Blinding Snow
A/N: Yay! New story! Well, here's the first chapter, enjoy! Oh and here's a description of my main OC. Also, she is a vampire. I'm telling you now because it happens in the first chapter anyway and I have to tell you so I can give the full description. You know, I think I have a fetish for making my OCs short. I don't know why, especially considering I'm pretty tall. ^ _ ^
Name: Naomi Ijiri
Age: 25 years old
Height: 5 foot, 1 inch
Weight: 99 pounds
Hair: Dark blue before becoming a vampire, but afterwards has dark blue hair with red streaks underneath. The streaks are barely noticeable because they are underneath the blue hair, but they are there. Her hair goes down to her mid-thigh.
Eyes: Were baby blue before becoming a vampire but there is now silver mixed in, making it a silver blue. There is also another thing you need to know about her eyes but I'll leave that for you find out in the story. Naw, actually I'll tell you. She's blind. It's easier to tell you this way instead of dramatically going "I am blind." (: Plus her eyes always wander aimlessly because she's blind.
Piercing(s): She has a lip piercing.
Vampire: She has basic control of her fangs. Her canine teeth appear a bit sharper and bigger than before, but they are passable. However, if she needs to, she can make them much bigger and sharper. But she mostly keeps them hidden. Also, vampires have to feed once a month, whether it is on animal blood or human blood. It doesn't matter what time of the month, but after a vampire feeds, they have to wait at least one month before they can again. Vampires can run really fast too, almost unnaturally fast, but people are naïve enough to believe someone could run so fast. In this story, people who are bitten before they turn thirty do not become undead; they can and will die one day still. Vampires can also fly or levitate. They can hypnotize people with their eyes. Many of these abilities are very hard for a new vampire, but are easy to get a hang of with some practice. Some naturally and some have to go to other vampires to learn. Vampires are not hurt by sunlight in this story, it's just a bit annoying, but completely bearable. Vampires' senses, such as sight, hearing, and smelling, are much better than that of regular people. They also have healing powers that work twice as fast as a normal person. Vampires are very graceful. I think that's it. Yay, vampire lesson for my story. Now don't criticize me because I know some of this isn't true about vampires but I don't care. Deal with it.
Other: Naomi has mastered many martial arts including kendo, judo, tae kwon do, and karate along with her best friend. Quite a feat for being blind, don't you think? Cursing is not an abnormal thing for her. She can appear kind but her mood and attitude can change very quickly.
Personality: Pretty straightforward, doesn't show many emotions, unusually strong (even before she became a vampire. Hmm, I suppose strength isn't part of personality. Oh well), kind of shy but appears bold, usually a calm person even in stressful situations, antisocial, very smart, observant, and honest (doesn't hold back in her opinions or advice, even if it is insulting you).
Chapter 1: Infected
Naomi's point of view:
"Wasn't that food really good, Naomi?" my dad asked me happily rubbing his stomach. I nodded, looking to where his voice came from. My dog, Ise (my pronunciation: I-see), barked in agreement. I had given her some food under the table; she was such a hard worker I figured she deserved something other than the kibble I always gave him from my pocket.
"It was good, but we lost track of time and now it's dark! I hope it's not that late," my mother worried. So it was dark. I was wondering about that. Then, I heard a rustling in a tree. It was trying to be as stealthy as possible, but it sounded like whatever it was slipped. Plus, it sounded too heavy to be a forest animal. We were taking a shortcut through the forest from a nearby restaurant to get home.
"Did you hear that?" I asked suspiciously. I turned to the direction of the sound. Ise barked madly; she must have heard too.
"Hear wh-AH!" my dad screamed. I knew I couldn't help him. I drew back into the trees, hiding, wondering what or who had attacked my dad.
I heard my mother shrieked and was about to call out to her when I felt a cold hand cover my mouth. I thought about resisting, but it didn't seem like the best choice. I remained still and silent as Ise growled lowly. I scratched her head quietly to calm her. Someone whispered evilly in my ear. So it was a person. No, people. There was probably more than one.
"Your parents are already dead. If you want to live, you won't scream," he whispered quietly, his hot and unpleasant breathe, making me want to squirm, but I didn't.
"We don't like to make vampires who are old, but we like the young ones. You look young. Mid-twenties, maybe?" he said. I could feel him smiling. I nodded a small nod, afraid to move much just in case he thought I was trying to get away. Wait. Vampires? These are vampires. That type of thing actually exists? I just thought they were myths and subjects to entertain you in books.
Then I came to another realization. They were going to make me into a vampire. Huh. I've never heard of a blind vampire before. Oh, no, what are they going to do with Ise? I wonder if they'll let me keep her.
