Learning the blues. Act 3: Scene 2 revives from the grave

[TheTealeaf]

This scene was brought to you via the musical strains of Globus and their Epicon album and Heavenly and their Virus album.

Enjoy!

(Also I got distracted by Mirages fics)

Next update will likely be wednesday!

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Act 2

Scene 7

‘Shake, rattle and roll’

It’s another night of broken sleep. This is not good for my health. Broken sleep patterns for me can lead to very bad things.

I do manage to catch a couple of hours sleep but when my alarm wakes me at half past five, I wake shivering from the sweat sticking to me. I feel awful; my skin is clammy and damp, t-shirt sticking to my petite curves. It doesn’t help I’m suffering from lightning bolt like stomach cramps. I lie in bed for a few moments and rub my tender abdomen.

Mother Nature. Giving crappy gifts to women since the dawn of time.

Another cramp flashes through me and I moan aloud with the pain. Hot shower, hot shower I mentally chant as I stagger up and off my bed. I fumble and stumble my way into the bathroom and as soon as the hot water touches my skin it is bliss. The ache in my tummy vanishes and the clammy, sticky sensation on my skin is soothed away by the running water.

After the shower I decide to have some time in the bath. I’m up early, so I do have time to kick back and relax a little. Sinking into the water feels so soothing and I groan in relief. This was exactly what the doctor ordered. For a long, long moment I float in the water and let my mind think of exactly nothing.

I hear the bathroom door open and Fujiko strolls in, naked as the day she was born. She appears half asleep, exactly how I felt a few short minutes ago and she simply stands under the shower, letting the water run over her.

“Morning!” My voice echoes off the tiles and Fujiko shrieks and spins, falling flat on her behind under the shower. I hurriedly remove myself from the bath and help Fujiko up, water rivulets running over both our bodies. “You ok?” I ask rather lamely, feeling guilty for causing the fall.

“Nothing hurt but my pride and bum” Fujiko says ruefully, rubbing said abused posterior, “Wasn’t expecting anyone else in the shower at this time in the morning, especially you Ayane! Why are you up so early?”

I shrug, leaving the hot water of the shower and move away from the bathing area, beginning to towel myself down. “I owe some people apologies. I’m going to bite the bullet and do it sooner rather than later, get it over and done with before school so it doesn’t distract me in class” I admit.

“Who is it?” Fujiko asks, voice muffled as my towel is over my head.

“My brother for one and” I huff “Ibarazaki… I was a little spiteful towards her yesterday at the track meet”

“Oh?”

I wrap the towel around myself and sigh, “She asked Hisao to do something with her next weekend. Hisao let her down gently by mentioning he’d be taking dance classes next weekend. I butted in and told her Hisao had accepted my invitation to the Tsukino masquerade ball.” There is beat of silence as I ponder my next words, “There may have been a little… gloating involved. Hisao called me out on it later…” I trail off, a slight echo on the tiles.

I hear Fujiko splashing behind me as she says; “At least you’ve made it clear to Ibarazaki though I guess?”

“I didn’t have to be such a bitch about it though”

“True but you can hold a grudge for a long time Ayane.” I acknowledge this fact. Fujiko has known me long enough to know that I really can hold a grudge. It’s my main sin in a way I suppose but instead of my wrath burning hot and quick it simmers for a long time before being delivered.

I’m not perfect, far, far from it, after all we are all flawed in our own unique ways. I’m only human after all.

I wave goodbye to Fujiko as she slips into the bath and hustle back into my room. I pull on my uniform but not before taking precautions against Mother Nature. I dress, grab a book and my bag for the day and leave the dorms.

Although its sunny, there is still a small chill in the air and I shiver and wish I’d brought a cardigan or jumper out with me. I debate turning back and retrieving one but if I turn around now I will chicken out. I straighten up my shoulders and suck in a fortifying breath before crossing the rest of the academies grounds.

My destination is the running track.

It only takes me a few minutes to make my way there but it almost feels like a lifetime. When I get there in the early morning sunshine there is a lone figure running the track.

Ibarazaki Emi. I sigh and wipe my forehead, my skins feeling clammy and icky again. I wander nearer the track and stand under a tree that’s near the track. I decide to wait, let Ibarazaki spot me. I’m feeling too nervous to approach her directly.

Three laps later I see Ibarazaki begin to slow and as she rounds one of the track corners, I realise that she’s spotted me. She slows further and pulls up to a stop near me.

“What’re you here for Tsukino?” She asks bitterly, “Come to gloat some more? Save it, I don’t want to hear it”

If looks could kill, I think I would be dead right now. Ibarazaki glaring is unnatural. She’s well known as chirpy and cheerful round school so to see her glaring is really, really weird.

I do deserve it though.

I clear my throat and shuffle my feet. This is harder than it looks Hisao, I think, struggling to find the right words. “No Ibarazaki…” I say softly, not being able to meet her gaze, “I came to apologise” I look up from my feet and her mouth is open, looking as though she was about to yell at me but my apology has completely pulled the wind from her sails.

“Apologise?” She splutters, stunned by the turn of events, “Why would you apologise you’ve hated me since halfway through first year! Yet… you’ve won! Won before I even had a chance and you came here to apologise?”

I wince at the verbal barrage. “It… it wasn’t my intention to rub it in your face. I didn’t know that you… cared for Hisao until you asked him to do something next weekend. It… did get my hackles up especially due to uh… what happened in first year” I rub the back of my head sheepishly.

“I’m pretty sure you knew I’m his running partner” is the next accusation.

I nod, “I knew you were his running partner, Hisao had mentioned it. Also mentioned that Nurse had suggested it to help better his condition” I suck in a breath and look Ibarazaki square on. “I may not be your biggest fan Ibarazaki but I’m not going to stop Hisao from doing something that makes him healthier. I’d have to be a cold hearted bitch to do that”

That draws a snort from her “Funny, I always thought you were a cold hearted bitch”

Ok, enough is enough. “Look Ibarazaki, we don’t like each other but lets face it, with you being Hisao’s running partner and friend we are going to be seeing a lot more of each other. I know that Hisao wouldn’t want us to fight so can’t we just let bygones be bygones?” I ask, a pleading note in my voice.

“What bygones?” Ibarazaki huffs, “I’ve never done anything to you! Partway through first year you suddenly started hating my guts!”

That stops me in my tracks, making me swallow my angry retort. “Shinji” That name stops her dead in the water. “Kusanagi Shinji. Do you remember that name?” I ask. There is a hesitant nod. “He was a third year when I met him” I begin watching her facial expression closely as I talk, “he was on the track and field team, good at the marathon and swimming events. Started talking to me at lunches in the swimming pool, after a while he asked me out.” I suck in a breath. “Then my Dad died and I fell into little fucking pieces. I was out of school for several weeks and you know what I find when I come back?” I lean closer to her and hiss “Nothing. As soon as I got back he dumped me, then I find out he’d been seen flirting with you. Then two days, two days after he dumped me, I hear that he begins dating you.” I step back. “That’s why I’m not a fan Ibarazaki. I needed him at the time and instead you take him away. Let me be very, very clear Ibarazaki.” This time I get close and whisper like a razor “I’m not going to let it happen again” I spin on my heel and begin to walk away, fuming. Fuck my apology she can shove it in her ear and blow smoke with it. If she’s going to deny all knowledge…

“Wait! He never told me! I never knew!” Ibarazaki calls.

