The Storm Inside

Chapter Two-Tenshi

Tenshi woke up as the first ray of sunshine shone in her window.  Mizuko would have gotten up an hour earlier and started their daily routine.  Mizuko would steal food, and Tenshi would clean up.  Well, rather, Mizuko would keep food away from Tenshi once she got it back and Tenshi would wash the inevitable bloodstains off Mizuko’s floor.  Tenshi opened Mizuko’s door, which still had some cracks in it, and her heart dropped as she saw the pools of blood on the floor.

‘I better clean this up before the new girl, Akuma, finds it.  Or else she’ll totally freak out.’  As soon as she wiped the last of the blood off of the floor, the door opened and Mizuko walked in, right on schedule.  What was not right on schedule was that Mizuko grabbed a few snacks and left the rest.  Tenshi’s eyes widened as she saw that Mizuko was holding a couple rolls of bandages.

“What?  I ran out!” Mizuko protested.

Tenshi decided not to question that, although one roll of bandage lasted a lifetime of healing for most medical-nins. Tenshi went downstairs and saw Akuma.  “Hi, Tenshi!  I made breakfast!”

Tenshi’s eyes widened as she saw the stir-fry that Akuma had made out of the various snack foods that Mizuko had ‘acquired’. “You can cook?” she asked incredulously.  

“Yup!  Now we won’t have to eat snacks all the time!” Akuma smiled.  “I’ll go get Mizuko.”

Tenshi quickly stopped her.  “No, she already ate.” she lied, knowing that Mizuko would rather starve then be forced to talk to someone to get food.  

Tenshi quickly ate the stir-fry.  She took a plastic bag and filled it with stir-fry when Akuma wasn’t looking and stuffed it in her pocket.  “The food was great!  I’ll be with Mizuko if you need me.”

Tenshi smiled as she went into Mizuko’s room.  “Our new friend cooked some stir-fry.” Tenshi said as she tossed the bag of stir-fry on Mizuko’s bed.

“Not hungry, I’ll save it for later.” Mizuko sighed.  

“I know you’re not the social type of girl, but at least talk to our new friend.  She’s going to live with us until we decide to do something else.  Unless you don’t like her.  We can always ask her to leave.” Tenshi said sympathetically.  

“She’s…  Fine.  I’ll try and talk to her.  But you have to come with me.” Mizuko gave in.

Tenshi nodded and they walked into Akuma’s room.  “........” Mizuko kept quiet.

Tenshi nudged her and smiled.  “H….  Hi A-akuma….” Mizuko finally managed to get out.  

Akuma smiled at her.  Mizuko’s black hair fell down on her face as she ran out of the room.  Tenshi followed, quickly saying bye.

‘I wish I had the old Mizuko back.  The old Mizuko talks until she’s out of breath!’ Tenshi thought.  ‘Well, it’ll never be the same now. Best to forget the past.’

She shook her head and ran after Mizuko, who retreated into the woods.  “I’m sorry for making you do that.”  Tenshi apologized.

“It’s alright.  I should be braver.  It’s just that…  My past..”  Mizuko muttered.  

Tenshi hugged her as they walked back to their house.