It had been two weeks since he had to pull the plug on his old man and Shuichi was suffering now more than ever. With his dad gone, there was no one left to protect him from his stepmother's scrutiny. And to make maters worse, she bought the coffee shop that he worked in and forced his boss out. It seemed like nothing was going to change for the better now. The Masquerade ball was rescheduled to the end of summer; mostly for relocation purposes. At first the dance was going to be held that following week in the Zepp Tokyo clubhouse, but now it was going to be held at the end of the summer in Shuichi's school.
That summer turned out to be one of the worst summers that Young Shuichi was having. Because Ayumi bought the shop, he worked for her and not his other, kinder boss. She forced him to do everything from brewing coffee to cooking and even made him wash all the dishes. It was like she went out of her way to make his life a living hell. She even went as far as to tear down his employee of the month award that his boss put up.
When Shuichi was finally off of work, he quickly went home to get a shower from all of his labor. While there he started to contemplate what he would do to get out of the situation he was in.
I can't stand that Ayumi. He thought. She is ruining my life just to get me back for what happened to dad! It's not my fault that he got into a car accident. I don't even know how dad got caught in that accident. I've had it with that bitch I'm out of here. As soon as I'm finished with this shower, I'm packing my shit and I'm leaving. He thought about where he would go if he would. Then he thought about what hiro said to him.
Flashback: "First of all come down from that tree." Hiro ordered. Shuichi jumped down and of course fell on his behind. The red haired teen helped him up and they sat on the stoop of the hospital.
"I just want you to know that I've got your back no matter what you decide." He said. "And when it comes to Taki and Ayumi, You're not alone. If either of them gives you any trouble you're welcome to stay with me."
The teen seemed somewhat relived that he at least had his best friend to console him at his time of need. He right now needed a friend to help him. But like many of their other conversations. Hiro would change the subject.
End flashback.
When Shuichi was finally in his bed, he wondered about what might happen with Yuki now that his wicked stepmother owns the store.
It seemed like he was thinking about Yuki a lot lately. He never thought about anyone like that before, especially when things between them were starting to get good. Sure they never really hung out but before Ayumi took over they talked to each other a lot and sometimes saw each other outside of the Coffee shop. The blond man was on his mind almost twenty four seven three sixty five. He couldn't wait for the Masquerade ball. It was probably going to be the only redeeming thing about his summer. The luckiest thing about the ball was that Neither Taki or Ayumi knew anything about it.
Meanwhile, Taki was in his room thinking of another way to get back at Shuichi for the fire ant incident. He knew that he would get him for this someday but all of his plans for revenge either failed or to him sounded too safe for him. He was drawing what appeared to be an outline of his latest plan to get him back for his prank. When he was done, the picture revealed itself as so
Shuichi walks to his locker and sees a fake love letter from a secret admirer. He goes to the middle of a parking lot to meet said secret admirer but instead finds himself knocked out by some thugs and dragged into an abandoned building.
~One Month later. ~
The Summer was almost over and Shuichi couldn't wait to go to the ball and be with who he believed to be his prince charming. He already had his tux rented and was Borrowing Hiro's mask from a previous halloween costume. All he had to do was wait until 7:30 and his dream of true love would finally come true. Sure, It seemed like he andYuki were the least likely people to even talk to each other let alone go out. But after knowing each other for some time, it looked like it would be a fairy tale ending. He even went as far as to record a love song for the older teen. It was Just finished one Hour ago, Right before he went to get his tuxedo. But his happiness Wasn't likely to last when Taki found out about his Plans for the night.
"Mom, I need to talk to you." He began.
"Not now, Honey." Ayumi said. "You should be getting ready for that ball." The woman continued to brush her hair. She herself was going out on a date. But Taki was determined to end SHuichi's happiness once and for all. And his mom had to know why. But she kept talking.
"Shouldn't you be calling Maa and telling him you're on your way to pick him up?" She suggested.
"That'swhat I want to talk to you about,mom!" Taki said fiercely. "Shindou is planning to go to, too!"
Then Ayumi stopped brushing her hair and turned to the teen. She couldn't believe what she just heard.
"Oh, no he's not." She half shouted. "He's working late at the shop tonight."
"I overheard him Talking to Hiro, he's supposed to be meeting someone at that ball." Taki confirmed. "I think I know who it is too. That guy he's always talking to at work. I think that they've been seeing each other since he first started working there."
Ayumi knew that her son had abosolutely no reason to lie to her about anything. Especially news regarding her stepson. She knew that something had to be done about this and she knew just what to do.
"Taki, Go upstairs and get your brother down here," She ordered. "I want to talk to him."
"But, mom!" Taki whined.
"Taki, do as I say!" She demanded again. Then he went upstairs trying to be as civil as he possibly could to his stepbrother slash arch nemesis. He knocked on the pink haired boy's door and said what he needed to.
"Shuichi, Mom wants to talk to you!" He shouted through the door.
"Tell her I'm busy." Shuichi answered.
"She said to come down here right now!" He said harshly. Shuichi had had just about enough of Ayumi and Taki. He moved out once but was forced back by his stepmother. At that moment he also had his things packed once again. and he was going to take everything this time. He was moving out and this time he wouldn't be coming back, not even by force. Plus, he was determined to go to the Masquerade ball no matter what. He figured he might as well see what the wicked witch of Tokyo wanted so he came down and went to speak to her.
"Yes, Ayumi." He said grudgingly.
"First of all, fix your attitude." Ayumi scolded. Then she got to the point.
"I hope you don't have any plans for tonight because I need you to work a double shift at the coffee shop. Starting....right now actually." She said. For as long as he had been working at the shop, he knew that a double shift would last for at least 10 hours, from when he left until 1:30 A.M. In other words, he would end up missing the ball if he did.
"um... Ayumi, I have plans tonight so I won't be able to make it tonight." He said politely. But little did he know, his stepmother had other plans.
"I know all about your plans, boy!" She snapped. "And You are NOT going to that ball until you finish that double shift. You know the dinner rush is at 7:30."
"if I do this then I'll miss the ball!" he said.
"Exactly." Taki said interrupting. Shuichi then found out how she knew about this. He was now raging with anger and disappointment.
"You told her didn't you?" Shuichi asked.
"You know I would never keep secrets from my own mother." Taki said. Then the older boy handed Shuichi his uniform and then let his mother handle the rest.
"where's your suit?" she asked.
"I won't tell you!" the pink haired boy spat. But he didn't need to tell her. Taki already found the suit and showed it to them. the once glamorous tuxedo was now nothing but rags. Every piece of it from head to toe was torn and cut.
"THAT WAS A RENTAL!" Shuichi shouted.
"Your loss." Taki taunted. "Now get to work!"
Shuichi stormed out of the house and to the shop. He couldn't believe that those two could go so low to ruin the only happy moment in his life. All he wanted was to be with his friends and the man of his dreams but all of that was ruined thanks to his cruel step family. He worked his Usual shift which ended at seven fifteen. Then during his break he went into the kitchen and did the only thing his emotions would allow him to; cry all of the pain out.
"I hate them!" He sobbed. "I hate them for doing this to me! They ruined my one chance at happiness Since my parents were around!"
 | Review this Chapter |
No comments:
Post a Comment