Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Sukuru Deizu ❯ Chapter Ten ( Chapter 10 )

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

Jun looked at her and nodded. "Hi," he said softly. He wasn't certain what to say. What could he say? Thanks for getting me out of there, please try not to focus too much on the part where my dad beat me? Closing his eyes, he leaned his head against his pillow. "You didn't have to come," he whispered.

Anna walked over to him and sat on the bed next to him. "Yes I did. It was the right thing to do. And my family knows that it's going to be a rough road because I came for you. But...Jun...I made you a promise. I told you I would catch you," she said. She moved her hands over his bruised face. "But, you can't go back, Jun. I hope you know that." She pulled back and smiled. Reaching into her pocket she pulled out a magic marker. "I'm going to be the first one to sign your cast."

He looked down at his arm and nodded. He didn't say anything else. How could he? Because of him, because he had allowed himself to be put into that position her and her family was going to suffer. "I...will do what I have to so that your family won't have to pay for this."

"No, you will come stay with me and my family while the police deal with this. The reports are swarming the place and I've told them you won't be speaking. But both Rei and I have told the police everything we know and they have enough to arrest your father." She started writing on his cast. "My father says that this will be all over T.V. and the papers by tomorrow morning. I'm sorry that you will have to deal with that."

On his cast she wrote, "Don't be afraid to fall when my arms will find a way to soften the blow. Forever, Anna."

She smiled at him. "You'll get to leave soon." Her smile slowly faded and she moved closer to him. "Jun...I want you to know...I'm not doing this because I feel like I owe you. I'm doing this because it's right and I know in my heart that you would do the same for me." She reached out and grabbed his hand. "Jun, I'll always be here for you. Even when you don't want me to."

Jun rubbed his eyes. So the whole world was going to know soon. He was certain that his father was already working on some way to push this under the rug if not dispel it completely. Tomorrow he'd have to face the music one way or another. "Okay." He looked at her. She had only known him a short time yet she'd already managed to turn his world upside down.

The doctor came in and Anna pulled her hand from him. The doctor said Jun could leave and Anna stood. "I'll meet you outside your door. Rei's family is here. Her father is worried. He thinks he might lose his job because Rei helped me get you out. But..." she smiled, "he's so very proud of her, Jun." She walked out and pulled the door shut so Jun could get dressed. She looked over at her Dad who was coming her way.

"Your mother will be here later tonight." He cupped Anna's face. "You scared the hell out of me, Anna. But I'm so proud of you. You were very brave."

Anna smiled. "Dad, I did it because you told me to do the right thing."

Jun got dressed slowly. His body ached and he was having a hard time doing anything with the blasted cast on. When he finally did manage to get his pants buttoned, he then pulled down the sleeves of his shirt as far over the cast as possible. If there were reporters out there he didn't want them seeing it. Slowly he exited the room, looking rather nervous. He wasn't in his element. He wasn't in control; and for once he didn't know what to do.

"Jun!" Reisha collided with him as soon as she saw him. "I'm sorry I didn't do anything earlier. I'm sorry."

"It's...okay, Rei," Jun said. Gently patting her back with his free hand. Clearing his throat, he looked over at Mr. Green and Anna. Taking a deep breath he bowed to them. "I apologize for the inconvenience this has put upon your family. I will do my best to rectify this situation so that you will not suffer for it."

Anna pulled his chin up until he was standing straight. "We are American's, Jun. Bowing isn't needed."

"And neither are apologizes," her father said. "I'm just sorry I didn't know soon. I would have gotten you out there sooner." He took off his coat and put it around Jun. "This will help shield you from the reporters until we get you to the car."

Anna grabbed his hand. "I'll be with you every step of the way, Jun," she said softly and they started walking out. Rei stood next to Anna with her parents and Anna's father had an arm securely around Jun as they stepped out into the massive crowd of reporters.

Jun tensed. The moment they stepped out of the hospital there were people everywhere. He was almost blinded by the lights as they tried to take pictures of him. He froze, unable to move as questions came at him from all sides.

Reisha nudged his arm, helping to guide him from the reporters as they formed a shield around him. All the while she rubbed his back. She didn't know what was worse for him being abused or being humiliated like this.

Anna's arm was being tugged. They asked her question after question while she kept saying "no comment." Anna and Reisha got Jun in her father's car and Anna moved to the other side to get in. Her father had to push them off her long enough for her to crawl in. Finally they were all in. Anna told Reisha she would call her and her father drove away.

