Hey guys! Re-uploaded this old story of mine! I can't remember why I removed it… I think it was a spontaneous act of utter stupidity
So sorry guys!
Please review and let me know what you think. I fixed up some mistakes in this chapter but I'm sure I missed a lot!
Summary:
Fujino Shizuru moves often with her parents, leaving houses, schools, cities and even countries. But when they go to Fuka and the Fujino's begin to live in an old mansion Shizuru begins to discover that this is no ordinary house.
'To love someone you can never touch in such a different way is heartbreaking, it aches and I can't seem to settle these feelings or lock them away'
What do you do when someone you love can never truly be yours since death had claimed them first?
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A Ghost Between Us
Prologue
By GrimaThanEvil
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I gazed out of the window of the limousine my palm resting against my cheek as I leaned against my own reflection. I was gazing out at the scenery ignoring the voices of my parents as they rambled on in their own conversations about business and the latest news on corporations that have been shut down or grown weaker. The buildings that use to be large skyscrapers now became houses of different shapes and sizes soon switching to buildings again before returning to the blurry images of house after house after house. I felt tired from the trip; another move for the Fujinos. I couldn't help but acknowledge the truth, I wasn't really enjoying myself, this was the fifth move this year and my parents did not mention anything about staying in one place; ever. I could slightly remember one occasion when I was six and crying about leaving my new school and friends that my Mother had promised to find us a wonderful home and we could live there forever. I was so excited every time we moved until everything sunk in, we were moving more often and my Mother had not once mentioned her little promise that was so big in my heart. I knew it had just been a lie but by then I was over it, it had been years. Although sometimes I wished I could encounter a friend or two who might have moved away I knew it was less than likely.
"Shizuru don't slouch like that" that all too familiar voice scolded, I had to live with it all my life. But it just depends what you define as 'live', if you counted all the times my parents where away on business then, well the voice was not very familiar. I sat up straight leaning back onto the comfortable leather seat of the limo as my crimson eyes met identical ruby ones; I had my mother's eyes. She was a business like woman though and to most people looked like a flash secretary or teacher, maybe even a goddess in disguise; I got the same comments in all my other schools. My last two schools I didn't even get a chance to get to know anyone even though everyone knew me. I was the all popular Fujino Shizuru and like in every other school I had fans, everyone knew the name Fujino.
"Don't worry I'm sure you will enjoy your new school" commented my mother
"Yes, I'm sure too mother, just like the others, I spent so long there I almost got attached"
"Shizuru!" she gasped "You know as well as I do your father and I are busy and-
"Hai hai" I interrupted "Hard work pays off for all Fujino's and with hard work comes responsibility, responsibility a Fujino is always well aware of, I know mother" I sighed having heard it all before but not willing to say what I thought about my father and mother's choices. Not yet anyway.
"Aw come on Shi-chan you'll love it here" chuckled a voice from opposite me and my crimson eyes looked over to my father "I hear the neighbourhoods are very good, you never know we might live here"
"That's what you said about the last three places" I reminded him
"Hai I know and-
"We spent one month in each of them" I interrupted again
My mother lifted her hand to cover her own mouth as she giggled "She is right darling, maybe we should think of settling down" a slight glimmer of hope rose inside of me but then my own mind reminded me of something
"That's what you said too mother or don't you remember?"
She just laughed and looked at me with a smile "Now come now Shizuru this time we'll really try, promise"
"And if it doesn't work out here we can always try the next' teased my father who I happily laid my crimson eyes on and gave a glare, it was unusual for me to do such a thing in public or in front of anyone but my mother and father were very important in my life, they were the only people who have been with me for longer than three months.
I was interrupted from my thoughts and my constant glare towards my father when the limo began to slow, I barely even noticed that all the houses had vanished and turned into trees.
