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| Ex-Chapters SatoXmi shorts; Some Ex-Chapters from my fic | |
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| Topic Started: June 22, 2015, 11:43 pm (355 Views) | |
| Zaion | June 22, 2015, 11:43 pm Post #1 |
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FanFiction writer/Translator/Character Bio writer
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A compilation of Satoshi X Naomi shorts from my fanfiction that I decided to take and compile here. They contain spoilers for Blood Drive, so be warned. These are short exerts I wrote to put in a lighter tone into the dark that is my fanfiction of the events after Blood Drive. Ex-Chapter 1 Naomi's Room – Real World Naomi Dear Seiko, How are you doing? Are you alright? My left eye is getting better. I don't have to wear an eye patch anymore. The doctor said that most of the scarring is gone. He says I'll be able to see again soon. Mom is getting better. We had a long talk after we got back from Heavenly Host. I didn't see you when I was there. I probably disappointed you a lot. I couldn't let go. I couldn't accept it. Those few months after we got back, I wanted to see you, so much. But I couldn't, your face had disappeared. I couldn't see you, anywhere. I don't know what I wanted to say to you. I just wanted to see you, even though you told me to leave you behind. How can I do that? We were friends, no, more than that. Do you remember that sleep over we had, before the cultural festival? Remember how it was the first time either of us had invited anyone to our house? It was fun, when we slept side by side. It was warm. Seiko, remember how you said you were able to hear my voice, even if you were asleep? I wonder if you could hear me, before we finished it all. Sorry, I've just been writing about myself this entire time. That's really selfish of me, right? Your brothers are doing fine. Yuu's stepped up to being the mommy of the other two. I drop by, every day after school. Yesterday, your father asked me if I could look after them until he got back. He seems to have managed to gain a little reprieve from work. Something about a promotion or something, apparently one of his superiors was hurt sometime after we got back. I don't know the details. He's trying to come back home more often, but he doesn't know how to cook very well. I'm helping out as much as I can. You'll be surprised though. Yuu knows quite a lot about the kitchen. I wonder if he was watching you secretly while you were cooking. Kisaragi Academy is still not open, they're still people using it as a shelter but most of them have gone home or have been moved to hospitals. They say we might be able to go back in a month or so. At the moment we're using a different school until ours frees up. It's quite a long way away but since there are no cars traveling at the moment my eye doesn't stop me from going. Satoshi is with me every day. He walks me to and from home with Yuka-chan. Sometimes he comes in with me to visit your siblings. They like him a lot but he's too nice so they end up taking advantage of him. Last time, while he was playing with them, he got tied up while re-enacting Gulliver's travels with them that they had read at school. Yuu came in scolded them with Yuka-chan. Yuu is very nice and seems to be quite popular at school. You probably knew that already, but he's getting more and more dependable every day. He kind of reminds me of Satoshi a little bit. Satoshi's worried about me quite a lot. He asked for his seat to be moved next to me in class so he can help me stand up and so he can guide me around the school. It's surprisingly hard to get around with only one eye. I'm frequently bumping into things. It's not that bad but he keeps on insisting, and I can't really stop him. If he wasn't so cute I would call it annoying, but sometimes, the look he gives me. It's strong, and I don't want to argue with him anymore. We still haven't kissed or anything, and even though he keeps on getting teased about it Satoshi doesn't say anything. I guess, you're still the only one I've ever kissed. I bet you'd be rubbing it into Satoshi's face if you could wouldn't you? Seiko, your funeral's been decided. It's 2 weeks from now, and that's why I'm writing this letter. I wish I could see you again, but I don't really have the right to ask for that. Even though you forgive me, I can't really forgive myself, no matter what. I'm sorry, I know now that's not what you wanted. But don't worry, I won't do anything stupid. So it's alright. Take it easy. I hope we see each other someday, and if we do. Can we have a sleep over again? I love you. Too my dearest friend. Nakashima, Naomi I open up my phone, Seiko's picture is there. There isn't a black hole where her face is. "*(Chuckle) Someday, let's play again. Although I wonder who took this picture again? It's so off center." There was an empty space on the left hand side of the photo, a space for another row of people there. "Really, Yui-sensei is almost out of the picture." I look at the picture and smile. I fold up the letter into an envelope and place it in the top drawer of my desk. "Naomi~ Satoshi-kun is here to pick you up again." "Coming, mom!" The relation ship between mom and me has almost gone back to normal. At first it was a little awkward but we've forgiven each other, and now we're working to accept that forgiveness. She's got a new job at Seiko's father's company. She lost her previous one when I was still mourning Seiko, but after talking to him he got her an interview and she got a new job. Satoshi comes by most days to pick me up, with Yuka-chan. We go to school together, and next year Yuka-chan will be in high school with us. She still shows no signs of dropping her way of talking though. Really, is the entire Mochida family built from cuteness or something? WEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOOOOOEEEEEEEEEEEEEEOOOOOOOOOO A patrol car goes past us. "I wonder what that's about?" Satoshi says, turning around to look at it as it turns a corner and disappears. "Oh, they say there was a break in and entry at a house not far from here." It's one of the house wives who lives in the neighborhood. I guess the gossip travels pretty fast in this place. "Something about some hooligan in a red shirt breaking into a house in the neighborhood. Really, just when things are getting back to normal." She sighs and starts walking on home. Satoshi is still looking back at where the police car turned the corner. "Hey Naomi, does anyone we know live in that direction?" "Huh? Ummm, I don't think so, at least not that I can remember." "Oh, alright... huh? Crap! We're going to be late, Naomi, I'll carry you on my back!" "HUH! What are you saying, I'm fine already, plus there's no real traffic going around at the moment, so it's okay." I sputter. Really, sometimes he's a bit too over protective sometimes. "Well, at least, let me hold your hand so I can guide you." Satoshi grumbles. "Oh, um, I guess that's fine." I grab Satoshi's hand and he squeezes mine lightly. I feel my cheeks heat up, Satoshi looks a bit red as well. "Heeeey, if you two don't hurry, I'll leave you behi~nd" "Ah, Yuka, hold up." "! Yuka-chan, just a moment!" "Eh, he he~, Morning Yuka-chi~, Oh~ what's this, is big bro cheating on you Yuka-chi~." "Oh, Satsuki-chan, good morning!" Yuka-chan's class mate, Satsuki-chan, shows up bouncing along, another bag of potato chips in her hand. I think I can see another one peeking out of her school bag. "Really, big bro you're too much of a hound dog. If you don't treat Yuka-chi right, I'll eat you!" "Wh-Wh-Wha-What are you saying all of sudden, really now it's still early in the morning, let's just get to school shall we. We're already late enough as it is." Grumbling Satoshi starts walking towards our temporary school, not once did he let go of my hand. "*(Sigh) really, Satoshi, you worry wart. We might be able to sneak in before they take the roll call if we run, let's go!" "! O-oi, hold on don't suddenly start running like that, w-wait Naomi! You're too fast!" Seiko, I might miss you, and I'll never forget you. But I won't waste this life you gave me. I won't hurt myself to try to atone, nor will I let others be hurt by my pain. I'll live this life for you Seiko. Because you wanted me to be happy. Lemons A dark room, two figures are facing each other. Both of them are seated on a bed. The outlines suggest one is male the other is female. "N-naomi, are you ready?" Mochida Satoshi's voice rings nervously in the dark room. "Y-yeah..." Nakashima Naomi's voice is equally as nervous. Her strong, energetic voice stutters uncharacteristically. "Alright, I'm putting it in, okay?" Satoshi put his left hand on Naomi's shoulder. "J-just hurry up already!" Naomi shivers slightly at the contact before trying to hold herself as still as possible. Her back is ramrod stiff but her hands and feet are trembling. "Got it." "Uh, OW!" "Sorry! Did it hurt?" "No it's alright, it just stung a bit." "Sorry, it's my first time doing something like this..." "It's okay it's my first time having something like this done to me." "Does it still hurt?" "No, it's fine now." "Phew, that's good." *SLAM Suddenly the door bursts open silhouetting a figure in a blue smock. The light from the hallway halos the trembling figure of Mochida Yuka. Her face is red from embarrassment and her fists are shaking with anger. "O-o-o-o-ONIIIII-CHAN! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO NAOMI ONEE-CHAN!" "Whoa! Yuka! What's wrong!" "'D-d-d-don't 'What's wrong' me Oni-chan! Th-that sort of thing... Huh?" She stops, her anger fizzles out like a match dropped in a bucket of water. "What are you doing?" Mochida Satoshi and Naomi are sitting on her bed. A small bottle is held in Satoshi's right hand. Both are fully clothed and the bed is cleanly made. No wrinkles are on the blankets or their outfits. "Oh, Naomi couldn't put in her eye drops today so she asked for me to help. It's actually rather hard to do." He lifted up the bottle and screwed the cap back on. A small amount of liquid that looks like water sloshes around it silently as the cap seals it. "It was scary for me to! I was worried that you'd poke me in the eye by accident." Naomi blinked her left eye a few times and her hand moved to scratch it before she stopped herself and forced it down. "I was worried about that to! Really, why did you need me to do it today?" He sighs as he puts the bottle back on her desk. Naomi remains sitting on the desk trying her best not to scratch the eye while blinking a couple more times. "I already told you! I cut my fingers while preparing today's lunch this morning, so I can't hold the bottle very well." Naomi pouts and turns away from Satoshi. "It's because you got so nervous that it made everything weird!" Band aids are wrapped around the fingers of her right hand. "Haaa? It's my fault?" Satoshi puts his hands on his hips, blushing lightly. "That's right! It is your fault! Really, because of you even I got really nervous for some reason." Naomi continues pouting before grabbing a pillow and hugging it. This was partially to get rid of some of her embarrassment. Partially to occupy her hands which still want to scratch her eye. "It's my fault?" Satoshi turns to Yuka. Her hands are behind her back and she looks to the side. Her face is still a little red. The embarrassment was a mix of her jumping to conclusion, and the residual jeal- righteous rage she had felt. "I agree with Naomi Onee-chan. Oni-chan's the one who started saying weird things!" At the combined attack of Naomi and Yuka Satoshi slumps forward slightly "I-is it really my fault...?" His voice is more resigned than questioning. With his eyes on the floor he didn't get to see the slight smirk that the two girls shared at his depression. "Oh, right." Recovering slightly he turns to his little sister. "Yuka, did you have something to tell us?" "Oh! That's right! Naomi Onee-chan's mother brought home some lemon tarts on the way home from work today." Beaming up at the two Yuka continues. "She said let's eat them together as a snack!" "Oh! That sounds good." He smiles. "Go tell her we'll be down in a bit." "Okay!" Yuka runs off before immediately running back. "Don't take too long or you'll make even Naomi Onee-chan's mother misunderstand, alright?" "None of your business!" Satoshi pouts and Yuka giggles before running off downstairs. She'd spend the time waiting for them by watching Naomi's mother unpack the sweets with sparkling eyes. "So, Naomi, you had something to say to me?" "Eh?" "It's not like you to injure yourself while cooking." Naomi isn't an amateur cook. Cutting herself slightly might be possible but the number of bandages clearly suggested something bigger than that. "If you're going to lie about that you should have said you burnt your hand or something like that." Naomi flinches slightly at Satoshi's logic before letting out a breath and staring at the wall opposite her instead of him. "I just wanted to know, what's between you and Aiko-san..." "Huh?" His head tilts a little bit at her question. "When she came over to give me this week's medicine, you two seemed to be having quite an enjoyable talk?" Niwa Aiko comes to visit these two at least once a week. The reason she gives is to hand over Nakashima Naomi's prescription of spiritual water eye drops. The spiritual burns fried into her left eye by Sachi have disappeared but the cut sclera was still healing. "Oh, that." Sighing tiredly he shakes his head. "Enjoyable? Did it look like that to you?" "Eh? It wasn't?" Naomi blinks in surprise and turns towards him. "The complete opposite." Sighing he put an arm on his hip again. "It was almost felt like she was complaining to me." "And? What was it about?" She leans forward on the bed slightly. "Something about 'checking up on the one mistake her genius older sister ever made in her life'." Shrugging to indicate he didn't get what she meant he sighed again. "Huh? What's that about?" An eye brow is raised on her face. "Don't ask me." He replied. "Anyways it wasn't that big of a deal." Naomi lets out a relieved breath. "Oh, so that's all it was." "Well she also said she'd want to borrow our hot-spring sometime pretty soon." "Huh?!" Her head snaps back to look at him. Satoshi sighs again remembering the original hassle the teacher who had replaced Shishido Yui had brought. "The 'Mochida Hot-spring'. You know, the one Kuon-sensei built at my house. She said she wants to use it tonight or tomorrow." "Eeeeeeehhhhh?!" "I was surprised too, it was pretty sudden. She did look kind of tired today though." "I... see..." Naomi turns away from him. The pillow is once again in her hands again, but she probably wanted to be squeezing something else in between them right now. Probably with a couple of noogies mixed in as well. "D-do you want to come too, Naomi?" "Eh?" The pillow's punishment stops. "Well, it's a bit of a waste at the moment since we're not using it that much. Also Aiko-san would probably like some company as well." He turns away with a slight blush. Naomi looks at him before stifling a chuckle. "Why not, I can't have you visiting my place all the time without returning the favor." "Haha, I guess you're right." "ONI-CHAN HURRY UP!" Yuka's voice calls from downstairs. "Ah, Sorry, Yuka! We're going right now!" Walking towards the door he turns back to the person on the bed. "Let's go Naomi." "Yeah!" The door closes behind the two as they jog down the hallway. The brightly lit dining table downstairs has four plates each with a tasty lemon tart placed on it. Naomi's mother and Yuka are already seated. Yuka already has a fork in one hand and is barely containing the drool from her mouth. Satoshi pauses at the foot of the stairs letting Naomi run past him. This is the peaceful life that they've managed to reclaim. Smiling lightly he takes a seat across from Yuka and next to Naomi. "Itadakima-su!" Hot Spring Topics Mochida Household – Real world
"We're home!" Yuka shouts as Satoshi closes the front door behind him. "Welcome back." Their mother steps into the entrance hallway. "You've got a guest you know? Oh and welcome Naomi-chan." "Sorry to bother you so late." Naomi steps out from behind Satoshi and bows. "She's here already?" Taking off his shoes, he steps into the hallway. "Were you expecting her? Really, you should have told your mother you know!" Waving a finger in admonishment, she scolded him. "I would have been able to prepare something." "Sorry, it was pretty sudden for me too. Has she been waiting long?" "Not really, she arrived a little before you did." Satoshi's mother stepped backwards to make room for the three as they stepped up from the vestibule. "She's just here to borrow the hot spring for a bit." He explained as the four of them step into the living room portion of the Living, Dining, Kitchen complex. A couch facing a TV and its associated cupboard is on their right, with a small coffee table between the two. The dining table is slightly further in and is large enough for six people, two on each side and one on each end. Only four chairs are underneath it though. The brown kitchen counter is cleanly polished. It lies next to the dining table hiding the cooking place behind it. A smaller flower pot inside a wicker basket holds some daisies inside it decorate the sparkling surface. "Oh, have you forgotten my other reason for being here?" Niwa Aiko's voice rings from the sofa. A cup of tea in one hand the saucer in the other. "I thought I