I stop and slowly turn. “Do you really expect me to believe that?” I ask mockingly, shaking my head. “I’m not stupid”

“No I really do mean it! It’s the truth, Shinji never said a thing about you and no-one mentioned it to me either!” There is a note of something, a tone in her voice that makes me hesitate and I feel the furnace of my wrath inside me quench with a hiss. I gesture at her to continue. “He just appeared when I was running, wanted some help with his sprinting as he was a marathon specialist and wanted some advice on sprinting finishes. I never knew he was dating you Tsukino, at least not until today” the sincerity in her voice rings true.

“And I never confronted you about it” I finish, my brain putting facts together for me, “I just fumed and grumbled and was hostile to you” I placed my head in my hands “What a mess”

“If I had known…” Her voice trails off.

“I know.” I say softly. “It’s not your fault. He was the prick” that draws a small giggle from Ibarazaki. I straighten up right “Ok, first, let me apologise for being such an idiot about the whole thing” I sigh and then stick my hand out “Tsukino Ayane, a pleasure to meet you”

“Ibarazaki Emi, the fastest thing on no legs!” is the greeting I’m given as she pumps my hand up and down. “But… just call me Emi” She adds. “You always sounds angry when you say ‘Ibarazaki!’” She gives a mock imitation of my slightly deeper voice and I snort a beat of laughter from my nose and she grins at me, eye twinkling.

“Alright Emi” I say, the word tasting and feeling unusual on my tongue, “So long as you return the favour and call me Ayane”

She nods and then her expression gets serious. “You were being honest yesterday weren’t you? Hisao really is going to this ball with you” There is a note of sadness in her voice and I wince. Yup, I was not a nice person towards her yesterday and as it turns out all over something that could’ve been rectified in first year. Way to go Ayane!

I nod and then add gently “We had been on a date the evening before as well. We’re… well we really like each other. I’m sorry Emi” I say it as gently as I can and I see her nod.

“You just treat my running partner right you hear me Ayane? Or… or I’ll find my spare set of legs and do something drastic with them!”

The threat makes me smile as she waves her arms around in exaggerated gestures. “I plan on doing nothing but treat him right” I say, a small smile on my face.

Emi nods firmly. “Good” She states, hands on hips. “He might act all tough but under that he’s pretty delicate” I nod, I knew what she meant. The look in his eyes he gets sometimes, the soft touches to his chest, the small comments he makes about hospital food, coffee, lack of friends, laughter and smiling, they all paint a not-so-very-pretty picture.

“Don’t worry,” I say with a smile. “He’s in good hands”

“Who’s in good hands?” Both of us jump in surprise and I turn to find Hisao behind me in his running gear, the red shorts and white t-shirt. “Are you two getting on?” There is a note of worry in his voice as he watches the pair of us.

Surprisingly it is Emi who answers Hisao. “We cleared the air and Ayane apologised to me”

Hisao seems surprised but a smile appears on his face. “Good! That’s good!”

Emi asks “Is it alright if I steal Hisao now? We’ve got running to do!”

I frown at her phrasing but answer, “Sure, so long as you don’t mind me hanging around. I’m going to need Hisao afterwards. I need to speak to my brother and Hisao can get me into the dorms”

“Sure” Emi says, “but you’ll probably be pretty bored just watching the slow poke here”

I smile and pat the bag I’ve got with me. “Don’t worry, I’ve got some literature to keep me entertained. You two go ahead and do your routine thing, or whatever you call it” I plonk myself down on the ground and open my book. The sound of footsteps moves away from me and then I hear the distinctive sound of Emis’ running begins, followed closely by the sound of Hisaos footfalls.

I lose myself in a book again, wandering the corridors of fantasy worlds and magic, battling evil monsters and banishing demons. I lose myself so much in the book, it’s only when Hisao removes the book from my hands that I realise he’s been talking to me. “Uh, sorry” I admit with a small chuckle, “Wasn’t paying attention, could you repeat what you said please?”

Hisao smiles indulgently and says, “I go to the nurse after every run, if you wait for me outside the boys’ dorms, after my appointment I’ll let you in and you can speak to Arashi” I bobble my head up and down in agreement and head over in the direction of the boys dorm whilst Hisao walks off with Emi in the direction of the nurses office.

End part one of: Shake, rattle and role.

[TheTealeaf]

Part two of Shake, rattle and roll

I must look an odd sight, sitting on the boys’ dorm steps, reading an English fantasy novel. I only manage half a chapter before Hisao gets back from the nurses office. “That was quick” I remark as he opens the door for me.

“It’s just a check up, make sure I’m not over exerting myself” Hisao says with a shrug. He leads me into the dorms and heads to his room. Arashi is in the same corridor as Hisao but on the other side. “I’m going to get a shower” Hisao says, “Little sweaty from the run, I hope you can sort things”

“I hope so too” I say a little morosely as Hisao waves good bye, darting into his room, grabbing his stuff and going back down the hallway to what I presume is the bathroom. I stare in that direction for a moment then turn and face Arashis door. I raise my fist and give three quick, sharp raps on the door, then step back a pace.

No answer.

Ok, he may still be asleep. Attempt number two, I knock a little harder. Thirty seconds later, still no response and I can’t hear movement either. I can feel a blood vessel above my eye twitching. Come on Arashi, you’re mute, not deaf so stop acting like a petulant child!

I step back and am about to begin really hammering on his door when I feel something hit my blind side. I turn to the right and Arashi is standing there, messily dressed a steaming mug of what smells likes green tea held in one hand. We simply stare at each other for a moment. “Can I come in?” I ask hesitantly. Arashi simply stares and then gives one long, slow nod. He moves past me and opens his door and gestures for me to enter.

Arashis room is always incredibly neat. Everything has it’s own little spot and placement, fastidiously neat and orderly. Even his dirty clothes are folded. It’s a rather different atmosphere from my room. There are no posters on the wall but he has some framed art up, reprints or replicas I think. He has a wide selection of books too but his tastes veer towards murder mystery and thriller along with his not-so-secret stash of romance novels. Lots of music CDs, a few DVDs and a laptop all lurk on his desk along with a small stereo and large set of headphones.

The door shuts behind me and Arashi moves further into his room. He sits on his bed and then gestures at his desk chair. I sit down at his invitation and fiddle for a moment, debating what to say to him as he takes a long slow sip of tea. Finally I settle with the obvious. “I’m sorry”. The phrase hangs in the still air of the room, Arashi and his inscrutable dark eyes never leaving mine.

Arashi slowly puts down his mug and signs [So am I]

I can feel my lips wobbling so I shakily sign back [Idiot! I hate fighting with you! We haven’t fought since we were eleven!]

[I know. I’m sorry] is all he signs before he grabs me in a hug. I can feel him shuddering against me and I can feel tears soaking into the shoulder of my uniform. I’m crying on his shoulder too, so we both end up with wet uniforms.

