Written by: Albie Rodriguez
Edited by: Ai Loli

Inspired by the song(s):
Sarah With Love - Sarah Connor
Shattered Glass - Britney Spears

Shugo Chara

Drift Wood

When you're left out on the streets - fear and despair is all you feel. All you can think about is the hunger and thirst - the pain and the hurt. The girl - being raped and abused so many times sits crouched at the corner somewhere on the streets of Tokyo. Everyone passes not sparing her a single glance.

The cheap plastic cup she was holding so gingerly in her hands trembled, small tinkles came from within. Her hoarse voice cracked, and she inhaled a raggedy breath,

"Spare me your pocket money," she uttered quietly - but she was strong. She wouldn't give up what she had - her fragile life was utterly small. "Please." But still - she fought on, her life was withering, but her spirit was strong. No one knew what could've possibly have happened before - nor did they even know who and where she came from.

A tear, it slid so slowly down her mud covered face, rain drops hit her greasy, sticky vibrant pink hair. She couldn't do much in her condition. She was only 8 years old at that time, in truth she was actually the daughter of a particularly rich family - the cause of her escape? It wasn't so pleasant being so young and having to go through so many grown-up situations.

She was meant to marry a young lad of the name of Tadase Hotori, the son of a booming company - Hotori. Fancy pantsy antsy Fashion company. All over the globe - Amu would've done anything to get her parents attention, to make them proud! But all they were worried about were all about the little sister she just happened to have - of 2 years of age, she was suffering of Leukemia, in other words - Cancer.

Money spent on the materialistic things - Amu enjoyed that until they became utterly useless and she realized soon enough her parents didn't even spend about 5 minutes of their time with her. Each day - they were either out or about working - having affairs - worrying about Ami, her little sister - sleeping and/or fighting with each other. There was to them - no time to waste on a young little girl that was kept in the dark.

She hardly even spoke - and all that were special to her were the maids and the servants that helped her and were more of a family to her then her own parents. But even so - she needed the love of her real family - and maybe she would finally get some attention if she ran away. Her parents would search for her - seek out all those places she could be.

And they tried.

But Amu just couldn't find the strength to confront them. She was timid. Too afraid. She just couldn't have possibly done that - they would never expect her to be the way she was now - they wouldn't accept the fact that she was cold, greasy, dirty, and ugly. Well, ugly now because of the decaying unidentified objects and germs all over her.

She was cold - so numb - she could barely notice that she was touching the ground, it was as if she were floating. She was extremely unhealthy - and could hardly walk - but she continued going on. Whispers were spoken amongst some if they even noticed her presence.

"So young. . ."

"Where are her parents?"

"What happened to her?"

"She could be pretty cute if she were cleaned up a bit,"

She heard this almost every single day. It was sad, really - she hated being pitied. But what else could she do? She had no water to wash herself - she had barely any food, she really needed to go to the bathroom - and she felt herself dizzying up. Her whole frame shook, and she shivered. Hardly looking at where she was going - she walked across the busy streets, bustling with cars and motorcycles - and people.

People pushed and shoved one another, trying to get from place to place. They couldn't care less for this human being. She finally found peace at the Park - it was quiet and calm, aside from the kids that skipped and played there. She sighed, 'I wish I could play with them one day..' She longed inside for a friend to have.

She walked along the paved area, dirty and broken-nailed fingers trailed the metal gates of the park, when the cold steel left her fingers, she could still feel the bars on the tips of her fingers. Walking towards a large tree, she plopped herself on a comfortable tree root that fit her small body inside. Amu slid right through the comfort of the tree, her graceful fingers searched the tree, traced a spot of the tree.

Whilst the rain continued to pour down on her, the sounds of people shuffling, the cars running through deep spots filled with water, children splashing in puddles, the giggles and sounds of kisses coming from couples in the rain. She could hear voices and foot falls approaching her, she peered tightly at them. A young boy with blue hair, a younger blonde haired girl, and two parents, a mother and father. She quickly hid from them, the family stood huddled up at the tree.

"Sweetie, I told you we shouldn't have come out - it looked as if it was about to rain before anyways! We could've attracted attention," The man muttered the end, talking to his wife.

"Sorry, but I thought it would clear up! And the weather forecast-" she cut herself short. "You believe the weather forecast?" The man asked teasingly. "No! Of course not." but by that time Amu had moved closer to hear more of the teasing. The boy was bored, at least he appeared to be - his eyes were searching for some flaws on the tree most probably, but his eyes caught the exotic color of pink. His eyes widened.

His little sister looked at his face - then searched for what he was staring at in shock, she gasped, and tugged the shirt of her mother, her mother looked at her with curiosity, "What is it Utau?" The girl looked at her mother, then whispered something in her ear,

"Mommy, there's a girl hiding behind the tree," she whispered silently. Her mother's eyes trailed to the tree, and there was a lock of pink straying in the wind, the woman walked gently up to the tree, "Sweetie?" The father asked. The woman motioned to him to be quiet.

And there really was a girl behind the tree, her eyes squeezed shut, her arms wrapped around her body, her legs pressed against her chest, her body quivered, her breathing was ragged, and her clothes were torn and dirty, along with her whole corpse. "Hello?" Amu hesitantly opened her eyes, and she smiled faintly.

"H-hello.. Her voice was hardly heard, and croaked. The woman offered her hand to her and smiled,

"What's your name, young child?"

"A-Amu Hinamori." Amu wasn't sure if she did the right thing to tell her real name, nonetheless the woman's eyes widened but recomposed and introduced herself. "It's nice to meet you, Amu. My name is Souko Tsukiyomi, my Husband Aruto-" She pointed to the man, "-My daughter Utau-" The blonde haired girl smiled and waved childishly, "-And my son, Ikuto." The boy gazed at Amu for awhile then looked away, his little sister demanded attention from him as she tugged and gripped at his arm.

"Utau." He stated coldly, warning her, her lower lip quivered and her eyes were a pearly sheen over deep purple from the small tears. "Don't." He said again, she nodded her head furiously, and released him from her grip, then came forth and took Amu by the hand.

"Come on Amu-chan! You wanna talk?" Utau asked with deep dimples on her cheeks, Amu stared at her for a moment in shock - then broke out on a large grin and nodded a quick jerk. "Y-yeah!" Was her squeaky reply.

The mother and father sweat dropped while watching their children and the stranger girl, who just happens to be the run-away daughter of famous Company: Hinamori Excess. Model and Fandom company for the rich- and-famous-to-be people - like their company - Easter Embryo.

Watching the children play - Ikuto played the Violin, and Amu spun, twirled and danced, while Utau sung along with the music. Would it be alright to take care of the child, Amu Hinamori? 'Maybe we could cut her hair - or perhaps get contact lenses - or even dye her hair - maybe she could plastic surgery! Eh. . .? Plastic surgery? That's pretty dumb actually.' the father thought to himself.

And so the Journey starts. . .

So? How do you like it? I guess this was mainly started to be as an angst story - but it got too long so I guess I decided to make it more as a short story kinda thing. Two-Three-shot, but either way - it will be angst. So be aware it will be very gruesome. You know Red Ink from Ai Loli? Yeah - should be more gruesome I guess - even maybe sadder. ((shrugs)) I dunno - I just make stuff up at the spot. Who knows?

Anyways - Please REVIEW!

Edit:
I've been editing, so please don't be angry at me for taking so long to update; I've only been editing for a day, and don't worry, the 8th chapter is on it's way (: