Thanks for reading and your comments everyone! Really hope you guys are liking the story of the past so far and aren’t bored with me yet
Here is chapter 14! I’ll give you a heads up when I can upload the next chapter by, maybe Wednesday
Replies: Dieyg48: Yeah, doing a lot to survive since growing up where they are is tough. And Atsuko is quite the character lol. Don’t want to reveal much about if she knows anyone else
But mostly she just now knows of those who she met through Atsuko in that chapter. “Robin hood” was the best way I could describe what she does
Shinoki: Glad you think they’re epic and fast! & yeah, Minami was not happy to learn that was a dog collar ^_^”
no-chan: Takamina’s cool side shows!!! She has many sides to her..not as much as Atsuko though
Archer1992: Of course I’ll answer, I love answering the readers if I can
FlameHazeKatsu: Atsuko’s mind is a complicated place! & lol, they did start early, they’re about 17 years old, but they met before that. I plan to do a few one shots after finishing the story and one of the one shots will be about Haruna and Yuko’s past
Chichay12: Glad you’re looking forward to it
& you’re welcome
abcari: Thank you, glad you’re looking forward to finding out more bout the past. This chapter reveals alot of the past as well
kenjoy12: Thanks! This part will reveal a lot, and Jane’s decision will be made more clear. Atsuko’s mood swings are fun
AshuraX: LMAO! Well, she does have a sadistic side. Minami even mentioned that in real life
cisda83: Minami is indeed great, but flawed, you’ll find out more this chapter
And Mariko will be soon explained as well
bunny_rabbit: In a way yes, a blue print was already somewhat set for a rebel group, more will be found out soon
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Chapter 14 - The Birth of AKB part 2 I strolled around the area for a few minutes and tried to clear my mind. After awhile, I walked towards a small river and stood in front of it, staring at my reflection. For an instant, the image reflected in the water distorted, and showed a girl with eyes full of hate, covered in blood. She stared back at me. I gritted my teeth and jumped into the river, splashing the water away to get rid of the image. “That’s not who I am anymore!” I shouted, and then stopped moving, taking deep breaths in order to calm myself.
“You’ll catch a cold like that” Startled, I turned and saw Maeda Atsuko.
“Maeda” I said.
She frowned, “I told you to call me Atsuko.” She extended her hand for me to take. I slowly reach out my right hand, but suddenly saw it covered and dripping in blood, so instantly I retracted it. Looking again, I saw nothing there.
“Minami?”
“Sorry.” I said, not knowing what I was apologizing for.
“We’re the ones who are sorry. Yuko actually wanted to find you to apologize but I told her she can do that once you return. You were correct; we have no right to judge what you do. Everyone has their own way to fight... and different things to fight for.”
“I’m still sorry. I took it too far when I said you were like the government”
“It was pretty rude” she offhandedly commented as she looked to the sky. She then looked down at me and smiled, “do you want to be forgiven?” she sweetly asked.
“Huh...um...yeah, I guess” I said, slightly caught off guard.
“Then show me something amazing” she said excitedly. I gave her a blank look, not knowing what she meant. “Oh come on, you must know of some place right? You must know this entire area like the back of your hand. I’d love to see something that isn’t as depressing as the place we reside in”
“...” I just kept starting at her; she held a hopeful expression, one that said she wanted to escape from this harsh reality for a few moments before having to tumble back. I knew, because I usually held that expression.
She pouted at my silence, “you don’t have to if you don’t want” She turned to walk away and I snapped out of my trance.
“Wait!” I said and reached out to grab her arm, except I accidently ended up pulling her into the water and we both fell in, then rose up, soaking wet.
“Geez Minami, you can be a klutz can’t you!” I thought she may be angry but she started to laugh. “Come on, let’s go dry off” she stepped out of the water and offered me her hand again, but I told her it was okay, and I got out myself. I could see she looked somewhat hurt but she shrugged it off. “Guess I should head back. Please do come back too if you wish” she smiled and started to walk away.
Ah! Come on Minami. Take a chance! “I know a place!’ I shouted. She stopped and turned around. “I’ll show it to you, if you’d like” I tried to say it like it was no big deal but my heart was pounding like crazy. She looked ecstatic.
“Lead the way!”
And so I did.
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I lead her to a corner of the street where there was an entrance to the sewers. “It’s faster this way. Be careful when going down the steps”
We both hit the floor and I turned on my pocket flashlight and began to lead Atsuko through. “We’ll stop by my place first and get some dry clothes.”
“Alright”
We walked in silence for a few minutes.
“...Can I ask you something?” I said.