"We're here Sir" uttered the driver directing his speech at my father
My crimson eyes looked out of the window and I frowned, it was a mansion. I thought we would just be living in some large apartment complex but a mansion, in the middle of nowhere? I hadn't even realized there were no other houses around, nothing but trees and overgrown shrubs. Could it be that we were really going to live here? Really going to settle down? Or was this one of my parents ridiculously played out and cruel teases...?
"Alright out you go"
"Excuse me?" I questioned politely snapping my head back to look at both my parents, my gaze flicked to my mother as she decided to speak first.
"Your father and I have an important meeting straight away, we're going to see some of our old business friends" she explained
"So you want me to go in there alone?" I asked just to make sure what I was hearing was indeed correct. I had been in a mansion before but not in a while and not one so large.
"Hai, the groundskeeper is sure to show you to your room"
"Groundskeeper?" I uttered immediately thinking about a creepy old hermit man with a trench coat and fishing hat in a thunder storm glaring at me. My parent's continued to speak and when I heard the 'she' I calmed down.
"She's a very nice lady" continued my mother with a chuckle for what reason I did not know, no yet anyway "Now out you go"
The door opened at my side which the driver took the liberty of doing every time a Fujino were to get out. He had my bags in his hands and followed me to the gate after I had said my goodbyes to my parents. I guess I was overreacting a little since I was nervous for some reason, I couldn't help but shake the feeling of being watched, although all that changed. The house was so bright and beautiful it didn't even look like someone like a creepy old man or murderer would even gaze upon such a place, even the trees sparkled in the sunlight and rustled beautifully in the calm breeze. The smell was so calming and soothing I couldn't believe I only realized it now.
My crimson eyes gazed upon the red brick fence covered in bright weeds and I wondered why the groundskeeper had yet to trim and remove them. 'Probably because no one was living here at the time' I told myself, but the cleaners and gardeners could have at least prepared the mansion for us. Something caught my eye and I examined the golden mailbox built in on the wall swearing that I saw a name above the number reading '72' but I ignored it for the moment. The large gate opened before my eyes and there was a buzz before I stepped in; it would have helped if the driver had dropped me off at the mansion's steps but since he was carrying my luggage I did not at all mind. The small pebbles beneath my feet scrunched as I stepped; taking my time I took in everything; the long driveway that rounded a fountain, the green gardens, the beautiful flowers along with the large trees. Immediately I registered that it was rather well decorated and looked quite taken care of – the garden that is - which was a good sign. At least I knew that the gardeners had indeed done their job. The white marble stairs caught my attention just as the two large polished wooden doors opened with the help of two maids dressed in uniform. A woman stood in the centre but I couldn't make out her face and continued forwards at a faster pace stopping after I finished climbing the stairs.
'Welcome Fujino-sama" bowed all three figures. The two maids faced each other and held the doors open while the one in the centre stepped to the side and began to speak to me "I am the Head of all cleaning and cooking arrangements, Himeno Fumi" she bowed again
"Pleasure to meet you" I uttered looking around and trying to peer pass everything, Fumi smiled and gestured for me to step in, and thus I did to find that the mansion was rather breathtaking; with two flights of stairs just like a ball room, two large almost clear doors to the left and the right, their frames outlined in gold and a beautiful chandelier hanging off of the roof I gazed at the golden and milky room in astonishment, rather impressed.
"This way" explained Fumi as the other maids took the bags from the driver and followed. They headed up the stairs while I stroked the railing in my smooth glide upwards still amazed at the mansions design, what really caught my eye were the patterns in the railing's bars. At the end and top of the stairs there were carvings of wolves and the entire photo frames of paintings on the walls also had the animal carved around them.
Fumi opened the two large doors at the top of the stairs and we entered a long hallway that seemed to cross with another forming an 'x' shape in the centre of the mansion. The other hallway had too many doors for me to count. Really how was I going to find my way around such a place? Everything seemed to be a mirror image of one side of the mansion to the other.
"Here we are Fujino-sama" explained Fumi and before I knew it I was on the third floor and facing a rather strange door "This will be your room for as long as you are to remain here, it is the first time we have had a request for all three stories of the mansion to be used"
"So this room hasn't been used before?"
