Chapter 2:Hidden
I still couldn't remember the others. I got brief painful flashes whenever I remembered something. Luckily, or maybe unluckily, they didn't come very often. I remember falling asleep in Kyo's arms from exhaustion. They told me that they were my family, my cousins. But they were all so different. Akito had told me different was bad. I still shuddered whenever I thought of Akito. After I stopped crying in Kyo's arms, I began to try to talk. I still couldn't. I could only say his name. Tohru, the girl who stood close to Yuki and Kyo as if she was part of the family, lent me some of her clothes. I huddled on the sofa with a notepad Shigure, the owner of the house had lent me. I closed my eyes and let my hand draw by itself. I was usually alone at the house or with only Shigure for company but he just locked himself in his study to work on his novel. Kyo said I couldn't read the novel because it was inappropriate for my age. Though I knew he hated to do it, Kyo had gone to school with Haru, Yuki and Tohru. Shigure had all but shoved them out the door placating Kyo saying he'd call the school if anything happened. So here I was alone again. I didn't mind it as much as I once had. I could go outside when I wanted, draw, sing, dance, write, or paint. I was happier than I had been for many years.
"Rei, you're going to need to stay hidden for now ok?" Shigure said with a slight smile. "If Akito finds out you're here, we're ALL doomed. So please, just be careful. You're going to need to keep a low profile around here for a bit."
Personally, I thought it was a miracle that Akito didn't think to look here in the first place. After all, he hated Tohru with a passion, and nothing would please him more than having an excuse to throttle her. (Not that Kyo or Yuki would allow that however). But it seemed that in a fit of rage as he was, he didn't think clearly. No complaints here. Putting down my pencil, I opened my eyes. I was shocked to see I was looking at a sketch of my own face. It was completely different than my new self. The picture I had colored as well, leaving me with the feeling I wasn't as in control as I thought I was. In the picture, my wide eyes were sparkling and a bright green, my long black hair was in 2 ponytails shiny and healthy. Glancing at a mirror, I winced. I was a ghost of my former self. I was skinny as a rake and pale as a ghost. My once lively eyes were dead, soulless. My hair was matted and my entire body seemed to radiate a sense of unhealthiness. Cringing slightly, I decided something. I was going to get better. I may still not be able to talk, but I would try. I would get better. I would get stronger. I needed to be able to defend myself. And it looked like right now, was the best time to change.
"Shigure when do the others get home?" I asked by writing on the note pad.
"I think they come back around 2 o'clock, why?"
"No reason." I wrote. Walking up the stairs, careful not to trip because of my weak limbs, I opened the door to Tohru's room. She had said to take anything I needed. Most of her stuff would fit me. Grabbing some clothes she had set out for me, I took a deep breath and headed for the shower. This was going to feel good.