A/N Hallo Loves!
'I can't take it anymore,' I stood in front of my bathroom mirror; tears were streaking down my bruised cheeks.
I silently went to my room and pulled a suitcase out from under my bed. I stuffed whatever I could hurriedly and as silently as I could. Once I was finished, I took one last look around my room before I headed out the door. I crept silently down the hallway of our apartment; careful not to wake up that sorry excuse for a man I call my father. My nose crinkled as I inhaled, the whole apartment smelled of alcohol and cigarette smoke. I never wanted to smell it again.
I grabbed some things from the fridge and put them in a bag. I grabbed my keys and crept out the door, lightly closing it behind me.
I looked out at the city cloaked by midnight. It was seemingly peaceful and calm; it let me forget about my terrible life for a moment. I took a deep breath and started down the stairs of the apartment building.
I started walking in a random direction, wondering how long it would be until he figures out that I'm gone. Sometime around midday tomorrow, when he gets over his drunken stupor.
I was walking for about an hour and a half when something crossed my mind.
'What the heck is a scrawny, twelve year old girl going to do to survive on her own? Goodness, I'm so stupid!' I whimpered, tears starting to form in my eyes for the trillionth time that night. Then I got a sudden calmness around me as I realized something.
"Anything's better than staying there," I muttered aloud. I walked for another hour before I became exhausted. I was by what looked like a fence or gate or something, truth be told, I didn't really care, I just needed to be off the streets.
I went and sat down by the gate, my back leaning against it. I put my suitcase to my left and sunk down in the same direction, using my bag as a pillow. It wasn't long before I was lulled to sleep under the stars and the sounds of nearby crickets.
I awoke lazily, my eyes fluttering open. As soon as I opened my eyes, I panicked. I was outside last night, right? So why was I in a room, on a bed? I sprung up, the movement causing a shot of pain to run through my abdomen. I gasped in pain as I collapsed back down.
This is bad. Very, very bad!
I eased myself up again. I looked around the room, it wasn't my old apartment, so where the heck was I? The room was very plain looking; it had the bed I was on, a writing desk, a dresser and a few other things. There was something terribly out of place though; there was a bright, pink bunny on a chair right next to the bed.
I cautiously got out of bed, I swung my leg over, and then my other one and I eased myself onto my legs. I wobbled a bit at first then I inched towards the door. I paused and looked for a weapon.
May I remind you I had no idea where I was and I have abusive father?
I sighed gratefully as I saw a kendo stick leaning against the door. I grabbed it and inched out the door, closing it softly behind me.
I walked through many corridors and didn't see anyone. I started to get scared.
Did he find me and kill me this time? Am I in limbo or something? Where is everyone?
My breaths came in ragged gasps. I tried to calm myself out of hyperventilating, but that wasn't happening. I took a step towards the wall and slid down. I hugged my knees tightly, still holding the stick. I cried into the fabric of my pants.
It felt like forever before I felt someone try to gently take the bamboo sword from me. I looked up and saw nothing but a dark, blurry figure. I blinked a few times and wiped my eyes. Once I did, I looked at the figure once more.
It looked to be a boy with black hair. He looked about fourteen. He cocked his head and looked at me curiously. I whimpered and shielded myself with my hands.
"Please, please, don't tell papa," I pleaded, "Please."
When I didn't get a response, I looked up. The boy was kneeling in front of me, the stick discarded to the side. He leaned over and wrapped me in his arms. I stood stiff and unmoving. We stayed like that, until I heard a small voice call from down the hall.
"Takashi, where'd you go?" the voice asked. The boy pulled back from me and glanced down the hall, then back to me. He looked me right in the eyes, silently asking me if I was okay. I nodded and wiped a few straw tears from my eyes.
"Mitskuni," The boy called out in a regular voice, it was in my opinion, the most wonderful thing I had ever heard.
