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spottoLittle more descriptive than usual.
PART SIX
Ako had been sitting in her cell alone for a few hours now. The cell now looked fairly empty, besides the television. She knew Yuuna had saved it from being taken because otherwise Ako would probably get really bored. It was the least she could do after all; breaking a promise is something people don’t often forgive. Though Ako did not blame Yuuna, she never did expect to get thrown into the hole. Perhaps whenever she came out, she would be more careful. Ako turned to stare at the clock, in which the hour hand was on eleven, and the minute hand was on the five. It was almost time to be let out and afterwards, lunch. She stared at the empty tray near the tray slot. There was only one tray, once again reminding Ako that she was sitting in this room alone. She heard the footsteps of an officer come nearer, this time, it was Officer Konoe.
“Hello Ako-chan!”
“Ojou-sama, she is a criminal. I do not think “chan” is a good way to refer to her,” an inmate beside her said. It was the girl named ‘Secchan’.
Officer Konoe giggled, “Then what do you think I should refer to her as?”
“Perhaps something like this: Izumi! It is soon time for lunch! Get up and to the door now!”
“Aw, that’s not very nice, Secchan,” the officer replied, still giggling somewhat.
The inmate explained, “Well these people are not very nice either, so I doubt being nice to them is something they are of deserving. I am also one of them too, Ojou-sama. Why do you not treat me like so?”
“Because silly! You’re undercover as an inmate to keep me safe because grandpa is a paranoid pansy!”
“Uh, Ojou-sama, you were not supposed to say that. It was a secret…”
Officer Konoe laughed, “Oopsie! My bad, Secchan!” She bonked herself on the head.
Ako stood there, staring at the two. She definitely heard every word of that rather odd conversation. That explained why these two were so casual with each other, though as she looked around, either no one cared or didn’t hear what they said. She continued to watch the two, wondering when they were going to let her out.
“Oh! I forgot about you Ako-chan! You poor soul, waiting in that horrible small little box, and we can’t even take you out for lunch! I’m sorry!” Officer Konoe bowed, and then started to open the door.
‘Secchan’ stopped her, “Ojou-sama. Did you forget you are supposed to restrain them with the handcuffs before opening the door?”
“Oh Secchan! I trust her not to run away!”
Ako continued to have a blank stare while watching them. Even if Yuuna wasn’t here, she was still being stalled from her precious lunch and yard time. People around here were weird. Another ten minutes passed before the officer noticed Ako still staring out the door’s window, waiting. She suddenly cupped her face.
“Oh no! I forgot about Ako-chan! Again!”
Officer Konoe grabbed the door handle once again, and was about to pull Ako out, but ‘Secchan’ flashed the ‘cuffs, handing them to the officer. Yet another disagreement about cuffing came up, and in the end after fifteen minutes passed, the officer/doctor finally took Ako out and this time did in fact do as she was properly supposed to do. She was tugged towards the lunchroom or ‘chow’ as many called it in this institution. The girl found herself in the middle of a large line-up for today’s daily sludge. The size of the line-up was odd to Ako.
“There’s a lot more people here than usual…” Ako muttered, watching at all the taller inmates stand around her.
Master Ku was conveniently standing behind her in line, rather excited, “Of course, aru! Sunday is day when Satsuki cooks!”
“Oh! Master Ku!” Ako bowed, remembering the other day. She then perked up with a question, “Who’s Satsuki?”
“Satsuki is master cook! I no understand why she cook for people here, but it very fortunate, aruyo! She make best nikuman! By the way, where is Yuuna? She said she pay for my nikuman today!”
Ako gulped. Yuuna was not around today, and probably not going to be around for a while. Would Master Ku understand that? She realized that an inmate like Yuuna was rare around here. What if Master Ku kicks her in the face when she finds out? What should she say? What if she gets killed? The questions overflowed within Ako’s mind, causing her to stutter while trying to find something to say to the girl next to her, who was extremely confused.
Master Ku asked, “Is Yuuna in hole, aru?”
“Uh…uh…yeah…she is…?” Ako stepped backwards a bit, almost closing her eyes to take what impact would come. It was not what she expected.
“Awww, that too bad…”
“I’ll…I’ll buy it for you!” Ako said, then immediately covered her mouth. She didn’t have money at all, what was she saying that for?
