This is actually chapter two of...
Apr. 15th, 2008 04:37 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spottoI'm just separating it from the first chapter for organizational archival purposes. :D See? The date says April 15th when it is clearly December the Fifth.
PART TWO
The next morning…at
”Get up Ako.”
”Mmhmm…just five mo’ minutes…”
”Get up, Ako.”
Ako placed her hand on something she thought was the snooze button, “Stupid clock…”
”I wish I still had a clock to call stupid,” a voice said, “and sadly my head is not a clock.”
Ako jolted awake, and turned to see Yuuna standing on the ladder of the bunk bed. Her cellmate was smiling, and the sun had not come up yet. Ako rubbed her eyes for a bit, breathing in the stuffy air of the cell.
”I bet you wish everything that happened yesterday was a dream, huh?” Yuuna said, resting her head on the top bunk.
After her vision cleared, Ako got out of bed, and climbed down the ladder after Yuuna jumped off it, “Why do we get up at five again?” She yawned as she asked this.
”The guards do a head count around now, to make sure no one’s escaped or dead or something. You have to stay standing too. One time I went back to bed after they finished the count, and that day was just the days that they decided to do some recounts too, and they thought I was dead. They called up like ten cops and were yelling the entire time. Some of them looked like a SWAT team because they were holding shields and stuff. Yeah, never doing that again,” Yuuna explained.
They both stared out the small window of the door. Yuuna saw one of the officers coming near their cell about to count them as well. She motioned Ako to stand back, “Watch this.”
”…Cell number 23! Check! Cell number 24! Check! Cell number 25…”
”GOOOOOOOOD MORNING!!!!” Yuuna yelled louder than a rocket blasting off to the moon.
”GWAAAH!!!” The officer fell backwards from surprise.
Ako watched her cellmate start laughing at the officer that fell to the ground from shock. Yuuna could really yell. Although Ako couldn’t help to chuckle a bit, she found what Yuuna did a little cruel; such a job must’ve been stressful.
”INMATE
Yuuna wiped a tear from her eye, “Geez iincho, I was just saying good morning! I thought you cops had manners!”
”You greet that loud again and I will make sure you regret it!” The officer, apparently called ‘iincho’, responded angrily, “You could’ve given me a heart attack!”
”I did it before, you should’ve expected it! You can be a better cop than that, can’t you?” Yuuna countered. The officer grumbled and continued on counting the cells.
”Iincho…class representative? That’s an odd name,” Ako said, watching the officer continue on her rounds.
Yuuna replied, “Nah, it’s just her nickname. Lots of people have nicknames here. For example, mine’s ‘Kid’ or ‘the Kid’, as I’ve told you before. If you’re going to address one of the other people locked up here, you should really call them by their nicknames or you’ll get beaten up. Using their real names is a sign of disrespect, and don’t use honorfics either.”
”Oh, does that mean I have to call you Kid too?” Ako asked. She wasn’t going to get used to calling Yuuna, ‘Kid’.
”Do I look like someone who would care? Just call me Yuuna. It’s fine,” Yuuna explained, “Some people around here call me by my last name, and a few people even call me by my first as well. All of them are in the gang.”
”The gang?”
”Mahora Gang. You got to stick with a gang to survive here. The gang will protect you, and you will have to join in fights the gang gets into,” Yuuna said, “If you join a different gang, I won’t be able to protect you or anything. You might even get beat up by the gang.”
”I will go wherever Yuuna is…I’m not comfortable anywhere else anyway…” Ako said.
”Wise choice, my friend!” Yuuna said, “Ah look, here come the cops with breakfast!”
It was Officer Oukouchi, who Ako had met before. She was pushing the cart of trays down the aisle and finally got to their cell.
”What is it today, Akira? Pancakes?” Yuuna asked.
”Yuuna, we never have pancakes. Stop saying that every time it’s breakfast,” the officer said. She slipped the tray in the slot and then a second one. She finally noticed Ako standing not too far away from the door.