mentioned it when I met you today." Two blue ribbons decorate the right side of her head. One attached to the side of her head above the ear. The other is tied around a lock of white, blue, and black hair just below her earlobe. A purple shirt coupled with a short pleated black skirt form her smart casual attire. "Good afternoon, Niwa-san." Satoshi greets her as the four of them spread out into the room. "And I didn't forget. You're here to check up on me and Yuka right?" "I'll go prepare something to drink." Mochida Satoshi and Yuka's mother interrupts the conversation briefly to pour some more tea. From the fragrance of Aiko's cup it seemed to be jasmine. "Yuka, will you help me set out the snacks?" "Yes!" "Good afternoon to you too." Aiko gives a slight smile with her reply as the two Mochida women go into the kitchen. "Your health would have been important for my sister. If something happened to you she wouldn't be able to rest easily. It'd be troublesome for me if she came back to complain." Naomi lets out an awkward laugh while Satoshi scratches the back of his head at her statement. Whether it's a joke or an actual possibility is hard to tell, especially with the light smile she wore on her usual poker face. "Thanks for coming, even though you must be busy with your company." Satoshi's mother arrives with more tea cups on a tray while Yuka carries the box of snacks they have for guests. Small cookies in plastic packages are piled up inside. "Please, do not worry. I merely don't like leaving things unfinished." The tea cups and saucers land lightly onto the table, as Yuka places the box of snacks with a satisfied smile in the middle.. "Even then we're very grateful. Your sister did quite a lot for us as well. It must have been tough, taking over her position in the company." Standing back up, Satoshi's mother thanks Aiko. Naomi and Satoshi walk around the couch and sit next to each other on the left side before picking up their respective drinks. "It was a little difficult to catch up I admit." The Vice-President nods and takes another sip of her tea. "I think I used about twelve years of my lifespan to do that." "Your family is really remarkable. Your parents must be very proud to have such brilliant children." "They were pleased enough." Replying curtly causes the older woman to pause slightly, wondering if she touched a sensitive topic. A small silence ensues. Satoshi clears his throat to break the silence before turning towards Aiko. "Niwa-san, when do you want to use the hot spring?" He asks. "Oh, what's this? Trying to get rid of me already, Mochida-kun?" "It's not that, Niwa-san. I just thought we should figure out who goes first. After all I don't think either of us would like to walk in the other." "You have a point." Nodding, she takes another sip of her drink. "I guess I'd like to take a dip as quickly as possible. It would be a bother for you if I stayed too long after all." "That's not a problem at all, Aiko-chan." Mochida's mother steps into the conversation with a smile. "We're quite indebted to your sister after all. In fact I was wondering whether you'd like to eat dinner with us tonight." "It is alright." Shaking her head she takes another sip of her tea. "I'll get something on the way home. It would be rude to overstay my welcome." "Oh, don't say that. Your sister was like a mother bird to our Satoshi." "M-Mom!" Satoshi turns bright red. "If you heard what she was saying back then, why didn't you stop her?!" "Well she was quite a fine lady; smarts, looks, and a kind caring heart." Putting both palms on her cheek the grown woman exclaimed blissfully. "Perfect for a daughter in law." 'Wouldn't they be closer to sisters?' Naomi interjects in her mind but carefully keeps it there. "Ugh." Slumping forward slightly Satoshi gives an exasperated breath. "Kuon-sensei, what did you do to my mom?" "Don't worry about it Mochida-kun." Aiko unexpectedly lends him a helping hand. "My sister was always like that." "R-really?" "Of course, that person was quite a busy body. Even though she had good intentions, she would even tell me what color of underwear to put on." Sighing heavily another sip is taken by her. "If only she wasn't right all the time I'd have been able to take it." "Well, since she was so kind to us. Having you over for dinner is the least we can do." The mother continues her proposal. "Since Satoshi's father won't be home tonight one or two extra people is no problem at all." "Eh?!" Naomi looks up at Satsohi's mother who gives her a wink. "It's more fun to eat with more people, and as a mother. It's fun to see her son so popular" "M-Mom!" "U-um." Yuka suddenly speaks up drawing the attention of the other four on her. "Y-yuka would like it if you could eat with us too." "Well, I've been invited as well so we might as well all eat together." Giving a smile towards Aiko, even Naomi has joined in pulling her in. "We'll be in touch with each other from now on as well. Having good relations is part of the business world isn't it?" Aiko sighs lightly. "Alright, I'll take you up on your offer." "Aiko-chan, no need to be so uptight." Mochida's mother claps her hands together. "Now, it's a bit early why don't we have hot pot today?" "Yay!" Cheering Yuka follows her mother into the kitchen to help out some more leaving the three teenagers together. "So, how are things with you two?" Aiko splits the silence with a question. "Eh? Well... same as always, I guess." Scratching his head Satsohi's reply is lack luster leaving Naomi to take up the slack. "My eye is getting better thanks to your eye drops." Pointing at her left eye she smiles. "My sister made those, I merely followed her instructions." Dismissing her praise Aiko takes another sip of her tea. "But it's good to know you're on the mend. How are things with Shinohara-san's family?" "Alright at the moment, we went to help out with the house yesterday as well." Naomi continues the dialogue with Aiko. "And school? How's that?" "Well, Kisaragi Academy is still not open yet. But there'll be a memorial service next week. You know... for everyone who..." Naomi paused sinking into her thoughts for a bit. Kisaragi Academy had lost quite a number of people. Three students and a teacher's assistant. On top of that their deaths weren't confirmed until recently due to the effects of Heavenly Host. Naturally the school board was embarrassed but with everything that happened recently with the Entity Walls and the Day of Darkness people were too shocked to really start throwing blame around. Hence the school was holding a memorial on the day of its reopening. If you took it the wrong way you could say it was the school trying to save face. But the gesture was strangely heartwarming for Naomi. Her friends and teacher who had been forgotten were being recollected by the entire school. It was a sort of closing for her. For the past two months nobody at school had remembered them. The fact that they would actually hold an event for them to cherish the memory finally closed the box on her nightmares. Those nights when she frantically tried to draw Seiko on her school note books but always failed to draw the face were finally over. "A memorial service?" Aiko raises an eyebrow for some reason. "Yeah." Satoshi takes over from Naomi. "Kisaragi Academy is still serving as a camp for people who lost their homes. But once it re-opens it wants to begin by holding a commemoration even for everyone who passed away there." "I see... how many people is it for by the way?" "Eh?" Naomi stirs and gives Aiko a confused look. Aiko was a spiritual information broker. She should know how many people died in Heavenly Host from their school. "Just our friends and teacher Aiko-san, so four people in total." Satoshi continues. "Four people..." Aiko folds her arms underneath her bosom in thought. "Complete erasure after all..." "Aiko-san?" Satoshi verbally pokes her. "Oh, sorry it's nothing important. I just wanted to double check something. The Nirvana's collapse might have had some strange effects on us. Don't worry about it." Waving it off Aiko finishes the last of it before putting its container back onto the table. "It's good to see you're both in fine health. Now, may I use the 'Mochida Hot Spring'? Taking a bath after eating is never good for the body after all." "Sure, I'll go tell Mom. Naomi, do you want to join her?" "After I finish my tea." Naomi replies. "Got it. Niwa-san, take your time." "Thank you, I will." ... ... ... A deep sigh, Niwa Aiko finishes undressing in the changing room next to the 'Mochida Hot Spring' built by her late sister. She looks around at the authentically built wooden walls and wide shelves containing empty clothing baskets. A sliding door to her left leads to the hot spring and the outside. Another to