guess I do look that way without noticing huh,” Himeno laughed. “But then again, I guess it's better then frowning all the time.”

“What?”

“Yeah. You barely ever smile at all.”

“What's wrong with that?”

“Ahah! Now you're starting to sound like Kagura.”

“That's not funny! Besides, I've seen Kagura smile all the time. With you anyway.”

“Heh…that's not Kagura smiling. At least not for real anyway. When Onee-chan's really happy she looks way different.”

“Heh, and are you fake smiling too?”

“Nah. The way I look at it, life's to short to waste it being sad and depressed. Not when there's so much good in life too.”

“Well that's a different way to look at it.”

“It's the only way I choose to look at it.”

“…And are you nervous?”

“Huh?”

“About your up coming fight.”

“A little,” she smirked. “Not really of the fight. Just that…so many people are going to be watching.”

“After a couple, you'll get over it,” he smiled.

“Is that a smile Haya-chan! How adorable!” One of his friends from the seat in front laughed at him.

“Shut-up!”

“Hey, Himeno. You two dating now?”

“WHA!” they both shouted at the same time.

“No I'm not dating that tulip-head!”

“Who are you calling tulip-head, BAKA!”

“Aaaah. If a lover's quarrel isn't the loveliest thing you've ever seen.”

There faces went red. “SHUT UP!”

The rest of the bus ride was silent with a few moments of teasing and arguing. Hayate's friend had apparently ruined their moment of getting along. When they got off the bus, the morning was over and the afternoon had just begun. Hayate and Himeno weren't speaking to eachother but every now and again, Himeno would look up at him, thinking he was following her. He won't talk to me but he's stalking me? The rest of the day was filled with last minute practice. Himeno and Tetsu were constantly in a fit of laughter and hung around together most of the day until it was time for them to retire to their rooms for the night.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

I wonder how Hime's doing. The baby can't sleep without me. But, then again, she did say she'd be fine. Kagura dug into her food Sasame had micro-waved for the two. “Thanks.”

“I'm not the cook but no problem.”

“Not for the food. For the car ride. I just sprung it on you, ya' know?”

“It's no problem,” he smiled again. Kagura stared at him for a while. “What's wrong?”

“…You smile too much and it's creeping me out. What's wrong with you?”

“I'm going to get advice from a person who spends her spare time getting on other's nerves.”

“…If you're referring to me then yes. And I don't get on other people's nerves. If they truly didn't want to hear my mouth then they'd ignore you.”

“You mean like I'm trying to do now?”

“Oh, a smart-ass? That's the closest I've gotten to getting a negative emotion out of you yet.”

Sasame started eating before he said anything else. “I'm just not a negative person.”

“That a load of BS. You can't tell me you don't even think mean things.”

“My thoughts are my business.”

“Fine. So let's assume you're perfect. What is it you do? Head of the GMT, learned two different languages outside Japanese, straight A's, school representative, and on top of all that stress inducing work…you're perfectly happy about it.”

“Your point?”

“Well damn, you're good at everything.”

Sasame laughed, almost choking on his food. “Not good at two things really.”

“And what would that be?”

“How to get fan girls to back off sometimes…”

“And…”

“…And how to deal with girls who spend their time insulting me.” He looked up from his food and stared at her and for a moment…she looked surprised. Then a small smirk covered it up.

“Gee, I would have thought that last one was sex but whatever floats your boat.”

Sasame almost choked again. She really does just blurt out what she's thinking.

“You really should chew your food. I don't want you dying on me and it'd be a pain cleaning it up.”

Sasame smiled at her again, noticing that this time the killing comment was a joke. Then he noticed that she almost ran out of food. “You want to watch TV?”

“Eh…I got time to waste.” Sasame grabbed her plate to wash it before she could object. Then the two sat on the sofa and watched TV. They were flipping through channels and talking over the most random things. “Do you mind if I ask-“

“Is it about my being orphaned or my dead parents?” Kagura interrupted.

“Uh…Orphaned.”

“I knew it. Every time someone wants to ask, they always say do you mind if I ask blah blah blah. So go ahead.”

“How long have you been in the ADOC?”

