*Smiles Broadly* Hey guys, here's the newly revised edition of TA! I just decided that, since I said I'd post SOMETHING within the week that I may as well put the first few chapters up. So! Here it is! :D
Just a few format tidbits:
Regular text is just...regular text. xD I've been reading manga lately so I'm gonna use things like Japanese honorifics and such.
"Text like this is (technically) Japanese but...w/e..."
These are thoughts.
"Text like this will be seen a lot in this version. It's just where Spanish will only be spoken. Mainly, this will be in dialogues between my OC and her grandmother."
Though I doubt this is hardly necessary (my readers aren't dumb, obviously), I just wanted to put this here so as to avoid any confusion. :D Now on with the story!
*…Now approaching, St. Moriah's General Hospital…*
The automated voice of the annunciator system jolted her back into reality. She reached instinctively for the string of wire hanging across her window and yanked hard until an airy bell rang overhead.
*Stop requested…Please watch your step as you exit the bus…*
Her grip on the metallic pole tightened as the bus slowed to a gentle stop; she left through the rear door while others filed out from the front, and as it lumbered along she carefully crossed the dual carriageway. Once on the other side of the street, she took a moment to pause in front of the massive superstructure.
The hospital stood eleven stories high, heavily clad in architectural glass. Two thick towers protruded from the concaved side of the main building and the entrance reminded her of a sort of mall-like setting. The grounds were perfectly neat and trim; a fringe of spiral topiaries flanked either side of the broad welcoming sign, and the freshly-cut grass was an unnatural forest green. Round shrub baubles lined the curving walkway and small beds of white and pink flowers added random bursts of color.
She didn't want to do it. She really didn't…but she knew her grandmother would give her hell if she chickened out.
D'Leh peered back up at the looming edifice. Then, sighing, she passed through the central sliding doors.
"—This is by far the most horrendous display of professionalism I have ever seen, Takashi-san! How could you let this happen? Because of this foolish man my beloved child is now dead! Dead I tell you!"
"I can't believe this—how can you sit there and act as if you'd played no part? Had you been honest about his pre-existing condition—"
Offended, the woman gasped dramatically. "Why I never! Young man, do you have any idea who I am? Apologize to me! Apologize this very instant—!"
Sesshomaru settled back into his chair with an inaudible sigh. Apparently, some high profile patient (a diabetic it seemed) had been rushed in due to a lack of insulin. However, amongst the confusion of his arrival Tamaki-sensei unknowingly gave him what appeared to be too much, resulting in a fatal coronary infarction.
They'd been like this for the last hour, the young physician and the patron's stubborn mother, constantly arguing with no end in sight. It was enough to drive him raving mad…
I could just kill them and be done with it…He thought with an inward smirk, tuning them both out. But then, glancing down at his expensive clothes he decided against it.
His eyes shot back up when their voices rose a notch.
"I'll have your head for this!" The woman viciously snarled, spittle flying from her painted lips. "You will be stripped of your medical license, do you hear me? Stripped!"
Tamaki's livid cheeks puffed out like a little child's. "Just who do you think you are? You can't just barge in here and make impossible demands…!"
Sesshomaru massaged his throbbing temples; he felt a headache coming on…
"I am going straight to the board with this, you hear me? I'll ruin you, you…you—!"
"Enough."
Both glanced at him sharply, this having been the first and only word he'd said to them.
Sesshomaru's half-lidded gaze slid between them before continuing. "Madam, Dr. Tamaki did misdiagnose and inadvertently caused the patient's death."
The overly dressed woman sneered over at the fledgling MD, but her leer of triumph was wiped clean off at his very next remark.
"But you failed to mention that your…child…was grappling with substance abuse; did you not think such vital information would be needed?"
She was shocked speechless. How did he know…? "I…B-but—!"
"The hospital will pay compensation." He took a moment to glance at the time. "But you will not be able to sue as you so boldly threatened. Now get out. The both of you."
The poor woman gawked at him in disbelief; this infernal creature had the nerve to dismiss her like a mere servant? "S-such insolence!"
He tried not to wince at the grating sound of her voice.