her right opens into the Mochida household. To be honest this room was more a wooden hallway with a row of shelves to one side. The only other furniture being a metal locker to the left of the shelves that contained cleaning supplies for the hot spring. To think all of this served as the private bathing facilities for only one family... "Well..." Smiling lightly as she undid the blue hair ribbons on the right side of her head, she mused. "Waste not, want not." Placing them on top of her neatly folded clothes in the basket, she picked up a towel and headed out of the changing room to the hot spring. The cool night air was a bit chilly but not unbearable. If bathing was her objective she would have preferred an indoor bath with controllable heating and cooling like the one she had at home. But her sister had this place built for a reason other than bathing, and she was planning to use it. This hot spring contained a large amount of naturally dissolved sulfur. This does not make it smelly. Many sulfurous compounds, such as hydrogen sulfide, are terrible to breathe in. However, the dissolved sulfur in this hot spring does not give it a pungent smell. Only the chilly air of the night enters her nose. Dissolved sulfur in springs has been said to improve skin condition, but neither Niwa Aiko nor Niwa Kuon intended for the sulfur here to be used to improve complexion. Sulfur has long been used as a reagent in magic spells and rituals. In this hot spring it serves as a repellant of spirits. That is part of the reason Niwa Kuon had it built. To help heal a boy she cared about. Mochida Satoshi A simple boy her sister had somehow managed to fall in love with. He and his sister were Heavenly Host survivors. This did not mean they came out unscathed. Yuka was still suffering from incontinence even 3 months after the incident. Thankfully, according to her mother, it was getting better. She no longer had to wear a diaper. Niwa Aiko shut the sliding door to the changing room behind her, before taking a seat at one of the wooden stools in front of a mirror and showerhead. Shampoo, conditioner, and body soap was already prepared a long with a small wooden pail. Before the invention of plumbing, people used these to pour water over themselves. Now it was more for aesthetic and atmospheric purposes. After all the feeling of warm water running over you is a refreshing experience. Looking at her reflection in the mirror, the locks of white on either side of her face catch her eye. Three weeks ago her hair was mostly black with a few blue highlights. Turning the faucet on, she began wetting her hair and the process of cleaning it with shampoo began. With enough to reach half way down her back this task would take a while. She had time though. Having taken a couple days off from work and school, these few minutes were inconsequential. When she was almost finished the door to the changing room opened again. "Aiko-san? May I join you?" "Of course, Naomi-chan." The sliding door shuts behind Nakashima Naomi with a clatter. Her feet pat across the flat stones surrounding the hot spring. Taking a seat to Aiko's right, she also begins to wash herself in order to enter the hot spring. "How's your eye doing?" Aiko asks as her fingers run through the last of the dark locks of hair that she had draped over her shoulder to wash. "It's fine right now. It itches sometimes when I put in the eye drops but I think its fine." "Good, make sure you don't scratch it though. The cut was pretty bad after all." "Don't worry, I'm being careful." Naomi finishes shampooing her hair at the same time Aiko does. With shorter hair she can catch up to the same point in washing as Aiko. They both fill up the wooden pails beneath the mirrors and splash it over their heads. "Aaaaagh, that feels good." Naomi says with a smile. "Indeed." Aiko agrees. Aiko uses another pail full of water to remove the remaining suds while Naomi begins conditioning her hair. By the time she's finished and emptied another two splashes of warm water to rinse out the lotion Aiko is still only half way done. "Want me to help?" Aiko looks at her for a moment before smiling and nodding. "If you'd be so kind." Naomi stands up, picking up the bottle of conditioner as she does before kneeling down behind Aiko. A palmful of peach colored gel is rubbed between her hands before she begins applying it to the untreated hair. "You've gotten a few more grey hairs." She comments quietly. Aiko gives a tired smile in the mirror. "I've been busy, that's all." The two continue to coat Aiko's hair in conditioner preserving its smooth texture. "Even then... Make sure to take care of yourself, okay?" Naomi's fingers release Aiko's hair. "I'll try." Naomi returns to her stool while Aiko rinses out the conditioner. Taking a bar of soap she begins to lather her body. "So how's the company?" Naomi asks. Bathroom small talk, it's been a while since she's done this. The last time she can remember being in a bath with someone was with Seiko. "It's doing alright for now." An evil grin crosses her face briefly before returning to her usual smile. "The board hasn't fired me yet." Taking the bar of soap in her hands as well, Aiko begins to clean her body as well. "That's good to hear. Didn't you say something about the actual CEO being useless last time?" Naomi scrubs her for arms gently covering them with bubbles. "He's been replaced." Aiko puts down the soap onto its dish before rubbing the bubbles over her arms. "The new one just stays out of my way and handles most of the social functions for me. As long as I don't go massively over budget or tread on one of our contractor's toes I'm free to do what I want." "I guess that makes you the actual boss of the place then?" Naomi's hands move to her biceps and begin to clean them as well. "Not exactly but I control what matters. We're not making as much profit as before but the key components are still in my hands, as they should be." Aiko finishes with her fore arms and hands and moves to her biceps as well. "That's kinda creepy when you say it like that." Taking the soap again Naomi makes more bubbles wither her hands. "I'm merely stating the facts as they are. Nobody else would know how to operate the spiritual research division or handle some of the information trading we're doing." Aiko mimics Naomi's motions, picking up the soap to replenish the suds on her hands. "Wow, was Kuon-sensei doing all of that by herself?" Naomi begins to wash under her armpits as she asks about Aiko's sister. "That person was a genius after all. She had my responsibilities as well as the current CEO's. On top of that she completed her teacher's course with top grades before becoming your TA." Aiko begins to clean her neck and shoulders first before moving to her chest. "I was kind of avoiding her, since she replaced Yui-sesei." Naomi also starts cleaning her neck and shoulders before running out of soap and reaching for the dish again. "I don't blame you." Aiko has to replenish the soap on her hands as well to finish cleaning her bosom. "I didn't know her for long because of that but I can definitely say she was a good teacher." Remembering Kuon-sensei inside Heavenly Host a sad smile crosses Naomi's face. If it wasn't for her nobody would have been able to make it home. "I couldn't imagine her as a teacher. To be honest, I never thought her capable of it." "You sound like you hate her when you say that you know?" "We had an interesting relationship." "You still cried for her though." Naomi remembers Aiko's face in Heavenly Host. On top of the bell tower that had been created in the Nirvanafied Heavenly Host, tears streamed down her face when she begged Mist not to kill her sister. "Of course, she was my sister." "I'm an only child so I don't really know the feeling." Stretching her arms behind her she begins to wash her back by rubbing it with her soap covered arm. She grimaces a little at the stretching as she tries to get to the small of her back. "Well..." Aiko pauses in thought, folding her arms beneath her bosom again. "To put it simply... it's hell if you're the little one." "Huh?" Naomi gives Aiko a surprised look. "If you're the younger sister life is pretty much hell for you. No choice in clothes, food, education, even future." "Was she really that controlling?" Reaching for the soap again, Naomi continues to give Aiko a questioning look. "Why do you think I became a spiritual information broker?" Aiko shrugs at her question. "Spiritual ability was the one thing I had that she didn't. Even though, she mastered that beyond my capacity as well." "But you still loved her right?" "I don't know." Another shrug. "That's why I say it's an interesting relationship. I guess making all those decisions for me was her way of caring. She saw all