Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction ❯ Sukuru Deizu ❯ Chapter Fifteen ( Chapter 15 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: destiny dreamer 
Miscellaneous: Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.05.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.1K | Visits: 308 | Status: Completed
Miscellaneous: Romance Fan Fiction / Original Stories Fan Fiction / Other Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Suspense / Romance / Hentai / Drama | Type: Other | Uploaded On: 11.05.2009 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.1K | Visits: 308 | Status: Completed
Jun looked at his phone as it rang. Picking it up, he recognized the number immediately. It was his dad. Taking a deep breath he answered the phone. "Hello?"
"Do you really intend to allow this dishonor to continue?"
"I'm...not suppose to talk to you until after the trial is over."
"You are my son. You will talk to me when I wish to speak with you."
Jun hesitated. "I'm not your son anymore," he whispered. "You gave up your legal right to me. I'll see you tomorrow...dad." He pressed the button and turned off his phone. Leaning back on his bed, he covered his face with his hands. This trial and everything couldn't get over fast enough. He didn't care what happened, he just wanted it over!
Anna walked in her room seeing Jun on her bed. He looked tired. Going over to him, she sat on the bed and ran her hand over her healed face. "They won't let me go tomorrow, Jun. They won't let me be beside you," she said.
Jun opened his eyes as he felt her gentle caress. His lips turned down into a frown as he heard this. He wanted her there, but at the same time he wanted to keep her as far away from this as possible. Reaching up and stroking her hair, he offered her a determined smile. "It's okay. I'll be fine," he promised.
Anna looked down. "We were suppose to do this together. I feel so helpless when I'm not beside you. I don't like you seeing him without me. I can't protect you when I'm here and you are there," she said.
Jun smiled at this. "I'm a big strong guy. I think I can take care of myself for just a little while." The idea of such a tiny girl protecting him made him happy.
"Jun, I had to stand in the way of your father hitting you last time we saw him. The time before that, I had to break down your down just to save you from nearly killing you." She moved closer to him, her hands moving down his chest. "Jun...I don't think I could bear it if something happened to you again," she said. "These three weeks that we have known each other have been the worst, but the absolute best days of my life. And...Jun," her eyes met his, "you have become such an important part of my life."
Jun took a deep breath. Her scent filled his nose and made him slightly light headed. As her hand trailed down his chest he met her gaze. So maybe he did need her more then he wanted to admit. Propping himself off of the bed, he leaned forward and kissed her. His lips gently massaging hers as his hand fisted her hair. Pulling back, he smiled at her. "Okay, so maybe I do need to be protected every once in a while," he said breathlessly. "And you are very important to me as well."
Anna pushed him back down on the bed lightly. Leaning over him, her chest rested on his as her lips met his once more. His kisses were so different from Brandon's. Though Brandon's kisses made her tingle, they were nowhere near the high she felt when Jun's lips met hers. No, even though they were family now, it didn't change anything. She still wanted him just as much as she did before and he seemed to want her just as much as well. Her tongue slipped into his mouth, making it their very first french kiss.
Jun's eyes widened as he felt her tongue slip into his mouth. Wrapping his arm around her waist he went with it, letting his tongue delve into her mouth and wrap around her tongue. He'd never experienced anything like this before. It was so nice, and it made his entire body tingle with excitement. If this was the benefit of everything his father had done to him, then it was well worth it. Just to have her.
Anna pulled back slowly. Her face still very close to his. "Jun, was that your first french kiss?"
Jun's cheeks turned red. He wanted to tell her no. "Yes," he admitted. He couldn't believe that he didn't know more about this stuff.
Anna sat up slightly. This was so very odd. Nothing that she learned about Jun ever seemed to be what the girls at school thought. He never dated, never kissed, never had a real date, never had sex...he had never done anything. And Anna had down so much. Did she really want to be the one that...corrupted him? He seemed so innocent and she...seemed so...not innocent. It was strange that the most popular guy in school was not the tough guy he let everyone believe. In reality, he was an innocent...boy.
Jun looked up at her. She was thinking something. Just like that he had managed to ruin the mood and everything. Of course she wouldn't want to be with someone who didn't know what the hell they were doing. Closing his eyes, he frowned and leaned back against the bed. What could he say? Apologizing for not knowing more would just sound stupid. Telling her that he would try more didn't exactly sound any better.