"How dare you speak to me this way! I—"
Sesshomaru stabbed her with a piercing scowl, halting her mid-squall. "Leave. Take it up with your lawyer if you want but I'd advise you against it."
The woman huffed angrily and stomped out of his office in a rage; Tamaki heaved a sigh of relief and turned back to the demon with a sheepish smile.
"Thank you so much, Takashi-san! I've caused you so much trouble."
Sesshomaru eyed him briefly. "What's done is done. Make sure it doesn't happen again."
"Yes, yes of course!" Bowing quickly, Tamaki left him in peace.
Finally alone, Sesshomaru tipped his head back and closed his eyes. He sighed quietly when he felt the tension leak out of his corded shoulders; why on earth had he even thought of taking this job? The long hours he spent working here (and at the firm) often grew tiresome and…a bit lonely. Granted, he had his energetic bunny of a daughter who would cause the occasional catastrophe but even that wasn't enough. There was still an inner emptiness that could not be filled, not since his last break up so many years ago…
A loury snarl slipped from between his lips when the memory of his previous flame suddenly reared its ugly head. He'd managed to keep such unwanted thoughts under a tightly clamped lid but as of late…let's just it's become a little difficult not to.
This lawyer business doesn't pay me enough…
He looked idly over when the hospital doors swished faintly open, and through the apparent glass he spotted a girl (most likely in her late teens) dressed in a rather…disheveled manner. Her clothes were far too baggy and hardly did anything for her young figure. She wore no makeup, no jewelry…if he didn't know any better he would've assumed she was just a very pretty boy.
Her dark hair hung past her lower back in a thick braided rope, and her skin was a creamy beige. He scanned over her worn-looking face; it was completely drained and washed-out, just like so many others who'd checked in long before her. It was almost as if she were weighed down by some imperceptible burden.
But her eyes…her eyes were her greatest feature. They were a very cold, very pure shade of crystal-blue, but their natural sharpness seemed slightly dulled. Still…
Such an alluring color… He sat up slowly as the girl made her way over to the help desk. She must be of a mixed parentage—
"Something caught your eye, Takashi?"
Sesshomaru's gaze drifted over at the sudden intruder with great deliberation, eyes dangerously narrowed. "…What is it that you want?"
Smirking gently, Kagura sauntered over with a light sway of her shapely hips. "Must you speak so harshly? It is my last day after all."
"…If you've no reason to be here—"
She scoffed loudly. "Can't handle a little tease now and then?"
Sesshomaru chose not to reply. For the past few weeks she'd been coming and going, flashing him one of her sordid smiles; it'd been years since he'd last seen her, and Fate suddenly deemed it wise to drop his ex-beau right back into his lap. True, like him she was also in the legal profession but did it have to bring her to this exact hospital?
"Here." Kagura placed a manila folder atop his desk. "I managed to snag a few of those forms you'd been asking for."
He grunted his thanks. Her expression soured at his lack of a reaction but she remained silent.
Still as cold as ever…
Spotting a half-eaten bento, she irked a curious eyebrow. "What's this?"
"…It's nothing—"
Kagura lifted the cover and her lips parted slightly in wonder; in it she found the most colorful array of animal-shaped sushi rolls and sticky rice flowers. The garnishes were abounding and overly ornate; she would've expected something a little more…conservative, to say the least. "Did…did she make this for you?"
Sesshomaru took his time answering. "…Yes, and?"
Kagura blinked. Was this really the great demon lord of the West? One whose very name was once feared throughout Japan?
Perhaps I was wrong…
"Oh?" Closing it back she tutted gently. "I never would've thought you'd indulge in eating homemade bento…You really have changed haven't you?"
Sesshomaru's steely gaze locked onto hers. "Change is inevitable…Even you know this to be true."
Kagura scowled darkly. "…I see."
Sesshomaru glanced down at his wrist when his watch suddenly bleeped; Kagura's fervid eyes followed him as he stood to his feet and grabbed his woolen overcoat from the back of his chair.
"Leaving already?" She took his silence as answer enough. Sighing impatiently, Kagura crossed her arms. "You don't have to leave now, do you? I still need Tetsuya's access copies!"
