@kahem: Yes! in this ch. we will know
who the characters really are!
Sara-chan: If you're a SKE's fan you'll
know immediately! thanks for all your comments!
CH. 3!! the official presentation of several of the characters in this story!!
Please enjoy and comment!!
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Chapter 3: Saru, Mokyu, Tori & The Princess“We pretended we were explorers on a great adventure, on a scribbled map
one lost child met another, in front of the area for nonflammable trash
with baggage packed full of all my most despised memories
[I’m never going anywhere, just bury me here,] I laughed.
of course we resemble each other, it’s just that kind of place.
we ask one another where we each came from, it’s silly
what were we thinking, telling each other how we got here.
I’ve been everywhere I ever wanted to go, underneath the clouds about to burst forth with tears.
I haven’t lost anything, but I feel somehow empty, and yet still…
I have to tell you, [It’s OK]
but I’m not OK, in fact I’m not moving at all. Ah, well…”-Let me guess, this one is one of your favorites from Bump Of Chicken, hmmmm … is Arrows!- I said.
-“That is correct kid! I love this song! Sing whit me while we wander through your memories”- you speak excited.
I just give you a tired sigh in response.
“… It’s ok. What we found was real. Finding you was real.
I can’t throw it away so I take it with me, that time I spent as a lost child
those I met were alive, and so were you, laughing
You walked with me when I was lost. It’s not fake baggage.
With this, I think I can stay true to myself.
Let’s leave this place together.
Tears meet other tears and build this arc of song
if we meet again after I’ve been everywhere I wanted to go
without the baggage, we’ll cross that arc just two bodies
and climb that cloud, so close and yet so very far away.”This is real? I’m alive or I’m already dead? I think I’m on a pirate ship, sailing in some unknown sea. Three demons dressed as anime characters have appeared in front of me, claiming that this boat is theirs and we need permission to board. The red demon, apparently the captain of the ship, already killed one stowaway. Sure he will end with the others two first, because they have guns and are strong, and then will come to kill me, because I’m the disarmed and weaker of the free riders. That's what the pirates do, especially those who are “samurais-pirates-demons”. I can’t do anything to scape. I’m too weak, dizzy, disoriented and tired of life itself.
-You killed one of our men, and if you kill us you'll never be forgiven by Haragata family!- the man, who is pointing his gun at the samurai, shout whit voice and hands trembling.
-You are really mad! Hahahahahahahhaha!- Kenshin replied with a laugh-. You know, I will really enjoy the angry of all members of your family.
-You bitch! You are gonn…-The man was interrupted by the sound of his own flesh being cut.
The samurai, somehow, had achieved with extreme rapidity, reach the man and with a nice and accurate movement of the sword, he cut both of his hands. The man is now in the floor writhing in pain, and his attacker just looks at him with a smile of pure fun in his face.
- I'll hurt you very bad before I kill you, I really enjoy torturing, you know?- I can see the insanity in the samurai’s eyes. He is really enjoying all this slaughter.
Suddenly, a bullet crashed centimeters away from the feet of the crazy samurai. He turned around, to be face to face with a frightened guy who with his trembling hands can’t hit any shot to the madman.
-Nee, okkotteru? Hahhahahhahah!-laughed again the red demon.
Kenshin walks to his next victim through a shower of bullets that fail to touch him. He raises his sword to attack and cut him both hands as well, but is interrupted by the sound of two shots. The two men from the Haragata yakuza gang, fall dead by an accurate shot in the head, they were saved from a most horrible death.
-Furukawa Princess is time to stop- spoke Mustag with a serious and determined look, still holding his gun - death is enough punishment for them.
-Airin, are you ok?- said Homura holding his gun too.
-… yeah, I’m ok Kanakana- Replied the red hair whit a confusion look.
I'm confused too, the crazy and sadistic captain Kenshin turned out to be a princess called Furukawa Airi. Well, that makes me feel better, at least I will be killed by a girl, a samurai-pirate-demon-princess one.
The princess pirate falls to the ground defeated and tired, but still holding a smile on her face. Her two subordinates approach her with a look of relief.