"It has but by the previous owners" explained Fumi looking around nervously at the door behind me as unnoticeable as possible but unfortunately she was caught and I turned around to look at the other door.
"What is this room?" I asked curiously turning towards the door
"Ah!-" panicked Fumi gasping and realizing how rude she was before quickly changing her sentence "P-please don't go in there Fujino-sama"
I grabbed the handle and immediately turned it finding it locked "Eh?"
"Um… it has been locked for a while" explained Fumi "No one is to go inside as was the groundskeeper's orders"
"So you are not the groundskeeper?" I asked turning around. I had thought it was Fumi but I guessed I was wrong, she did say she was the Head of the cleaning and cooking arrangements.
"No Fujino-sama I am not" she opened the door to my new room and my crimson eyes looked around as I smiled my angelic smile walking into the bedroom to find it rather magnificent.
"We will leave you now, dinner will be ready at six is there anything you would like?"
"Some tea would be nice"
"Of course" bowed all three maids including Fumi leaving my luggage in the corner before the door closed with a click. I gazed at the large bed draped with clear purple curtains and the dark purple bedspread that almost looked black with bright purple patterns stitched into it; enchanting my eyes. The carpet was soft beneath my shoes and the walls were rather clean with no stain marks or anything, everything was perfect. This was good. I guessed that my mother and father told them to put purple as the theme in my room considering I found everything… that was purple, purple.
Wondering what to do I spotted a balcony connected to my room and smiled walking over to it and pushing the clear doors open to welcome the fresh air as I looked out at the back of the mansion. A small garden sat out the back about as large as the thickness of the house; while what looked like a labyrinth covered the rest of the place which was rather intriguing especially since I could spot a few statues over the hedges from where I stood. But I wondered how large it was considering it almost covered everything. Would I be able to get out after I get in? Who knows, I left that as one of the things I could do; explore the labyrinth; after exploring the mansion of course. But I was interrupted with my plans by the two maids who brought me some tea. Smiling I sat down at the small table near the veranda and breathed in the wonderful aroma. Ah… tea.
Soon I, Fujino Shizuru found myself at the dining room table awaiting dinner only to be interrupted by the doorbell. I heard the maids' padded footsteps and the click of a handle deciding to stand up and go take a look myself I padded towards the front door.
"Mr Fujino-sama" gasped one of the maids bowing like her companion "Mrs Fujino-sama"
"We weren't expecting you until later"
"Ah we returned early" smiled my father stepping into the mansion "wow this is great, don't you agree honey?"
"Yes it is most wonderful" agreed my mother before spotting my form to her right coming from the dining hall "Ah Shizuru!"
"Mother, Father" I greeted politely
"How do you like your room?"
"Well if there was one word to describe it I would say… purple"
"So you like it then?" he chuckled
"Yes"
"Wonderful, Shizuru dear, have you eaten?" asked my mother
"No I was about to have dinner now"
"Okay, you go eat then, we'll be in our room"
"Are you sure? Aren't you hungry?" I questioned my crimson eyes observing their faces
"No we ate at the meeting" and with that my parents went upstairs with soft laughs and giggles leaving me alone to go and eat.
After dinner I was escorted back to my room by one of the maids that brought me tea. I excused the woman at the door and watched as they left making sure they were completely out of sight before stealing a glance at the door opposite my own. It intrigued me so, I did not understand why but something inside of me wished to open it, to pry the lock loos and see what was inside; the possibilities. But unfortunately I just didn't feel up to it and entered my room soon going to bed after I discovered that there was not much I could do other than read or drink tea.
