I'm back! I can't believe there were so many positive responses to the story! Anyway, I was thinking, hmm well I'm not doing anything today so I might as well type up another chapter! And here you go! Chappy #2!
Thanks to: sunev.31, Joanna Karen Rain, and Gianella (guest) for reviewing!
Warnings:
rape (no graphic description) and blood
Chapter 2: Guilt Eats You From Within
Grey eyes trailed over the grave being lifted into the ground. He, just like countless others, was in black and standing in quiet as the funeral was ending. The only difference was that Byakuya was actually here to mourn, at least a small bit. She had been his fiancé and the first to, well, do everything with him, their first date, first kiss, and so on. Either way, he couldn't deny that he was a bit happy. The murderer of Adrian had finally gotten the justice she deserved.
I learned a long time ago that life isn't always fair. I was only six years old when robbers attacked my house.
He glanced at the crowd, recognizing most people from school. What are they doing here? Probably to dance and party on her grave… As soon as the funeral was over, he decided to leave, not partaking in the dancing as everyone cheered.
I was finishing a book report, my mother was cooking, and my father was holding my newborn sister Rukia. Everything was perfect. No one could suspect my life would change forever.
Some robbers attacked our neighbor. They were cruel ones too. Threatening to kill the man's wife, he gave up their money and begged for his wife's release. She was killed anyway.
It's been a day since Hisana's funeral, and some had the nerve to throw a party, inviting the whole school to enjoy the death of Hisana. Byakuya, however, had skipped out.
He walked into his homeroom, sitting in the back as usual.
My mother witnessed it and screamed, quickly clamping her mouth shut as she realized her mistake. The robbers heard and soon, our home was the next target.
An annoyed Rukia was walking to school, stopping by at Bagel Town to get some breakfast.
"Ma'am, are you Hisana Hatagiri's sister, Rukia Hatagiri?"
They attacked my house, stabbing my father in the back. I was safely hid away with Rukia in a secret passageway under our house.
Rukia turned her head, her short hair slightly whipping her face. She turned to face a police officer.
My mother was almost there, almost. But they caught her. They raped her then stabbed her senselessly. I knew from the blood that leaked through the trap door.
"Yes. Has my sister been found guilty of another murder?"
"No ma'am. We believe you should see this."
The officer handed her a CD.
We, somehow, survived. The police came in right after and arrested the robbers. They found us and dropped us at an orphanage. We lost our parents and I began blaming myself. If only I had noticed, if only I hadn't been so ignorant, if only...
"It shows footage of the day your friend died, there's something else in there that you need to see."
A petite woman had appeared in a meadow of Sakura trees. She opened her midnight blue eyes in wonder at her surroundings. Unlike before, the Sakura trees now reminded her of happiness and beauty.
"So I see you're here."
Her head whips around to a brown haired boy with shining golden eyes.
"Adrian!"
"Oi! Nice to see ya Hisana!"
Hisana giggled, a small smile on her face. Suddenly, Adrian's happy face fell into a sad one.
"I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you, I didn't mean for any of that to happen. Especially you and Byakuya…"
"Oh don't worry about it! All that matters now is that, that I'm free."
A smile once again graced his face, a smile that soon turned into a grin.
"Come on Hisana! Now that you're an angel, we have all the time in the world, come on! I want you to meet some friends of mine!"
Hisana followed the brunette, unfolding her large, white wings for the first time. She smiled widely as she experienced the sensation of flight.
Rukia stomped through the school, heading towards the main office.
"Rukia? What do you need today?"
An elderly man with white hair asked her.
"Ukitake-sensei, I need to make an announcement."
"Why?"
"It's urgent, very urgent."
He scrunched up his face, thinking over what Rukia said.
"Fine then, but be quick."
Rukia smiled in triumph. She walked towards the announcement room and locked the door and moved a nearby desk to blockade the door. CD in hand, she pressed a red button, indicating to the school that there is going to be an announcement.
"Hello students of Seireitei Academy of Arts! This is your beloved Rukia Hatagiri. I have a very urgent announcement regarding… my sister."
Gasps could be heard as Rukia, for the first time, acknowledged Hisana as her sister.
"Gotcha didn't I? Well guess what, I don't care that Hisana was my sister. Why? 'Cause she was never a damn murderer. If you don't believe me, say 'no'."
She heard the word 'no' echo through the halls as Ukitake-sensei was pounding on the door.
"I thought so. Well this morning, as I stopped by Bagel Town to get some breakfast. And another surprise! I was approached by an officer!"
The pounding on the door stopped. Rukia smirked, knowing that not just the students, but everyone in the school was curious.
"You're probably thinking the same thing I did when he approached me. 'Did Hisana commit another murder that I have to take care off?'"
She stopped, even being serious, she favored dramatics.
"Guess what? He said no. Instead, he gave me this CD with video footage of what actually happened. I watched it and I was shocked. Would you like to see it?"
A loud 'yes' came from each classroom.
"Here you go then… Be prepared, 'cause you might not like what's comin'."
She placed the CD into the player. The player was able to simultaneously play the same video in each classroom. The video popped up on the SmartBoard.
"Here we go!"
Students gasped in horror as the four men surrounded the lone hooded man, attacking him in all four directions. More gasps came as the leader pulled out a switchblade and stabbed him in the heart. They left and Hisana rushed to the hooded man, revealed to be Adrian. The clip ended before Byakuya walked into the scene.
"That's all for now you stinkin' framers. My sister was innocent and she died 'cause of all you! I know I hated her, but now, now I know the truth. I was her freaking sister for Kami's sake! We should all be ashamed. She died because of the pain we caused her, in that way, we're all murderers. Words do hurt! Choose them wisely! Or else you may find that you're the reason someone committed suicide!"
Tears trailed down Rukia's cheek. She hated how she acted towards Hisana. Onee-chan I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry! I didn't—why didn't I do something?!
Her quiet crying soon turned into sobs as the gravity of everything hit the school. Soon everyone, teachers, students, and all, began sobbing, finally realizing the truth.
I learned that day that guilt isn't a feeling of responsibility for doing something bad. Guilt is a phenomenon that takes a hold of your life if you let it. You see, guilt doesn't leave, no matter how much we fool ourselves. We always hold a bit of guilt; let it be from a month ago to as long as fifty years ago. Such is the way guilt works. Guilt eats you from within.