Author: My first fic. It's an AU, but there is still HiME themes. This is a pretty basic chapter, just introducing Natsuki and Yamada with a little info on her life so far. No Shizuru yet, and probably wont be for a few chapters. She might make an appearance, but she won't have much part—yet. Read and review, ne?
Disclaimer: Mai-HiME/Mai-Otome is not mine.
March 15th, 2010. Monday, 5:34pm. Fuuka City: Public Bus Station.
Fuuka was a lively city. So vastly different to the sleepy town I had previously called home; all the way back in the far reaches of Western Australia. Here, people moved so quickly, and acted as if the lives around them were completely insignificant to their own. It was hard to adjust, but I was managing; somehow.
In some ways I simultaneously loved Japan and it's formal, traditional customs; and in other ways I loathed it. I lived my early childhood here, from what I remember anyway. One of my clearest memories is of the night my mother careened off a cliff in her small white Honda Civic; the sound of Duran's frantic barking beside me, just before we hit the deep sea waters of the ocean below forever would forever echo in my ears.
Sometimes, I get flashes of what seem to be hospital rooms, and doctors in masks. I assumed it's because of being in a coma for so long. But there's something inside of me, screaming that isn't the case. I try not to delve too deeply, because a lot of the time what I remember is painful. My happy memories are very few and far between.
Once I had awoken from the said extended unconsciousness; I had sworn to myself to seek revenge on any of those who were involved with my mothers death, on anyone who had played a part in the events that ended my childhood; disillusioning me to the evils of the world at merely eight years of age. I vividly remember the unmarked cars that had been tailing us that night, so I know my mothers death that hadn't just been an unfortunate accident.
A lust for revenge burning within me and hefty weekly checks from my estranged father in my pocket, I then proceeded to scour the world; a whisper of a name being the only information I could find on an elusive government company called First District; where my mother had been previously employed.
As it turns out, I hadn't been very discreet when I attempted to ask around about them; and soon enough I had serious secret service officials on my back, ready to terminate the threat I had the potential to become. That's my assumption anyway. Why else would men in professional black suits with guns be after me? To this day, it's still a mystery how I managed to get away.
After being hidden in a remote outback town in Australia for two years, I had finally decided it was time I found my way back to where everything had began. I was sure by now the search for me had cooled, and I would be free to investigate again, though this time I would be sure to be more subtle.
With a large blue backpack slung heavily over my shoulder, I stood silently at the bus stop I was waiting at. In my hand was a thin, white envelope from the cities local real estate agent; inside the envelope was the key to my new rented one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment. Frowning, I sat down at the bench supplied and took out my cellphone.
I needed transportation, and I needed it soon. After pressing a sequence of memorized buttons, I held the device to my ear. A few minutes of hollow ringing commenced, before a gruff, low voice answered. "Yamada."
"Kuga here. I need a motorcycle. Ducati DRII, including blue and silver detailing. I would like it to be delivered to this address; 145 Hygarishi avenue, Fuuka by at least Thursday at the maximum. Money will be wired to you in when the said item arrives, as per usual." I said, my voice clipped and brooking no negotiation.
"Understood, Kuga-san. I will organize it immediately." a long pause. "It's good to see you back, Natsuki." the line went dead, and I flipped the phone shut and slid in back into my pocket.
"It's good to be back, Yamada." I spoke lowly to myself, closing my eyes and lying my head against the backrest of the bench. It had been a long journey to get here from Western Australia. I had been in a tiny provenience of maybe roughly 80 people making up the entire population. Transportation to the nearest airport had been hard to come by, and had cost a large sum of cash. After days of traveling, I was finally on the mysterious Island of Fuuka.
Breaking from my thoughts, I soon found myself boarding a bus and avoiding numerous elbows in the side from people trying to do similarly. When I caught sight of an empty space, I dropped the heavy bag onto the ground and unceremoniously slumped into the uncomfortable leather seat. A quick glance to my wrist watch told me I would probably only just make it to my apartment before sundown.
