Hey everybody!

Enjoy the second chapter of Why ME!

The Adoption

In Tokyo, Japan, a beautiful girl performed an elegant dance.

"You did a great performance, Nadeshiko. I'm proud of you." Mrs. Fujisaki congratulated Nadeshiko for her dance, when she saw her coming backstage.

"Thank you. I had fun." Nadeshiko said smiling. She wore a light purple kimono with big maroon flowers all over it. It had a dark purple sash. Her hair was up with a red ribbon. Nadeshiko was happy with the performance; her mom made her practice for hours.

"Okay, you can change into these, so you can walk easier." Mrs. Fujisaki said. Nadeshiko grabbed the clothes and changed in a nearby room. When she came out, Nadeshiko had a red t-shirt, light purple skirt, and a black jacket on. She looked a little relieved. They both headed to meet Mr. Fujisaki, outside. When Nadeshiko saw him, he was waiting by the sidewalk. It was a little chilly outside, but warmer than normal nights. Nadeshiko came up to him.

"Hey dad!" Nadeshiko greeted him.

"Congrats" Mr. Fujisaki said, before walking forward to lead the way.

"Where are we going? We parked our car the opposite direction, didn't we?" Nadeshiko thought, confused.

"We're going to get something to eat nearby, and then go home." Mrs. Fujisaki explained when she saw her confused face.

"Oh! Okay, great! I'm famished!" Nadeshiko thought, but only nodded her head in agreement. They went to a Japanese restaurant and ate there. Nadeshiko went outside to take in the fresh air, while her parents paid the bill. On the side of the building, she heard huffing sounds. She went to check it out. There was an alleyway; when she looked inside, she couldn't believe what she saw.

A little girl sat there with only a hand carrier beside her. She was crying and pretty badly wounded. Nadeshiko froze, and then moved closer, very cautiously. When the girl saw her shadow move closer, she tried to stand up and run but couldn't. She collapsed; almost hitting the ground, before Nadeshiko caught her and sat her down. Nadeshiko didn't know what to do. When the little girl looked up into her eyes, beginning to cry, she couldn't help but comfort her.

"…everything is alright…" This was all Nadeshiko could say for 5 minutes. Why? She didn't know. After 5 minutes, the girl stopped.

"What is your name?" Nadeshiko asked cautiously, but interested.

"Rima…sorry…" she said backing away from her.

"What happened? Who did this to you?" Nadeshiko questioned with more confidence.

"I ran away from my foster home, I cant live there anymore….sorry I'll leave…." Rima was cut off.

"No, don't leave... why are you so badly wounded?' Nadeshiko looked at the wounds on her body and was shocked. Rima was shocked that Nadeshiko even asked; normally no one cared about her.

"… My foster parents…." Rima lowered her eyes. "…didn't treat me well… I ran away… because I couldn't live there." Rima said honestly. She felt she could tell this girl everything, as best as she could, anyway.

"Weren't you scared? I mean to roam the streets at this time of night and being a girl…" Nadeshiko asked, now more curious, "…with these wounds too." She took Rima's arm, which was lightly bleeding, placed it on the hand carrier, and with a napkin she had in her pocket, pressed the wound. Rima answered her; amazed that she helped her, even though the girl just met her.

"Well, the first few times I was… but when I kept at it, I got used to it….as for these wounds…." Rima looked at the arm, the girl was treating, "what I've been thorough in the past foster homes and in my life, it's more than the pain of any wound; I can bear it."

Nadeshiko was speechless. What did this girl go through; she wanted to ask but couldn't find the right words. She continued to treat the wounds as best as she could. She took her jacket off and put it on Rima.

"What are you doing?" Rima inquired, trying to stop her.

"You're going to get an infection in those wounds, if you don't cover them." Nadeshiko continued to put the jacket on, and then smiled. Rima was confused.

"Why do you care about me? You just met me, and I don't even know your name." Rima finally asked, trying to make a reasonable explanation in her head.

"Oh…. I'm Nadeshiko…" Nadeshiko introduced herself, giving Rima a light, playful smile. She didn't know why but she felt some connection to Rima, like if she didn't save her, no one would. "Get up, Rima!" Nadeshiko ordered, deciding what she should do.

."Why?" Rima said her thoughts out loud.

"Come with me. I want you to meet some people." Nadeshiko replied, before she pulled Rima up. Rima had no idea what Nadeshiko was planning to do. Nadeshiko dragged Rima out of the dark alley and went to her parents, who were nearby.

"Mom, dad, look who I found in the alley!" Nadeshiko called thrilled, pulling Rima to her parents. Rima hid behind Nadeshiko, when they stopped in front of Nadeshiko's parents.

"Who is it?" Mrs. Fujisaki asked interested, trying to take a peek at who was behind her. Nadeshiko pulled Rima beside her, when she noticed she was hiding.

"Don't worry, Rima. You don't have to be scared of anything." She told Rima, smiling. "Mom, dad, meet Rima." She introduced her cheerfully. "Rima, these are my parents." She smiled a reassuring smile, when Rima looked worried.

"Oh… well, it's nice to meet you… Rima…" Mrs. Fujisaki greeted her.

"Same here" Rima barely whispered, smiling lightly. Mr. Fujisaki only nodded.

"Isn't that your jacket, Nadeshiko?" Mr. Fujisaki examined. Rima flinched. She took the jacket off and handed it to her.

"Yes it is, I'm sorry…" Rima said remembering what situation she was in.

"Don't be sorry! Dad, I gave it to her." Nadeshiko replied a little annoyed. Mrs. Fujisaki saw Rima's deep wounds.