“Since I was eight. I've been watching Himeno ever since then. She really did turn out to be a good kid,” Kagura said in that proud parent manner.

“You say it like you raised her.”

“I did. No one else was going to do it.”

Sasame's smile faded. “You were the same age. So who raised you?”

“I didn't need anyone to. Himeno was too frail. Like a baby who cried and cried forever over trivial things. She needed it more than me.”

“Well that was very noble of you.”

“Yeah.”

Sasame flipped through channels until he halted on the news. “That's right. They're letting that suspected Saint leader out tomorrow. I guess it wasn't him.” Kagura stared at his face on the news. He looked the same. Exactly the same. Dark blue hair, large hazel eyes, like a boyish looking man. The most innocent looking man even considering the fact that it was a mug-shot. “Kagura…w-what's wrong?”

“Huh?” She snapped out of her thoughts and now noticed her face was wet. She was…crying? Sasame tried reaching over to wipe her face with his sleeve but she flinched. “I'm tired so I'll go home now.” Before Sasame could even open his mouth to say anything, she got up and ran out the door. Kagura…

“Stupid, stupid, stupid!” Kagura slammed her bedroom door shut. I have to face it. Psy can't hide me forever. I'm screwed, and so are Himeno and Sanma, maybe the neighbors to if he's really in the mood. If it was just me, there wouldn't be a problem. But…

(flashback)

“You're supposed to color inside the lines, Himeno,” Kagura laughed.

“Why should I? It looks prettier this way,” she pouted.

“That's messy.”

“It still looks better.”

Kagura plopped her head back on their grassy backyard. “I'm bored. And hungry. Where's daddy?”

“Uh…” Himeno sat up and looked around. “I thought I saw him-“

Just then, someone came up from behind them and scooped the two up. “And how are my two favorite daughters doing?” The two just laughed in response. “You girls ready to eat?”

“YEAH!”

(end)

Heh. I guess she's all I have left. I don't want to drag her down with my problems. After all it is my fault this happened anyway. Kagura went toward her closet and dug deep within her bag to pull out a hand gun. “I'll deal with it myself.” She stuck it under her mattress. At least when it gets out of hand anyway…Kagura laid out on her bed thinking about things for a while, and didn't even notice when she fell asleep.

llllllllllll(dreaming) lllllllllllllll

Kagura's eyes opened slowly to the sight of moonlight pouring in through the window beside her bed. There was a lump in the covers beside her. Her eyes went open wide. “Sasame?”

The lump rolled over and she was even more surprised. “Calling me by another man's name? Well I guess I'm going to have to make it so you don't again now won't I?”

lllllllllllll(end) lllllllllllll

“Hey Kagu…ra. You look…tired.”

She dragged herself into his house and sat herself at the table while he micro-waved their food. “Yeah. Nightmares.”

Sasame tried speaking as if nothing last night happened. It would probably only piss her off if he did. Though it struck him as odd that Kagura would have nightmares. She's usually the one causing them. “And what would you have to be afraid of?”

“Perverts and the energizer bunny.”

“…o…k.” Sasame set her plate in front of her and proceeded with heating up his own. “You busy today?”

“Why?”

“I don't know. Just wanted to hang out I guess. Go see a movie or somethin'.”

Kagura's fork paused mid-air and she raised an eyebrow at him from over her shoulder. “You…want to hang out with me? Seriously?”

“What's wrong with that,” he smirked.

She shook her head in amusement. Well I can't laugh at him for making an effort at it. Usually people run. “I was going to spend the day with Yayoi. I know she's bored.”

“Oh. Alright.” He sat at the table, a hint of disappointment in his tone.

Kagura continued eating for a while before opening her mouth to speak again. “Be nice Kagura.” She could literally hear Himeno's voice scolding her within her own mind. “You can come along too. I'm pretty sure Yayoi would enjoy the extra company.”

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

“Yeah, listen,” Hayate began. Himeno looked up at him curiously. “I'm…s-…What I'm trying to say is-“

“I forgive you,” Himeno smiled before going back to fixing her gloves. They were standing on the sidelines, watching team matches and awaiting their turns. “Hey look. It's Tetsu's turn!”