the best possibilities and wanted those for me. But in the end being too gifted in itself is a curse." "Sounds tough, but if you followed her suggestions wouldn't you have turned into a better person?" "Are you saying I'm not a good person?" Aiko raises an eyebrow at Naomi. "Is that something you should ask me?" Naomi replies with a wide smile. "Fuhuhu, I guess not." Turning back to the mirror Aiko begins to soap her stomach. "But my answer would be no. Even if all the choices she made for me were the best, people aren't made to be perfect. Failure is equally as important as success. For a genius who could learn and understand virtually anything in an instant she never understood the learning process that normal people have, the process of learning from failures." "But you said Satoshi was a mistake for her didn't you?" Naomi also begins washing her stomach while Aiko begins covering her back in soap. "I guess I did." "Did she learn something from him?" "Maybe something along the lines of 'Love is bitter sweet'?" Pausing at her thigh Naomi pouts. "Aiko-san is that a joke?" "Yes it was." "It's really hard to tell with you, you know?" "Having a natural poker face is a large advantage in the business world." "I think yours is a bit too good." "I'll try to tone it down if we ever play for clothes." "I'll pass, card games aren't my forte." "A shame, but I don't know to be honest. You're probably more qualified than me to answer that question. After all Satoshi and you were the last ones to see her." The hot spring quiets to the sound of soap being rubbed and the rubbing of skin against skin. "I don't know... but she was smiling when we last saw her." "I see, how fitting of her." The two continue washing themselves in silence for a bit. "Did you look up to her, Aiko-san?" Naomi breaks the quiet. "That was all I ever did in my life from the day I was born. Even when I hated her for being better at everything than me, I could only look up to her. I stopped following her midway, though." "Why's that?" "She was too good at everything. With her there I wasn't needed at all. There was no space for me and her genius in the world. So I searched for my own path and found my spiritual ability. After that I set out to be the best I could be in my own field, but that person achieved what took me months and years to accomplish in a matter of days." Aiko sighs once and closes her eyes. "I prided myself with my ingenuity but she took the same resources I had and made them into a full blown company." "Was it tough?" Naomi puts her foot on the other legs thigh to clean it. "A little, but I was half expecting that outcome. So it didn't surprise me as much as you'd think it would. I didn't quit after all." "Then why did you take over Kuon-sensei's company then? Shouldn't it be something you'd hate?" Aiko shakes her head as she bends down to cover her shin in soap. "It should be but it also exposed another weakness of my sister. In some sense taking over it was kind of comforting." "Because you could finally replace her?" "I'm not that arrogant, at least not anymore. I could never replace my sister, but taking over her role showed me something." "Like how tough the job was or something like that?" "Not at all, I've already been impressed by her genius. The workload didn't increase that awe. It was the weakness of the company that shocked me." "Weakness?" "Yes, my sister was too much of a genius. She raised Perfect Life out of the gutter to a large scale business in less than a generation. But as soon as she was gone the entire thing was on borderline collapse. Nobody knew what to do or how to act without her. That's why I'm glad I stopped following her. If I hadn't I would have ended up like that company, completely dependent on her. If that had happened there truly would have been no place for me in the world. I would have ended the moment she disappeared, almost like one of her own organs." Pausing in her lathering of her toes, Aiko ponders something internally. "Fixing that company is a sort of mental rehabilitation for me I guess." Shaking her head she sits up and begins to fill the wooden pail with hot water from the shower head. "So be glad you're an only child, having a sibling can be quite tough." "Satoshi and Yuka-chan seem fine though." Naomi has also finished coating her body in soap and begins to fill up her own pail with hot water. Sighing Aiko begins to wash her face with the remaining soap on her hands. "The Mochida family is an exception." "Seiko's siblings seemed alright as well." Naomi follows suit. She could use face wash later when she got home, probably before bed. "Those examples are all of brothers and sisters. I had an older sister." Aiko's hands probe the area in front of her briefly before finding the tap and turning off the hot water. "Okay, okay." Both the shower heads stop filling the pails and both girls begin to search for their pails of water, blindly. "You don't sound convinced." Finding hers first, Aiko splashes it over her face. "Well it's a moot point anyways, it's not like I can just gain an older sister and I don't think I'll get a younger one at this point." Naomi takes a little longer to find hers, groping around near her feet before finally finding it. "Well, I can be you Onee-sama if you want." She misses the teasing grin Aiko sends her as she splashes water onto her face. "I'll pass." "Oh, how unfortunate." The two girls use the pails two or three more times to completely remove all the soap on their bodies before getting into the hot spring. "So how is the company really? You had a really strange expression when I asked you earlier." Up to her chest in hot water, Naomi continues their conversation. "Oh so you saw that?" Closing her eyes in bliss at the warmth, Aiko continues innocently. "Well, I didn't lie. It's going quite well. I've even got my own personal dog as well." Her hair wafts around her in the clear water, letting the heat flow into her aching muscles. "A dog?" The shorter haired one raises an eyebrow. "Why'd they give you that?" "The company didn't give him to me. In fact he walked into my hands on his own." "So what's so good about that? I don't think you're much of a pet person, and anyways I don't see how a dog relates to a company at all." "They can be quite useful you know? Like sniffer dogs that can smell out explosives or illegal substances." "So is he really special or something like that?" "He's got quite a few tricks up his sleeves. I can't wait to send him on a fetch mission." Aiko's eyes sparkle a little in anticipation, like a child who can't wait to play with a new toy. "Just make sure you don't break any animal protection laws. They have feelings as well you know?" "I'll be careful. I wouldn't want him to collapse too soon after all." "Don't joke about that." Pouting briefly, Naomi releases the air in her cheeks with a smile. "So, what breed is he?" "Some sort of mongrel I guess. I can't really tell he was a stray after all." "So a mixed breed? Well I guess they're pretty popular nowadays. But don't work dogs need to be special breeds?" "Usually they do, but the jobs I want to send him on aren't too complex. He just needs to run after the ball I throw and comeback." "The more I hear about it the less I understand. Oh well, if it takes some of the stress off your shoulders then he's doing a good job." The two continue to soak for a bit enjoying the warmth of the water. After a while Naomi turns to Aiko again. "How's school for you Aiko-san? Paulownia Academy didn't close, did it?" "No it didn't, although we're still dealing with our own problems." "What do you mean?" "Our school lost two students as well; Ooue Sayaka and Saenoki Naho. I remember you said you met Naho-chan in Heavenly Host? Sayaka-chan was the friend that she did the Sachiko Ever After charm with. Since they disappeared outside of the school it wasn't held responsible like some others were. On top of that thanks to Naho's spiritual ability both of them were remembered long enough by the people outside of Heavenly Host for missing persons reports to be made and the family to emotionally prepare." "So they didn't disappear like everyone else?" "Their bodies have completely disappeared. No trace of them was ever found, but with Heavenly Host's collapse the knowledge of their deaths has been released along with the memories of everyone else who died there. All Naho-chan's spiritual presence did was to reduce the degradation. Their memories and information in this world lasted for a lot longer than most. Whether that was a good or bad thing is debatable though. If they had simply disappeared like everyone else Naho-chan's blog wouldn't have dragged in so many victims. Regardless, it was a number of months before Naho-chan and Sayaka-chan's photos began to