Tenma the Fairest Ch. 6

Chapter 6:
A Hope for All

"So, as you can see…" Harima said to Karasuma, as he finished his story, "Mikoto disappeared, Hanai tried to get help, and I was left caring for Tenma. The seasons change as Tenma was laid here. And to think this wouldn't have happened if Rich Girl didn't poison her with rancid red onions."

"That's where you are wrong, Harima," Karasuma said, "The only reason she ate the curry was not because the onions were not fresh, it's because Miss Tsukamoto was in a hurry. Plus, Miss Sawachika was an awful cook."

"So was I, but I didn't plan to kill her!" Harima cried.

Karasuma consoled him and asked, "And it only took 2 years?"

Harima nodded. Karasuma added, "But then, why is she in her uniform in her coffin; everybody knows that her skin can stiffen and turn pale in time, Miss Tsukamoto's skin remains vibrant and warm."

"What? Yeah… about that…" Harima scratches his head and asked, "You have any idea why? We didn't paint her just so we could embalm her. I mean, that's ridiculous! Wouldn't you say?"

Karasuma opened the casket and sees Tenma, all in her school uniform, laid to rest. He then pulled out something in his pocket. It was a kappa pin. He pinned it on Tenma's uniform and then carried her over his shoulders.

"HEY! What the hell are you doing?" Harima cried.

"She needs to be saved. I can still save her and bring her back," he said.

Karasuma ran off into the forest to find help as Harima looked on in much surprise.

"Uh… what just happened?" He thought.

*-*-*

Meanwhile, at Eri's backyard, she admired the garden she walked by, with the statue of Mikoto in the middle.

"Ah, what a day to be beautiful," She said, "Tenma's dead and I have reclaimed my title."

Just then, Hanai was walking by and found Mikoto all frozen.

"MIKOTO!!!" Hanai screamed as he ran to the backyard.

He jumped over the fence and found Eri by a stone Mikoto.

"What did you do to her?" He cried.

"Nothing," Eri said, "But it just came out of nowhere; she suddenly turned to stone!"

"What? There are only 2 things that can do to girls in their beauty: 1) Perverts who try hypnotism! And 2) Gorgons!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I, Haruki Hanai, am gonna rescue Mikoto from your harm! Harima told me what you did to Miss Tsukamoto, and now, as your class rep, you will be punished!"

Eri let out an evil smirk and said, "So… are you saying Whiskers blabbed to Mikoto?"

"He did! But only because she found Tsukamoto on the floor!" He screamed, "You crazed harlot! How dare you treat one of your own classmates with catastrophe?"

Eri shrieked, "HOW? HOW?! That little fox thinks she's the leader of the pack? I deserve to be fairest of Yagami High! ME! ME!! ME!!!"

Hanai then posed in his martial arts stance, "If you're gonna be that way, I have no choice but to fight you. As much as I don't want to, this is for Tsukamoto and Suo!"

Eri scoffed and turned her back on him and said, "No…"

"No?!"

"I believe if I'm gonna hurt somebody, it's Harima. In fact, you can have Mikoto back."

She leaves to go inside her house, but Hanai had a fearful thought: Did Eri screwed him?

"Can't you at least change her back to normal? Sawachika???" Hanai cried.

No answer. Hanai had to carry Mikoto all by himself. Much like his days in the moving company (Part-Time), it was pretty easy; especially since his classmate is about 3 tons and is made of stone.

*-*-*

Tenma was lying on a grassy field at the end of the forest, still out cold, as Karasuma took off his kappa attire. He then pulled out some curry he packed in his lunchbox. As he watched over her, while eating, he thought about Eri.

"She's evil…" he thought, "I've heard stories about her. She was once a popular girl in England, but when she moved to Japan, her popularity decreased. Miss Tsukamoto, I really didn't want to see you die. In fact, you've been a great treasure to me."

He remembered how Tenma got to speak to him before he left:

Tenma and Karasuma were by the countryside.

"Karasuma…" Tenma said, "Who do you love?"

"Love?" He said.

"That's right. If you can, can you tell me? I think we'd make a great pair, right?" She smiled.

"I love… love…"

"Yes?"

"Curry…"

Tenma was shocked, "OH, NO!!!"

Tenma was spinning and sinking in her own self-sadness, "WHY DOESN'T HE ADMIT IT? I'M SUCH A DUMMY!!!"

But Karasuma grabbed her hand and shook his head. He then shared some of his lunch with her and let out a quiet "Yum".

Tenma then thought, "One day… Maybe one day…"

Karasuma's flashback ended as he looks at Tenma again.

"Miss Tsukamoto," He said, "As much as what Eri did to you, I still think you deserve someone who can protect you. No matter what they say, you're the fairest of all… to me."

