II-The Dolls
II- The Dolls.
It's going to rain. Aiba thought glumly to himself as his glass eyes looked on at the shadows cast by the massive storm clouds gathering overhead. The lemon-yellow brightness of the sun that blanketed the little park in its warmth had been replaced a cold, oppressive gray. Little tornadoes played with dried, dead leaves, and the few stray candy wrappers that littered the sidewalk, while people hurriedly packed their belongings and sought shelter at the nearby shops. It was going to be another dull and boring afternoon of watching the heavy rain fall and drench everything on its path. Aiba sighed, mourning the loss of his entertainment for the day.
Do you think they'll ever come? Jun asked, his jaded thoughts echoing throughout the small space. He listlessly watched as a small cat crouched under a park bench in a futile attempt to keep itself from getting wet. Big, heavy drops fell from the sky in a steady drumbeat, building up its tempo and pelting against the roof and the walls of the small boutique. Lightning flashed, and a loud thunder reverberated through the thin, Plexiglas window of their small display case. Outside, the wind had already knocked down several of the potted plants flanking the store's facade. More debris flew about as the wind gathered strength to add to the coming storm. Ohno, Jun, and Aiba each suppressed a shudder at the thought of something smashing through their window at any moment.
You know, sometimes I wish this was all a dream and I'd wake up, and everything would be as it was... Ohno responded, his voice calm despite the chaos building up outside. Another trash bin gave up its contents to the wind, and the cat that was crouching underneath the park bench, not so long ago, had scampered off to find a more suitable shelter.
Have hope, Jun. It's all we have. I know that they're still alive somewhere... Aiba's voice was steady and full of hope, despite the despair and the deep sadness he endured with the other two. He had lost count of the days as it bled into months and years while they waited for the curse of their frozen bodies to be broken.
As the three continued to watch, helpless and immobile while the storm wreaked havoc across the park, a melodic, high-pitched voice rang out from behind them...
"This is bad, I didn't think that the storm would be this strong..."
The door behind the display stall opened to let a tall, slender woman in. Yuki, the owner of 'Smitten,' had fair, porcelain skin, set with a pair of piercing gray eyes. Inky-black hair that fell slightly past her shoulders, framed a symmetrical, heart-shaped face that currently had its thin, pinkish lips set on a pout.
"I'm sorry boys, but I'm afraid we'll have to put you inside until the storm let’s up. We can't risk anything hurting you... Perhaps you'd like to try watching television?" Yuki added after a moment's pause, "I hear it's a great form of entertainment too." Yuki chirped, twirling an elegant finger through her hair. She called her staff to seat Aiba, Jun, and Ohno on one of the long, soft couches of the store's lobby while she went on to set up the television in front of the couch. The store was closed for the day, and a black cloth was hung over the display window where the mannequins once stood.
As Yuki was fumbling with the remote control, desperately trying (and failing) to make 'the damned box' work, a loud knock came rapping at the store's heavy wooden doors. Grateful for the temporary distraction, Yuki answered the door, leaving it slightly ajar to peek at the surprise guest.
"I'm sorry, I know you're closed but this is the nearest shop I could find. My house is too far from here and I'm really starting to get cold..." A young man drenched, from head to toe, shivering from the cold, pleaded. His arms were wrapped protectively around several books that were kept under his waterproof jacket and his lips trembled as he spoke.
Yuki let the young man inside, where he immediately bowed in gratitude.
"I promise to go home as soon as the rain stops." He managed to stutter; His wet clothes dripped continuously, soaking the red carpet that covered the floors of the small boutique.
"No need for that." Yuki replied, holding in her surprise, as her eyes twinkled with recognition, "More importantly, you're shaking, and you need to get warm. Are you hungry? Anyway, come inside, I have plenty of spare clothes. I just hope I have one your size" Yuki chattered on as she led him to the lobby where the three dolls sat. The young man paused uncertainly in front of the dolls and gave a slight bow to the three strange men sitting in front of a television set that was unplugged.