"Oh my god! Rima, where did you get those wounds?!" she asked, shocked. Rima was ready to run any minute, now. Nadeshiko answered for her.

"Mom, can we take her and treat her wounds?" she asked with hopeful eyes.

"It's okay with me…but ask your father." Mrs. Fujisaki eyed her husband.

"Dad, can we? Please!" Nadeshiko asked now more pleading than hopeful. Mr. Fujisaki examined Rima from top to bottom, and then looked at Nadeshiko.

"It's fine with me. Nadeshiko, I want to talk to you when we get home." He answered, questions popping in his head.

"Yes, okay, thank you!" Nadeshiko said thrilled "Rima, it's decided your coming with us." Nadeshiko said smiling. Rima looked at Nadeshiko, then at her parents, and then at the open roads behind her. She did this two times, going trough all the possibilities in her head. Nadeshiko tugged her, but pulled her to the car, when she wouldn't move.

"Come on, Rima. Don't worry, you'll be safe with us, I promise. You won't have to run away from us. I won't let you." Nadeshiko said with a very confident smile. Rima gave up and got in.

At home:

Mrs. Fujisaki told Nadeshiko to get Rima up to the empty guest room, for now. She was going to cook something fast and easy, so the girl could eat. Nadeshiko took her upstairs and put her luggage beside the bed. Rima finally changed her yellow long sleeved shirt, and blue knee-high pants to her black pajamas. When Nadeshiko saw her, she was awe struck on how adorable Rima looked, even with her wounds. Rima still felt refreshed, even though she had taken a shower an hour ago. Nadeshiko took out the first-aid kit and started to treat her wounds.

"Nadeshiko, why are you taking care of me?" Rima asked, as she watched Nadeshiko bandaged her wounds.

"Because, I don't know what happened to you in the past, but you deserve more than that." Nadeshiko replied honestly, smiling. She finished bandaging her arms and moved on to her head. "When I talked to you… I felt like I had some type of connection with you. I don't know why, but I felt like I met you tonight, because I needed to save you." Nadeshiko said, now concentrating on the wounds, Rima was surprised.

"I felt like I could tell you everything about me. Those few moments, I felt loved, like someone actually cared if I live or die." Rima eyes lowered and her voice went into a whisper. "Thank you, Nadeshiko, for everything." Nadeshiko stopped and now was shocked. 'I felt loved, like someone actually cared if I live or die.' That sentence repeated in her head over and over again. She continued treating her.

"Rima, for now on, I will always care about you. Toy can tell me everything, but only when you're ready." Nadeshiko smiled. Rima smiled back. Mrs. Fujisaki came in the room, as soon as Nadeshiko was done treating Rima.

"Hey, there! I brought some soup and some medicine. Looks like you did a great job, Nadeshiko." Mrs. Fujisaki was impressed. "Oh Nadeshiko, your father needs a word with you."

"Okay" Nadeshiko said, remembering she agreed to talk with her father. "Rima, I want you to eat as much as you can. Don't hold back!" Nadeshiko ordered. "Mom, tell me if she complains." Mrs. Fujisaki nodded, as Nadeshiko headed out the door.

Nadeshiko's room

"Dad, you wanted to see me?" Nadeshiko entered the room.

"Yes, close the door please." Mr. Fujisaki said calmly. Nadeshiko did as she was told and took a seat, when her father signaled to sit.

"Nadeshiko, why did you want to bring Rima into our house?" Mr. Fujisaki began questioning.

"Dad, in the few minutes I met and talked to Rima, I felt a connection with her. It felt like if I didn't save her today, then nobody will." Nadeshiko replied rather calmly.

"Save her? What do you mean by that?" Mr. Fujisaki asked curiously.

"…she's an orphan, dad….those wounds she had, were from her previous foster parents… she ran away; she couldn't bare the conditions inside her foster home. She said, she would choose the pain her wounds gave her over living there." Nadeshiko's eyes lowered. Mr. Fujisaki was speechless. "Dad, please can we adopt Rima? She is a very nice person." Nadeshiko pleaded. No reply. "Dad, I did what I thought was right. When I was talking in the guest room, she told me something that got me, dad, really got me." Nadeshiko continued, trying to convince him.

"What's that?" Mr. Fujisaki finally asked.

"She said, the few moments I talked to her, she felt loved, felt there was someone who cared if she lived or died." Nadeshiko stopped. There was silence. Mr. Fujisaki was too shocked to speak and Nadeshiko, too sad.

"I don't know, what happened to her, but I do know that she deserves more than what she's getting." Nadeshiko broke the silence. "I don't know why, but I don't want to see her hurt."

"Alright, we'll adopt her." Mr. Fujisaki finally gave in. he saw that Nadeshiko was confident and sincere.

"Thank you!" Nadeshiko smiled, grateful and happy.

"But Nadeshiko, you know what you have to do, right?" Mr. Fujisaki asked, remembering something important. Nadeshiko looked confused for a minute, but then understood what he was talking about.

"Yeah, I know, dad… but I'll do it." Nadeshiko said with the same confident smile, she gave Rima, before she got into the car.

"Alright, goodnight" Mr. Fujisaki said smiling. Nadeshiko hugged him, before he tucked her in for the night.

"Goodnight, dad" Nadeshiko went to sleep, knowing she had to sacrifice something to gain something. Nadeshiko's and Rima's life, both, changed that night. As they slept peacefully in their beds, they didn't know what life had in store for them next.

Hey everybody!

What sacrifice is Nadeshiko talking about?

Review to find out!

Goal: update 1 more chapter by the end of the week.

~ichikish485