Planet Bound: Mercury
by Marj
Author's Notes:
Looking back into last chapter's author's notes, I realized that
it had taken me an *entire* school year, plus summer vacation, before
this chapter came out! As usual, I do have my excuses, but they're
pretty much the same as the first, only with much more added
responsibilities. The worst of all is my thesis project, which I had
been and will be working on for the remaining year I have left in
college. Between all these, plus another web page that I am handling,
I do not have any more time to devote myself to writing to those who
keep trying to maintain contact with me, much less writing another
chapter to any of the fics that I'm making!
I know that apologies are quite useless by now, but still I'm
going to say that I'm terribly sorry, though I am *not* going to make
any more promises of writing back long letters until probably after I
graduate. Nor do I promise coming up with another chapter of Planet
Bound until that time. But please be patient until then, as, even if
Sailormoon's popularity is waning, I still have plans on finishing
this story.
Thank you again to my editor, and for all those who took the
time to write to me, or those who at least tried to maintain contact
even if I haven't replied. Your messages keep me going, especially in
trying times when I was tempted to quit writing and just devote myself
to my school work.
Other Notes:
arigato - thank you
atashii - me
hai - yes
honto? - really?/Is it true?
ja/ja ne - see you!
konbanwa - good evening
konnichiwa - hello
musume - daughter
obento - lunch box
okaa-san - mother
otou-san - father
Todai - Tokyo University
Please e-mail your comments and constructive criticisms at
. Thanks!
Disclaimers: The characters of Bishoujo Senshi Sailormoon were created
by Naoko Takeuchi-san, its copyright owned by Toei Animation, Kodansha,
Nakayoshi, Sterling Animation Inc., and many other companies scattered
throughout the world. Meaning, I cannot claim the characters as my
own, and am mearly borrowing them. All the characters not found in the
manga are mine. So please don't sue, as I don't earn anything from
this other than the satisfaction of making a story.
CHAPTER FIVE: THE UNEXPECTED
Usagi slammed an album down on the picnic blanket, smiling as she
leaned and placed her weight on her hands, which were on top of the
scrapbook. "Here you go!" she said.
Ami and Makoto eyed the huge and thick red photo album, an awed
expression on their faces. "You . . . you actually brought the
*entire* album here?!" Makoto exclaimed, noting the leaves
of the album that were held in place by metal rings.
"Why not?" Usagi asked, her eyes blinking.
"But that album is so heavy!" Ami said.
Usagi rubbed her tired arms, a sheepish grin on her face. "It sure
was . . . but hey, I got it here, didn't I?"
Her friends nodded slowly. "Still, the next time you want to show
us some pictures, maybe you could just bring the pictures along with
you." Ami suggested.
"You know, the ones that were newly developed, *before* you place
them in an album?" Makoto said, shoving aside her obento and
dragging the heavy album to the cleared spot in front of her. "When
did you start filling up this thing anyway?"
"Since junior high."
"No wonder. Judging from the way it looks, it seems you've filled
it way past its capacity," Ami commented, eyeing the worn-out cover.
Usagi shrugged. "Hey. It's still alive, isn't it? Besides, I'd
like to keep all of those memories in one place."
"Look at us back then . . ." Makoto said, holding the album close to
her as she examined a picture. "We looked so young . . ."
"Didn't we?" Ami leaned over to take a look. "You still had a
different uniform back then."
"Yeah . . . There's one thing that didn't change though."
"What's that?"
"Usagi's hairstyle!!"
Ami and Makoto laughed.
Usagi's nose scrunched up as she scooted over to where her friends
were sitting. "Give me a break! Even *your* hairstyle hasn't
changed!"
"Maybe, but yours is more notable!" Makoto giggled, turning a page.
"Oh, look!" Ami said. "There's a picture of Usagi and Mamoru-san
after the crisis with Ail and Ann."
"Funny. I thought that you would separate your pictures with
Mamoru-san," Makoto commented.
Usagi stuck out her tongue. "So I didn't. Anyway, that's not what
I wanted to show you."
Makoto moved the album away from Usagi as she reached over to take
it. "Oh, come on! You brought everything with you anyway - let's
see them all!"
"That picture's like the one you found on Mina-chan's dresser, isn't
it, Mako-chan?" Ami asked, pointing at one of the pictures.
"Actually it's the same copy. I had it recopied," Usagi informed
them.