Master Ku smiled; the once again goofy face reappearing, “No need, aruyo! Yuuna pay my nikuman when she come out!”
Ako was about to reply some form of gratitude when she noticed she was next in line for apparently what sounded like some incredibly delicious food. It was strange to her since this was a prison, and a fancy restaurant’s food shouldn’t be here, not that Ako was arguing or anything. A slop of food was dumped onto Ako’s tray, and she continued off for a few steps, waiting for Master Ku. A sudden shove caused Ako to turn her tray over, and what could’ve been the best lunch in a while, fell sadly onto the cold hard floor.
“Ahh…my lunch,” Ako mumbled, staring at the steaming pile of mush sprawled onto the ground. She didn’t seem too upset about it, but Master Ku was a different story.
“AHHH! YOU LUNCH, ARU!” She yelled, setting her tray down on the table as if it were her child, and then turning back to stare at what she acted like her dog was run over.
Ako watched as the master dropped on all fours and she examined the crime scene closely. She got up, turned around, and glared at Ako, while pointing at the food on the ground with her left index finger. Her face was no longer that of a goofy blonde fun-loving girl, but one which looked dangerous…
“Uh…”
“How you drop lunch? Why you so clumsy, aru!?”
Ako waved her hands, trying to sidestep the blame, “I was shoved, Master Ku! I didn’t drop it on purpose!”
“Who shove you, aruyo!?”
“All I saw were big round coke bottle glasses, Master! And uh…” Ako was sweating in extreme anxiety, not wanting to feel the worse of what seemed like the first criminal act she would witness in this hell of thugs and troublemakers.
Master Ku eyed the area. All the other prisoners had stopped what they were doing, showing much respect for the great authority controlled by this single inmate. She then looked back at Ako, keeping frightening and cold eye contact, “Ah, that Chisame, aru…”
“Wha?”
“Chisame always do that,” Master Ku finished. She turned to pick up her tray and started walking toward a table, “You come?”
Ako raised her eyebrow, mentally questioning what just happened. First Yuuna, and now Master Ku? People seemed to whiplash between moods often around here. She shrugged it off and followed the girl towards a table. She sat down and saw that same coke-bottle wearing girl, Chisame, sitting there as well. Other people were crowded around too, but she noticed someone there she had saw before. The one with that bandage on her head with the blood stain…
“Awaaa…”
Ako turned her head to stare at her empty tray. Master Ku seemed to be munching happily away on her lunch. She heard her stomach growl in envy and gluttony. There was much chatter about.
“So, someone tell me why this girl is sitting here,” Chisame said, staring at her with annoyed eyes. Ako flinched as she stared back, trying to shrug off any feeling of fear to not seem weak. It wasn’t working too well. The strange girl she eyed before spoke up.
“Oi, she’s here because her buddy Yuuna did something stupid and wound up in the hole.”
Ako looked up again, trying to gape at the mysterious girl’s eyes instead of her wound. She started feeling a little dizzy from it, but she did in fact recognize that voice. It was the same voice she heard earlier, who was talking to Officer Iincho. This girl must’ve been Chisame’s cellmate. Ako wondered though, how did she know anyway?
Chisame growled, “So? She should be sitting alone somewhere. I’m not doing any favours for that idiot.”
“Don’t be so sour, Chiu!” The mysterious girl replied, “Besides, you’re not doing a favour for her. Apparently I am.”
Ako’s ears suddenly turned towards maximum power. This girl here who she feared so much due to her single wound was doing a favour for Yuuna? What favour? She shrunk back onto her seat, still trying to figure out what they were talking about. She felt extremely uncomfortable sitting on this table.
Chisame finished her lunch, and, to Ako’s surprise, attempted to smack that same person with her tray, who easily caught it in her hands, “Goddamnit Asakura, why can’t you just die?”
Asakura? Ako once again turned her attention to the bandaged girl. This was the person Yuuna was talking about? The one who was charged for countless counts of extortion? The one who Yuuna described as a borderline psychopath? The one Chisame tried to kill last night? This girl sitting right across from her was also supposedly the gang leader. She had great authority, maybe even more than Master Ku. A single drop of sweat slid down Ako’s cheek as she tried to say something to this dangerous convict.
