Chapter 11
“Aika-chan,” Koharu said solemnly, laying a hand on my shoulder. “People are starting to arrive.”
Despite her words, I continued staring out into the small lake, nestled as it was among the trees of Peace Park. I’d only been here once before, and just like then I thought it quite an eerie place that seemed to deaden any sound created within it. It felt hollow… like you could go in and lose yourself and never find your way out, even though the clearing over the lake let in a satisfying amount of light.
The park itself was a monument to an age, one that had been created long before I was born, but it was the lake that was the cause of the oppressive thickness. It was called the Lake of Light, and it held a very special, if solemn, purpose for those living on the streets of the City.
“Aika-chan…” Koharu repeated again, and I felt her hand tighten on my shoulder.
“Okay,” I said, wondering what emotion I should be feeling, because for some reason, I hardly felt anything.
Turning around, I followed Koharu toward the small gathering of people, not looking back at the lake. I’d see it once again soon enough. So far the only ones there were my mom and her boyfriend, a few other friends of hers, a somewhat nervous-looking priest in simple black robes, and my grandmother, who I don’t think has looked in my direction once since she came here.
Not that I blame her. She’s looked after the families of several children, even my sister and me when we were younger and needed more looking after. It’s not that she doesn’t love me – she’s different than my mom – but she still thinks I’m the little baby she used to take care of, so only really pays attention when I need help with something.
I turned to see Koharu smiling supportively at me. Perhaps she thought I had all the help I needed today.
We arrived to silence at the small table which held a simple urn set atop a plain white tablecloth. Even though I tried not to look at it, my eyes kept being drawn to the urn. Still, I did my best not to cry. That too would come later.
As Koharu said, there were some people arriving, although I only vaguely recognized a few of them as some of my mom’s friends. In the meantime Koharu and I exchanged a few words every so often. Once again I felt very thankful she was there, because otherwise I would have felt very alone in this crowd of adults generally doing their best to ignore me. I think they thought that if they ignored the kids around here, the problems they caused would just disappear somehow.
Suddenly Koharu gasped my name, and I glanced to see her pointing toward one of the approaching sidewalks. Three people were walking down it, and I didn’t give it much thought at first thinking it was more guests until I realized they were all a bit short for adults. Then I recognized the faces and gasped as well.
I felt Koharu’s hand tighten around my arm in worry. She of course didn’t know Ai-chan and Reina like I did, and so had mostly just their reputations to go by. Those were reputations that would strike fear in almost anyone. I blinked at the third one in pure surprise, but after a moment’s adjustment started forward, pulling Koharu along with me.
“Aika…” Koharu said in a low voice, clearly unenthused to be going out to meet these girls.
“It’s okay,” I comforted. “They’re my friends too now, remember? Come on…”
“But I don’t know if they’re my friends…” she responded.
Flashes of what I thought before about Ai shooting her down without hesitation went through my head, but were quickly banished since I knew this was a very different situation. Here they were the outsiders. Or, at least, this could not in any way be called their home.
We met up with them just as they broke from the sidewalk for the small sheltered grove, and Ai nodded to me. “I’m sorry,” was all she said, as she gave me that penetrating gaze I knew all too well.
“Me too,” I said, and then looked to her companions.
I just couldn’t keep my eyes off the third girl, who I barely even recognized now that she was wearing an all black dress, even though it was in the same fashion as her white. “What are you doing here?” I asked. I didn’t think she’d been that close to my sister.
“She just wanted to come,” Ai answered in her place, and I glanced back to the older woman. “It’s good to have a few friends around when coming to a place like this. I thought of bringing Jun and Lin, but when she volunteered I thought three would cause less of a stir than four. I don’t want to be a bother.”
Well, that certainly explained why Reina was there too. I glanced at her – she was wearing black slacks with a white shirt and black jacket. I think it was leather, but at least the thought was right. I wondered how many weapons she had hidden under it.
“You’re not a bother,” I reassured, but Ai just bowed her head.
“YOU!” came a loud and almost shrieking voice from back in the grove. Koharu and I jumped, she clutching my arm even tighter to where it felt like she was cutting off circulation. I turned quickly to see my mom marching toward us, her boyfriend and a couple friends in tow.
