When my mother took me home, I tried my best to convince her I was fine. “Mother, I’m fine now. My arm doesn’t even hurt anymore,” I glanced at her, and regretted that I did. She looked furious. A flitter of hope crossed my mind, maybe she was sick of Keiji too. “I don’t believe you! How could you do that?! I didn’t raise you to act like that!” she screamed psychotically, and slapped me across the face. All I could do was look at her, shock clearly showing on my face. “You deserved to have your arm broken! You’re an embarrassment to me!” she hissed. I couldn’t believe my ears, was this really my mother? “The doctor will be here soon,” she whispered as she turned and walked into the house. “I don’t really think that was fair.” I looked around to see where the voice had come from, and saw Haji sitting in a tree. “Heh, what’s up with you and trees?” I tried to sound cheerful, but I could feel the tears brimming in my eyes.
~Keiko
I looked at the girl, and could see she was trying her best not to cry. I sighed and jumped down from the tree I was sitting in. “What are doing here anyway?” she asked me. “You dropped this,” I reached into my pocket and pulled out a little stuffed tiger and held it out to her. “Oh, I didn’t even know that I had lost it. Thank you so much,” she grabbed the tiger and smiled up at me. “Cute,” I whispered before I had a chance to stop myself. “Huh? What did you say?” she looked confused. “Nothing!” I said a little bit louder than I had intended, and she flinched. “I have to go,” I called out as I ran away, leaving her standing there. I could feel myself blushing... What the hell was wrong with me?
~Haji
At first Keiji only slapped me, but as I returned each one with a glare, he got madder and madder. “How DARE you?!” he screamed, almost psychotically at me, over and over. All I did was look up and glare at him. After a while, I’d had enough. His hand came down to slap me again, but I twisted my head and bit him. A look of pure fury crossed his face. That’s when he started to beat me. He threw me across the room, and I landed on my arm, which had twisted. He came up to me, and crushed my it with his foot, and I knew that it had broken. It felt like he was going to kill me, but I knew he wouldn’t kill one of us. He wanted us as his puppets, and we were no use to him dead.
~Keiko
“Bloody hell Ami, I almost had a heart attack,” I tried to slow my heart beat. “Sorry,” she smiled. “So?” she questioned me, cocking her head to the side. Then I remembered she’d asked about Haji. “Oh, this is Haji,” I smiled gesturing to him. “A servant?” Ami asked looking him over. “No,” I shook my head, “he’s...” “Leaving,” Haji butted in cutting me off. “Huh, why?” I turned to him. “I’m bored,” he shrugged and walked off. Why didn't he want Ami to know he was a Sohma? Oh well, I'd better keep it a secret for now.
~Keiko
“So, are you going to tell me what happened or not,” Haji questioned me. Darn, what was I supposed to say? I was trying to think of an excuse, when I noticed he was staring at me. “Uh... Keiji and I just got into a little disagreement,” I tried to smile. From the look he was giving me, I could tell he didn’t believe me. “So you’re the one who was shouting at him?” he asked me, “you shouldn’t have done that.”
I snapped again. “Since when can you tell me what I can and can’t do?! I don’t remember you becoming my mother!” I shouted at him. He looked shocked, and then looked himself over. “Hmm, nope. I don’t remember becoming a woman,” he chuckled and I couldn’t help myself, I laughed. “So, Keiji slapped you?” he asked, looking serious again. I wondered how he knew, then I realised there must have been a mark on my face. “I deserved it, I slapped him first,” I answered, looking away.
He bent down, and grabbed my chin, making me look him in the eye. “No one deserves what he does to them,” he whispered to me, “he’s a monster.” I was shocked, that’s exactly what I had called Keiji earlier.
~Keiko
When Keiji stepped back inside, everyone let out the breaths they had been holding. “What happened?” Ami asked politely. He smirked cruelly, and told us. When he got to the punishment of Kohaku, Ami jumped up, “You just left Kohaku out there!?” she cried. I couldn’t believe it either. Keiji glared at her, “You dare to question my tactics? What I do to my Zodiac is none of your concern!” Keiji snapped, his eyes glinted with anger. Ami bowed her head, “I am sorry, Keiji-sama. I will not question you again.” “I will hold you to your word, Ami.” He said, in a soft voice.
He turned to Mai and Kameko, “Go find Kohaku. Bring him back.” He ordered. They left obediently. “Keiji,” I heard Ami say softly, “Where is Natsumi?” I listened intently. He smiled once more, and told her. She fell silent, and I felt shocked. Ami stood up, “Where are you going?!” Keiji demanded. “Nature calls.” she shrugged.
“How could you?” I hissed at Keiji after Ami left the room. He smirked, and I felt something in me snap. “Monster!” I practically screamed, and slapped him. He grabbed my arm, and threw me across the room. “How dare you?!” he asked furiously, his face red with rage. “You deserved it!” I spat at him. He made his way over to me, and bent down so that he could look me in the eye. “Don’t ever touch me again,” he whispered menacingly, and slapped me, hard. I could feel the tears starting to form in my eyes, but I blinked them back. I wouldn’t cry in front of him.
~Keiko
