AN: Just as I said I would, I added the second part of the first chapter is up! YAY! I really wanted to put this up before classes start tomorrow so I hurried and finished. I hope you all like it!

PLEASE REVIEW!!! I really want to know what you guys think and if you guys have any suggestions, they are all welcome, but I won't know unless you review!

Disclaimer: I know I didn't do this for the first part of the chapter, but it should be pretty obvious. I don't own anything!

The Beginning Part 2

"Excellent sparing today, everyone!" Makoto congratulated.

It was Saturday morning and the sun was now high in the sky. The girls were drenched in sweat and exhausted. They had been training since dawn, much to Usagi's complaints.

"Mako-chan, why are we doing this? It's not like I can kill a monster with this." Usagi lifted up her wooden katana she had been practicing with.

"I've already told you a hundred times. This will increase your reflexes so you can fight better. We're still getting hurt by things that are clearly avoidable. We need to stay sharp. Also, this will make you physically stronger and that makes your attacks stronger too."

"But why do we have to start SO early?!" Usagi was now lying on the grass, chest heaving and her weapon lying beside her.

"That's my fault, Usagi-chan." Ami sat down nest to Usagi. "I have cram school this afternoon and this was the only time I could come." Ami placed her Western-styled wooden sword on her lap.

"I kind of like doing it in the morning." Minako whipped the sweat off her forehead. "It's not too hot in the morning and waking up at the crack of dawn to train is just like in those action movies!" The weather forecaster had predicted that a heat wave would strike Tokyo for the next few days and there was no arguing that it had indeed struck. She had a big smile on her face. "Except, don't drink raw eggs. It was really gross." Everyone laughed.

"It's also not as crowed at the shrine in the morning. Most people come in the afternoon and it would look weird if they saw a bunch of girls with weapons attacking each other." Rei started playing with her six foot long pole by twirling it like a baton.

"But still!" Usagi sat up and looked up at the three girls standing in front of her. Ami started brushing the leaves and blades of grass that were stuck in Usagi's hair and back. Since all Usagi was wearing was a sports bra and running shorts, Ami felt a little uncomfortable touching her friend's bare back, but she did her best to rid her of the stuck-on plants.

"Usagi-chan, it's all a part of the training processes." Makoto smiled. She was their instructor and was tough when she needed to be. She had trained in the mountains with a master a few years ago and was using her past experience to guide her in her teaching.

"Yeah, listen to Master, Usagi-chan, or she'll make you run ten miles in the rain," Minako laughed.

"No I won't!" Makoto turned around suddenly to look at Minako, but the sudden movement startled Rei and sent her pole flying uncontrollably in the air and jabbing Minako in the stomach.

"Ohmygod! Are you alright?!" the four girls said at once.

"OW!" Minako grabbed her stomach in shock.

"Mina-chan, I'm so sorry!" Rei and Makoto reached out for her at the same time.

"Mina-chan, let me see. Are you bleeding?" Rei asked. She moved Minako's hand from where she got hit. Since all the girls, except Ami, were dressed similar to Usagi, the pole hit Minako's bare stomach. Upon removing her hand, Minako revealed a hideous red welt right where she got hit.

"I'm fine guys, really." Minako tried to laugh.

"It looks like it'll just bruise," Ami said after taking a look at it.

"I'll go get some ice!" Rei turned and ran off towards the house before anyone could stop her. She felt awful for really hurting her friend. The two of them sparred against each other for the past few hours and Minako was able to deflect every move Rei made. She wasn't able to hit her once. But of course, when she was messing around, she jabs Minako right in the stomach when she wasn't paying attention. God, she was an awful friend.

Rei ran straight into the house, not even worrying about taking her shoes off. She turned the corner to go to the kitchen when she ran straight into a solid object, crashing to the floor with a loud bang.

"Rei-chan, oh my god, are you okay?!" Yuuichirou cried. He was the solid object Rei ran into.

Rei looked up at him angrily. "I would if you would get off of me!"

Yuuichirou looked down at her and turned the deepest red. He was lying on top of her, their legs all tangled together. When he saw what she was wearing, he turned even reader. He tried frantically to get up.

"I-I-I'm so s-sorry, Rei-chan!" Yuuichirou stammered as he tried to get up without looking at her.

"It's okay," Rei grunted. Rei was clearly annoyed, but her concern over Minako eased the rage that she would normally have in this situation. "Just help me up would you."

"You came out of nowhere and I didn't see you." Yuuichirou explained. He held out his hand for Rei. "Where were you going in such a hurry?"

