Chapter One-Hundred And Four: Day Five: The Wrong Kind of Joy.
Christina's Arc: Bend or Break
I felt the void's emptiness surrounding me. The glowing shards welcomed me before I opened my eyes, and when I opened them, I was alone, no Shizuka. When I looked around, I couldn't see any red shards, either. That's right. She was a red shard, too. I guess Christina put me in a good mood.
A small yellow fragment orbited me.
It's been a while since I've touched one of these. I guess Christina really gave me good vibes. I mean, she's a freaking monster, but she really wants to protect me.
I reached for the shard, but I missed, and the shard practically jumped on me. I wanted to smile, but the feeling subsided, as all feelings do within the void.
I touched the fragment on my chest and felt its warmth radiating around me as my body gave way. I closed my eyes and let the joyful feeling consume me, as it spread from my chest to my fingertips and toes.
***
The bell rang.
I opened my eyes to a hallway filled with students. It was the same school, but how did I get here? I was sure I was touching a yellow shard. Might as well play along until I figure this out.
I stepped forward, and something snagged my bag. My bag?
"Hey, you left so fast that you almost forgot your textbook in class."
The sound of a voice I hadn't heard in forever blessed my ears, bringing more joy than pain, yet still drawing tears as I turned to face Christine.
"Whoa, I'm…I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to return your book, is all."
I wiped my tears.
This wasn't my first day in Kokiri. This must be before I arrived. Before we knew each other.
"So, my name is Tsukikage. What's yours?"
"I'm Carter, Antwon," I whispered in a noisy hallway.
"What? I only heard Antwon. Is that your first or last name?"
My heart raced a mile while standing still. Why was I so damn flustered? I had Christine. I mean, I kissed her, and held her hand, and—shit. I sound like a perv. I'm freaking forty—plus fifteen as Antwon. That's, um, shit! Screw you, math!
She giggled.
"Boy brain done, I guess."
Shit, now I'm melting. But I shouldn't be, right? Yellow shards equal joy, not love or lust.
"Where's your first period, Antwon?"
I reached into my pocket and pulled out my schedule card. When I looked at it, the damn thing was upside down.
Get a freaking grip, kid. Oh, I-I can't read all of it, just pieces.
We stared at the card for longer than we needed to.
"Um, we need to hurry before the bell rings. Let me see it," Christine said, then she took my card. "Oh, Carter. I didn't mean to call you by your first name. Gomen ne. Abutin-sensei no rika o ukeru koto ni natterun da."
No freaking way. We could only partially understand each other. I'm waiting for my damn joy.
Our faces grew warmer as she looked into our eyes.
"Hmm. I—can you? This is going to look bad, but oh well," Christine said, and then she grabbed my hand.
If blushing were a crime, then we're fugitives.
She pulled me through the hallway. We're probably going to Ms. Abutin's class unless a grumpy queen changed my schedule. Unless—nah. Christine would never do that.
"Hey, Tsukikage, what's my first class? I, umm, can't understand it."
We paused at the stairs leading up to the second and third floors. Christine's stare was telling, and I agreed. There were schools for kids who struggled with Japanese. I didn't understand why I was here either, but I wasn't sad that we met.
"Okay… You're going to science, Carter."
I wasn't worried.
"Do you need some help with your Japanese? Because I could help you. But my English is bad, so you could teach me English while I teach you Japanese."
There it was: overwhelming joy from the simple concept of Christine teaching me, touching me, and walking me to class.
Christine started pulsing with a vivid yellow glow, signaling the end of my joy as warmth emanated from her.
***
"Wow, that was amazing," I said, as I slowly opened my eyes.
"Y-yeah. I needed that," Christina said, heaving.
Just like that, I was wide awake, checking myself. Fully dressed, and not sore. Then I checked Christina, who was also fully dressed. We didn't do shit, so what was she going on about? Did she go into my dream, too? That can't be right because I've fallen asleep with her before, and that shit never happened.
I was going to scream, then the genie's words from back then popped into my head. Just ask her. Now that I'm really focusing on the genie's words, I'm sure they came out more cryptic than that.
"Christina, what the hell are you talking about?"
She was breathing too hard to answer me, so I nudged her.
"Let me guess…you don't remember."
"No, I don't remember the things that happen while I'm sleeping; that's kind of the point of sleeping. Why are you breathing all heavy and sweating, like you just ran a mile?"
She smiled.
Then she laughed.
Then she laughed harder.
The light from a new day peeked through the window.
"Fine, don't tell me. I'm showering, you weirdo."
***
When I opened the door, Ayame, Sakura, and Yua were standing outside my bedroom door. Ayame grabbed me by my shirt and pulled me into the hallway while Yua or Sakura closed the door. It was hard to tell from the whiplash I received from being yanked.
"What the hell is wrong with you? I didn't even have time to get started, or is this a preemptive strike, ass hat?"
"I guess you needed to be home to finally plant that seed, shit for brains," Ayame scolded.
"What the hell! What seed, salamander breath?" I said, covering my nose. Then she shook me like a paper bag.
