[He makes it sound so easy. So, what happened. Because...for Rohan, who doesn't remember, it's just another story, isn't it? Maybe he'll draw it. Maybe when he retells it, after hearing it, he'll make it into something better than what it is. He's used the life she bought him to tell stories — maybe theirs would sound better, coming from him instead of her.
But she's the only one who can tell it. And she's told it to him before, back when he and Koichi first stumbled across her alley, but stories take on vastly different characters just from the way that they're told, and this time, she's including all the parts that were left out in the last iteration.]
It wasn't unusual for your parents to ask me to watch you. We did it a lot, and it worked out for everybody. We were only a few houses down, so we could walk back and forth pretty easily. It was a quiet street, so my parents didn't mind me walking back by myself, even if it was late at night.
You didn't usually stay the night, though. That much was different. You were sort of sad, I think it must've bothered you that your parents had to leave on such short notice, and that they couldn't take you with them. I tried to cheer you up and make it fun...you were going to sleep in the den, on the pull-out couch, so we made a little fort out of the cushions so you'd feel better about it.
[Her scent is growing stronger now, involuntarily. It's as though it's spurred on by her turmoil of emotions, turning more lemony-acrid the more quietly upset she grows.]
Everything I told you and Koichi the day you found me...that all happened the way I told it. He killed Mom and Dad first, their bedroom was closer to the stairs. And I was the one he wanted, so — he just, it was just to make sure there wasn't anybody else to help me. So he could take his time with me.
[She bares her teeth, gnashing rage, and for a second her fury takes on an almost animal character before it fades.]
But when I saw what he did to Arnold, and when he said it — "I've already killed your parents" — he didn't mention you. And I just...I realized he didn't know about you. I was so afraid he'd find you, too.
So I ran downstairs. He was going slow, taking his time. Why wouldn't he? He didn't have any reason to hurry, not then. I think he thought I would try to run out the door, and that's why he didn't follow me into the den right away.
[What a close thing it was. Kira Yoshikage's oversight might well have meant the difference between Rohan's life and his death, and the very thought of it makes her shiver.]
I picked you up — you were asleep but you woke up when I grabbed you, and I put my hand over your mouth so you wouldn't cry. I think — I think you knew I was scared, but you didn't know why. But I couldn't...
[She shakes her head hard, looking away, rubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand.]
It was August. Summer, so it was warm out, my mom had opened the window a little so that you would have some fresh air. I could hear him walking down the hall. I told you...I told you not to make a sound. Not to cry, not anything. I told you we had to be quiet, we were going to be so quiet. There were bushes beneath those windows, so I pushed you out first, and I was going to go too...
[She bites down on her lip, voice cracking. There are tears in her eyes, but she holds out, refusing to shed them, determined to finish.]
But then I heard him step on the old creaky floorboard, the one right outside the den, and I thought, if I followed you out, he'd catch both of us.
So I closed the window, instead. I tried to make him think I was fumbling with the latch, and couldn't get it open. So that he wouldn't think to look outside.
no subject
But she's the only one who can tell it. And she's told it to him before, back when he and Koichi first stumbled across her alley, but stories take on vastly different characters just from the way that they're told, and this time, she's including all the parts that were left out in the last iteration.]
It wasn't unusual for your parents to ask me to watch you. We did it a lot, and it worked out for everybody. We were only a few houses down, so we could walk back and forth pretty easily. It was a quiet street, so my parents didn't mind me walking back by myself, even if it was late at night.
You didn't usually stay the night, though. That much was different. You were sort of sad, I think it must've bothered you that your parents had to leave on such short notice, and that they couldn't take you with them. I tried to cheer you up and make it fun...you were going to sleep in the den, on the pull-out couch, so we made a little fort out of the cushions so you'd feel better about it.
[Her scent is growing stronger now, involuntarily. It's as though it's spurred on by her turmoil of emotions, turning more lemony-acrid the more quietly upset she grows.]
Everything I told you and Koichi the day you found me...that all happened the way I told it. He killed Mom and Dad first, their bedroom was closer to the stairs. And I was the one he wanted, so — he just, it was just to make sure there wasn't anybody else to help me. So he could take his time with me.
[She bares her teeth, gnashing rage, and for a second her fury takes on an almost animal character before it fades.]
But when I saw what he did to Arnold, and when he said it — "I've already killed your parents" — he didn't mention you. And I just...I realized he didn't know about you. I was so afraid he'd find you, too.
So I ran downstairs. He was going slow, taking his time. Why wouldn't he? He didn't have any reason to hurry, not then. I think he thought I would try to run out the door, and that's why he didn't follow me into the den right away.
[What a close thing it was. Kira Yoshikage's oversight might well have meant the difference between Rohan's life and his death, and the very thought of it makes her shiver.]
I picked you up — you were asleep but you woke up when I grabbed you, and I put my hand over your mouth so you wouldn't cry. I think — I think you knew I was scared, but you didn't know why. But I couldn't...
[She shakes her head hard, looking away, rubbing at her eyes with the back of her hand.]
It was August. Summer, so it was warm out, my mom had opened the window a little so that you would have some fresh air. I could hear him walking down the hall. I told you...I told you not to make a sound. Not to cry, not anything. I told you we had to be quiet, we were going to be so quiet. There were bushes beneath those windows, so I pushed you out first, and I was going to go too...
[She bites down on her lip, voice cracking. There are tears in her eyes, but she holds out, refusing to shed them, determined to finish.]
But then I heard him step on the old creaky floorboard, the one right outside the den, and I thought, if I followed you out, he'd catch both of us.
So I closed the window, instead. I tried to make him think I was fumbling with the latch, and couldn't get it open. So that he wouldn't think to look outside.
[Into the bushes. Where you were.]