Rei took his hand and he helped her to her feet. "I need to get ice for Mina." She turned and hurried off quickly to the kitchen, feeling some soreness on her back and arm where she had hit the floor. Yuuichirou looked after her a moment, stunned by the fact she wasn't screaming at him, then hurried after her.

"Did something happen?" he asked when he finally caught up to her. "Is she okay?"

"Nothing happened," Rei muttered. Guilt ripped her yet again. "She'll be fine." She opened the freezer and grabbed a few handfuls of ice cubes, secretly enjoying the coldness coming from the freezer that was hitting her sundrenched face. She regrettably closed the freezer door, wrapping the ice cubes in a towel and left.

"Grandpa's gonna be mad when he sees you're wearing shoes in the house," Yuuichirou said still following her.

"He's not gonna find out." She waved her hand. "And you better not say anything." She glared at him sideways.

"I wasn't going to." He smiled at her when she turned her head. They now reached the front door and Yuuichirou stopped in the doorway but Rei went straight through, still in her hurried stride. She turned around to face him, but walked backwards, not wanting to stop.

"Good, cause you're going to be in a lot of trouble if he finds out." She turned back around and ran off, her ponytail whipping violently from side to side.

Yuuichirou watched her with the smile still on his face. He walked back into the house when he couldn't see the girl anymore.

"Mina-chan, here!" Rei ran up to the sitting blonde and handed her the towel filled with ice.

"Thanks Rei-chan, but you didn't have to do that." Minako took the ice and placed it on her now darkening injury.

"Yes I did. I feel awful for that. I'm so sorry!" Rei sat next to Minako and but her hand on Minako's shoulder.

"It was an accident, Rei-chan! No worries!" Minako laughed and patted Rei on the head. Rei smiled weakly.

"Rei-chan, you're too hard on yourself. If anything, it was my fault. I scared you and made the pole go flying." Makoto brushed the hair from her eyes.

"What part of 'accident' don't you guys get?!" Minako threw a handful of grass blades at Makoto and Rei. Everyone laughed.

"Hey Yuuichirou!" Usagi cried, waving her entire arm. Everyone diverted their attention over to where Usagi was looking. Yuuichirou came walking over to the group with a tray in his hands.

"Hey guys. Wow, it's hot outside! I brought you girls some water." Yuuichirou put the tray right in the middle of the circle they made. There were five tall glasses of ice-cold water; each already had condensation dripping on the outside of the glass. There was also a large pitcher with even more ice water. Each girl reached out for a glass greedily.

"Thanks Yuuichirou!" the girls said before taking giant gulps.

"You're welcome." Yuuichirou took a seat in between Rei and Makoto. "You guys have been out here for hours, so I figured you'd be thirsty." He smiled as he watched the girls finish off their glass and began pouring themselves more. "You guys looked really good out there by the way."

"Yuuichirou, were you checking us out?" Usagi teased. She gave a playful looked at Rei, who returned the look with daggers. Yuuichirou blushed.

"N-no, that's not what I meant." Yuuichirou looked at his lap. "I just meant that you guys have gotten a lot better at your martial arts. That's all. I wasn't watching." Usagi started to giggle.

"Don't worry about her," Ami said. "She's just teasing you." Yuuichirou looked up at Ami, cheeks pink, and smiled at her. Ami stood up and brushed the leaves from her butt. "I should go. I don't want to be late for my studies."

"I should go too." Makoto stood up as well. "I have to go to work." Makoto grabbed her bag and pole similar to Rei's. She reached in her bag and pulled out a green tank top and put it on.

"Well, I don't know about you guys, but I'm dying for a shower." Minako followed Makoto's example, but stuffed her weapon, a long metal chain, into her bag.

"Mama has lunch ready for me!" Usagi cried, following the others.

"Thanks for letting us use your lawn to practice, Rei-chan." Ami put her backpack on and held her wooden sword.

"Yeah, we'll do this again next Saturday at the same time." Makoto handed Rei her pole that she had left on the ground.

"Alright. I'll see you guys later." She took her staff and watched as her friends turned to leave.

"Bye Rei-chan!" The girls called, all waving. "See you, Yuuichirou! Thanks again for the water!" They added.

Yuuichirou still sat on the ground, gathering up the glasses and putting them on the tray. He stood up holding the tray with one hand and waved with the other.

