Tomodachi o Eien
A fic by MizunoTenshi/ Ami, a story of gig tickets and a friendship which starts to go very wrong.
Setting in Tokyo, Japan, some random usage of Japanese.
Disclaimer:I do not own L'Arc~en~Ciel, they just happen to be one of my favourite bands. Otherwise all characters in the fiction are my own work and property.
Characters
Yochino Misaki
Ainoura Ami
Sawanoguchi Hitomi
Sakamoto Ryoko
Sawanoguchi Megumi
Sakamoto Yuki
Ainoura Rika
Tange Rei
Chapter 10
Misaki sighed deeply. She wore a frown, unusual for her bright features and it was not a pout but more of a truly-unhappy frown. As she close her locker she allowed her head to fall against it. The ticket had been inside, staring at her as a dark reminder of Ryoko. She has thought it would all work out, and she had really looked forwards to the concert. Misaki did not really know hate but she felt a deep sense of sadness.
The sound of metal as her head fell was dull. It died away quickly and insignificantly. Noone seemed to notice and it was precisely how Misaki was feeling.
She stood resting her head on the metal for some time as classmates filed noisily and anonymously past her form. The she saw a smiling face. Something that caused her to lift her head from its rest and allow a smile to creep over her face. She waved to this other and pushed her way through the crowds to them.
'Naoko-chan! Akira-kun!' she put on a great beaming smile for them. 'Konnichiwa o genki desuka'
'Ano...Misaki-chan' Naoko faintly smiled back but she was noticeably worried and kept her voice low. 'Genki desu' she answered hurriedly. Misaki watched her confused. For a second she became sweetly naive again and tipped her head to one side so strands of hair fell across her face.
There was a shout, further down the hall behind Misaki. She immediately spun round at the voice.
'WHERE IS MY TICKET?!?' Ryoko screeched. She stared furiously into an open locker. Besides her Yurika had spotted Misaki through the throng of people and shot her a nasty glare. Then she turned to Ryoko.
'Misaki was in her locker a moment ago. I'm sure i saw somthing like a ticket in there'
Ryoko slammed the locker shut her eyes blazing as red as her hair.
'Right' she spoke through gritted teeth and began to march down the hallway. The crowds parted, shocked and stunned at the angry redhead and her friend. They watched the scene emerging with amazement.
'Where is it?' Ryoko demanded.
'Nani?' Misaki asked. Her face had become very pale and she was only too aware that every pari of eyes in that hallway had fallen on her.
'You know what' Yurika bit back at Misaki. Misaki cowered away, Yurika was so mean doing this to her, she had no real involvement. She probably just wanted to be on Ryoko's good side. It was now Ryoko's turn to speak, having quieted her sidekick with a wave of her hand.
'You took it to give to Ainoura didn't you!' Ryoko accused. She had to restrain herself, she wanted just to grab the front collar of Misaki and make her listen. Ryoko didn't think Misaki was taking it in and the urge to strike the other girl was great but Ryoko restrained herself. She knew it would not look good if she were to act with violence. Misaki meanwhile turned back to Naoko. She was deathly pale and her lip trembled as she searched Naoko's face for support with wide staring eyes. Naoko tried to avert the gaze.
'Let's go Akira-kun' she spoke quietly. 'Gomen ne Misaki'.
'Hah your friends are leaving you then' Yurika laughed nastily. Misaki did not turn back to face them for a moment, she just stared after Naoko fighting back tears as Yurika continued.
She took Misaki's hands and pulled her through the parting crowds which immediately closed in again around Misaki's locker. Yurika rummaged in Misaki's bag and took out the key. It was not something many agreed with, the vigilante actions were privately viewed with annoyance but no-one had the gall to say anything. Yurika found the key and thrust it into Misaki's hand.
'Thief' Yurika hissed again. She forcefully prised Misaki's hand away from her locker key then slammed the door shut. 'Let's see what the Principal has to say about this'.
Misaki walked along limply, she still had her head bowed and refused to make eye contact with the hundreds of eyes upon her as she was dragged through the school buildings behind Yurika, and finally, with her hair shielding her face, the tears came.
'Good day at school Ryoko?' Yuki asked later over dinner.
Ryoko was prodding at a vegetable angrily. At her brother's words she looked up and smiled.
'Well are you going to answer Ryoko then?'
'Why have you done this Ryoko?' she asked. Ryoko ignored her.
'You are guilty. Otherwise you would have protested her innocence'
'I am innocent' Misaki spoke very quietly.
'Sorry what was that?' Yurika asked. 'Give us your locker key now. Now!'
'Get it open Yochino'.
Blindly Misaki obeyed. She already knew the result and awaited the collective gasp as she opened the door. Misaki still holding onto the key hung her head.
'Oh my god you thief!' Yurika yelled.
'What?' Ryoko asked. 'Was I right'
'Of course you were Ryoko-chan' Yurika replied. She reached passed the bowed head of Misaki and grabbed out the ticket, which was promptly handed to Ryoko.
'It is mine!' Ryoko feigned amazement perfectly. 'See' she offered it to the nearest child and pointed out the back of the ticket. Upon it written in a small box were the words
'I did and I didn't' she said mysteriously.
'Oh?'
'Well I found this morning that Yochino Misaki had stolen my concert ticket but it's all right now. I got it back and she is suspended' Ryoko smiled
'Poor Misaki' Yuki gazed at his food. Ryoko almost rounded on him in angry shock
'What do you mean 'POOR MISAKI'!' she demanded
'She doesn't seem like the thieving type' Yuki admitted.
'Well yes nor did she see vindictive either to you until...'
Yuki sighed 'Yes I know until Rika told me. Maybe I judged her too early, she was obviously false. Oh well' he smiled 'At least it's all right now'
'Hai' Ryoko smiled. She continued eating. Yuki did the same although he continued in silence. It was nice to have Ryoko in a better mood but at the expense of another and he couldn't shake off a thought in his mind that somehow it all seemed wrong and a little too out of character for Yochino Misaki.