“What is it?”
“Why did you tell your friends you could trust me...I mean, next to the rumours, you don’t know me. And isn’t it kind of dangerous revealing your secrets to someone, especially when you and your friends and striking against the government.”
“I’m usually good at reading people, and I can tell you’re a good person. Maybe it’s instinct.”
I looked back at her disbelieving, “that’s it! That’s pretty carless, relying solely on a feeling or instinct”
“Then what else would we rely on to trust people?”
I stopped and looked at her. “I...I don’t know. You should just know more about that person”
She tilted her head, “and how are we supposed to do that without reaching out a friendly hand first. You won’t know who you can and can’t trust without taking a few chances”
We resumed walking. “I guess I get that but...It’s just scary thinking about the fact that you could make the wrong choice when trusting someone.”
.......
“That can’t be helped. Sure it’s sad, but I think it’d be sadder if we never try. I mean, I wouldn’t have been able to meet my wonderful friends if it hadn’t been for me trusting them and them trusting me. I wouldn’t have been able to meet you either...”
I blushed and turned to narrow my eyes at her, “you held a gun at me the first time we met”
She smirked, “and I didn’t shoot you now did I?”
I sighed as we turned another corner. “Alright, here we are”
“...Wow...so you really do live down here”
I shrugged, “it’s not so bad, and it’s safe.”
She turned to smile at me, “it’s home right...I think it’s nice no matter where or what it is. Having a place to call ‘home’ is wonderful”
I was taken aback by the sincerity in her words. She didn’t look down on me and wasn’t criticizing where I lived... “Thanks...um, let me get you a dry shirt and jacket” I rummaged through some things and handed her a white shirt and light red jacket.
“Thank you” she said as she started to change... right there!! I turned around quickly and walked to the corner and started to change as well.
We resumed our walk towards the destination.
“Ow” I heard Atsuko say as she tripped on something. “Even with your light it’s pretty dark in here”
“Yeah, sorry, I don’t like to use a stronger flash than this....” I sighed. “Here” I outstretched my hand to her. I could tell she looked shocked, but then gave a cheerful smile and gladly took my hand. I was thankful for the dark because I didn’t want her to see my face turning red.
“Alright, it’s just up those stairs” We climbed and I pushed aside the metal bars. I helped Atsuko out and we both stood. “Just a bit further”
I led Atsuko through the trail. The area was covered in overgrown grass and roots, both on the ground and on very old abandoned buildings. This used to be a city long ago, but fell during the war before our time. “Right through there” I guided Atsuko through the bushes and showed her the other side.
Looking at her expression, I could tell she was speechless, her eyes were wide and mouth slightly open. Smiling, I looked at the scenery as well. Green covered the entire area, the trees and what’s remaining of the buildings covered in moss. The tall trees allowed just the right amount of light in that reflected in the numerous puddles spread out. The sound of birds chirping echoed around us and the squirrels were running around playing with one another.
“This is...what is this place?” Atsuko asked amazed as she slowly walked around.
“Honestly...I’m not sure. Probably used to be a small district back in the days but was run down and abandoned after the Great War. No one bothered to set foot here anymore and it was taken off any map or trails. Nature took over...”
“It’s...Minami, it’s beautiful!” She turned and gave me her brightest smile, and I swear my heart stopped right then and there. I felt like she belonged in this place. How the sun hit her and the green grass surrounded her. So full of life...Nothing like the world we were used to.
“Y...yeah. I thought you might like it...”
She ran up to me and grabbed my hand. “Come on, I want to look around!” And so we did. We walked around the area and goofed off, climbed the trees, chased the squirrels, rolled around in the grass. After a few hours, when the sun was setting, we ended up leaning against a large tree and just stared at the sky, tired out.
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“I can’t believe you found a place like this...I can’t believe you’d ever leave it!”
I laughed. “It just never seemed right living here...I just stumbled upon it one day when I was lost” I said as I remembered that moment.
She raised an eyebrow and teasingly said, “You? Lost? I thought you knew the underground like the back of your hand”
“...No...Not that kind of lost...” I stopped there and Atsuko didn’t press for answers.
“Minami...You don’t have to come with us”
Surprised, I looked to her. “Huh?”
“Infiltrating the government base, you don’t have to come. You can show me the way instead and I’ll guide the others, you’ve already shared with us your secret of the underground pathways, so you fulfilled your promise”
I could tell she was serious, and that she was trying to take my feelings into account since I protested earlier on the matter. Yuko’s words came back to me...but I didn’t want to think about them. Though she was wrong, she was also right.