Slipping it on, he spared her a glance. "It will have to wait."
She gave another exaggerated sigh. "You always do this. Putting your work before everything else…even me…"
"You seem to forget that everything I did was for you."
"That's not the point—!"
"It doesn't matter. We are no longer intimately involved; what I do is none of your concern, now if you'll excuse me…" Sesshomaru yanked up his sleeve to check the time. "I'll be going."
He flicked of the light as he brushed past her; biting down on her tongue, Kagura stormed out after him, pausing a moment to take one last look at the proud inflexible back of her old lover as he stalked toward the front of the building.
"Uh-huh…yeah. Ok you too. Mhm! Buh-bye now…How can I help you Hun?"
D'Leh pulled out a crumpled note and, glancing up sheepishly, she straightened it out before handing it over. The kind nurse quickly read the crinkled piece of paper and once finished she smiled at her radiantly.
"So you're here to see Dr. Takashi? I'll send her a quick PM; just sit tight for a bit, okay?"
She reached for the receiver of a standard analog phone. D'Leh stuffed the note back into her pocket and took a quick look at her surroundings. It was surprisingly busy despite how late it was; doctors bustled by, other nurses scurrying at their heels while clusters of interns clung to their attending physicians. There were a few patients walking about, some with family while others sat off by themselves.
Seeing them, a dull ache began to build underneath her chest; the last time she'd come to a hospital her whole world had been flipped upside down, and it was for that very reason that she hated coming to this place. Hospitals brought back a load of bad memories; were it not for her grandmother's incessant pleading she wouldn't even be here but she'd made her a promise and would have to live up to it.
Something darted in the corner of her eye, and she glanced back in time to see a man in his late twenties walking briskly toward the front of the hospital. He was very tall, about six feet, and she had to admit that he moved gracefully. The sudden flash of silver that had caught her attention had been his long flowing hair, reaching to the back of his knees.
A woman had been following him, and she gasped quietly. She was beautiful…breathtakingly beautiful. Her ebony hair was cut in the hime style, and her lips were painted a color that matched her stunning eyes. The tips of her ears were pointed, and D'Leh quirked her head. Was she a demon? She thought back to her first encounter with a Youkai, a water kappa who had the most mesmerizing cerulean eyes.
While some chose not to stay in their natural forms others wore power limiters to appear even more human. It was hard to tell whether one was really human or not since most limiters were fashioned to look like body accessories. Her eyes flitted back to the silver-haired man; this one was most definitely a Youkai, but what kind she was unsure. But his golden eyes and tapered ears made the fact that he was one quite apparent.
Maybe… She trailed off to stare after the crimson-eyed beauty who at this point was stepping into an elevator. They know each other?
D'Leh turned her gaze back to the silver-haired man only to freeze when he glanced suddenly over, meeting her eyes; she blinked before turning away, feeling a strange warmth spread over her cheeks. She could still sense his eyes on her, and her heated flush deepened. After a minute or two she peered back and was relieved to find that she was no longer the object of his attentions.
Turning fully, she watched him leave with a look of wonderment. Who is that…?
"Excuse me?"
D'Leh whirled back around, thinking she had been caught ogling a random passerby. The nurse, however, simply smiled. "Dr. Takashi is on her way back from a meeting. Her office is on the third floor, just go straight down the hall and make a sharp left. She should be the fifth door on your right."
It was a short five minutes before she finally found the right door, and she paused to read the small sign pinned to the ivory wall…just to be sure:
Takashi Kagome
Mental Health Counselor, Ph.D
E736-9
"Ph.D" huh…?
D'Leh stared at it blankly, unsure about going inside. Would this "doctor" truly understand her predicament? She turned slightly, hearing quickly paced steps coming up the hallway only to see a woman walking her way.
At first glance she was the average beauty, but of course it was just a first glance. Raven-black locks stopped just below her shoulders, and beneath her long white coat she wore a modest blue button-up, a pair of umber slacks and matching pumps. Glancing up from a chart she was carrying, the woman beamed when she noticed her and vigorously shook her hand the moment she was within her reach.