"Bye!" he yelled with a big smile on his face. Rei started to twirl the pole again, spinning it like it was a helicopter's blade and then making the whole thing into a figure eight formation. Of all the so called "weapons" Makoto made them practice with, this was her favorite and she didn't know why. It was shorter and lighter than Makoto's, making it easier to handle. She grabbed one of the ends and flung the entire pole high in the air, it was still spinning. She reached out after a few seconds and grabbed one of the ends as it came back down and started twirling it again.

"Wow, you've really gotten good at that, Rei-chan," Yuuichirou said in awe. Rei completely forgot he was standing there watching and she stopped immediately.

"Um, thanks." Rei stomped the staff on the ground. "Come on, let's go inside. It's hotter than hell out here." The two walked sided by side through the large property of the shrine towards the house in silence. They were about to go their separate ways as soon as they entered the house, when they heard a faint voice calling both of them to Grandpa's study. Rei shot Yuuichirou a dirty look, causing him to mouth "I didn't tell him about the shoes!" Rei frowned and walked over to Grandpa's study while Yuuichirou ran to the kitchen to quickly deposit the tray he still held.

Rei gently knocked on the doorframe before walking into the room. "Grandpa, you called?"

"Yes, Rei. Come in. Where's Yuuichirou?" Grandpa looked across his desk.

"He's coming." Rei took a seat in front of the desk, setting her staff next to her on the floor. Just then Yuuichirou hurried in with a quick apology for being late and taking a seat next to Rei. The two sat and waited as Grandpa wrote on a few sheets of paper. Rei was becoming impatient. The only thing she wanted to do was take a shower. She was still in her work out clothes and the fan located in the room blew cool air at her and it gave her the shivers. Rei started to fidget in her seat.

"I have something for you two." Grandpa finally said, putting his pen down. "Yuuichirou, I have a present for you."

"A present? For me?" Yuuichirou looked at Grandpa dumbfounded, then at Rei, and back again. In the entire time he stayed with them, Grandpa had never given Yuuichirou anything. Even on his birthday, Grandpa would just tell him, "You're lucky that I'm still your master," then give him the day off, but Yuuichirou never cared. Just being able to stay at the shrine was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Grandpa pushed a package wrapped in plain brown paper and a simple string across the desk. Yuuichirou picked it up slowly and held it delicately. He looked up at Grandpa and smiled. Yuuichirou opened the package like it was the most fragile thing in the world. When he finally got the object out of its wrapping, he gaped.

In his hand was the most beautiful journal he'd ever seen. The front and back cover was black with elaborate swirling designs engraved into it. The spine had the same elaborate decoration, but was painted with incredible gold. It was small and rectangular, like any other journal, but carried an air of importance. Upon opening the cover, a small declaration was written on the first page in neat and elaborate kanji. It read:

To Yuuichirou Kumada, the finest apprentice I've ever had.

I'm so proud to have been your master.

With love, Grandpa.

Yuuichirou looked up at Grandpa with tears in his eyes. "Thank you so much! It's beautiful!"

"My master gave me one of those when I became a priest," Grandpa explained. He pulled out a journal similar to Yuuichirou's, except not as elaborate and weathered with age, from the desk drawer. He handed it to Yuuichirou. "It was the only thing my master gave to me and I treasured it greatly. I've written my life in it: my most precious memories, important dates, everything." Yuuichirou opened the old journal. The entire thing was written in, except for a few blank pages and every now and then, wedged in between pages, was a postcard, a letter, a picture of a family and some of a little girl he assumed was Rei, and on one occasion, a pressed rose. Yuuichirou closed the book and handed it back to its owner. "I hope you cherish yours as much as I've cherished mine." Grandpa placed the journal back in the drawer.

"I will, I promise." Yuuichirou couldn't express how happy he was.

"I'm glad." Grandpa smiled, and then switched his attention to Rei. "I have something for you as well." He pulled out a small box from the same drawer and pushed it towards his granddaughter. She plucked it from his desk and opened the lid of the small box, making a loud snapping sound.

"Grandma's locket?" Rei looked at Grandpa, her finger touching the silver delicately. "Why are you giving this to me now?"

"I'm sure she'd want you to have it." Rei opened it, revealing a small picture of her grandparents holding Rei's mother as a baby. Rei snapped it close.

"Grandpa, is something wrong?" Rei asked bluntly. Grandpa and Yuuichirou looked at her a bit shocked eyebrows raised. "I mean, you're all nostalgic all of the sudden, with the cherry tree and everything. You're not acting like yourself. My friends were here half an hour ago wearing the same things I am and you didn't come say hi to them, or flirt, or watch them from the bushes."

