17

“This thing is amazing” said a fascinated Konkon looking at the little machine in her hands “There’s no way I can understand how it works”

“Then.., you can’t fix it?”

Kaoru’s voice sounded desperate and dreadfully scared. Until that moment, she had been so excited about the possibility to meet the Konno of another world that she didn’t realize that maybe she couldn’t do anything. As well as she came from the future, her world was also more developed about technology. Twenty years were a big gap and the fact that the people of that world had to survive with the basics and were more worried about the monsters menacing their life… well, was quite a drawback.

Konkon saw the restlessness in Kaoru’s eyes and answered with a smile.

“I didn’t say that” then she returned her attention to the Traveler “If, as you told me, the machine was damaged during the shooting it may be a something external. Then, we just have to find it”

With these words Kaoru sighed in relieve.

“Well, why don’t you tell me about your trip while we work?”

***

Ishikawa was walking through the corridors trying to find Miki without luck. Lately, they’d been a bit distant to each other and, since her last talk the younger seemed to be avoiding her. Maybe it was just her imagination, but Yossi and Kaoru’s arrival had make things even more complicated, not to mention the new Miki’s pastime, which was right now in front of her.

At first, she doubted to ask her. That girl was really difficult to handle and Rika didn’t want to make any mistake that could make things worst between them. But the truth was that she’d been closer to Fujimoto the last two days than Rika herself.

“Have you… seen Miki?”

“No”

Matsuura’s answer was cold and sharp, enough to discourage Rika to try to keep a conversation. Then, another girl joined them and Aya decided that it was time to leave.

“I guess you’ll want to be alone, excuse me” said the younger.

But before she could leave, a strong hand held her.

“I want to talk with you”

“We don’t have anything to talk about” Aya tried to release her arm from Yossi’s grip but she couldn’t.

“You’re going to come with me and we’re gonna talk, you like it or not”

The determination and strength in Yossi’s words took off guard both Aya and Rika and, before they could process what was happening, Yoshizawa had already disappeared with the younger, although she could hear Aya shouts and complaints from far away.

Ishikawa stayed there immobile, remembering the first time that she’d seen that same scene. It was the day she met Aya for the first time, the day Hitomi died. She’d remained calmed while her sister was ranting and raving about Yoshizawa’s plans ‘til the older, with just a word, made her shut up. Then, there was the same strength in her voice as in Yossi’s just minutes ago. There was no doubt that they were the same girl, it doesn’t matter how much Yossi tried to deny it. And that was killing Rika.

She could act strong, she could repeat to herself over and over than Yossi wasn’t going to stay, but her heart refused to accept that she was going to lose the love of her life again. Fate was, indeed, cruel.

Immersed in her thoughts, Ishikawa had forgotten completely about Miki until she saw her friend appear at the end of the corridor.

“Oh, Mi…”

“You’ve seen the princess?” cut it the younger before Rika could say anything.

“Aya?” asked Ishikawa to be sure they were talking about the same girl. Miki just nodded “She left with Yossi a few minutes ago”

“Shit”

Fujimoto was going to turn and leave the same way she’d came but Rika didn’t give her the chance.

“What’s going on between you and Aya?”

That was funny. The same annoying question had been floating in Miki’s mind all night without being able to reach any conclusion. Finally, she gave up trying to understand it and just accept it.

“I don’t know”

“What’s that suppose to mean?”

“That I don’t know, damn it!” shouted Miki in her desperation “I just have this… urge… to be near her and, the more she rejects me, harder I try it”

“That’s not new Miki. The moment you’ll get what you want, you’ll get bored and all that interest will disappear” stated Rika, crossing her arms and leaning against the wall, sure to know her friend enough to understand what was happening.

“I’ve already got it”

Rika didn’t catch the meaning in Miki’s sentence at first. The younger saw the clueless expression on the face of her friend ad made a gesture with her head trying to make her understand, something that seemed to work ‘cause, seconds later, Ishikawa’s eyes where wide open in astonishment

“You slept with her?!”

“Yeah”

Ishikawa wasn’t expecting that. First, she couldn’t believe that Aya had given up so easily to Miki and second, the fact that Fujimoto didn’t tell her before. It had become a routine for Miki to inform her friend about all her conquest in her effort to make the older a bit jealous so, this new behaviour was totally a surprise.

“So…, it’s like, you know… you like her?”

“I guess so”

The older kept silence again. That was definitely new…

“What? Disappointed to know that you’re not the only one anymore?” asked Miki in a sarcastic tone.

“I’m surprised, that’s all. You’ve never shown interest in someone beyond the first night”

Fujimoto took a step closer to the older and leant towards her.

“Except with you” she said playfully, but with a hint of sadness in her voice.

“Miki, not again”

The memories from years ago, when Ishikawa used more than words to make Miki stay with them, brought a deep red to the older’s cheeks. That was something they didn’t talk about usually… Funny, it was Rika who took the first step then, kissing a stubborn Miki before she could leave or they could end punching each other. Too bad that she didn’t know where she was getting into releasing the ‘beast’ in the younger. Just one night was enough to make Miki stay with the propose to win Rika’s heart, but someone got it first…

“Don’t worry, that’s over” said Fujimoto moving away from her “I’ve realized that there are wars that I can’t win. A ghost is an adversary to difficult to beat”

“And you think you can win with Aya?”

“I don’t know but, at least, I’ll have fun trying it”

***

“So… basically, the Konno from your world, who was good friends with your mother, gave you the Traveler to help you with your research?”

The other girl nodded. Konkon was still working but paying attention to Kaoru’s story at the same time. She told Konno exactly the same she explained to Yossi the first day when they just arrive to that world, but leaving out some little details like her mom’s identity.

“You know… That’s an amazing story” said Asami while she examined the machine carefully with a magnifying glass and tongs, removing the covers carefully “Now I’d like to hear the truth”

“What do you… mean?”

“Well, if I was the Konkon of your world, I’d never gave you something that could be dangerous and, of course, I’d never let you go alone in this kind of trip, less being a good friend of your mom. I don’t think that someone who cares about you would let you take that risk just because a school work so…” Konno left the Traveler and her tools on the table and turned to face Kaoru “…the truth”

To be continued...

Labels: Traveler