New Line von Xanderionas ================================================================================ Kapitel 9: Chapter 9 -------------------- The low hum of the sedan quieted down to nothingness as Yagami and Anders parked before the familiar alleyway. Anders killed the engine and walked out without a missed step, Yagami a bit slow to follow as she wondered what he wanted to discuss. It would have been no issue to continue talking about the designs at his office, yet he specifically requested to speak here. As they walked down the alleyway, Yagami again heard the faint piano music echo from the open doors of the bar. She was shocked to find it in the same condition as when she first saw it, as if the desolation from last week had never existed. As Anders entered the bar without a worry, she hesitated for a moment. Her mind flew back to Rin and the hurt tone she had used when Yagami refused the offer, explaining that she’d be busy planning the designs with Anders. She left out the part about it being at the bar, not wanting to worry her. She hadn’t planned on drinking either, having had too much of it last week. A familiar voice woke her from her thoughts, the elderly tone unmistakable: “How wonderful to see you again, Ms.Yagami. I hope your ride home was uneventful.” Maria stood at the entryway, the piano music still playing inexplicably. Her appearance had not changed in the slightest, even the lily in the same condition as before. Yagami wondered whether it wasn’t fake. “Hello Maria. I got home just fine, thanks. Sorry for disturbing you again.” “Nonsense, Ms.Yagami,” Maria explained, giving a low bow, ”our doors are open for you anytime you need us. I apologise for not picking up your call before, I was burdened with other tasks and therefore unable to answer.” She stepped aside to let Yagami in, Anders already having taken a seat at the same bar stool as last time. He pulled his laptop out and awaited her. She entered the room, the scent of forest still present in the air. As she seated herself next to Anders, Maria pulled up behind the counter: “May I interest you in anything from our selection, Ms.Yagami?” Before she could answer, Anders had provided one with his portable keyboard: - Tea for the both of us, Maria. Rosemary for me. Yagami, you? Barely aware she was targeted, all that she could offer was a nod. Maria’s eyebrows rose by an infinitesimal amount, yet no inquiry was given. “Two rosemary teas it is then. I will be back shortly.” She disappeared through the same back door as before, Anders meanwhile continuing to type: - Sorry for taking the lead. “No, it’s alright. Why did you want to continue talking here though?” He contemplated her question for a while, the piano music still eerily present, before answering: - I presumed you wished a place where truly nobody would disturb us. I also wanted to ask you something personal, if you don’t mind. Now intrigued, she gave a hesitant nod. Returning the gesture with a thankful expression, he continued: - Back when you first entered the company for Fairies Story 1, were you exposed to a lot of bullying? Her face answered for her, his eyes deepening with presumed sympathy and concern. - As I thought. “How did you know?” she asked. - Not difficult. When people without experience but plentiful talent get rewarded, it’s within human nature to feel jealousy for them. This often expresses itself in the form of bullying. For example, coworkers forgetting to inform you of important deadlines or feeding you false information. Rumor spreading and aggressive conduct is also common and can make you want to flee from any social contact. When Takamura yelled at you, I saw how you began to show signs of unease, even fear. I guessed you were experienced in such terrible treatment and made the correct judgement, it seems. He stopped writing, letting her read over the text in silence while sipping the tea cup that suddenly stood before them. In the corner, Yagami barely recognised Maria seated at the piano, continuing to play as if she had never stopped from the beginning. Her attention however mainly focused on Anders, whose gaze conveyed more than sympathy now. “You suffered as well, huh?” she asked, already expecting the nod he gave. - Indeed. During my first year at the company, a higher-up from the main branch showed interest in me and helped me get promoted to a high-ranking position. I was thankful for the chance, also well suited as it turned out, but the others had different opinions over it. I don’t think either of us want to go over details, but at least know that I can understand what you went through. Unable to speak, she nodded, not having expected him to be so open. At the same time, though, she felt genuine gratefulness towards him. He had seen her discomfort with the situation at the office and sensed that there had been more to it. He had offered her time and silence to calm down and then decided to gently confront her about it without ill intent or forcefulness, only providing support. Such kind gestures were seldom for her, mainly because she deliberately avoided such contact with anybody but Rin. Even Aoba and the others, as close as they were. Yagami