I clenched my fists; I wanted to protest, to tell her I wanted to help them but...
“I...” Atsuko looked at me and waited for me to finish, I looked into her eyes, wanting to finish...but images suddenly flashed through my mind. My breathing becoming shallow.
Blood. Screams. Fire. Blood. Crying. Blood. ‘Murderer’ Me...’Shinigami’ No! .....
“Minami!!” I felt Atsuko’s fingers dig into my shoulders as she shook me back and forth. I didn’t realize that I'd been screaming while clutching my head. Her voice seemed distant as she called. I kept clutching my head in pain, but suppressed my screams, trying to get it a grip of reality. Trying to follow Atsuko’s voice so I could come back.
“Minami!”
The images kept surfacing through my mind. I was standing there again, covered in blood, and cutting down anyone who stood in my way. The soldier begged for his life, fear...No. Terror evident in his eyes. He cried out that he had a family to look after, but I paid him no heed. I had to kill him before the fire engulfed the entire base with me in it. We were by the prison facility, dead bodies surrounded us. People I killed. The freed prisoners were all running past trying to escape before the whole place went down but...one young girl suddenly stopped to look back at me and the soldier. My eyes briefly met hers. Not fear in her eyes but...Sadness...Curiosity....Why is she so familiar? ...Atsuko! I sucked in a deep breath as I reopened my eyes and slowly removed my hands from my head. Lifting up my head, I saw Atsuko still held my shoulders and looked at me worriedly.
“You...You were there” I choked out in surprise as I shrugged her hands off my shoulders and slightly stepped back. Atsuko looked confused and hurt...
Don’t give me that look. I’m the one who’s supposed to look like that! “Minami, what’s wrong?” Worry crossed her face as she tried to step closer, but I kept her at a distance.
“Don’t mess with me!” I raised my voice. “You knew! All this time you knew! There’s no way you’d forget...Forget after seeing something like that! After seeing me! All this time, you knew who I really was!”
Her mouth slightly opened in realization and she gave me a pained expression. “I’m sorry. It’s not that I was trying to keep it a secret, I just didn’t think there was a need to bring it up” she said calmly.
I narrowed my eyes, “Why! Why are you doing this!? What do you want?” I shouted as I slowly backed away.
Atsuko’s POV Minami’s actions were further worrying me. She was frantic. I stopped trying to approach her. “What do you mean?” I gently asked.
She glared at me, her eyes accusing me of things I did not understand.
“Clearly you have a motive! What...Did I also take a loved one away from you? From your friends. Is your plan to get me close to you so you could take revenge?”
I was taken aback. Her eyes were wild, like she wasn’t really focused on the present, but thinking of the past. I slowly approached her. “Minami please. That’s not it! The other girls don’t even know. Only I do. But I’m not looking for revenge. You’ve done nothing to hurt me.” I tried to reassure her.
“So what then! You want my skills so I can do that again?” she spat out.
“No!” I gripped my fist in frustration.
“Sell me out to the government to get a reward!”
“That’s wrong!” I wasn’t getting through to her.
“Then what! Did you just want to satisfy your curiosity, get to know the shinigami?”
“Minami, no!”
How can I get through to her? “Then what! What do you want?” she demanded.
I charged. I could see she was getting ready to defend herself, but I wasn’t attacking. Once I reached her, I securely wrapped my arms around her neck and held her tightly. I could feel her body stiffen.
“Minami please. Stop focusing on the past and focus on me. Focus on me now in the present. Let me talk. Let me explain.” Tears slid down my eyes and dripped on her neck. I could feel her slightly loosen up as she stopped struggling and dropped her hands to her sides. I still held on to her. Not wanting to let go, out of fear that she’d disappear again.
“You’re right. I did know who you were all this time. I knew the moment I first saw you. But you’re also wrong. I honestly don’t have such ulterior motives. I admit...the first time I met you...I was curious but...not in that way...Minami, when I stopped and met your eyes briefly as you were about to kill that soldier...I saw tears.” I slowly pulled myself away from Minami and saw her eyes widen.
“I...I never cried...” she finally spoke up, but seemed unsure of herself.
“I don’t think you yourself realized that you were. You didn’t wipe away the tears. You let them stream down your face. You had a cold look but...when I saw your tears; I saw something else behind your expression. And yes, it made me curious. It made me want to get to know you. It made me want to understand you. It made me want to comfort you. It made me want to support you...”
