Somewhat Lost (open)

[Erika Yoko]

Oh... goodness me, where have I gone to now? Just a moment ago I saw elementary students around me and now... I'm here, surrounded by totally different people. If I had to guess, they must be my upperclassmen, but why in the world have I arrived at this place?

Oh no, I just might be lost... How utterly idiotic of me! This is horrible... I don't even know where I should go next!

I could almost feel the piercing stares all these people are giving me, and let me tell you, they're worse than a critic's death glare. Being in a sea of people I barely even recognize or relate to... is very...

Scary... I could feel my heartbeat going faster, my breath is labored... I think... I think I'm gonna faint...

My vision is getting blurry... and I don't even feel my body now... I feel all... swaying...

Will somebody... please... help me...

[Mi'ki-chan]

"Are you okay?"

Takara blinked at the seemingly lost girl. She was dressed like an elementary student, however, she was in the middle school building. The purple-haired girl was dressed in the appropriate uniform, along with her hair tied into two, and decorated with yellow ribbons.

Her own class was having a free period, due to their teacher having to run out for some reason. So she'd decided to come visit some of her friends in the middle school since Yuki wasn't around and she couldn't find any of her closer group of friends.

"You kinda look lost, hehe."

[Erika Yoko]

Suddenly I felt I bumped into somebody. I was partly unaware of what was happening around me, and feeling that I had bumped into someone, I sluggishly turned around to see who that was. I felt my heart thump even faster...

As I turned, I felt my flowing blue hair swung towards the front, resting on my shoulders down. Bright purple hair greeted my eyes. My eyes were half closed.. my eyesight blurry, but I could see that the girl in front of me was wearing the same uniform I have on. She asked me whether I was okay.

In a weak voice I answered, "I..I'm not sure... I..."

My sentence was cut off when I lost my balance, my body falling towards the girl's direction.

[Mi'ki-chan]

Takara smiled warmly as she caught the girl, stepping backwards with one leg to support the extra weight. She helped the girl regain her balance, but continued to hold her arm incase she stumbled once more.

"Silly girl, it's either you're lost or you're not. Don't worry, I get lost all the time."

It was the truth. Takara got lost around the school every second day or so. It wasn't a good thing, but she'd made a lot of friends by doing so. It was so not on purpose.

[Erika Yoko]

Thankfully, the violet haired girl caught me just before I totally fell down. I quickly grabbed her hands that were on my shoulders, and then I tried to regain my balance.

As I was standing on my two feet again, I released her hands and then smiled weakly. "Th...thanks for helping m...me up," I said in a stuttering, soft voice. "Y...yes, I'm kinda... lost..."

My head was pointing down as I wasn't feeling very well. I don't exactly know why I'm feeling this scared... I see people looking towards us, with rather inquisitive and unwelcoming eyes.

I want to go somewhere... anywhere but here...

[Mi'ki-chan]

Takara noticed the girl's nervousness. It definately wasn't a good feeling. She knew that much from experience. She herself looked around at the older students. She knew a few of them from run-ins around the school grounds.

"If you don't feel well, I can take you to an empty classroom for now. Is that okay?"

She knew that if one was sick with nervousness, they were liable to vomit. And that itself was pretty bad. She had to help the poor girl. It was her duty as a good girl!

[Erika Yoko]

It was good to know that somebody as helpful and kind as this girl is enrolled at Alice Academy. I smiled weakly at her as she offered to take me to an empty classroom.

"Th...that would be most helpful... Th...thank you v...very much...."

I held onto her as I felt a bit wobbly still, so as not to stumble again. Besides, if I fell down once more, this girl would be put to so much shame and unwanted attention. Never mind me, I just didn't want this kind violet haired girl to get into more trouble.

[Mi'ki-chan]

She smiled warmly and helped the girl down the hall as the students hurried off to their classes. The middle school building was just as large as the elementary building. There were many empty classrooms so it wasn't hard to find one. She opened the door with one hand, holding onto the girl with her other and helped her inside to a chair.

"Feel better now? No more stare-y people!" she laughed lightly, finding the day a little brighter now that she had someone to play with.

[Erika Yoko]

"Thank you... you've been so... helpful," I told her, finally releasing her arms. I then walked towards the nearest chair and sat on it. Letting out a relieved sigh, I put both my hands over my chest. It seems that I've calmed down after arriving at this empty room.

Looking up to the purple haired girl, I smiled faintly. "You've been most helpful... I'm eternally grateful to you for that."

I know I might have sounded too formal (or most likely, mushy), but then there's no other way I can express my gratitude to her. I can't possibly give her something, or treat her anything, because as long as I don't get my weekly allowance from the academy, then I absolutely am broke.

Wait... I haven't introduced myself to her yet! I gripped at the edge of the desk in front of me, gathering all the little strength I have to push myself up to stand. "My... my name's Erika Yoko... it's very nice to meet you."

I was about to bow down to her, but then my legs gave up on me and forced me back to my seat. Oh, how absolutely irritating! I wish I wasn't this physically weak...

[Mi'ki-chan]

Takara nodded, placing a fist to an open, horizontal palm as if she'd just gotten a great idea.

"Ah that's it, isn't it. Erika-chan it is."

She agreed with herself. Had anyone besides Erika seen her doing so, they'd probably think her to be some weirdo. She pulled up a chair and sat near Erika, having become excited over meeting a new friend, when she realized that she too had forgotten to introduce herself.

"I'm Takara Yuu, Class 1-B. I can make things big or small, longer or shorter!"