disliked that part about herself, but she continually held walls before herself, afraid of letting others in. Rin was a slightly different story, having always been there for support since high school. She knew and appreciated that immensely, aware she would not have survived the bullying as well as she did without her. Trying to not sound inquisitive, she asked: “Is it alright of me to ask something as well?” He gazed at her with understanding, eventually nodding to assert his answer. “Back during the bullying, I always felt like I could lose my mind among all of it. The only reason I got out of it without too much damage was because of Rin. But what about you?” The horror he reflected in his eyes was unexpected, his body twitching as he looked away rapidly. Just as Yagami believed herself to have gone too far, he reached for his keyboard: - I had someone too. Relieved that he wasn’t completely isolated, she released the breath she had held: “Good. I was worried you were alone during that time. It can be terrible to not have anyone to rely on when you’re in such a depressed state.” She turned to him, expecting a grateful look, only to see the most grave expression she had ever seen in her life. His skin had gone white, his fingers shaking as he typed slowly: - True. It is hard. “Are you alright, Anders?” she asked, concerned. His shift had been too sudden for her to process properly, his skin almost grey as his breathing became heavier. A sudden rattle woke both of them from the moment, revealed to be from Maria who had placed two fresh cups before them. Realising she had let her cup become cold, she grabbed the hot china and sipped the broth, sensing her body becoming less tense as the aroma passed through her body. A glance showed Anders had calmed down as well, his skin mostly back to its normal hue as he gulped the scalding liquid. It caused him evident discomfort, yet he pressed on until the whole cup has vanished. She stared in wonder as he took a gasp to recover, tears in the corner of his eyes. As he wiped them dry, he typed out with trained precision: - Sorry about that. My nerves are a bit shot from work. She wasn’t buying it. She had been told before in her life that she was dense to others behaviors, yet this was an exception. The change in him had been so drastic that it was impossible to ignore. “Anders, I’m not falling for it. You just looked like you saw death itself.” He twitched noticeably at that, making her even more worried. Before she could continue though, he raised a hand, typing with the other: - Please, Yagami. I understand this isn’t fair, but I can’t talk about it. I have my reasons for it. His grimace as he wrote conveyed enough that she didn't want to push it. Nevertheless, as he now asked Maria for a glass of apple juice to cool his throat, she saw how his fingers trembled and his eyes flicked back and forth across the bar. Something deeper was at work here, she knew it, yet he remained at a distance. Aware that asking would bring nothing, she resigned herself with sipping at the tea, the aroma somewhat soured now. Silence overtook them as the bar’s music shifted to a more mellow tune, the notes carrying across the room like leaves in an autumn wind. It was an unwelcome change. At some point, Anders closed the laptop and packed his bag, signalling to Maria that they would like to pay. As he took over the cost, Yagami eyed his movements. The unease from before was gone, not a trace of it being left. He rushed to leave the bar, giving Yagami a nod as he ducked under the entryway. Surprised by his quick exit, she noticed the slip on the counter: - I’ll take you home. As she read it, a thought crossed her mind: “Maria?” “What is it, Ms.Yagami?” The bartender had appeared before her as if teleported, Yagami beyond care currently. “Is there such a thing as being too much of everything at once?" Maria’s eyes glinted again in that mysterious way, hinting at something greater but just stopping before the edge. “I find that is a very important realisation to become aware of. Humans have very limited time on this planet after all. It is not unusual for one to become obsessed with fulfilling as many roles as possible. A mentor, a genius, a lover, a leader. The more one tries to uphold such titles, the more they find themselves spread apart.” Maria leaned in, the glint in her eyes brighter than before. “Until eventually, they rip and become mere fragments of what was once whole, their true self indistinguishable for all but the most devoted.” Her words depressed Yagami, who gazed down at her empty cup with hollow contemplation. A snap of Maria’s fingers was enough to rouse her, prismarine now deeply gazing into her blue: “Be careful you do not rip, Ms.Yagami. While possible to rebuild, one may never be the same again. In any case, I believe Anders is awaiting you.” As if eavesdropping, they heard Anders peek through the doorway with his jacket under his arm, Yagami signalling him that she was coming. He nodded and turned to leave, only to have his shirt get caught on an exposed nail and rip. Anders gave a gasp of pain as he held his arm, Yagami rushing to check on him. To her relief, it seemed to only be