I’m My Own High School Rival: Nakamura’s Arc: Heritage

  I lay in bed, haunted by the noon's dealings, staring at my ceiling. I can’t believe that Trish Tetsusen asked my mom to kill Jade within Veil territory. If someone were listening, we would all be executed without question. I turned to my side and embraced my pillow, thinking of Antwon, thinking of our near kiss and how I longed for the embrace of his seemingly soft lips. Why was my life so disjointed? I want to go back to being… just a girl.

  Knock, knock, knock… “Kito, open the door, please!” My Dad had locked my Mom out of their bedroom; I guess that information rubbed my Dad the wrong way. “I… I didn’t ask her to come here; you know I would never involve our family in that sort of stuff!”

  I pressed my toes to the old wooden floor, but this time it felt… shallow, like the novelty was gone. I made my way to the door and then slowly opened it, poking my head out into the darkness.

  “Kito, my love, my soul, my heart, please let me in; you know I can’t stand it when you’re upset with me,” My mom cooed to an old wooden door, which creaked its refrain, as light poured into the hallway. “Thank—”

  A large white pillow collided with my Mom’s face, sending her stumbling back.

  “I don’t want you near me, Emiko… Or should I say Arkin!” Dad shouted before slamming the door.

  Mom sat there in the hallway, and I waited to see what she would do next. “Um… a blanket would be nice…” The door opened abruptly, and an old brown blanket covered my Mom. “Thanks, Kito—” The door slammed. Mom made her bed in the hallway. Should I… go to her? I mean, she is the reason my life can’t ever go back to being normal. But—

  “Alright, Tiff, ask whatever questions you have,” she said, covering herself with the blanket and resting her head on the long pillow. I shuffled into the hallway until I hovered over her resting spot on the floor. “Well,” she said. I flipped up the covers and lay behind her, hugging her, like I was losing her all over again.

  “Mom… please don’t do it; don’t kill Jade,” I uttered, smushing my face into the back of her oversized gray pajamas. She gently touched my hand.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

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  The hallway was empty and cold.

  “Are you really… a queen?”

  She sighed, and I could feel the air enter and exit her lungs. “Yes. My birth name was Arkin Akagiri, Arkiri Akagiri’s first daughter; the Veil’s shame.” She said. Akiri was well known because she gave her life defending the Veil when the Ash attacked, but I was only six.

  “Yup, I had some dark days, but Akiri… my Mom made sure that no one bothered us.” I could feel her shaking. “Until she was killed.” Soft sobs emanated from her. “On that day, the day the Ash attacked, she called me and told me to stay out of it; that I was no longer required, and that she loved me.” Her sobs erupted.

  “Don’t cry, Mom…” My tears pooled.

  “I was fully suited… I wanted to be there… with my Mom, but I… I let her die, because I… chose love over duty.” She turned toward me and unraveled in my arms. I had never seen my Mom cry, let alone break, but now her world was shattering, too. And then I cracked. She squeezed tight, and I did the same… after a while, her tears faded, and she softly snored into a blissful slumber. Right when I started to drift, their bedroom door opened, and my Dad stepped out. He quietly slipped under the cover and hugged my Mom’s back. She gave up everything to be with him, and he knew it.

  ***

  Meanwhile, while Tiffany was lying awake in her room, Antwon was wrestling with his new reality.

  I listened to an empty apartment once filled with screaming and tears, as my stepmom tried to explain what being claimed by a clan meant. She said, “He will have everything he wants; they will take care of him. It’s every boy’s dream.” But my father disagreed, saying it wasn’t my dream, and I agreed. Now, the house felt the absence of his wailing.

  I stood up, angry at myself, and walked to my room door. I don’t want Christina to take me, I don’t want to live under Court rule, and I don’t want to be away from Sakura. I thought about pressing my head against the door, but I’d rather press it against her. I walked out of my room, turned right, and slowly crept past my parents’ room. I heard muffled noises from beyond their door, but I didn’t stop to investigate.

  I pressed my right hand to Sakura’s room door and turned the knob with my left, but it was locked. “Sakura,” I whispered, “Are you awake?” I prayed that she would see me before I was taken. Her door slowly opened, showing her bruised and bandaged face.

  “Go to your room, and leave me alone,” she whispered.

  “C-can I sleep with you?” I thought about pushing the door open and forcing myself into her room, then I thought about how I caused it all, and my eyes began to water.

  Her eyes narrowed, “No… You belong to Christina… Go cuddle up with her,” she said in an empty voice. Sakura’s door closed; end of discussion. I walked back to my room, not caring about subtlety. I turned the lights out and walked back to my bed. I didn’t bother crawling under my sheets; I lay on top of the comforter and squished my pillow over my face. Smothered sobs washed over with shame, soon followed. But not for long. I collected myself; I had lived with love long enough. I grabbed my backpack and silently emptied it.

  I’d live free of Courts and clans, even if I have to give up everything.

  End of Nakamura’s Arc