Eventually the tears stop and we wipe our eyes. [I’m sorry what I said about Dad. You’re right; he always wanted the best for us]

“Then why’d you say it?” I ask aloud. “You know exactly what I’m like Arashi, you know what triggers I have, so why do it?”

His shoulders heave up and down. A silent sigh and then his hands begin slowly moving almost reluctantly. He admits and I feel a sharp spike of pain go through my heart. Oh Arashi. [He taught you those songs, took you to shows, he doted on you]

I move forward and grasp Arashis hands. “He loved both of us,” I say fervently. “He learnt sign for you, it was his suggestion. He took you to all your sport events and do you remember when he decked that parent of that snot nosed kid that was always bothering you?” Arashi looks at me, long and hard and I press on. “Do you know why Dad taught me in private?” There is a shake of his head. “Because he felt that because you didn’t have a voice it would upset you. He was always worrying about you brother, constantly. Akihiro told me when you transferred into that new school he wouldn’t leave his office for fear he’d miss a phone call.” I take a deep breath. “That doesn’t mean he was perfect. We know he wasn’t.”

Arashi pulls his hands from mine signing [Short tempered]

“Loud”

[Always had to be right]

I grin weakly. “But he loved us Arashi. Loved us very much.”

Arashi hangs his head and signs [I know. I lost my temper]

“Something we have in common. It’s over and done with, I forgive you brother”

He signs, eyes watering again.

“Don’t start leaking on me again,” I warn mockingly before grasping him in a hug. We hug for a few more moments then withdraw from each other. “You’re the second person I’ve apologised to today.” A querying eyebrow is raised. “I also apologised to Ibarazaki… Emi, I was pretty mean to her yesterday, Hisao called me out on it”

[If he can get you to apologise, especially to the little runner, then I most definitely approve of cowlick]

“His hair is not that bad” I defend Hisaos adorable hair from my brother.

He simply gives a silent snort of laughter and then signs [I need to finish getting ready for school so unless you have some kind of…]

“Yuck! Going! See you at lunch!” I call out as I hurriedly leave Arashi’s room. Hisaos door beckons from across the hallway. I check the time. I still have nearly fifteen minutes before class. In four swift steps I’m across the hallway and knocking on his door.

“Who is it?” Hisao’s querying voice makes me giggle and then I faintly hear his footsteps across his floor, moving towards the door. “Its too early for council stuff” His door is yanked open and his eyes meet mine. “Oh. Good morning” He seems a little surprised.

“Morning again” I say with a grin, “Did you forget I was visiting my brother across the hall?” The sheepish grin is all the answer I need. “Can I come in?” I ask. Hisao doesn’t answer verbally; instead he steps to one side. I move into Hisao’s room. It’s his sanctuary from the outside world and student life, however it’s a little bare and bland. There are no posters or pictures around, no CDs, no DVDs, just a desk scattered with a few library books and…

That is a lot of medication. I do have a vague memory of Hisao mentioning he took a lot of medication but seeing it for myself is another matter. “It’s a lot isn’t it?” Hisao’s voice is rather melancholy as I turn to face him. He’s shut his room door and is facing me but his eyes are roaming over his pills. “Needed though. It’s all that’s stopping me from dropping dead on the spot” There is a dark look in Hisao’s eyes; the same one I saw when I first met him.

I hate that look, it’s an ugly defeatist look and one I see in my mirror some mornings, one that I know Hisao saw on me when I cried in his arms that evening. I say nothing and move closer to him, drawing him down into a kiss. He seems surprised and resists for a brief second before his arms draw me close to him and he returns the kiss with quite a need.

I find myself pinned against his wall, his lips hungrily devouring mine, with me returning the favour just. His hands stay on my waist, not venturing from there, which is good; kissing is one thing, groping another, something I’m not ready for.

I kiss him back just as hard, one hand tangling in his hair. He tastes so damn good. Tastes of his toothpaste, more than slightly minty but I’m getting something a little tart as well. I run my tongue across his lips and with a small intake of breath through his nose, his mouth opens. My tongue darts inside and I feel him shiver through the grip he has on my waist. Yes he tastes good, so good.

I think the tartness is pomegranate. Juice he had this morning maybe? I withdraw from Hisao, feeling a flush and a rush of light-headedness shoot through me. We pull back from each other our breath coming in short, slightly ragged gasps. “Wow” Is all Hisao says.

“Wow indeed” I giggle. Hisao runs one hand through my hair and I see he wants to kiss me again. I let him but this time, I return the favour and gently press him to his wall. This time is tongue explores my mouth and I actually feel a little week in the knees.

This is real life Ayane, not some stupid romance manga; you are not getting weak at your knees and euphoric from a kiss!

We are saved, or interrupted, personally I prefer interrupted, by the warning bell for class. We pull back from each other, both of our hair in totally disarray, I feel that my lips are bruised and slightly swollen and certainly rather red. Hisao is in much the same condition. We trade a look. “I think Shizune is going to interrogate me?” He says with a sigh.

“You think Shizune is bad? You should try Fujiko, she’ll try and get every little detail out of me!” I say in mock horror. We attempt to straighten ourselves up but we only sort the hair and slightly rumpled uniforms out. I dart out of Hisaos room and grab my brother as he leaves his room. “I was talking to you,” I say, grabbing Arashi. “I was talking to you and I was never in HIsaos room, clear?” He frowns but gives me a nod and we all leave the dorms, fortunately not running into anyone else and make it to class.

Classes pass with in a blur. I get my science exam back and miracle upon miracles I passed! I think I owe Hisao some more kisses for working his science voodoo upon my poor brain.

In English, Ms Miyagi informs us our new teacher will be popping in on Friday to have us for one lesson to introduce ourselves.

Lunchtime comes upon us in a rush. I didn’t make lunch this morning and neither did Arashi so Fujiko and I grab the boys, Shizune and Misha joining us down in the cafeteria. I need food; I’ve been feeling light headed all day, slightly wobbly.

We find some seats amongst the hustle and bustle of fellow students. Food is rapidly ordered and we sit down and eat the bland but filling food. There is some banter between Fujiko and Misha, with Fujiko also lightly teasing Hisao as she did interrogate me during teacher swaps this morning. Arashi is talking to Shizune and I feel a wickedly delicious idea emerge from the froth in my brain.

“Arashi” I call during a lull from the conversation. He looks up at me, a questioning expression on his face. “Remember the bet you made with me yesterday?” His face goes pale and I have to resist the urge to cackle madly. I make a ‘gimmie’ gesture with one hand. “Well I went through with it, so time to pay up brother dearest” I can see Misha translating for Shizune and she has an expression of approval on her face as I speak to Arashi.

Oh if only you knew the context Shizune. If only you knew.

“Not going to chicken out are we?” I say with a smirk. I feel my legs twitch under the table and I frown at the sensation.

Arashi has still gone deathly pale and then thumps his head on the canteen table. He quickly reaches into his bag, pulls out pen and paper, scribbles rapidly on it, folds it, scribbles on the front and then hands it to Hisao, who reads aloud, “The last will of Tsukino Arashi?” There is a confused tone to Hisaos voice and even Shizune looks lost when Misha translates.

[It’s for when Shizune kills me] Arashi signs flatly. He’s giving me a pleading begging look but I’m not going to let him wriggle out of this one. Oh no. No wiggle room here.