"As with almost all of the other pictures here . . ." Makoto said,
pausing as she looked at another picture. Turning another page, her
face lit up as she saw their 8th grade class picture. "Those were
the days . . ." she said wistfully. "If I remember correctly, Usagi
and I were holding each other's hands to make sure neither one of us
would make fun of the other . . ."
"And of course, demure Ami just stood there, completely oblivious to
our movements," Usagi laughed. "Hey, wait. Wasn't Urawa-kun still
there when we had that picture taken?"
"Honto?" Makoto leaned closer. "Oh yeah, *there* he is!! A few
rows in front of us!"
Ami could only stare silently at the picture.
Usagi nudged her with her elbow. "By the way, Ami-chan . . ." she
started.
"Hmm?" Ami looked at her questioningly.
Usagi had a *very* mischievous look on her face. "You went out with
Urawa-kun yesterday, Didn't you?"
"Huh?" Ami blushed furiously. "Uh . . ."
Makoto looked up from the album, her facial expression signifying
that she was intrigued. "She *did*?!?"
"Oh yes," Usagi nodded, a proud, satisfied look on her face.
"Mizuno Ami went out with Urawa Ryo on a date last night!"
"That wasn't a date! That was . . ." Ami covered her mouth with her
hands as Makoto and Usagi suddenly gave her sly gazes.
"So you *did* go out with Urawa-kun last night!" Makoto said,
leaning back with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.
Ami was staring at her hands, completely embarrassed. "It was just
a snack . . ." she said in a tiny voice.
Usagi shook her head. "It doesn't matter. As Rei said once, if you
went out with someone that you aren't related to, then it's a date!"
"That . . . that's not true! And you know it!" Ami said before
realizing that she had raised her voice. More blood rushed to her
face as she bowed her head again, finding her hands interesting once
more. "How did you find out anyway?"
"Unazuki-chan told Motoki-kun who called Mamo-chan who mentioned it
to me last night," Usagi said.
"She certainly has a lot of connections," Makoto whispered to Ami.
"You're probably going to go out again tonight, right?" Usagi asked
excitedly.
"D-don't just assume that! We don't even have a study session
tonight!" Ami argued.
Usagi blinked. "But . . . but I thought you said . . ."
Ami sighed. "I thought so, too. But sensei decided to give us a
break. A "day-off," as Tomoyo said."
Makoto snapped her fingers. "Rats!"
"Anyway, the point is, Ami-chan and Urawa-kun finally went out
together!" Usagi leaned forward. "So, what happened?"
"Yeah. What happened?" Makoto asked, her intrigued expression
similar to Usagi's.
"N-nothing. We just went to Crown Parlor and got a snack, that's
all," Ami said.
"That was it?!?" Usagi and Makoto incredulously said together.
Makoto leaned back, frowning. "Aww, you're no fun to be with, Ami-
chan. Didn't you guys even talk?"
"Y-yes . . ."
"And . . . ?" Usagi and Makoto both said again, their earlier, eager
expressions returning to their faces.
"And . . . nothing. We just recalled old times and said that we'd
like to remain friends."
"WHAT?!?"
Ami was taken aback by the looks on her friends' faces, both of whom
were literally leaning over her small form. "Was it something I
said?"
"Ami-chan . . ." Usagi said exasperatedly, patting Ami's shoulder,
". . . even the two shy police officers of this certain anime would
have already gotten married waaaay before you and Urawa-kun could
even profess your love for each other!"
"It's not because we're shy, Usagi-chan," Ami defended. "It's
because . . . we just decided things should be this way."
Usagi and Makoto's eyes widened. "But why??" they both whined.
Ami sighed. "*Because* it won't work. He lives too far away. And
I'm not sure of what I feel for him myself. Even if he has
remembered what happened back then, we still haven't seen each other
for four years. I should have moved on by then."
Her friends still looked skeptical, but they finally leaned back.
"Fine. But we'll wait until you take those words back!" Makoto
said.
"We'll see!" Ami laughed.
The three of them browsed through the album until they reached the
new section Usagi had inserted the night before. "I'll be returning
the negatives to Aino-san when we go back next time," she said.
Makoto and Ami were flipping through the set of pictures that had
been taken during Miko's birthday party. "Looking good, Usagi-
chan!" Makoto snickered.
Ami giggled with her. "It certainly captured the real you," she
said as they both stared at the picture where Usagi was caught
inserting a spoonful of food into her mouth.