disappear. So at least Sayaka-chan's family filed missing person's reports." "I'm sorry." Looking down at her knees Naomi offers her condolences. Ooue Sayaka and Saenoki Naho were Niwa Aiko's friends. She doesn't know how close they were but reminding someone of their lost friends makes a pang of guilt go through her heart. "It's alright. Getting it off my chest helps a bit." Aiko shrugs before continuing. "I attended Sayaka-chan's funeral last week. Naho-chan... Well she was disowned by her parents long before going to heavenly host, and since Kou Kibiki was her guardian... Long story short, since there isn't even a body to take care of, nobody has really had the need or will to pay their respects to her." "Eh?! What about her friends? Or her fans? You know, from her books?" "Naho-chan was never very social. Her only real connections were probably with Kou Kibiki and Sayaka-chan." Sighing Aiko leans back against the large stones, set around the hot spring. "As for her fans... In the end that's all they are, and even then she's not exactly a celebrity. Just a little famous for winning a couple writing prizes. She had talent but in the scope of things it's not enough to have a public funeral. Those sorts of events are only for the really well known. To reach that level of notoriety you need time. She never even got the chance." Staring up into the night Aiko says quietly, almost as if to herself. "I guess it's kind of fitting. As the one who lead so many to Heavenly Host she alone is left un-mourned, even when the rest are freed. So even if the memories of her aren't erased, with nobody to remember her in the first place, it's almost the same as them not being there." Continuing to look up at the faintly shining stars, her voice drops to a whisper. "She might as well have remained in Heavenly Host." "That's not true." Naom's harsh tone causes Aiko to look at her. Brown eyes lock with violet ones. The two girls stare at each other for a moment. "That will never be true." Naomi's gaze is strong, while Aiko's is resigned. "Don't ever say that. That she would have been better off in that place." Aiko relents and bows her head, breaking eye contact. "Yes, I guess you're right. Sorry, I was feeling a bit tired I guess." The two sit in the hot spring in silence. "I'm a bit surprised though." Aiko's quiet voice draws Naomi's attention. "I thought you of all people would actively hate her." "I'm not happy about her, that's true." Looking at her own reflection in the water Naomi replies. "If it wasn't for her posting that charm then none of this would have ever happened." "Then you must blame me as well I guess." "Eh? Why?" A surprised look crosses Naomi's face as she blink owlishly at Aiko. "The one who sold the information about Heavenly Host to Saenoki Naho was me." Violet eyes continue to stare up into the night sky. Naomi turns back down towards the water. The surface shows a blurry version of her face. "Yeah." She says quietly "I guess I should hate you." The chirping of a cricket and slight rippling of the water fills the silence. Neither girl moves, continuing to gaze at their reflections. "But even if I did, that won't bring back my friends will it? "...". "That's why I've given up trying to hate, or blame anyone. There's no end to it once you start. At this rate I might as well hate god for making humans in the first place if it exists." "You're a good person, Nakashima Naomi." "Not really, I had to lose something important twice to figure this out." She bends her knees to her chest and rests her chin on them. "Was that in Heavenly Host?" She nods. "I guess one was, but the other was before that. Back when I was still an elementary school student." Leaning back against a rock, it is Naomi's turn to look up at the stars. "Back then both my parents were busy with work. So they bought me a kitten to keep me company while I was at home." The water of the host spring splashes as a cupped hand pours some of the hot water onto her shoulders. "Her name was Mei and she was really cute. We played together a lot and she kept me company when Mom and Dad were late home from work." The chirp of the cricket sounds again, as another handful of water splashes onto her shoulder. "But one day, when my parents said they were going to be late again... I got upset and ran away from home with Mei for a bit." She chuckles lightly, laughing at her past self. "I didn't even get that far. Maybe down the street or the nearest cross walk. But at that time, while I was carrying Mei, I cried." Turning away from the stars she looks at the water again. "I told Mei that it was because she was there that Mom and Dad wouldn't come home. That because she was there they thought they didn't have to see me. I blamed a cat for my parent's busy work schedule. Stupid, right?" "..." "But then Mei disappeared, we couldn't find her anywhere. Whether she understood me or not I don't know. Maybe she just felt like leaving one day, she was a sort of indoor and outdoor cat." Looking up again into the night sky, her hands splash another handful of water over her again. "I should have learned my lesson back then, but I made the same mistake all over again in Heavenly Host. So I've given up on blaming things. I guess, the state I was in when I got back from Heavenly Host was also brought on by me blaming something as well." "And what did you blame then?" Aiko asks but her voice suggests she already knows the answer. "Myself. I couldn't forgive myself and kept on blaming everything on me. But this time I managed to stop before I lost anything important. Or... well... Your sister stopped me before I lost anything else. Satoshi as well, I guess." "Both of us really don't learn their lessons very well, do we?" Aiko's left hand caresses her right arm. The fingers cross over slightly discolored skin, faint evidence of scar tissue in the shape of a bite mark are on her arm and neck. They are a reminder of hubris she had when she first entered Heavenly Host, the same hubris that sold the information of the Shinozaki estate so lightly to Saenoki Naho. "Nope, but that can't be helped either. All we can do is give the best we've got." The chirping of the single out of season cricket rings in the night as the two girls soak in the water. A cool wind blows over their reddening skin and the peaceful quiet is interrupted by the sound of car going down the street. "I think I'm done Aiko-san." Naomi stands up from the water making splashing noises that turn to drips as she rises. "Do you want to come out with me?" "I'll soak for a bit more, don't wait for me." "Okay, but if you take too long I'm coming back." "Five or ten minutes should be enough." "Got it, I'll tell the rest to wait." "Thank you." The sliding door clatters once to open and again to close. The thump of bare feet against wood comes from beyond it. Once the sound of the second hinged door opening and closing echoes from beyond the changing room does Aiko begin her original intentions for the pool. Taking the lotus position in the water she closes her eyes in concentration instead of meditation. The water of the spring begins to glow light blue. Eventually her eyes open again and a tired breath escapes her lips. Cold sweat beads on her forehead, before mixing with the hot water of the spring. The water gradually loses its luminescence. "22.3% recovered... this should be enough. I only need to prime my own generating capability. Three days and I'll be back to full..." Sighing again she stretches her legs out from their crossed position and returns to enjoying the spring as it was. "I guess I can read through the files in the meantime." Looking up again into the night sky, Aiko smiles. "Naho-chan, Sayaka-chan, Inumaru-kun, sister... and that girl." Her thoughts wander through the people she lost. Even the one she barely remembers. "Never again..." The quiet voice vows strongly. "I will never again lose someone, ever." The Vice-President looks up into the stars, into the vast void of the world. A world as dark as it was light, as violent as it was peaceful, as insincere as it was honest. She didn't think she could protect all of it, she never wanted to in the first place. But if it was just this small bit, just the world around her. She would protect it, as long as her life allowed. Edited by Zaion, June 22, 2015, 11:47 pm.
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Check out my fanfic Corpse Party: Blood Drive Aftermath. I can also translate from Japanese to English. Open to requests. | |
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| Zaion | June 22, 2015, 11:53 pm Post #2 |
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FanFiction writer/Translator/Character Bio writer
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Double Date "Yaaay~!"