“Why are you doing a favour for that dumb girl? Aren’t you the bloody leader?” Chisame sneered angrily. She gave an impression of someone who must’ve committed a crime in great anger. Ako guessed that she must’ve done something violent to land in such a depressing place.
Asakura grinned. Yet this grin was different from Yuuna’s cheerful and outgoing grin. This grin had a great deal of deviousness in it, and perhaps even a hint of evil. Ako wearily tried to fit in with the group of criminals, but didn’t know how. Her chest heaved up and down insanely fast, still panicking within her mind what exactly to do.
The gang leader introduced herself, “I’m Kazumi Asakura, also known as Paparazzi ‘round here. Yuuna’s going to owe me a lot to drag you around this place. I heard from her you’re not really supposed to be here…can you prove it to me?” Her eyes narrowed as her gleaming sapphire eyes set upon Ako like a hawk. The smaller and obviously frightened girl made a small squeal, still trying to figure out what to say.
“You remind of someone, hm…” The redhead said, stroking her smooth chin in deep thought. Her pupils zipped around the room and they finally landed back on Ako, “Nah, it can’t be.”
Ako looked up at the taller girl, still slightly quivering, though at the same time also intrigued. Who was she talking about?
The gang leader got up, grabbing her tray, “Ku, you better get back up there fast if you want seconds.”
“Seconds! I almost done, aruyo!” Master Ku stuffed the rest of it into her mouth, and headed straight for the line up. The leader motioned for Ako to come with her.
She eyed Master Ku, who was chatting animatedly with the cook, Satsuki, “Looks like Chiu ruined your lunch. You should hurry back up there to see if there’s any left.”
“You’re allowed to get seconds in a prison?” Ako asked, amazed at what seemed like five-star hotel treatment in a penitentiary.
“Only on Sundays. Satsuki always makes too much,” Asakura explained, handing Ako her tray, “Once you finish you should come to the fourth gate.” She said no more and left, leaving Ako standing at the line-up. The only person there was Master Ku, who was in front of her.
She saw a slightly plump girl approach them with several plates of food left. She wore one of the most complicated chef hats Ako had ever seen. Ako was suddenly amazed when she saw the girl smile. It was a very different smile from any she had seen. One that brought peace and harmony in just a few muscles of the face was rare in the world. Why was someone like her working in such a place that completely contradicted her nature? To Ako, her aura and even presence motioned that such a girl would likely be cooking food for the poor and needy rather than the undeserving criminals here.
Ako poked her fork into the grub of heavens. She looked up at the cook, still smiling at her, and could not help but to bring up a question, “Why does someone like you work in such a depressing place? You look like someone who would be running a soup kitchen.”
“Oh, I do. On Saturdays,” Satsuki started, “I cook for different places everyday of the week. Sunday I come here.”
“Why? Isn’t it common knowledge that criminals are the lowest of society and deserve nothing? They haven’t…” Ako stopped, thinking about what she just said, “er…we haven’t done anything to help the community. In fact, we’re just nuisances.” Ako swallowed, finding that including herself with convicts sounded incredibly awkward to her.
Satsuki passed a few trays to an inmate responsible for the dishes, “That’s not necessarily true.”
“Mmph?” Ako’s mouth was full of some of the most delicious food she had ever tasted.
“I believe there is some good in everyone, even people who are here,” Satsuki started, “I don’t like excluding people from what I do. I think that’s wrong.”
Ako raised her eyebrow, feeling foreign to the ways of the chef, “I don’t understand.”
“We both have our opinions,” Satsuki grabbed a pot and passed it to the dishwashing inmate, “Not everyone is guilty. There could be unfortunate souls living in this place, and yet they don’t belong here. There is something very sad about being torn away from everything you love.”
“Eh?” Ako peered up at the cook, who was putting some leftovers away.
“I just hope my food can bring a little happiness for everyone. Whether they deserve it or not doesn’t matter,” She finished, “I have to leave now. It was nice talking to you.”
Ako watched the girl disappear into the distance. She noticed that her voice was also different from any she had ever heard. Who was this person? She seemed like a saint. Ako set her tray back onto the rack after finishing, and heard a strange gagging noise behind her.