Usagi frowned. "That's not funny! I almost choked to death when
the flash got into my eyes!"
Makoto wiggled her eyebrows up and down. "Mamoru-san was there to
save the day, wasn't he?"
"Well, yes, but that was still embarrassing!"
"This one is cute . . ." Ami said, looking at a picture of Miko on
top of Tomichi Hikaru's lap. Sayama Mie and another baby were
seated right beside them.
"Funny how Mie's cousin managed to hit it off with Miko so well that
day," Makoto commented. "How old is Izumi? A year old, too?"
Usagi nodded. "She turned one about two months ago. Remember?
Mie's mother invited the Ainos to the Ikeda's. That's why we
weren't able to visit that day."
"Ah! I remember this part!" Makoto exclaimed, pointing at picture
where everyone was standing behind Miko, her small family, and a
huge cake. "Everyone was shouting "Blow! Blow!" so loud that Miko
started crying because she was so scared!"
"Mie had to blow the candle for her because Miko refused to let go
of her okaa-san afterwards. The poor kid!" Usagi giggled.
Ami smiled softly, but she made no effort to join their
conversation. She had thought nothing of it when the Ainos had
started comforting their terror-stricken child. They had been so
sweet - Miko's mother lifting Miko gently in her arms while Miko's
father stood beside his wife, gently speaking to his child in an
effort to calm her down - that Ami was glad the baby was being
raised in a family like them.
Yet now, as she stared at the picture of the same event, Ami felt a
sharp pang shooting inside her. she thought, confused.
Ami gave herself a mental shake.
Pausing to find her composure, she reached over to turn the page,
knowing deep inside that though she had convinced her mind that she
was not envious of the small family she had seen, her heart was
telling her something else.
*****
"Konnichiwa, Mizuno-san!" The security guard greeted Ami as she
entered the condominium where she and her mother lived.
Ami smiled back at the kind man. "Konnichiwa!"
"Back home early from school today?"
"Hai. We're taking a day off from our studies."
The security guard nodded. "That's good. Aside from reviewing, you
should also take a break sometimes. Memorizing dates and formulas
are easier to digest with a clearer mind, ne?" He winked at Ami.
"Well, don't let me keep you from your well-deserved rest."
"Arigato. Ja ne!" Ami said, bowing before moving down the hallway.
"Ja!"
Ami's smile was still present as she shook her head. That security
guard had been working at the condominium for so long, she swore he
knew everybody inside the building. And if he was on-duty, he
always made it a habit to greet Ami whenever she came home.
The people behind the counter in the lobby were no different. They
all smiled and greeted any familiar passerby, and Ami was no
exception. She was so busy nodding her heads towards them that she
failed to notice a figure seated in one of the chairs behind the
reception area.
He had been quietly reading a book when his head suddenly rose upon
Hearing Ami's name. Silent, with a huge smile on his face, he
watched as Ami walked towards the direction of the elevator. Just
as she was about to press the button, he stood up and called out her
name.
"Ami."
Ami turned, startled, at the direction of the voice. Her eyes fell
on a tall man with dark hair and average build. Ami deducted as she warily watched
the smiling man walk towards her. He seemed familiar, but she
couldn't place him . . .
"Konnichiwa. Is there anything I can do for you?" Ami finally asked
as the man stopped in front of her.
"Ami . . . my name is Mizuno Kiyoshi."
Ami's eyes involuntarily widened, her mouth opening slightly.
"I'm your father . . ."
*****
"Did you receive my message the other day?" Kiyoshi asked as his
daughter opened the door to their penthouse.
Ami nodded, feeling elated because of her father's presence beside
her. she thought as they
walked inside the living room. "Oh, let me take that," she said,
taking her father's jacket and hanging it on the clothes rack.
Kiyoshi watched as Ami straightened the folds of his jacket. "When
I heard your voice . . . I was hoping you would call again . . ."
she said slowly. Then she turned around, her face expressing
happiness. "But this . . . this was more than I could have asked
for."
"I told you I'll be giving you a surprise soon, didn't I? I didn't
see the point of calling back if we were going to be seeing each
other personally in a few days. Although, I had wished you had
answered the phone." His head moved from side to side, as if
looking for something. "Where's your mother?"
Ami laid her schoolbag on the counter and entered the kitchen.
"Okaa-san has an operation at the hospital today. She will probably
be home late."