Ako was intrigued that Yuuna and Officer Oukouchi called each other by their first names. She had imagined that inmates and officers would be the last people to call each other by the first name. Were they good friends?
”You mean we’re allowed to have a burger and fries sometimes but never pancakes? That’s ridiculous!” Yuuna argued, raising her spoon.
Officer Oukouchi ignored Yuuna and looked at Ako, “Izumi-san. Is she giving you any problems?”
”No ma’am,” Ako replied, retaining her politeness from yesterday.
”If Yuuna here or anybody else around here gives you problems, try to find me, okay?” Officer Oukouchi noted and pushed the cart to the next cell. Yuuna ran up close to the door.
”Don’t ignore me, Akira! I demand pancakes!!!” Yuuna yelled.
Ako stuffed her spoon into the food. It tasted and looked better than yesterday’s dinner. Perhaps there were different cooks with different cooking skills around here. Still, like yesterday, she could not identify what the food even was. She watched Yuuna gobble it up in a few seconds.
“What? I’m hungry. They only give us three meals a day,” Yuuna said as she put the last spoon of food into her mouth.
Ako remembered back from yesterday when Officer Oukouchi noted that her cellmate would not be a problem. This, to Ako, was further proof that perhaps they knew each other or were even friends. Officer Oukouchi was said to be a new officer around here, did she know Yuuna before they came to this place?
Yuuna sat down on the chair, and grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen, “I suppose I should tell you about some of the people here.” Ako, mildly interested, sat down next to her.
”I guess I’ll start off with my good friend, Makie! She’s known as the Monkey around here, but I don’t think she likes that name. Either way, it’s better to call her the Monkey than Makie just because you aren’t close friends with her, not yet anyway,” Yuuna described. She wrote down Makie’s full name and nickname on the paper.
”Wait…Makie Sasaki?” Ako stared at the paper.
Yuuna cocked her eyebrows, “Yeah, that’s her full name.”
”I knew a Makie Sasaki…from grade school! One day she moved and I tried to call her, but her parents said she was in jail for some reason!”
”Pink hair and an idiot?”
”Pink hair and an idiot!” Ako was almost ecstatic. If she knew someone in this place, she would be able to cope with the horrors of prison so much better. She would suffer with someone else that she was once best friends with. Not that Yuuna was bad, but she had barely known her for even a day. If Makie was here, it’d be that much more endurable!
Yuuna smiled, “Ah, what a small world. You really are lucky to even know someone here, y’know?”
”Which cell is she in? Maybe I can yell at her! I haven’t seen Maki-chan for years…”
Yuuna chuckled, “Uhm…she’s kind of in the hole from that fight yesterday…”
”What? I can’t imagine Makie suffering in a place like that!”
”I think she’ll be out in a few days because she wasn’t involved that much. So, we should see her soon. Boy, will she be surprised!” Yuuna pumped her fist in the air, “A friend of Makie is a friend of mine! I will definitely make sure you are protected by me!”
Ako wondered, “What’s she in here for anyway? I never thought Makie would be in a place like this…”
”I bet she would think the same thing of you,” Yuuna replied, “She told me she went to this new school and hung out with the wrong crowd. Her supposed ‘friends’ ended up trying to rob a store together, just for money. She was dragged along with them. Makie does seem like someone who gets influenced easily, being a bit of an idiot and all…”
”What a shame…” Ako muttered, “Ah, I’m sorry, I got you distracted…please keep telling me about other people here.”
”Remember Ako, you better not be that polite out there. I wouldn’t care, but they would,” Yuuna reminded her, “Inmates around here range from runaways to serial killers.”
Ako’s eyes widened, “S-s-serial…k-k-killers?”
”Oh yeah, I know one. Her name’s Evangeline, known as the Dark Evangel around here. She looks even smaller than you, but she’s really scary. I would advise you to stay the hell away from her,” Yuuna said, “Makie bothered her once and now she wouldn’t even take one step towards her.”