"Hello! Jiménez right? I'm Dr. Takashi. It's very nice to meet you!"
Dubious, D'Leh just nodded her head. She's…young!
"Sorry I wasn't here to greet you personally; staff meetings tend to take up a lot of my time but I'm here now so let's get started!"
D'Leh stepped aside to let her open the door, and the moment she did a strongly fragrant smoke hit her right in the nose; potted poinsettias and dappled ferns decorated her windowsills, and an arcing floor lamp in the leftmost corner gave off a soft golden light. The entire place was in complete disarray. Still, despite the disorderliness it felt…soothing to be there.
D'Leh snapped her head back around when she heard the door click shut. "Sorry about the mess. I was going to straighten it up but…ehehe…Anyway, please sit down."
After much deliberation she decided to sit on the sofa over by the large window while Kagome (grabbing a log book and a clipboard) settled into the quilted armchair across from her.
"Now. I've taken a very deep look at your medical file and it's quite…interesting, to say the least. You have a mild case of what I thought was selective mutism but it seems you're refusing to speak on purpose?" She gently probed, watching her intently.
D'Leh averted her gaze; she must've been right on the mark. "…Well, since this is our first session we'll just talk a little about ourselves. Here, I'll start first: uhm…my full name is Kagome Takashi; I'll be turning twenty-six in seven months and I've been a mental health counselor going on two years now. Uhhh…lemme see…"
She tapped her chin thoughtfully, looking off to the side. "I've done a few studies on developmental psychology which I absolutely absolutely love; I have a lot of experience in counseling children your age and younger and uh, oh! I've also…"
D'Leh glanced curiously down at the thin band of gold encircling her finger as she continued her introduction. Was she married? Her eyes wandered over to a small portrait on the desk behind her. She was in the arms of a snowy-haired man with two young children standing between them. Indeed she was. And at such a young age? Well. She couldn't really call it strange since her own mother married when she too was very young. Had her family looked like that when she was small?
She mentally snorted. Probably not.
Kagome's apologetic laughter pulled her back into the present. "I think I've said enough for now. So, what about you D'Leh? Do you have anything you'd like to share?"
She shifted uncomfortably and stared pointedly out of the window. Kagome irked an eyebrow. "D'Leh?"
Reluctantly, she dragged her eyes forward. Kagome's lips drew into a thin line, but then her eyes suddenly brightened. "Here. Let's do a quick little exercise, just to help you relax ok?"
Wary, D'Leh nodded; her suspicion lifted when Kagome smiled reassuringly. "Good. Now, what we're going to do is what I like to call a 'grounding technique', okay? First get comfortable on the sofa."
Kagome waited until D'Leh was done shimmying around before continuing. "Now close your eyes…come on, close 'em!"
Sighing, she obeyed. "This next part will be a bit tricky…what you're going to do now is notice the sensations of your body, both within and without. I know it may sound a bit silly but trust me it's helped previous patients, even me, so I want you to try your best alright?"
D'Leh nodded again. "Notice the couch supporting you. Can you sense the amount of pressure against your back? Find where you feel a good connection with how your body makes contact with the chair. Once you've made that connection others will start popping up…"
And she was right; they did. Butterflies in her tummy, the tautness in her shoulders, toes tightly curled in the bottoms of her shoes. As her body settled she began to feel lightheaded; heat pooled in her face and a tingling sensation ran along the sides of her legs. She must've made a strange face for it was then that Kagome suddenly spoke up.
"You're doing fine! Now that you've begun to relax energy is being discharged through your body. This is what grounding does, it helps you let go of all that pent up energy."
Eyes still shut, D'Leh unknowingly smiled. Well, it's working lady.
"You can open your eyes now…So? Feel a bit better?"
Looking genuinely happy, D'Leh nodded.
"Great! Now, let's get back t…ugh…" Kagome glanced down at her watch with a slight pout. "Mm…our time's almost up!"
D'Leh blinked in disbelief. Really?
Kagome looked back up with a small sigh. "We'll finish up next week Monday, 'kay?"
D'Leh gathered her things, but she paused on her way out when a warm hand patted her on the arm.
