Chapter 20 - Hitomi & Akiko (cont.)

Though her answer tripped me up a little, it actually made the most sense. And it also told me she had knowledge of not only Brookville but of what I did in my own room.

Some progress.

I challenged her with this supposition and pressed, “I assume this means those three figures were…?”

“The images of my sisters.”

A straight answer.

I pressed my hands together. “Alright. Why…? Why would I put those figures of… sisterly forms… in my room?”

It wasn’t fully clear to me where I was leading this. I wondered about Jamie’s hypothesis that this girl just had the wrong trio. Perhaps there was some way to poke holes in her own assumptions and ultimately set things right.

“They were reminders. Shaky fragments of memory. I learned from them in making my own.” Hitomi’s gaze lingered low with distance to her words. It seemed almost like she was in a trance.

I waved my hand a little and asked, “You okay?”

She blinked.

“Yes. I’m glad you’re here, my sister.” She managed a head nod.

I continued, “You mentioned ‘your own’. Do you mean the brown, blue, and purple animal figures which gave us visions?”

Hitomi sighed. “My best efforts, and they are still so full of flaws.”

“What did you mean to do with them?”

She waved a hand like a paddle through the air.

“Remind my sisters of the truth of themselves.”

“And that truth is…?”

She looked at me as though I’d asked a question like “What color is blue?”

I clarified, “What did you want to happen because of those… objects?”

She leaned against a near wall. “Human words fail to express what I want. I can say only they were meant to further my intent. A test, a touchstone, and a catalyst in one. Again, human words are inadequate. But there you have it.”

I looked down at my hands a moment. “A catalyst? It changed me?”

“It knew you, as I know you. It gave to you, from me.”

Pieces of this were beginning to crystallize in my mind. It still made very little sense and worried me ever more. Even if we weren’t her sisters, might it be moot in the end with all she’d done to us? “Okay… alright. So, there were three reminders in Brookville, right?”

Her violet eyes narrowed slightly. “Right…”

“Why wasn’t there a figure for you if it was a reminder of our ‘past lives’?”

She winced, as though physically struck. “That’s a good question… One of the many for which I’m awaiting answers.”

She looked at my hand and stretched her own arm out slowly. I considered taking a step away. But something in that wince and her feelings at first, kept me close. I accepted her hand, which caressed the length of my arm. She trembled a little more, and her eyes quivered. Her breaths came in short, pained cycles.

She looked me in the eye. “There are some things I wish I could say so badly. But I know I must wait. I know I must leave you to do what you wish to do for a little while. I’ll see you later, my dear sister.”

I let my hand linger near hers and asked, “What will you do for now?”

“I could talk to Kimi, but she’s not ready to listen. I could see Keiko, but she would only worry. I’ll talk to her later. For now, I’ll deal with…other matters. And I’ll only say one last thing before I go. That thing you call ‘Akiko’ is exactly what you suspect it is. And, no matter what, it will never ever be anything different.”

She clutched my hand one last time and walked up the nearby steps.

Despite Hitomi’s words, I returned to the other room for Akiko. I stopped in place to take in the visual that lay before me. Akiko still had her head buried in the area of Jamie’s chest like embracing an immense, fleshy pillow. Mami wore an amused look, and Tara had resorted to exuberant measures to play with Akiko.

Jamie looked relieved to see me emerge from around the corner. Akiko bolted from Jamie when she saw me, clinging to my side with renewed fervor. Tara giggled. Jamie fidgeted with Akiko gone. I watched him. I thought I saw a shadow of disappointment cross his face as he adjusted his clothes. I figured he would endlessly-deny the implication if I asked, so I kept quiet and thanked him for watching Akiko.

He snorted once. “Don’t ask me again, unless it’s absolutely necessary. Where’s my blanket?” He was soon cocooned again and added, “Don’t you dare lure Sumi over here either.”

I smirked and said, “Promise. Thanks.”

He looked away and shrugged, “Whatever. I need to bathe and whatnot. I’m worn out and my head feels fuzzy too.”

Tara smiled and inquired, “Did you make a decision?”

He froze and glanced up at the ceiling. “Oh… right. Eh. I can take care of my back on my own.”

Tara laid on the most begging, adorable eyes I’d ever seen. He didn’t relent.

“I’d really like to have some private time to just figure it all out and let the stress fade away. I really don’t want to be seen like this, especially without clothes.”

I thought back to our bra-fitting session and kimono-dressing.

“Would you mind if I bathed with you? I could help with washing your back.”

He tensed up. “That kind of defeats the point of private time, doesn’t it?”