”W-what happened?” Ako asked anxiously.
”She got bitten…on the neck actually. Sometimes I wonder if she’s a vampire or something, oh well. Moving on!” Yuuna wrote another name down, “Since our leader is dead…thanks to those Black Lillies bastards…I’m pretty sure our new leader of the gang will be Paparazzi.”
Ako stared at the paper, “Paparazzi?”
”Our late leader…” Yuuna paused, staring away for a bit,”…she was involved in the big fight yesterday, and helped defend us when our rival gang attacked. Now she’s dead…I still remember that like it was yesterday…”
Ako looked down for a while, hearing the tragic end of such a person, and waited for Yuuna to continue explaining.
”Oh right, it did happen yesterday,” Yuuna laughed, “I’m still sad she’s gone though. She was only supposed to be here for eighteen months. All she committed was communal disturbance. She never hurt anyone. In fact, she was supposed to be released today. Do you know how heartbreaking that is?”
”That is tragic,” Ako started, “but how did someone like her become the leader of all positions?”
”I have no idea. I still don’t know much about how the gang operates. At the very least I know that Paparazzi will take over the leadership job. She’s appropriate, that’s for sure,” Yuuna explained.
”What’s Paparazzi in for?” Ako asked. She felt rather curious today.
”One hundred and twenty-six counts of blackmail,” Yuuna started.
”ONE HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SIX COUNTS OF BLACKMAIL!?”
Yuuna laughed, “And attempted manslaughter.”
”How the heck can you commit attempted manslaughter!?” Ako was bewildered.
”Well apparently, throwing cameras at a cop, in turn knocking him out counts as attempted manslaughter,” Yuuna continued, “that was one stupid and harsh judge. Then again, she told me she blackmailed the judge once as well, so I guess there was a reason the judge was harsh. Paparazzi has a lot of power because she knows everything, which is why she might be suited as the leader.”
”Amazing…” Ako was awed at the ability of some people to commit crimes. From theft to murder to blackmail, there really was quite a variety around here.
”And moving on…there’s someone you shouldn’t mess with.”
A chill went down Ako’s spine, as she heard the words slowly come out of Yuuna’s also terrified mouth. Who was this person who she shouldn’t dare approach? For what reason was this person dangerous, frightening, and down right evil?
”She’s one of the cops. She shows no mercy. NO MERCY.” Yuuna whispered in a hushed tone.
A drop of sweat escaped Ako’s pores and began its journey down her cheek, chin, and the edge of her neck, finally dropping and making a small drop sound no one would hear onto the cold hard ground. The buzzing of a fly did not divert Ako and Yuuna’s attention to the very evil that would soon escape Yuuna’s mouth, as they quivered in immense fear.
”Captain…Tatsumiya…she once shot an inmate for dropping her tray!” Yuuna said, “of course, her gun was loaded with rubber bullets, but it hurt like hell. You would not want to get in her way personally. Only one inmate has defied her and survived to tell the tale.”
”…who would this being be?”
”We call her the ninja around here. She disappears every weekend for some reason, but is back whenever the cops do count. Her great power and mysteriousness gives her quite the immunity in this hellhole…”
Yuuna continued, “It is amazing. When I was a stupid newbie around here, I asked if I could touch the gun Captain Tatsumiya was holding, and she used the taser gun on me. I have never spoke or even gone near her since.”
“I don’t think I ever want to meet this Captain Tatsumiya—“
“What was that, inmate Izumi?” A cold, low, and shrilling voice came from the outside of their small cubed domain. Yuuna took one peek, and immediately ducked.
“It’s her!” She whispered to Ako.
The Captain had no expression on her face, just a deadpan look, with her doll-eyes and chocolate-coloured skin. She started to open up the door.
”Oh god! We’re dead! ALL DEAD!” Yuuna started to panic, grabbing Ako and shaking her like a madman.