-Nee, Nakanishi-san, I’m really sorry- She speaks regretful to Mustang.
-Captain, it is not me whom you need to apologize- responds the alchemist and points me- now, she must be traumatized because of your berserker behavior.
Everybody is looking me now whit concern and the samurai girl seems really surprised by my presence. I can see that she just remembered my existence in this world .Yeah, I think It’s my turn to die in the hands of the samurai-pirate-demon-princess girl. I can only ask her for a dignified death without suffering.
-Please captain, I know I'm a stowaway in your ship and I deserve to die for that, but kill me quick whit your sword, don’t throw me into this unknown sea to the sharks or leave me alone on a desert island- I speak scared.
-… What?- The three pirates respond in unison.
-You fucking stupid! look what you did to this poor girl!- The Pirate-Alchemist yelled at his boss -. She is so traumatized that she believes we are sailing somewhere and that we are pirates or something!.
-Nee girl, we are still in Nagoya and this ship hasn’t even set sail, and we don’t have sharks in this port. - The magical girl said gently as she walked slowly to where I’m sit.
I can’t understand what is happening. We are in Nagoya?. I need to clear my head. I close my eyes and try to concentrate. What happened? I was in a ship hidden and then three men hit me, and the rest is just confused. I just know that these three men were killed by three others persons. I open my eyes again in surprise when I feel a gentle pressure on my shoulder, is the soft hand of the magical girl, who is now at my side.
-You are ok? You have a lot of wounds- she said whit a worried face.
Her kind factions reassure me. I don’t answer her question, because nausea take over my body. My own bones feel heavy and I collapse, she catches me in time. Somehow the fear to these people, especially to the red hair demon, enables me to continue conscious.
-Shit, she is really bad boss- The alchemist talks to the red hair girl.
The samurai gets up from his place and begins to walk toward me whit decision. I'm terrified and try to escape from the arms of the other girl, but my lack of strength not let me. The red haired girl note my fear, so stopped her way and looks at me timidly.
-do…do…don’t be a…afraid of me- she says stuttering-. I…I…I will not hurt you, please forgive me.
It’s seen that the girl is so sorry and sad that I get to feel pity for her. Her sudden shyness and lack of confidence amazes me, she is another person now. She once again embarks his way to me and kneels in front of me.
- I…I…I can che…check your injuries?- She ask me and I agree with a nod.
She began to check me completely, from my teeth to even my toes. She check, with an incredible concentration, my wounds on my back, torso, arms and legs. And then she just stared at me mesmerized.
-Nee captain, what are your orders?- was the alchemist who broke the silence.
- Right! Orders! Hehehe… is just… she is so cute that I…- She stop talking when she realized her words.
I can swear that the color of his face turned red, but I can’t say anything because the color of my face is not different. That demon said I’m cute!. Nobody had called me cute in my entire life.
-I’m … I’m sorry! I…- She was trying to speak properly but unsuccessfully.
-Nee, you fucking Romeo, give me orders before Juliet dies!- shouted impatient Mustang to her.
-Ho! yes, I’m sorry. Saru calls Tori, tell her to come get us fast because we have people hurt- The boss girl spoke with authority.
-Yes princess!- replied the alchemist and walked away a few step to talk whit that person called Tori.
-You Mokyu, calls Dr. Yuasa, tell him that we go with a patient with multiple wounds, no broken bones but with much blood lost.
-Yes princess!- Replied the Magical girl and took out her phone to call the doctor.
-Princess, Tori is on his way to here. She reported that she has put double security at home to keep the kid safe- Saru spoke.
-How is the kid?.-Asked Airi
- Sad, because we had to go in the middle of the club party, but she is sleeping right now- Saru answered.
-Well, we still have the next month’s party.
-Princess, Dr. Yuasa will be waiting for us-Mokyu spoke.
- Good… -The princess respond, and then she diverted his gaze to me- You'll be fine, just trust in us- she said to me with a comforting smile.