"…I know our session didn't end with much but it was very nice meeting you. And I know you aren't comfortable speaking with me right now but if you become accustom with me it may be easier for you to talk normally again," It was here that her face suddenly brightened. "Hopefully by our next session! For now, just try to get used to the sound of your own voice, okay?"
She had to smile at her optimism. Shaking her hand in farewell, D'Leh made her way to the elevator. She snuck a peek out of a nearby window as she waited for the arrows to light up; it was probably a quarter to five by the looks of it and she entered the lift with a slight wince. She had an internal assessment due the next day for biology, and a major history exam.
Sighing, D'Leh hung her head and stepped out of the elevator when the doors swished open once more. Man…research papers, homework, tests! Ugh…I can't wait for graduation—
D'Leh let out a sharp cry when, bumping into something hard, she fell back on the hard ground. Papers fluttered to the floor and D'Leh immediately panicked when a distinctly male voice cursed softly.
Ah shit! What'd I do?
Forgetting her own belongings she scrambled frantically around and snatched up every piece of loose leaf she could find. Tapping stubborn corners back into place she paused, remembering Dr. Takashi's charge:
"…Get used to the sound of your own voice, okay?"
Maybe I should…? She glanced furtively behind her and breathed a shaky puff of air as she got to her feet.
"U-uh… sorry about tha—" D'Leh stiffened when she was instantly met with a pair of captivating honey-yellow eyes.
It was that guy…The one she'd seen earlier that day!
Swallowing, D'Leh took an unconscious step away from him. …Oh crap.
Her eyes practically bulging from their sockets, they danced from one handsomely unlined feature to another, from regal brow to chiseled jaw. His skin was flawless and beautifully pale; not a single blemish could be spotted anywhere! Her gaze flickered back up into a pair of incandescent pools…and her heart nearly stopped.
D'Leh tried to look away but she couldn't; the hold his eyes had over her was just that powerful. She'd experienced a similar feeling when she first met that water Youkai all those years ago.
Are all demons unbelievably good-looking?
Her face warmed in embarrassment when he irked a finely plucked eyebrow, patiently waiting for her to finish. His eyes now held a gentle humor within their fiery depths, and finally (finding some inner strength) she looked down at the pile of papers clutched in her trembling hands.
"…H-here!" D'Leh shoved them into his unsuspecting palms and swept her bag up from the littered floor.
Mumbling another apology she brushed hurriedly past him, sparing one furtive glance before she did. He watched silently as she walk—er…ran—toward the revolving doors, his previous task completely forgotten. Sesshomaru couldn't help relishing the light cadence of her strange accent; was she a foreigner as well? Perhaps she was of a mixed parentage.
No wonder… her skin has such a lovely warm tone—
His eyes widened, appalled at what he'd just thought. Turning abruptly, he headed straight for the stairs.
D'Leh felt like screaming. Why? Whydid she do something so embarrassing! She knocked her head against the window, demeanor glum. I'm so…stupid! How could I—UGH!
She stopped her childish brooding when she felt the bus slow down, nearing her stop. Sighing, she grabbed her things. D'Leh took her time walking home; she honestly didn't feel like doing all that homework, that and once she stepped foot into that house her grandmother would gruel her about her first session, down to every single insignificant detail!
Pursing her lips, she kicked an empty soda can into the pitted road. Can't blame her though… not after my last little…"surprise…"
The aforementioned "surprise" had occurred the previous week one hapless morning in her first period class. She had been sitting in her usual spot at the back of her first period class absently sketching a faint picture in one of her many notebooks. Her mind wandered aimlessly to her last piece of artistry as she listened to her other classmates filing in, talking and laughing as they did. The quiet room finally swelled with their idle chatter and she hid a slight scowl, bothered by the noise.
Talk of an up and coming dance swept the school like a wildfire; it would be the last student social gathering of the year but D'Leh had no interest in such occasions. They just…weren't her thing. Plus, she couldn't even dance! What would be the point of going if she was only going to make a fool of herself?
Noticing a pair of slim tanned legs she'd glanced up regrettably to find the self-proclaimed "It" girl of the school sneering down at her. Yanagi Melantho.