Anna stood. "Well, I should get ready for bed," she said. "And you need your sleep," she added and grabbed her night clothes than left.
They had been together for two weeks and maybe they were moving too fast. He really didn't know anything and it kind of made Anna uncomfortable. In the states, someone like Jun would have slept with all the pretty girls by now. Brandon was the American version of Jun when it came to popularity. He had slept with a lot of girls before Anna and apparently while he was with Anna. Jun made her feel like she was so much older than him. Maybe if he didn't act so surprised at everything or so shocked. How could she kiss or do anything with someone who acted as if everything was so...surprising? He seemed like a little boy in the sense.
Jun didn't move or say anything. He just stared up at the ceiling. He was such a fool. Why didn't he just act like he use to? Be the hard ass that everyone at school thought he was? Maybe then Anna would.... Shaking his head, he rolled over on his side. Tomorrow was a big day. He couldn't let this disturb him. He had to be ready for whatever his father threw at him tomorrow. So he had to push the thoughts of Anna aside.
That night, Anna didn't sleep. When morning came and her parents and Jun got ready to leave, she stayed in her pajamas. Her parents kissed her goodbye and walked to the car. Anna didn't kiss Jun goodbye. Instead she gave him a 'be brave' hug and watched him get into the car. She stayed outside until she couldn't see the car anymore then went inside and plopped down on the couch. Grabbing her phone, she sent a text to Reisha: Jun and I had our first french kiss. I think we are moving too fast. He acted so innocent and it made me uncomfortable. I don't know how to tell him not to be so...innocent when I know he is. Sometimes I wish he would just act calm and collective and in control when we kiss so I don't feel like I'm corrupting him. Any advice?
Reisha rolled over and grabbed her phone. Looking at the text she honestly wasn't certain what to tell her friend. Finally she told her all that she could. "Jun comes with two settings. The icy, cold guy who beats up jerks and sleeps with super models; and Jun-chan, who can still be a jerk and beat up guys...but doesn't have the first clue about girls. You sorta have to pick one, I think. You can't have both."
As they arrived at the court house, Jun checked his phone. His father was calling him. He ignored the call. Anything his father wanted to tell him he could so in court.
"Thank for no help at all..." Anna mumbled to herself.
Anna's mom patted Jun's hand lovingly as they sat in the office waiting for things to begin. Her dad looked calm and gave Jun a reassuring smile for confidence.
They waited for an hour. Their attorney was there and so was his father's...but his father had yet to show.
"Mr. Yamashi, if your client does not show up soon I am going to declare this trial forfeit," the judge told him.
"I'm trying to get in touch with my client now." Mr. Yamashi dialed Jun's father again. Still no answer.
Jun's phone vibrated again. Looking down, he noticed it was the home number. Closing his eyes, he decided to answer it. At least to find out why his father wasn't there. "Hello?"
"Is this Jun Hisaragi?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"I'm one of your father's employees. He asked me to come over...I Jun...you father...he...."
Jun's eyes widened as he heard this. Without a word he jumped up and started for his car. No, it couldn't be true. It couldn't!
Anna got a call from her parents letting her know that Jun had rushed out after a phone call from someone that was in his father's house. Anna asked questions but they had nothing to tell her so they said they would come home. Anna hung up her phone then grabbed her coat and started out the house. If Jun got a call from someone at his father's house then Jun would most likely end up there. She ran towards Jun's house as fast as she could while dialing Jun's number.
The cops and paramedics were already there as Jun all but flipped his car turning into the driveway way too fast. Slamming on breaks, he ran up to the cops as the paramedics began to pull a cloth over his father's body.
"No!" Jun shouted. Pushing past the cops he ran to his father.
A cop grabbed him, but he kept going toward him. "Dad! No!"
"Son, he's gone," the cop told him. "He's gone. There's nothing you can do for him."
Anna was out of breath by the time she showed up at Jun's place. Her eyes landed on the ambulance and police. Slowly, her hands went to her mouth in shock. Part of her told her not to go any further that if someone was dead, she didn't need to see, however her eyes landed on Jun's car and she knew she had no choice.