Anna watched as the reporters disappeared. She took a deep breath.

"Your mother and I have decided that you and Jun can skip a few days of school to let this die down a bit. I know how dedicated you are to your studies so I had Aki send over yours and Jun's school work," her father said as they drove.

"Thank you, Dad," Anna said while looking out the window.

Jun was quiet as they drove. He watched the reporters disappear in the distance, and he was finally able to relax for a little bit. He just wasn't certain what he was going to do now. His life hadn't been perfect, but that was all he knew; and he had been alright with it. Looking over at Anna, he tried to smile, but he honestly didn't feel like it. Not right now.

After arriving home, Anna took Jun's things to her room. "We don't have an extra bedroom, so you'll be staying in my room and I will be bunking on the couch," she said smiling. "Dad's cooking dinner. It's another American dish so if you don't like it, don't be afraid to say so." She started unpacking his clothes and hanging them in her closet. "My mother will be home much later tonight. She's excited to meet you. She's very loving and doting so most likely you will be waited on hand and foot when she arrives." She turned to him with a sweet smile. "But that's what mother's do."

As he sat on the bed she grabbed some medical cream off her dresser and sat next to him. "My mother makes this herself. It's why it works so well. She has a knack for homemade remedies." Anne opened the top and put her fingers in the soft, cold cream then gently began moving it over his face.

Jun winced slightly as she began to rub the cream on his face. She seemed so comfortable being close to him and touching him. Another American custom presumably. "I don't wish to be a burden," he told her. "I will gladly sleep on the couch. I don't want to take your bed from you."

"I don't mind, Jun. Stop acting as if you owe me something. It's rather annoying. Just relax. You're safe and you're going to be fine," she said smiling. Her hands worked over his cheeks lightly. "Don't be afraid to ask for something while you are here. The fridge is always open and if you need something we don't have, say so. We can get it, ok?" she said and pulled back. "There, all done."

Jun nodded. Not because he was actually agreeing with what she said, but simply because he didn't want to bother her. He wasn't accustomed to people worrying about him or over him. It was weird. When she finished with his face, he gave her a small smile. "Thank you. For everything I mean." It was more then he deserved.

"Sure," she said and stood. "You can relax up here or watch T.V. with me downstairs while Dad finishes dinner."

There was a moment of indecisiveness. He wanted to be alone, but he didn't want to seem ungrateful either. "I'll watch tv with you," he told her. Taking off her dad's jacket he wrapped it over his cast. "Besides, I need to give your dad back this and thank him."

Anna smiled and walked down stairs. Her father already had the T.V. on.

"Anna," he said and nodded to the screen.

Anna looked at it. The news was on and the reporter was talking about Anna. "According to resources, an American girl, Anna Green, broke down Jun Higarashi's door with a table and her bare hands." Anna looked at her hands. She washed the blood off hours ago. They weren't so bad. "She apparently banged on the door screaming loud enough for the Higarashi's neighbors to hear. We had the pleasure of speaking to them and they could account for the fact that Ms. Green beforehand yelled and banged on the front door until Mr. Higarashi let her in where she proceeded inside to find the younger Mr. Higarashi. The young girl refused to leave without him and with her heroic nature, she and a friend, Reisha Miyamoto, were able to get him to a hospital. We haven't gotten a statement from Ms. Green yet but we will keep you informed as the story progresses."

Anna grabbed the remote and changed the channel. "They make me sound like some crazy hero. They didn't even mention the fact that Jun was nearly killed by his own father."

Jun set Mr. Green's coat on the back of a chair. "Thank you for letting me borrow this." He was about to say something else when he heard the television. Looking at it, he paled slightly. When Anna made her comment, he looked at her. "My dad's handiwork," he told her. "By tomorrow, if he has his way they'll have all forgotten this."

Anna fisted her hands. "I won't let them forget. I'm going to fight him until I don't have the breath to do so anymore," she said coldly.

"Anna, I don't want you doing anything rash. Let the cops handle it." He turned to Jun. "And Jun, I was hoping to talk to you about emancipation."

"Dad! He just got out of the hospital!" Anna yelled.

Her dad held up his hand. "Jun's father has already started getting his way. In order to protect Jun from being forced to go back to him, he needs to seriously think about getting emancipated. Unless his father gives up the rights to him, Jun has no choice but to be emancipated in order to protect himself."

