Chapter 34: Elevation!

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=200 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="0" WIDTH="95" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 46 WIDTH="91"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="46" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="91" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#003333" FACE="Arial" ><B>Ultra Symphony</B></FONT>     </div> <bR> <div> Chapter 34: Elevation!</div> <bR> <div>   Mikono threw herself into the brass-plated revolving door which served as the entrance to Akikutsu Records. She'd all but forgotten about the deep wound she'd suffered to her shoulder, and she flinched as she pushed against the glass door and felt the gash come open again. </div> <bR> <div> <I>Dammit, I should have gone back to MEU and changed first...</I>, she thought, looking at the dried greenish-brown stain on her jacket. It was mere luck that the stain was positioned a good 2 inches below the conspicuous rip, and as she entered the fancy, marble lobby, she realized that since her blood was such an odd color, it didn't even really look like blood, and perhaps she could actually pass it off as some sort of fashion statement.</div> <bR> <div> The receptionist sat behind a desk, typing away at a computer while talking to someone on a headset. She looked up momentarily and gave Mikono a sort of half-smile. It was obvious she was used to seeing every big star on the record label, and she immediately went back to doing what she'd been doing. </div> <bR> <div> Mikono took a look at the clock above the receptionist's desk, and even though it was barely 4:00, and Jerry had said to meet him at 4:30, she wasn't exactly thrilled at the prospect of going back out into the city again, and she could always sit around in Jerry's large private lounge until he came looking for her. </div> <bR> <div> She entered an elevator on the north end of the lobby; a decidedly plain, wood-paneled elevator. In contrast with the fanciness of the rest of the building, it was rather plain and generic. Mikono hit the button to the 14th floor, and leaned back against the wall. </div> <bR> <div> She closed her eyes and absently rubbed her injury, flinching again. Although it hurt, she had to congratulate herself for handling the situation so well. </div> <bR> <div> <I>I guess I really am cut out to be an Ultra! Yes sir... not the same spoiled, whiny little girl I was two weeks ago! I'm really a trooper, yes I am!! Totally fearless!!!</I> </div> <bR> <div> She suddenly heard some rustling across the elevator, and she screamed, backing up hard against the wall. She konked her head and hissed in pain, her heart pounding. </div> <bR> <div> "Miss, are you okay?!" A man's voice asked. </div> <bR> <div> Mikono slowly looked up to see a middle-aged, balding man staring at her. She sighed with relief. "Oh, god. It's just some guy." </div> <bR> <div> The man looked at her with confusion, and when the elevator stopped a few seconds later at the 8th floor, he hurriedly got off. </div> <bR> <div> <I>Oh jeez.. I'm acting like a moron. Come on, Mikono. Calm the hell down. </I>She felt light-headed, and the back of her head tingled where she'd hit it. </div> <bR> <div> "I'll just.. sit down a second." She muttered, leaning against the corner, sliding down into a half-kneeling, half slouching position and closing her eyes. </div> <bR> <div> A few times, the elevator stopped, and she heard people getting on and off. She found herself in such a daze, constantly dozing off and waking back up. </div> <bR> <div> <I>I must really be injured... I'm so out of it.. </I>She thought, slowly opening her eyes. "I'll.. have someone drive me.. home..." </div> <bR> <div> She looked straight ahead, and she saw only one other person in the elevator with her. The person was wearing mary janes, white knee socks and a red, white and blue school uniform. </div> <bR> <div> <I>What floor am I on... </I>She thought, blinking. <I>And what is this schoolgirl doing in here with me... </I></div> <bR> <div> She slowly pushed herself to her feet, gritting her teeth as her shoulder throbbed with pain. Her blurred vision showed that the elevator was on the 4th floor. </div> <bR> <div> "Dammit... it must have already been on the 13th floor." She muttered, stumbling over and hitting the button that read 13. </div> <bR> <div> It wasn't until a few seconds later that she remembered Jerry's office was on the 14th floor.</div> <bR> <div> "Dammmit.. why'm I so fucked up..." She muttered, hitting "14" several times, as if to reaffirm the fact that she was really screwed up in the head to herself. </div> <bR> <div> She heard the other person shifting positions, and she turned around, realizing she'd just sworn in front of a school-aged girl.</div> <bR> <div> "I'm sorr-", she began, but she stopped dead when she realized that it was no schoolgirl in her midst, but rather a tall, lanky, white-haired man. </div> <bR> <div> <I>Harusuke Hutaki. </I></div> <bR> <div> He was leaning against the wall, lost in thought. His intense, crystal blue eyes stared straight ahead, and his arms were clutching each other in a strangely vulnerable position. The elevator's air conditioning was directly hitting him, and it sent his silky white hair aloft. </div> <bR> <div> Mikono's eyes widened, and she blinked several times to try to clear her vision. </div> <bR> <div> <I>He looks... like an angel.. </I>She thought, knowing she had to be in shock. </div> <bR> <div> The elevator stopped, and he got off, never once acknowledging her. She swallowed, noting how bitter the taste in her mouth was. </div> <bR> <div> "I must be sick. I've GOT to be in shock, or sick.. or... something." </div> <bR> <div> When the elevator stopped on the 14th floor, she got off and found herself face-to-face with Jerry.</div> <bR> <div> "Ah, good. You're awake this time." He said wryly.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id76.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Chapter 35: House Arrest"><U>Chapter 35</U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Ultra Symphony"><U>Back</U></A></div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>