An uncomfortable, cramped ride later; I was shuffling tiredly through the front door of my new home. Bleary-eyes and exhausted, I slammed the door shut and barely managed to lock it before stumbling towards what I assumed was the bedroom. Once inside, I fell onto the unmade bed and quickly succumbed to a much needed sleep.
[-]-[-]-[-]
Rough, uncomfortable sheets where rubbing harshly against my sensitive, tingling skin. My eyes where closed tightly, veiling my sight in darkness. I could hear the whirl and beeps of multiple medical devices around me; the dull murmur of the scientist's voices barely managing to penetrate my ear drums.
Cuffs where wrapped around my slender, pale wrists and ankles. Unbearably tight, the cold steel was biting into my flesh, locked uncomfortably against my bones. My eyelids blinked open, only to slide shut again quickly as the bright UV light blinded me momentarily.
Suddenly I could feel the mild sting of my drip being changed; a new clean one being inserted into the back of my small hand. If I thought hard enough, a vaguely coherent words could be understood in my thoughts.
Mama. Mama. Help. Hurts...
My lungs felt like the where constricting and shrinking within my chest as one of the doctors injected me with some unknown substance. I was only five, but I was old enough to realize this wasn't usual for other little girls.
All the movies I had watched in mama's office had proven that. None of those little girls had to have needles every day, even when they weren't sick. Those little girls weren't poked and prodded by nameless, faceless doctors. Those little girls didn't have to feel cold, clinical hands studying every inch of their bodies.
"I'm so sorry Nat-chan..." my mama's voice whispered to me brokenly, and as I opened my eyes narrowly I could see her blurry, agonized face above me. "If I could get you away from here I—" I couldn't hear anything but the roaring in my ears now, as my body was now writhing against it's restrains; filled with excruciating, indescribably torturous pain. Unable to handle it, my blurry world went black and I fell into unconsciousness
I shot up, awake and panting, my eyes unseeing in the bleak light-less room. Cursing out loud I realized the dream had drifted away before I could even recall what it had been; just like every other night I had a nightmare. Flopping back on the bare mattress in frustration, I wiped my sweaty, flushed face before attempting to go back to sleep.
[-]-[-]-[-]
March 17th, 2010. Wednesday, 8:13am. Fuuka City, 145 Hygarishi avenue: Natsuki's Apartment.
Two days later, a brand new and beautifully detailed Ducati DRII was gleaming majestically in the morning sunlight outside my apartment complex. The truck driver that had delivered it handed me a clipboard for me to sign, and once I had he then gave me the keys and an extra package I hadn't realized was addressed to me as well.
"Thank you ma'am," the older man tipped his hat at me before climbing back into his large vehicle and driving off, leaving me frowning with confusion in his wake. Shaking my head, I used the keys I had just received to slice through the duct tape holding the cardboard box in my hand closed.
Once the package was successfully opened, I balanced the box against the seat of my new bike and rummaged through it. Surprise registering on my face as I pulled out a dark-blue and sliver patterned leather riding suit. A reluctant, fond smile tugged at my lips as I read the note that was stuck to the plastic the expensive attire was cased in.
I hope this never has to serve its purpose. Ride safe, kid.
PS: This is free of charge. A house warming gift, you could say. That includes the bike, too Kuga. Oh, and don't mention it all right? Really, don't. My reputation as a ruthless information broker would be ruined if you did.
-Yamada.
I was curious later, once I had found it fit me like a second skin; yet how Yamada knew my measurements so exactly I had no idea. The thought made me shudder a little, so I decided to just assume he just had a really lucky guess.
It was safer for us both that way.
[-]-[-]-[-]
March 25th, 2010. Thursday, 10:27am. Fuuka City Streets. Destination: Fuuka Academy.
The days passed quickly, and soon enough the 1st of April was quickly approaching, and with it; the start of the new school year. It was a pain in the ass, organizing everything—because the school systems and holiday roster here varied so vastly from that of the Australian educational system.
Though, the whole reason I was back in Fuuka was because I had received a letter from the local boarding school here; offering a once in a life time scholarship; all tuition, supplies and accommodation covered. Not that I would be using the dorms. I would much rather live alone, with my own place, a sanctuary I could call home. Also, I wasn't the friendliest person you would ever meet, I was doing whoever was chosen to be my roommate a favor, really.