I'd tell her how much of a bastard Tetsu is but she wouldn't believe me. Or worse, she'd get the wrong idea. “Woohoo,” he answered in a sarcastic manner. After Tetsu's victory, he turned to where the rest of the team stood and winked at the girl. Her face practically turned the same shade as her hair. After Tetsu stepped down, it was Hayate's turn. A well anticipated fight to. The crowd cheered for him.

“That's my son!” Ayanami shouted. “YOU CAN DO IT HAYA! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!” The rest of the team laughed.

GOD! She comes every year just to embarrass me! He gave her and Sanma who sat in the stands a feeble wave before focusing his attention on the fight at hand.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

“A-A-Ayanami-sama-“

“You can call me Sasame. You speak to me as if you've never seen me before,” he smiled.

“Right.” Yayoi shut the door behind her.

“Look on the bright side. We drag him around but we get a free ride in the process,” Kagura joked.

She would be one to say that. “Well I couldn't have you ladies take the bus.”

“You really are too kind,” Yayoi smiled. Sasame smiled back.

Kagura was already in the passenger seat. “You two stop with all that before I throw up.”

They drove out to the Kogo movie theater. “So what do you girls want to see?”

“Nothing scary,” Yayoi shuddered. Kagura just stood there, not really caring. “I know! That!” Yayoi pointed.

“W…well…I guess we could watch that…if no one has any objections,” Sasame replied, giving Kagura a hopeful stare.

“I really don't care. It's just another excuse for me to nap in public,” she shrugged. Sasame held in his sigh and they walked in.

“Stop drinking on the job,” clerk whispered harshly. “That ass of a manager might see you.”

“No one's coming in today anyway. It's empty. We always have slow days during that stupid tournament. All the people are gone.”

“JIN!”

The boy jumped off the counter immediately after his name was shouted. “Shit-“

“This is the FIFTH time this week I've caught you drinking. Take your beer and get out. You're fired,” the theater manager ordered. Jin waited for the man to walk out of sight again, before he laughed.

“I never wanted this job anyway. My big brother said I should.”

“Didn't he get arrested?”

“Yeah. And he tells me I should get a job. Heh.” When his co-worker walked out of sight to rip tickets for three people that just walked in, he took his beer he barely drank, and poured it out into the lemonade tank. Oops. Heh, not like it's my problem anyway. I'm going to go get another beer. “Later man,” he waved. The clerk walked back behind the counter and Jin walked passed the three on his way out. That is, until he bumped into someone. “Watch where the fuck you're going, woman.”

“After you.”

“What'd you say to me?”

“Is it really that difficult to understand or are you foreign to this country?”

Jin snatched her up by the arm and Kagura just let him, staring at him with the same placid expression she walked in with. Have I seen her somewhere before…? “Listen smartass-“

“That'll be enough of that,” Sasame smiled. He squeezed the space between the man's shoulder and neck, causing his arm to go numb. It dropped away from Kagura's arm to his side.

Kagura and Sasame ignored Jin and continued to follow behind Yayoi who had been too excited to notice any of it. “Acupuncture? You study it? Heh, I don't think I want you walking behind me anymore.”

Sasame smiled down at her. “I don't know if you're joking or serious but by now I've stopped caring. And you're welcome for the help.”

Kagura looked up at his smiling face for a while. “I think I sense a little irritation in your voice.”

“Why would I be irritated?” After all. I could have just let you get beat up. But that's not important to her. I don't really know why I expected a thanks anyway.

“Just a guess. Maybe I'm wrong. It's not like I needed your help anyway.”

Jin shook his numb arm around for a while and shouted out a few profanities. After he realized he was being ignored, he stormed out. I won't even consider trying to fight with my arm like this. It should ware-off in a while.

“What do you girls want?”

Kagura pulled a wallet out of her pocket. “I'll pay for it.”

Sasame was about to object in how rude it would be if he didn't…but then he noticed the I.D inside when she opened it. “Kagura, you didn't…”

“He bumped into to me. It's not my fault his wallet just happened to fall into my hands by accident too.” Yayoi looked up at Kagura but decided against saying anything. It wouldn't have made a difference anyway. “Boy, this guy's loaded. I wonder what he does for a living,” she laughed. “I want two orders of nachos extra cheese and a large lemonade.”