She could already feel the beginnings of a migraine…
Melantho hated her with a passion and the feeling was mutual. She easily got what every single girl strived for: beauty, wealth, confidence, and the hearts of every male she crossed paths with. Her hair was luscious and the color of midnight; her eyes, too, were the same dark shade and her naturally sun-tanned skin was immaculate.
D'Leh had to admit that she was a little jealous of her. She was athletic and popular and she knew exactly what she wanted, which she got for the most part. But her beauty equally matched her cruelty; she was selfish and vain, and very proud. But what could you expect? She was practically loaded!
Behind her stood her two cronies, Yoko and Yuki; fraternal twin sisters who, similar to Yanagi, were very well off. They were Melantho's doppelgangers, dreadful parodies of the actual thing. Their hair was styled just like her, they wore their clothes just like her…hell, they even tried to sound like her!
Sighing, D'Leh rolled her eyes and spared a glance over at the two of them.
"Hell-ooo Dee-chan!" Melantho chirped, flashing a dazzling fake smile. D'Leh silently simmered; she only used the ridiculous nickname in a childish effort to annoy her…and dammit it was working…
"How ya been, hun?" She asked, as if the two were on friendly terms with one another.
D'Leh kept her focus on her drawing; she would've liked to tell her off, or preferably to bash her face in but she knew better than to play her little mind games and kept quiet (which was often the case).
Untroubled by her customary silence Melantho continued, admiring her nails. "You know, the formal is coming up in a couple months… you are going, right?"
D'Leh shot her a sidelong glance.
"Any prospects? No…?" Melantho clucked her tongue in reproach before she turned to the skinny on her right. "Yuki Dear, I'm confused; why wouldn't anyone want to go with Dee-chan? She's such a sweet girl!"
"Nope." Yuki answered, giggling.
The other one leaned toward Melantho's ear. "It's because she's a psychotic freak." Yoko quietly whispered, but it was loud enough for D'Leh (and a few others) to hear.
It was then that the trouble first started.
The room suddenly got quiet; the pencil in her hand immediately stilled and, slowly, she scowled up at the three of them. The twin's cruel smiles faltered under her death glare but Melantho just smirked and bent forward to whisper secretively in her ear.
"She is right about that you know. You were just…an accident…"
D'Leh stiffened when Melantho patted her sympathetically on the shoulder. "Don't blame your mother. I mean, she was a foreigner; it couldn't be helped, you know?"
D'Leh clenched her hand into a tight fist, so tightly in fact that her pencil snapped in two. She couldn't stand it anymore; the cracks, the insults, they were all too much. She lashed out with a shout of anger and was glad to feel Melantho's nose crunch beneath her fist. One of her cronies screamed and Ichida-sensei hurried inside to find them—well…her—wrestling in the middle of the floor. He managed to pull them apart but she strained against his hold; he had quite a difficult time trying to hold her back while Melantho's friends helped her into a nearby chair. Still struggling, he turned to the student closest to him.
"Notify the Principal. Now!"
The student rushed out of the door while Ichida escorted her out by the arm; Melantho glared hatefully at her as she passed, holding a bloodied napkin up to her busted nose. They came to the headmistress' office in a matter of minutes and they entered to find her waiting with an unhappy expression on her tired face.
"Thank you, Ichida. You may leave."
"Yes Nitta-san—"
D'Leh tugged violently out of his grip and eyed him menacingly, daring him to touch her again. Stunned, Ichida nodded numbly and left, shooting her a nervous glance.
"Jiménez. Take a seat."
D'Leh glanced deliberately over and, sighing, did as she asked. She plopped down into a plump chair and crossed her arms as she awaited yet another lecture from Umori High's oh-so-beloved Dean.
Calmly removing her glasses, Nitta heaved a heavy sigh and rubbed her aching temples.
"D'Leh…this is the fifth time this month you've been sent here for fighting…I need not remind you of your previous altercations: your fist fight in P.E.…another at lunch…On the same day…"
It was here that D'Leh watched her blankly, not caring in the least; she wasn't going to hide it. She broke Melantho's nose. Was she asking for it? Yup. Was she sorry? Nope.