[Why would I kill you and what for?] Shizune signs, looking at Arashi curiosity all over her expression.

He gives one of those silent sighs again and then signs [For this]. He pulls Shizune into a kiss in the middle of the cafeteria just as agreed. He has one hand on the back of her head, another on her waist and you can hear a pin drop in the silence of the cafeteria. “Oh my” Fujiko says and the spell is broken. Shizune rears back from the kiss her expression oddly… triumphant.

Misha looks nearly unconsolable.

My brother just looks happy to be alive. [Finally!] Shizune signs, throwing her hands in the air [It only took you six months and a bet with your sister!] She then proceeds to grab my brother who was sitting next to her by the back of his head and then kiss him senseless!

My jaw drops, as does everyone else’s. There is a hushed stunned silence from the room. The Shizune, sometimes unkindly known as 'Deaf charge' by her peers, engaging in a public display of affection? This will be all over school before lunch ends!

What the… I look away from the sight. I do not want to see my brother getting his mouth inspected by Shizune at lunch. Fujiko pushes her plate away “I’ve just lost my appetite” She murmurs, turning her good eye from the spectacle. Misha looks fairly appalled as well.

“Ow!” Misha suddenly cries out, her eyes watering. “Ayachan why’d you kick me?”

“I didn’t!”

“Yes you did!” Misha reaches for her shin under the table and starts rubbing it. “That hurts! You’ve been twitching against my foot since we sat down!”

My blood runs cold. Shit. No, no, no, please not now, how can I have been so stupid? The light headedness and euphoria are all signs, my sleeping pattern has been bad, I think I forgot my medication this morning and it's that time of the month. Everything points in one direction.

I feel my leg jerk forward again and it impacts besides Mishas leg, hitting the seating instead. I don't feel the pain like I should, another neon warning sign.

“Ayachan stop it!”

I suddenly feel a horrific itch in my right eye and I rip my eye patch off, holding a hand over my eye. Even with my hand over my eye I can still see colours beginning to swarm and swirl around people nearby.

It’s hard to describe. If you were a spiritual person you might call it an aura but I know it as one of the signs I’m about to have a seizure.

I try to stand but my legs give way under me and I slam back down into my seat. I can faintly hear people talking to me but I can’t make it out. There’s a roaring, pounding noise in my head.

I can feel my chest tightening and I croak out “G-g-get the nurse!” My voice is strangled wheezy sound.

One of my arms has gone numb and my teeth are chattering. This is it, game over and checkout time from reality for some time.

I try to stand again and succeed for brief, brief moment and then I feel myself falling into darkness.

Going.

Going.

Gone.

And then there is only blackness.

End scene seven.

[AntonSlavik020]

Really enjoyed the talk between Ayane and Emi. Glad to see they've reconciled things.

Also, I had a huge smile on my face when Ayane brought up the bet she made with her brother, and his reaction prior to the kiss was hilarious. Shizune's reaction is a little over the top(kissing him back is fine, but mounting him in the cafeteria is a little much), but I still enjoyed it.

[TheTealeaf]

Really enjoyed the talk between Ayane and Emi. Glad to see they've reconciled things.

Also, I had a huge smile on my face when Ayane brought up the bet she made with her brother, and his reaction prior to the kiss was hilarious. Shizune's reaction is a little over the top(kissing him back is fine, but mounting him in the cafeteria is a little much), but I still enjoyed it.

Ah I blame the fact that I've just replayed Shizunes route. I can't get that first H-scene out of my head and it came through in my writing.

The little will thing has been bouncing in my head since the characters developed. It was one of the first scenes I'd had down on paper. It's changed and evolved since then but it's always been part of it.

I knew you would like the Shizune part Anton.

As always, thank you for your kind words!

[griffon8]

Agreed that Shizune’s reaction is over the top. Japan has a strong social pressure against such public displays of affection.

As people have mentioned before, your writing is quite good, but could use polishing. It’s never to the point that your meaning isn’t clear, but it does draw me a bit out of the story. Perhaps a small revision would be in order when you’re done, for the benefit of future readers.

[CloudGrain]

Ahh... How reality always manages to strike so forcefully right at the moment someone seems to have it all.

Very enjoyable, noticed a single instance where you misspelled Hisao's name (Hsiao) by what was probably just the usual ill-timed keystrokes, otherwise nothing came out and struck me as being particularly out of place in the spelling/grammar portion.

I'll have to agree with both AntonSlavik and Griffon that Shizune's reaction seemed... A little over the top perhaps for what we see of her in the VN by the same point. But, I can admit to actually being a little more partial to the idea with Shizune's later-revealed personality in the VN's route for her as being more true here; simply because of the fact that it's mentioned that the whole pursuit of a relationship has taken place over several months time. Otherwise, everything else seems pretty spot-on for what we readers might expect from the characters of both the VN and those you've created in addition to the universe.

Otherwise, definitely enjoyed the update. Resolutions of unspoken issues, hints at the past tying into both the present and future, all that good stuff. Also enjoyed the slap in the face at the end of it, the reality that they are in fact all at Yamaku for a reason being portrayed so vividly even in the midst of some celebrations.

[TheTealeaf]

Agreed that Shizune’s reaction is over the top. Japan has a strong social pressure against such public displays of affection.

As people have mentioned before, your writing is quite good, but could use polishing. It’s never to the point that your meaning isn’t clear, but it does draw me a bit out of the story. Perhaps a small revision would be in order when you’re done, for the benefit of future readers.

I've been hunting for a beta reader since the project began but alas no luck. I will go over and give everything a going over with a fine tooth comb yes once I'm finished. Act 2 still has another 8 scenes to go.

I've gone back and edited shizunes reaction, i should probably change the crowd reaction too (apart from the immediate friends of course) cultural stuff has been biting me on the bum for this project. I had forgotten about that taboo although i do believe that younger generations are more open to it.

Ahh... How reality always manages to strike so forcefully right at the moment someone seems to have it all.

Very enjoyable, noticed a single instance where you misspelled Hisao's name (Hsiao) by what was probably just the usual ill-timed keystrokes, otherwise nothing came out and struck me as being particularly out of place in the spelling/grammar portion.

I'll have to agree with both AntonSlavik and Griffon that Shizune's reaction seemed... A little over the top perhaps for what we see of her in the VN by the same point. But, I can admit to actually being a little more partial to the idea with Shizune's later-revealed personality in the VN's route for her as being more true here; simply because of the fact that it's mentioned that the whole pursuit of a relationship has taken place over several months time. Otherwise, everything else seems pretty spot-on for what we readers might expect from the characters of both the VN and those you've created in addition to the universe.

Otherwise, definitely enjoyed the update. Resolutions of unspoken issues, hints at the past tying into both the present and future, all that good stuff. Also enjoyed the slap in the face at the end of it, the reality that they are in fact all at Yamaku for a reason being portrayed so vividly even in the midst of some celebrations.

Mmmm that slap has been planned for a while. Been dropping hints for several scenes as well! Poor people, witnessing a grand mal seizure is never a fun experience! Cloud your reviews always make me smile.

Be my beta reader?