”Master Ku!” Ako turned and noticed that the blonde was choking. Her nursing instincts jolted into her head as she leaped towards the flailing master. Her arms grappled around Master Ku’s stomach, and Ako prayed that she still remembered her first aid class five long years ago. She squeezed with some might, and a block of indistinguishable mush shot out of her mouth, breaking a window.
Master Ku took some deep breaths and turned to face Ako. Her mouth had never looked more like a three than ever before, “You…you save my life, aru!”
“Ah, that was just a reaction,” Ako replied, trying to be humble, “since I was a bit of a junior nurse before coming here…”
“No, no! You save my life; I give you much gratit…gratitu…thankfulness, aru!” She bowed in great honour, “You call me Ku Fei, not Master Ku now!”
Ako smiled a little, “Uh, sure Mast…Ku Fei!”
A guard suddenly started heading towards them, Ku Fei turned to face her. It was Officer Iincho, who did not look very happy this afternoon. Then again, when is she not angry?
“Which one of you broke the window just now!? If no one admits it, you’re both going down!” She demanded, slapping her hand onto the table with great force that the sound almost burst Ako’s ears. Ako started to step forward. She had momentarily forgotten from her first aid classes that aiming at an area that was safe to be aimed at was essential when saving someone from asphyxiation. She was even given five classes on it, an exam, and several boot-camp-like exercises on that very aspect alone.
Ku Fei surprisingly spoke up, “I broke window, aru.”
Officer Iincho scolded her, “Can’t you stop practicing those silly martial arts? Good thing there won’t be any windows where you’re going.” She flashed her handcuffs, and an intimidating glare shot off from her face.
Ako gasped, “Wait, Ku Fei…”
“You save my life, aru. This least I can do,” Ku Fei smiled back at Ako, “You no worry, aru!”
“Now if only all you brats were stuck in the hole, my job would be so much easier,” Officer Iincho said as she took the blonde master away.
Ako sighed and turned around. She had remembered what Asakura had told her, and quickly left the now-empty lunchroom. Ku Fei was the only person left she kind of trusted. Now there was no one. She could only follow Yuuna’s advice, and that was to hang out with the borderline psychopath. Ako slowly approached the fourth gate…
“What took you so long?” It was Chisame, leaning on the fence. Ako looked up to see how tall the fence was, and could see the huge winding razor wire lining the top of the fence. Her eyes fell back to the convicts in front of her, and Chisame looked annoyed.
Ako murmured, “Uh, just a little complication is all…”
“Where’s the dumb blonde?” She asked. A gleam of light passed through the inmate’s coke-bottle glasses, giving her a somewhat evil-looking image.
“Uh, she was put into the hole…” Ako replied. She had never felt comfortable near Chisame.
Chisame growled, “Another in the hole!? What, are you, contagious? Does everyone who hangs around you end up there!? Damn it, I’m not sticking around here!”
“Chiu-Chiu, too paranoid,” Asakura’s voice came out of nowhere, startling Ako. She turned around and saw the redhead lying on a bench, with her hands behind her head, “Besides, where are you going to go? It’s not like you’re welcome anywhere else around the yard.”
Chisame slid down to the floor, sitting with her legs crossed, “Pft. Why don’t we just send this jinx away?”
“If I’m not wanted, I’ll just uh, go that way,” Ako, still feeling uncomfortable there, started to walk off, but bumped into someone else, “Ah! Sorry…er…”
“Hey Paru,” Asakura greeted. She raised her arm lazily and slouched back to the ground.
The girl Ako had walked into was someone she saw before. She had long flowing brown hair, similar to Officer Konoe’s, except her fringe was different, and she had two flicks of hair poking out of her head. Ako stepped back, gulping.
“Oi Asakura, and Chiu of course,” She winked at Chisame, angering the inmate even more. She finally turned her attention to Ako, “And who’s this? The one afraid of public baths? Hehe.”
Chisame scowled, “No, she’s the jinx that sends people to the hole. You can stay with her, I wouldn’t mind seeing you stuck in a windowless tiny cell for twenty-three hours a day.”
Paru ignored Chisame, pointing towards some building about five hundred metres way, “Ah! Yue and I were just at the library! Yue was going through quite a bit of philosophy books…”
“And I care because…?” Chisame said.