Ako could not control her shaking cellmate, but the terror soon opened up the door, and had several pieces of equipment on her high-tech belt. There were a few guns; some must’ve been taser guns while others were rubber-bullet guns. Something that looked like a grenade was also on her belt. Then there was a baton and a radio on her left side, plus a few pocket bags along some parts of the belt. Ako gulped.
”Stop shaking, inmate
”To the yard to be EXECUTED!? I’m too young to die!!!” Yuuna yelled, “Tell the man I shot that I’m sorry! Tell my dad I love him! Do you lack mercy, Captain!? Are you going to hang us all!? SPARE AKO! SHE IS INNOCENT!”
Officer Oukouchi came and joined the Captain, wondering why Yuuna was making a ruckus for the third time in the morning, “Hm. I think she still hasn’t recovered from when you zapped her with the taser, Captain Tatsumiya-sempai.”
”She should get over it. Convicts like her should not be touching weapons. The taser was a warning.”
”Uhm, Captain-san, if you don’t mind I think I’ll escort them to the yard. I doubt Yuuna would come out otherwise,” Officer Oukouchi asked. Captain Tatsumiya only made a grunt and walked off. The officer assumed she was allowed to do this herself.
”Akira! You’re a life-saver!” Yuuna made a thumbs-up, “I owe you one! I’ll buy you dinner!”
Officer Oukouchi looked around, “If you haven’t noticed, you’re locked up in a penitentiary, so I doubt you could buy me dinner.”
”Well duh, whenever I get out. How about pancakes?” Yuuna thought for a bit, “Do they still eat pancakes for dinner in society?”
The officer sighed, “No, Yuuna, they’ve never served pancakes for dinner.”
”Maybe I should write a letter to the government or something and ask them if they can change that,” Yuuna thought for a bit, “Yes! I have it all written down in my head! ‘Dear political person, I am an angry citizen. I have entered a restaurant from your country, and I was appalled by the lack of pancakes being served for dinner. Please fix that, or I will arrange a mass genocide!’ ”
Suddenly, Ako’s cellmate was flicked in the head by the officer. Officer Oukouchi then smacked her own forehead with her hand, a sign of witnessing stupidity.
”I mean boycott. Eheh.” Yuuna grinned. The officer finally pulled the chuckling inmate out the cell, and motioned for Ako to come forward.
”Er, genocide?” Ako muttered to the officer. She felt kind of uneasy. Was Yuuna actually some murdering maniac on medication? She didn’t want to be sleeping in the same room with someone like that. She didn’t want what happened to the old gang leader to happen to her, especially since she wasn’t even supposed to be here.
Officer Oukouchi explained, while moving Ako, “Please don’t think ill of Yuuna. It’s the prison. Every convict says that all the time here, kind of like slang. Even a few cops accidentally blurted it out since it’s so contagious. We’re trying to discourage the word.”
Ako understood, but she still wasn’t convinced. Even though Yuuna was her cellmate, Officer Oukouchi was a cop, and not a scary one at that, Ako felt more trusting to her than Yuuna herself, but when they enter the yard, Ako would have to trust Yuuna just a little more if she doesn’t want to find herself sprawled on the floor covered in blood. Yuuna didn’t sound like the ‘nice cellmate trying to help her’ when she mentioned ‘genocide’, she sounded like an insensitive killer. It was a continuous worry for Ako.
”So, heading for the yard now, eh?” Yuuna said, “Hey, did you guys release anybody from the hole yet?”
The officer shook her head. As they continued walking, Ako saw some light at the end of the long walk to the yard. She could hear sounds, so many of the other inmates were already out there. It looked like Yuuna would stall the officer for a while by trying to talk to them. Did she do that on purpose? Or was it just her nature?
They finally reached the end of the hall, and there was a door being held open by a wooden block on the ground. As they reached outside, they were both shuffled out. There were two officers standing on each side. One was the one known as ‘iincho’, who Yuuna teased, and the other was another relatively young officer with long-flowing brown hair. She was doing a pat-search of another inmate, who looked oddly flushed.
