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 13

'We need proof' Hitomi stated. The three girls were lying around Misaki's room that evening just chatting and playing on Misaki's PS2. Up until Hitomi's statement none had even thought more on their problem, it turned out Hitomi had been thinking things over all evening.

Ami paused her game and blinked twice, she looked at Misaki who had also sat upright at the statement.
'Uh huh' she nodded her head very slowly. Then something caught her eye, something about Misaki's plushie pile. Ami gave up on her game, switched off the Playstation and in one movement flung herself onto Misaki's bed to inspect the mystery object. She was tugging at a plushie
'You have a Seiishirou Sakurazuka plushie' she examined it confused. Sure enough it was, and perfectly detailed with the black suit, long black coat and glasses of the X and Tokyo Babylon assassin. 'Didn't think they made those...' she mused prodding at Seiishirou's glasses. 'Didn't think they made plushie assassins'
Misaki turned to her with a huge grin and joined Ami by the pile of toys. 'I know' she said.
'Tange Rei-chan made it for me. She is so talented. She also made me' she dug further into the huge pile, bypassing a purple haired Mishimaru Yurika and a blue haired Ayanami Rei until her hand caught onto its target.

Hitomi remained seated on the floor, cross-legged she rolled her eyes and tapped her foot on the ground impatiently. She kept on making little coughing noises to alert the other two but the backs were firmly turned. All she could see was the blue duvet cover and a little of their clothing, covered as they were with the dolls.
'Found it!' Misaki announced yanking her hand free.
'Excuse me!' Hitomi began but was stopped short by a little gasp. 'WAIIII SHE MADE YOU TSUZUKI!' she suddenly squealed. Ami turned to face her, she was expressionless but in her arms she held little versions of Shindou Shuiichi, Seiishirou Sakurazuka, Hidaka Ken and Tenjou Utena.
'Interested suddenly?' she raised her eyebrow but the cynical effect was lost by the sheer number of toys that surrounded Ami. Misaki flipped herself over to face Hitomi too and interrupted the argument
'Yeah, she made me Tsuzuki' she smiled
'I LOVE Yami no Matsuei, can she make me one?' Hitomi grinned back
'What is it about you and shounen-ai?' Ami tried to quip but again her cynicism was lost. Hitomi promptly ignored her. She grabbed hold of the Tsuzuki plushie and re-assumed her seat on the floor.
'Ahem' she coughed trying to become serious once more 'Our problem?'
'Oh ok' they both agreed and all sat facing each other, accompanied by the pile of little dolls.

'Did you sign your ticket?' Hitomi asked
'Did I sign my ticket...Did I sign it Ryuichii?' she spoke to the doll.
Hitomi was not amused. 'To me please not the doll!'
'Ryuichii says yes' Misaki and the doll nodded and Hitomi sighed defeated. 'Honestly?' she asked wearily.
'Yes I wrote it in a black ballpoint...I can only think Ryoko erased my name and wrote hers over it.'
'Then that's our proof, erased marks still show. Especially erased pen' Ami joined in.
'We'll see if the Principal can see Ryoko and us together with the ticket.
If we're right...and I know we are...we can really get her back. That Principal of ours will announce the results' Hitomi became a little excited at the prospect of clearing their name. She felt like a vigilante hero, rushing in to prove innocence before a trial.
'No need to be mean Hitomi-chan' Misaki shook her head. 'But a good idea. We can only hope that that is the proof they need!'.

For once their school principal was happy. In his despairing bleak office he wore a bright cheery smile as a favoured pupil from the past had come to visit. He ushered this girl in quickly, encouraging and pointing towards the dull brown chair with excitable movements. The girl herself was a little bemused by all this; she held her bag nervously and in silence obeying the frantic movements a little warily. She sighed and turned to stare out of the window, Ami was a sly little thing using her own popularity to clear Ami's name. Yet even though she was popular and well accepted, she too found something strange to fear within the eerie uniformity and bleakness of the room.

'Well Rika-san, how can I help you? Are you enjoying college or missing us here? It has been a while, you were one of my best students you know'. The Principal smiled at her warmly, a great smile that seemed to take over his face. His eyes smiled too, Rika watched him in bemused concern.
'I am fine thank you sir. I am enjoying my college and I am doing my best at it.' she replied politely. 'However' her voice adopted a more serious note 'I have come to see you regarding my sister'.