"Is it a crime to think about the past?" Grandpa asked after a moment, then chuckled. "Flirting with pretty girls isn't the only thing I do, you know. Besides, I was busy."

"That's never stopped you before," Rei muttered. She touched the locket with her finger. "Thank you Grandpa. I've always loved this locket."

"I know." Grandpa smiled affectionately. "Now, if I recall, you two still have chores to do and I'm a very busy man." He waved his hand at them.

"Thank you again," Yuuichirou said as they got up. Rei smiled at Grandpa and picked up her staff with her free hand. The two walked out of the room and Rei took one last look at her grandfather before leaving.

"Was that really your grandmother's?" Yuuichirou asked when they reached the living room.

Rei smiled an nodded. "Yeah. Grandpa gave it to her as an anniversary present and she always wore it. When she died, mom got it and when she died too, I was supposed to get it, but I was too you, so Grandpa held on to it until I was old enough." She smiled even wider.

"Well it's beautiful." Yuuichirou smiled at her happiness. "Do you want me to put it on you?"

"Yes!" Rei set her staff on the couch and eagerly opened the box, pulling out the locked from its case. She handed it to Yuuichirou, turned around and grabbed her ponytail to get it out of the way. Yuuichirou handed Rei his journal so that his hands could be free to do the task at hand. Yuuichirou gently put the necklace on and tried very hard to keep his mind pure as he did this innocent act. Once finished, Rei turned around positively beaming. "How does it look?"

"Gorgeous." Yuuichirou couldn't take his eyes off her. She positively radiated joy. She handed back his journal when she suddenly remembered something.

"I got you something too, Yuuichirou," Rei said, looking at the journal. Yuuichirou looked thoroughly shocked. "I didn't think Grandpa would get you anything and you becoming a priest is such a big deal that I just had to give you something."

"You didn't have to do that!" Yuuichirou put his hand behind his head.

"Yes I did. I was going to give it to you tonight, but since Grandpa already gave you that, I'll give it to you now." Rei grabbed her staff and started walking towards the hallway. She waved at him to follow. "Come on, it's in my room." Yuuichirou sheepishly followed.

Upon walking into Rei's bedroom, Yuuichirou stood awkwardly in the middle of the room. Rei haphazardly threw her pole across the room, landing with a thud and rolling across the room, stopping when it hit the wall. She began to rummage through one of her dresser drawers. After a few moments, Rei found what she was looking for and handed it to Yuuichirou. He picked it up with his thumb and index finger and lifted it up. It was a simple long necklace with a small, but noticeable, silver fire-shaped pendant. It was as plane as a necklace could be, but it seemed to fit Yuuichirou perfectly. He never liked things to be too flashy.

"It's so you'll always have the sacred fire with you." Rei explained as he rubbed the pendant between his thumb and index finger with his freehand.

"I don't know what to say. I don't know what I did to deserve you and Grandpa in my life. I'll treasure it forever." Yuuichirou put the necklace over his head and put it on. It hung low on his neck and landed on the middle of his chest. "Thank you Rei." He walked right up to her and put his arms around her.

"You're welcome," she said softly and wrapped her arms around him to return the hug. They stood there for a peaceful moment, before Rei blushed, realizing he was touching her bare skin and pulled away. "I'm going to take a shower now, so…"

"Oh yeah." Yuuichirou blushed, then turned and left.

The rest of the day passed by uneventfully. Few people visited the shrine due to the blistering heat, so Yuuichirou and Rei were able to finish their chores quickly.

"I'll go get Grandpa," Rei said later that night as Yuuichirou set the table for dinner. She walked to his study, only to find it empty. "Grandpa?" she called, but there was no answer. She left the room and thought for a moment. A light went off in her head and she went outside. It was cooler outside now that the sun was setting and she looked at the cherry tree.

"Grandpa?" she called again. Rei saw Grandpa lying on the bench in front of the tree and ran right to him. "GRANDPA!" She shook him violently. "Grandpa! Grandpa! Wake up!" She shook him even harder but still nothing happened. Tears started to well up in her eyes. She cried for help as loud as she could. The rest was a whirl of sirens and medical people shouting words that she couldn't comprehend.

Before Rei knew it, she sat in an uncomfortable hospital chair hunched over her knees with her hands over her face.