a scratch, yet froze when she caught sight of his bare forearm. His skin, a healthy tanned colour over his hand, showed several deep scars that reached around the length of his arm, their appearance ghostly white and uneven. They appeared the worst around his elbow and wrist, forming significant bulges with steep ridges. The scars stopped just before the cuff of his shirt, obscuring almost any untouched skin. She breathed in sharply, causing him to shirk back as he rushed to put his jacket on. His eyes were wide with fear, avoiding her gaze as he pulled his phone out and typed rapidly: - I’ll be in the car. She wasn’t able to answer as he ran down the alleyway to the black sedan, his legs carrying him incredible distances with each step. As he stepped into the car, she was startled to hear Maria behind her: “Is he alright?” She spun around to answer: “Yes, but… those scars…” That glint appeared in her eyes again as Maria shook her head. “Like Ms.Uchimaki told you, company privacy. I cannot divulge any personal information on our customers. As has been since time immemorial, it falls to the person themselves to tell the full story.” “What you told me about ripping and being rebuilt…” Maria’s mouth curved up into a smile that contained seemingly all knowledge of the world. “Nobody can decide for the other how to approach their futures or confront their past. As long as humans have the ability to exercise free will, hardship will form a great barrier for others to overcome. I believe it is no different for you, Ms.Yagami.” Stunned by her insight, Yagami was cut off by a wave of Maria’s hand that lacked any signs of ageing: “But do not let me keep you. You have a weekend to look forward to with some well-deserved rest. I hope you continue to grace our establishment for the foreseeable future, Ms. Yagami. I will close the bar for tonight, so come home safely.” She began to vanish into the bar, Yagami sensing a strange urge within her and calling out: “Wait!” Maria turned around with the grace and presence of a ballerina, a wise smile present on her. “Yes, Ms. Yagami?” “Why is it that, when I visit this place with my friends, it looks abandoned and fully open when I or Anders come here?” The question had hung on her mind since the morning after her first night in the bar. Maria’s response began with a humoured chuckle as her hand reached for a light switch on the wall beside her: “The answer is absurdly simple, Ms. Yagami. You and Anders are our valued customers. Others do not require our services. I wish you a good night.” As she flipped the switch, a flash of white blinded Yagami, forcing her to look away until it faded. Once she could see again, she was shocked to find the bar as desolate as when she tried to go there with Rin and the others. Speechless, she stood before the boarded door with a blank mind, until a car horn woke her. She turned to see Anders awaiting her, the car started and ready to go. She made a quick check of her belongings before hurrying to him, entering the car and closing the door without saying a word. Anders seemed equally unwilling to speak, focusing his vision as much as possible outside her direction as he pulled out of the parking space and the road ahead. Yagami grabbed Anders’ notebook that laid in the compartment between them and opened a fresh page, writing down her address and handing it back to him. He glanced at the address, giving a nod and adjusting his course to her apartment. Not a word was exchanged between them up to their goal, Yagami’s apartment windows lit amongst the dimmed neighbours. She knew that meant Rin was awaiting her, the prospect somehow dreadful. As Anders stopped the car before the entrance, she remained seated for a moment longer, no urge coming from him either. As the silence became oppressive, Yagami opened the door and said in a low voice: “Thank you for driving me. Good night.” She didn’t look for an answer, exiting the car and trying to close the door. Some unknown force was preventing her however, the cause revealed to be Anders reaching across the car with both hands, one holding the door while the other scribbled on the notebook in the seat. Yagami didn’t argue or ask, waiting silently until he finished writing, pressing the page into her hand. He closed the door after her and promptly drove off, his car vanishing at the next corner. Yagami was left at the entrance of her apartment block, the note in her hand barely illuminated by the fluorescent lights above the doors: - I will be gone until Monday on a business trip. Speak to Futaba if you have any questions with the preparations. I hope you were able to calm down from before. Good night, Yagami. The note ended with a hastily-drawn sketch of Boldur, making an apologetic face and rubbing the back of his head. Seeing it, a surge of anger suddenly overwhelmed Yagami, scrunching the paper together into her fist. She had no idea why she felt like this, before realising it. Anders, the one who had helped return her blank, faded imagination into the vivid landscape it had always been, had now become the lone grey shape within it. And that didn’t settle well with her. Hosted by Animexx e.V. (http://www.animexx.de)