A/N: I am deciding to give the UtaPri fandom a try once again. So, I'm going to say this now: IF YOU DO NOT LIKE THIS STORY (for whatever reason) DO NOT READ IT. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY I AM PORTRAYING CHARACTERS, DO NOT READ IT. Everyone in this story is going to be completely different from how they are in the anime, why? To fit the flow of the story, simply. So, if you don't like the way they are, please don't waste your time leaving anything negative. Keep your two cents and be on your way. I am basing this off of the Fox show/ book series WayWard Pines. If you haven't watched or read it, I really recommend it! It's got this vibe about it that totally had me hooked, but it's on going so I'm going to base this off of what I've watched and also my own scenes that I feel flow as well. This is going to be mostly from Ren's point of view, and will also include flashbacks. Reviews are wholly appreciated and encouraged, enjoy!
1.
Warmth.
The warm rays from the sun beamed down onto bronzed skin, small beads of perspiration littered the surface of the exposed flesh of his chest. Just where his neck branched off into prominent collar bones.
He normally hated these things.
Getting together with his family was always a headache. Being under their scrutinizing gaze of his brothers and father always made his skin crawl.
But this time was different.
This time she was allowed to come with him.
It was her who brought up the idea of actually joining the family he had so desperately tried to break away from. Apparently one of his brothers contacted her since he had made it blatantly known that he wanted nothing to do with them. Not after their father drove his mother to her death.
If he recalled correctly, that's when the changed started. The silent dinners, extended business trips, the long walks into the night because he just couldn't bare being inside that house. Everyone pretending that everything was alright when things were far from it.
But she was his escape.
His own personal heaven on earth.
She brought the light back into his life after it dimmed so much. She was his reason to smile, and her smile was beautiful.
"I need to talk to you." Her mellow voice barely rang over the sound of crashing waves and shifting sand. "There was a reason your brothers invited me along."
He took his bright blues off of the ocean to look at her. The gentle breeze ruffled her onyx locks about her pale face. Her large dark eyes seemed troubled as she stared back at him.
"Your father… he offered me a lot of money to leave you alone."
Her words caught him off guard. "What?"
His father always had a personality that left much to be desired, but he couldn't imagine the old man stooping to such levels to control his life.
Honestly it shouldn't have surprised him.
"I don't want to… you know I love you… but this is money my family needs. We're not fortunate like you guys are. I need to work where you don't have to. This could help my sister get the medicine she needs, my dad could do some repairs on our house, and I can actually go to college and further my education."
"Are you saying you took his money?"
"Please try to see things my way, I never wanted to hurt you."
"Well you've done a fabulous job at that!" He snapped.
The world all of a sudden seemed to be spinning, like the sand beneath his feet was slipping. Gravity weighed down heavily on him, mind racing.
"Ren?"
It was suddenly hard to breath, he grasped at his chest as he fought for air.
"Ren!?"
XXX
Cerulean eyes shot open, a rush of cold air filling stiff lungs. Frantic eyes scanned the small room, walls covered in pale green paint that was beyond chipping. The stench of disinfectant poorly covered the stale air and it dawned on him then that he was in a hospital.
"Ren, thank god you're awake." Haruka breathed a shaky sigh of relief. Her pale eyes glistened with unfallen tears.
"What happened?" He winced at just how horrible he sounded. Horse, his throat raw. "Where are we?"
"We're in a hospital," Said Haruka. "I don't know exactly where, but apparently, we were in an accident."
"An accident?" He coughed. "Are you ok? Are the others ok? Where are they?"
"Yes I'm fine," She smiled softly. "And the others are too. They are in Cecil's room, he just woke up too."
"Where is my phone? I need to call my dad or one of my brothers to bring me some things from my apartment." Said Ren, clearing his throat as he attempted to sit up. He grunted in discomfort, holding his side. "What the hell happened to me?"
"I don't know what happened to you or any of us, or even where our things are. We have our clothes, but our bags… my purse, our phones, everything is gone and they're not telling us anything."
Ren looked down at the IV tapped to the top of his left hand, following the clear tube all the way up to the gravity drip attached to the metal stand, then back to Haruka.
"What is going on, Haruka?"
"Excuse me."
Both heads turned, stunned to find a woman standing in the doorway. Neither one of them knew who she was, and judging by her neat and primed appearance she was someone of importance and clearly a resident of the mysterious town. She smiled sweetly at them before stepping into the room.
"My name is Piper Smith, and I am here to get you guys out of here and situated into your temporary quarters." She said. Her voice was smooth like velvet, her collected strides just as calming. "I am with the town's welcoming committee, so it is my job to not only show you around but to also make sure you feel welcomed and at home." She paused. "Are there not more of you?"
"Um… yes, there are. They're visiting another friend of ours.?
"Oh yes," The woman known as Piper nodded. "A Mr. Cecil Aijima, he's awake too now isn't he? I came a few weeks ago but only on rog you were awake then and he wasn't in the best of conditions. Hopefully now you're all feeling better."
"Thank you, I'm gonna go and get them." Haruka said as she got to her feet. She adjusted her thin hospital gown before quietly excusing herself.
Ren's gaze slid over to the woman dressed in a dark charcoal suit, eyes lowering to the folder in her grasp.
"What is that?" He asked.
"Oh this?" She held up the folder. "I'll go over it once your friends return."
Ren studied her for a moment before deciding it was best to just wait it out.
Piper strolled over to the small window, his stare followed. She was tall with a slender figure, her face refined (hence the appearance of maturity), with pale skin, bright blue eyes, and red painted lips. Honey strands of hair were pulled away from her face tightly, secured within a neat bun.
"Ren! You're awake!" Syo was the first familiar face through the door. The tiny boy looked as if he'd been hit by a bag of bricks. His normally blemish free skin was now speckled with small cuts and bruises, and the others looked no better.
Ren could only imagine the hell they've gone through, and how he too looked.
The others piled into the already cramped room shortly after. Once everyone had filed in and settled around the hospital bed, Piper closed the door with a quiet click and turned to the group of friends.
"Mr. Jinguji, if you would hit that button on your remote. The blue one please." Piper said.
Ren glanced down at the small beige remote hooked up to the side of his bed. "Sure."
"Hold it down."
"What is this about?"
"Because I have maybe forty-five seconds to tell you something before the nurse's station will get alarmed. There are microphones and cameras everywhere, we're always being watched. This town isn't what it seems I woke up here from an accident a few years ago too. I was given a new life, a new job, and if you ask anyone they won't tell you anything. They're not allowed to, but I have met others who have the answers you're looking for and I'll let you meet them once you're out of here. Until then, you're going to have to follow the rules if you want to stay alive. You need to play along and smile, because there's no way out of here in one piece. Release the button."
Ren stared back at Piper, stunned, as he slowly released his hold on the tiny blue button. The group fell silent, too floored to speak.
"Is everything alright?" A red headed nurse appeared suddenly, knocking once before entering. A Tomochika Shibya, is what her name tag said.
"Yes, just fine. Just going over a few things with them. If you will, can you get started on their discharge paperwork? I do have another appointment once I'm done with them."
"Certainly." The nurse, Tomochika, tossed one last curious glance over to the group of friends before taking her leave.
"Now, let me get you guys some of the basics of our sweet little town. With your clothing there is a sheet of rules. Rules you must follow at all times."
"What are the rules?"
"Enjoy your life in Wayward Pines, be happy, work hard, always answer the phone when it rings, do not discuss the past, do not discuss the life before, and do not try to leave." Piper smiled. "Welcome to Wayward Pines."