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“Get back here you little brat!”
That’s all I hear as I run. I just run as fast as my body will push itself. I don’t why I did it, and I don’t see why they care so much. The Lady would kill me if she found out, but I just couldn’t run to her and ask for help again. I can’t depend on her all the time.
“Come here!”
They run fast for out of shape shop owners, fast enough to be only a few inches behind me. Several times I can feel them reach out and grab me. So close.
I run blindly, dodging the people who appear directly in front of me. I’m glad they don’t recognize me, then I’d be in huge trouble. I can feel myself growing weaker and them getting closer. I turn to look behind me just for a moment and I run right into someone, falling back and landing on the cold hard ground.
I rub my backside and rush to get up and keep going, but they grab me by the shoulder as I start to run past. I’m caught.
I look up at my captor and freeze. It’s the Lord. He just stares down at me with those cold eyes of his as he holds me by my collar. I shake in fear.
My two followers catch up and look excited, like they were the ones who caught me…
“Good job, Lord Haku. This little brat was caught stealing from our shops!”
“…Stealing what?”
“Breads and fruits.”
He looks back down at me, a little less cold as before, but he wasn’t happy. I fake a smile anyway, hoping it helps something.
The Lord pulls me around and drops me in front of the two men. They’re out of breath.
“Apologize. And then offer to repay them by working for them during the festival.”
I see grins on their faces. They’re going to work me to the bone. Yet I can’t say no, not while Haku is here. Why did I have to run into him of all people?
“I-I’m sorry I stole from you guys. And I promise to work for everything I lost you guys.”
And with that they agreed and walked away. Leaving me with the Lord.
“Umm…s-sorry, Haku…”
I look down, not knowing what else to do.
He just shrugs and starts to walk away, back towards his office in the village center. So I follow, knowing it is what I’m suppose to do.
~~
I hold my head down as we enter the building, not wanting people to see me, not while I’m next to him. I know I’m worthless but being near him makes me feel even lower than that.
As we near his office he makes me walk in front. I go to turn the handle but I miss it several times, just from being nervous I guess. He didn’t want to wait and opened the door himself, pushing me in and closing it behind him.
It was dark and I couldn’t locate the light switch, so I just stood there. I could hear the lock on the door click. Now its really just me and him. The lights come on in a moment. I wish they didn’t. I close my eyes, hoping it will help.
I can feel warm blood dripping from my mouth. He hits really hard. His nails don’t help.
When I open my eyes, I’m on the ground, laying there, shaking. And he’s just sitting in his chair, staring at the door as if he can see through it.
I sit up slowly, my entire face stings, the taste of blood is strong and bitter, I hate it.
“Why didn’t you come to us?”
I open my mouth. Blood leaks out. I try quickly to spit it out and wipe it away, but I took too long.
“Why didn’t you come to us, Raki?”
“I…I umm…I didn’t want to bother you guys….you do so much already…”
I can feel tears forming in my eyes. I’m so weak.
“That doesn’t matter. My sister would have done anything in her power for you. And you go and steal some cheap food from the market…”
“I’m sorry, Haku, I just didn’t want to be a bother this time!”
“You’re thin.”
“…what?”
“You’ve lost weight.”
“Oh yeah…”
“Why?”
If I don’t tell him he’ll find out on his own and I’ll get in more trouble. But if I tell him the truth…
“I…I didn’t go home.”
“…”
That look, that look makes me just want to breakdown and die.
“I didn’t go home when school ended. And I didn’t go to stay with anyone…I’ve been out wandering this whole month. I don’t want to have to depend and you and Flower anymore. I’m 15, I figured I could take care of myse—“
“You can’t.”
I know he’s right…but it hurt to hear it…
“You can’t take care of yourself. My sister will be mad at me for letting you get this thin. Its my fault.”
“No, Haku! It’s not your fault, it’s mine! I’m the stupid brat who thought he could live on his own, me! Not you! She can’t get mad at you!”
“You won’t be able to leave now.”
“I know…I messed up…”
“Go home. She’ll be there.”
“Kay…”
And stand up slowly and head towards the door. My legs hurt too.
“Raki?”
“Yeah, Haku?”
I turn hopeful that he’ll confess his undying love for me, but I’m not that lucky.
“Change your clothes before you go. You’re all bloody.”