The sun beamed in through a crack in the curtains just touching my eyes with it's sunny rays. My eyelids flashed open immediately, as I remembered exactly what day it was. It was the day I was going to experience another day at school. I wondered if I should be the nerdy girl, the bitchy girl or maybe the jock. Well I didn't think I would be able to pull off too much of a jock and decided to be what I usually was, a Fujino Shizuru. Yes there was a category for me and people like me, Fujino Shizuru. My very own name. At my previous schools I was perfect, a goddess, and an angel, someone who was smart, beautiful and kind. I had hundreds of fan boys and hundreds of fan girls ever since I first started school. I didn't ask for it, it just happened.
The early morning seemed to go by so quickly and before I knew it I was in my new uniform and arriving in a limo at the front gates of Fuuka. Yes a limo, as if I didn't have enough attention as Fujino Shizuru or the new girl. My parents had to make me go in the limo instead of walk. They didn't even have another car to drop me off with since it was still being shipped here.
This was going to be a long day... a very long day.
NORMAL POV
"Okay class I would like you all to meet Fujino Shizuru"
Perfect, just what the new kid needed on their first day of school in a new high school, a teacher that introduced them in front of the entire class. Yes it was embarassing but not that bothersome for Shizuru, she just smiled politely and already caught half of the class in her spell as she greeted them; some had already been entranced when she walked into the room.
As Shizuru sat down she took the time to go through her time table while partly listening in on the lesson, she didn't really need to hear much since it was just homeroom so her crimson eyes scanned her classes for the day; History, English, Biology and Math. The bell rang and everyone left to their next class, Shizuru wasn't too surprised when someone walked up next to her, and definitely wasn't surprised that it was a boy in the mood to flirt with the new girl.
"Why hello, Fujino Shizuru right?"
"Yes" replied Shizuru politely
"The names Sai Yamanagi, whatcha doing after school?"
"Pleased to meet you, as for what I'm doing after school I'm going home"
"Sweet, so am I, where bouts do you live?"
"And why do you want to know might I ask?"
"So I dunno… we could hang out"
"Yamanagi you DELINQUENT!" bellowed a loud voice causing the boy to jump in fear "GET AWAY FROM THAT GIRL LIGHT NOW YOU PERVERT!" and he was gone.
"It's right Haruka-chan..." commented a much softer voice while Shizuru blinked at the retreating figure
"That's what I said isn't it?"
"Sorry about that" a voice chuckled and Shizuru turned around to look at the dashing man with smooth black tresses, perfect skin and violet eyes. Next to him was a growling girl who still seemed to be staring death rays down the hallway and beside her was another, a meek looking girl with square glasses and short messy brown hair "I'm Kanzaki Reito, this is Kikukawa Yukino and Suzushiro Haruka" he greeted. The loud blonde seemed to snap out of her haze and crossed her arms muttering something or something rather.
"It's a pleasure to meet you" bowed Shizuru "I'm Fujino Shizuru"
"We know, you're in our class" smiled the one called Yukino
"Speaking of class we're going to be late" uttered the tall dashing man
"Right" nodded Haruka in affirmation "What class have you got now Fujino?"
"Ara… History I think"
"Ah! Another History buddy for Haruka" teased Reito "Who's your teacher?"
"Um..." Shizuru thought back and then murmured "Sugoi Midori... or something"
"Ah that confirms it you are in Haruka's class, well good luck, you two better get going, we're heading this way" explained Reito giving them a wave before Yukino said her goodbye and followed after.
"Let's go!" shouted Haruka marching in the other direction through a few students. Shizuru just followed watching the loud girl in amusement "GET TO CLASS YOU BAKAS!" she bellowed to a few students who just stood there talking "HONOUR YOUR SCHOOL COMMITMENT! YOU'RE HERE TO LEARN NOT TALK! DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND ANYTHING ABOUT OUR SCHOOL'S HONOURY CODE?" and the students were gone in a blink of an eye.
Shizuru's first class was unexpected. She met Sugoi Midori who seemed to be drunk half the time and always slurred in her lessons. The second time she met her wasn't quite what she had expected and it was in the hallways of the school's facilities, but considering she got to sit with two rather normal students and Haruka for lunch it was okay. She felt that she could trust them and they seemed to be quite good people, they would be great friends to have in such a large school.