"C-can I keep my dog? Can you not hurt her, please?" I said quietly. The person, who was a guy and sounded like a teenager maybe, laughed.
"You're more concerned about your dog than yourself?" he asked incredulously. "Hehe, fine keep her cause you gave me a good laugh and you don't seem to be the struggling type."
"Thank you," I said quietly. Now that I thought about it, I know I can't stop this from happening. So meanwhile, why not make sure that afterwards won't be as hard.
"Excuse me, but, if you could, when you bite me, could you do it near the back of my neck? You know, so it won't be noticeable," I asked him calmly. I could tell I was clearly shocking him by the silence that hung in the air for a few moments. Maybe I was a bit too straightforward? Oh well, too late now.
"Huh? Oh, uh, sure I guess I could do that," he said, shocked. I guess I stumped him. It probably was a weird thing to ask in a situation like this, but I always try to stay a step ahead and this is no exception.
I waited a moment, bracing myself for the bite which I'm sure is painful. I felt him push my hair away so he could bite the back of my neck. I heard Ise whine to me and then growl at the man.
"Shh, it's ok Ise. I'll be alright," I told her reassuringly. Then one last thought occurred to me.
"Wait, will I be conscious after you bite me?" I asked the man.
"For a little while. I suggest you use that time to run away from here. There are other vampires who don't care if you're young and won't hesitate to kill you," he advised me. He seemed kinder now. I wonder why. Maybe he was impressed by my calmness.
"Okay, thank you for the advice," I said politely. Honestly, I'd love to make a sarcastic remark or maybe just curse him out. But something tells me this isn't a good time. Ha.
The man didn't say word and the next thing I knew, there was a searing and nearly unbearable pain seething through the back of my neck. I screamed in pure agony and pain, tears immediately bursting through my eyes and running down my cheeks with seemingly no end. My scream rang through the night. I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in Tokyo had heard it. I would've fallen right there on the ground if the man hadn't been holding me up, sucking my blood hungrily.
After what seemed like hours of torture but what was probably only ten seconds, he pulled his fangs out of me and let me fall. I lay there for a moment, panting and then remembering what he had said. He had told me to run.
And so I did.
Ignoring the intense and agonizing pain that was now rushing through my whole body, rushing through my veins, I rose shakily and took off at a sprint, my hands outstretched in front of me to try to avoid running into anything. I continued to run blindly-literally-not having a clue where I was going but just trying to get away.
I heard Ise barking behind and heard her chasing after me. I couldn't stop for a moment though or I knew I would collapse and not able to take another step. I had to keep running. Ise's barks soon faded. I guess she lost track of me. I'll find her later.
My feet suddenly flew out from under me and I landed with a smack on what sounded and felt like wood. Maybe it's a house! Wait, is that good? Well, they probably won't notice the vampire bite unless I'm a bloody mess.
I felt the back of my neck with my hand. All I could feel was two small holes. No wetness of blood or anything. This guy did a pretty clean job. Wait, what the hell am I saying? Ugh. I through my hair over the back of my neck, praying to God that whoever lived here didn't see the marks before I fell into unconscious, the pain seeping away if only for a little while as I lay in the cold December air.
Shigure's point of view:
I set down my pencil and stretched my arms over my head with a yawn. I wasn't done with my manuscript yet but it was one in the morning and I was tired. I should go to bed.
All of a sudden, I hear a thud from the front porch. I freeze. I cautiously make my way down the hall to the front door and open it slowly, looking out. I look around and see nothing. I'm about to go back inside but then I looked down and saw something.
An unconscious woman sprawled out on my porch.
I just stared at her for a moment. Several thoughts raced through my head. Why is this girl on my porch? Why is she unconscious? Why is she unconscious at one in the morning? Hmm, maybe I should bring her in. I could call Hari.
I made my decision and picked up the girl, carefully holding her away from my body. Her long blue and-is that red? -hair hung down, almost touching the ground. I walked back into the house and quietly kicked the door closed with my foot. I walked to the living and set the girl down gently on the couch, setting the blanket that always hung on the back of the sofa over her.
Hmm, I wonder if Hari will be annoyed be being called and woken at this hour. Yes, he most definitely will. All the more reason to call him! Besides, the girl is cute and looks about our age. Maybe he'll like her. Yep, I'm going to call him. After all, the girl could very possibly be dying.
I grinned as I dialed Hari's phone number. It rang seven times before someone picked up.
"What could you possibly want at this hour Shigure?" Hari asked irritably, but there was evident grogginess in his voice. I could very clearly picture him pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance right about now.
