Fists and Lipsticks 2: The Silver Crescent

CHAPTER 34: Smears

CHAPTER 34: SMEARS

No one can stop me.

 -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The moment she entered the hospital that afternoon, the people on the lobby could not help but pause and stare. Not that Kaoru Saori captivated them with her nonexistent allure or with her body that could be mistaken for the rusty flagpole by the sickbay gate.

She wobbled in her every step, carrying loads of stuff as if she were a walking baggage counter. On her left hand, she held a humongous bouquet of roses wrapped in old newspaper. With her left hand also, she held two bags of groceries containing toiletries, grooming items, packs of 'brain-shaped' instant noodles (bought with a 'bullying intention'), and cans of soda. On her left hand again was a classical guitar, which she brought along in her desperation to prove to Kosuke that she had a 'talent'. Again – with her left hand, she carried her shiny red handbag she recently bought from a Christmas bazaar.

Just to remind that she was wearing a dark green winter coat with the red handbag with the bouquet of red roses with the two bulky bags of groceries with the classical guitar. And yes, this was just the left side. You would not need to hear what other things she held on the right.

"Look okaa-san!" the chubby kid pointed towards Saori. "A malnourished Mrs. Clause!"

"WHAAAAT?!" Saori shrieked, glaring at the poor chubby kid. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING MALNOURISHED?! WANNA DIE, YOU PLUMP IMP!"

"Huhuhuhu!" Horrified, the chubby kid burst into tears, running away towards his mother after Saori's bullying act.

"Psh, brats!" Saori frowned. "I bet Kosu-kun was like that when he was young."

As soon as the lift arrived, Saori bumped against the other people on queue. She occupied almost three fourths of the space in the elevator thanks to all the stuff she carried. She pretended not to care about the scowls of other passengers who could not fit in the lift anymore.

The moment she arrived on the 18th floor, she exited the elevator and walked towards the nurse station.

"Errrr," the nurse in-charge looked at her from head to foot. "Can I help you?"

"I'm here to see Kosu-kun! I checked the ER, but they said he's not there anymore."

"I'm sorry?"

"Kosu-kun!"

"Errrr… you mean Attorney Yamazaki?" the nurse raised her eyebrow.

"Yeah!"

"Errrr…"

"For your information, we're close friends. REALLY close friends, hahahaha!" Saori laughed hysterically, although the nurse did not seem at all convinced. "Look, I brought him flowers and food, a guitar so that I can sing for him while he rested, a big teddy – coz you know, I heard that sick people get better faster when they hold these cute little thingamajigs… HAHAHAHA!"

"Errrr… Okaaaaay?" the nurse forced a smile.

"Still not convinced? Psh," she frowned, finally showing her ID to the nurse. "FINE. I'm the police investigator, but I'm also his friend. Hello! So can you please tell me now where he is?"

At last presented with 'substantial' evidence, the nurse finally pointed towards the corridor behind her.

"Attorney Yamazaki has been moved from the ER to the suite across this hall – last room on the right."