When she reached our small gathering she stood beside me, radiating fury, and I could tell it was only an amount of fear that kept her from slapping Ai with everything she had. “What are you doing here? This is all your fault, you know! You and those… those… children of yours,” she spluttered, glancing at the defiant faces of Reina and Mano as well. Oddly, it looked like Mano had reached out to hold Ai’s arm in a similar manner to how Koharu held mine. Groping even her leader… I thought in amazement. It was a wonder the girl hadn’t been shot by now.
“Risa was very dear to me,” Ai said in a flat voice, her face devoid of emotion. “I haven’t been able to… mourn… since I heard of her death. I thought that until now it should just be kept within the family.”
Mom burst out in a sudden disbelieving fit of laughter. “Mourn…?” she asked in her own amazement. “Somehow it’s funny thinking of someone like you doing that.”
“And what exactly is that supposed to mean?” Reina shot back, still defiant.
“She’s just as human as you are!” Mano protested vigorously.
Mom looked among the three girls, seemingly not knowing which to lash out at next, while Ai reached her arms out to her sides before the two of them, gesturing them to stand down.
“Don’t you have any idea what it’s like out there for kids these days?” Ai asked, barely sounding worked up at all. “Years ago, probably when you were young, you could get by with staying inside or keeping to well-lit streets. When your parents either fought or died in the War, there was still a sense of pride in yourselves, in what you were.
“Today though…” she continued seriously, “Those days are like a dream to us. We don’t remember any ‘good times’. We don’t have any pride since it’s been stripped out of us for more than a generation. All we have is the endless war on the streets, which we’re a part of day in and day out whether we like it or not. Some just accept it and try to ignore it. Others, like your daughter, try their hardest to change it. I don’t honestly know if it can be done, but we try. Any one of us could be shot down walking to school any day. Your daughter fell trying to change things for those she cared most about.
“I miss her…” She shook her head as she spoke now, “…More than anything. But I’m proud of the way she died. I’m sure she would have had it no other way. I’d hope you could be proud of her too.”
By the time Ai was done, I could barely see through blurry eyes. I think I understood now why Risa was so defiant in that alley even though she must have known at least some of what was about to happen to her. I also think I understood a bit more about her relationship with this woman standing before me, and I knew she shared my loss just as much, even if she maybe didn’t show it.
Mom still looked irate, but at least not anymore like she was going to bite someone’s head off. Which, if it was to happen, might more likely be me, ‘cause I’m not sure she’d go as far as to dare it with Ai-chan. “She was my daughter,” was all she said, before turning and heading back toward the table.
After they left, the rest of us shared looks. Ai must have seen my tears, though I quickly wiped my eyes, but she at least acted as if she didn’t. She mostly stared off after mom with a rather blank expression.
“So who’s this?” Reina asked. “A friend?”
I blinked, but when I felt fingers tighten around my arm I looked over to Koharu, who I’d almost forgotten was there. She didn’t look thrilled to be the object of Reina Tanaka’s attention. “Oh yeah,” I said. “Guys, this is my best friend Koharu. Koharu, this is Ai-chan, Reina, and Mano.”
“Erina is fine,” the last girl said, smiling at me in the creepy-sweet way of hers.
“Erina then,” I corrected myself. I felt a bump and then looked over to Koharu, noticing I must have leaned into her a bit.
“Best friends?” Ai said, looking between the both of us. Koharu seemed even less enthused to have the attention of the eldest girl. “You seem close.” She smiled distantly. “That’s nice.” The rest of us looked at her strangely since it somehow seemed like she was having her own private conversation with herself. I wasn’t even sure if she was talking about Koharu and me.
“Ai-chan,” Erina said, tugging on the other’s arm, “I think they’re about ready to start. We should head over toward the lake.”
I glanced back to find that everyone else was gathered and standing near the table with the urn, mom next to the priest who was still glancing around nervously, trying to hide a few furtive looks in our direction. The other three girls moved forward, and as they brushed past us Koharu and I joined them, eventually arriving a short distance from the others, making sure to stay safely separate. Some of the guests frowned over at us, but mom and the priest kept their faces firmly forward.
