Saruwatari and Matsuo huddled together, each balling like the world was coming to an end. Yumi was near, crying a little less. The shock had just begun to wear off of her and she could think more clearly. True, she had lost everything, including her best friend, only five hours ago, but she didn’t want Kojima’s death to be for nothing.

          She was still too shaken to take action. There would be much disagreement when they all regained themselves. Yumi wanted to take command. She may have been younger than her two companions, but she was the most mature out of them all. But Saruwatari would most likely want to take command, as he always had.

          Yumi would wait before her attempt to be leader. There were other things to think about. Like why the large man had not gone after them. Had the sword killed him? Most likely. The wound was great. Yumi guessed that the sword had driven right down the ceiling of the man’s mouth, but no further. He would die from his injury, there was no doubting it.

          Yumi bit her lip and placed her hand on her head. Saruwatari and Matsuo’s wining was beginning to drive her crazy. No wonder Kojima hated crying so much. When you weren’t caught up in pity you could really tell how annoying it was. Then Yumi’s emotions were triggered again. Kojima. Her mother. Her father. Her clan. They were all dead.

          “What will we do?” she whispered to herself.

          Matsuo sniffled. “Y-Yumi…What happens now?”

          Yumi looked over at him. His chubby cheeks were stained with tears.

          “I…I don’t know…”

          “Why?” Saruwatari asked with a shaky voice. “She was only fourteen…”

          His gaze drifted off. Yumi sighed. Somehow they would all have to get through this weather they had the strength to or not. And as soon as they were feeling a bit better, they would be off.

 

                               *                               *                              *



          “Yumi-Kun!” called the owner of the hotel. “Hamano Yumi-Kun!”

          Yumi cringed. The last thing she wanted was the owner getting in her face about rent. That seemed to be the only thing she had to do to keep her time occupied.

          Yumi crammed her money into her underwear drawer. She needed the money for something more important. Besides, she had paid rent last month. It was Matsuo’s turn. And to make matters worse, the owner was a week early. Matsuo didn’t get his check until two days before the rent was due. What was Cho’s problem?

          Cho slid the door open. She huffed.

          “Rent?”

          Yumi looked around.

          “But…it’s not a new month, Cho-San,” Yumi said innocently.

          Cho’s eyes widened with shock.

          “It…It’s not?” Her thin brow furrowed. “Oh, my…I’m so sorry. Please excuse me.”

          She turned and walked away down the hall. Yumi let out a sigh of relief. She had avoided the owner once again. 

          “Psycho…” Yumi whispered. “That woman is mental…”

          Yumi glanced at the calendar above Saruwatari’s bed. Seven days…

          “To think it’s been two years.”

          Yumi yawned and stretched. She scratched her head before changing into her work robes. Then she tied her hair up and walked out the door.