"Yuka! Don't go too far, alright? You might get lost again." "Satoshi, aren't you being a bit too worried? It's not that crowded today." "I guess not, but you never know what might happen." "I'm sure it'll be fine. Yuka-chan's got Satsuki-chan with her as well." Four people walk into a theme park, two high schoolers and two middle schoolers, the four survivors of Heavenly Host. Today, the four of them are visiting a theme park called Heavenly Host Highland. The name wasn't what drew them. It was the memories that Satoshi and Naomi had that drew them here. "That's not making me less worried..." Satoshi sighed. His sister had already rushed up to a cotton candy stall and was receiving an extra freebie from the mascot manning the store. Another girl, about the same age as her, runs up beside him and patted him on the back. "Don't worry Yuka-chi's Oni-chan! I'll stick with her! Even if some scary men in suits and sunglasses show up! I'll protect Yuka-chi's chastity with my life!" "Chasti-what?!" "Ah, haha..." Naomi laughs awkwardly as Satoshi splutters. "Now, go on and enjoy yourselves you too love birds! If you want, I can book a hotel for you tonight as well?" "Wh-What?!" "Eh?" Satoshi and Naomi both exclaim "Satsuki-chan!" "Oh, sorry! Sorry! It was just a joke! Just a joke! Don't scold me Yuka-chi~" "Satsuki-chan, you shouldn't say things like that, understand? You're already a middle schooler so..." Yuka's lecture continued with a pink cotton candy in each hand as the older pair watched with awkward smiles. "For a middle schooler, she sure knows some weird stuff." Satoshi says with a sigh. "Well, kids that age are pretty impressionable." Naomi encourages him with a pat on the back. "Come on, I'll race you to the roller coaster!" with that, she starts running. "Ah, hey! Look out!" "Kya!" Her left shoulder collides with a one of the theme park mascots, sending her onto her backside. A fluffy hand quickly reaches down to help her back up and she apologizes quickly as Satoshi catches up to her. "You alright Naomi?" "Yeah... Sorry, guess I got a bit too excited." "Did it happen again?" "...yeah." Satoshi quickly stands on her left side before taking her hand. "Tell me when it gets better, alright? Let's take it slow until then." Naomi blushes lightly before nodding back. Behind the two of them, Satsuki's wolf whistles started another series of scoldings from Yuka. Naomi's left eye occasionally goes blind. It doesn't happen often, maybe an hour a day in total. But when it does she loses all the vision on her left side. It wouldn't have been an issue if her sight turned black during those moments, but it wasn't like that. Nakashima Naomi could not realize if her left eye went blind. Opticians and neurologists didn't have an idea why it happened. The best they could do, was explain why she couldn't realize when her left eye stopped working. Human vision is the product of focusing organs, light sensitive cells, and automated neural interactions. The stimulus of hundreds of cells is collected and pieced together to make an image in the brain. Because of that, there is a lot of instinctive processing that goes on. The human brain refuses to 'not see' something. Even if most of the light receptive cells are gone, it will use the ones left to piece together the illusion of vision. Thus, even if Naomi loses her left eye, the information from her right makes her think she can still see. Her memories fill in the rest of the image. Earlier on, it caused a number of problems. She almost got run over once, but thanks to Satoshi she was stopped just in time. PE was difficult as well, playing ball games became impossible. When she lost her left eye, her depth perception would disappear as well. Before, Naomi used to be a pretty good player of any sport. Now, she'd often sit on the bench and watch instead of join. Thanks to Satoshi, she had managed to avoid being bullied in class. They weren't in their old class of Kisaragi students, and a person who sometimes ran into desks or bumped into things right in front of them was an easy target. His escort of her around those obstacles, and the occasional stepping on the toes of those who tried to trip her kept the drama around them to a minimum. The worst they got was the usual cat calls, wolf whistles, and jeers. One time, Naomi asked him if it would stop once they got back to Kisaragi. All he did was smile and say she'd still be stuck with him there. Niwa Aiko was still providing eye drops, but it didn't seem to be getting any better. It wasn't all bad though. As long as she moved slowly and checked everything with her working eye, she was fine. There were no problems at home and Satoshi was with her most of the time while outside. She had to be careful while cooking, but it wasn't impossible. Today was the last day before returning to Kisaragi Academy. As a sort of celebration, Satoshi and Naomi had decided to go to this theme park. It was the park that they went to with the rest of their friends. Who suggested it and why they went there was a bit vague, but they remembered they had fun. They couldn't just leave Yuka behind in that case, and when Satsuki heard of the outing from her, she quickly asked if she could join them. "Really, you and Morishige really couldn't take the roller coaster." Naomi laughed as they walked by it. "I don't think I was as bad as Morishige." "True, it was funny to look at you, but I only felt sorry for Morishige." "Weren't you laughing with Shinohara when you saw him on it?" "Oh, yeah. Haha! He was like a statue next to Suzumoto-san. Too bad we didn't get a photo that time." "What happened to feeling sorry for him, I wonder." "Well, he got over it in the end, so all's well that ends well." "Well, I guess you're right." The older pair walks through the park, as the younger ones zip between the stalls and stands that are open. Even though it's Sunday, there aren't many people around. It's not surprising. Not even a month has passed since the day the Entity Walls burst out of the ground. But, the two of them have already mourned their friends for months. They need to remember some of the good things as well. The trip to this park was one of the last things they did together outside of school, before October 27th. "Oni-chan, over here!" "What is it, Yuka?" "Let's get on this!" A small hand points at the Merry Go Round as blue eyes sparkle. "Sure. Naomi, wanna get on to?" "Eh?! Didn't you say that this Merry Go Round turns so fast it causes motion sickness?" "Did I? ... oh." Another memory pops up in Satoshi's mind. On that day, it wasn't just the students of class 2-9 that were there. Yui-sensei had been here as well. She was on a 'Let's polish your womanliness in order to catch a husband' tour at the time. Back then, she was about to join the tour on the Merry Go Round and he hurriedly directed the others away from it. There are some things better left unknown. Mochida Satoshi truly understood the meaning of those words that day. "Ah, haha. Sorry, I was wrong about that. It was a different one I was thinking about." "Hmm... Well, if you say so." Laughing nervously, Satoshi follows the others onto the ride. "So, where to next?" Having enjoyed the Merry Go Round enough, the four decide what ride to get on. "How about that?" Satsuki points at a poster board advertising the theme park's main attraction, a ghost house. "The Shocking School Labyrinth? Oh, that." Satoshi gives an awkward smile. Naomi looks at the poster and makes the same expression as him. "I... don't think I want to go there." "Eh~?! But it's the main attraction of the park." Satsuki exclaims. "Naomi and I've already been through it." Satoshi explains. "Things like that are sort of over once you've been through them." "Really! What was it like? Scary? Romantic?" "Satsuki-chan," Yuka interrupts "how can you want to go into a place like that?" and asks the question the rest of them were thinking. "Huh? What you mean?" She blinks her eyes owlishly. "You've already been in a real haunted school." Yuka fidgets. "So, it's sort of weird that you want to go in a fake one..." "Yuka-chi~, did you forget?" With her hands on her hips, Satsuki pouts. "I was unconscious most of the time I was in there, so I don't remember anything about that time." "Well, I guess it's all for the best." sighs Satoshi. "I'll tell you about what it was like, so maybe next time, how about that?" "Oh~, Yuka-chi's Oni-chan. Will you be escorting me inside?" She bats her eyelashes at him. "Huh? Me?!" "Don't bother, Satsuki-chan." Naomi puts a hand on his shoulder. "Satoshi's a complete coward when it comes to things like this. He even hid behind me while we were going through it." "Hey! I actually thought there was something behind that curtain back then." The accused mutters in his defense. "But there wasn't in the end, was there?" The victim looks at him reproachfully. "No, there wasn't." The accused admits his cowardice, and accepts his sentence of scornful stares from the girls. "Anyways," Naomi continues "it's pretty big inside. They say it takes about forty minutes to get through the entire thing." "Really! Oh, oh, and what about the ghosts? Were they scary?" "There were a few, but we couldn't really afford to be scared at the time." "Huh? Why?" "One of our friends went missing while we were going through it. Then, somebody told us that the place was actually haunted; something about a bunch of middle and high school students disappearing." "Wow, was it true?!" Naomi shakes her head. "Nope. It ended up that one of the staff members took her out, because he thought she was lost. The story of it being haunted turned out to be fake as well." A confused expression crosses her face. "I wonder who said it in the first place though..." "I can't remember who said it either." Satoshi nods, before freezing. 