The priest didn’t do any more than say a few words – he was only here as part of the local temple’s charity project anyway and since he wasn’t paid wasn’t going to put in much effort – and then he opened it up in case anyone else wanted to say a few words too. There was an uncomfortable silence, and I thought about how, to me, the best eulogy had already been said, but it was suddenly broken by the squeal of a revving car out on the street, followed by the rapid cracks of gunshots… and chaos.
Several of the adults screamed, and one or two fell, whether from the shots or not I don’t know. Terrified at the suddenness of it all, I glanced over to see grandmama fall as well, but didn’t have time to pay more attention as Koharu pulled me down to the ground. Jarred at the motion, I saw that the other three girls were down in crouches too, Reina even dropping down to her belly, a gun held tightly in her hands pointed toward the street.
She fired shot after shot, and after a moment I noticed Ai and Erina had weapons out as well. Even though it was strange seeing Erina with a gun, she seemed to use it well, if not as deftly as the others. Seeing all of them armed reminded me of my own defense, and I reached down to pull my gun out of my belt too, sliding over next to Ai and darting my eyes toward the street to find a target.
I didn’t see anything at first, as whatever car made the noise a moment ago must have sped away, but then I caught a glimpse of someone ducking out from behind a fire hydrant, and started pulling my trigger finger before I saw him fall to the sidewalk, already the victim of a bullet from Reina, who seemed to have an unwavering focus through her own nine.
“Is that all of them, do you think?” Ai asked, daring to rise slightly.
“I don’t know,” Erina replied. I only just caught a glance of the car, when Reina hit those two that fell out…”
“They won’t be back,” Reina said, pulling herself up to her knees. “We got five of them, and I think they expected this to be a clean drive-by.”
“I’m glad I had you with me,” Ai said, laying a hand on the younger’s shoulder.
“Hey, I got one too I think…” Erina said, pouting.
Reina just grinned. “Ai-chan got the other two,” she said. “Maybe next time though.”
Despite their debate, Ai seemed to ignore them, having now risen to her feet while shaking her head as she stared out toward the street. “I can’t believe they would do this… at her funeral…”
Reina rose also, her smirk gone, and laid a hand on Ai’s shoulder. Not to be outdone apparently, Erina laid hers on the other. “I think they thought it would be an easy kill – eliminate us when we’re perhaps at our weakest and far from where we’re comfortable.”
“Well I guess they learned a thing or two then,” Erina said, nodding firmly.
“For now…” Ai said simply, and she turned toward me, a look of surprised concern quickly filling her face. “Are you all right?”
I stared at her. “Yes…” I said, my voice sounding faint even to my own ears.
“You can put your gun down now,” Reina said, smiling reassuringly. “They’re gone.”
I blinked, and realized I still had it pointing out in front of me… right at Ai. Blushing, scandalized, I clicked on the safety and quickly tucked it back under my jacket before looking back at Ai, amazed how she could look so calm and unconcerned even when a gun was pointed almost right in front of her face.
“Aika…” I heard someone whimper from beside me, and I looked down to see Koharu still on the ground clutching at my leg. When she saw me look at her, fear-filled eyes met mine. “I… I was so scared… I couldn’t do anything…”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Erina said, beaming her smile down at my friend. “You acted very well in falling to the ground and pulling Aika down with you. We were the main targets, so if you hadn’t dropped then, you might have dropped a second later… only, you wouldn’t have gotten up again.”
“Come on,” I said, and reached down to pull her up.
I’m sorry, she mouthed, but I shook my head. Erina was right, after all. She might have saved my life.
“I think it’s fair to say they know you’re with us now, Aika-chan,” Reina said, stepping toward the sidewalk as she scrutinized the street again. “The ones who got away will surely report back.”
Despite the girl who spoke, my eyes were drawn to Ai, who was looking past me, and I suddenly remembered everyone else who’d come to the ceremony.
