Shadow: Yo people! This is Shadow with my second fanfic! To the readers of Broken Wings, A Broken Heart, I might have a tad bit slower updates for that because of this story. Sorry! ^^;
Haruko: So you just ditch us?
Shadow: What are you doing here!??! This if for the people in A Lost Butterfly!
Haruko: I feel bored so I'm staying.
Shadow: You suck… anyway…
Shadow and Haruko: Hope you enjoy!
A little girl was running around the house with a frightened look. A shadow followed her with a sinister smile while carrying a knife. "Come here honey, let me end your misery right now."
The girl was cornered as she looked at the figure in horror. "NO MOMMY NO!!!! NO-"
"Miss Hakashima. Miss Hakashima!" an old man said as he shook a sleeping twelve year old girl with midnight blue hair with black tips at the end. The left side of her bangs was much longer than the right, covering her left eye. The girl screamed and opened her eyes, revealing onyx orbs that were filled with fear.
After she had calmed down, she turned to the man. "Watari?"
The man gave a concerning smiled but said, "We're at the orphanage."
The girl looked outside the window of the car. There was a big building in front of the car. On the side of the gate, a sign was there that said Wammy's.
Watari and the girl stepped out of the car. He looked at her. "Ready to go Chouko?"
The girl nodded. "Yes."
(Chouko's POV)
Watari and I walked into the building while he was holding my hand. As we were walking through a hallway, I looked around and saw some kids playing. Watari knocked on the door and walked in.
An old man looked up from his desk filled with papers. "Watari? Who is this girl?"
I shyly stood behind him. Watari smiled and showed him to me. "Roger, this is Chouko Hakashima. Her mom was just murdered a week ago by a robber, and she needs a place to stay."
"Is she gifted?" Roger asked. Watari shook his head. "Then why did you even bring her here?"
"All the other orphanages were full because of Kira killing other children's parents. This is the only one left that's not full." He said.
I frowned a little. I had heard about this Kira person. He just started killing a year ago. Some worshipped him, while some feared him. I wonder what he's really like.
Roger sighed. "Fine. I'll let her stay here just as long as she doesn't annoy me."
I sweatdropped a little. If he doesn't like kids, why does he work in this place?
"What do want to be called?" he and Watari asked me. I looked at them confused.
"Excuse me?"
"All of the kids here have some special name that they call themselves. They never use their real ones." Watari explained.
'That's strange…' I thought. I tried thinking of a name that would fit me. 'Let's see… I like music, drawing, black, swords, fighting stuff… and pretty much anything punk and boyish… '
"How about… Rhythm?" I asked.
"Rhythm? That sounds like a boy's name." Roger said. I smiled.
"Exactly!"
"Fine. Rhythm it is then. You can go look around the orphanage while Watari and I will prepare your room and classes."
I nodded and walked to the door. I turned around and decided to get on Roger's good side. "Ah. Thank you for letting me stay here, sir." I said and walked out.
"Hm. Isn't she polite?" I heard Roger say, noticing a hint of a pleased tone.
I walked through a hallway, listening to my iPod that I hid inside my very baggy jacket. I was so into the song that I didn't notice I bumped into a blonde haired boy.
The boy growled and grabbed my hair, which made me snap back to reality. "HEY! SHOULD'NT YOU SAY SORRY WHEN YOU BUMP INTO SOMEONE?!?!!?" He shouted.
I winced as I turned back a little. I couldn't really hear what he was saying because of the music exploding in my ears. "I'M TALKING TO YOU YOU IDIOT!!!!" He yelled again and grabbed my earphones, only to have the loud music blast in his face.
"-Zetsubou za birii iza rinri
Saa tomerarenai Eraser Rain
Zetsubou za birii iza rinri
Saa tomerarenai Eraser Rain
Tomerarenai Eraser Rain."
I quickly took out my iPod and lowered the volume. The blonde dude rubbed his ear. "WHAT THE FUCK?! Who plays music that loud that can bust your eardrums?"