Anna walked slowly until she saw a body bag. Anna turned her back to it and covered her mouth again while tears came down her face. That was a real body or a real person. She felt skin. Swallowing her fear, she turned back around and saw Jun standing off to the side while the police were talking to him. He looked pale and it was then that Anna realized who it was that had died.
Jun shook his head. They were telling him his father committed suicide. That wasn't possible. Why would his father do something like that? The cops apologized once more for his loss. What did they know? What did they care? Looking once more at the body bag which contained his father, he was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to think. He didn't know what to feel. The only question which continued to echo his mind was, why? Why did this happen? Why now? Why him?
He wanted to punch something. He wanted to scream. He wanted to do something so that he could just unleash all these emotions that he was feeling at once. Finally he turned to the house. It was a suicide, no reason for the cops to tape it off. He walked inside and stared at it. It was a place he had spent so much time in. Now all of a sudden he felt like a stranger.
Anna's body shook as she walked closer to the house. The cops stopped her.
"You can't go in there, Miss," one of them said to her.
"But...I'm Jun's...well...I'm..."
Her mouth wouldn't work. Her whole body was shaking. This was her fault. She heard what the cops said. It was a suicide. And it would have never happened if Anna had never gotten involved with Jun. If they had never met, if they had never spoken, if she had never broken his door down and invited him into her home. If her parents never opened their arms to him...if she never told him he needed to stay away from his father... Jun's father killed himself and it was all her fault. She talked him into staying with her parents and it was because of her that he spoke to the reporters and decided to tell the truth. And now Jun had lost the only family he had left because of her.
The cops kept talking to her, one of them grabbing her shoulder, but she didn't register it. The world went black and Anna hit the ground.
Jun heard the commotion. He was still numb, but a part of him registered that he needed to see what else had gone wrong. As he walked toward the cops he saw Anna laying there on the ground. A part of him knew that he should be worried. That he should care. "You can lay her down inside. It's okay." The paramedics nodded. She'd just passed out. No lacerations or brain damage. She would be fine. They carried her inside and laid her down on the couch before taking their leave.
While Anna lay there, so peaceful and quiet, Jun made his way to his father's office. There was a large pool of blood where his father had stabbed himself. He had committed seppuku, the oldest of Japanese arts. One which was suppose to restore honor to the family. He had refused the aid of the crime scene clean up. Grabbing a rag, bleach, and a bucket. He set to work cleaning up. He had to keep busy. He couldn't stop and let his mind process this. He couldn't, because if he did he would be swallowed up by it.
With the smell of bleach reaching Anna's nose and the ringing of her cell phone, she slowly woke. Sitting up, she grabbed her head. "Ow..." she mumbled. Her phone kept ringing. She pulled it out. It was her parents. No doubt they were calling to ask were she was and if she was ok. She was sure the news had hit them by now.
The news. Jun's father was dead. Anna stood and looked around. It was dark outside and the house she was in was black and cold. Where...was she? Anna moved about, running into chairs and tables before seeing a small light in the hallway. She used her hands as a guide on the walls to make her way down the hall to the light. Slowly, her hand pushed open the half opened door. The strong sent of bleach hit her and she covered her mouth. Jun was on the floor wearing a medical mask and scrubbing the ground. There was nothing to clean from what she could tell, but she had no right to say anything. Once again, her tears began falling from her eyes.
How long had he been cleaning the same spot? No matter how much he cleaned, no matter how much he scrubbed, he could still see the blood. His father's blood. Anna's presence was the only thing which seemed to be able to pull him out of this trance. Looking over at her, there was nothing on his face. No sadness. No anger. No love. Nothing. Rising to his feet, he took off the mask and let it fall to the ground.
She was crying. Why was she crying? She hated his father. She shouldn't cry. "Why are you crying?" He couldn't believe that what he was hearing was the sound of his own voice. It sounded so hollow, even to him.
"I..." Anna started yet nothing would come out.
What could she say? I'm sorry I caused your family to break apart which resulted in your father taking his life. Her hand fell from her mouth and she took a deep breath, breathing in the bleach as she did so. She coughed a few times then stepped back a few feet from the door. This was where it happened. This was where Jun's father took his life. It was her fault. It was all her fault.