Sakura grabbed my cheeks and turned my face. Shock, dismay, rage, and a whole bucket of emotions seemed to compete for a place on her face. But what the hell did I do? I just woke up. Can't they give me time to start shit?
"Antwon, I'm fucking seconds away from killing you myself! Couldn't you have just waited for the contract to end? Are you that stupid!"
I violently shook my head to break free from Sakura's hand, but in the end, she let me go.
"I don't know what you're talking about! I didn't do anything, so piss off!"
She raised her hand to smack me, but Yua, with all her muscles, snatched me from Ayame.
"Wait! Give him a chance to unpack the juicy details before you kill him, Sakura."
Why is everyone stronger than I am?
***
After the most anxiety-inducing shower I'd ever taken, I changed into my uniform and sat in the living room with Ayame and Yua. Sakura was still getting dressed; she always took longer than needed. I stood before Ayame, who sat on the couch. Yua was in the kitchen, looking for leftovers, I assume.
"Okay, tell me what you meant by planting seeds, and make it quick."
"I'm not explaining shit until you come at me correctly, fucker."
I smiled my toothiest grin because she had me beaten in time. Christina would be out of the shower any minute now, and I couldn't risk her contaminating her guards.
I exhaled, wishing there was something that didn't involve self-deprecation.
"Fine. Please tell me what you meant, Master Tetsuzaki."
She smiled, bearing her own fangs, and ran her hand through her unbound black hair. I'd never really looked at Ayame before, but her eyes were typical of most girls, with a slender face and small nose. She didn't wear makeup, but none of the women I've seen on the estate did.
"Damn, that almost felt as good as when your sister slapped you."
What an asshole.
"So, check it out, idiot. My queen was singing this morning, if you get what I mean," Ayame said.
Yua chuckled in the kitchen.
"I don't get what you mean. I'm an idiot, so explain it to me like you would an idiot."
Ayame clapped, then leaned into the corner of the couch where the arm meets the back, resting her arms accordingly for maximum leisure. She crossed her legs.
"You just keep making my day, nitwit."
She fixed her posture and leaned forward.
"I could hear moans coming from your room. So, why don't you stop bullshitting us and admit to planting the fucking seed of life in my queen? It's an honor, you know."
"Pft. It wasn't me. I was asleep the whole time, and I'm not sore down there." I bent over and faced off with Ayame. "So, if your queen wanted to pleasure herself beside me, then that doesn't count, loser."
Ayame raised her hand in front of her face, like she wanted to ask a question.
"What—"
Then she flicked me in the forehead, causing me to swiftly stand up straight.
"Ouch! What the hell was that for, jerk?"
"I'm tired of waiting for you to seal the deal," Ayame said, standing up. "Do you need me to coach you on how?"
"So, you're a boy, too? Because I'd love to see that!"
We stared at each other like we were actors in an old western, waiting for someone to tell us to draw. But I had the advantage because I actually knew what a western was.
"Draw!" I shouted.
I reached into my pocket.
Pulled out a blue pen.
Then I threw it at Ayame.
In a blinding flash, the top half of my pen was at my right foot, bleeding its blue ink onto the carpet. Ayame stood there in an awkward position, her sword drawn.
"What—happened?"
"As if I don't know what a cowgirl says before she takes down the bad guy in a fucking western, loser!"
"D-did you cut my pen in half?" I asked, checking my hand to ensure all my fingers were still there.
Ayame sheathed her sword.
"Damn right I did."
"I'm not cleaning the ink," I said, pointing at the mess she had made with her fancy swordplay.
"What ink?" Christina asked, drying her hair. She looked at the stained carpet and mutilated pen. "That's a clean cut, Ayame."
Ayame placed her hands on her hips. But that was my favorite pen. "I live to serve you, My Queen."
"So, what were you two fighting about?" Christina asked.
Just as Christina asked her question, Sakura came out of her room and joined us in the living room. She stopped in front of Christina and bowed her head. Christina nodded in approval, and the whole thing seemed pointless. Why did she have to bow if this is our house?
"Nothing, Your Grace," Ayame said. "We were just—"
"Talking about your morning," Yua cut in with a laugh that felt smug.
Sakura's face turned cherry red, and she glared at me.
"Can we just go to school?" I asked, wishing they would move on. "Why are you so obsessed with her and me doing gross stuff, anyway?"
Yua chuckled.
"Yeah, Tetsuzaki—"
"Shut it, Kurogane."
Sakura slung her backpack over her shoulder and started toward the door. "Well, I'm off," she said, opening the front door.
"Sister-in-law, why not ride with us. It's not as if we are going to separate schools," Christina declared.
Speak for yourself.
"Really? I can ride with you guys?"
Christina nodded. "Now, what are you talking about, Kurogane?"
Ayame glared at Yua, who put her hands up like she was being arrested. I, of course, looked at Christina to see if she would press the question. If she asked, they had to answer, right? Yua frowned the fakest sad face I'd ever seen.
"It's for the preservation of your throne," Ayame said, hanging her head low.
But once Ayame was no longer looking at Yua, Yua's smile returned, and she mouthed the words, "I'll tell you on the way."
Luckily, I'm an expert in lip-reading.