Trust them? in a pile of yakuza murderers? Never! Certain after heal me, they will make me work on they business of prostitution or something!. I close my eyes resigned, for now I need to rest, then I will think of how to escape from them. And so the world around me turns off.
I awake in an unfamiliar room, in a strange bed with my whole body in pain. I try to discern the space around me but is very dark here. I approached my hand to my face and feel all the bandages and band-aids that cover me.
- You are better, in these three days in which you sleep, you have healed very well- A voice in the dark says.
-I…I…I need to go- I speak with a weak voice.
- You can go if you want to, nobody is forced to be here, if I wanted to go I just should give my pinky finger to my boss and quit, you have it easier, you just have to stand up and go.
I stood in silence, watching the silhouette in the corner of the room of the person who is speaking to me.
-And besides- she continued- I haven’t given orders to retain you here, only to take care of you.
I didn’t say a word. I just get out of bed, slowly, to avoid the pain, but still the pain stabs me the body. I swallow a cry of pain and I sit on the edge of the bed waiting for the pain passes. She doesn’t move from her position in the corner.
- You can stay here if you want, we will take care of you…
-I don’t want to!- I interrupt her- You are a yakuza gang, a danger one. You are a band of murderers!.
-…You are a murder too.
-What? I…
-Your Name is Kudo Rena, thirteen years old, three days ago you killed your own father and then you disappeared. The police is looking you. But we can help you, we can give you another name, another life, a new beginning! But only if what you want to.
I kept quiet, analyzing her words one by one. How is she knows that much about me?.
- How I know so much of you? You'll be asking. Well, my job is to protect my princess, so I can’t let anyone come and stay in this house without knowing his past. And kid, I am an expert in research.
She knows everything about me, and she is offering me a way out, a new life, in exchange for what? a life of crime?. I want to be free, not owe my life to anyone.
- I need to go-I repeat to her whit decision- I don’t want to be the subordinate of your crazy boss or princess or whatever you call it.
-She is not a bad person, she got a little violent just because she was angry about what they did to you. Is something she can’t control, but she definitely is not bad. Also we had to kill these men for the good of the city, and the honor of the Yakuzas. That band is only doing shady business and we have to eliminate them.
-I don’t care! I just… I just need to go!- I say and stand to go from here.
-Ok, but before leaving , put your new clothes which are in the chair of the right , you're naked- she told me amused while I hear her steps to the door.
I feel so ashamed that threw myself back to bed and cover myself with the sheets. She turns on the switch of the lights. I close my eyes for the pain that gives me the sudden light. When my eyes get used to the light, I get to see the back of a girl in the door.
-My number is in one of the pockets of your new coat, if you need anything or if you're in trouble just call, I know the street life is hard for someone so young. And one last thing, I promise you something, my boss will go in your search, she is more persistent than me. In this moment she is not at home so you can go peaceful - she said and proceeds to go.
-Wait!- I speak before she leave- Please tell me your name-. She stop her steps and answered me without turning around.
-…Tori is the name that my princess give me, Takayanagi Akane is the name that I was born with- she said nothing more and left, leaving me alone in the room.
I got up slowly, and I took some painkillers that were on my side. Then I check the wounds on my body, they aren’t so bad, in a couple of days will heal all. I wore my new clothes and went out quiet of the traditional castle in which I was. Now I need to run of here, so I just run, run run, run away losing myself in the streets of Nagoya.
-Nee, crazy girl!-Someone shouts- Neeeeeeeeeee, crazy girl!.
-“Someone is calling you in the real world”-You say to me.
I'm back on the streets of Tokyo lookin at myself in a broken mirror. I can feel the presence of somebody coming up behind my back. I throw the mirror and smile.
-Nee, cra…crazy girl!, I was… I was looking at you!- a smiling tiny girl talk to me gasping, when she manages to reach me.
I look at the girl in front of me whit enthusiasm, I think it will fun destroy this girl before going to sleep.
-TBC-
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N/A Arrows from Bump of chicken Translated By: Brian Stewart & Takako Sakuma web:
http://utau-inu.com/2009/01/bump-of-chicken-arrows/