Mizuki meets Trouble
In which Mizuki meets Kauanoe and takes her in.
Mizuki sat in her mothers house, at her mothers table with her mothers powder. She wasn't met to be here, but then there was no harm really, she was only borrowing a little make-up and a little water....nothing much. Nothing too expensieve. She dabbed at the powder nerviously before appling it to her already pale skin. It was soft to the touch and tickled her skin ever so slightly. The kitsune giggled, relaxing slightly as she gazed affectionately at the face in the mirror. Mizuki was small but she had perfect skin and light bone structure giving her the most delicate features. It was a winter morning so she was dressed in pure white to match her hair and tail. Her hair was now laced with stolen jewerly, neatly tucked in with various grips and ties. A small blue ribbon seperated her thick white fringe away from the rest of the hair, it was tied loosly into a bow. An identical bow had been place at the top of her tail but slightly larger to show off her hertiange more than anything.
The door creaked downstairs, she was running out of time to admire her reflection. She dashed for the wardrobe taking a fine light blue and white gown and flead out the window with it. Artfully she jumped from balcony to roof-top and from there to the next. It wasn't a long way home, she had made sure of that, but not many knew of this. Anyone watching would of proberly seen a white blob moving against the evenings sun, not exactly hidden, but white hard to report without the guards laughing.
There was a reason to this sudden maddness that come about Mizuki. She was going on her first date....not only that but to ball. It was going to be beautiful! It was just chance rather than repuatation that had got her to this event. The house in which she worked for had offered her to in replacement of their daughter. The girl was spoilt but just for once was being punished for an act of long ago. Although she had been to many party and balls, she would not be allowed to go to one that might ruin the family reputation, no matter how much she begged. The only problem with not sending the young girl was that there was no-one to represent the family at all otherwise. That when Mizuki had appeared, stating her work was done. They talked for quiet some time, but it was finally arranged that Mizuki would attend, and for the evening would be esorted by a boy from one of the other rich households. It was a dream come true, much better than any other cinderella story!
A short while away from the kitsune, but just far enough away to be out of sight, was a small girl, no older than four. Glutching her precious book she lay cold and shivering against a dirty chimney, it was obvious that she had been there quite some time, though she was high enough to be out of sight of the general public. Tears stained her face, salt making her skin taut. There was soot and dirt on her robes were she had attempting finding her way down. The whole rooftop was filled with a thick atmosphere of fear and sorrow. Most of the residents of the whole below had stayed downstairs or gone out, away from depressing feeling. The poor porcelain was left all alone, light fading slowly from the sky. All she wanted was to go home, even if that meant facing her mother again, it was much better than this.
Tap, tap, tap-tap! Footsteps crossed from tile to tile, roof to roof elgantly. Mizuki had practiced this root many a time, but it was today, in good spirits she had mastered it. The dress she had taken sweeped out behind her, though it was too dark to really check if it was still clean, she had kept it as far from the ground as possible. She jumped again, looking behind her as someone flicked on a light. The last thing she wanted was someone shouting at her for being on their roof - again. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
There was a tap, tud, rip and finally a whimper, as Mizuki reached the neighboring roof. A ripple of pain and fear filled the air, causing the kitsune to shudder. How could she of missed someone on the roof? Not like they usually spend times on roofs...but still, a human was easy enough to see from a distance. She got to her feet ignoring the fact she had grazed her knee in the whole process. It was at that point, Mizuki both sensed and gazed upon the child, or some could say porcelain. Pale skin, though it seemed a lot darker than Setsushi's, a tiny nose, and well if there were ears, not visable just like the stranger had explain in the store. It was a bit of a shock, but it was mentioned that there were other porcelain around. After all, not all of them could fit in one shop right?
Little pulses of fear, curiousity and pain pulsed from the girl but she said not a word. Her book was still clutched firmly to her chest but she also held her knees and toes a lot closer that what must of been comfortable. Mizuki was a little taken aback by the situation, let alone the silence.
