The Disconsolate Maiden

Chapter Nine

Beads of sweat dripping down her forehead, Homura let out an exasperated sigh in spite of herself as she unlocked the door to her home.

"Am I going to get lectured for being late? Surely Mother hasn't fallen down...surely Mother is doing just fine..." Homura rested her hand on the doorknob, scared to open the door. "What troubles will I face on this side now...? What new worries will I have...?"

Homura tightened her grip on the plastic sacks which held her groceries for that night's dinner.

Bravely, the brown haired girl opened up the door quietly, keeping her head hung low, her shoulders slumped in a defeated way.

She had expected to be greeted by her mother, but all of the lights were off, the setting sun the only source of light as it reflected off of the silver colored refrigerator.

"I-I'm home!" Homura called out, taking off her shoes before she placed her groceries on the kitchen table.

There was no reply.

"Mother, I'm home!" Homura called out again, already dropping her school bag on the floor, running to the guest bedroom, a place her mother used to rest during the daytime.

To her immediate relief, she found her feeble mother sleeping soundly in her bed, her wheelchair right in front of it showing how she climbed on in.

"Mother?" Homura whispered quietly, pulling a blanket up on her mother so she wouldn't be so cold. "I'm sorry I'm late getting home. Something just happened and I was delayed."

Her mother snapped open her beady, worried eyes. Her eyes darted about the room, examining everything, seeing if anything had been moved the slightest. Finally, she rested her eyes on her daughter and smiled softly, a small sigh of relief escaping from her mouth.

"I was beginning to feel even weaker after you left school this morning," she said, causing Homura to feel even worse about getting so terrified of the dog. "so I decided to rest. Of course, I'm guessing from what you said just now, as I was slowly coming back to my senses, it must be late in the day. Is your father home yet?"

Homura bowed in apology then shook her head desperately for no.

"So, what held you up?" Mrs. Kanojo asked kindly, attempting to sit up in her bed. The pillows, since she had slept on them nearly all day, had slumped down, and were no longer supporting her frail neck. Therefore, when she sat up, she felt as if her back were going to cave in.

"Let me fix that!" Homura exclaimed worriedly, quickly coming to her mother's aid even though she really didn't need help fixing her pillows. "I-I can go get some better pillows for you, i-if you'd like! Oh, and tea! You'd love some green tea, right? Right. I'll be with you in a momen-"

"Stop," Mrs. Kanojo cut Homura off, grabbing her daughter's wrist just before she took off out of the room. "I don't need anything, really. All I need to know is why you're so late getting home."

Homura quickly bowed once more, muttering apologies under her breath, feeling as if she had failed to be a good daughter once again.

"I was about to get groceries on my way home at the normal time, b-but a huge dog, probably an Irish wolfhound! I don't know...but it started to chase me! It's owner was so irresponsible...and that dog acted like it wanted to kill me...he cornered me..." Homura whined softly, her palms growing so hot and sweaty with embarrassment, she swore she could have wrung them out like I towel.

"How did you get out of your situation?" her mother pressed, pulling as much information out of the terrified girl as she could.

"A...group..." Homura said, her voice growing wispy as she began to recall Jyushimatsu's acts of kindness from throughout her miserable day. "He's so caring and compassionate...so selfless...he gives off the impression that he's only alive to make people happy, to make them smile. He himself doesn't seem...like he really..."

"A group of what?" Homura's mother asked, breaking the girl's thoughts.

"A group of boys...no, brothers, saved me. They apparently knew the dog and his owner, so all went well afterwards..." Homura replied, her voice trembling a little.

"I see..." Homura's mother said. "Well, off you go to prepare dinner tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing what you create this time around."