[Mirage_GSM]

Okay... a bit too much flowery language at the beginning:

Sometimes how I curse thee for thy gifts you bestow...
the clammy, sticky sensation on my skin is soothed away
I decide to indulge myself in the bath
I float serenely in the water

Any one of those would be okay (exept for the first one - that's also grammatically incorrect... okay questionable - but here it's just too much at once...
Also, I've never yet heard any girl describing their own cuves as "petite"

“It’s just a check up, make sure I’m not over exerting myself”

"overexerting" is one word

with me returning the favour just as equally

instead of just a little more or less equal?

Fujiko and me grab the boys, Shizune and Misha joining us down to the cafeteria.

"Fujiko and I" and "down in the cafeteria"

and partake of nutrition.

Flowery language...

Oh, and I agree with Anton that Shizune's reaction is a bit over the top...

[CloudGrain]

For the nominal fee of your soul, signed away for eternal servitu-

No wait, wrong script.

Honestly, quite flattered by your asking me, but I'd have to decline on the basis that I don't think that I have either the grammatical expertise nor the ability to respond in the timeliest manner given your rapid-fire posting habits. Especially once timezone differences begin to get taken into account, I don't manage to get home until what'd equate to something like 22:00 or later across the pond most weekdays, between work and a few other obligations. Toss in the odd occurrences of life and the like, and it'd be entirely likely that I could get a beta-level chapter and be completely unable to look through it with the attention that it deserves for twenty-four to forty-eight hours after you've already managed to do the same yourself. While a second-opinion through a beta-reader is certainly worthwhile, I don't think that waiting twice as long for a singular review as it took you to write the entire segment will do you very much good.

Throw in the fact that, once again I want to stress this, my grammar skills are decent at best and you've got the qualities of a fairly mediocre beta-reader at best. My own grammar errors tend to be much moreso in the overuse of punctuation and having extremely long-winded sentences. So they're one of the few 'major errors' that I'm overly aware of when reading things, and one of the things I don't notice in your own work. So besides catching the little errors that you might not see in a glossing over of the material you've just written, I'd likely be just the level above using spell/grammar checking tools. Probably wouldn't have as many false-positives and the like, but I'm no English Major who knows all of the rules and can spot something which violates them from a mile away.

So, in short, thank you very much for asking but I feel as though my involvement would likely be very detrimental to the rapidity which you manage to get posts up, while inversely being nearly useless in regards to improving the quality of grammar or descriptiveness at all. Wouldn't want to slow you down just to get the limited feedback I would be able to provide for you, especially since there are evidently quite a few others looking to get their fix and posting comments so shortly after you post an update!

[TheTealeaf]

Mirage: All those issues, fixed! you have eagle eyes!

Also Ayane has been beating me over the head about using purple prose. Which is Ironic as I can't see the colour purple!

Cloud: Thank you for the honesty. Mirage has offered to step up to the plate. Ayane wants to keep you in the loop though!

To my readers: First thank you for sticking with me so far. I understand that my work has minor errors in it but as Mirage has offered to beta, hopefully those minor quibbles should be ironed out with a slightly slower update rate.

Also after Act 2 is finished, I have two 'extra' scenes and are titled as thus:

'Akihiros day out (and Yuukos worst day ever)

The Yamaku dance A.K.A Hisao learns bass guitar

[TheTealeaf]

Enjoy! (For those anime purists, there is a large reference at the end and yes I'm aware it doesn't match KS and when the anime itself was published but I just had this mental image I had to type out...)

Also a massive shout out to Mirage for him beta reading this! Cheers!

------------------
Act 2

Scene 8

Sister morphine.

Beep.

Beep.

Beep.

Is that my alarm clock? It doesn’t sound right for it.

Where am I?

I can smell antiseptic, clean linen and a faint scent of lime from nearby.

My eyes refuse to cooperate with me and won’t open. I don’t think I’m at Yamaku anymore.

I can feel myself start to panic, breathing quickening and hands clenching. What happened? The last thing I remember is the… cafeteria.

Shizune and Arashi kissing, me kicking Misha in the shin and then…

The sensation of falling and blackness. My last clear memory before waking here, wherever here is of course. A hand grasps mine. I try not to flinch, but my eyes still won’t open.

“Hush Ayane” Akiho’s voice reaches into the gloom, the scent of lime becoming clearer. “I’m here, rest easy.”

“W-w-what happened?” My voice is rough, my throat scratchy. I sound terrible.

The rim of a glass is pressed to my lips, and I feel blessed cold water trickle into my mouth. I swallow greedily, but Akiho only keeps a trickle going. “You had a seizure,” she says softly as I gulp down the water. “It was a bad one according the nurse, and you hit your head on the table edge on the way down. You’ve probably got a concussion, so you’re in the hospital nearby.” The glass is removed from my lips, and I can feel my eyes responding slowly.

A crack of light shines into my left eye, and I hiss at the sensation. Akiho is sitting next to me and is placing the glass on a small table. She looks worried. There are stress marks round her eyes, and she seems tired. “How long?” I ask.

“How long what?”

“How long do I have to stay?”

“The doctors want to keep you for twenty four hours, just to check. You’ve been asleep since your seizure ended. Its almost ten pm now. You’ll be released at some point tomorrow evening after the doctors check you and only if they’re happy with what they find.” Akiho explains this patiently, her hand in mine, squeezing gently. “What happened?”

“Messed up” I croaked. “Sleeping pattern got screwed up, stress, period began. Lots of small things. It is still Monday right?” I cough after speaking and the glass is returned to my lips.

“It is still Monday” Akiho assures me. “So it was lots of small things. Why didn’t you talk to the nurse?” I give a small shrug, and Akiho gives a deep sigh. “Ayane, I do not mean to lecture you but surely you must know better than this. You’ve been managing your condition for nearly five years now!” I just give another weak nod.

There is another sigh, and the room falls silent except for the quiet beeping of the monitors nearby. I feel heavy and tired, aching all over.

Clonic tonic - or grand mal seizures as they’re more commonly known as - really take it out of you. I feel as if I’ve been thrown into a washing machine on rapid spin and then left to bounce all over the machine. My tongue feels heavy as well; I may have bit it during my seizure. “Hit my head?” I ask with a wheeze.

“Yes,” comes the prompt, slightly sharp reply. “Hit it on the edge of the table as you fell.” Another sigh. Lots of that going on today, sister. “I imagine the nurse will have some words for you when you return to school”

Oooo boy, I imagine he will. Probably some pretty sharp ones. I can feel my eyes drifting closed again. “Sleep, little one” I hear Akiho’s voice as if it comes from far away.

Little one… I haven’t been called that in a long while. As I slowly drift away into slumber I faintly hear Akiho’s gentle alto singing a childhood lullaby that Dad sang to me once upon a time as the currents of sleep pull me into the realm of dreams.

Angry voices and an odd sound wake me briefly from the grip of sleep, but I feel a hand run through my hair and a whispered voice says, “Hush, little one. All is well.”

I fade to black again.

***

I waken slowly much later as sunlight hits my good eye. I mumble and groan feebly, stirring and twitching in the bed sheets. A few more incomprehensible noises later my eyes slowly awaken to see an unfamiliar ceiling.

