Her sentence came to a halt when she felt Lola's right palm napping on her shoulder.
"Hiba, it's OK," Lola stated. "You don't need to tell him absolutely anything."
Hiba redeemed herself with the anger that surged through her veins. She calmed herself down and allowed Lola's hand to melt off, "Thank you. I'm sorry, Hitachi. But I need to go and work on something important. But I will see you at the event tonight. I promise that."
"OK," Hitachi replied, once again leaning his back up against the wall. He noticed his mom approaching him, but casually, not willing to change her emotions towards him. "Did I do something wrong?"
Lola didn't answer, instead she aimed both her index and middle finger down at the ground, telling him to sit down and she'd do the same as well for they could talk more maturely.
Neither the son nor the mother had the audacity into increasing the tone in their voices and yet they tried very hard to understand one another. The red-haired General could feel the tensions building between the two and it was only a short time before the hallways were clear. Lola's more of a woman who likes to communicate with others in private where no one would be able to hear the dialog.
“Hitachi,” Lola placed her right palm on his shoulder. “Hiba’s been through some situations that you wouldn’t be able to understand. You can’t exploit her into speaking her mind about something that she doesn’t like to bring up all the time. How would like it if someone did that to you and you done everything you could to avoid it?”
Lola was a bit repetitive than what Hitachi could have anticipated. Thinking about his answer, she slowly began to realize the benefits of Hitachi’s accusations of her thinking about Crystal more than the others.
“Listen, Hitachi. Like I’ve said before, I don’t want you to ever think that I’m going to abandon you nor forsake you. You’re my only baby and I would never do anything to hurt you. I may have made that mistake before, that’s called growing and when you get older than what you are, you’ll understand what I’ve been through, OK?”
Hitachi’s smile grew strongly. He lowered his head, but felt his mother’s finger and thumb hoisting up his head. He felt her lips pressed up against his forehead. Hiba stood still as she gawked from the inside of her bedroom before heading inside to get dressed.
Told you she loves you, Hitachi. You can’t justify your accusations for the sake of doing it, Hiba thought, closing the door behind her, walking over towards the closet and stripping off her training clothes before heading into the shower. That kind of reminds me of the situations I’ve been through in the past. It’s pretty simple that Lola’s heart is more than just an open one. But I’ll have to think about that a little later on.
Hiba advanced towards the shower; closing it. The oddly-red haired warrior glanced down at the handles, wrestling with the decisions if she wants warm, hot or cold water to be appropriate for her. She closed her eyes, glancing down at the surface of the shower and bent down on both her knees. Panting, Hiba slowly rose before turning on the water.
It’s been a while since I’ve been assigned to a mission, but it’s not fair that Lola would have to force me to take a breather when she’s made me a workaholic. So, not cool. But what I don’t get is that why Black would even think about trying to
***
"Hitachi, I need you to keep in mind of something and listen very carefully," Lola quoted, trying her best to no show any sign of pity for her son. It's beyond unfortunate for a biological mother to cooperate with her own reaction towards her son. "I don't want you to think that I don't know how you're reacting whenever you come in contact with me."
"How often do you intend to act so different towards me and the others?" Hitachi didn't hesitate to ask his mom a typical question. "You make it seem as if our relationship doesn't have any meanings. Is there something that I did to make you react different?"
Lola rubbed her index and thumb across her forehead before replying. The hallways once again felt heavy for either of them to keep their minds focused on the ceremony tonight.
Before she could answer the question, Crystal came out of the hallway, noticing the two of them were on the ground talking. She thought of walking past them but felt as if it was more than rude to do so.
"Crystal," Lola spoke, not gawking at the Aruba teenager. "I need you to go and do something else for the time being and not interrupt me until I'm done with Hitachi, OK?'
"OK," Crystal reply.
Lola had begun to contemplate on what else she had to say to the only man in the hallway. Both her green-lime eyes were as still and quiet as clear water; not even blinking for a good second.
"Hitachi," Lola had finally thought of what she had on her mind. "I do love you. I've already talked to you about this, and I don't think that it's fair for you to assume that I care for the others more than you. You came from my womb and no other child is going to replace you as my own flesh and blood. You hear me?"
"You promise?" Hitachi asked with sheer prayers. "It wouldn't seem right if I happen to think that you're just saying all that just to satisfy me, right?"
"I'm your mother, I would have lied about it if I haven't looked you dead in the face and say it," Lola implied, rubbing Hitachi's head with her eyes focused on the back of her hand, noticing the Phoenix with two black wings. "Besides, you're up first to introduce yourself to the army and tell a little bit about yourself."
"I'm certain that everyone knows that I'm the son of the Intoxian General, right?" Hitachi's curiosity grew, unexpectedly. "What about Sonya and the others?"
"What about them?" Lola seemed confused.
"Do they have to do the same thing or is it just me?"