Karasuma approached Tenma and was about to kiss her. But then…

Tenma started to cough a bit and regurgitate a bit of the curry from her mouth. It partially landed on Karasuma as he wiped it off. Tenma opened her eyes and saw, in a blurred vision, a person.

"Miss Tsukamoto?"

Tenma's vision returned and saw Karasuma. She then started to get up, but couldn't.

"Karasuma?" She said in a weak voice.

"Miss Tsukamoto, it's okay. I'm here." He said, "No one is here to kill you now. I'm here to protect you."

Tenma started to tear up and hugged Karasuma very hard. She cried very loudly, her tears soaked his shirt.

"Hey… I am happy… you're okay!" He said, as he's being hugged by Tenma.

"Karasuma… (Sob) Eri-Chan… Eri-Chan…" She weeped as Karasuma comforted her.

"It's okay, Miss Tsukamoto. Harima told me all about it."

"What? Harima?"

*-*-*

Hanai was home with the statue of Mikoto in his front room.

"Damn her! She should've at least turned her back to normal!" He said as he was in pain after carrying Mikoto all the way home.

Harima came by and found Mikoto, all stone.

"Four-Eyes! Did Rich Girl do this?"

"She did," He said, "But she just couldn't have the heart to change her back."

"Rich girl!!!" He hollered, "YOU!!! I will never forgive!"

Hanai held Mikoto as he started to grow worried about Tenma.

"Oh, yeah, I forgot," Harima said to Hanai, "A boy got Tenma and he's tending to her."

"WHAT??? Why didn't you tell him that she's dead?"

"I tried! But he said something about saving her!"

"What? He knows he cannot. Miss Tsukamoto is dead. Gone forever. How can you let him take her?"

Harima looked out the window and said, "I think he may be the "Prince Charming" in this scenario."

*-*-*

Harima was right. Tenma was carried home by tandem bicycle. Karasuma was riding home with her as he begins to worry about her future with Eri still around. All Tenma can do was hold on, but let out some tears and said that Eri is awful.

"Miss Tsukamoto, when we head home," he said, "I'll treat you to curry."

"Oh, Karasuma," Tenma sobbed, "No more curry… No more curry…"

"It's okay," He proclaimed, "It's safe."

"But, what about Eri?"

"Yeah…" Karasuma said, "I'll protect you on this one. Until this blows over, you cannot stay out there as long as she's around."

"You mean it?"

"I mean it."

Karasuma & Tenma rode all through the night. Tenma stayed with Karasuma at his home, but if Eri finds out she's still alive, it could mean… trouble.

*-*-*

Later, as she was about to go to bed, she consulted her mirror…

"Magical mirror on my wall; who remains the fairest of them all?"

The Mirror spoke, "For years, you have been the fairest, that's true; but…"

"But?"

"But Tenma Tsukamoto remains beautiful than you. She looks cute when she sleeps, and has a very nice grin; but even in death, she always win."

"WHAT???" Eri cried, "But she's dead! How can that be?"

"I see all, I know all; but I know your mistake; compared to Tenma Tsukamoto, it's your grave you just make! You may be the girl with everything she can desire; but deep down inside… YOU ARE A LIAR!!!"

Eri broke down and shook in fear, "NO!!! IT CANNOT BE!!!"

Then the mirror then said, "But Tenma is still alive, as you may have heard; a prince in her eyes gave her the good word. You know what must be done; you cannot let it stand. Tear off Tenma's heart, by taking his hand!"

"His hand?" Eri asked with tears in her eyes.

"In marriage!" The mirror answered.

Eri then shook in anger and whispered, "I really hate Tenma Tsukamoto… I hate her…"

She then grabbed a vase and started to throw the vase.

"I HATE HER!!! HATE HER!!!"

She threw the vase and smashed her mirror. The mirror & the vase broke into a million pieces with the shards falling to the floor.

Eri started to pant. She then screamed in anger. She rushed out and shouted in vengeance, "TENMA!!!"

*-*-*

Meanwhile, Mikoto started to change back. Her colored returned from her body and can move again. She started to hug herself, knowing that she's been returned to normal. However, she looked at Harima & Hanai, who were sleeping and said, "They came for me?"

Mikoto then thought, "Eri!"

She rushed out of the house to find Eri.

*-*-*

As for Tenma, she's sleeping in Karasuma's bed. Karasuma sat by and watched over her, making sure that no one will hurt her.

But, he's about to find out something that can surprise them both; because Eri and Mikoto are rushing over to find Tenma, but in different motives: Mikoto wants to save her, while Eri wants to ask Karasuma to marry him, only to break Tenma's heart once and for all.

Who will get there first?

Final Chapter... underway...