“I'll take the same,” Sasame sighed. This is illegal. I know. I just hope I don't get blamed in my afterlife.

“I want popcorn and a bottle of water.”

llllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Hayate dried his hair off for the last time and put on his black V-neck T-shirt and listened to the other guys talk about girls from school. “Kari's pretty cute.”

“She's a freshman moron! Geez, you'll be off to college while she's stuck here for another three years. Plus, you'll be wanting to sleep with her way before she'll even be thinking about it. Kari's a daddy's little girl anyway. And I've seen her dad. Stay away from her.”

“Heh, yeah, whatever. But you can't tell me Mimi's not a cutey.”

The boy slapped his friend over the head. “What's wrong with you? You have a freshman fetish or somethin'? Now me. I want a woman. Like Kyoko for instance.”

“She's shallow and easy.”

“I never said I'd marry her now did I?” Then he turned his attention to the disturbed looking Hayate, seated on the locker bench with a towel over his head. “Hey Haya-chan!”

“…don't call me that.”

“So you got any girls on your mind? Eh? Your dear tulip-head?” he teased.

“SHUT IT!” he shouted with a red face.

“OOOOoo, you're blushing. You really do like her don't you? I don't blame you. She's pretty cute.”

“I said SHUT IT!”

“Yeah, but that sister of hers is such a bitchy little devil. How can someone as nice as Himeno stand to be with her?”

Hayate sighed out of frustration. “You shouldn't judge people on things you don't know anything about.”

“Oh, well excuuuuse me. Heh. Although I'd have to admit. With a dress and a smile every now and then, she'd be pretty hot.”

Hayate's breathe caught in his throat for a moment before he burst into laughter. That would be like turning Kagura inside out. You might as well date Himeno because that's as close as you'll get to lady-like Kagura in your lifetime. “Even with the smile and the dress.” He paused to laugh again. “There's still that personality you'd have to get over. You wouldn't get her if you tried!” he continued laughing.

“Take it easy. We don't want our captain dying of insane laughter on us.”

Tetsu interrupted with a calm tone that seemed to bring down the high in the room a bit. “I think I've taken a liking to Himeno. She's quite…amusing.”

“Ah! Don't even bother. We all know what you look for in girls and that one's a little too innocent for you.”

Tetsu laughed. “Maybe. But it never hurts to try.”

Hayate looked up and glared at the man. The grin on his face made him want to throw up. Kagura's right in a way. Most men are perverts…

llllllllllllllllllllllllllll

“That was such a beautiful ending!” Yayoi cheered as the two walked out of the theater.

“If I ever see anything so stupid ever again I'll puke.” Kagura frowned before she tripped onto the floor.

“Kagura! Are you alright?” Yayaoi asked. The girl fell flat on her face. Sasame helped her up, almost tipping over himself in the process. Now this really surprised Yayoi because usually Sasame was so…graceful.

Kagura snatched her arm away from Sasame, obviously embarrassed, and rubbed her nose. “I'm fine.” What the hell's wrong with me? They got in the car and drove off.

lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

Sasame came to a screeching halt in front of Yayoi's house. The blonde jumped out of the car and ran into the house at lightening speed, throwing a quick `good-bye' to the two still in the car. “I wonder what her problem is…” Sasame scratched the back of his head. On the way here they had side-swiped a mailbox, knocked over a trashcan, and almost ran into five cars, one parked.

“I want to do that again!” Kagura laughed. She was obviously out of it.

Sasame drove them home. “You hungry?”

“Yeah.” Sasame fumbled with his keys at the door while Kagura stood there, staring at him. “Open the damn door already.”

“I'm trying-got it.” He pushed the door open and closed it behind them. Kagura stared at him while he lazily threw the food in the microwave and sat down at the table, almost missing the chair in the process. “What?”

“A-…I was going to say something…but I forgot,” Kagura laughed.

“What's so funny?”