Paying for schooling was not cheap, and Fuuka Academy was known as one of the most prestigious private schools in the world. I didn't want to be living off of my fathers guilt money all my life, and learning at this school would boost my career opportunities greatly. Plus, this was where my mother had been stationed when she was working for First District. I might be able to actually find something here.
It was something I couldn't turn down. However, it was a bit of a mystery why they would give it to me, but even though I was highly suspicious; I wasn't about to look a gift horse in the mouth.
On my new bike, I careened around a sharp corner; leaning into the turn so far that my left knee was almost touching the tarmac. I was wearing my new leather riding suit, a similarly styled helmet on my head. It had been a few months since I had ridden anything other then a cheap, barely running dirt bike; so it felt good to be on such a powerful machine.
In what seemed like seconds, I was cutting the engine and climbing off the Ducati. My helmet was left dangling precariously on the handle bars, swaying gently. With ingrained suspicion, borne from being on the run since I was eight, I pulled a padlock and chain from one of the motorcycles inbuilt compartments and locked it around the front wheel and axis.
Satisfied with the precautions I had taken for my prized vehicle, I strolled languidly in the direction of Fuuka Academy's administration office, and upon entering tried not to show visibly how much the abrupt temperature change bothered me. Outside it was around 37° Celsius, and in the reception it was bordering on barely 6°. While it felt nice briefly, it quickly became uncomfortable.
"M-m-may I h-help you, d-dear?" the elderly receptionists teeth chattered together loudly as she spoke, and the gray-haired woman almost looked blue. I felt a pang of sympathy as she adjusted the thin cotton shawl, pulling it closer to her body.
"I'm here to see Kazahana-san. I believe she wished to see me before the trimester began?" I concealed a shiver, frowning down at the counter top. Before she could answer, I continued. "Are you alright? Why is it so cold in here...?" I frowned deeper, looking at her. "You'll get hypothermia or something. You look old, so I don't think you could handle that..."
Okay, I never said I was subtle. I think the word 'blunt' would best used to describe me; so that's why I found myself bewildered when the old lady scowled at me; obviously offended. I wasn't used to people being upset with me. Back in Australia, people had taken my straight-forward attitude in stride. Actually, come to think of, a lot of people were brutally honest back there. I guess it came from the majority of the population being stock-men and usually they were half-drunk.
"The air conditioner is broken," the lady said, her voice clipped as she sat up straighter in the chair. This time she didn't stutter as she glared as me over lavender horn-rimmed glasses. I felt oddly intimidated, even though she was still slightly blue. "Kazahana-sama will see you now," she gestured to a door to the left, "Just go through there."
"Uh, thanks." I nodded awkwardly as she huffed, and opened the door she had pointed at. The room was what you would expect of any school Director. Inviting and professional. However, the girl I found sitting behind the large oak desk was not what had expected at all. The person sitting behind the desk looked younger then I was; frail and thin, with soft features and a demure smile.
"Kazahana-san?" I rubbed the back of my neck awkwardly, quirking an eyebrow at the young girl.
The small smile she had been wearing widened, "Ah, konichiwa Kuga-san. It's a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance." slender, tiny hands formed a steeple in front of her on the desk, "I hope your trip wasn't too taxing. Please, take a seat." the lavender-haired child gestured to the seat opposite her and I was quick to sit down; feeling increasingly awkward.
After discussing my living arrangements and everything else concerning my transfer to Fuuka Academy, I was about to leave the room; but before I did, I paused at the door and looked over my shoulder at the pre-teen girl that was supposedly running the place. "You should think about getting the A/C looked at. Or otherwise your going to be hiring a new receptionist sometime soon."
Church bell-like giggles rang in my ears as I walked out.
Note: Haven't got much to say here really, just hoped you enjoyed it. Constructive criticism is very much appreciated. I want to improve, so any tips would be helpful. Oh, and I don't have a Beta—so this is probably riddled is grammatical mistakes.