“An unfamiliar ceiling” I mutter, throat and voice sounding better. I am on my own in the sterile white room, a monitor steadily beeping beside me, my heart beating regularly.

Early afternoon light streams in from the window to my right and bathes the room in a gentle glow, offsetting the sterile tone of the private room. Crisp white sheets rustle every time I move around, and the noise is unnaturally loud in the room.

Flopping back into my pillow I wonder where anyone is. My mind immediately strays to Hisao. I hope he’s okay... I’ve been told witnessing one of my seizures is not fun. School should be finishing soon, so I wonder if I’ll have any visitors. I’d like to think I will, but who knows.

Faint noises from outside the room draw my attention. It sounds like Akihiro and Akiho arguing with someone. Male, gruff voice... sounds like a heavy smoker. Also sounds vaguely familiar. A memory skitters at the edge of my consciousness, and I frown.

My attempt at remembering is cut short by the door opening. Akihiro and Akiho stride into my room.Both of them have grim looks on their faces. What the hell has happened? Akihiro looks ready to kill someone too. I see someone in the doorway, and my blood chills. Amber shaded glasses and a beard.

Oh no, why is he here?

One of my four uncles, Kurosawa Gendo, is outside my hospital room. A lovely piece of work - violent, mean spirited and all around a general prick. The only job he’s been able to keep down is acting as my mother’s driver and bodyguard. He’s good at the second part as well, really good. I’ve seen him with my own eye spar and hold his own against various forms of martial artist masters. The man is fucking lethal, so why is he here and not at my mothers side like he’s supposed to?

Akihiro slams the door in his face then stands guard in front of it. “Someone get me up to speed” I insist. The sight of my uncle has shaken me.

Akihiro growls from the door. “Mother sent the asshole extraordinaire. Said it was because she didn’t trust hospital security, total bullshit”

Akiho smiles briefly. “You had some visitors whilst you were asleep just after Kurosawa arrived. He didn’t want to let them in. Arashi and young Mr Nakai insisted. Kurosawa suggested they leave, at least until the boys got the staff involved.”

“Really? I’ve seen how stubborn he is”

“That was until Akiho twisted his arm” Akihiro interjects from the doorway. “And I do mean literally” He adds, an amused smirk on his face.

Wow. Big sister is a bad ass. “Are they still here?” I ask.

“Down in the cafeteria,” is Akiho’s prompt answer.

“I want to see them,” I plead.

Akiho smiles indulgently, “Of course, Akihiro?” He nods and opens the door.

I see uncle lurking in the doorway. “Oh, uncle dearest” I trill sweetly. The glasses fix on me, his dead, fish-like eyes hidden behind the ugly shade of yellow. “Did mother put you up to this?” He grunts and says nothing, his gaze lingering on my sister. Mother is the only person who Kurosawa is afraid of, I think Akiho got added to that list just now as well.

Akiho sits near me primly, but I can see her muscles are tense under the shirt she’s wearing. She keeps casting wary eyes towards the door, where uncle looms like the shadow of an ogre or some other hideous fairytale creature. Less than two minutes later there is a large commotion at the entrance to my hospital room, and in a burst of movement people bundle into the room.

Everyone has come to visit: Hisao, Arashi, Shizune, Misha and Fujiko. I blurt the first thing on my mind. “How did you all get off school?” There is a beat of stunned silence, and then Misha bursts into her distinctive ‘Whahahahahaha’. That sets everyone off, and the room fills with giggles that make the room lighter.

“You really did hit your head” Fujiko remarks. “Schools finished, has been for a while!” I pull a face. Keeping track of time here is hard.

Hisao is the first to approach the bed, and Akiho rises, vacating the seat for him. He takes it gratefully, and his hand slips into mine. I squeeze it weakly and give him a wobbly smile. “Hi”

“Hi to you, too” is the soft response. There are bags under Hisao’s eyes. I don’t think he’s slept at all. “How’re you feeling?” Hisao asks softly.

“Like I’ve been beaten black and blue,” I joke feebly. I’m aware of people moving into a corner of the room and sister drawing my bed curtains closed, to give us some semblance of privacy“I’m sorry you had to see that Hisao”

“Don’t apologise” His words are firm and a little fierce. “Don’t apologise for something that is a part of you. It would be like me apologising for my arrhythmia”

“Is that what you’re taking all those pills for?” I ask, meeting his eyes.

Hisao’s eyes meet the ceiling. “Yes. I told you I had a heart attack when I was confessed to. My heart… It beats irregularly. If I put too much strain on it, or if I’m hit in the chest my heart could stop beating, and I will die. I’ll live a shorter lifespan than most people as well. I could literally drop dead any day” His tone is cold, clinical - almost as if he’s recalling it from rote his eyes never leaving the ceiling the whole time he talks.

“Is the running going to help?” I ask.

“It should. Help tone my heart up, get it better, fitter to help me live for longer” He moves his gaze from the ceiling. “I’m not sure how much time I have left Ayane, not sure how much time I can give you” He gives a very dry chuckle. “I spent four months in a room like this. I came to hate the same familiar ceiling day in and day out, the same walls the same smiling nurses. I came to hate it all.”

“Don’t you dare say that, Hisao” My voice is even, but the tone stops Hisao dead in his mental tracks. “Stop talking about time and dying,” I command. He sighs, and I grasp his hand tighter. “I hate hospitals, too, Hisao.” I take in a breath. “I have epilepsy. I’m not sensitive to light but other factors can give me a fit. I have to sleep right, take my medication; hell even having my period gives me a higher chance of having seizure. Hisao the first time I ever had a seizure I lost the use of my right eye.”

“How?” Is the soft question asked.

“When we were a little younger, Dad let Arashi and me work in his restaurant on Sundays and during holidays. We’d do little things, cleaning, peeling vegetables, some chopping and the small tasks you know? I was doing some cleaning, and I was going to mop the floor. I was using some pretty nasty chemicals, and undiluted this stuff is evil. I had my first ever seizure as I was handling these chemicals, and the type of seizure I have means my muscles spasm. I ended up getting some in my eye, and the rest as they say is history.”

There is silence. “I spent a lot of time in the hospital after that too. Not as long as you, Hisao, but long enough. Hearing the empty platitudes and words.” Time for some bluntness. “I don’t give a shit about your condition Hisao” He appears visibly shocked. “I mean I do care about the condition and what it means for you but I’m not measuring time Hisao. I can have a seizure anytime if I’m not careful, and that could kill me if I fall wrong, or I could choke to death.”

I pull his head to me and give him a slow, sweet kiss. “Don’t do this to yourself, Hisao. Don’t drive the people you care about away. Recently I’ve realised I tried to do that when Dad died, and it was only due to people’s sheer stubbornness that they stayed. Don’t push me away. Please”

The last word is a whispered plea, and this time it is Hisao who cracks and breaks, he flops to the side of the bed, sobbing faintly. I whisper sweet nonsensical nothings and gently run my hands through his hair.

He looks up at me a few moments’ later, eyes wide and watering. “Why?”

“Why what?”

“Why approach me that day?” He asks.