"Rei-chan!" Arms flew around her and it took her a moment to realize who it was. "Rei-chan, Yuuichirou called us and told us everything. We're here for you!" Usagi pulled away and looked at Rei's tear-stained face. Ami, Makoto and Minako stood behind Usagi, all looking worried.

"Thanks, guys," Rei said blankly. She was in a daze. She still couldn't believe that what happened earlier actually happened. Usagi pulled her into another hug while everyone else gathered around the two, forming a big group hug.

"Hino family?" A tall doctor stood at the entrance of the room. Rei and Yuuichirou stood up and the man walked up to them, while the girls stood back. "Your grandfather died on the way to the hospital. He died peacefully from old age. There's nothing we could have done. I'm terribly sorry." Rei looked blankly at the floor and Yuuichirou stifled a sob. Rei turned around and walked right into four pairs of open arms.

Several hours later, Rei found herself back at home, her friends having inviting themselves over for the night to help in any way they could.

It was about two in the morning when all the girls lay in Rei's bedroom, but no one could sleep. Rei lay on her back, staring at the ceiling. She couldn't wrap her brain around the fact that a little over twelve hours ago, she had spoken to her grandfather. She couldn't believe it. Rei threw her bed sheets off her and sat up in her bed. Her friends looked up from her sudden motion, but said nothing. Rei stood up and walked across the room and lay down in the spot between Usagi and Minako. The two covered her up with their blankets and wrapped their arms around their hurting friend. Ami and Makoto scooted in closer. Rei was completely surrounded by her friends and soon they all fell asleep.

The next few days were a complete blur. Rei walked around the shrine like a zombie. She hardly uttered two words to anyone. Usagi, Minako, Ami, and Makoto stayed the entire day on Sunday, helping with the shrine and staying with Rei, even if it was just sitting with to her. The days passed, but Rei stayed stuck in her sorrow. She wallowed in it and hardly noticed anything around her. The only thing she noticed was when her friends weren't there because they had to go to school. Rei didn't go to hers though. She could barely get out of bed in the mornings.

A few days after Grandpa's death, she was snapped out of her daze. She sat in the gardens, staring at the shrine's beautiful landscape. The shrine was one of the few locations in Tokyo that had enough spare land to make a garden. Rei enjoyed the peace of this Eden. It was like she was in her own world and nothing could touch her.

"Rei-chan?" a voice called. Well so much for untouchable. She waited as Yuuichirou made his way towards her. He had handled Grandpa's death much better than she had. The day after his death was the worst day for Yuuichirou, but he put on a brave face for Rei and tried his hardest to do his work like nothing was wrong. "Rei-chan, there are two men who want to talk to you in the house," Yuuichirou said when he reached her. His usual cheery attitude had faded during the trying ordeal, but was slowly making its way back.

Rei just stood up and followed Yuuichirou to the house. He led her to the tea room and upon entering the room, she froze.

"F-father?"

All three men in the room looked at Rei. Yuuichirou's eyes widened and he looked at the man she had addressed, shocked.

One of the men looked the wide-eyed girl right in the eyes. He was sitting at the table in the usual Japanese fashion. He sat straight and tall, head held high. His big hands held the tiny tea cup. The man looked at Rei and she couldn't believe she was looking at him for the first time in years. His jaw was stern and, his thin lips under a perfect nose. He had more wrinkles on his forehead and grey hair in his thick brown curls than she remembered, but he still looked young. His eyes, however, were exactly same: the same dark eyes that she remembered so vividly and the same eyes as hers. By anyone's standards, he was a handsome man.

"What are you doing here?" Rei asked after a moment's pause, but was still in utter shock.

"I came here to talk about your grandfather's will. Sit." It was more of a command than a request and he indicated the seat directly in front of him. Yuuichirou nudged Rei and guided her to her seat, then took the spot next to her. Rei's father indicated the man to his right. "This is Kaito Tanaka. He is the lawyer who's taking care of your grandfather's will." The man nodded to the two youngest people.

After a few pleasant introductions were made, Rei's father looked at Yuuichirou. "I don't think we've met. I'm Rei's father, Takashi Hino. I take it that you are the new priest that's been living here for some time now?"

"Yes sir." Yuuichirou looked a bit uneasy. Takoshi searched the young man's face then nodded.

"Let's gets started, shall we?" Takoshi changed his gaze to Kaito. Kaito shifted his glasses on his nose and looked at the piece of paper in front of him. He was a small, scrawny man. He looked more like an accountant than a lawyer.