"How did you know it was me?" I asked.
"Because you're the only idiot who would call me this late."
"Ah, but actually, I think you mean early. It is morning after all."
"What do you want?"
Well, you see, it's quite an interesting tale," I responded gleefully. I heard him sigh heavily and sit down in a chair. I grinned. "Well, I was just about to turn in, tired of writing, when I heard a noise on the porch. It was like a thud. I, ever the investigator, went to the door to inspect the porch. I open the door and look around, but there's nothing there! Then, just when I'm about to go back in, I look down and guess what I find, Hari!"
Hari sighed again and complied, "What did you find, Shigure?"
"An unconscious woman! Just passed out right there on my front porch! Can you believe it?"
"Really?" he asked. He seemed surprised at the outcome of my story.
"Yes, really!"
"You did bring her inside, didn't you Shigure?"
"Of course I did!"
"And I assume that you would like me to come over to look her over?"
"Yep!"
"Fine, I'll be there in the morning. And I mean as in when I wake up on my own and not right now in the morning."
"Alright, see you then!" I said, but was responded with the dial tone. I put the phone back in its cradle and returned to the living room.
I looked down at the girl. Strange thing it was, finding a girl on your porch in the middle of December. I chuckled at that thought and headed to my room.
Naomi's point of view:
I opened my eyes, but it's not as if it made a difference. Everything was still completely dark.
Some blind people aren't entirely blind. They can have slits of vision that let light into their world. However, other people are completely and utterly blind. Not able to see a thing, trapped in eternal darkness. I was one of those people.
I was born blind. It always saddens me that I have never seen the world before. I don't know what people look like. I don't know what flowers look like. Or trees. Or the sky. Or the stars. There are so many things I wish I could see. Sometimes, I just wish I could see my own face. I only know what I look like from the things my parents and Oji have told me. But for all I know they could be lying. I could have green skin instead of the pale white they say I have for all I know. We could all be cartoons. But then again, I don't even know what cartoons look like. All I can rely on is the descriptions people give of things and people and then I create a mental image in my mind of what that might look like. My dreams are just like reality. Complete blackness. I've never seen the world so I don't know what to dream.
I wonder where I am right now. What does it look like? Where is Ise? I hope I can find her. I sneezed. Yeah, I supposed fainting on a porch in the middle of winter might give you a cold. I hope I don't have a fever.
"Ah, you're awake. That's good," I heard a male voice say. I swiftly snapped my head in the direction of the voice. It sounded like it was behind me.
"Who are you?" I asked. I ought to know his name I am in his house.
"Shigure Sohma, and yours?"
"Naomi Ijiri. Is my dog here? I hope she's okay…" I trailed off thinking about Ise wandering the woods.
"Your dog? No she's not here. I can go look for her if you want. Where do you think she would be?" the man asked. It sounded like he was beside me now.
"You would do that?" I asked him. What kind of person just goes out to find a dog for a person they just met?
"Sure!"
"Thank you so much! Ise means everything to me. I think she will probably still be in the forest somewhere. She's a golden retriever. Try not to startle her," I instructed the man.
"Don't worry, dogs like me. I would say I'm a dog person. "
"Really? Okay then. Thank you so much. I hope you find her," I said to him kindly. I really hope I'm looking at him. I wonder if he can already tell I'm blind. A lot of people say that my eyes look kind of glazed over.
"I will, see you soon!" he said before I heard his footsteps run away. I wish I could ask what he looked like so I could file away a mental image. I don't want these people to know I'm blind. Maybe they won't have to. I don't need more pity and as soon as Ise gets here, I'm leaving.
I heard a door open and close. It must be Shigure leaving. Now all I can do is sit on this couch in his house and wait for him to get back. I wonder if there are other people living here as well.
After a while, I zoned out while thinking about Ise and hoping she was okay. I was roughly pulled away from my thoughts by a loud voice questioning, "Who the hell are you?"
I jumped in my seat. I had zoned out so I hadn't heard this person's footsteps, so naturally they startled me. Still, I didn't like his tone of voice or attitude. He sounded like a teenager.
"Aren't you just a ray of sunshine?" I remarked sarcastically.
"What?!" he yelled. I smirked. This kid is a riot.
I looked in the direction of his loud voice. "You heard me, Mr. Sunshine."
"Who are you?!" he shouted.
"Well, since it appears that you live here. I'll tell you my name if you promise to tell me yours. "
"What?!" he yelled. I swear this guy only knows a few words. Oh well.
"I'll take that as an 'I promise.' My name is Naomi Ijiri. Now what's yours?"