“I don't know,” she replied between laughs.

llllllllllllllllllllllllllllll

“O…god my head hurts.” Kagura muttered. Her face pressed against something soft. It only brought back a fond memory. Maki? She smiled…then frowned. Quickly, she rolled over and hit the floor with a loud thump. Her eyes now sprung wide open as she looked around. She was in Sasame's living room. What the hell am I still doing here? I can't really remember much…I was watching TV…I must have fallen asleep and tipped over into his lap. (Note: Kagura finished off all the lemonade, Sasame didn't drink as much.) Kagura rubbed her head where she fell. Now her headache was just aggravated. And to top it off…there was someone coming into the house. O crap…

llllllllllll(yesterday afternoon) llllllllllllll

Jin shook his arm after a while. The feeling had returned to his arm, hand, fingers, and momentarily, it had hurt. He stood within the living room of his brother's new house. Berserk left earlier that day, he was told, to go visit his family. Jin sat down while all Psy could do was laugh. “So who did this to you?”

“Some blonde bastard at the movies.”

“You would have never had it happen to you if you would have kept your damn job,” Maki spoke. He was seated on the sofa, along with Koriko, while Psy poked at Jin's arm.

“I could just take that leader position you're looking to fill.”

“Not going to happen.” Maki's eyes never left the television screen to look at his angry brother.

“But-“

“I said no. If you can't even be responsible enough to keep a job, then what makes you think you'll do any better with me.”

Jin growled in his throat before turning to get something to eat out of Maki's fridge. He ran a rigid hand through his jet-black hair and reached in for the sandwich Maki left in there for himself. “When are you going to stop dying your hair,” Koriko laughed. “You don't like looking like your older brother.”

“Bite me.”

“But you look so much like him,” Psy giggled. Then she pinched his cheek like he were five years old. “Sooooo cute!”

Jin slapped her hand away. “Stop it!”

“A hair color like that is so rare and you go and ruin it,” Psy pouted.

“So what? You dyed your hair purple.”

“Because it suits me,” she smiled.

“You really do behave like a child. Odd woman.”

“Where's the money you were supposed to bring me to get my car out of the towing lot?” Maki asked, finally looking up at his brother.

“Oh, I got that here.”

“Is that my sandwich? God dammit I told you to stop eating my food. Make your own.”

Jin reached into his right pocket, then his left. He even checked the back. Then it occurred to him. “That bitch…”

Maki stood up. “What? What's wrong?”

“At the Cineplex in the Kogo shopping center. On my way out I bumped into this woman. She must have lifted my wallet.”

“You let my money get stolen!”

“I didn't notice she took it. I got pissed at her for bumping into me and that's when blondie messed up my arm. Must have been her boyfriend or somethin'.”

“I don't care about your fucking arm---…” Maki sighed and rested a hand on Jin's shoulder. “Just tell me what they looked like.”

“The blonde guy was about your height, a little shorter maybe, definitely younger than you. The woman that took my wallet had like…freaky red hair. Dyed it probably. And her eyes were…weird. Burning red. Younger than you too.” After Jin was done…everyone in the room stared at him. “What?”

“Burning…red?” Koriko asked.

Psy froze. O god O god O god O god

Maki reached down in a kitchen drawer and pulled out a picture. “Was this her?”

Jin looked at him oddly, then looked down at the picture. That same woman again, seated in Maki's lap, smiling at the camera. She was dressed in Saint attire and the tattoo on her chest read Knoctern. “O shit. I thought she was dead. I never really hung around her too much so no wonder I didn't recognize her. Kinda hot.”

Maki smacked his younger brother over the head before laughing at him. “Watch it.”

“What? You killed her, or at least tried to, so you must not like her that much.”

Maki restrained himself because that was his brother. “You have a point.” You're wrong…but you have a point. Besides, I should have known she wouldn't die that easily. Walking into the lion's den, knowing the punishment for leaving, without having a plan to get out of it. That was stupid on my part…but…this is good. “Everyone out. I have something I need to do.”

“Ah, alright. Later,” Koriko got up and Psy followed her out.

Maki picked up the cordless phone then paused to stare at his brother who still stood in the middle of the kitchen eating his sandwich. Jin didn't notice for a while, then looked back at him. “Oh, me too?”

“Uh-huh.”

Jin sighed and walked out. “Wait Psy! I need a ride!”

Maki locked the door after they left. Then he dialed the number to call someone. “Mimi…hey baby…how soon can you come over?”