She looked at me like I was crazy. “How? How can you say all those things after seeing what I’d done? You knew nothing about me”
I gave her a light smile, “I told you before didn’t I. That I have good intuition about people. Remember what I told you about having to reach out to others to know whether you could trust them? To give them a chance. When I saw you at that moment, I knew I wanted to reach out to you and give you a chance. Shinigami or no Shinigami. The girl I met two years ago is the same person who is standing in front of me now. Your eyes are still the same. So gentle. They speak a thousand words. You hold many secrets Takahashi Minami, but your eyes tell them all” I slowly reached out with my right hand and tenderly wiped away the tears she didn’t know she was shedding.
There was silence between us for awhile. Minami kept her eyes to the ground, then to the sky. Finally, after what seemed like forever, she met my eyes. “You’re...an idiot”
I was slightly taken aback, but tilted my head in curiosity when I felt no malice in her words.
“I don’t...Even know how to deal with you. You’re too straightforward. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do or say.” I could tell she was being serious, because she looked to me as though she was really trying hard to figure out what she could say.
Cute. I smiled. “You weren’t kidding when you said you’re bad at the whole social thing...but it’s okay. Take it one step at a time. I must seem weird to you, after all I said. But I meant each word. If you don’t know what to say, or how to express yourself, then that’s okay too. I’ll learn how to read you better. Your actions, your expressions, your eyes. If you let me stay by your side, I’ll learn so you won’t have to push yourself to be expressive. Until you can learn to be straightforward yourself.”
I could see her blushing as she turned her face away, then slowly looked back to me. “You’re really strange...Do you really want to stay by my side that much?” she asked sceptically.
I nodded. “Like I said, ever since I met you. That hasn’t changed. So Minami, what’ll you say? Will you take a chance and trust me. I promise I’ll never betray you” I reached out my hand to her, something I’ve always wanted to do. Minami nervously looked at my hand, and slowly reached out hers. It took awhile, but her hand finally grabbed hold of mine. I closed my palm around her hand and smiled brightly.
“Alright Atsuko.” Was all she said, and it was enough for me.
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Minami’s POV It was getting late, the sun was gone, and the only light provided was that of the full moons. Atsuko and I leaned against the tree once again and watched as the stars filled the sky. Honestly, this was all too strange. Meeting Atsuko felt like a dream. As though if I took my eyes off her, she’d disappear like everything else. But...I was happy...to hear her words, and I wanted to believe them.
She seemed to understand something about me that even I didn’t. Because if she was willing to reach out her hand to me in the past...In that meeting that didn’t exactly show me in a good light...then I could trust her words now, because even I hated the person I was that stood there in the past.
I let out a light breath. “I was seven when my family was killed.” I started to say as I continued to look at the sky. I felt Atsuko shift beside me and knew she was listening. “My family would provide supplies for people and help out, most of the time not taking money for their deeds. The government always made their daily rounds to collect supplies and money from people, and eventually....My parents had nothing left to give.
Of course the soldiers were angry, but my parents didn’t want to explain that they give others there things to help them out...Not like the soldiers would have cared anyway, but my family were protecting the other citizens. Anyways, they left...But that night, we heard banging on our door and a bunch of soldiers walked in. Behind them they dragged dead bodies of some of the people my parents helped out. They said, ‘this is what happens when you give things that should go to the government, to the peasants.’ I was a kid, so I didn’t understand the situation to well, but I understood those bodies they dropped by our door were no longer that of the living, and I knew we were in trouble.
The soldiers took out their swords and approached my parents. I remember screaming and crying as the soldier cut down my father. My mother held me and...And begged those soldiers to let us live, that she had to look after me, or to at least keep me alive. He cut her down right there as she held me. I can still hear the soldiers’ laughs. One grabbed me by the collar of my shirt and dragged me outside, threw me to the floor and told me to run. That I’d be given a head start. So I ran.”
“Their mistake was giving me that chance. Because I knew I couldn’t outrun them, but I could hide. And I did. Eventually I stumbled upon the sewers and stayed down there till they stopped searching. Probably thought I was dead or would soon die. But my drive for survival intensified, my reason to live was to kill those bastards. So I spent those five years living, surviving, stealing, and training. When I was 12, I let myself purposely be captured and taken to the base camp that had been responsible for dispatching the soldiers that killed my family. Once inside I...well...you know the rest. I slaughtered each and every person in there mercilessly. The guards, soldiers, medics, anyone with a government crest. Burned the place down.
...That soldier you saw me standing over made me realize something though...That I was doing exactly what they’d done to my family. They turned me into someone like them...and I hated myself for it. I left...I didn’t kill that soldier, don’t know if he made it out of the fire, but I never turned back. There were a lot of people in that base Atsuko. I killed a lot of them, not caring about whom they were or what was at stake for them. Government put my head on a high price after that, thing is I killed most witnesses though, maybe only a few recognized me...the soldier I let will never forget my face...some of the prisoners too. I killed so many! I took away the lives of children’s parents! I did what they did to me!