I gave him a shrug like the many he’d given me.

He fussed a bit with his bra and tightened his shoulders to crack his back. He grunted and said, “Fine. Why not… We did it here the first night.”

“So, I assume Keiko is welcome as well?”

“Assuming Nathan so wishes… I guess.”

I smiled. “Great. I’ll only be a little while longer. I’ll meet you up on the third floor.”

Jamie gave a stiff nod in return and pressed his head into the ridges of the blanket. Tara gave him a pat on the shoulder.

-----

I ran into Ms. Ishida on my way back to Reiko’s room with Akiko.

After some polite questions, I told her where we were headed.

She put a hand aside her mouth with a frown. “Are you sure that’s alright for Akiko?”

It was strength in numbers and, as Hitomi noted, it was pretty clear what Akiko really was. She wasn’t an innocent by a long-shot.

I assured her, “They were quite nice when we looked in a few moments ago.”

Akiko traced a few fingers along my arm, as though she were reading something in Braille on my flesh.  

Ms. Ishida didn’t seem convinced, but she gave a sigh and made no effort to lead Akiko away from me. She did wave and smile to her though. Akiko mimicked the wave, but not the smile.

I thought about my questions thus far asked of Tara and Mami. While Hitomi’s words had given me doubt as to the worth of even asking, it gave me some slight feeling…or at least the illusion… of influence and control.

“Can you recall any strange dreams you’ve had, Ms. Ishida?”

She folded her hands and shifted in place but didn’t need too long to reflect on my question. She answered, “Some, from time to time. Depending on what you’d consider strange, they’re nothing too exciting. I don’t dream about vacuuming or writing code. Or even about dark things.”

She brushed a bit of her hair.

“I usually dream that I’m carefully watching other people go about their business. I smile at them. If they drop something, I pick it up and put it where they can find it. I give them a touch on the shoulder if they feel sad. They pay no attention to me, but I don’t mind. I’m just glad to help.”

“They can't see you?” That wasn’t too different from the dreams of Mami, I figured.

She nodded. “Right.”

I mused on that and asked, “Also, did Hitomi say anything to you when you were with her?”

She set her hands in her lap. “Hmm… well. We talked a little. Mostly just how her day was, what happened in class. She was rather tight-lipped. Truthfully, I just wanted her to help me clean out some expired items in the fridge. It wasn’t vital but I wanted to talk to her… especially after all you said.”

She looked a little embarrassed. “There wasn’t much to arouse my suspicions, aside from her being rather quiet in her replies. She did ask where I kept the wind charms. Did you happen to glean anything new about her?”

I noted the wind charms and felt my concerns about Ms. Ishida being involved lift a little, only to find myself back in a familiar spot. I clenched my hands. They felt warm. I said the truth but without elaboration.

“Nothing I can be sure of. And to speculate on it would only confuse.”

I wondered if she would accept that alone. She watched me and asked, “You’re sure?”

“Yes.”

“If you learn anything definite, please tell me what you can.”

Hitomi knew Toki. I put the figures in my room in Brookville. Hitomi had help from one of the Mecchen House girls. All baseless accusations from Hitomi. But I knew her statements, even if not fully true, each meant something.

I’d dumped a lot on the girls, and what I’d learned could no more be backed up than what I’d said before. It would only serve to leave the others incredulous and distrusting.

Perhaps that was the effect Hitomi wished. To alienate us.

I shook my head, for myself and for Ms. Ishida. I told her only, “I’m sorry…”

She returned a slow, warm smile. She wrapped her arms around me and part of Akiko in a careful hug. Akiko pressed near to get as much of it as possible. I felt Ms. Ishida’s presence envelop me.

I clung to her hands a little as they slipped away.

She bowed to us both and said, “If you’ll excuse me then, I’m going to go spend some time with my mother.”

It took a moment for me to realize she meant the family shrine.

She drifted down the hall with calm steps and vanished into the room at the other end of the front hallway.

-----

Reiko and Sumi were as we left them, cuddling close. The contact seemed to keep Sumi occupied and Reiko mollified. Reiko just asked, “Well?”

I said, “The usual.” and hoped that would suffice.

She clenched her eyes shut and breathed in sync with Sumi’s rubbing. “Are you done yet? Why did you come back?” She asked with a surprising degree of calm.

I spoke carefully, so as not to upset that calm. “I just have a few quick questions, if neither of you mind.”

Sumi stretched out over Reiko’s shoulders as I inched with Akiko to a safe side of the room with clear escape routes. She gave a slow, sucking sniff which startled me and asked, “And what do we get in return?”