"Im sorry....are you okay?"
No reply.
"Oh please don't go quiet on me....did you get hurt anywhere?"
The porcelain looked wide eyed at the girl trying her best to pass on her thoughts to the kitsune, but it just wasn't getting through. She tried her best not cry removing her hands from her legs. She pulled up her robes enough for the adult to see her bruised skin and little cuts from where it had been forced along the tiles. Mizuki gasped.
"Im so sorry! Oh my..." she paused looking in all directions. "Can you walk?"
She just looked up at the kitsune in disbelief. She was being asked to stand in this condition? Her mother would of never asked such a thing, all those trips to the doctors solved that one. She blinked back a tear, expressing her sorrow more strongly, trying to focus it on the girl, but failing quite miserably. This was stupid, no she was stupid, she should of walked faster past the bullies. Why did she pause, or at least slow down. The book could of been destoryed but at least she could of gone home safe. Self-hate floated through the air, being more misery to the whole situation. Seeing the gown on the floor, she pulled up and over herself, to try and keep warm, till either the hybrid helped or left her alone.
Mizuki sighed, this was getting no-where fast. She had no choice, she would have to take her home, at least till someone showed up for her. After-all it was evident that she couldn't of gotten up onto the roof by herself. At least getting her down would be a start.
The porcelain had now re-arranged the dress into almost a blanket. At least that surived, almost. Mizuki eyes gazed at the tear in the dress, it was small...but embrassing, if she didn't sort it soon. The rip in the fabric followed a seamline down the side of the dress, in which, if she wore it alone, the rest of the room would have a nice view of her underwear - not a good impression.
"Fine...I think I understand. Your not going to speak to me after this, but at least let me help you" She crouched down and looked at the girl at eye level.
Oh, why didn't she get it? It wasn't that she wouldn't speak, it was because she couldn't. Not for the moment anyway, she planned to speak a long time before the others her age, that would show them! At least the fox was trying though. She could give her that, if only she could figre out her name though, it eases the mind a little. That space in time was one when a forgien stranger was being kind to her, at the very least a name would trigger the memory again, not like it was going to happen again - twice was enough. She nodded, sending out a relaxed atmosphere, but unable to mask her saddness, and self-hate. On the good side, most of the fear had been jumbled up by a mix of other emotions by now.
Mizuki shook her head. No response again. This time she would just have to do things by instint, rather than lesson. She carefully removed the dress from the childs grip and placed it in her belt. With the help of the small girl she lifted her up into her arms. The atmosphere felt thick with sorrow, but hope was a good defence. Eventually though Mizuki got the idea that the poor girl wasn't too pleased with herself. Another droplet of random infomation. She put this to the back of her mind. That couldn't be right, why should she feel like that - by the looks of it she was pretty much abandoned, that couldn't be her fault, just whoever was with her before, right?
The porcelain gripped tightly onto the stranger, but the rest of her body was numb with cold and lay limb in her arms. It was just too painful to move them. The kitsune looked worriedly down at the child, it made her feel even worse, she buried her head in the females clothes, escaping the embrassment and humlity of the situation.
A large breathe was taken, something dug sharp and painful into Mizuki's heart. Although she didn't show the porcelain, that her actions hurt her, it remained in the depressing atmosphere the two had created.
Mizuki decided, that due to the fact she now had a child to take of, it was too risky to jump the last three roofs, but instead she would have to walk the streets home. Hopefully, this time she would not be mugged. It didn't take her very long to find a safe way down. Many of the taller buildings had metal steps running up the side, this happening to be one. It was just a case of landing on the first balcony to reach it.
"Hold on tight for this first one. After that we have a nice and easy walk, then i'll get you fixed up." she promised.
Tap, tap...flit, clang. The fox landed noisely but safely to the first balcony. She checked on her shaking passenger because darting off down the steps, escaping the shouts from inside. Like she needed any more trouble!
Once she was back down on the solid ground, she wavered through a few alleys before arriving home.