”Oh Secchan, we do this everyday! Why do you still blush!?” The officer said while giggling.
”I did not realize it would be your job in doing this. I’m s-slightly uncomfortable, Ojou-sama,” the inmate replied.
The inmate made a sigh of relief when the officer finished, “Good thing Ojou-sama isn’t doing the strip searches…”
”Oh! I think I’m going to start doing that tomorrow! What a promotion!”
”O-Ojou-sama!” The inmate jumped backwards, her face redder than the blood stains of the yard.
”I’m just kidding, Secchan! Grandpa doesn’t even like it when I’m here, so I don’t think there’s much of a chance of me doing that!”
The inmate turned her head away from the officer, “Please don’t joke like that, Ojou-sama…”
”A little teasing does you good, Secchan!”
They heard a cough from behind them, namely of Officer Oukouchi. The officer nodded and the inmate walked a few feet away from them, but didn’t run off to do stuff on the yard. She seemed to want to stay with that particular officer. That same officer motioned for Ako to come to her, and Ako was also pat-searched. Yuuna had already been done by the officer known as ‘iincho’.
”So, is she one of the new ones?” The officer asked, “There, done! Teehee!”
The inmate that seemed fond of the officer frowned, “Giggling won’t give you a strict first impression with newcomers, Ojou-sama.”
”That’s okay, Secchan! I don’t really mind,” she replied.
Yuuna turned to Ako, a wide but sly grin appeared on her face as she made an interesting gesture with her hand, by raising it near to head, closing it into a fist, extending the index finger, and circling the area, otherwise known as the ‘cuckoo’ sign. For further emphasis, she stuck out her tongue and crossed her eyes. Ako tried to contain her giggle.
”
Yuuna smiled, “I can’t help it; you’re always like that, always.”
”Why don’t you run along now? Who’s that by the way?” The inmate pointed at Ako, realizing she was a newcomer.
”Oh? Nobody special…”
Ako frowned, nobody special? Maybe that was true, she wasn’t really special in the first place anyway.
”But she’s certainly more special than your Ojou-sama,” Yuuna teased.
”Okay, now THAT is the last straw!” The inmate grabbed Yuuna by the collar, glaring straight at her, “I will not let you compare Ojou-sama to some lowlife inmate!”
Well, apparently Ako had to get used to insults here.
Yuuna suddenly glared back at the stranger-inmate, “Oh yeah!? How dare you call Ako a lowlife inmate! Aren’t you one yourself? Uh huh uh huh!?”
”Yes, I am. And so you cannot compare me, her, you, or anyone of us stuck here against our will to Ojou-sama.”
”Well, what if Akira or some cop is here against their will!? How dare you imply that they are lowlifes!” Yuuna rebutted. Finally, the cops, including the one the stranger-inmate called Ojou-sama broke the argument up.
The ‘Ojou-sama’ giggled, “Oh Secchan, no need to get into a silly argument over me…”
Ako scratched her head, slightly impatient that they were standing at the entrance of the yard for so long already. She noticed the stranger-inmate glaring at Yuuna, but also, oddly enough, glaring at her as well. She guessed that newcomers were often persecuted against. Finally, Yuuna got enough of standing around in one place, and decided to drag Ako to all the spots the gang hanged out at.
”And this is the fourth gate, we come here too!” Yuuna said, “but you have to avoid the fifth gate!”
”…why?” Ako uneasily asked, somewhat fearing the answer.
Yuuna crossed her arms, “Because they reside there. Those bast—“
”Alright, time to go back in,” Akira came walking towards them.
”Wait…what!?” Ako exclaimed, “We haven’t been out here for even five minutes!”
”No, it’s lunch. To the cafeteria.” Akira pointed to a large building on the other side. Somehow, this felt like a university campus to Ako. A university campus with razor-sharp barbed tape on every fence, but a university campus no less.