She didn't notice the frown that appeared on her father's face.
"Anyway, since she's not here, then I'll be making dinner." Ami
took out a frying pan and a spatula from one of the cabinets above
her. "What do you want?"
"You can cook?" Kiyoshi asked, moving beside his daughter, as she
looked into the refrigerator for any meat her mother had defrosted.
Ami turned to her father, a proud look on her face. "Hai. Okaa-san
taught me when she thought I was big enough to handle myself."
Kiyoshi sighed. "I've missed a lot of your youth, haven't I?"
"Perhaps. But I'm hoping you'd be there for my future." Ami gave
her father a gentle smile as she placed a bowl of shrimp on the
kitchen table. "Tempura, anyone?"
"Let me help . . ."
"Oh, but you must be so tired from your trip . . ."
"Come on." Kiyoshi rolled up his sleeves. "You're not the only one
who can cook in this family!"
"Okay!" Ami said happily, handing him a bag of
breadcrumbs.
Minutes later, when all the ingredients have been laid out, both
father and daughter set out to work. "So what have you been up to
lately? I heard you were going to join some sort of contest . . .
?" Kiyoshi asked, his wrist twirling while he whipped a few egg
yolks with a fork.
Ami carefully poured water into the rice cooker before closing it
with a lid and turning it on. "A quiz bee contest, otou-san. It
will be my school and another school versus other schools around
Tokyo."
"One of those with prestigious college awards, eh?" Kiyoshi looked
up, slightly reminiscent. "I can remember when your okaa-san and I
were still young. Risa also competed in one of those. She won a
scholarship award from Todai."
"Hai. I think I've heard of that, but okaa-san was never one for
flaunting what she considered 'luck'."
"I hope I'll be there to see your winning moment!" Kiyoshi said, his
eyes sparkling.
"O-otou-san!"
Her father pretended to be surprised. "What? You think I don't
know that you're one of the most intelligent - if not *the* most
intelligent - child prodigies in Tokyo?"
Ami turned away, her face red. "Otou-san, you're just saying that."
"But it's the truth, isn't it?"
"You're imitating everybody else!"
Kiyoshi laughed heartily. "With the way you act, you're just like
the way you described your okaa-san."
Ami started to prepare the shrimps for coating. "Perhaps."
"I'm proud of you, Ami."
Ami was slightly surprised at the serious and silent tone of her
father's voice. She looked at him and smiled. "You say that in
your letters every time. Domo arigato."
"And I'm sure your mother is proud of you as well."
"She is . . ."
Kiyoshi cleared his voice after a moment of silence in an attempt to
clear the sudden awkward atmosphere. "So. What do you plan to take
upon graduating high school?"
"Atashii? Well, I plan to become a doctor someday."
"Your okaa-san must have been a big influence," Ami's father said as
he laid the mixture he made and the breadcrumbs they placed on a
plate in front of them.
Ami shook her head. "Partly, yes. But just as you love art, I love
being able to help people."
"Which colleges are you considering then?"
"Well, there's Todai and Kyoto . . ." Ami said, counting them off.
Kiyoshi whistled. "Kyoto? Isn't that a little too far away from
home?"
"Well, it *is* one of the best universities out there."
Her father held up his breadcrumb-coated hands. "I won't argue with
that. If your team wins in the contest, would you still be
considering any universities other than the one that will offer you
a scholarship as a prize?"
Ami shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps. I can't limit myself to
just one, can I?"
"Of course not."
Ami took the well-coated shrimps and started to deep-fry them.
"We've been talking a lot about me, so what about you? What have
you been doing, otou-san?"
"Nothing much. All I really do is paint and go to art galleries."
Kiyoshi smiled. "I think the letters I sent to you for the past few
years speak for me."
"I guess so. But hearing all of them from you would make it even
better." Ami rinsed her hands with water in the sink and wiped them
dry. Then she looked at her father and smiled. "Shall we cook
something else? I doubt the shrimps will satisfy both of us for
dinner."
Kiyoshi peeped into the refrigerator. "Well, we're going to have to
toss in something from the freezer into the microwave, because there
certainly isn't any other defrosted meat." He shook his head. "I'm
surprised there isn't any other food that's been defrosted."
"I don't think okaa-san expected anyone else but me eating in the
dining room tonight."
"Even so. You should be eating more than that. Don't tell me you're
on a diet."
Ami blushed. "Of course not!"