"I...should..." she started again and stopped. She pointed to the front door and turned. She had to get out of the house. She had to get away from him. His cold face and shallow eyes. They didn't even seem to really see her but see through her. She felt like an invisible person. Like one of those many girls at school Jun didn't seem to notice on regular bases.
"Do you really intend to allow this dishonor to continue?"
"I'm...not suppose to talk to you until after the trial is over."
"You are my son. You will talk to me when I wish to speak with you."
Jun hesitated. "I'm not your son anymore," he whispered. "You gave up your legal right to me. I'll see you tomorrow...dad." He pressed the button and turned off his phone. Leaning back on his bed, he covered his face with his hands. This trial and everything couldn't get over fast enough. He didn't care what happened, he just wanted it over!
Anna walked in her room seeing Jun on her bed. He looked tired. Going over to him, she sat on the bed and ran her hand over her healed face. "They won't let me go tomorrow, Jun. They won't let me be beside you," she said.
Jun opened his eyes as he felt her gentle caress. His lips turned down into a frown as he heard this. He wanted her there, but at the same time he wanted to keep her as far away from this as possible. Reaching up and stroking her hair, he offered her a determined smile. "It's okay. I'll be fine," he promised.
Anna looked down. "We were suppose to do this together. I feel so helpless when I'm not beside you. I don't like you seeing him without me. I can't protect you when I'm here and you are there," she said.
Jun smiled at this. "I'm a big strong guy. I think I can take care of myself for just a little while." The idea of such a tiny girl protecting him made him happy.
"Jun, I had to stand in the way of your father hitting you last time we saw him. The time before that, I had to break down your down just to save you from nearly killing you." She moved closer to him, her hands moving down his chest. "Jun...I don't think I could bear it if something happened to you again," she said. "These three weeks that we have known each other have been the worst, but the absolute best days of my life. And...Jun," her eyes met his, "you have become such an important part of my life."
Jun took a deep breath. Her scent filled his nose and made him slightly light headed. As her hand trailed down his chest he met her gaze. So maybe he did need her more then he wanted to admit. Propping himself off of the bed, he leaned forward and kissed her. His lips gently massaging hers as his hand fisted her hair. Pulling back, he smiled at her. "Okay, so maybe I do need to be protected every once in a while," he said breathlessly. "And you are very important to me as well."
Anna pushed him back down on the bed lightly. Leaning over him, her chest rested on his as her lips met his once more. His kisses were so different from Brandon's. Though Brandon's kisses made her tingle, they were nowhere near the high she felt when Jun's lips met hers. No, even though they were family now, it didn't change anything. She still wanted him just as much as she did before and he seemed to want her just as much as well. Her tongue slipped into his mouth, making it their very first french kiss.
Jun's eyes widened as he felt her tongue slip into his mouth. Wrapping his arm around her waist he went with it, letting his tongue delve into her mouth and wrap around her tongue. He'd never experienced anything like this before. It was so nice, and it made his entire body tingle with excitement. If this was the benefit of everything his father had done to him, then it was well worth it. Just to have her.
Anna pulled back slowly. Her face still very close to his. "Jun, was that your first french kiss?"
Jun's cheeks turned red. He wanted to tell her no. "Yes," he admitted. He couldn't believe that he didn't know more about this stuff.
Anna sat up slightly. This was so very odd. Nothing that she learned about Jun ever seemed to be what the girls at school thought. He never dated, never kissed, never had a real date, never had sex...he had never done anything. And Anna had down so much. Did she really want to be the one that...corrupted him? He seemed so innocent and she...seemed so...not innocent. It was strange that the most popular guy in school was not the tough guy he let everyone believe. In reality, he was an innocent...boy.
Jun looked up at her. She was thinking something. Just like that he had managed to ruin the mood and everything. Of course she wouldn't want to be with someone who didn't know what the hell they were doing. Closing his eyes, he frowned and leaned back against the bed. What could he say? Apologizing for not knowing more would just sound stupid. Telling her that he would try more didn't exactly sound any better.
Anna stood. "Well, I should get ready for bed," she said. "And you need your sleep," she added and grabbed her night clothes than left.