"As if I'd tell you!" he shouted. Oh look! New words!
"Aw, but you promised! Oh well, I'll get it out of you don't worry," I smirked and returned to pretending to stare at the ceiling with my hands behind my head leisurely. The boy was silent for moment and then I heard him huff and stomp away.
I didn't zone out anymore but instead listened for more footsteps. Shigure couldn't possibly just be living with that kid. I know I wouldn't be able to. There had to be more people.
As I expected, I heard another pair of feet coming down a staircase. Ah, so I was in a two story house. Nice. These footsteps were very quiet almost silent. Once they reached the bottom of the stairs, the person gasped. It was a girl.
"Oh! I didn't know we were having a guest! Do you want some breakfast miss?!" the girl asked me frantically, her voice getting louder as she hurried towards me.
"Oh no, please don't do that. I'm not hungry anyway. I'm Naomi Ijiri," I said kindly. I liked her better than the other kid. Hey, if you are kind to me, I will most likely return the favor.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Tohru Honda," the girl said. Huh, isn't Tohru typically a boy name. Eh, whatever, I won't mention it. That'd be mean.
"It's nice to meet you Honda-san." I wish I could see what she looks like.
"It's to meet you as well! Are you really sure that you wouldn't like something to eat? It's really no bother at all, honest."
"No thank you Honda-san. I really am not hungry. But thank you anyway."
"Oh, well, if you're sure…I have to go make breakfast now."
"Okay, bye."
I didn't get a response so I figured that she waved her hand.
I wonder when that Shigure Sohma guy will be back. I hope he brings Ise with him.
And as if I had summoned him, I heard Shigure's loud, flamboyant voice rang throughout the house.
"I have found Ise, Naomi!" he exclaimed.
"Where is she?!" I heard another voice. Wait, was that…
"Oji?!" I yelled disbelievingly. I heard rapid footsteps and before I knew it I was enveloped in a tight embrace. I hugged him back.
"Naomi, what happened? I was so worried. I called last night, your cell phone and the house phone, but no one answered! And then I went over to your house to see if anyone was there, but there wasn't! I remembered you told me you were going to that new restaurant with you mom and dad. I know you guys always insist on taking a shortcut in the forest, so I looked in there. And then I heard that guy shouting for Ise. And…now I'm here I guess," he finished, letting me go.
"I'll tell you later," I whispered. He was definitely one of the only people I could tell my situation about. He was my best friend after all, Oji Ijichi.
"Okay," he whispered back and then I felt a furry bundle leap on top of mean and start licking my face off.
"Ise!" I cried, hugging her, not caring for a moment that I was being slobbered all over.
"Okay, down Ise," I commanded her after a while. Ise obeyed and I sat up on the couch. I sneezed.
"Are you okay? I should take you home. Where are your parents?" he endlessly questioned me. But I knew it was just because he cared.
"I said I'll tell you later. Take me home though," I said. I wanted to get out of here and tell Oji everything.
"Okay," he said.
"Where is the guy who brought you here? I have to thank him for finding Ise," I told him.
"Right here! And you're welcome. That's a very well-trained dog you have there. All I had to do was call her name a few times and she came running," I heard Shigure from behind me. I turned my head to the direction of his voice, desperately hoping I was looking at him.
"Yes, I've had Ise for 9 years now and she's wonderful. Thank you for helping me but I have to go now," I said smiling and petting Ise who has wining against my leg.
"But I've called over my cousin to look you over! Surely you have to let him since you were passed out on my porch on a winter night," he reasoned. I winced. I had wanted Oji to learn about that once we got back to my house.
"What? Why were you passed out outside?" he asked loudly. I cringed.
"Didn't I say I'll tell you later?" I hissed to him. "Thank you very much for helping me but I really have to go. I'll be fine. Tell Honda-san and Mr. Sunshine I said bye. Ise, come," I said and stood up. Ise was immediately at my side. So was Oji, wanting to hear what I had to say as soon as possible. Then I felt Oji lift me up onto his shoulders.
"Oji!"
"What? You were passed out on a porch in the middle of the night. I'm carrying you," he stated simply. I sighed and gave in. I knew that he wanted to carry me because I had passed out, but I knew that he knew that I didn't want these people to know I was blind and this was an easy way of concealing it. Oji was just smart like that.
"Bye, Sohma-san!" I yelled before Oji ducked me under the door frame and we left with Ise trotting beside us.
A/N: Oh my word, such a long chapter. I couldn't find a good place to stop though. Oh well. I love Oji Ijichi though. He's awesome. Heheee . Although, I wrote this a while ago and I'm not sure about it now…