(A/N: I don't know where this story came from. Suddenly, it snapped into my mind while watching this anime that had nothing to do with Jigoku Shoujo… Anyway, this is an AU – alternate universe – fanfic, for your information. I think it's the first to be written on so yay… I guess... I'm actually a shounen-ai fan, what am I doing writing straight pairings? I don't know, but it seems nice at the moment. lol. I hope it stays that way. Remember to read and review for my motivation… I'm not too confident with this story and plotline and I need like, a lot to get me going…)

Title: Butterflies

Chapter 1: Unexpected News

Good morning. This is the news for today. An entire village along the west coast has been burnt down by unknown causes. It is suspected that it was caused by open burning gone wrong or a personal grudge against the village. Thirty seven have perished and a lone girl, thirteen year old Enma Ai, is the only survivor. Ai is currently being treated at the hospital for her second-degree burns and mental trauma.

'We are trying our best to help her cope with the loss of her parents, her friends and her entire village. Fortunately, she had taken cover in an underground cellar of her playhouse during the whole ordeal. However, she has suffered burns as well. Only time will tell if she fully recovers from her loss.'

'Sir, who is to take care of her?'

'We will send her to a foster home for children who have endured trauma once she recovers. Only time will tell if she finds a family.'

There was a small click of a remote control and the television screen immediately switched off, showing nothing but black. The old, worn-out TV let out a few crackling noises of static and soon silenced as a form lounged lazily on the couch. Littered with his outdoor jacket and a small hoversack filled with knick knacks, the young man stared up at the white plaster ceiling of his apartment, chewing on his lower lip. Arms folded behind his head, which rested upon a small red cushion, he sympathised with the young girl who was left without a family, without anyone that she knows from that isolated little village that was so cruelly burnt to the ground. A deep and long sigh slipped from his lips and he closed his eye, casting the sleeve of his jacket over his upper face and falling asleep, needing a nap from a hard day's work.

Awakening to the sound of his handphone high-pitched ring, the shrill tone echoing around the solitary living room, he stirred from his somewhat comfortable position on the couch and groaned in reluctance before groping over at the glass coffee table for the wretched thing. Barely opening his eyes, he roughly pressed the mobile phone to his ear after pressing a random button on the keypad. "This is Ren…" he slurred in a tired tone that could be mistaken for a drunkard's murmur. Honestly, he couldn't care less now, he had worked overtime last night, like hell he was going to snap out of his sleepy stupor for a mere phone call.

There was a small, exasperated tone from the other side and he immediately recognised it as his boss's. The woman expected more work from him now? What time was it… The black-haired male was more than willing to sue her if he didn't think it was an utter waste of money. But something she said forced his eyes open and caused him to spring into a sitting position, lips parted to let air in and out and his free hand grasping the back cushion of the sofa to prevent him from letting his thoughts take him away somewhere. Odd sounds came from him, stutters, mumbles and incoherent nonsense before he managed to wake himself up and spit out the first few words that came into his mind.

"I beg your pardon?"

How did it ever come to this?

That was the thought that spun round and round his head as he stood outside the hospital bedroom, peering in through the glass window beside the door, which curtains were left opened. The room was white, like all hospital rooms and even the curtains at the other side of the room were drawn, letting the light of day to spill in and illuminate every nook and cranny of the chamber. It almost blinded him, to say the least. In the middle was a small, single bed, the sides drawn up to prevent the patient from falling over while sleeping and on it was the sitting frame of a young girl. Long, black hair cascading over her green-patterned clothes provided by the hospital and abnormal, almost-crimson brown-red eyes gazing downwards at her own bandaged arms. Her skin was pale, sickly pale and had white bandages wrapped over and over on certain places. The blanket was drawn to her waist and she seemed to be sewing a piece of red cloth, a small plastic container of marbles set at the bedside table.

The room looked like any hospital room save for the get well-balloons, flowers and fruits that should be overloading the small table at the window. But the only thing placed at that table was a small snow-white vase with a singular red spider lily sitting in it. The girl seemed indifferent to the whole atmosphere and simply continued to sew the little piece of red cloth in her tiny hands.

Ren was left outside, hesitating on entering the room and introducing himself. What would he say to her? 'Hi, I am Ren, because my father owns the hospital and the government trusted him with you, I am to take care of you from now on. The part on news of you going to a foster home is all bull, you'll be living with me after you exit from the hospital. By the way, don't worry, I'm not working right now due to the fact that my dad told my boss to fire me, so I can spend more bonding time with you and snap you out of your trauma by my dad's orders.' Seriously, that was anything but a good idea right now, especially after losing everything she had in one night. He could only imagine the pain and suffering she was going through right this very moment… It was like a living Hell being like this… Forced away from your family and into the hustle and bustle of the city, away from the calm greenery and fresh air of the village. It must be hard… But she seems to be quite content, maybe it's just a façade. Traumatised children tend to be a little closed and locked-up emotionally…

A small gasp left his lips and he faltered a little, forced to take a small step back when he noticed those brown-red eyes on him, watching him, piercing into his very soul. Apparently, she had noticed him standing there. Who wouldn't notice a young man sanding outside your window with his hands in his pockets and eyes staring at you. She probably thought of him as a pervert, he held back a groan and looked up and down the corridor he was in. No one on the right… No one on the left… Only white tiles, white walls, white ceilings with white fluorescent lights… Wow, that was a surprise… Whiteness in a hospital…

Sucking in and pushing out a few lungfuls of disinfectant-hinting air, he stepped to the door, noticing that her wide eyes never left him and grasped the metal doorknob. It was cold, uncomfortably cold… he noted down before turning it slowly, the door opening without creaking and he walked into the room.

(A/N: Remember to read and review! Encouragement and support, please!)