He still clenched my hair. I tugged it a little. "Hey. Can you let go of me?"
He glared and pulled my hair even more. "Not until I get my apology." He said as he angrily took a bite out of a chocolate bar.
"Mello. Let go of her." A voice spoke. I looked over Mello's shoulder to see a boy with red hair playing with a PSP(Matt may have green hair in the anime, but I think he looks better in red).
Mello tsked and let go of me. "Don't tell me what to do Matt!" he yelled.
I rubbed my head. "You just did…" I mumbled, which made Mello snap his head back to me.
"You shut up!" he yelled and pointed to me. I held my hands up for defense.
"Woah… no need to get so mad easily…"
"That's impossible… Mello's mad all the time." Mumbled the boy called Matt as he still pushed buttons to kill the monster. Mello threw his chocolate foil at him.
"SHUT UP!" he yelled. A loud beep was heard and Matt threw his hands in the air.
"GAH! How could I have been killed! I was so close!" he whined. He sighed and turned off his game. He blinked at me. "Eh? I've never seen you around here. You new?"
I nodded as I held out my hand. "Yeah. I'm Chou-"
"Rhythm!" I heard someone call. I turned around and saw Roger and Watari.
"Chou-Rhythm? What kind of name is that?" Mello snickered.
"Rhythm! Did you forget your new name was that?" Watari asked.
I nodded in embarrassment. "Isn't Rhythm a boy's name?" Matt asked.
"Yes. Why does everyone keep asking that?!" I said angrily.
"Rhythm. Your room has been prepared. Here is your schedule by they way." Roger said and handed a piece of paper to me.
"I see you have already met Matt and Mello." Watari said with a smile. "Why don't you show her around boys?"
"What??!" Mello yelled in disgust. "I don't wanna show her this place!"
But Watari and Roger already left. Mello pulled his hair. "Ugh! Looks like I'm stuck with the fricken crossdresser and Matt now…"
I glared at him. "Who are you calling a crossdresser? I don't even look like a boy!"
"Hey. Stop fighting you two…" Matt said as he was now playing with a DS. He started walking. "Come on Rhythm…"
Mello and I took one last glance at each other, scoffed, and followed Matt.
"-And this is the toy room." Matt said as he opened the door. I heard Mello growl as we entered. A boy dressed in white with white hair was sitting in the middle of the room, figuring out a 500 piece puzzle.
He ignored us, until Mello yelled at him.. "What are you doing here?!!"
The boy looked up, then back down. "What does it look like? I'm playing."
"Who's he?" I whispered to Matt.
"That's Near. Mello's rival to be the next successor of L."
"L?"
"L's the greatest detective in the world! How can you not know that? Isn't that the reason why you're here?!" Mello interrogated. I sadly shook my head.
"No… my…mom…" I forced out to say. All three boys looked at me questionably. "-was shot by a robber, and since other orphanages were full, Watari offered me to stay here."
"So you have no talent at all?" Mello asked, amused. I gave him the finger.
"You know, just because I'm not as smart as you are, that doesn't mean you have to make fun of me. We're still the same, but different."
Mello scoffed and took out another chocolate bar. "Whatever. Matt, let's go."
Matt just simply nodded while following Mello, leaving me alone with Near. I looked at the strange boy as he was putting the last piece of the puzzle for the fifth time. "So…" I said as he dumped all the pieces out and restarted. "You like toys…?"
Near just simply nodded. I sweatdropped, having a strong feeling that this wasn't going anywhere. Feeling bored, I sauntered out the door, leaving Near and his puzzle. I didn't notice that he took a quick glance at me walking out.
I sighed as I was still looking at different rooms, doing a tour for myself. So far right now, the art room and library were the interesting ones for me. I also met a new friend who is an artist. Her name's Linda.
I stopped in front of a door that was labeled music room. I hesitated a little. I really love music, but I don't even know how to play a single instrument. I should give it a try, atleast.
