Snippet #2819850

With her back against the door, Akiko pulled her knees in, hugging them tightly to her chest. She rested her chin on them as she stared ahead of her into the darkness. She could make out the faint outlines of her bed, the covers nearly slipping off. There were no sounds other than that of her own breathing. She could feel her heart beating.

Memories of the recent incident played again in her head as a chorus of voices sung with every mistake. She was never truly alone but being alone as she could be saved her grief. It saved her from these moments where she felt drawn into the inevitability of despair.

Lifting her head up, the sound of tinkling brought her gaze down. A glass orb hung at the end of a gold chain with a tiny piece of rolled up paper within. She carefully took the orb into her hand. The glass felt cool to the touch and Akiko let out a small chuckle.

With one swift motion, she got back up on her feet and turned the lights on. She gathered the covers and threw them onto the bed before turning to look at a mirror on the wall. Looking herself over, Akiko noticed the bags under her eyes. She touched them briefly before moving on and tucking the necklace back beneath her shirt. Akiko also made sure to adjust her tie as the suit she wore needed to look presentable. She was technically a hero now after all.

Before leaving the room, her eyes glowing slightly, she noticed the umbrella leaning against the corner of the room. A smirk appeared on her face as she grabbed it. She strolled out of the room, the door swinging shut behind her.

~*~

The quiet atmosphere of the Atrium was broken by the sound of rapidly approaching footsteps. Akiko appeared a few moments later, sliding to Henry's side with a serious look on her face. There was sweat on her brow and she was breathing heavily from running so fast. Clapping a hand on his shoulder, the other occupied by an umbrella, she stared intently at Henry with the most serious look he had seen so far from her.

"Henry," she began as she pointed at him with an umbrella. "I need your help. Now, repeat after me."

Then, with a flourish, she opened the umbrella with a flick of her wrist. She held it above their heads before chanting loudly, "Rain, rain, go away! Come again another day!"