Tugging my luggage close to me, I had hope that this trip was at least for something. The train ride alone was too much for my comfort, but even in Japan there weren't as many weirdos; which I'm thankful for. A few more steps and I found myself in a wooded area; a ceiling of stairs looming before me. If it could, my jaw would have dropped to the floor at the sight. How does anyone use these stairs? My father must have been dumb thinking this place was safe. The stairs alone would kill me with my lack of exercise. My phone buzzed, drawing my short attention from the stairs.
"Usako, are you there yet?" my father's worried voice flung through the phone.
"I'm at the stairs. I'm sure grandma's house will be just beyond that."
"Can you not see her house?" his barely calm voice erupted into a shout; ringing my left ear. "I knew this was a bad idea. I shouldn't have let your mother talk me into this; especially with a family member I've never met."
"Dad, calm down. You'll get another ulcer," I drawled. "There is a bit more stairs than I thought, but it's not like I'll get hurt here. Japan is much safer than back home."
"Fine. Just call your mother and I every chance you get. Remember that call schedule I gave you." I could only sigh at his words.
If you haven't caught on yet, my father is a bit… strict. With my mother working as an editor for a paper, she is away from home a lot. My father runs a business from home, and has never learned how to let up. I'm still technically not allowed to cross the street. I wonder what look he had on his face when he found out that my mother took me to the airport in secret to come here?
"I'll try. With the time difference and everything it might be hard. I have to go, so I'll talk to you later."
Before I could hang up my father blurted once again, "Just be careful, okay. You've never been away from home and I get worried."
"I will. After this school year, I'll come back home the same as I always was. See you dad." Putting the phone away, I took a large huff of breath and began making my way up the stairs. Twenty steps in and I felt the need to cry. Who lives this high up, God?
In the end, it took me about an hour and several breaks to get to the top. I threw my body over the top step, taking in all air I could. I'll admit that the place looked nice in my blurred vision. It would probably look better when my eyes adjusted.
"About time you showed up. I was beginning to think you garnered your father's personality and stayed home." It was an elderly voice, but one full of attitude.
"Grandma Genkai!" I sat up a bit too quickly for my liking and wound up dizzy. "How have you been?"
"As alright as I can be due to some new circumstances. What are you waiting for; come in before you catch a cold." She turned and walked back to her compound seeming to know that I would follow.
Dragging my bag, I caught up in the main room, sitting when she gestured to a small floor table; tea at the ready. Did she know I was going to lay on the ground outside?
"So, Usako, how has everything been?"
"Boring. Mom's not home often enough and dad… well you know how he is."
"Your mother told me a bit about him. At least you'll only have to call him multiple times a week, right?" she arched an eyebrow, "Finish your tea and go rest. Your school uniform is in there and you'll start when the weekend is over."
"I just got here and you want me to start school?" I sullen whine left my throat, and that wasn't the best idea of mine. Grandma Genkai shot me a look and I knew I was screwed.
"You think I'm going to let you laze about on your ass?" her look became serious. "After you finish your tea, make yourself useful and sweep up the front of the compound. I'm expecting guests this afternoon and would hate for them to return to a trashy compound."
"That's cruel." I glanced away blowing bubbles in my tea cup. While my grandmother when to a different area of the compound, I sucked down my tea and began moving to find the broom. I hadn't been in this place in years, but the broom couldn't be in a place too hard to reach.
I started in the kitchen, thinking this would be the optimal place for a broom to be, but after a few pantries and small cabinet later, there was no broom to speak of and a bug in my hair that I didn't want to be friends with. With a simple cry of fear, the bug was flung away, much to my delight. Let's hope it didn't come back with allies.
"Where is this damn thing?" I growled as I searched every possible room I could to find what I had been searching minute upon minute for.
"Usako, what are you doing?" Grandma Genkai caught me with my head in the bathroom in search of the villainous broom.
"I can't find the goddamn broom."
"It's in the kitchen." Her voice was calm, meaning simple. Wait… the kitchen?
"Not it isn't! I just looked in there."
"It's next to the main pantry. You aren't that observant; your mother reminded me of such." Genkai gave a wistful smile.
Just to prove her wrong, I gave a confident march to the kitchen to show that it wasn't there at all. To my surprise and annoyance, the broom stood at the pantry; appearing as a Bond villain waiting for me to show up.
"Who told you to show up out of nowhere?" I yelled at the inanimate object.
"Yelling at it won't get you an answer, Usako. Go ahead and sweep at the front of the compound. My guests should be here in about an hour or so." Grandma lit a cigarette and walked off.
Ripping the broom from its home, I began moving outside. At this area of the mountain, the sun beat down on the top of my head. Within a few minutes, I was sweating, but even the the compound looked a lot better. All stray leaves were placed into a proper pile and I opted to sit on the porch in my dusty, dirty clothes.
This place was much larger than I thought it would be. The last time I was here, I was too young to remember any details, but my mother always told me to stay away from the forest. Even now when I ask her, she won't give me a straight answer. There may be some animals, but nothing else.