"So Fujino-san..." interrupted Reito while Haruka was yelling something out and trying to explain to Yukino what was wrong with the students average meals for school. Something about 'unhealthy' and 'unacceptable' was all Shizuru heard out of the babble "How do you like the school so far?"
"Its history teachers are indeed... interesting"
Reito laughed "At least they are easy to get along with"
"I suppose" agreed Shizuru with a nod
"So where do you live?" asked Yukino "It might be somewhere close to one of us, everyone around here lives next to someone"
"I highly doubt that Yukino" commented Haruka
"Ara... why's that?"
"What Haruka means is we are all from rich families and live in rich neighbourhoods, it is unlikely to find a house in that area" covered Reito trying to make it sound like Haruka did not mean to be rude. Shizuru did not mind.
"Oh I see" said Shizuru before laughing
Yukino sighed obviously her companions didn't get it, Haruka just frowned at Shizuru's reaction and Reito raised his brow slightly amused. Shizuru noticed Yukino's expression and gave her a smile. The square eyed girl returned it "This is Fujino Shizuru" explained Yukino "Heir to Fujino Corp"
Reito's eyes widened in surprise along with Haruka's
"Oh" smiled the man "So you are indeed richer than the rest of us then?"
Haruka pouted crossing her arms "Great a Fujino" she grunted, since they discovered that Shizuru was not just Fujino, but the Fujino.
"Haruka-chan!" scolded Yukino
"It's okay Kikukawa-san" smiled the crimson eyed girl, she understood that her father and Suzushiro-san's father were business partners and rivals at heart
"So which side of Fuuka did you move into?" asked Reito
"Ara... I don't quite remember the address but its a mansion at the end of Willow's road…"
"No way! You actually live there?" gasped Yukino
"I always knew the Fujino's were strange" commented Haruka and Rieto chuckled along with Shizuru who was quite curious into why they reacted so.
"Is there something wrong with the mansion?" asked Shizuru now very curious
"The groundskeeper is weepy" explained Haruka
"I think you mean creepy Haruka-chan"
"That's what I said!" shouted the blonde girl
"Haruka-chan your just frightened because you went there in 5th grade for Halloween and she scared you" interrupted a new voice and all their eyes flickered to a handsome girl with slick black hair and deep eyes carrying a phone which clicked as she took a photo of Shizuru
"Harada!" yelled the loud girl standing up "I WAS NOT SCARED!"
"Really? You dropped your candy and cried all the way home" explained the new individual "Yukino had to give you half of her collection and hold you like a little baby"
"BAKA! I DID NOT!"
And while that lost battle was going on Rieto took the chance to introduce the student taking a picture of an angry Haruka resulting in her to get even angrier, "This is Harada Chie"
"I TOLD YOU SHE HAD A SNACK AROUND HER NECK! A SNACK!"
"Snake Haruka-chan" corrected Yukino with a slight blush on her cheeks as she remembered the incident. Chie pushed passed Haruka and smiled at Shizuru.
"Hello I'm Harada Chie, pleased to meet such a fine lady of your- she went to grab Shizuru's hand and kiss it but it was slapped away by Haruka
"DON'T IGNORE ME! YOU FLIRTATIOUS HOUND!"
Reito chuckled and Shizuru looked at him "Don't worry" he reassured her "It's like this most of the time, Chie-san has a very charming way of introducing herself"
"Ara..."
Shizuru found herself in Biology and realized that the teacher was actually quite normal. She discovered that Yukino had the same lesson but unfortunately wasn't in her class, but Harada Chie was and the two seemed to talk a bit. Shizuru also met her friend Senoh Aoi and another girl named Tokiha Mai who sat next to her.
In English she found that Haruka was in another one of her classes along with Senoh Aoi but Shizuru didn't really talk to her considering she sat on the other side of the room. The last lesson was rather interesting considering the class discovered their teacher was sick and had a strange man who liked to spit every time he spoke.