"You're all going up there individually," Lola said, realizing the conversation was going nowhere from her perspective. "Hitachi, we should think about something more important for the time being."
Hitachi felt a sign of relief, slowly relaxed and feeling the pulse in his neck touched by Lola’s pale palm. She felt that he was terrified with her reaction and how she would associate with him throughout the discussion.
“Hitachi, thank you for not taking it too personal,” Lola stood up from the floor and rubbed his left cheek as she walked away. “You’ll understand why I had to treat you like this after tonight. I’m sure of it.”
Before Hitachi had a chance to reply after standing up from the floor, he noticed Alex and Sonya’s approach. They each placed a hand on his shoulders and smiled, but knew their expressions were fading away.
“What’s the problem with you guys?” Alex asked out of curiosity. “I saw the two of you going back and forth—“
“It’s nothing, Alex. Don’t worry about it. Mom was just trying to avoid being honest with some things, but I won’t let it get in the way of this event tonight. I just hope that Crystal doesn’t get more applause and respect from the soldiers tonight. That’s all I’m praying on.”
The both of them agreed, strongly.
Sonya wanted to add something, but tried to find the best words to express her feelings about Crystal and what she had done to her in the past, far as ruining her seventh birthday without reconsidering her decision.
“Guys, we don’t have to deal with it. She’s Crystal. The so-called ‘Flower of the Intoxian Army.’ What the hell makes her so special about something that we don’t even see in her?”
Sonya’s question was more than relevant to the conversation, “I mean, how the hell Lola expects us to show Crystal some respect if she’s not doing that for me, you and Hitachi?”
“We don’t have any other choice but to respect her, guys,” Hitachi admitted, turning his head and frantically thrusting his fist into the wall. “All we could do now is sit back and have Mom love Crystal more and more without giving it a second thought.”
“You’re giving up too easily, Hitachi. You don’t need to do all that. Did you even tell her how you felt?” Alex asked an obvious question, but wasn’t rhetorical enough.
“Yes, I talked to he
r,” Hitachi’s voice grew into irritation. “Why does it even matter to you guys?”
“Because you’re her only son and I would be more than damned if I ever had a mother who would show love to a child that’s not even hers,” Sonya implied, frantically trying to not defend Lola or Hitachi
“Guys,” Hitachi’s voice boomed. “There’s no point in talking about it right now. Leave it be for crying out loud.”
From behind the door of her bedroom, Hiba could hear the whole conversation boiling through Hitachi’s voice. She wanted to step in and defend his wishes to not think about it, but it would have made matters even worst for them all. Lola, who had finished her talk with him, knew eventually, how Hitachi would reaction the moment she left him behind in the hallway.
“Look, let’s just head on downstairs for the ceremony—“ Hitachi suggested, but was interjected by Sonya.
“No, I’m tired of trying to feel like the person who doesn’t deserve any attention anymore. I think it’s time that we try and make Crystal’s life a lot more complicating from it was back at the Academy,” Sonya felt as if her thoughts were important than some event she thought was worthless.
“You make it sound as if butchering someone verbally is more important than having your voice being heard by millions and millions,” Hitachi argued, not trying to protect Crystal from Sonya’s outrageous yet immature bullying, but also trying to stay mature. “Now, just leave her alone.”
“Yikes, meltdown, already?” Sonya laughed walking passed as she patted the red-haired Mizuka’s shoulder. “Don’t take it so personal, buddy. I don’t even have anything else better to do for the time being until then. And besides, Hiba’s in the middle of getting dressed and she won’t be out for another half-hour or so. What do you like her or something?”
The expression on Hitachi’s face went from a sorrow to his face being whiter than snow, “Are you out of your mind? No, I don’t like her. So let’s go do something for the time being. After this event is all over, I’m going to be in the middle of sleeping the whole day tomorrow.”
“Whoo, you just read my mind, Hitachi,” Sonya implied excitingly. Alex laughed as he patted his friend’s neck, but slammed his hand to the back of the neck.
“Ow, you son of a—“ Hitachi shoved him roughly, but never took it too personal. “Dude, I have a sensitive neck, remember?”
“My bad, dude,” Alex burst into laughter, leaving the two of them behind. “I’m going to have a little talk with Crystal.”
This surprised not only Hitachi, but Sonya as well, considering the both of them had no idea that Alex would be the talkative type. He rarely speaks about things that he doesn’t bring up from time to time.
“I wonder what the occasion is, Alex?” Sonya felt as she could join him for the time being.
“Nothing. Just going in there to give her my own reality check,” The Amili warrior admitted, which is one of his specialties; being honest and speaking mind, regardless if it’s something positive or negative.
“I thought I told you that there was no point in bothering her,” Hitachi made himself clear that they were to not disturb her. “Now, Crystal is what we all like to call a ‘Lone Flower’.”
“Trust us, it won’t be that bad. I promise you,” Alex said, grinning with sinner. “Lola would be more than pleased about the fact that Crystal’s able to stand up for herself. That’s the principle in my book.”