"What next D'Leh? Setting your target on fire? Huh?"
She averted her eyes to the floor, jaw stubbornly set.
"If you continue with this kind of behavior," Nitta warned, "I'm going to have to consider expulsion."
D'Leh glanced up sharply before she lowered them to the ground once more.
"D'Leh." Nitta's voice had grown gentle. "You're a very talented student; I've been watching you ever since you transferred here, and you've made quite a few accomplishments."
Nitta smiled slightly when said student squirmed uncomfortably, thrown off by her sudden praise. "I expect some great things out of you but you need to learn how to better control your emotions. I know your type; you hold everything in. Then, after some time…it's just not healthy. Ok?"
Her gaze still turned to the side, D'Leh nodded once stiffly.
"…All right. Now, as punishment for this little mishap you will be given after school detention today and all of next week. For now I'll put you in ISD until your lunch period. And don't worry; Melantho will be joining you."
Handing her a red pass, she was dismissed with a wave of her hand. As promised, once school was over D'Leh marched herself down to after school detention and there she remained for the next hour. Melantho sat a few desks over, filing her nails in absolute boredom. A bruise was beginning to grow under her left eye; D'Leh had inwardly cringed at how much pain she was in, and she began to feel a little (just a little) sorry for her…but her pity had been short-lived; she was entitled to take a bit of pride in doing a number on the school whore.
The timer on the teacher's desk finally rang and with a dull grouse they were all dismissed. D'Leh shot out of her seat and broke into a swift run as soon as she hit the sidewalk, jogging toward home; when she finally made it she carefully unlocked the front door.
Now, here was the tricky part. Making the least amount of noise possible, D'Leh needed to sneak up into her room and hopefully stay there the rest of the night without getting caught.
She mentally scoffed, waving hello to one of her neighbors. Yeah right…
Closing it noiselessly behind her, she had been relieved to find that her grandmother wasn't in the living room; she was safe…for now. The sound of running water and clanking pots and pans soon told her that her grandmother was busy elsewhere, and she glanced over at her intended target: the staircase…
I'm home free! She'd foolishly thought.
That was her first mistake. Her second was thinking she could actually pull it off.
D'Leh kept a keen eye on the kitchen as she crept stealthily over, but just as she was about to sneak quietly up to her room her grandmother called her out, totally aware of her presence.
"D'Leh Isabella Alejandra Jiménez…Come. Here."
And so began the interrogations, and the pestering and D'Leh visibly winced, thinking back. Her grandmother had been seriously pissed!
Thank God she didn't try to paddle me…
It was decided then that, due to the amount of misdemeanors and constant silences (save for the occasional chats at the dinner table) they would seek a course of therapeutic reparation. And here she was, coming from her first session. Rounding one last corner, her grandmother's house was now in full sight and she brushed her feet off before she went inside.
Slipping out of her sneakers, she threw them and her book bag down by the couch. "Abuelitaaa? I'm home!"
Her grandmother's melodic voice floated down from the stairs. "Mija? You've come back already?"
D'Leh craned her neck up to see her over by the railing, fixing a freshly ironed blouse onto a plastic hanger. Her grandmother glanced down and smiled briefly before she hung it in the closet, then she reached down and pulled out another shirt from the clothes hamper. D'Leh climbed sluggishly up the steps and, once she was level with the banister, settled her weight on it with a soft sigh.
"Mija. You'll fall if you keep doing that…" Her grandmother murmured, grabbing another article of clothing.
Hiding a smile, Consuelo shook her head when her granddaughter snorted quietly. "So? How'd it go?"
D'Leh shrugged casually. "It was fine."
Consuelo peered back at her, brow irked questioningly. "Just 'fine'?"
Her granddaughter shrugged again, averting her eyes. "Yeah. Dr. Takashi taught me this new trick to help me relax so…"
Consuelo blinked. Then, turning, she laughed softly. "Hm. Well, it's a start, yes?"
"I guess."
"You must try your very best, Mija. Take what the doctor tells you to heart, ah?"
"…I know."