I held my hands out. “We can leave you two alone.”

Reiko seemed indifferent to this prospect, but Sumi pouted. “That’d be no fun though… hm. Well. Ask your questions.”

Akiko’s head nuzzled my hand. She leaned over it to look at Reiko but kept close to me.

I asked the same question as before.

One of Reiko’s eyes popped open. The other gingerly slid open and blinked once. She stared at the ceiling and said, “Only nightmares. In them, I feel like I’m being torn in two. I struggle against myself, pulling at both ends. I feel on the verge of ripping. I always wake with sweat all over my bed, my blankets askew, and numbness followed by pins and needles in one arm or the other. Like my whole weight is pressed against it.” She swallowed with a hand over her mouth. Sumi receded slightly.

Reiko finished, “I don’t care to talk anymore unless you can explain and stop these nightmares. Can you?”

I saw the faint twitch of hope in Reiko’s eyes until I shook my head slowly. Akiko yanked at my arm towards Reiko. I held her back.

Reiko sighed. ”Nothing does. Very little even helps, but it gets me through each day.” Her gaze wandered from her bow to the set of cooking implements. Her eyes seemed to fight one direction then another before coming to rest on Sumi, who caressed her neck.

She massaged her neck several times, before setting her thumbs against the side. Her other fingers dangled free in the air.

Sumi spoke.

“I always dream of swimming. Most times, it’s nice. But I always feel this strange anxiety, like I’m trapped. I keep seeing the same things again and again, no matter how far I travel. I’m stuck. Rough hands force me down…”

She curled her fingers. “But I’m saved. I’m somewhere else. This beautiful Goddess watches over me. I let Her water flow around me, and I feel at peace.”

Her fingers relaxed.

“I see Her daughters. They’re so beautiful. So free. I just want to hold them close.” She slid her fingers along Reiko’s neck with a gentle, tidal motion.

There seemed an unstated question in the air. It wasn’t crucial but this was probably the best chance I would ever have to ask it.

I took a deep breath and asked Sumi, “Are you a lesbian?”

She grinned, reached around the far side of the bed, and came up with a bottle of what looked like lotion. Sumi rubbed a little on her hands and across Reiko’s neck. She held it up for me. “I would say I have a deep affection for women. Want some?”

She squirted a little onto her hand and held it out.

“Uh…” I’d never been offered lotion from someone else’s hand.

“Just come closer.”

That didn’t assure me. I approached her slowly with just the one hand extended. Akiko kept the other preoccupied.

Sumi made no sudden movements. She applied a bit of the lotion to the back of my hand first. She lingered in her motion but did nothing objectionable.

I freed my hand from Akiko as best I could, and she repeated the same with my other hand. She then encouraged me to rub them together. Doing so brought out the fragrance of the lotion. It smelled like a few of the products which Katsumi used. The lavender was especially potent.

Akiko, free from my hold, walked towards Sumi with a hand stretched out, just like I’d done. Sumi bowed to her. “Hello there, quiet little one. Would you like some as well?”

She squirted a little more of the lotion onto her hand and offered it to Akiko. Akiko looked at it and, for a moment, I was worried she would lap it up. Sumi rubbed it into her skin before she could do anything else with it.

“There you go,” said Sumi. “A lovely aroma for a lovely little lady.” Akiko seemed stymied by the lotion. She shook out her hand a little then bent to sniff it. Her nose clung there for quite a while before pulling away. She took a little lick of her skin but soon spat it out with a twitch.

Sumi laughed. “As tasty as they smell, not all are good to eat.” She slipped back into place behind Reiko and touched lower around her neck.

I bowed to both and said, “Thank you for your answers. That’s all. And thanks for the… stuff.” I held up a hand. “And for dinner as well.”

Reiko looked like she was in a state of relaxed meditation. Sumi drew her close and said, “Shame we couldn’t have more fun. I’ll give you a rain check on that.”

“That’s quite alright.”

Sumi smirked. “I insist. I know how to bring any girl to a state of pure rapture. You’ll like it.”

“Another time. I have a good deal on my mind at the moment.”

“Fair enough. I don’t want Cutie Button here to feel like I’m short-changing her. But soon. And tell your two scrumptious friends that they’re just as welcome to give it a try. I make sure to keep my promises, no matter how long it takes.” She winked once and her attention returned entirely to Reiko.

I figured that would be it for parting words. I took Akiko by the hand, which was easier to grip, and led her out. She moved slow, gazing back at Reiko, but went with me without any trouble.