Upside Down 24 Chapter 22: Sekihan

Have you ever had one of those days that you wish had never started? No? You're lucky. I've had far too many of them in my short life. Regardless, welcome to another one of mine.

It started off well enough I suppose. I woke up at 4 am, very sore and stiff with my little sister wrapped around me as usual. Smiling at my thought of 'She's so cute', I kiss her cheek and attempt to slip quietly out of bed. It's a very hard to move stealthily when you are this sore. I seriously doubt there is one muscle in my body isn't screaming at me.

"Sornee, are you going somewhere?" She asks me while rubbing her eyes sleepily.

"I was going to the bathroom, but I hurt so much I can barely move."

"Lay back down, I will give you a massage."

Chinatsu changes her position on the bed and pulls my legs onto lap to begin working on them. It hurts quite a bit at first, but her deft, gentle fingers slowly unknot the muscles in my legs.

"Where else hurts?"

"Everywhere. Everything hurts."

"Okay, let's get your nightgown off of you, so it doesn't get in my way." She tells me while holding her hands out to help me sit up and then slips my nightgown over my head which leave me in nothing except my panties. After I lay back down, she then begins to work on my stomach muscles.

I know there are a lot of girls that are body shy, so let's just say I'm not one of them, at least not with Chinatsu or Mama. I have taken more baths with them over the years than I could even begin to count, so I'm completely comfortable being nude around them.

I used to be body shy around other girls, but that was before my change. I have no idea how I will feel around them now. However, if Mayumi or Honoka are any indication, I doubt it will be much of an issue. Especially since I'm no longer shy or timid since I saw Airi. Not to mention, as Chinatsu said yesterday, I'm also a lot more apt to say what I think or feel.

"Sornee, I wish I looked as good as you do."

"Wow, déjà vu. Didn't we have this conversation already? I believe I told you then you are perfect the way you are. You are a beautiful girl Chinatsu. I know you said you wanted to have bigger boobs, but trust me when I say having boobs like this is a pain."

I chuckle. "I went from having none, to this big in no time and they constantly get in my way when I'm trying to do something. It's still a little disconcerting for me to look down and see these puppies. Anyway, boobs don't make the girl, even though that's all most boys seem to care about. Regardless, you were getting quite a few stares from boys at the pool yesterday. That alone ought to tell you how beautiful you are."

"Sornee, you were getting far more than I was."

"Chinatsu, do you think I care one little bit about that? Okay, yes, it's nice to have other people look at me and not be disgusted or trying to figure out a new way to tease me. That said, after what the boys in our school have done to me, most of them can drop dead in my opinion. I have no intention of even giving them the time of day when I go back to school. To be perfectly honest, I would much rather spend time with my little sister than some idiotic boys that constantly picked on me because I was flat chested and ugly. Especially the ones that tried to strip me to prove I wasn't a girl."

Although, that does bring to mind Ryu and just how fast he made my little heart beat every time I was with him. There were times I felt as if I couldn't even breathe.

Wow! Why am I even thinking about this? Whew… My face feels hot.

"I know Sornee. I'm well aware of just how badly most boys treated you. They are all unworthy of even looking at my Onee. It was their loss they couldn't see you for the beautiful girl you were. ...Okay, turn over, so I can do your back and neck."

It takes about 45 minutes for her to get everything to unknot in my neck and back, she even had to work on my butt too, but now I'm no longer stiff or sore for the most part. Although, my stomach still hurts for some reason, even after Chinatsu got the muscles to loosen up.

She lays back down beside me and I roll over to face her.

"Thank you Chinatsu, I feel much better now."

"You 're welcome Sornee. Although, I told you already, I'm happy to give you a massage anytime."

"I remember. Right now though, I want to use the bathroom and take a hot bath with my little sister. Sound good?"

"Do you even have to ask? You already know how much I love bath time. Even more so when we take one together."

I chuckle softly.