While Kiyoshi browsed through the refrigerator, Ami found herself
staring at him. she thought, giggling softly as she imagined
her father making late night visits to the refrigerator to satisfy
an insatiable hunger.
Nobody ever mentioned "divorce," but ever since she was old enough
to understand marriage separation, Ami had resigned herself to the
possibility that her parents would never get back together, as some
children with the same situation as hers tended to think after some
time. All she wished for was the chance to see her father in
person, as she barely remembered him as a child. Since Kiyoshi had
not even called or visited during the past few years, she satisfied
herself with the letters and gifts he sent her every year - the
only indications that she even had a father.
Now it seemed as if someone had heard her wish and granted it . . .
and Ami couldn't be any happier. She felt like she was in a dream,
a dream that she hoped she would never wake up from.
"Anyway, Ami," her father suddenly said, making Ami blink and look
at him expectantly. "I'll handle things from here. You set the
table, okay?"
"Are you sure?" Ami asked as she hesitantly removed her apron.
Kiyoshi nodded. "Go on."
Ami moved to open the cabinet underneath the microwave and proceeded
to take out rice bowls and utensils for two. She neatly arranged
them at the dining table just outside the open kitchen as if she was
preparing them for herself and her mother. she thought.
She was so preoccupied with her thoughts that she barely heard the
door to the condominium click open and the steps that preceded it.
Ami could only stare in shock when her mother finally spoke and
caught her attention. "Hello, dear! You haven't eaten yet?" Risa
asked as she hung her coat on the clothes rack. "The operation was
brief, so I was able to come home early tonight. Would you like
to go out for dinner? The food I prepared might not be enough for
both of us."
"Uhh . . ." Ami stuttered, speechless.
Risa noticed the two rice bowls laid neatly on the dining table.
"Do we have a visitor?" she asked, smiling at her daughter. "Are
your group members from the contest here?"
"Here's the tempura," Kiyoshi announced, coming out of the kitchen
with a plate of coated shrimps in hand. "I'll be taking out the-"
His voice trailed off as he finally noticed the arrival of his daughter's mother. His former wife.
Risa's eyes were wide open in surprise, her mouth half-way open.
For a moment, both of Ami's parents just stared at each other,
before her mother finally cleared her voice and stared coolly at her
ex-husband. "Konbanwa, Kiyoshi."
Kiyoshi remained silent a few seconds more. "Konnichiwa, Risa. I'm
sorry for intruding," he said quietly.
"No. No. I think I should be the one to say I'm sorry." Risa
looked at Ami, who was standing uncomfortably at one side of the
table. "After all, I just disrupted a small reunion, didn't I?"
"Risa, I . . ."
"No, you didn't," Ami interrupted. She gave her parents a small
smile. "I mean, what's a family reunion without both parents there?
Please, sit down, okaa-san. We don't need to go out. I'm sure otou-san will prepare a lovely dinner for all three of us, ne, otou-
san?"
"H-hai . . ."
"Please excuse me. I shall get one more rice bowl . . ." Ami bowed
politely and walked towards the kitchen. She couldn't understand
it, but for some strange reason, her heart was pounding madly in her
chest.
Time passed by, and soon the small family finally gathered around
the table for dinner. The surrounding air was filled with the aroma
of the food in front of them. If Usagi had been there, her mouth
would have watered. But to Ami's surprise, she had lost her
appetite, and could do nothing but stare at the feast that she and
her father had made together.
Looking up, she saw that her parents were not touching the food
either.
Hands trembling, she held them together until they stopped, before
gathering her courage and reaching out for her chopsticks. Her
movement gained her parents's attention, and she smiled at them as
sweetly as she could, while she swallowed the nervousness that grew
up her throat. "Shall we start?" she asked.
Risa gave her a small smile before she and her ex-husband followed
their daughter's example.
As much as Ami would like to spark up a conversation, she failed to
utter any words other than the ones she had said earlier. The
silence was maddening, almost deafening. It made her feel so
uncomfortable, and yet a part of her was satisfied to see that her
family was together again, and respected the stillness that seemed
to have engulfed the room - such quietness that was broken only by
the sounds of bowls and glasses being lifted and laid on the table,
and water being poured from the pitcher.
Ami was halfway into shoving a coated shrimp into her mouth when she
heard her father clear his throat in an effort to destroy the
silence. "Ami . . . you never told me when your graduation was.