“I thought what was happening was unfair.” I say, recalling the day in question. “You looked lost, unsure, and the pressure from Lilly and Shizune wasn’t helping things. I just wanted to help. Wanted to help you smile... You looked like you hadn’t smiled in a long time.” I smile gently. “Sorry it’s mostly gibberish.”

He shakes his head softly and pulls his chair closer, head sinking into my side, breath tickling the side of my breasts through the thin hospital gown.

“You also reminded me of me,” I add. “You had the same look I wore after Dad died. I know that I’m broken in a way, still am, and I know it sounds silly, but with you, Hisao, I can feel that break mending slowly.”

He says nothing again but kisses me softly on my cheek. I cup one cheek in my hand, and he leans against it with a small sigh.

“I’m sorry about scaring you.”

“Don’t be,” is his soft, almost sighed reply. “Don’t be sorry. Yes, it scared me, I had no idea what was going on, but don’t apologise for it. That would be like apologising for the sun shining or water being wet.” That earns a small giggle from me. “I was just worried about you when that… person in the glasses tried to stop me from getting in to see you. He looked like he wanted hit me, but your sister stopped him”

Kurosawa, you monumental prick. “That,” I say with a sigh, “delightful example of humanity is my uncle Kurosawa Gendo. Please don’t antagonise him. He’s a rather dangerous person when he wants to be, and the only person keeping him on a leash is my mother”

“I already realised he was dangerous when I met him”

“Good, this is a great example of why my family is toxic. He’s exhibit A” I say with a nod to the door.

“Are they all like him?”

I snort, “No. In some ways he’s the easiest to deal with as he’s so blunt. The others are more manipulative, twisting words and stabbing you in the back.”

“You are not exaggerating, are you?” Hisao asks, eyes narrowed.

I shrug. “Maybe a little, I am rather jaded and cynical when it comes to my family. I’d like to spend summer with you,” I say out of the blue, the idea seeming more and more appealing.

“I don’t think I’ve spoken to my parents since I’ve started” Hisao admits, seeming slightly shocked.

“You should probably call them,” I say with a small smirk “Tell them about the pretty girl you’ve got hanging off your arm and snogging you in your room”

“Sneaking into Hisao’s room? My how bold!”

Hisao and I both flush red and turn to the intruder. Fujiko is poking her head through the curtains and grinning at the juicy piece of gossip I’ve dropped in her lap.

“Please tell me my siblings didn’t hear that” I say in a stage whisper.

“Just the one!” Fujiko chirps, leading Shizune, Misha and Arashi into the room. “The other two are outside having a smoke!”

“Akiho smoking?” I ask.

[She’s stressed] Arashi signs. [Not surprised]

“The ball” I say with a nod. “Akiho hates going back home” Arashi gives me a nod at this, and I see interest in others’ eyes. “Speaking of the ball, given an invite yet?” I ask cheekily. Arashi frowns at me and makes a chopping motion at his throat. Fine, fine, I’ll let you off. I see Shizune has that bobcat grin again. She knows full well what we’re on about, and she knows that invite is as good as hers. Just hope she’s ready to deal with the storm that comes with the ball.

“So?” Misha asks, “When are you coming back to school?”

“Sometime later this evening I think. Doctors will want to check me, see how my head is.” There are pleased nods after this, and we engage in small talk for few minutes. The thing on the grapevine at the moment is - surprise, surprise - Shizune and my brother. Some of the reactions have been hilarious, and I do wish I hadn’t missed them.

Shizune has already had to state to several people via Misha that public displays are still not allowed. Most of the male population seems to be congratulating Arashi on still keeping his manhood after that stunt.

“Can we enter, or is it gossip fucking central?”

“You can come in, Akihiro,” the whole room says in odd unison. There is beat of silence, and then we all burst into laughter.

“That was fucking creepy,” my brother murmurs as he slides into the room. Starting to get a little crowded in here now.

“Hey,” I call out to him as he moves over to the window. “How’s your dancing?”

“It’s okay.” Akihiro says, an odd look in his eyes. “Why you asking?”

I jerk my thumb at Hisao and myself. “I’m rusty, and he needs to learn.”

Hisao grimaces and nods in agreement.

“Oh. Given him the plus one then?” I nod and Akihrio call Akiho in. “What’re you doing on Sunday?”

“Not much,” is the response from Akiho. “Probably a little organisation for later in the month.”

“Fancy teaching these two to dance?” Akihiro asks with a sadistic grin.

Akiho nods and turns a querying eye at Hisao. “So, you’re going to meet the rest of the family?”

“So I’ve been told.” Hisao gives a nervous laugh.

“I’ll meet you at school and pick you up,” Akihiro says. “One p.m. sharp”

With that arranged we all begin to chatter again. Uncle is ignored as he lurks in the corridor outside.

We talk for about fifteen to twenty minutes, before a doctor comes bustling in and removes everyone except for Akiho and Akihiro. I’m poked, prodded, get those funny penlights shone in my good eye and asked various questions.

Eventually I’m given the all clear and am allowed to be discharged - not without the stern warning to come straight back to hospital if I feel any light-headedness, dizziness, nausea or double vision. I dress, leave my room and head down to the entrance, Akiho and Akihiro by my side.

Uncle trails behind at a short distance, like a particularly unpleasant shadow. When we reach the entrance I’m stunned to find everyone still waiting for me. “I thought you headed back to school!” I can feel tears building in my eye. These are good friends, and some of them I’m ashamed to admit I didn’t particularly think much of a couple of weeks ago.

“We’re your friends, Ayachan!” Misha cheers, giving Fujiko a one armed hug. “Of course we’re going to wait! The doctor said you’d be sent home soon.”

Home. An odd feeling rises in me. Is home Yamaku? No, not really. “Dummies,” I say, “home is with you guys!” That draws smiles from everyone.

“Do you have your car nephew?” The gravelly low voice of my uncle lances through the conversation like a pin popping a balloon.

“I ain’t your fucking nephew” Akihiro snarls at Kurosawa. The angry retort draws no emotion from uncle, apart from a slightly raised eyebrow.

“Do you, or do you not have your car?” Is the calm question asked again.

Akihiro relents. “Yes.” he says through gritted teeth.

“It’s alright” Hisao says, meeting my uncles gaze evenly. “School is not that far away and it’s still early enough for the bus”

I see people nodding and clustering around me protectively, like a herd protecting an injured member from a predator. “We’ll take the bus” Fujiko says. I can hear the waver in her voice.

Uncle measures us all with his steady, implacable gaze and then finally, as if a judge delivering the verdict to a condemned criminal says “Fine. Do as you will” He turns on his heel and heads towards the carpark.

The tension in the air dissipates. Akihiro and Akiho make their goodbyes, reminding Hisao and I about our Sunday appointment with them.

We find our way to the bus stop from the hospital and take the bus back to Yamaku, my head on Hisao’s shoulder, half awake, half asleep as the bus rumbles back to the academy. I drift off halfway through the drive.

***********

We walk to the gates from the bus stop. I can feel myself yawning still. Having a seizure takes a lot out of you, and I’m still feeling the aftermath.

“Looks like Ayachan needs her bed!” Misha chirps.