"Oh, and how many baths have I taken without you since I got out the hospital?"

"None."

"Exactly. I love taking baths with you as much as you do me."

I kiss her forehead and roll over, so I can get what I need to bathe. When I stand up,

"Oww!"

I bend over and place both hands on my lower abdomen. Wow! That's really painful. I really must have really overdone it yesterday to still be this uncomfortable after Chinatsu worked so hard to loosen everything up.

"Sornee are you okay?"

"Yes, my stomach muscles are still painful though. I must have played a little too hard yesterday. Even my boobs are a little sore. I'm sure I will feel better after a hot bath."

"Sornee do you have a headache too?"

"Mhmm. A slight one at least. How did you know?"

She looks at me as if she is thinking and then smiles slightly. "I'm not totally sure, but this could be your menarche."

"What?!"

"Well, Dr. Sato did say it should be soon, you know that already. When you take into account the headache, sore boobs, and abdominal pain, it all adds up."

"I'm not bleeding though."

"Simply because you aren't bleeding doesn't mean that isn't what this is. That usually happens a little while after the symptoms start."

"Does that mean I can't take a hot bath with you then?"

"Sornee, that is just a myth, you can still take a hot bath. It won't change anything and the heat will make help you feel a little better."

"Good. I was really looking forward to it."

She stands up to wrap an arm around me. Looking at my abdomen, she gently rubs it with her hand and then looks up at me.

"Congratulations Sornee. You're a woman now. I can't wait to see mom's face when you tell her."

"You're making too big of a deal out of this Chinatsu, if that is what this is."

"It is a big deal for us girls. I'm willing to bet you're having cramps and most probably your lower back hurts too, right?"

"I am and it does."

She wraps her other arm around me as well and pulls me close.

"I'm absolutely sure of it now. Congratulations again Sornee. I'm going to go get the tub ready and a change of clothes. I'll see you downstairs." She tells me and heads to her room.

Wow. Menarche huh? I hope it won't be as hard for me as some of the other girls. I know of a couple of girls from school who hurt so badly they can barely move when it's their time. Well, for right now a couple of aspirin should help take care of most of my symptoms.

I place my right hand on my lower abdomen. So, I can get pregnant now. It's almost unimaginable. What the hell am I thinking?! I'm only thirteen! Babies are still a long way off for me.

Ugh. There is no point in thinking about things like that.

I move to my dresser and take out a pair of panties and a nightgown.

Crap, I just remembered! This just had to start today of all days! I have to go to the police station to be interviewed. All I want to do is take a hot bath with Chinatsu and curl back up in bed. Cramps really suck!

Sighing, I put the nightgown back in my drawer and close it. I reopen my top drawer to get a bra and then open my closet to pick out something to wear for today. No mini-skirt. I will be glad when the rest of my clothes are delivered. Okay, let's go with this.

I remove a navy blue short sleeve summer dress from my closet and step back over to my dresser to get a pair of sheer thigh stockings to go with it. Let's wear my dark gray slouch boots. They should go well with this.

I pick up my change of clothes head out my door to drop everything off in the dressing room and then get some aspirin. I'm really wishing today hadn't started at the moment.

Yes! I love, love, love my sister! Not that I didn't before, but you would say that too if you were beginning your period and she was waiting on you in the dressing room with some water and Midol.

"Sornee, why did you pick out something so dressy for today?"

"I guess you forgot too. The police interview is today. Are you still coming with me?"

"You're right, I had forgotten, but yes, I'm still going with you. I have to run upstairs and get something to wear though."

"Thanks, I still don't know if he is going to be there and that has me a little nervous. I really appreciate you coming with me."

"I would be going with you whether he was going to be there or not Sornee. Anyway, go ahead and get started. I'll be back in a few minutes to help you wash your hair."