"Good…It's getting late, go do your homework. I'll have Dinner ready in an hour."
D'Leh went back down to get her things before she went obediently to her bedroom. She found it in its usual state of being…not entirely messy…but it wasn't very clean either. At her left her desk was a complete jungle of books, notebooks, stray papers and writing utensils. The wall behind it was covered with the various sketches and drawings she had pinned there, and on the adjacent wall there were a few professional paintings, ones her mother had drawn before she had become ill. Thankfully, her bed was still made but her closet was an absolute mess; it was a sight not even the world was ready for…
She let her bag slide off her shoulder as she moved over to her bed, though not after kissing a recent poster-sized photo of her mother she had taped to her wall. It was a ritual that she always performed when she came home from school, and right before she went bed. It kept the memory of her mother alive…to her anyway.
Pulling back, she gave it a sad tender smile. Hi Mamá…I've had the most wonderful day, how 'bout you?
It would be here that the two of them would've shared a nice long side-aching laugh. She missed that the most; hearing her laugh, seeing her smile…it was such a rare thing back in those days…
She sent a few stray pieces of paper flying when she dropped down onto her bed. She pulled her necklace out of her shirt and felt along its length until she found its little pendant. It wasn't much of anything really; just a little blue rock hanging from a dingy silver chain. Quite worthless actually.
The necklace though had been her mother's, and before that her grandmother's. It was customary for the precious keepsake to be given on the 12th birthday, and even though she herself was far past that age it was now hers. It had great sentimental value and it was her most cherished memento; she'd vowed to treasure it, always.
She moved her eyes up to her ceiling, painted herself like the night sky. It had taken her three long days to finish the intricate mural and her grandmother nearly had a heart attack. D'Leh chuckled lightly, remembering the time she watched a meteor shower together with her mother years ago. It had been late in the evening when, finishing a painting she'd been working on, her mother glanced out of the kitchen window to see these delicate tails of light showering down…
You're up there somewhere…aren't you? She thought, glancing out her bedroom window. I'm sure of it…
Yawning widely, D'Leh rolled onto her side and pillowed her head on her arm. Send me a sign or something one of these days…Heh. Might bring me some good luck for once…
Sighing drowsily, she finally drifted into a sweet sleep.
Hours later Consuelo climbed up the stairs to announce dinner, but when she peeked inside she found her granddaughter soundly asleep. She smiled and closed it quietly back before returning to the kitchen. While she was setting the table the phone suddenly rang in the living room and, curious, she hurried to go answer it.
"Hello…?"
A woman's voice brightly answered her. "Hello! Is this the Jiménez residence?"
"Yes, yes it is. Can I help you?"
"I'm Momiji Fujita and, well this may be a bit of a shock but we have a little girl here—she's three; so adorable—and it's come to our attention that the mother's half-sister lives here locally, with you."
"I'm…sorry," Consuelo's brows wrinkled in confusion. "But what—"
"Oh! Whoops." The young woman sheepishly apologized, laughing at herself. "Well, the child's mother is deceased; she died a few months ago and we're trying to place her with a foster family. We tried contacting other relatives, but we haven't gotten any luck; all our messages went unanswered. The child's aunt is our last option."
"Oh…I-I see." Consuelo murmured, stunned. It was possible that this "sister" was one of her Ex-Son-in-Law's older children, and she shook her head in distaste. It didn't surprise her that he wouldn't bother to answer them; she wouldn't put it past him.
"Well I…I don't—"
"Oh, there's really no rush we just wanted to let you know, in case you were interested; we can discuss this further later in the week."
Consuelo sighed, suddenly relieved. "That sounds like a good idea."
"Wonderful! In the meantime I can send you an informational packet, let you read up on your options before we meet, ok? Thank you very much for your time, bye-bye!"
"Goodbye…"
Hanging up the phone, Consuelo lowered herself onto the sofa. A great-grandbaby…at my age?
She glanced up the stairs, wondering whether she should enlighten her other granddaughter. …No, I'll tell her tomorrow.
Consuelo drifted towards the kitchen, musing over this recent most startling discovery.
Tell meh what you think. :)