Chapter Ninety Nine: Day Four: A Future Without You
Christina's Arc: Bend or Break
I couldn't help but stare at Ms. Igarashi as she bestowed a rapturous sermon upon the youthful minds of her Kokiri History 102 class. If I recall correctly, a substitute delivered this lesson with less vigor and insight in my first high school experience. Days later, the news announced Ms. Igarashi's death, and my world spiraled out of control at the wrathful hands of Christina Tetsusen.
Ms. Igarashi pointed to a timeline drawing on the chalkboard, noting its significance. Her eyes gently swept over her students as she checked for understanding, yet when she looked at my segment of the class, she smiled, and I, too, smiled in return, bristling with euphoria.
I adjusted myself in my seat, and part of me wanted to look around like a little girl on her birthday to see if anyone else had noticed; alas, I refrained from displaying my joy.
However, Antwon had not yet returned to school, as was Christina's right as the victor, as owner of Antwon—Mr. Carter's future, and, though I could not prove it, I felt as though he had played a hand in Ms. Igarashi's continuity. Ms. Tetsusen had not returned either, but I was certain Sakura would challenge her again, so Ms. Tetsusen would have to wait before—
I shook my head. I shouldn't concern myself with the well-being of a boy claimed by another.
"So, can anyone tell me why this class focuses on the most peaceful era in our history and is taught throughout Kokiri?" Ms. Igarashi asked, placing both hands behind her back.
I knew the answer, but I also knew that it wouldn't happen in my lifetime.
"No one's willing to give me an answer? Okay, class, you have until—"
A thunderous banging on the door, which Ms. Igarashi could not ignore, caused the class to stir.
Igarashi exhaled deeply. "You have until the end of—"
The banging returned.
"You—"
Once again.
"Okay!" she exclaimed as she marched toward the door. "Well, I didn't expect this."
My envy for the students farthest from the door grew exponentially as they could easily see who was at the door.
"So, what's it going to be?"
"I was forced into questionable enterprises by her. Ouch!"
"Her? I'm just her now?"
My heart skipped at the sound of Carter's prattling. He was alive, even if I couldn't see him. I fought down my emotional turmoil because I had no reason to cry, so why did I want to?
"Move it, hag!" Christina shouted from the hall.
Ms. Igarashi stepped to the side, and Christina and Antwon walked in. She was holding his hand. However, he looked agitated when he passed my desk.
"Christina, wait. This is my desk," he said, uncertainty in his voice. I wanted to aid him, but he was no longer—he was never mine. I wanted—I'm unsure of what I wanted from him.
"You're not sitting there; you're sitting next to me."
Carter's groan echoed through the classroom, causing low chuckles among the students. But I didn't laugh because I understood what that meant for Carter.
“Now that both of you have joined us,” Ms. Igarashi said, “I’ll leave the class with this: after the Sengoku period, Kokiri entered its Restoration Era, the first era of peace after generations of civil war. It was not peace under one shogun, but peace maintained through the authority of the five clans. We stress this era because it remains the only recorded period of sustained peace among them. And perhaps foolishly, every history teacher teaches it, hoping Kokiri may one day return to what it once achieved.”
Unfortunately, Ms. Igarashi, neither of us will see that peace within our lifetime.
"Yes, Mr. Carter?"
"Can I head to Ms. Hoshikawa's class? The bell is going to ring soon," Carter said, but I could not believe my ears, so I turned to see it for myself. But what I saw confused me. Christina was biting her lip and pointing her thumb toward the door. Carter noticed nothing.
"Um, sure, Mr. Carter."
He exited the room with great haste, yet Ms. Igarashi seemed displeased by the ordeal. She held the side of her face, tapped her cheek with a finger, and contemplated something.
"Well, Tetsusen?"
"Don't you fucking 'well' me, just—call her, and tell her to keep her mouth shut. I'll speak with him later."
What was she talking about? Speak with him about what issue?
Ms. Igarashi picked up the phone.
"Hey, it's Rika. Umm, Carter is on his way to your class. Ms. Tetsusen hasn't told him. Nope, she doesn't want you to tell him. I don't know; he's going to be the first one there, so stop the others at the door and tell them not to say anything."
Oh, Ms. Tetsusen, had you removed Mr. Carter from Softness Training without confiding in him?
"Okay, class. Review your notes and make any needed corrections before the bell rings."
I reviewed my notes carefully and found them appropriate for my current age and grade level. But I could cite my sources—
"Nakamura, can you stay after the bell rings?" Ms. Igarashi asked, standing over my desk. I nodded, unsure of what I had agreed to.
***
I waited at my desk for the class to empty out and thought about why she wanted me to stay, but the more I thought about it, the happier I became. I feared this elation would last for a while. Being fearful of one's own joy is a strange occupation, one I must overcome.
Ms. Igarashi stood by the door to ensure no horseplay occurred under her watch. Once the last student exited the room, Ms. Igarashi walked back to her desk and beckoned me over.
I picked up my backpack and walked to her desk. The classroom door was still open to ensure nothing questionable happened. My reverence for Rika Igarashi was why I had revealed her grim future, and though I was happy that she was alive, I could not ignore her obvious connections to the Iron Fan Court.
"Grab a chair, kid."