"Alright," the man said. "The only thing we really have to discuss is the shrine. As you all know, your grandfather owned all the rights to the shrine and property. He starts that he would like Yuuichirou Kumada to stay as the priest of the shrine for as long as he wishes." Yuuichirou smiled for the first time in days. "He also states that Rei is to be his sole heir, meaning she gets everything, including the shrine."

For the first time since his death, Rei felt a small bubble of happiness in her chest. It was her dream to run the shrine. It would be difficult, with her being so you, but she wanted nothing more.

"There's a slight snag, however, with this." Kaito looked directly at Rei and she could feel that small bubble was going to be short-lived. "Since the shrine has been in your family for thousands of years, it has to be passed down to someone who's legally wed to another." Rei's ominous feeling was right: the bubble popped.

"What are you trying to say, Tanaka-san?" Rei couldn't believe her ears. Did she hear him correctly?

"You have to be married to get the shrine," Takoshi clarified. Rei couldn't feel her body anymore, but she was fairly sure her jaw hit the table.

"Until then, your father is to own the shrine since he was once married to your mother." Kaito readjusted his glasses again. Rei's emptiness from the last few days was replaced with pure rage.

"That rule is about a million years old! It's the 21st century! Are you freaking serious?! Father doesn't even like the shrine!" Rei pounded the table with her fists.

"That's enough, Rei," Takoshi said with a stern voice and a stone-cold stare. He looked at Kaito and dismissed him. The scrawny man picked up his briefcase and left the room. "Everything is already settled," her father said. "I've already signed the papers and am already the legal owner." Rei's anger couldn't be diminished by her father's hard words.

"So you're saying that I have to wait for God-knows-how long to get married and then I get the shrine?! That's bullshit!" Rei felt that she could kill someone with her bare hands.

"Rei-chan, it's alright." Yuuichirou said softly trying to comfort her.

"There's one more thing, Rei." Takashi took a sip of his tea.

"What more could you tell me? Isn't my life bad enough?"

"Since Grandpa passed away, you have no guardian, so you are to move to New York and live with me from now on." Takashi said this with so little empathy that it was like he was just talking about what he ate for breakfast that morning. This time, Rei fully exploded.

"WHAT!?!" She shot up off her seat. "There's NO way in hell I'm going to live with you!"

"You are too young to live on your own and you need someone to take care of you."

"Why do you even care?! You left me here when I was eight and I've only seen you twice since then. What makes you think you can just take me back whenever it's convenient for you?!" She was still screaming at him.

"I will not be talked to like that." He stood up and looked sternly at his daughter. He was a tall man and he had to look down at her, making her a little intimidated, but she stood her ground. "I am you father and you will do as I say." He reached into his jacket pocket of his grey suit and pulled out a plane ticket and a passport. He threw it on the table. "We'll be leaving this Saturday. You have until then to pack. I'll settle things with your school." With that, he left the room, leaving Rei absolutely fuming.

Later that night, Rei sat in front of the sacred fire, praying for a way out of living with her father, but her efforts were fruitless. She couldn't clear her mind. She kept thinking about her encounter with her father and it filled her with so much anger. She couldn't believe he was doing this to her. Not only did he take the shrine away from her, but he was taking her away from everything she knew and loved. And in four days! The nerve of that man! There was no way she could pack in that time.

Wasn't it bad enough that Grandpa wasn't here anymore? Rei groaned and gave up on praying. She changed sitting positions and sat with her knees to her chest. She crossed her arms over them and rested her head on her arms. Her anger had sparked her emotional floodgates to open up and sadness soon crippled her entire body. The tears that she had yet to shed after Grandpa's death poured out of her eyes. Her anger had given way to pure pain. She'd never experienced so much pain in her entire life. Why did Grandpa have to go? He was the person who took her in after she was abandoned by the man who was supposed to be her father. He was the one who raised her. He was her pillar of support, and now she would never get to see him ever again.

Rei's crying turned into deep sobs. She couldn't catch her breath and had to take deep gasps of air in between her sobs so that she wouldn't pass out. She felt so small and insignificant, like there would be no one else in the world that could be her pillar like Grandpa could. Just as she felt that her entire world was tumbling down on her, gentle arms wrapped around her. Rei instinctively put her arms around his neck and he pulled her into his lap. He cradled her as she curled up on his lap and she cried on to his shoulder. No words were uttered, but the silence said so much.

AN: I know that this was a really long chapter. It's like 12 pages long! Wow, but I really wanted all of this to be put in early so that the story can get rolling. Review and tell me what you think!