"I wouldn't even know how to go about doing that," Jun told them. "But I don't think that it will matter. All my father has to do is flash some cash and anyone will turn down my plea." Looking at both of them, he just shrugged. "It's no problem though. If I do have to go back to him, that's just the way things will be. He's not home a lot, so it will be okay." He didn't want them to worry about him so much, but it didn't look like he was going to able to convince them otherwise.

"You're father isn't the only one with contacts, Jun. Aki had a lawyer friend that I've already spoken to. He's drawing up the papers now. All you have to do is sigh it and I have agreed to help you until you are able to get your own place. It's just something to think about, Jun. But there is no rush for you to leave here. You are more than welcome to stay here for as long as you would like,"

Anna looked at Jun. "You can't go back to him. No matter what you say or think about it, living with that man is not ok. It's not safe." She moved him to sit with her on the couch while her father continued to cook. "If you get emancipated, you can stay here and you won't have to worry about your father. You can live your life the way you want to."

"Only one problem with the emancipation," Jun told her. "If I do become emancipated, that means that I won't have access to my father's money. I'd be broke and homeless." That wasn't exactly something that he was looking forward to. He didn't exactly spend a lot of money, but money still made the world go round. He would need to find or do something if he even began to consider this crazy plan.

"You have a home here, Jun," Anna's dad called. "For as long as you want it. Anna's mother and I already talked about it. Having someone here to keep Anna company while we are gone would be nice and we have plenty of money for an extra member."

Anna smiled at Jun. "What other excuses can you come up with now, Jun?"

"I can think of quite a few," Jun told her. Now wasn't the time to get into this. He was still rather, well ill from all of this. He wanted to know what his father was doing now. What measures was he taking to ensure that this never made it into anything more then speculation? What lies was he spreading about Anna's family? All of these thoughts made him slightly sick, even as he watched the familiar sitcom on the television.

"Dinner's ready." Anna and Jun got to the table while Anna's father put spaghetti on the table. "If you don't like it, Jun, I don't mind making you sushi."

"I'm certain that it will be wonderful," Jun told him. Even if he didn't like it he wasn't going to tell them. He wasn't going to let them go out of their way for him. He took the fork and following their examples, he spun the noodles around on the fork before tasting it. Just like the pancakes, they were better than he had predicted. He was starting to understand why Reisha was so addicted to American food.

After dinner, Anna's father gave them ice cream. Anna went upstairs and changed into her pajamas then joined Jun on the couch after putting her hair and in ponytail. Anna's father went upstairs to make a few calls about work. Anna looked over at Jun while they ate their ice cream. "I know this is a lot for you, Jun. I know that you think you are putting us out. But I want you to know that a few years back one of my other friend's mother beat her and...I didn't do anything about it. I helped her hid the bruises and cover the cuts, but I didn't do anything else. By the time she told someone about it, she had both her legs broken and her collar bone was shattered. I felt so guilty because I could have prevented that if I had just told someone." She looked him dead in the eyes. "I won't let your father get away with this. I'll keep talking about it. I'll keep telling people. I'll fight for you, Jun."

Jun looked at her, his cheek flushing slightly. "I'll be okay, Anna. You don't have to fight for me," he assured her. "I really wish that you didn't get involved in this. Dad...he's not so bad. I mean, this is the first time he actually broke something." He tried to laugh at that, but it just sort of came off hollow.

Looking at her he did try to smile. "I know I may not seem grateful. I am, really. You're the first person to stick their neck out for me. Thank you." He let his fingers wrap around her hand, well, as much as his cast would allow. "I hope that I get to return to favor someday."

"If you want to return the favor, sign those papers and get yourself out. You're better than he is, Jun. You have a good heart," she said. Her heart was pounding so hard. It was the first time her grabbed her hand. She took a deep breath. "And everyone needs someone to be on their side. So I'll be on yours and I'll fight with you. Even if you don't want me to. Like I said, you're stuck with me."

Jun chuckled slightly at this. "Yes, it appears that I am." He tried to squeeze her hand. "I will...consider the papers; but first there is something I have to do." He had to talk to his father.

"What's that?" Anna asked. Being daring, she moved her fingers around his and held his hand firmly, even with the cast.

Jun looked down at their hands, his lips curving slowly into a smile. He knew that she wasn't going to like his answer. "I need to speak with my father."