"You may wait here." Yuki said, pointing to the couch where the three dolls sat "Ohno is the one to your right, Jun is on the other end of the couch, and Aiba is the one sitting between them."
"Um... okay," the young man replied, still looking at the three men who sat unmoving and unresponsive "... they're mannequins, right? I really thought they were humans; they look so real"
"Mannequins? Oh, Mannequins! Right..." Yuki replied. "Uh, anyway, do you know how to use that thing over there?" Yuki said, pointing to the television set, "I can't get it to work. You can watch something while you wait... oh, and sit beside Ohno; he'd like that very much!" Yuki twittered on, as she motioned for the young man to sit beside the spiky-haired mannequin.
"...By the way, what's your name?" Yuki said, although she already seemed to know.
"Ninomiya Kazunari. My friends call me Nino. Thank you very much for all of your kindness, and I'm sorry for getting your furniture wet. I promise to repay you as soon as I can." Nino stammered on as he removed his jacket and plugged the television set, pushing some buttons to switch it on to a news channel.
"Nonsense! Your health's more important than that furniture," Yuki stared wide-eyed as the television stirred into life, "but we can arrange something if you want to repay me..." Yuki winked at Nino, her mood obviously lighter, as she proceeded to get Nino's clothes while she ordered her servants to serve Nino some warm food and some pastries.
************
Nino-chan! Ohno's heart leapt, as Nino sat beside him
Nino! Nino's here! Aiba exclaimed, although his barely contained excitement couldn't be seen, as his body remained motionless.
About damn time... Jun replied, the happiness evident in his voice despite the sarcastic comment.
Nino, thinking that he heard his name, looked around to see if the strange young woman had returned-- only to find that he was alone in the lobby, watching TV with the three, lifelike mannequins as he waited for his clothes and the warm food that was promised.
This is bad, he thought. I must be getting sick...
TBC
Previous: Smitten Next: Trickles
It's going to rain. Aiba thought glumly to himself as his glass eyes looked on at the shadows cast by the massive storm clouds gathering overhead. The lemon-yellow brightness of the sun that blanketed the little park in its warmth had been replaced a cold, oppressive gray. Little tornadoes played with dried, dead leaves, and the few stray candy wrappers that littered the sidewalk, while people hurriedly packed their belongings and sought shelter at the nearby shops. It was going to be another dull and boring afternoon of watching the heavy rain fall and drench everything on its path. Aiba sighed, mourning the loss of his entertainment for the day.
Do you think they'll ever come? Jun asked, his jaded thoughts echoing throughout the small space. He listlessly watched as a small cat crouched under a park bench in a futile attempt to keep itself from getting wet. Big, heavy drops fell from the sky in a steady drumbeat, building up its tempo and pelting against the roof and the walls of the small boutique. Lightning flashed, and a loud thunder reverberated through the thin, Plexiglas window of their small display case. Outside, the wind had already knocked down several of the potted plants flanking the store's facade. More debris flew about as the wind gathered strength to add to the coming storm. Ohno, Jun, and Aiba each suppressed a shudder at the thought of something smashing through their window at any moment.
You know, sometimes I wish this was all a dream and I'd wake up, and everything would be as it was... Ohno responded, his voice calm despite the chaos building up outside. Another trash bin gave up its contents to the wind, and the cat that was crouching underneath the park bench, not so long ago, had scampered off to find a more suitable shelter.
Have hope, Jun. It's all we have. I know that they're still alive somewhere... Aiba's voice was steady and full of hope, despite the despair and the deep sadness he endured with the other two. He had lost count of the days as it bled into months and years while they waited for the curse of their frozen bodies to be broken.
As the three continued to watch, helpless and immobile while the storm wreaked havoc across the park, a melodic, high-pitched voice rang out from behind them...
"This is bad, I didn't think that the storm would be this strong..."
