what money can buy

a soaking wet one legged teenager

A loud voice brought him back to awareness from his half sleep. He was curled up on the floor, the sound of rain high above him was felt more than heard as It pattered in his chest. He sat up ,and wiped soft, whispy hair from his face ,sliding his hands past his throat ,over his collar bone, and along his perfect, plastic ribs. He looked around his abode only slightly lit by a series of slits in the top. He wished he could sleep ,but he figured he wouldn't have much time now. Tonight was an important night.

He stared at the far wall in a daze, until a loud thud ripped his attention from the crack in the wall that looked like a face. He turned his head, and gulped when he saw the chain of his door come undone. He quickly fixed his hair ,and straightened his back as he stood. He waited for mama to call his name, and mentally prepared for his performance ,but when the door slid open a man he didn't recognize stood before him. The man peered into the room with a stoney expression ,until he spotted the small boy standing in the corner ,and his face softened. He Raised a hand ,which was responded to by the lowering of weapons ,and finally he spoke "who are you?" He asked in a gruff voice. The petite boy simply walked forward until he was only a few steps from the man, saying "my name is rei-chan"

Juuzou rolled over in his bed to face away from the wall. Sweat trapped his hair between his neck ,and the collar of his button down shirt. He took a moment ,rubbing sleep from his eyes to remember where he was. He got out of bed ,and grabbed his crutches before walking the few steps to the door. He felt a weird tingle in his bladder ,and sighed at the thought of his catheter acting up again, but when he got to the bathroom everything worked as it should.

He leaned on the wall, and looked around his living room, at the TV set on the floor ,and the boxes of his belongings near the door, The pile seemed pitifully small. Sitting on the floor near the pile was a badge, that had no coat to go on, pressed into the glinting metal was the proud insignia of the ccg ,and streaming from it was a short purple ribbon. He picked it up and turned it over in his hands ,then suddenly a thought struck him. He had a lot of money, he was a wounded soldier, and was heavily rewarded for his efforts... If he wanted he could buy things the way normal people do. He had been told this before ,but only now as he stood in front of the door to his new apartment did it hit him.

He pulled a rain coat ,and his well under used wallet from a box, and nearly leapt out the door landing on both his crutches ,balancing effortlessly on one ,he pushed the elevator button ,and went inside. having one leg ,and not having exercised for months didn't stop him from zipping down the hall of his building, frightening a group of men leaving the building to go to work. He stepped out the front door and stood on the side walk with a thumb in the air.
  
A taxi pulled over a few moments later, and he sat in the back, putting his crutches on his lap. The driver looked at him in the mirror for a moment before turning to him and saying "where to?"

Juuzou looked at him like that was a weird question to ask ,until he realized it wasn't. "Where can I buy things?"

The man looked a moment longer and said "there's a... Shopping center down town"

juuzou nodded his head in agreement. The man looked back to the road and stepped on the gas. When they were on the road the driver asked "not from around here?" 

Juuzou responded "no actually born and raised."

"What are you doing all alone?"

Again juuzou was confused, but then he realized how he must look. A one legged teenager walking the street by himself in the rain. "I'm not sure yet" he said. he meant to just think it but it fell from his mouth.

The man might have said something else ,but it didn't reach him. His ears were full of the sound of rain on pavement, and the clatter of the city.

A few moments later the man's voice rang over the white noise. "Here we are" juuzou turned to him ,pulled a bill from his wallet ,and lazily extended it to him. He hopped out the door with both crutches under his arm ,and disappeared into the crowd of the shopping center.

Juuzou walked down the row of stores ,the the light of the windows sliced through the dark and misty twilight. down the row he saw an atm machine ,the light above it seemed to glow more brilliantly then all the others firmly establishing itself as his goal. He effortlessly floated on his crutches his foot bearly touching the ground ,as he approached the shining box of legal tender.

When he finally stood before the box he realized... He had never used one. A wail of frustration filled his mind, it nearly made it through his lips. He didn't really want to buy anything anyway, why was he so angry?

He stood in front of the box ,and it's taunting display, be griped his crutches in a vise. The screen seemed to spin ,no the whole world. He bit down almost hard enough to chip a tooth. His head felt hot, and all the bustling sounds were mute, he barely noticed a single finger tap his shoulder. He slowly turned his head. Looking through rain drenched locks of hair, he saw a young woman in a uniform with a name tag reading "honey".

"uhhh... Excuse me, my shift starts soon, I wanna buy breakfast. I need to use the atm..."

Juuzou read her lips more than listen to her voice. He trembled, where before he felt if he allowed himself to yell it would drown the street in his voice, now he felt the city's dull tones smother his unborn words. He moved his mouth ,hardly believing words would come out "I... I need to use it first... But I can't"

The woman spoke again after a short delay "what do you mean?" She laughed nervously.

Juuzou spoke as if he was admitting his greatest shame "I don't... Know how." he shivered violently and clung to one crutch.

"I could help you."

"Really?"

She smiled a bit "my shift is soon, but I'll do it for you real quick"

"Thank you"

She stepped past him carefully and began her work. He handed her his wallet, as if it was completely normal ,and she took it without a word. It must have taken a minute or two, but it felt like an eternity. Suddenly she asked "how much do you need?"

"How much can I get?"

Her eyes darted over to him for a moment, he wondered if she would ask "what does a one legged, rain drenched teenager need with that much cash" but she didn't ,she took the wad of bills ,and tucked it awkwardly in his wallet. She handed it back to him.

"Thank you" he said again just to be sure.

"Happy to help." She turned back to the machine ,and jumped a bit when a finger fell on her shoulder.

"Don't bother ,I'll buy you breakfast"

Juuzou wasn't sure why he said that ,or why she nodded slowly in agreement ,but he wouldn't complain.
"What are you in the mood for? She asked after a moment"

"Do you like pancakes?" He asked as if there were people who don't.

She seemed to ponder for a moment until she spoke in a chuckle "yeah sure"