I nod, give Hisao a kiss on the cheek and stumble off to the girls’ dorms, leaning on Misha on the way. When I reach my room, the siren song of my bed is too much to resist, and I’m asleep before my head even hits the pillow.

When I wake up and look at my clock I realise that I’ve missed most of Wednesday. There is a note slipped under my door, though, and it tells me that the nurse is expecting me at some point today in his office. Joy.

Well no time like the present. I shower and dress and take a slow walk over to the nurses’ office. I knock, and the nurse’s voice beckons me to enter. He spots me as I enter the small room. “Ah, Ms Tsukino” He says, picking up, what I presume is my file and opening it. “Sit, sit,” He says, gesturing at the bed. I plonk down on it and say nothing as he gets up from his computer and comes to stand in front of me.

“Well” He says eventually, “Had an eventful day on Monday, didn’t we?”

“You could say that.”

He frowns. “Ayane you haven’t had a seizure in nearly a year, then this one comes out of the blue. You normally spot the symptoms well before this and come to me, and we work at it. What happened?”

I sigh. “I got distracted. Sleeping pattern has been off for several weeks, stressed and my period started. I know it’s not a huge factor but I know it can influence things.” I look from the floor and spot nurse frowning.

“That’s not good Ayane. What’s been wrong with your sleeping routine? You know how important it is for you to have a regular sleeping pattern” Nurse presses on, and I realise he’s taking notes.

“Nightmares. Worrying about stuff. Usual things. Not something that’s an easy fix.”

“Of course not. I don’t want to give you sleeping pills –“

“I won’t take them anyway” I interject. “I don’t want to become dependent on them”

Nurse nods amicably, more notes being jotted down. “Well that’s one reason, and medication interaction is always a tricky thing.” He pins me with a serious gaze. “You need to keep to a sleeping schedule Ayane. It really does help. Of course getting a boyfriend might mess around with that sleeping pattern.”

My head shoots up, jaw hanging. “How?” I sputter.

The nurse laughs. “The aloof, lonely Ms Tsukino, approaching the new transfer student and being seen with him at the festival? Tongues will wag Ayane, and I have spies everywhere!” He has a ‘eureka’ moment, turns around to his desk and rattles around with something in his drawer. He spins and holds up a box and a piece of paper with a broad grin. That’s a… I feel blood rising to my cheeks.

That smug bastard nurse has a box of condoms in his hand. He’s still grinning as he throws the box at me. I catch it and fumble the box due to my poor depth perception. I pick it up and I can feel a scowl on my face. “What’s the piece of paper” I ask grumpily.

“A prescription for oral contraceptives” Is the cheerful reply. “Should help with your monthlies too, I know you’ve complained about cramps before” I stare at the paper as if it’s a vile animal of some kind.

“Not sure whether I should thank you or curse you,” I say aloud as I take the paper and rapidly scan it and sign it.

“How about neither?” The nurse says wryly and then presses a small A5 journal in my hand, taking the prescription from me. “Record your sleeping patterns for the next two weeks then come back to see me, and we’ll talk shop alright? Now shoo.” I take that as a dismissal and hop off the bed and leave. I’m halfway down the corridor when I realise that I’ve got the incriminating box still in my hands.

I look down at the offending item and make a snap decision. I sprint back to my rooms, blushing the whole time. Damn you nurse for your sensible precautions!

When the item in question is hidden away, I make myself something to eat - just a quick snack - and take a nap.

My phone ringing awakens me. Yawning widely I pick up and answer with a sleepy “Hello?”

“Evening Ayane.” Hisao’s smooth voice wakes me up better than a shot of espresso.

“Evening Hisao,” I say sweetly. “How are you?”

“Tired but feeling good,” is the simple reply.

I consider things for a moment then ask. “Want to come over?” I ask.

“Okay…” Hisao sounds a little hesitant.

“I’ll order some take-out, and we can lounge around and watch some anime. Come on… We can have a lazy evening. It’ll be fun!” I whine gently, trying to persuade him.

“What kind of take out?” Is the first question.

“There’s a pizza place in town, it’s not bad”

“Haven’t had a pizza in a long while” Hisao says wistfully. “Oh alright you’ve twisted my arm, just don’t let Emi know about the pizza”

“You can have an off day,” I say with a chuckle. There is a noise of agreement from Hisao. “Right, see you in a little while? I’ll order the pizza now”

“Sure. See you in about fifteen minutes?”

“Okay.” I hang up. I dial up the pizza place and place an order for a large pepperoni pizza. Very American, but I’m having an odd craving for it.

Hisao turns up about fifteen minutes later. I welcome him into my room, and I wave the choice of anime at him.

“It’s pink,” is his first reaction.

“Mmmmm hmmmm”

“It’s a magical girl anime. You want me to watch a magical girl anime with you. Surely Fujiko would be a better choice?”

“Not for this one” I grin. “Trust me. You’ll like it. Please?”

Hisao gives in, and I pop the DVD in.

We’re partway through episode two when the pizza arrives. I nip to the gate to pick it up, taking it back to my room. We tuck in, and the series continues.

We get to the end of episode three. I pause it, and Hisao turns to me. “Did that just happen?”

“Yup” I grin.

“In a magical girl anime a character just got their head bitten off” His tone is amazed, shocked and slightly awed.

“Want to watch the rest?” I ask with a grin. Hisao nods, and we settle back onto my bed, arms looped around each other and watch the rest of the series.

Hisao’s reaction to one character’s explanation of entropy is hilarious. He actually rants for a whole minute before we continue on with the series.

When the series runs to a close, he stays the night on the futon I have. We give each other a small kiss goodnight and drift to sleep.

A nice way to recover from a bad Monday. Anime with the boy I like.

Not a bad way to drift to sleep at all.

End scene 8.

[AntonSlavik020]

I could totally see Nurse throwing a box of condoms at a student like that. Makes me wonder if he brought it up with Hisao too(knowing him, it's almost a certainty), and whether or not he did the same thing to Hisao, minus the oral contraceptives of course.

[CloudGrain]

Another solid act to add to the collection, definitely enjoyed it.

Finally being exposed to at least a tangential bit of the source of Ayane's cynicism (her less-direct family). Having a few little barriers broken down between Hisao and her in regards to their respective conditions. Cool stuff, tearing down a few walls and breaking normalacy in order to reinstate it a little differently. It was fantastic to check my phone getting out of work and realize you'd gotten an update out that I could read when I got home; and it certainly didn't disappoint on any level. Always stoked to see an update of yours out, usually manages to leave me with some sort of a grin at the end of the act.

Definite props to Mirage as well, looks like the little errors that I might usually find were already hammered out by him (and probably even more I wouldn't notice).

[griffon8]

I have yet to get around to watching it, but I’m sure that the anime mentioned is Puella Magi Madoka Magica.

[TheTealeaf]

Indeed it is, although I snuck two Evangelion references in there as well. One very blatant and the other a bit more sneaky.

I just had the mental image of Hisao raging at the inaccurate science of one of the chracters and couldn't resist, even though the release date of Madoka was in 2011, I couldn't resist. I know the time line is inaccurate but meh the idea was too funny for me.

And everyone, thank you for the feedback so far, it all helps! Scene 9 will be off to Mirage tonight, so hopefully update tomorrow!

Love you all!