I remove my nightgown and panties, walk to the hamper and drop them in. Heading into the bathing area, I turn on the water to let it warm up. I sit down on the shower chair and wet myself down. As I am putting body wash on the sponge, Chinatsu walks in and takes the sponge from me.

"I'll do that, just relax."

I look over my shoulder at her and smile in thanks. After she washes me, she rinses me off. Moving in front of me, she picks up the shampoo, pumping it several times, and washes my hair. Rinsing it out, she then puts conditioner in my hair, winds it up on top of my head and wraps my head in a towel to allow the condition the time it needs to penetrate.

"Go soak, I'll be there in a minute."

"Are you sure you don't want me to wash you?"

"I'm sure. You go soak, it will help you feel better. I'll be there shortly."

I reach out and pull her to me. Holding her tightly to me, I can feel the strong, steady beat of her heart.

"Okay. Thanks Chinatsu."

I let her go and stand up to go get in the tub. Stepping inside, I ease myself into the water while sighing in pleasure from the heat. It doesn't take long for the heat to penetrate and my cramps ease off.

Chinatsu soon finishes, climbs in between my legs and leans back against me with a sigh herself.

Unfortunately we don't get to soak for too long.

[Kon~][Kon~]

"Girls, you need to get out of the tub soon. Sora, when you get dressed your mother would like you to help her make breakfast."

"Okay Dad. We'll be out in a few minutes." I tell him and sigh.

Getting out of the tub, we start drying ourselves off. When I bend down to dry my legs, I notice some drops of blood on the floor and along the inside of my thighs. I think, 'This day just keep getting better and better.'

"Chinatsu, I started bleeding."

Forty minutes later, we are both dressed, my hair is braided and what little makeup we deign to wear on. (Yes, I realize that it took longer than usual, but there were other things I had to take care of. Plus, I feel somewhat lethargic.)

You already know what I chose to wear, but Chinatsu chose a sleeveless, v-neck, dark blue and white one-piece with a black belt and black thigh stocking to go with it. To say she looks beautiful in it simply isn't enough. Truthfully, if I was a boy I would be drooling.

"Good morning Dad." I tell him and give him a quick hug on my way through the dining room. Chinatsu sets down across from him and tells him good morning as well.

"Good morning girls. You two look really nice this morning. Sora, are you alright? You're a little pale. You're not nervous about today are you?"

"No. Well, slightly nervous, but that isn't it. I promise."

"Good morning Mama. what do you need me to do?"

"Good mor…"

"Mom, Sora has something to tell you." Chinatsu says with a huge smile. Really Chinatsu? You had to bring it up with Dad here?

"What is it Sora?" Mama asks me. I glance at Dad, who had returned his attention to the morning news on TV. "My period started this morning." I whisper to her.

Mama's face lights up with a smile as she pulls me to her to hug me. "Congratulations Sora. You're a woman now." She whispers back and then she announces loudly, "We are having a special dinner tonight with sekihan! (red rice)"

"Oh? Are we celebrating something?" Dad asks looking at Mama.

"We are. Sora is a woman as of today."

Which causes me to start blushing furiously and I turn my back to Dad to hide. This is so embarrassing.

I feel some arms slip around me and then Dad's voice in my ear. "It's nothing to be embarrassed about sweetheart. This merely means another of one my girls is a little more grown up. Congratulations."

Even though he tells me that, I still find it embarrassing, although not quite as much now. It would be really nice if all boys were like my Dad. Unfortunately, that isn't the way things are.

After eating, of which I actually ate very little, Chinatsu told me to go sit down to rest because she would help Mama clean up. Sitting down on the couch, I pull my legs up underneath me and hold a throw pillow against my stomach.

It doesn't take long for them to clean up and Chinatsu come in to sit down beside me. She wraps an arm around me while I lean against her and rest my head against her shoulder.

I really don't want to go to be interviewed, all I want to do is go back to bed, but I want more than anything else is for Akiyama to pay for what he did to me and my parents.

Chapter end