'Ah' The Principal's voice dropped. He nodded slowly in recognition of this fact, all his jovial sense of character lost to become the strict stern Principal of the Bleak Room again.
'Ainoura Ami. Yes our young Ami has not really been in good form recently. Unlike you Rika-san' he added with a small smile.
'Yes' Rika nodded tentatively. She swallowed hard and couldn't help fidgeting nervously in her seat but she was the last resort. The ex-school darling had to be heard.
'You must value my words sir. Please. I think she is wrongly done by, by a girl named Sakamoto Ryoko in her class. She and her two friends have been fiercely bullied by Ryoko recently and their friendship has suffered through her web of lies. I was almost duped in to believing Ryoko, some of the things she claims has happened are truly awful things, while she has effectively made much of school gang-up on my sister'
'Ainoura Rika-san...' the Principal began. Rika immediately knew where he was headed, an explanation of how he cannot possibly believe Rika because she had no proof and everyone else would support Ryoko.
'I know what you will say sir' she interrupted before immediately apologising for her rudeness. 'But please give them five minutes, along with Ryoko and the ticket in question. Sawanoguchi Hitomi-san says she can prove their innocence'. She inhaled deeply and waited with baited breath for the answer. Time seemed to tick by incredibly slowly and in the corner of her eye all she would see was the pot plant, the one Green thing of colour, of Life in that room.

He meanwhile considered her words. With chin resting thoughtfully in his hands he mulled over the situation. Finally he looked up at Rika.
'Well' he began sternly but still with a slight warmth of a smile in his eyes. 'I think that if she has proof I should listen to her. I will call the four girls to my room, Ryoko must bring that ticket and a witness as well would be a good idea. Aikawa-sensei and umm....' he quickly flipped open the tattered register and ran his forefinger down the paper searching for a name among class 5-C. 'Kanazaki Yurika, and perhaps Tsukishiro Makoto too. I want to get this sorted out'
Rika breathed a sigh of relief; she carefully stood up and bowed politely. 'Arigatou gozaimasu' she thanked him smiling warmly. 'That's ok' he replied 'Keep on enjoying college and ganbare sa Rika-san'
'Arigatou'

'Konnichiwa minna-san. This is the Secretary of your Principal speaking, I would like to make an announcement for some people to come and see him this afternoon please. From Class 4-E, Hoshino Ritsuko, from Class 4-G, Tenkawa Seki, from class 5-C, Ainoura Ami, Sawanoguchi Hitomi, Sakamoto Ryoko, Kanazaki Yurika and Tsukishiro Makoto. Ryoko-san please bring your concert ticket along with you, and finally from Class 6-F Kobayashi Sakura. That is all, thank-you'

Aikawa-sensei turned to address her class as the message over the intercom ended. She had a very grave expression on her face and looked in turn at each of the four girls at the centre of the argument. 'This is a deeply saddening state of affairs' she said 'But anyway, you five please accompany me to see the Principal now. Naoko-san, you are in charge.'

Makoto looked a little worried, why had she been called up, she didn't really know much except that Misaki was suspended for theft and no one really liked Ami or Hitomi anymore. She herself had stayed out of matters but Yurika seemed very angry with the three, as she did now. She was leant over her desk whispering furiously to Ryoko while casting frequent and nasty glances at Ami and Hitomi.

'Please now leave your seats' their teacher re-iterated. All five girls obeyed and filed out of the classroom.
'If you have had anything to do with this Sawanoguchi, I'll' Yurika hissed as Hitomi passed her. Hitomi coolly defied the girl, she and Ami walked in a solemn silence next to each other, their faces clearly showing a pure determination for something. Ryoko walked with Yurika, still whispering harshly to each other, they were each deeply angry. Makoto meanwhile was comforted by Aikawa-sensei that she was just being a witness; she would receive commendation for her willingness to act as such. She smiled a little, her discomfort eased by the teacher. The ticket in question meanwhile was being held by Aikawa-sensei, confiscated from Ryoko as they walked to meet with the Principal.

