Month Eight (Malice)

[Oki W. Nanda]

A very pregnant Oki Nanda shuffled into the break room. She made ginseng tea and prepared her lunch of ongiri, whitefish and seaweed. She sighed, rubbed her stomach. "Yes, yes. Quit kicking- Mommy's getting lunch ready."

Month eight. She should be taking time off- should be getting ready for the birth...should be getting her home ready for her sisters as the carpenters had finished their duties of converting the upper floor into an enormous penthouse. With not only 4 guest rooms and 2 bathrooms but a nursery, playroom, mini gym, and enlarged the rooms Dion and Yujima (sp) had.

Oki's new book was flying off the shelves. She was making more than enough, the twins would...they were already set to go to college and more. Rubbing her stomach, Oki left a large tray piled high for the other staff who usually showed up. After all, it's nice to share.

Settling in her usual spot, she sipped her tea- said a small prayer and began to nibble at the onigiri.

[Zack Asiv]

Malice had made his way to the school he was supposed to be the new supervisor of. It didn't seem like much, except holes, drug dealers, and excessive violance, of course thats probably why Malice was chosen for this job. He decided to first meet the staff, so the break room seemed the most logical place, right? Well his slightly long black hair was pulled back and his navy blue jump suit was a little raggy, he had gotten into a fight with a student earlier.

He opened the door and peeked in, his pale blue eyes scanning to find one person there, at first it didn't regiseter that she was pregnant so he walked in scratching his head.

"Hi, sorry to bother I'm Alex Malice."

Thats when he noticed the clearly pregnant woman sitting there. He didn't let her know he noticed, it was just, he hadn't expected it.

[Oki W. Nanda]

Oki looked up, smiled, "Not a bother as he is staff. Oki brought lunch for everyone today, she hopes he likes onigiri and whitefish."

The very pregnant Oki was in no mood to get up and be formal. Her feet were swollen and they hurt- it may have only been a half day but she was tired and well. Was...why was he looking at her like that?

She'd let some time pass, eat a few pieces of the fish and offer, "Oki is the nurse, if he's wondering. Looks as though he'll be needing to visit her often already. No injuries yet she hopes."

[Zack Asiv]

"Mm, whitefish, its been a while since I've had that."

Alex walked in and found himself a little spot to sit for now. Until he got to know everyone. Soem time went by Malice was just looking around innocently, he had a few pieces of onigiri and a few whitefish before she spoke. He looked at his cloths and smiled wide.

"Ah, well I got in a scuffle with a student, he was rather fast and caught me off guard. But no injuries yet."

He took a second and eat another piece savoring the flavor.

"I was sent here as the new Supervisor to overlook everything and keep the school under control."

[Oki W. Nanda]

She looked at him, her eyes brimmed with tears for only a flash, then she beamed pure sunshine, "Oki thinks he will do fine as long as he treats the teachers and students with as much respect as he intends to get."

She casually sipped her tea, "Fighting is something of a..sport here. Oki's never had a dull day." Paddle agreed, shifting slightly on the far wall. Oki giggled, "Does he intend to spare the rod and spoil the children? or simple all out fighting? Oki certainly needs to be prepared."

[Zack Asiv]

Malice decided his words carefully. She seemed one of the respectable teachers, so he'd have to stick to it.

"Well depending on whats going on will decide what happens to the students that get out of hand."

He knew full well about this schools drug problem, and seemingly invisible money venues. They had cash flow like a multi million doller corperation, but the school looked half ass, and there is no evidence it was being fixed. He was given an 'equilizer' a while back that he still used, but it was his choice, and nobodies business.

[Oki W. Nanda]

"Wise," she smiked- at least he had the ability to think.

She cocked an eyebrow, "Maybe as supervisor, he could figure out something in the budget for the recovery area of the infirmary? And possibly look into properly supplying it with better materials."

She was going to start investing in the school very soon if someone would at least put a little paint on the school. She looked him over, not half as handsome as Zack...or Jason- but there was something...NO! BAD OKI! Bad hormones...don't make the eyes...damn these hormones! She laughed, wrinkling her nose a bit, "And maybe putting the same kind of chalk board in the rooms? Dry erase ones are the better as far as Oki's heard."

[Zack Asiv]

Malice sneezed after she was done talking. Made him a bit peranoid for a second then he scratched the back of his head.

"I'll see what I can do about that. No promises though."

He tried joking and stuck his tongue out, wasn't sure if that would work. But he was sure this place had money somewhere that could be used to make this place a bit better. But there where pieces of the puxxle missing. The police didn't release the official report of how Zack died.

"Do you mind if I ask about the previouse supervisor?"

[Oki W. Nanda]

Oki laughed softly, "Bless him. She hopes he doesn't have terrible allergies he forgot to take care of."