Spinning, I saw a few people on the ground, others bent over them, while yet others were running out toward the street, in pursuit of either our attackers or help I wasn’t sure. My eyes fell on my grandmother though, who my mom was bent down next to.
“Grandmama!” I cried, and pulling away from Koharu, ran toward them.
Before I reached them though, mom saw me coming and stood, her boyfriend stepping in front of her and pushing me back, giving me a very wary eye. “Stay away,” he growled. I just stared at him, my mind blanking.
“Jul,” mom said, and he stepped aside to reveal her, although her face was not any friendlier.
“How… how is grandmama?” I asked, trying to peek past her.
“She’s fine,” mom said. “Just fainted at the excitement.” Then she glanced toward the others. “That’s not the case with everyone though.”
I then saw her eyes rise to my side above my shoulder, and I realized she only sounded calm – it thinly veiled what was intensely boiling anger lying just behind it.
“I told you this was all your fault. And now look at what happened! You better be grateful none of those bullets hit her, or I would have killed you myself, whatever the cost.”
My eyebrows rose with every word she said, and when she finished I turned to see that Ai and Koharu had come up behind me, the former flanked by the other two gang members.
“I’m sorry for what happened,” Ai said, her voice neutral. “If there’s anything we can do to help…”
“There is nothing you can do!” mom shouted in reply, the veil apparently tearing. “You’ve done quite enough already!” Her arms now gestured wildly as she spoke. “What I want is for you to get the hell out of here! Go! And if I see you come back I swear Jul or I will kill you!” Jul, her boyfriend, stood stolidly beside her, flexing his muscles as she spoke.
“Okay.”
That was all the girl said as she faced her accuser. She took one more glance toward the table with the urn on it and turned away, walking without a look back. Reina and Erina tilted their heads in apology to me, and started off after her as well.
For some reason I couldn’t help but stare at the backs of the retreating girls, until I heard my mom say from behind me, “And you…”
I turned slowly back, seeing a gaze that was no less heated. In fact, it may have been stronger, with something like disappointment mixed in as well.
“I thought what happened to your sister might have taught you something. But I see you’re doing your best to make the same stupid, idiotic mistakes.”
“But she’s—” Koharu began in a defensive voice, but I quieted her quickly with a hand to her arm.
Mom spared a quick glare at her before turning her attention back toward me. “You go home. I don’t want to see you around here now either.”
I couldn’t help my eyes widening now, though. “But what about…” I began, glancing reflexively toward the table and the lake.
“If you have anything to say, do it in silence and then leave. I don’t want you near for the scattering. The ceremony needs to be pure.”
My mouth fell shut at that, the full impact of what mom was saying hitting me. Then, almost without thinking, I turned and began walking slowly as well, feeling my eyes watering again uncontrollably. Koharu was at my side, but I didn’t feel the least bit comforted.
“Oh,” my mom called out, causing me to slow if not look back. “And I’ll be staying over at Jul’s most of the time from now on.” As if she’d been doing anything different up to this point. “Those damn laws are what they are, so I can’t throw you out of the house, but if you or your little friends ruin it in any way…”
I started walking faster again, not wanting to hear if she had to say anything else.
“Aika…” Koharu said again, and I felt her hands on my arm. I ignored her though, pulling her along until hitting the sidewalk and getting far enough to be hidden well by the trees. Koharu raised a questioning eyebrow, but I just shook my head and crept into the woods until I got a decent look at the grove where they all still gathered.
The two of us sat there quietly as the few who needed medical help were taken care of and taken away if needed. Police also arrived soon to assist and clean up those out in the street. Viewing them all now I realized that the priest had apparently fled at some point. Instead, once everything had settled down sufficiently, I watched as mom took the urn and walked to the edge of the lake. She held it silently in front of her for a minute, everyone else behind her bowing their heads as well, before sliding off the cap and tipping it, letting its contents fall and float out into the lake.
“Goodbye, Risa…” I said under my breath, clenching my teeth to keep my eyes from watering. Then I looked up toward the moist, sympathetic eyes of my best friend. “Let’s go.”
Topic: City of Angels (Chapter 15 on 10/20) (Read 39062 times)