Author's note: Okay I know I really shouldn't be starting a new fiction when I procrastinate so much for my other ones but I really couldn't get this plot bunny out of my head.
NOTE: please note that this fiction is superbly non-cannon.
The Other Half
It was a day like any other. Marie-Yue Winters sat by her window-sill, staring blankly down into the gardens below watching her father and younger brother play around in the lush green grass; still wet with morning dew. Watching her father, Marie's thoughts steered towards familiar ground. It was something she had always wondered whenever she looked at the family portrait that hung in the living room above the upright piano. Marie had always wondered why she never looked like her father. She resembled her mother greatly, with her dark and inky hair, small almond shaped eyes and button nose. Marie looked almost exactly like her mother but her facial structure, her cheek bones; they belonged to neither her father nor her mother.
Marie was no innocent. She knew what others said about her when they thought she couldn't hear. They called her the bastard child, the one that didn't belong. And perhaps, she really didn't belong. Her younger brother had a little of both her parents. He had his father's light brown hair and mossy green eyes; he had their mother's smooth cheeks and small mouth. Her brother looked every bit of the Asian-American that he was. But she, she looked completely Asian from every angle. She knew there just had to be something more to her family history. She had always known since she was old enough to recognize the subtle differences in facial structure. Many times she had asked her mother about it but always her mother would just say that she would never understand and that she should just be happy with what she had. But Marie was curious. She desperately wanted to know; and she knew that the answers to her long standing question lay hidden in her mother's homeland, Japan.
Marie was to leave for Japan tonight. She had got what she wanted. She had finally, after many years of asking, gotten permission from her mother to travel to Japan. She was to be her school's representative exchange student to the famous school of St. Lobelia Academy. St. Lobelia was famous for its performing arts and Marie's school, Mailand Academy of Fine Arts had strong ties with it.
Marie sighed a breath and misted her window glass. She slowly rose from her position and turned to look around her room. On her queen sized bed laid her suitcase that was only half full. She had much to do. She didn't know how she was going to find out more about her true past but she was determined to succeed. If Marie was anything, it was that she was a stubborn mule at most times, never stopping until she got what she wanted. Silently folding her clothes, Marie recalled what her mother had told her upon hearing that she was chosen to for the exchange trip.
"My daughter, I know that I can never stop you no matter how much I wish I could. You will keep going until you find what you want. But please my darling, keep in mind that sometimes, what you find is not always what you want. You're smart enough to know that you father, Paul, is not your true father by blood and I cannot say that I wish you luck in finding your father but I will tell you this. When you do find him, do not hate your father for what he has done; rather, admire his bravery in matters of the heart, and learn from his folly in matters of the world. He was escaping just as I was. I cannot find it in my heart to give you all the answers but I will only tell you that your father is a great man and that we parted as friends." All though her speech, Marie's mother never once looked into her eyes, she was instead staring into some unknown past, unreachable. "This is the only picture of your father that I have left. It was taken at our wedding." Then, her mother placed a photo, faced down, onto the table and left.
Marie had watched as her mother walked away from the dinning table. Only when she disappeared into the kitchen did she flip over the picture. The picture was a formal one, with the bride and groom both decked in white. Her father, it was the first time she had ever seen her father. He was very different from what she had imagined. He had a youthful face that seemed to have been aged by his grim smile. Then she noticed that everyone in the picture had a grim smile. An unhappy wedding. Now presented with her first clue, Marie was more excited than before.
It was night time now and Marie waved goodbye to her parents and sibling. This would be the first trip she had ever taken alone without anyone else. Taking in a deep breathe, Marie took a step forward and passed her passport to the immigration officer. Upon collecting her passport, Marie turned to look at her family one last time, her mother especially, memorizing that serene smile of hers before turning towards the departure lounge.
Behind the glass, Marie's mother whispered a small prayer for her daughter's safe trip.
Japan, the sun had just risen over the white sea of clouds. Marie looked out across the vast expense of cotton white fluff that stretched from end to end. She would be landing soon. Marie was beginning to have doubts now. What was the likely-hood that she would find her father by the time she had to return to America? All she had was the photo of her father's wedding to her mother and her mother's last name. How was she going to do this? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the seat belt sign switching on. The plane was landing and Marie was a few meters closer to her ultimate goal.
In a dazed manner, Marie exited the plane and passed the customs officer. Like a virgin tourist she stared at everything, turning her head side to side, up and down. Walking out of the arrival hall, she browsed the sea of human faces and signs to find the one with her name on it. There. At the back, dressed in the Lobelia school uniform were three young ladies holding up a sign that said, "Marie-Yue Winters". Marie turned and walked towards them, her baggage rolling behind her.
"Hello Ms Winters, my name is Benio Amakusa and I will be your student escort for the duration of your stay. May I also introduce Chizuru Maihara from second year and Hinako Tsuwabuki from first year.
Marie smiled back at the three girls who had bowed to her respectively. Making use of what little knowledge she had of Japan's customs, she bowed to each of them and introduced herself. "Hello, I'm very pleased to meet all of you and may I say that I am very impressed with your English. Do forgive me for my sketchy Japanese."
With the introductions over, Marie left with the other three girls.
Author's note: Alright alright, I know that was rather short but I just wanted to try it out. I'm sure most of you can guess whose daughter she is. It's really obvious isn't it? Well, please feel free to review and tell me if you think I should continue. Thanks.