My name is Eri Taijo, I'm 16 years old and would be a second year in high school but instead here I am working in a supermarket trying to earn enough to pay rent let alone food. My parents died in a car crash, I was only 3 at the time so I don't really remember anything about them, only what I've been told and seen in photos. After they died I was placed in the care of Hiroshi Kimura who was somehow related to me, he gave me a place to sleep, paid for my schooling and clothes, gave me food and had an amazing home close to the city.
I'm grateful for everything he has done for me and I tried to show it by cleaning, cooking and I even got a part time job at an early age to help pay for my own things however Hiroshi still hated me. Nothing I did would change that so I tried my best to support myself and stay out of his way hardly asking for anything. Before he was charge with the duty of looking after me he worked hard and partied just as hard, a bachelor life but he had to change that lifestyle because of an unwanted child.
Still it wasn't bad however the older I got the worse it got, he had always been a heavy drinker and would yell but when I was 13 he struck me. He had received a letter in the mail from the school, I don't even remember what it was about anymore but it made him angry. It happened more often after that and so once I finished junior high I found a stable job and Hiroshi was more than happy to grant me permission to rent my own place and so I've been on my own since.
It's been hard and I tried high school for a short time but I couldn't keep up the payments, despite that though I often get books and try to teach myself. No matter how hard it gets though I will never go back to him for help.
"Right I'll see you all Monday" I said with a wave
"Are you sure you don't want a lift" Mrs Tokin asked "it's getting late"
"I'm fine" I smiled
"Make sure you go straight home ok?" Mr Tenzin said
"I will" I waved walking away ignoring there whispers of pity
With my bag on my back I stretched my hands above my head walking down the silent streets, it was a little past 11 on a Saturday night so there weren't many people around. I couldn't help but look in some of the store windows I passed longing for the glistening items in the window but knew I could never afford until I passed the music store. The one thing that kept me going was my music, I was currently trying to save up for a new electric guitar and I was almost there, only a few more pays.
Looking at the electrics on display always bought a smile to my face and soon I would have my very own. Turning away from the window I started organizing my budget in my head not really paying much attention to what was happening around me anymore until I was grabbed from behind. I tried to scream out but they held there hand over my mouth forcing me to walk into a darkened alleyway, at this point I was regretting not swallowing my pride and accepting the lift Mrs Tokin offered.
I was eventually thrown on the dirty floor grazing my hands and knees as 3 guys stood over me blocking my only path.
"What do you want?" I choked out already knowing the answer by the lust in their eyes
They didn't answer me as one pulled out a knife and another some rope, I backed myself against the wall searching for something, anything to help me but there was nothing. I screamed out closing my eyes as they got closer but they never reached me. I heard what sounded like a fight and when I finally forced my eyes to open there was a tall figure with their back to me standing around the three guys who now laid on the floor.
I swallowed hard as they turned to face me, in the dark it was hard to see their face clearly, all I could see were there eyes reflecting in the small amount of light and they didn't exactly look like the eyes of a saviour.
"Are you alright?"
His voice was dark and low but it didn't sound like he was a bad guy, he held out his hand for me and I cautiously took hold of it. He pulled me to my feet with such little effort like I was nothing more than a feather, once I was on my feet he let my hand go but that was a mistake. I wasn't hurt too badly but my whole body wouldn't stop shaking making standing near impossible, luckily his reflexes were fast and he caught me before even nearing the ground.
"Are you hurt?"
"N-no" I managed to whisper
He looked down at me for a few seconds before I found myself in his arms as he carried me away from the ally. As we reached light I noticed he was wearing a suit and looked to be a college student but what surprised me most was how handsome he was.
"Where do you live?" he asked not looking at me
"Oh umm... I-I'll be fine"
"Hn"
I heard the sound of a car then he shuffled me around so he was holding me in one hand, I watched with wide eyes as he pulled the door to a limo open to shocked to fight back as he gently placed me inside climbing in afterwards.
"Where to?" the driver asked
I knew the question was directed at me but I found myself unable to speak, I couldn't believe my luck, a part of me thought I was still in that ally and this was my minds way of escaping but everything seemed real enough.