“Thanks….”
And I leave.
I don’t bother hiding my face this time. I just walk out, face bloodied and wet with tears. I’m a mess. I’m a worthless brat. I’m weak and powerless. And I’m malnourished. I’m just a stupid kid with a bruised face and two good friends who try too hard for me….
~~~~~
.
I change into all the clothes I had in my possession. Hoping that she wouldn’t notice my change in weight…
I love the Lady, I really do. All my life she’s been here for me, willing and ready to do anything and everything to help me out. I don’t know what I could ever do to repay her, but I’m working on a way.
The walk to the house is terrifying. Everyone is out today, not a single person inside. Its hot out and I’m dressed in layers, cooking. I wanted to run all the way there but I’m still sore. Pain sucks. Stairs suck more.
Not only do they have the fanciest house in the village, they live on the hill. 111 steps. That’s how many it takes to get to the top of the hill. Then I have to cross a wooden bridge to get to the house. I just about pass out as I try to knock on the door.
I raise up my hand but the door opens before I even touch it. I look up to see a wide eyed Huayuan, in a state of shock, still glowing of course, beautiful as ever.
“Oh, Haraki!”
She gives me a hug, and I try to return it but I’m just to hot and weak.
“I haven’t seen you this whole month! What brings you up here, I thought you were at home.”
“Oh well I umm came to stay with you guys for a while. Just to visit, you know.”
I see her glowing and her smile and I just want to break down and cry. It’s the beautiful. But as I take a step back to brace my fall, I see another glowing figuring looking just as happy as she does.
“Oh that’s great! We’ll have so much fun then. Oh! Would you like to join me? I’m about to go pick some fruit with Yehura. You remember him right?”
So that’s who he is. I remember him vaguely from school. He was p***k. Showing off his wealth and fame, all trying to impress the Lady. I kind of wonder why he’s here with her now…
“Nah can I just relax here and wait for Haku to get back?”
“Oh, well if that’s what you want to do. I’ll go get him and send him here for you.”
“Hey, Flow, I’m going start heading down, I’ll see ya there.”
I wait for him to become completely out of my sight before I ask the Lady. I don’t want to find anything out from Haku.
“Hey umm why--”
“Haraki?”
“Yeah?”
“Have you ever had a girlfriend?”
“N-no I haven’t.”
“Hmm, just wondering.”
“Why…?”
“I was just thinking about how it would feel to be so dedicated to one special person who loves you as much as you do them. That’s all…”
“Are you dating Yeh?”
She laughs lightly and smiles at me. I don’t know if that is a yes or a no or a whatever…
“No. Haku would kill me if I ever dated someone, especially Yehura. Besides, Homura would have to meet him first. He is cute though…”
I forgot how strange she could be sometimes, every choice she makes is based off the men in her life and if they disagree then she disagrees. And they do the same for her. I wish I were that close to someone like that.
“I hope you find the perfect girlfriend, Raki. I think you’ll find yourself a lot happier.”
And with that she runs off, leaving me to sit and wait. I did want to go with them and pick fruit, but I didn’t want to risk Haku getting upset at me not being right here…And I guess he still hasn’t told Huayuan about…us….if there is an us.
First thing I did as I entered was remove all these clothes. Not only was I sore and sweating, but I also smelled like month old clothing. I was gross. And poor Huayuan has help me, I feel so bad…
~~~~~
I look around the place, wondering how they got to be so perfect, and then my day gets worse.
“Hey, been awhile since I’ve seen you. Why are you only wearing underwear? Girls underwear at that…”
I forgot that he stays here too. Never got along with him much. He always would tease me and made me do things I really didn’t want to do…not to him anyway…
“I-It’s all I have, Riki.”
“You didn’t go home like you said, did you?”
“N-no…”
How do they all know? I just look down as I talk, he’s going to lecture me too…
“Christ you’re stupid. Didn’t you learn anything while we were all at school with you?”
“Yeah but—“
“But you obviously didn’t listen. I know your past has sucked, I helped with that, but when you have someone who wants to care for you like she does why not take advantage of it?”
“I don’t want to!”
“Told you you were stupid. Whatever, I’ll just take up the love you aren’t getting from her.”
“Are you two…still engaged?”
“Only since she was like 3. Hasn’t changed.”