They had been together for two weeks and maybe they were moving too fast. He really didn't know anything and it kind of made Anna uncomfortable. In the states, someone like Jun would have slept with all the pretty girls by now. Brandon was the American version of Jun when it came to popularity. He had slept with a lot of girls before Anna and apparently while he was with Anna. Jun made her feel like she was so much older than him. Maybe if he didn't act so surprised at everything or so shocked. How could she kiss or do anything with someone who acted as if everything was so...surprising? He seemed like a little boy in the sense.
Jun didn't move or say anything. He just stared up at the ceiling. He was such a fool. Why didn't he just act like he use to? Be the hard ass that everyone at school thought he was? Maybe then Anna would.... Shaking his head, he rolled over on his side. Tomorrow was a big day. He couldn't let this disturb him. He had to be ready for whatever his father threw at him tomorrow. So he had to push the thoughts of Anna aside.
That night, Anna didn't sleep. When morning came and her parents and Jun got ready to leave, she stayed in her pajamas. Her parents kissed her goodbye and walked to the car. Anna didn't kiss Jun goodbye. Instead she gave him a 'be brave' hug and watched him get into the car. She stayed outside until she couldn't see the car anymore then went inside and plopped down on the couch. Grabbing her phone, she sent a text to Reisha: Jun and I had our first french kiss. I think we are moving too fast. He acted so innocent and it made me uncomfortable. I don't know how to tell him not to be so...innocent when I know he is. Sometimes I wish he would just act calm and collective and in control when we kiss so I don't feel like I'm corrupting him. Any advice?
Reisha rolled over and grabbed her phone. Looking at the text she honestly wasn't certain what to tell her friend. Finally she told her all that she could. "Jun comes with two settings. The icy, cold guy who beats up jerks and sleeps with super models; and Jun-chan, who can still be a jerk and beat up guys...but doesn't have the first clue about girls. You sorta have to pick one, I think. You can't have both."
As they arrived at the court house, Jun checked his phone. His father was calling him. He ignored the call. Anything his father wanted to tell him he could so in court.
"Thank for no help at all..." Anna mumbled to herself.
Anna's mom patted Jun's hand lovingly as they sat in the office waiting for things to begin. Her dad looked calm and gave Jun a reassuring smile for confidence.
They waited for an hour. Their attorney was there and so was his father's...but his father had yet to show.
"Mr. Yamashi, if your client does not show up soon I am going to declare this trial forfeit," the judge told him.
"I'm trying to get in touch with my client now." Mr. Yamashi dialed Jun's father again. Still no answer.
Jun's phone vibrated again. Looking down, he noticed it was the home number. Closing his eyes, he decided to answer it. At least to find out why his father wasn't there. "Hello?"
"Is this Jun Hisaragi?"
"Yes. Who is this?"
"I'm one of your father's employees. He asked me to come over...I Jun...you father...he...."
Jun's eyes widened as he heard this. Without a word he jumped up and started for his car. No, it couldn't be true. It couldn't!
Anna got a call from her parents letting her know that Jun had rushed out after a phone call from someone that was in his father's house. Anna asked questions but they had nothing to tell her so they said they would come home. Anna hung up her phone then grabbed her coat and started out the house. If Jun got a call from someone at his father's house then Jun would most likely end up there. She ran towards Jun's house as fast as she could while dialing Jun's number.
The cops and paramedics were already there as Jun all but flipped his car turning into the driveway way too fast. Slamming on breaks, he ran up to the cops as the paramedics began to pull a cloth over his father's body.
"No!" Jun shouted. Pushing past the cops he ran to his father.
A cop grabbed him, but he kept going toward him. "Dad! No!"
"Son, he's gone," the cop told him. "He's gone. There's nothing you can do for him."
Anna was out of breath by the time she showed up at Jun's place. Her eyes landed on the ambulance and police. Slowly, her hands went to her mouth in shock. Part of her told her not to go any further that if someone was dead, she didn't need to see, however her eyes landed on Jun's car and she knew she had no choice.
Anna walked slowly until she saw a body bag. Anna turned her back to it and covered her mouth again while tears came down her face. That was a real body or a real person. She felt skin. Swallowing her fear, she turned back around and saw Jun standing off to the side while the police were talking to him. He looked pale and it was then that Anna realized who it was that had died.