I picked up one of the chairs closest to her desk and carried it over. Then I sat before her and waited. I smiled, but it would be wrong to claim I wasn't nervous, as I kneaded my skirt. Ms. Igarashi, of course, leaned back in her chair and removed her glasses. Then she pressed one arm against her bottom lip, creating an exquisite image of academic excellence.
"Nakamura, I wanted to ask you a few more questions about the prediction you made. I want you to be honest with me, since we are indebted to each other."
"W-what do you mean indebted?"
She placed her glasses on the desk.
"Well, I stopped Trish Tetsusen from wiping your family out, and you warned me about Shizuka Kurobane."
"So, that's her name."
She locked her fingers, placed her elbows on the table, and leaned forward. Her eyes were like blades piercing my soul, but they carried a subtle softness.
"Yes, and though she was wounded, she put up one hell of a fight. But I was sure I could best her, not that I'm gloating."
"She was wounded when you found her?"
"Yes, she blamed Mr. Carter for a severe injury to her right foot. Once she was in custody, the Crimson Guard took her to the nearest hospital. Carter had stabbed her through the bone in her foot."
I gasped at the notion of a boy handling a blade well enough to hurt someone. However, I wasn't surprised that Carter was involved after reading the news report. But I had no idea that he had hurt the killer.
"Why do you seem surprised, Nakamura? Didn't you foresee this?"
I looked away for a brief moment, but the seeds of doubt had sown themselves upon Ms. Igarashi's face.
"Nakamura, I'm not going to guess why you looked away. I'm not even sure that I can justify this conversation, but I'm going to ask you to be honest with me. What aren't you telling me?"
I gripped my skirt and found it hard to breathe.
"Ms. Igarashi, I-I don't think you will believe me. My parents don't even—well, my mom does, but my dad thinks I'm loony—maybe I am, just a bit—I don't even know if I believe myself—"
"Hey, hey, Nakamura, calm down," she said, gesturing as if she could lower my anxiety with her hands. "I need you to breathe, okay?"
This was much easier with my parents.
I took several deep breaths, but time was running out. I prevented one adverse outcome, but more were in store unless I could convince Ms. Igarashi to stop them. But first,
"I should start by introducing myself."
"But I already know who you—"
I shook my head.
"My name is Tiffany Aiko Nakamura, and I am a thirty-five-year-old Kokiri history teacher—"
"Very funny, Nakamura."
"You're in my future classroom, Ms. Igarashi."
She leaned back in her chair and caressed her cheek. Her eyes gave way to curiosity.
"Okay, you have thirty-four minutes before the lunch bell rings. Convince me."
"After you died, Trish Tetsusen went on a rampage, vowing to initiate Unmie," I said, hoping that would be enough. But she only nodded silently. "She attacked the Daughters of Ash." More nods. "The war lasted for years."
"So, I'll give you Unmie because nobody knows that Trish wants it, but everyone knows that Ms. Tetsusen wants to burn the Ash down."
"Um, she kills Kaen Ibara."
"Does she?"
"Yes, however, she's crippled in the process. But Kaen Ibara's oldest daughter steps in, vowing vengeance against the Court."
"You make it sound like you lived through these events."
I stood up and aggressively slammed my hands on her desk.
"I did, I just don't know how to make you believe me. I went to college, I took the state exam, I traveled to different regions of our country, and no, Fukuoka isn't bodies and cinder, as rumors would have us believe. It's actually beautiful—" I sat back down, "because the Daughters of Ash aren't monsters, though dogmatic in their beliefs."
"Why did you travel to Fukuoka?"
I waved my hand in front of me as if to swat a fly. "I don't know. It was part of some foolish peace initiative among history pundits."
"So, does this mean you are from the future?"
"I suppose, but it's a future without you. I can live without that future, Ms. Igarashi."
She placed her glasses back on her face.
"Thirty-five years, that's a long time. Any kids?"
"I-I don't know if you believe me or you're just having a go at me. But no, I didn't have any kids. I suppose your next inquiry would be why, so I'll just tell you. After your death and Trish's war, Christina Tetsusen started to physically beat me."
She leaned forward.
"I don't think Christina Tetsusen would do such—"
"As she is now, no. But once you're gone, who tempers her ire? Her mother?"
…
"To make matters worse, years later, she requested that I teach her daughter, as if we were ever on good terms."
"Did you turn her down?"
Now, I sat back in my chair, which surprised Ms. Igarashi.
"Ms. Igarashi, one does not simply reject a queen in our country without repercussions."
She smiled. Had I succeeded?
"Are you telling me that you taught Christina Tetsusen's daughter?" I nodded. "What was that like?"
"Surprisingly, pleasant. She was nothing like her mother. I mean, truly, I couldn't detect the relation."
Her smile fell into a frown.
"What was her name, Nakamura?" she asked, bringing out a pen.
"Oh, dear. You shouldn't record any of this, Ms. Igarashi." She glanced at me. "I don't know if writing it down will—I don't know, just please don't." Ms. Igarashi lowered her pen, but lowering it meant nothing if she wrote it down later.
"There, I promise you that I will not write anything you tell me down."
"Or share it with anyone else?"
She stared at me, or I thought she did.
"Fine. So, what was her name?"
"Her name was Christine Tsukikage, Ms. Igarashi," I said, and then Ms. Igarashi stood up, walked to the door, and closed it.
"M-Ms. Igarashi?"