In my haze, I barely heard my phone go off in my pocket. I grunted when I realised who was calling.
"Dad, what's wrong?"
"You were supposed to call ten minutes ago! Are you alright?"
"I'm fine. I'm just sweeping the front of the compound for grandma. She has guest coming over soon."
"So you're alright? Nothing's blown up?" he questioned, voice wavering.
"Is mom home?" If he didn't realize that I was alright now, he wasn't going to.
My father sighed at the change of subject and shuffling could be heard over the phone. "Honey, how's everything?" My mother's more gentle voice came over the line.
"Wait, what did she mean by guests?" my father could be heard shouting. Knowing him, he was at least two rooms away. "Is it your father?"
"Koga, my parents haven't been together in years." now my mother and father were having a conversation with me as the third wheel.
"You come from a broken home?"
"Mom, how much did you not tell him?" I questioned.
"As much as I didn't tell you."
"Like who my grandfather is or why I can't take a walk in the forest on grandma's compound?"
"Yes. I hate to be cryptic, but it would be dangerous to know these things. I just don't want to see you hurt."
"My baby's hurt? She told me she was alright!" There goes my father again.
"I'll call you back, you seem to have a bit on your hands, mom. Love you."
"Love you too, Usa."
"She never told me she lov-" the line went dead before my father could start wailing.
With a sigh, I leaned back. By now her guests should've been here. If they take any longer, it might give me time to ask my grandma some questions. But, that can happen after a nap. Closing my eyes, I tried my best not to focus on the sun glaring me down. I don't know when I dozed off, but the gliding of a shadow over my eyes forced me to wake up; an unattractive gasp leaving my throat. I took a moment to look around, my heart rate calming down. That is until I heard someone shouting in the room behind me. It wasn't my grandma's voice, and what they were yelling about wasn't exactly clear. The first voice halted then my grandma came in, immediately silencing the other. I'm curious, but I don't want to get in trouble for intruding.
I turned away from the door, and looked into a nearby tree; something catching my eye. It was more of blur than anything, but one thing I won't forget was red. Were those eyes? My sleep induced haze must have been playing tricks on me. Or at least I thought it was until the eyes bored into mine. There was something wrong with how those eyes were looking at me. Why do I have the feeling that if I turn around, whatever is in that tree will get me?
Keeping my gaze on the tree, I moved back to the sliding door, rushing inside and closing it indefinitely.
"Who the hell are you?" the voice that wasn't my grandma's spoke. I whirled on my feet to see a boy about my age; short black hair slicked back. Due to his attitude, grandma Genkai slapped him on the back of the head; earning a yelp. "Ouch! What was that for?"
"That's my granddaughter, Usako. Have some decency." she commented, blowing a puff of smoke. "She's here for the school year."
"I didn't know you had children. If you're the grandmother, then who's the grandfather?" the nameless boy asked; garnering my attention. I shot my grandmother a look to tell her that I was curious about this as well.
"That's not important Yusuke," she began. So his name was Yusuke. "What is important is that you need to train. Usako, go ahead to your room and rest up for school on Monday."
"Oh come on, Grandma, she can hang around and watch me train." Yusuke bellowed.
"She has to prepare for her classes, dimwit. Besides, I don't think she'll like watching you struggle; she isn't cruel."
Grandma Genkai waved me off and I walked to a back hall, giving Yusuke one last glance. It was only Saturday, but I had a feeling that I would be here for the rest of the weekend. By the time night came about, I found myself wide awake.
"Crap, I forgot to call my dad, again."
"What for?" I looked to my left, and at the door of my room sat Yusuke, looking a bit worse for the wear. The surprise sent me flying to the other side of the small room.
"What are you doing in here?"
"I got bored. So, how long have you been here?" he asked.
"Since this morning. Why are you covered in injuries?"
He looked at himself for a second before responding, "Training. I'll be doing this for a couple of weeks for some tournament coming up."
"I didn't know my grandmother was a fighter. She never told me much about her past, and I haven't been around here too much to know more."
"Well, let's hope you stay long enough then. What school did the old hag sign you up for?" he questioned, though I sent him a look for calling my grandmother an old hag.
"The uniform is labeled Meiou. Is that far from here?"
"Grandma signed you up for that school? Mine's closer." he complained. "Sarayashiki Jr. High." He was surprisingly proud, though he didn't seem like the type who liked school.
"Well, since I know you, I'd rather go to your school."
"It's probably not all bad. I have a friend there that can look after you if you're worried."
"You don't have to do that. I'll just have to leave early and get to the train." I fell back on my pillow. "I thought I was coming here for a vacation."
"Don't worry about it," he ruffled my hair much like ab older sibling would. "Imma go sleep before the old hag wakes me up for more training."
Though appearing rough around the edges Yusuke was a very nice guy. He slinked out of the room, and for the rest of the night, I slept soundly. My first day here, and I already made a friend.