'I did see something scarier though.' He says internally. Yes, Satoshi had seen something scarier than a ghost inside labyrinth; the sight of Shishidou Yui, practicing how to scream and glomp cutely while being coached by an instructor of the 'Let's polish your womanliness in order to catch a husband' tour. "Anyways, maybe next time." The sole male of the group points a thumb at a different ride. "Instead, we can try the roller coaster next." "Okay! Let's go!" Satsuki dashes forwards as Yuka calls after her. Satoshi begins to go, before turning back and noticing Naomi hasn't moved. "Naomi?" "Oh, sorry. I was just... thinking." A forced smile appears on her face before she quickly runs after the other two. "Hurry up, Satoshi! Last one's a rotten egg!" "... Yeah." He follows after them shortly. After riding the roller coaster, Satsuki zooms towards an ice-cream vendor with Yuka calling after her. Satoshi starts to follow them... "Satoshi..." But a voice calls him. "What is it, Naomi?" Mochida Satoshi stops as Naomi stops. Her hand pinches his sleeve slightly. With her vision back to normal, she had let go of his hand ages ago. But now, her hand holds a part of him again. "Our memories of them are fading, aren't they?" "Yeah..." He knows what she's talking about; the fading images, the occasional blanks, the feeling that something's missing. They're forgetting the memories of their friends. No matter how hard they try, the passage of time is slowly stripping them away. Naomi's mouth tightens and her fingers clench. "Even though they're supposed to be some of our best memories, why are they going away?" Satoshi turns back to her and puts his hands on her shoulders. Behind him, Satsuki calls them to the next ride before quickly being silenced by Yuka. "Naomi." His voice turns her face up towards him. Her eyes glisten slightly. "We still remember that they're our friends, right?" She nods. "As long as we don't forget that, they won't disappear from us all of a sudden." His hands fall off her shoulder, and he looks away sheepishly. "Plus, it's no longer just us that remember them. The people at school, the teachers, and their families all remember them." Naomi blushes as well and looks down. She just realized she's been staring at his face this whole time. "Even if we forget some of the little things, someone else can help us get them back. All we have to do is talk about the fun times we had. Then they'll naturally come back, almost as if it was yesterday." A sniff and a nod is her reply. Her left hand quickly wipes away something under her eye and she looks back at him. "Ah, haha." She laughs. "What's with that last bit? Trying to be cool all of a sudden?" "Hey, it was embarrassing saying that as well!" Satoshi's blush deepens and Naomi chuckles at his face again. "Alright, alright. I'll let you off for now." She grabs his hand again and the two walk down the street towards the two that were waiting for them. "Satoshi?" "Hm? What is it, Naomi?" "Thank you." Midzuki Magari 5 hours later in an abandoned office building A black gloved hand flicks open a pink cellphone, before pressing one of the quick dial buttons. It rings twice before the click of someone picking up comes from the earpiece. The pink device is swiftly slipped under a lock of blond hair that covers the owner's ear. "Report." Midzuki Magari orders. She stands in the middle of a pile of bodies, dressed in white. Some are cut open, others are smashed like bugs, and a few are simply dismembered. The last survivor lies beneath her foot with her scythe under his chin. A bead of blood trickles along the side of the blade before mixing with the pool that has formed around her. Magari frowns at what the person on the phone is saying. "Were those their only reactions to the ghost house?" she asks back. The person on the other phone says something else. Blue eyes close and a heavy sigh comes is her response. "Well, that's enough for now." She says disinterestedly before glaring in front of her. "Keep watch over Mochida Yuka. Don't lose her like you did last time." The phone snaps shut and her glare is turned onto the person beneath her foot. "Now, tell me. Have you ever heard of the name, Takai Azusa?" "N-no, I haven't. Not at all." He stammers out. "Reaaaallly?" Her foot grinds into his back. Bones creak and he chokes and gargles while nodding his head. "Fine then." She stops crushing him and his throat wheezes heavily. "Have you ever been attracted to a girl with blond hair and red and blue eyes?" The sudden question causes the man to freeze for a moment before he shakes his head. Magari sighs again. *SCHLUK The scythe detaches his head from his body, sending a splurt of blood onto the floor like a bottle of freshly opened champagne. "Another useless lead." She mutters to herself as she steps off the corpse. Her heels clack in the dark room as she steps past upturned desks and broken computers. A pencil tin is kicked out of her way and it clatters down the fire exit stairs she heads to. The scythe is gone from her hands. "Maybe they really aren't doing anything with her." She stops and sighs again, before kicking the open fire door hard enough to dent it. "Ughhhhhhh, that's sooooo annoying. Seriously, can that bitch be any less useful?" She kicks the door again, this time tearing it off its hinges. The gong of it hitting the floor echoes throughout the building. "Oh well, there's today's experiment after all." Her muttering continues as she walks down the fire exit stairs. "Looks like that's not enough to trigger anything, if there is anything left to trigger, that is." A smirk crosses her face. "Come to think of it, that was around the time I switched from 'Project Dollies' to the Futhark. So, was I the source of all those rumors about the teenagers disappearing?" Black heels clank down the steps one at the time, as if intentionally announcing her movement. "It's too bad I wiped their memories during 'Project Dollies'. If I'd known something like this would happen, I should have at least put in a subconscious suicide command." Suddenly her hand whips out and grabs something in the air, before slamming it into the wall. "Don't you think so to?" Her hand squeezes, and someone starts choking. The sound of kicking feet and slapping hands starts. A gunshot crack, the sound of snapping bones signals the end of the sounds. The object Magari had grabbed becomes visible. A man in a white outfit holding a small brown booklet dangles from her hand. She drops the body and continues walking down the stairs. The booklet quickly turns black and begins to fade. By the time it's reduced to ash, Magari can no longer be seen. A/N: A more traditional date scene and Magari for some good old fashioned ultraviolence. This story is based off of the Corpse Party Drama CDs from Blood Covered Repeated Fear and Book of Shadows. According to them, Magari was searching for the Book of Shadows long before the events of Heavenly Host and had come into contact with; Satoshi, Naomi, Ayumi, Sayaka, and Tsukasa. It was during the events of Project Dollies that she learned of Saenoki Naho and gained an interest in her. This lead into the events of Corpse Party 0 CEMETERY with the Futhark. Both Project Dollies and Futhark had middle and high school victims, possibly spawning the rumor that Ayumi read about during the events of Heavenly Host Highland. The trip to Heavenly Host Highland took place somewhere in September for those who are interested. It was one of the last group activities that the class of 2-9 did together outside of school. During the trip, Suzumoto Mayu got mistaken for a quitter inside the ghost house and was escorted out by one of the staff. Since the Kisaragi crew didn't know about this (and thanks to Ayumi reading some bad rumors on the internet.) They thought that she had been kidnapped by a ghost which haunted the area. For those of you who do not know, Heavenly Host Highland is based off of the real live theme park Fujikyu Highland in Tokyo. It has one of the largest ghost houses in Japan, taking almost 45 minutes to get through. Some urban legends say that parts of the building were taken from morgues or demolished hospitals to add more realism, meaning actual ghost might haunt the place. (This urban legend was what Ayumi read and told the others inside the ghost house. The part of disappearing teenagers was CP-vers only rumor. It was, however, based off of the actions of Magari.) |
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Check out my fanfic Corpse Party: Blood Drive Aftermath. I can also translate from Japanese to English. Open to requests. | |
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3:30 AM Jul 11