Oki was learning more and more about people- men in particularly. This one seemed to think she was going to try and K.O. him with paddle for sneezing. She sipped her tea and sat back in her seat slowly. She was silent for a long moment. Her emotions weighing slowly- she had barely said his name once since his death. Now the new supervisor wanted to talk- he was bound to ask...about how he died. Oki slowly bobbed her head, "Ask away. Oki will do her best to answer."

[Zack Asiv]

"Thank you."

He grabbed something else and began to eat it, before swollowing and continueing with his question.

"Well, Asi-... Zack was an old friend of mine, way back in Highschool. I was invited here by him sometime back, and then the school system decided I should be the new supervisor... No matter who I ask, or where I go they wont tell me what happened to him, all I know is he died."

Alex was troubled by this a bit more than he should be he guessed. But Zack was his friend and he thought it only right to know how he died. Sure they may have only talked occasionally since College, but they where still close friends.

[Oki W. Nanda]

Oki's eyes welled up with tears, but she took a deep breath to stop them- DAMN IT, they welled down her face and her hand rested on her stomach. It wouldn't have even been a full 10 months and...the twins would...at least they didn't mark the anniversary of it.

Oki grabbed her napkin and dabbed her eyes, "He must forgive, Oki...she- she lived with Z-Zack for a short time," a pale blush lighted across her nose but it vanished as she continued.

"The answer to his question...the police have failed to release due to a severity of the nature," she bowed her head, swallowed- this almost hurt to much to say, her heart began to ache already...just the bare thought of it all. She nodded slowly, "Zack died protecting his students from danger."

She exhaled a shaky breath, tears rolling down her face, "He was standing in their way to the very end," her smile was weak- she suddenly felt weary..dared to laugh, "Pardon Oki, his passing has effected the staff and with all these crazy hormones," she pat her stomach, "well it's certainly not been much eaisier."

[Zack Asiv]

Now, you could say Alex had a good head, which is why Zack had him in his little group back in High School when they caused trouble. He knew how to smell a trap and what to do about it, he coudl analyz things and make conclusions off gut instinct, and right now his instinct was going crazy. Over what he wasn't sure. He saw her reaciton, that couldn't be just coincadence. Lived with him, it was close to the right months ago he died. He couldn't bring himself to think it though.

"I'm... Sorry if I brought up memories... But I feel better knowing how he died... Thank you."

Malice wasn't sure what to say now. She was crying and he felt bad for making her cry. He didn't have to ask her about Zack, he could of asked someone else. Maybe it would of been the same reaction from the other staffIf he had asked in a meeting he may have had to deal with a bunch of teary eyed staff members. Maybe this was the best course of action.

[Oki W. Nanda]

"Oh he is very welcome," she gave a slow, happy smile, her tears almost gone, "but please...oh don't mind Oki- she's been like this for a while."

She sniffled, slowly sipped at her tea, laughed- a genuine sound, her wind chimes were full of air again, "It's most likely best Oki gets back into the groove of talking about Zack." Her expression softened, "She'll be doing a deal of explaining- she thinks."

Laughing again, "If he has any other questions, Oki would be happy to answer. As she is only the nurse, her hours are a bit less pressing- as her office is locked when she's gone and she hasn't had a line since..." she sniffled, " since that particular incident. Otherwise...despite a few distasteful happenings, nothing has really happened."

She nodded, "Oki should know, beyond the occasional fight, there's been very few injuries coming to her. If she was paid above minimum wage, she'd feel guilty about it."

[Zack Asiv]

Well, Alex did have a rather seriouse question. But he wasn't sure if he should ask, but if she lived with him there was no way she didn't notice. So he decided it would be safe. He knew Zack had this uncanny idea that drugs if used correctly could fix disability. He's had that ideal ever since she died. So he had to ask.

"Actually, I have two seriouse questions... Was Zack still using Red Eye...? And was the drug problem at this school caused by him?"

He had to know these things, for personal reasons and business reasons. Alex heard rumors about the drug problem here and its effects, so he had no doubt Zack was behind it, he just had to know for sure. His thoughts wouldn't be changed by the answers, well maybe if it was a no, but still.

[Oki W. Nanda]

Oki studied him for a long moment. Was he looking to score himself some redeye from what little remained of Zach's things? No. Slowly she closed her eyes in a long blink, 'don't think poorly of him, Oki...he's an old friend. Remember- Zack was no angel...' tears welled for a moment and she wiped her eyes, 'even if he was your saving grace.'

She opened her eyes, they shimmered slightly- worry and concern...criticism in them as well, "He didn't use it any longer," she sighed bowing her head slightly, "And yes, it is his fault for the drug problem. Everyone knows it. Despite the attempts, though few, to keep it under wraps."

She looked at him, then her tea, "Oki...has been addicted to many of what is being passed around when she was...much younger. At least the older things, lately she's been testing the new things...hoping to..weaken them if best. It's not something she's had much success in..or time to do."

She looked at him, her expression sharp, "Oki hopes he intends to end this drug nonsence."