May I know so that I can make some time for it?" Kiyoshi asked
gently, an almost forced smile on his face.
His daughter perked up almost immediately. "We don't know the exact
date yet, otou-san. But if you leave your number with me, I'll be
sure to inform you the moment I receive it," Ami answered, her face
flushed with the knowledge that her father was finally becoming a
part of her life once more.
"So my musume's becoming a doctor, huh . . ."
Risa visibly stiffened.
"Yes. Although I have not decided my specialization yet-"
"What do you intend to do about it?" Risa suddenly asked.
Her cold voice made both Ami and Kiyoshi turn towards her. Risa's
eyes stared icily at the man that sat in front of her.
"Risa, I never said anything," Kiyoshi said defensively.
"Don't make me laugh."
The other part of Ami - the one that feared that this confrontation
might take place the moment her parents met again, suddenly sprang
up, gripping Ami's heart in fear. "Umm . . . ano . . ."
"Ami, go to your room," her mother ordered.
Ami found herself protesting. "Okaa-san, I'm eighteen years old. I
do not need to be excluded from any discussions that this family
will have," she said.
Her mother gave her the same, cold stare that she had given her
father a while ago. "Go - to - your - room."
Ami stared at her mother for a long time before finally pushing her
chair away from the table and silently obeying her mother's orders.
The moment Ami closed the door behind her, Kiyoshi glared at his ex-
wife. "You didn't need to involve Ami with something that happened
a long time ago, Risa."
"Did you expect me to just sit here watching you destroy my
daughter's dreams for the future?"
"That happened in the past, Risa. We were both young then."
"What makes you any different now?"
Kiyoshi rubbed his temples, his face expressing tiredness. "You're
not even giving me a chance."
"State your business."
"Wha-?"
Risa calmly watched as her ex-husband stared at her. "What do you
want from me? Money? A place to live in while you're here in town?
What do you want?"
Kiyoshi's expression hardened. "I do not need any of those, thank
you."
"Your pride is getting the best of you again, isn't it?" Risa
scoffed. "After all, it didn't take you much to decide to take me
out of the university."
Her ex-husband slammed his fist on the table. "The situation was
Different then! I did not have enough to support both Ami's
childrearing and your schooling, and who would have taken care of
the child while you were in school?"
"We could have asked for our parents' help."
"Yeah, right. You must have forgotten that your own parents
practically disowned you."
"Maybe. But at least they took me and my daughter back when you
left us."
"*I* left *you*??" Kiyoshi said incredulously. "*You* left me no
choice! It was *you* who wanted to have a divorce!!"
"And whose fault do you think it was?" Risa asked coldly.
"*Both* of us."
Ami's parents stared at each other for a long while, neither of them
wanting to relent to the intense gaze of the other, until Kiyoshi
finally leaned back on his chair, his eyes still fixed on his ex-
wife's.
"I'm taking Ami back."
Risa's eyes widened.
"I've been a professional painter for years. I've grown successful
in my field. I have more than enough money to support the rest of
Ami's schooling. You've had her entire childhood. Let me have a
chance with her adulthood."
"Do you know . . ." Risa began slowly, ". . . how hard it was to
raise a child *alone*? Do you *know* the sense of fulfillment once
you see the child grow into a very successful lady? And then you
*dare* to . . ."
"How would I know?" Kiyoshi jeered. "You took her away from me."
"Get out."
"Risa . . ."
"*Get out*!!!" Risa stood up in a fit of rage, her hand pointing to
the door. "I will NOT hand MY daughter over to you!"
"She's not just your daughter! She's OURS!" Kiyoshi argued.
"You have NEVER been a part of my daughter's life!"
"You never allowed me to see her!! That was never a part of the
agreement, and yet I never complained!"
"GET OUT!!!!"
Kiyoshi rose from the table. "This is not the end of the
discussion, Risa."
"OUT!"
"I will come back for her. Even if I have to bring a lawyer."
"OUT!!"
Kiyoshi sadly stared at his ex-wife one last time, before finally
turning around and, pausing to take his coat, walking out the door.
Risa sank to her chair. She buried her face in her arms and sobbed.
*****
The hand that was resting against the door lost its energy, the arm
that held it dropping lifelessly against its master's side. Her
eyes filling with tears, Ami turned around and leaned against the
door. She might not have seen it, but she had heard everything . .
. her visions of being reunited with her father crudely destroyed.
her mind echoed.
(
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