I turned the knob open and walked in the empty room. Different instruments were displayed there. I looked at each one; trying to figure out what should I begin with.
My eyes gazed at the grand piano that was in the middle of the room. I walked to it and opened its case.
I sat on the stool and pressed each of the keys softly one by one, hearing all the different tones. When I was finished, I decided to try and play a song. I knew I couldn't do that, since I was a beginner and all, but it's worth a shot.
I pressed a finger on a key, and began pressing other keys, imagining I was playing Beethoven's Fur Elise. I never knew I actually really was though.
As Chouko was beginning to play, Matt and Mello happened to be coincidently walking by. They paused when they heard the wonderful music.
"Who the hell is in the music room? No one even goes there for their free time." Mello grumbled as he peeked in through the opened door. Matt decided to take a look too.
They were astonished to see Chouko, with her eyes closed, playing the piano. "She plays really good!" Matt smiled and continued to listen.
Mello, however, grumbled. "She said she didn't even have any talents, and yet she knows how to play the piano. It doesn't even sound right!"
"Oh come on. The music sounds perfectly perfect! There aren't any flaws." Matt argued.
Mello just rolled his eyes and decided to walk in the room once Chouko finished.
(Chouko's POV)
My eyes widened when a hand appeared on the keyboards, making a distorted sound. I looked up to see Mello, glaring at me intensely. I cringed, but was able to speak up. "W-what do you want?"
"What were you doing?" he asked back.
"I was trying to play the piano for the first time…" I mumbled. Matt and Mello looked at me with shock.
"You said you were a talentless freak, and yet you can perfectly play the piano for the first time?" Mello asked. I had an anime vein on the back of my head.
"I never called myself talentless, or a freak. And what do you mean playing the piano perfectly? I was just pressing random keys, thinking that it would be Fur Elise, wasn't I?" I asked them. Their jaws dropped.
"No! You were actually playing it!" Matt exclaimed. My jaw also dropped.
"N-no way! I can't- I never even played- I-"
Someone chuckled behind us. We all turned around to see Watari. "Well Rhythm. It seems like you are gifted after all."
"Watari! How did you know I was here?" I asked him.
"Mello and Matt weren't the only ones who heard you play." He said and took a step to the side, showing that Near was standing behind him while twirling his hair.
Mello looked angrily at him. "Why were you listening? Are you her stalker?"
"I just happened to walk when you were looking inside the room. I also saw Rhythm inside, but I didn't continue to stare at her like you did." Near plainly stated. Mello violently kicked the floor.
"Then how did Watari find out?" I questioned him next.
"I bumped into him after I heard you. He was wondering who playing too."
"You are really talented Rhythm. And this is your first time playing the piano too?" Watari said. I slowly nodded. "It seems you have very good memory. What else can you do?"
"I don't know…" I said.
"Are you an expert in video games?" Matt asked me. I shrugged.
"I'm good in some…"
"Good enough!" he joyfully said and took my hand. "Let's go to my room. I wanna have some kind of challenge besides trying to beat my own high score."
He dragged me out of the room, Mello chasing after him. "HEY! I NEVER SAID SHE CAN GO INTO MY ROOM!"
Shadow: I'm gonna end it here for today. I gotta start working on my other story.
Mello: WHAT THE HELL SHADOW?!?! WHY ARE YOU MAKING THE WORSE CROSSDRESSER GO TO MY ROOM?
Chouko: I'm not a damn crossdresser! Atleast I look like my own gender!
Mello: OH HELL NO!
Matt: -playing Mario- Rhythm-chan… you better- oh crap! Goomba invasion!!
Chouko: Screw you, choco monster girly man!
Shadow: -sweatdrops at Mello chasing Chouko and Matt crying over a dead Mario- Wow… they're louder than Haruko and them…
-CRASH-
Shadow: And violent! Sweet! ^^