“OF COURSE YOU CARE! What about the philosophy of LOVE!? Do you love anyone, Chiu!? I’m sure you do! Only crazy people don’t have loves!” Paru pushed her face uncomfortably close to Chisame’s, irking the girl.
Ako watched the two conversing with each other, although it seemed more like Paru was interrogating Chisame on some secret love she must’ve had. Ako smiled. She hadn’t really given much thought to it, but the people in this place were actual people, and so they could in fact act like a normal girl in high school. They would spread gossip and ask if anybody liked that cute boy always sitting behind her in class. She had missed that from her own friends, and to see it happening here made her feel less foreign. Whether that was a good or bad thing she didn’t know. Ako could sense the leader was enjoying this interrogation session from the few chuckles she heard behind her.
Chisame bared her teeth, “Only you would be able to change any topic ever into a topic of love, damn it.”
“I see it as a skill! Besides, you should stop avoiding my question! Who is your love, Chiu-chan!?” Paru seeped further into Chisame’s left of comfort.
“Pft. I don’t have one. Being stuck in here probably isn’t very healthy for love, or whatever crap you keep rambling about.”
Paru grinned, “Do not be naïve, Chiu. I can see it in your eyes that there is a love you have inside these very gates!”
“The only men here are those old bastards who call themselves guards. Nobody loves them, and you think I even have a bloody chance!?” Chisame stood up, wanting to walk away.
“Don’t be stupid, Chiu-Chiu! You and I know that the prison for males is right next to us! And who says it has to be a boy, either? Ehehehehe…” She slung her arm around Chisame’s shoulder and neck, pulling her closer with an ever devious smirk plastered on her face.
The other bespectacled girl was not amused, “Maybe if you leave me alone for once, I could fu—“
“Quiet.” The sombre voice of their gang leader spoke up.
Ako could hear footsteps getting louder behind her. She uneasily took a peek to see what was going on. Asakura had stood up in front of her, watching three intimidating girls approach them. They were like giants compared to Ako. She could feel the heated anxiousness coming from those around her. Perhaps they had greater authority than even Ku Fei and Asakura.
Asakura crossed her arms, smacking what seemed to be the gang’s trademark smirk onto her humble face, “Ah, how are you fine gentlemen today?”
“How dare you mock us! We’re females!” One of the younger and inexperienced of the ‘large’ women said.
“Shut up you. I’m doing the talking,” the boss of the three started, “We’ve noticed that our messenger from the Black Lilies gang is…absent. I’m sure you know why, Paparazzi.”
Ako could see one minute drop of sweat slither down the side of Asakura’s face. If even the gang leader was slightly uncomfortable here, then who were these frightening monsters in front of them? Ako crumpled backwards, almost bumping into Chisame and Paru.
The redhead scratched the back of her head, “Nup. No idea why. Care to refresh my memory?” A playful tone could be heard in Asakura’s voice. There was no fear in her speech.
A loud and abrupt slam bounced off the concrete walls of the prison. The mammoth’s hand was tightly wrapped around Asakura’s neck. The gang leader had been hammered into the prison wall, just a few centimetres short of touching the ground. Her own hands lingered above the stranger’s wrists. Ako’s heart beat against her chest cavity, almost as if it had attempted to jump out of her body in such shock.
The woman continued, “You know what happened! We want our fair share! Your wimps had the nerve to ruin our profits!”
“Shouldn’t we help her?” Ako whispered to the two behind her. Not that she had the guts to even try to save Asakura, but she was also curious at the same time why Chisame or Paru hadn’t even taken one step towards the bullies. She was wondering what they were talking about as well, but she somehow knew in the back of the head that whatever it was, it wasn’t very legal.
Chisame whispered back in her normal Chisame fashion, “She’s the gang leader. She’s supposed to know what to do. Getting help is weak.”
“Mmhm. I see. So you’re a little mad that you lost a little money. Patient little buggers aren’t you?” Amazingly, Asakura was able to keep up her small control over the situation. Even though her larynx was being contained in a tormenting grasp, her voice did not crumble even a bit.