She clapped her hands, applauding herself since even though there wasn't really anything to clap about. This Erika girl seemed to be quite frail, and weak. Not something extremely common here in a school with students that have extreme abilities, but it wasn't a first case kind of thing.

"Ja, Erika-chan, Which class are you in? and what's your alice?"

[Erika Yoko]

From my seat, I looked at the girl's hand and then showed a faint, awkward smile. I don't exactly know what she wanted me to do with her hand. She couldn't possibly asking for a handshake since her hand was held out horizontally.

Thankfully she introduced herself and then sat next to me. So her name's Takara then... it's such a lovely name. "Thank you again, Takara-san," I said, this time, able to properly thank her.

She then asked which class I'm in and what my alice is. Apparently she's from 1-B and that she can control the sizes of things. I smiled at her.

"Thank goodness," I murmurred, "I'm from Class 1-B as well... and I have the ability to... animate inanimate objects. By the way, my last name is Okumura," I said still in a slightly weak voice.

[Mi'ki-chan]

"Ehh, Really?! You're in my class? There's a lot of people in our class so I guess I haven't seen you, hehe. Are you new here, Eri-chan?"

So Erika was in her class. How come she never saw her? Maybe because there were over 60 kids in her class? Hmm, maybe. Just maybe.

[Erika Yoko]

Even though I just met her, I feel at ease around Takara-san. She's so friendly and absolutely helpful. She must have a lot of friends.

I want to have a lot of friends, but then again I'm too shy to even try to make friends with anybody. I sighed at that thought.

I smiled at Takara-san. "Yes... I'm only new around here... I just arrived about four days ago," I told her. Oh, maybe she didn't want to know all that! I am such a blabbermouth.

[Mi'ki-chan]

Takara nodded, smiling the whole while.

"I see, I see. That explains why I haven't seen you around."

She giggled, rocking on the wooden chair, careful not to rock too hard and fall off the wooden piece of furnishing. She thought back about her first days at the academy. She couldn't remember much besides meeting Xena and Hiei in the classroom for the first time. She hadn't seen that boy since that time...

"Everyone around here is really fun! You'll make tons of friends in no time, Eri-chan!"

[Erika Yoko]

"...R...really? Do you think I... I can do that? M...make a lot of friends, I mean?"

I myself knew I couldn't do such a thing. But if Takara-san says I can, I guess I would. At least somebody believes that I'd be able to do so.

All my life I have been secluded from people. The people I encounter were those who come to watch me on stage, people who were wealthy, people who couldn't care less about making friends. I forced myself to stay passive and silent as possible, and if I had to guess, the only times I open my mouth when I go outside is when I eat or drink or when I'm on stage, acting. Of course I open my mouth when I'm talked to, but then that rarely happens. Being talked to, I mean.

I couldn't think of anything more to say. I don't know how to start a conversation... I don't even know how to keep one.

[Mi'ki-chan]

She nodded with enthusiasm. This girl seemed to have self-esteem issues!

"Of course you'll make plenty of friends! I've met so many really nice people, you know! Everyone's really nice here. There's a few you might wanna be careful of, but mostly everyone's nice!"

She smiled, overflowing with joy. Someone had once told her that she was like an icecream with candied cookies, doused with whipped cream and choco sauce topped with sweet syrups, a spinkle of sugar and a layer of icing sugar when she was happy.

"And I'm your friend too, right? So you've already made another one!"

[Erika Yoko]

My eyes just widened in joy and enthusiasm. That was all I could do, have my eyes widened. My body was still feeling rather weak... I could've jumped for joy or clapped, but like I said, I still wasn't feeling very well. Besides, even if I am well, I don't have the guts to even do that.

"And I'm your friend too, right? So you've already made another one!" I heard her say.

Takara-san was making me feel so much better. I smiled at her, very thankful that I have her as a friend. True, I've made another friend. So far, I have Ellie... and of course, my beloved Kazuya-san. At that thought I blushed, unable to speak again.

[Mi'ki-chan]

"Eh? Eri-chan, what's wrong? You don't want to be my friend?"

She said in mock sadness. She pounted, looking to the floor sadly. Teasing people was fun! Though she'd be careful not to take it too far, of course.

"Eri-chan doesn't like me? I'm so sad."

She covered her eyes, fake sniffing as she pretended to cry. Well, she had nothing better to do today, so why not kill time?

[Erika Yoko]

"Eh? Eri-chan, what's wrong? You don't want to be my friend?" I heard her say. That certainly snapped me out of my thoughts... of course I want her to be my friend! I'd be an idiot not to!

Once again my eyes widened, now in fear of maybe losing Takara-san's friendship. "No, no, no! That's not..."

And then she said, "Eri-chan doesn't like me? I'm so sad." And then she faked a cry.

NOOOO! It's not like that! Oh Takara-san, I wish I hadn't upset you!

That was what I wanted to say, but then those words didn't register to my lips. Instead, this is what I said, "Takara-san, I...I'm really sorry... I.. I didn't mean to... upset you..."

It's a good thing I'm an actress... I could easily determine whether a person is just acting or not. And she was absolutely faking a cry. If I didn't know she was just faking a cry, I would've panicked.

[Mi'ki-chan]

Takara broke out into a cheerful laughter. She stood up and placed the chair back at the desk she fount it at neatly. The girl stood infront of the sitting girl, smiling as usual. She held out a hand to the girl.

"Hehe, if you're feeling alright, wanna go to Central town for an ice cream?"

Once again, time is killed.