"Home" the stranger said after some time and I didn't argue with him
As my shock died down my whole body felt frozen, I curled up as much as I could in the car hugging my arms for warmth trying to stop myself from shaking until I felt something warm cover my shoulders. I looked up and noticed the jacket of the stranger was covering my body like a protective blanket, holding onto it tightly for warmth my body started to calm down as I drifted off to sleep listening to the gentle hum of the car.
"Roses" I thought snuggling into his jacket
When I woke up everything was fuzzy, I heard the sound of doors closing and the sound of a heart beat as I was carried somewhere. I tried opening my eyes but I was still so tired, after a few tries I managed to open my eyes long enough to find I was inside a building, I guess his place but it was bright so my eyes quickly closed themselves. I was carried for some time until my eyes adjusted to the brightness, looking around me I could tell this was definitely the house of someone extremely rich.
"Where am I?" I asked looking up at the stranger
"You're at my house" he said continuing on "how are you feeling"
"Better... umm thank you for saving me"
He didn't say anything to me as he opened another door turning on the light before placing me on a cold bench, after a quick look around while he searched the cabinets I noticed we were in a bathroom. He pulled out a small first aid kit and started to clean my few scraps despite my saying I was fine, afterwards he told me to sit there and wait while he left the room.
"Maybe he's just the silent type" I sighed kicking my legs a little
When he returned he was holding clothes in his hand.
"I will have your clothes washed and dried for you"
"That's not necessary..."
The look on his face told me there wasn't much point in arguing so instead I thanked him letting out a small sigh once he left closing the door behind him. He had bought me a plain dark green moss shirt that was way too big for me, probably his own and some cotton boxer shorts I tried hard not to think too much on. Thankfully that had a string so I could make them stay up. I left my socks on and bundled up everything else adjusting the shirt so it reviled one shoulder instead on sagging at the front.
After opening the door the stranger looked at me quickly before turning away "can you walk?" he asked
"Yeah" I answered nodding my head even though he wouldn't see that
He led me down the long hallway until reaching a door, after he turned the light on I followed him into the room amazed at its size and at the large bed along the wall.
"You can sleep here" he said facing me
"Oh bu... I don't want to be troublesome..."
"It's no trouble" he said gently taking my clothing from my hands "if you need me I am 3 doors down" he said before leaving the room closing the door behind him leaving me alone
I stood there for a while not really sure what to do, this place was so grand I was scared of wreaking it but soon my tired body made me give in as I edged towards the bed. After that first touch with my fingers I couldn't stop myself from jumping on the bed face first relaxing on the soft blankets. That night was the best night sleep I ever remember having, the pillows were like giant balls of cotton and the blankets like feathers while the mattress was like sleeping on clouds, I almost didn't want to ever wake up.
However morning came just like I knew it would and so ended my one Cinderella night. I sat up in the bed yawning with my arms stretched over my head feeling a little sore from being thrown to the ground. I pulled back the blankets expecting to feel a chill but there was nothing, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed I looked down at my bandaged knees with a small smile. Once I was up and standing I walked over the large window to my right letting in the morning sun.
Looking outside the window it was hard to believe I was still anywhere near the city, the land this house, mansion was built on must be huge. Once I heard the door behind me opening I quickly turned around trying to brush down my messy short dark red hair to no success as the stranger from last night walked in. he looked over at the bed first before spotting me by the window.
"How are you feeling this morning?" he asked walking in carrying my clothes
Even though he was only wearing a plain black polo shirt with a dark blue sleeveless jacket over top and dark jeans he still had that rich important feel about him.
"Much better thank you" I smiled with my hands behind my back "umm... may I... ask your name?"
"I am Takashi Morinozuka; you can just call me Mori"
"Thank you for saving me Mori-san" I said with a bow "my name is Eri Taijo"
"I have your clothes" he said holding them out "once you are dressed breakfast is waiting"
"Breakfast?" I asked taking my clothes from him
"You must be hungry" he said leaving closing the door behind him
Once I was dressed I went to slip my shoes on but stopped, being a rich place like this shoes in the house was something that was probably forbidden so after folding the borrowed clothes and placing them neatly on the just made bed I picked up my shoes and opened the door. Even through Mori was only dressed casually I still felt odd being in my work clothes like this but all I had to do was pretend I was going to work today, that wouldn't be hard... just going to eat breakfast with the rich guy who saved me, just like every other day.
"I'm doomed" I thought following Mori down stairs