After a short walk they arrived and filed into the small waiting room where the Secretary, a bright and breezy girl of 24 regarded each student with a warm smile. The group of six sat in silence as they waited, Hitomi again began to scrutinise her surroundings and noted with a touch of annoyance the oft-flickering halogen light and a low hum that emanated from it's core. Everything was so tatty, so old in there. Only the immaculately made-up Secretary made any difference, otherwise it was cold and drab in nature. 'He won't be long' the Secretary chirped happily before resuming her attention to a bright screen and a set of typing. There then came a high-pitched buzzing sound from her intercom 'Ah, he will see you now' she announced cheerily. Standing up from behind her desk she moved quickly to the door and swung it open allowing the group in, bowing each time one passed her. 'Arigatou' she smiled and closed the door.

The Principal was less cheery; inside his office already was Misaki. She swung her legs as she sat nervously upon the chair; perhaps he had given her five minutes to explain herself.
'Right' he began straight away and resumed his seat behind his desk as he waited to hear the explanation first from Aikawa-sensei who relayed how the girls had been acting recently.

'It is very very saddening to hear of such a thing happening in my school. All of you, besides Tsukishiro-san whom I believe has no involvement, should be deeply ashamed.'
To this Aikawa-san nodded gravely.
'Yes sir' all five girls hung their heads in an embarrassed shame, although typically Ryoko was feigning her sorrow.
'But' he continued 'I would like this matter to be resolved. Now Sawanoguchi-san' he turned his attention to Hitomi 'I believe you have proof?'
'Yes sir' she replied bowing.

Hitomi took a deep breath and began 'The charge levelled against Yochino Misaki is one of theft, this is a wrongly purported charge. I know this for a fact because the accuser claims that Yochino Misaki stole her ticket to the L'Arc~en~Ciel concert. However the accuser, Sakamoto Ryoko-san never has been in true possession of one of these tickets. This row came about because of a collision between Ryoko-san and Misaki-san, and Ryoko began to demand the ticket as a compensation when she heard that I had, that morning, awoken at 6am to travel to the Dome before school to get one'
'USO' Ryoko yelled out. Seven pairs of eyes fell upon her. She glared at the three girls until the Principal stopped her
'Sakamoto, hold your tongue!'
'Hai sensei'
'Ima wa Sawanoguchi..' he urged her to continue
'Arigatou gozaimasu' Hitomi smiled 'My sister can prove I was out that morning. She commented upon it when I saw her that night. But anyway, it is still only my word against Ryoko's. I never bought her a ticket, I bought Misaki one, but it is still not proof right?' she addressed the Principal who nodded in answer.
'Well recent security has meant that we have to sign concert tickets. Misaki signed hers in black biro, I therefore put to you our proof. Sakamoto Ryoko broke into Misaki's locker, erased her name, signed her own and placed the ticket back.' She walked over to Aikawa-sensei and took the ticket. Hitomi felt a surge of triumph as she handed over the ticket watching the fear of Ryoko's face grow. Their tormenter became very pale as she watched the ticket leave Hitomi's hands.

The Principal examined the ticket back and front very carefully with little mutterings of 'hmmm' as the girls waited patiently. The hum was there again, the low hum of the ageing lights which emerged when the room fell silent. Hitomi didn't know why this hum got on her nerves so much, it just did. In one way it felt like the passing of time, the low hum that continued while all else seemed to stop.
'Right' he broke into the uncomfortable silence. 'It would appear that Sawanoguchi-san is telling the truth. I can indeed see the faded scribbles below Sakamoto Ryoko's name which would appear to read Yochino Misaki.'

Misaki beamed at this news, she turned to Ami her eyes wide with her happiness. If it wasn't going to be improper Misaki felt like throwing her arms around her best friend right there and at that moment screaming 'YATTA' at the top of her lungs. Instead she just smiled to which Ami mouthed 'yukatta' back at her with a smile of her own. Ryoko meanwhile was in shock, she wanted to react too. She wanted to proclaim her false innocence, she wanted to react violently. Yurika couldn't believe it and looked at Ryoko with disgust.

'You lied to me' she hissed. 'You actually lied to me and used me for your own benefit.'

'I am incredibly sorry for this Yochino-san' the Principal now addressed Misaki. His face was sincere, he stood up and bowed an apology to her. Misaki on her part smiled back
'That's ok.' she said 'Arigatou gozaimasu' Misaki hopped off her seat and she bowed in politeness.
'My apologies to all you three' he said. 'Ainoura Ami, your detention is suspended and Yochino Misaki you are re-admitted to school. You may leave along with Tsukishiro Makoto and Kanazaki Yurika. Sakamoto Ryoko however is to stay'