The door behind the display stall opened to let a tall, slender woman in. Yuki, the owner of 'Smitten,' had fair, porcelain skin, set with a pair of piercing gray eyes. Inky-black hair that fell slightly past her shoulders, framed a symmetrical, heart-shaped face that currently had its thin, pinkish lips set on a pout.
"I'm sorry boys, but I'm afraid we'll have to put you inside until the storm let’s up. We can't risk anything hurting you... Perhaps you'd like to try watching television?" Yuki added after a moment's pause, "I hear it's a great form of entertainment too." Yuki chirped, twirling an elegant finger through her hair. She called her staff to seat Aiba, Jun, and Ohno on one of the long, soft couches of the store's lobby while she went on to set up the television in front of the couch. The store was closed for the day, and a black cloth was hung over the display window where the mannequins once stood.
As Yuki was fumbling with the remote control, desperately trying (and failing) to make 'the damned box' work, a loud knock came rapping at the store's heavy wooden doors. Grateful for the temporary distraction, Yuki answered the door, leaving it slightly ajar to peek at the surprise guest.
"I'm sorry, I know you're closed but this is the nearest shop I could find. My house is too far from here and I'm really starting to get cold..." A young man drenched, from head to toe, shivering from the cold, pleaded. His arms were wrapped protectively around several books that were kept under his waterproof jacket and his lips trembled as he spoke.
Yuki let the young man inside, where he immediately bowed in gratitude.
"I promise to go home as soon as the rain stops." He managed to stutter; His wet clothes dripped continuously, soaking the red carpet that covered the floors of the small boutique.
"No need for that." Yuki replied, holding in her surprise, as her eyes twinkled with recognition, "More importantly, you're shaking, and you need to get warm. Are you hungry? Anyway, come inside, I have plenty of spare clothes. I just hope I have one your size" Yuki chattered on as she led him to the lobby where the three dolls sat. The young man paused uncertainly in front of the dolls and gave a slight bow to the three strange men sitting in front of a television set that was unplugged.
"You may wait here." Yuki said, pointing to the couch where the three dolls sat "Ohno is the one to your right, Jun is on the other end of the couch, and Aiba is the one sitting between them."
"Um... okay," the young man replied, still looking at the three men who sat unmoving and unresponsive "... they're mannequins, right? I really thought they were humans; they look so real"
"Mannequins? Oh, Mannequins! Right..." Yuki replied. "Uh, anyway, do you know how to use that thing over there?" Yuki said, pointing to the television set, "I can't get it to work. You can watch something while you wait... oh, and sit beside Ohno; he'd like that very much!" Yuki twittered on, as she motioned for the young man to sit beside the spiky-haired mannequin.
"...By the way, what's your name?" Yuki said, although she already seemed to know.
"Ninomiya Kazunari. My friends call me Nino. Thank you very much for all of your kindness, and I'm sorry for getting your furniture wet. I promise to repay you as soon as I can." Nino stammered on as he removed his jacket and plugged the television set, pushing some buttons to switch it on to a news channel.
"Nonsense! Your health's more important than that furniture," Yuki stared wide-eyed as the television stirred into life, "but we can arrange something if you want to repay me..." Yuki winked at Nino, her mood obviously lighter, as she proceeded to get Nino's clothes while she ordered her servants to serve Nino some warm food and some pastries.
************
Nino-chan! Ohno's heart leapt, as Nino sat beside him
Nino! Nino's here! Aiba exclaimed, although his barely contained excitement couldn't be seen, as his body remained motionless.
About damn time... Jun replied, the happiness evident in his voice despite the sarcastic comment.
Nino, thinking that he heard his name, looked around to see if the strange young woman had returned-- only to find that he was alone in the lobby, watching TV with the three, lifelike mannequins as he waited for his clothes and the warm food that was promised.
This is bad, he thought. I must be getting sick...
TBC
Previous: Smitten Next: Trickles