"Found you Takashi!" I saw a small boy with blond hair running down the hall, he looked about six, I thought. When he got to us, he looked at me curiously. "You woke up?" he asked. I nodded slowly. He grinned and jumped on me in a hug. I cried out in pain as we tumbled down to the floor. The boy instantly got off me and started looking me over. "I'm so sorry!" he muttered over and over. I lay there whimpering in pain until I was scooped up in the air. Bridal style by the boy the small boy called Takashi.
I cried out again, but in surprise this time. I hung onto his neck and buried my face into his shirt.
A minute later, I was sat down on something plush and soft. I released the boy's neck and looked around; the room looked very white and sterile, like a clinic. I kept looking around until my eyes landed on a middle aged woman in the corner; she was wearing a white coat and a pair of dark brown pants under it. She looked over to me kindly.
"How are you?" She asked as she neared me. I shuffled away from her as she neared the bed. "Don't worry sweetie, I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to tend to your bruises," I settled a little bit when Takashi gently took my hand and gave me the tiniest reassuring smile.
The woman rubbed some kind of salve on all of my bruises and bandaged my cuts.
"By the way, what's your name, dear?" The woman asked as she put her things away.
"H-Haruhi," I stuttered.
"Nice to meet you Haruhi, I'm Morinozuka –san, Takashi's mother," she bowed to me slightly and I did the same thing.
"Ma'am, can you tell me where I am?" I asked.
"You are at the Morinozuka compound, we found you beaten and bruised outside the gate this morning," she explained, "May I ask how you ended up in this condition, dear?" I shook my head vigorously, never wanting to mention or even think of my father ever again.
"Thank you for patching me up, but I think I must be going," I slid off the bed, but lost my balance and started to fall, that is until I was caught by Takashi. He pulled me up to his chest so I didn't fall.
"Careful," He scolded in a soft tone. I love his voice!
"I'm sorry," I mumbled into his chest. Takashi let go of me slowly to see if I had regained my balance. I did and stood, wobbling slightly on my own.
"I think Haru-chan should stay here until she heals!" Mitskuni exclaimed. I looked over to him and shook my head.
"I couldn't do that to people I don't even know," I said.
"Then you'll get to know us as you heal," Takashi's mother chipped in.
"B-But..."
"Just until you heal, then you can decide if you want to stay longer or not," Takashi's mother said.
"Okay," I said quietly.
"Yay!" Mitskuni exclaimed. I looked up to Takashi who was smiling gently.
As I was staying with the Morinozukas, I grew to love them, Takashi and his cousin Mitskuni especially, Takashi a little -Okay, a lot more-than Mitskuni.
It was in the third year I was staying with there when I finally decided to confess to Takashi.
I wore my hair down; he always liked it better down than when I put it up. I also wore a light yellow sundress that went down to my knees and a pair of sandals. I went to where someone told me Takashi was with Mitskuni in the gardens. As I neared them, I saw Takashi gazing down at a small flower while having a conversation with his cousin.
"So," I heard Mitskuni say, "You like her more than a friend?" he asked.
Takashi picked his head up to look at his cousin. "No," I felt my heart shatter and burn. Before he could say anything else, I turned and ran back into the house. I ran down the corridors into my room. I closed the door and put my back to it. I slid down the door, not able to control my tears.
'He doesn't love me,' I thought frantically. I sniffled, 'I-it's okay, I'll just go and... Travel the world! Yes, I, Haruhi, will go and travel the world! Who needs love?' I calmed down considerably and moved to pack my bags.
When I finished, I wrote a little note for Takashi and slid it under his door, which was right across from mine.
I said farewell to most of the house hold, including Takashi's mother and father, whom I even considered my own parents.
I told them all I had over stayed welcome and I wanted to travel a bit. I skillfully avoided Takashi and Mitskuni as I made my way out of the compound.
I was off to see the world and nothing could stop me!
A/N Hallo again! How are you? Did you have a good day?
I just had to post this! I even wrote three full length chapters in one day.
I know.
ANYWAYS! Review, 'kay? 'Till next time, Loves-
Ally-chan Ravenwood :-*