|
<--Main <-Fan Art Paying a Debt Part 2 By Shiori Tsumi She stumbles about, as would a man when drunken, and in all frankness, one might think she is. Her face is red, her brown hair mussed, and her steps unsteady. Her eyes are red, and brim with tears not yet spilled over. "I have...I have to..." she stumbles over an arched piece of sidewalk, and falls onto the ground, skinning her knees. And she just sits there, muttering to herself. The sun is set, and the only light comes from the street lamps that dimly glow, and as she sits there, the street lamp above her crackles, and blinks out into darkness. She struggles to her feet, and continues her drunken stumbling stagger down the street. The street names become blurs, and her sight swims in rainbow hues. Where is she? How did she get there? She doesn't know anymore...she can barely remember her name through the veil of pain and fatigue that have draped themselves over her aching body. She falls on soft grass...someone's lawn...whose? But she can't tell, and the grass is so soft; it cradles her sore limbs, and pillows her head, and her eyelids are drooping and she's so tired...and she gently drifts off. The sun rises in the morning, and the street lamps dim and turn off. Dew forms on the grass, but she still does not stir. The sprinklers turn off, and she wakes to the realization that she is wet. "...Where am I?" "Subaru?" She turns; Keen stands on the walk, the newspaper in one hand, a cup of coffee in the other. "What are you doing here?" She can't find an answer. "You look terrible, Subaru, what happened to you?" "....I...I can't...I'm sorry, I can't..." She shudders. "...It's alright. Um, why don't you come in? You're kind of getting wet, just sitting there under the sprinklers." Subaru blinks, and slowly stands. A jolt of pain racks her body, and she stumbles. "Subaru!" A pair of arms catch her, and hold her up. "Are you okay?" "...I feel...so weak..." Her voice is soft, can't get louder. Keen sighs, and carefully picks the girl up, then carries her inside. "...Keen-san..?" "It's alright, Subaru." Keen sets the girl down on the couch. "You're alright now." He retreats to another room, and Kaze amusedly gazes at the girl as he fixes his hair. She glances at him weakly, and he narrows his eyes. "You can see..." She smiles weakly. "Then tell me, how many do you see I have?" "Five..." Subaru replies softly, "you have five." Kaze nods as Keen returns with a bundle of clothes, Miyo trailing behind. "Oh, Subaru-chan! Keen told me you were here, but I wanted to see for myself! What are you doing here?" The kitsune smiles, cheerfully, kindly...and Subaru just shakes her head. "Can't...I can't...I'm sorry, I can't..." "You can't be here?" "No, tell...I can't tell...can't tell you..." Keen frowns. "Why not?" He touches Subaru's shoulder and she flinches away. "I can't...if I do...she'll get mad. She's scary when she's mad...I can't make her mad. I don't like it when she's mad." "Who?" The question is spoken by everyone. "But...don't you know her? She must know you, Miyo-chan...she's obsessed with you. She's looking for you. That's why she sent-OH! But I can't tell you...or she'll be mad. It's supposed to be a secret...and I can't go against her. I can't. She's...she is all powerful, and I'm just...Subaru." "So? Suba-chan can be powerful, too! I bet you can!" Miyo cheers. Kaze watches the girls through half-lidded golden eyes, and carefully nods. "Yeah...you probably can..." "Um...Subaru, I brought you a new set of clothes, since yours are...um...wet..." Keen blushes, and holds out the clothes, "here!" "Th-thank you, Keen-san...you truly are kind..." She stands up and gives Keen a small peck on the cheek before walking slowly down a hallway. "What was that?!" Ayame demands, finally entering the living room. "Another human around here? What for?" "Sh-she was sleeping on the front lawn, and...and she looked terrible, Ayame. I couldn't just let her stay out there..." Keen reasons. "And she's so weak...we can't just kick her out!" "We can and we will! She's not staying here!" "Why are you so on edge, Ayame?" Kaze accuses, "She's just a human." "No, she's not! She's...I mean, she can see!" The nogitsune retorts. "So can every other human on the planet..." Keen adds, confused. Ayame glares at him. "And she's got that scent on her! That familiar scent, like her scent." "But that's not right...is it?" Kaze scowls. "She's dead...I could have sworn she was dead." "So could I...but I guess not all is as it seems," Ayame says with a cruel smile. "Who knows...maybe she is alive..." "Inari, I hope not...I hope not."
|