“Easier said than done, Alex. You sure as hell know how to pick on the weak assets of the group instead of getting a real challenge, huh?” Sonya asked, teasing her comrade.
“You damn right about that, I’ve been thinking about doing this for a while now. So, don’t go crying to me when you don’t get to have all the fun,” Alex warned, walking in the opposite direction to where Hiba and Crystal’s room was located. “I would want to get on Hiba’s nerves today, but she’d kick my ass for all know.”
“You damn right. I remember the first time she kicked mine’s. I pretty much stopped bothering Crystal after a while. But that didn’t stop me from going after her while Hiba wasn’t around,” Sonya skipped over towards both teenagers, placing both her hands on her hips and gawking down the hallway and noticed Crystal’s appearance. “Ah, and speaking of Crystal. I think we’ve caught ourselves a little fish.”
All three of them shifted their heads of their right shoulders and surprisingly caught their outcast future comrade.
“Hey, Crystal, come here,” Sonya addressed loudly.
Crystal did what was told, but felt a disturbance within Sonya’s aura. She took the time to walking slowly with her right index finger going between her teeth.
“Come on, it’s not like we want to hurt you or anything like that. We just wanted to give you a little friend to friend talk,” Sonya lied, not understanding Crystal’s own ability to sense if those she’s talking to are lying or being honest.
“Ye—Yes,” Crystal replied nervously. “Is there anything you—“
Beforehand, Crystal was dragged into Sonya’s room with Alex behind her. Hitachi was about to bust in and stop them, but the door had been buckled. Hitachi couldn’t expose the password to unlocking the door.
“You guys open the door,” Hitachi shouted, banging his fist against the door. “There’s no need for you guys to be doing this, now. Come on!”
Outside the room, both Amilis stood before a defenseless fellow student of the Academy.
“Now, let’s be clear on a lot things, Crystal,” Sonya thrust Crystal’s frame into the corner of her room with Alex standing behind her. “I don’t think it matters how much we work on trying to earn Lola’s trust. Hitachi may not have any balls into being serious with his mom about how she’s acting towards you, but we certainly do. Now, you stay away from Lola and never bother trying to become a warrior.”
The words were not only hurtful, but meaningless as well. Despite all the anger and jealousy the three of them had to endure, even since the day of Crystal’s birthday, Lola’s still favored the young Aruba on every aspect, not expecting what her son and the others feel.
“I’m getting so tired of Lola showing you the respect that you deserve when you know you feel weak without her or Hiba to protect you,” Alex added, pushing her up too much each time her back landed on the wall.
The tensions were setting the bars a lot higher than expected with Sonya’s right palm extending out onto Crystal’s shoulder, draining all the courage away from her body. Her heart had dropped endlessly as she tried her hardest to bring it back. She could tell by the look in their eyes that they’ve been through some terrible events in their prior lives, but not understanding what those events were.
“If you intend to tell Lola that we’ve jumped at you verbally and physically, we will burn that damn note book of yours like we seven years ago. Or whatever you called it,” Alex threatened, not hesitating to doing it if she told the General.
Suddenly, her lack of confidence begun to develop the moment she heard the words ‘Diary’ and ‘Burn’ be placed in the same sentence.
Crystal clutched both her hands together, preparing for an early fight, but was stopped in time with the door being unlocked. Within the nick of time, Hiba and Lola entered the room, dragging Alex and Sonya away from a defenseless and scared Aruba.
“That’s it. I can’t take this anymore, both of you come with me,” Lola’s voice roared, grabbing both of her adopted relatives by their ears.
“Ow, ow, ow, ow,” Sonya said repeatedly, grabbing the General’s wrist as well as Alex was. They couldn’t help but find it irresistible that they’re going to try and burn the Diary without giving it a second thought. “Don’t think that this is over, Crystal. You’re going to regret this.”
“Oh, shut the hell up and get outside,” Lola continued to pull them outside.
Hiba emerged from behind the door with a few other soldiers, not realizing that Hitachi was nowhere to be seen or heard.
That’s odd; I thought Hitachi would be over he
re, Hiba thought, instantly embraced by Crystal, who felt as if her heart had sunk to the bottom of her feet. “Are you alright, Crystal?”
The only answer Hiba got was tears from a young disciple. The tears had flooded down to Crystal’s cheeks with her eyes a beet red, puzzled to why she can’t defend herself, even if she wanted to.
I know that you don’t like to hurt other people, Crystal. So, I have a strong understanding of it. But as far as the Bloodlust goes, those two idiots shouldn’t even be acting like this right now, Hiba thought once more, rubbing the top of Crystal’s head.
“Crystal. Come with me to the rest room, “Hiba said, leaving Sonya’s room with Crystal in front of her. “I think it’s time that you learned a bit of something about bullies and standing up for yourself.”
Intoxia Warriors - Mizuka Blood (Book One) Page 6