Jun shook his head. They were telling him his father committed suicide. That wasn't possible. Why would his father do something like that? The cops apologized once more for his loss. What did they know? What did they care? Looking once more at the body bag which contained his father, he was at a loss for words. He didn't know what to think. He didn't know what to feel. The only question which continued to echo his mind was, why? Why did this happen? Why now? Why him?
He wanted to punch something. He wanted to scream. He wanted to do something so that he could just unleash all these emotions that he was feeling at once. Finally he turned to the house. It was a suicide, no reason for the cops to tape it off. He walked inside and stared at it. It was a place he had spent so much time in. Now all of a sudden he felt like a stranger.
Anna's body shook as she walked closer to the house. The cops stopped her.
"You can't go in there, Miss," one of them said to her.
"But...I'm Jun's...well...I'm..."
Her mouth wouldn't work. Her whole body was shaking. This was her fault. She heard what the cops said. It was a suicide. And it would have never happened if Anna had never gotten involved with Jun. If they had never met, if they had never spoken, if she had never broken his door down and invited him into her home. If her parents never opened their arms to him...if she never told him he needed to stay away from his father... Jun's father killed himself and it was all her fault. She talked him into staying with her parents and it was because of her that he spoke to the reporters and decided to tell the truth. And now Jun had lost the only family he had left because of her.
The cops kept talking to her, one of them grabbing her shoulder, but she didn't register it. The world went black and Anna hit the ground.
Jun heard the commotion. He was still numb, but a part of him registered that he needed to see what else had gone wrong. As he walked toward the cops he saw Anna laying there on the ground. A part of him knew that he should be worried. That he should care. "You can lay her down inside. It's okay." The paramedics nodded. She'd just passed out. No lacerations or brain damage. She would be fine. They carried her inside and laid her down on the couch before taking their leave.
While Anna lay there, so peaceful and quiet, Jun made his way to his father's office. There was a large pool of blood where his father had stabbed himself. He had committed seppuku, the oldest of Japanese arts. One which was suppose to restore honor to the family. He had refused the aid of the crime scene clean up. Grabbing a rag, bleach, and a bucket. He set to work cleaning up. He had to keep busy. He couldn't stop and let his mind process this. He couldn't, because if he did he would be swallowed up by it.
With the smell of bleach reaching Anna's nose and the ringing of her cell phone, she slowly woke. Sitting up, she grabbed her head. "Ow..." she mumbled. Her phone kept ringing. She pulled it out. It was her parents. No doubt they were calling to ask were she was and if she was ok. She was sure the news had hit them by now.
The news. Jun's father was dead. Anna stood and looked around. It was dark outside and the house she was in was black and cold. Where...was she? Anna moved about, running into chairs and tables before seeing a small light in the hallway. She used her hands as a guide on the walls to make her way down the hall to the light. Slowly, her hand pushed open the half opened door. The strong sent of bleach hit her and she covered her mouth. Jun was on the floor wearing a medical mask and scrubbing the ground. There was nothing to clean from what she could tell, but she had no right to say anything. Once again, her tears began falling from her eyes.
How long had he been cleaning the same spot? No matter how much he cleaned, no matter how much he scrubbed, he could still see the blood. His father's blood. Anna's presence was the only thing which seemed to be able to pull him out of this trance. Looking over at her, there was nothing on his face. No sadness. No anger. No love. Nothing. Rising to his feet, he took off the mask and let it fall to the ground.
She was crying. Why was she crying? She hated his father. She shouldn't cry. "Why are you crying?" He couldn't believe that what he was hearing was the sound of his own voice. It sounded so hollow, even to him.
"I..." Anna started yet nothing would come out.
What could she say? I'm sorry I caused your family to break apart which resulted in your father taking his life. Her hand fell from her mouth and she took a deep breath, breathing in the bleach as she did so. She coughed a few times then stepped back a few feet from the door. This was where it happened. This was where Jun's father took his life. It was her fault. It was all her fault.
"I...should..." she started again and stopped. She pointed to the front door and turned. She had to get out of the house. She had to get away from him. His cold face and shallow eyes. They didn't even seem to really see her but see through her. She felt like an invisible person. Like one of those many girls at school Jun didn't seem to notice on regular bases.