......
After that, I was confused...lost, so I kept wandering in the sewers and came across this place. Honestly, I planned to let myself just die but...This place...I always thought it was amazing...that this place strived to survive. It was completely destroyed but...it rose up again from the ground. Life grew here and started over...so I thought...maybe I could start over as well.”
......
Atsuko’s POV “Minami, nothing I can say can make that pain go away...But those soldiers made their choice. They chose a side, and fought on that side knowing the risks and consequences. No one is in the right...not even us. But we fight for our own reasons, and someday you’ll find your reason to either stand up or fight again, or continue the way you’ve been living. It’s your choice.”
No other words could be said that would ease the pain of her past, so I simply reached out and held her hand, giving it a reassuring grip. “I’m glad you decided to live...To give yourself another chance. I’m thankful for this place for giving you that opportunity and realization...Your second chance; I’m guessing that’s when you started the whole Robin Hood thing?”
She nodded. “I couldn’t just go back living without doing a thing so...I wanted to continue what my parents did...what they believed in. But I didn’t really let anyone in. I figured the only way the soldiers must have found out about my parents trade was that a citizen told them. They betrayed my parents for who knows what...probably to get a measly reward.”
I slowly let my head rest on her shoulder, hands still intertwined. “But that didn’t stop you from wanting to help people. You’re a good person Minami, no matter what your past is. You may have taken lives, but you also saved some. In the past, I was one of those you saved. I was a prisoner in that base, and would have been executed, but you gave me a second chance. It may not have been your primary objective, but you still saved us....saved me”
“I’m sorry” I heard her say. Lifting my head off her shoulder I raised an eyebrow.
“If you keep apologizing for things, I’ll hit you” I threatened teasingly. I saw her smirk.
“Sorr...Right. But I’m apologizing because you said you wanted to stay by my side and be my friend but I...I still can’t help you and your friends destroy that base. I’ll show you there but...that’s all I can do....Sorry”
...
I punched her arm.
“Ow!” she complained as she rubbed her sore arm.
“Told you to stop saying sorry. You have nothing to be sorry about...I understand. Don’t force yourself to do things you can’t yet.”
“But...Yuko was right. I only got mad because she was right. Technically I am running away...because I’m scared to fight...”
“We’re all running away from something Minami, whether it is the past, present or even future. You’re not the only one. It’s just...You haven’t figured out what you’re fighting for yet...In the past, you fought for revenge, but I’m sure you’ll find a new answer soon enough. Whatever method it may be, just keep living and fighting your way. It’s okay if you don’t accompany us, but when we come back from that mission, all I ask is, that you be there, waiting for us.” A smile finally graced her lips and she nodded.
“I promise Atsuko. I’ll be there waiting for you all...Thank you...haha, that doesn’t seem enough to express what I feel but...thank you” she said.
I gave her an innocent smile. “Then can I ask for something?”
“...Sure.”
“Can I get a kiss?”
“Huh!?” she looked baffled.
“I meant it when I said I’d always wanted to be your friend but...I also meant it when I said I always wanted to be beside you. I don’t want anyone else to take you away.”
She still looked lost. “No one is going to take me away...B...Besides. Isn’t ki...kissing something lovers do...?” she asked uncertainly as a faint blush appeared.
I put my finger on my chin as though I was thinking about it, “well yes but, I want you to be everything to me, and me everything to you. Friend, partner, family, and lover” I bluntly said.
She looked uncomfortable as she further blushed. Moving her gaze anywhere but my eyes. “You really are too straightforward”
I laughed, “And you’re easy to read. I told you that you won’t have to express yourself much around me yet; I can tell you’re confused, but I know you like me...However, its okay. I don’t care what our relationship is, as long as we stick together from now on. I’ll always be patient with you, so please put up with me.” I lightly flicked her head, and laughed as she pouted.
Suddenly, she quickly brought herself closer and gave me a quick peck on the check. I blinked at her in surprise as she blushed again, and I could even feel my face getting hot.
“Well...that’s not exactly what I mean by kiss but...it’s a start.” I said as I was at a loss for words. Shaking my head, I stood up. “Come on; let’s head back to the others.”
I reached out, and she took my hand with no hesitation this time.
End of Chapter 14
Topic: Travel To A Distant World: The Recruitment (Mayuki) [side story] (Dec 29 2013) (Read 143413 times)