Haruka was also in this class and seemed annoyed; complaining that Shizuru was some type of stalker which in turn made everyone laugh since Yukino was also in the class. The two spent most of their lesson trying to help Haruka, they really didn't know how the girl could possibly have survived in fast track but decided not to ask for fear of offending her. So before Shizuru knew it the bell rang for last period and it was time for her to head home after a long day. So many people had approached her and she could barely remember all of their names. Already having a fan club the first day of school the crimson eyed beauty left the school building, only to get picked up by...the limo, at the front of the school gate. She climbed in knowing well that people were watching her.
"How was your day Ms Fujino?" asked the driver
"Fine"
"Just straight home then?"
"Yes" if you could call it that.
That night seemed strange as Shizuru lay in bed staring up at the cieling. Dinner had been great and she had already taken a warm shower, now wearing her night gown. She had brushed her teeth and hair before coming to bed and had had a conversation with her parents about school. She told them she had met a few good people and also gave them their names after being asked 'Suzushiro Haruka, Kikukawa Yukino and Kanzaki Reito' she wasn't sure if she should mention anyone else but her parents seemed to be surprised that she had befriended the rich kids in the school especially Suzushiro but they guessed it ran in the family.
The mattress was indeed comfortable, perfect really, the sheets where so soft and warm and the pillows were perfectly padded. The drapings of purple around the bed were very calming and soothing to Shizuru as well but when they moved and a cool breeze hit Shizuru's skin she sat up immediately. She was confused at the possibility of there being a breeze. Slipping out of her sheets and touching the soft carpet floor she found that the window of her room was open and making an annoying sound as it banged against the wall. Crimson eyes narrowed in a frown as Shizuru grabbed the open window and closed it shut making sure it was locked this time, even though she swore it had been before, could one of the maids have come in?
A thump caused her to almost jump out of her skin and she spun around looking towards her door; slowly approaching it with caution. She opened it and peeped out into the hallway to find no one but dead silence. Just when she thought everything was okay her heart stopped at the sudden sound of a piano's keys being hit and ruby eyes flashed towards the door across from hers. It was partly open...
Shizuru took a step forward soon finding her hand on the door and slightly creaking it open as her crimson eyes peeped in; the room was dark, almost a mossy navy colour. A desk sat in the far corner under a window piled with papers and the piano that Shizuru had heard was placed to the left. She swung the door open fully and spotted another door behind the musical organ while walking deeper into the room causing the floorboards to creak, a few empty canvasses lay to the right in the far corner along with a few paintbrushes and empty ink bottles. Everything felt cold and creepy, full of dust and almost haunted.
"Hello?" uttered Shizuru in the silence "Is anyone in here?" but there was no reply and Shizuru looked around the room as she paced through it, walking around the piano and touching the keys, she felt the dust beneath her fingers attach to her skin and looked along the chain of keys before her heart stopped; in the far corner of the piano sat four finger marks that were definitely not hers. Shizuru's pulse thudded in her ears and she could feel it pumping against her chest, her breath became fast and heavy almost hitched as she looked around before scrambling towards the door. Her escape was hindered by a figure in the doorway and she was about to scream.
The old woman looked at her coldly her expression hard and face wrinkly, "You must be the Fujino's daughter" uttered the woman "Did Himeno not tell you? You were not to go in this room"
"It was open" explained Shizuru "I heard someone in here"
"No one is in here except for you and I" retorted the woman coldly "I am Miss Maria the groundskeeper"
"Oh" Shizuru uttered "I am very pleased to meet you"
"I'm sure..." commented the woman stepping to the side and gesturing for her to leave the room. The chestnut haired girl did so not glancing at the dark woman - wearing a long black dress with a tight high collar - once.
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A/N: First Chapter done. Like it? Let me know what you think, so plz review! Nxt Chapter will hopefully be up soon.
THX FOR READING!