He lights a cigarette. I can’t stand the smoke, he knows this…
“W-what do you think about that Yeh guy? They just went out together.”
“********, I don’t care. I know that no matter what he does to impress her she won’t give in. He hasn’t been ‘blessed’ by Homura.”
“He met him though, didn’t he?”
“ And that turned out well. Every father wants to hear ‘I want to ******** your daughter’ from some little rich brat. Safe to say he won’t be dating her any time soon.”
I forgot about how he was before he met the Lady, not the nicest of people. She how she is, she can one’s attitude with just a smile.
“Get some clothes on before Haku gets back. He’ll be more tempted if there’s less to take off…”
“A-ahh how do you kn—“
“Tch, other than you making it completely obvious, Haku does talk. Not to Yu, at least not about that…You know he’s got a marry a chick right? You don’t qualify.”
Actually I was unaware of this. I didn’t want to think about it. For once in my life I had someone who indirectly cared for me and sort of made me feel like I mattered…and knowing its not going to last is upsetting…
“Y-yeah I know…”
“Don’t worry about it, kid. Your little ***** isn’t too happy about it either.”
Hurikino Houshin…I don’t know what to think of him sometimes. He’s usually a pervert or a huge jerk but sometimes he can say things that aren’t that bad.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
“D-do you know what he’s going to do?”
“Tch, Haku? Nope. Probably nothing. The rules can be changed.”
“How?”
“You really are stupid. Yu and Haku own this village. They can change the rules just as long as they both agree on it. But Haku isn’t going to bring it up to Yu.”
I totally forgot that they had the power to do things like that. Gives me hope after all. Well sort of…
“Do you think he likes me enough?”
“I don’t think he likes you at all, kid.”
“Why do you say that?”
As I wait for him to reply I put one of my old shirts back on, it felt awkward just sitting here basically naked.
“Other than his sister, he doesn’t like anyone. You might care about him and think he cares about you, but he doesn’t. You’re just his little stress reliever, kid. So I’d stop dreaming if I were you.”
“W-well you are not me! And I’m not going to give up!”
I want to punch him. Kill him. Anything to get him out of my face. I don’t want to believe that what he says is true, yet I can’t ask Haku to prove it false. And for once in my life I can’t run to the Lady for this. I haven’t even told her.
This is a time where I wish I had parents. I could talk to him about my problems and get that support…if they cared about me. But no, I get the parents who favor one kid over the other. The other being me. Thanks to my little sister being born, I’ve been pushed off the face of the earth in their eyes.
It was fine for the first year. Everything was how it always was. But then on her first birthday…that’s when it all started.
My dad took me into the bathroom and told me to stay there until the party was over. I didn’t know why but I never thought about it much. A few hours went by, I was bored, but it wasn’t all that bad. Not until I got hungry. So I left, thinking the party couldn’t still be going and I could at least get some cake or something. Wrong again.
When I entered the living room, mom, dad, and two of their friends were sitting on the couch watching my sister play with her toys. Mom shot me a glare and dad got up and dragged me back into the bathroom. He beat me.
When I regained consciousness, I was in the shower, the water running cold. I was bruised all over and my arm broken. I sat in the shower for another day until my mom took me out.
I never got to go to the doctor or anything. My arm was swollen and in so much pain that I would pass out whenever it touched something. No one seemed to care though, they just left me on the couch and pushed me off when they wanted to sit. I was unwanted…
I was terrified of my dad; whenever he came near me he’d beat me more. I broke a few ribs, both arms and a finger in less than a week. It went on for two years until I was old enough to go to school, then I was reunited with the Lady and Lord. I was never happier to see them…
I loved being at school, even though I failed miserably at it. But unfortunately my bad luck returned. First year students had to live at home. So for another year I was tortured by own parents, even my sister would kick me a few times, thinking it was just a game.
Finally I managed to get a little luck. Homura, father of the twins, came by over the weekend to talk to my parents about my failing grades. He happened to come in right as I was having my arm broken for a fourth time…
After that I got to live with him and others. I felt important with them around, I felt loved. But this summer I thought I’d be safe enough to go back home after being away for 4 years. I couldn’t do it…that’s how I ended up stealing in the market.
 II Kojiro II · Wed Jun 04, 2008 @ 05:33am · 0 Comments |