“Don’t fuck with me. Your little neck can be crushed in seconds, and you think you can talk your way out of this!?” She growled, eyes narrowing, breath quickening, and teeth grinding harder than a cheese grater.
A grave look came upon the gang leader’s eyes, “Let me tell you something. That messenger of yours that brings you a haven upon drugs and alcohol and other pointless junk decided to murder a little friend of mine. Do you fucking expect me to give you a little airway in this pointless business!?” Her fingers dug into the stranger’s wrists, causing the larger woman to release Asakura and yelp in considerable pain.
“You bitch…you’ll pay for that. All I was asking was for some repayment, and this is what I get. That old leader of yours was pathetic, and…” Ako almost fell off her feet when the demon before Asakura suddenly turned her attention to her, “…and, I don’t mind ridding you of other pathetic people just to show you who’s the boss here.”
A low growl escaped from the redhead’s mouth, “Touch her and your severed head will be stuffed into a pipe.”
Ako’s eyes widened. That was quite a bold and rather gruesome threat. She could feel a slight inch of dizziness enter her brain after hearing that statement. The three ‘gentlemen’ trotted off, their glares did not seem to leave their eyes even after they turned their heads around. Asakura put her hands on her waist, and a smirk reappeared onto her face. It scared Ako. She shivered slightly, trying to hide her obvious fear.
“Good job, Asakura! We knew you could fend them off!” Paru stuck her thumb up, approving. Ako distanced herself slightly, feeling even more edgy from hearing praise for what just happened.
Chisame did not look as satisfied as Paru, “You usually can get rid of the idiots without getting angry, Asakura. You’re losing your touch.”
“Chiu, don’t worry about it. Maybe I went a little far, but I’m fine.” She assured, winking back at Chisame as if nothing even happened. The fear was almost too much for poor Ako. Their leader, however, walked off without saying anything else, and Ako, despite wanting to faint on the spot, had remembered Yuuna’s advice. She had to follow Asakura.
Before she could move a step, Chisame grabbed her shoulder, “Don’t follow her, if you know what’s good for you.”
“Then…uh…what do I do?”
“Do I look like God to you? No. Just don’t follow her,” She said, watching the leader head into a building.
Ako gulped. She was afraid to follow Asakura, but she was also afraid of hanging around Chisame. What could she do? Yuuna had told her to stick around with the leader, but if she was even more dangerous than usual like people seemed to be implying, it didn’t look like good advice at all. Ako tightened her fist in frustration.
Chisame shook her head and sighed, “Stupid girl. She should not be the leader.”
“Why not, Chiu? I think she did a good job back there,” Paru said.
“She’s weak,” Chisame started, “Ever since our old leader decided to go off and die on us, she’s not been the same.”
Paru shrugged, “We can’t do anything about that. She was leading even when our old leader was alive. She’s been our leader for the entire time if you really think about it. What’s the big deal?”
“At least back then she was barely tolerable,” Chisame closed her eyes.
Paru grinned, “And since when did you even care?” Her eyebrows twitched about five times.
“Fuck it, Paru. I’m caring about myself! If we have a bad leader, our gang will be hated, I’ll be killed. Simple as that. Don’t always assume that everything I say has something to do with love!”
“And I think you’re in denial, Chiu-Chiu-chan.”
Chisame growled, “You’re so annoying.”
“Can someone tell me what happened then?” Ako suddenly perked up. She had some many questions roaming her head, and very little answers. The old gang leader was quite mysterious, for nobody even mentioned her name. All she knew was that her death was a catalyst to something that looked very bleak.
“How would you not know? Didn’t that stupid cellmate of yours mention anything!? There was a fight yesterday, and someone died. The person who died happened to be our leader. Nothing complicated about that!” Chisame easily got irritated.
Ako hesitated to continue at first, but managed to for a little, “I just don’t understand why no one even says her name or why the fight even happened…”
“Her name huh? What would be the point of telling you that? You don’t even know who she is…”
“I don’t know…I’m just wondering,” Ako said, “I’ll stop talking if you want.” She felt like shrinking into nothingness from the severity of Chisame.
Chisame turned her head, staring off to the sky above the razor-wire lining the tops of fences and concrete walls of the detention centre.
“Her name was Sayo Aisaka…”
END OF PART SIX
Me love cliffhangers!
Very much.
