Chapter Three: New Home
"I take it she still isn't happy about this?"
Standing a few feet away from the car, Shizuma, Nagisa, and Kira eyed the young female who had yet to leave the vehicle.
"It's…difficult for her." Kira told them. "Moving to a new place always is. As you both saw, she is not very family orientated."
"Poor examples from other homes?" Shizuma asked.
"Well, some of the foster homes became a little rough towards the end, resulting in no one wanting to keep her because she is a little hard to get through to. She has always had a hard time with family. Being sent back each time hasn't helped her confidence either."
"It's terrible that no one would want her because she is hard to reach." Nagisa said sadly. "Just because someone has issues getting through to another doesn't mean you should give up on them."
"I agree." Kira said back. "It seems that people these days want to foster or adopt the perfect child, in turn leaving the troubled ones feeling unworthy and without families."
"And that's so wrong." Nagisa replied. "Just because a child isn't perfect to them doesn't mean they are not perfect at all. Every child is wonderful in their own way. So what if they are a little rough round the edges. That doesn't mean they are bad and don't deserve to be loved. Love is what they need more than anything."
"It is, though trying to convince her of that isn't an easy task."
"You mentioned that, not only is it because of past foster homes, but that a lot of how she is has to do with her life prior to becoming an orphan, correct?"
"Yes…it was a very rough time. I really wish I could tell you, but she made me promise not to share it unless she does so herself."
"That's understandable." Shizuma said back.
"I mean, if you can get her to share it, then hats off to you. You'd be the first. I've been with her since the incident and she hasn't told a soul. I really hope that one day she can. They maybe she can finally let it go."
The three remained silent for a moment, eyes once again on the little girl.
"I wonder what happened that hurt her so much." Shizuma thought.
"By the way, if you don't mind me asking, have you two decided to tell her your story?"
Shizuma nodded.
"We have. For now, we've decided to not tell her about Sayuri."
"Not that we want to keep secrets!" Nagisa added. "It's just…we're worried that if she knows too early, she might try and compare herself to her and think she's not good enough if she isn't exactly like her. We also don't want her to think she is cared for less either."
"I think waiting is a wise idea." Kira replied. "I know her thought process and she would think just that if you told her now. As sad as it is, I have seen people send back kids because, according to them, they aren't as good or as smart or anything like their birth children."
"Really?" Nagisa asked, her heart breaking a little. "How could anyone do that? Each child has their own uniqueness to them and parents need to love them just as they are."
"And Yuki is definitely unique, in a good way." Shizuma added. "There is just something about her that makes me want to get to know her more."
Kira smiled as she listened.
"Hearing that coming from you two is comforting. I have interviewed some good families in the past, but no one has had the mindset you two have in regards to her. They were more interested in trying to change her right away rather than getting to know her, saying things like "we'll turn her into this" or "we'll make her like that" and so on."
"We don't want to turn her into anything." Nagisa replied. "We just want her to be happy. She deserves to be. We are going to give her so much loving she won't even know what to do with herself! I know that might sound a little much so quickly, but…kids are all loveable. There is no set period to wait before giving them some love."
Kira smiled again, touched at how sincere the two were.
"Amen to that. Speaking of, you mentioned you were interested in adopting when I first met you. You really think you'll keep her?"
The couple looked at each other before returning the smile.
"We sure would like to." Nagisa answered. "We're definitely not the type to send her back because she is hard to reach. We'll do our best to work with her and be there in the best way we can."
"That's wonderful to know." Kira said back, relived Yuki would truly be safe.
"Just one thing though." Shizuma added. "Could you not mention anything about that to her? We would like her to get truly settled in and comfortable with us before bringing that up."
"I won't say a word." She told them. "I really do hope this all works out. Anyways, ready to see her?"
"Yes!" Nagisa said excitedly, and with that, they all headed down to meet her.
Back in the car, Yuki was still lost in her own thoughts, Kira's words unable to leave her mind.
"Out of every single one, what family still wanted you when the interview was over."
Reaching behind the seat, she grabbed her black backpack and held it tightly to her chest, sinking down a little.
"It doesn't make sense. I'm always mean during interviews, so why did this family want me anyways when the other ones didn't? Not to mention, that damn woman even tricked me into agreeing, but why? I don't understand…"
This was the very first time a family had taken her in despite her rudeness during the interview process, so she wasn't entirely sure how to feel. What she did know was that she wasn't going to be all nice to them because of it. She planned on giving them a very hard time.
"I have to…and fast. That Nagisa is way too happy for her own good. I can't let that weirdness rub off on me. And Shizuma…that look…"
She couldn't forget how deep those eyes were or the sincerity that flowed through them. And that warmth…
-Tap tap tap-
Snapping from her thoughts, she looked up and found Kira standing by the window. She nodded her head towards the couple beside her and beckoned her to come out. Knowing she had no choice, the girl rolled her eyes and unhappily opened the door. As she stepped out, a cool late afternoon spring breeze hit her face, causing her to tuck some of her silver locks behind her ear.
"Yuki, say hello."
Slipping on her backpack, she looked up at the two familiar faces, both sporting soft gazes and happy smiles.
"Hello, Yuki." Shizuma greeted. "It's nice to see you again."
Now, the nice thing to do would have been to reply back, but Yuki was so not feeling nice. So instead, she simply crossed her arms over her chest and looked away.
"Hmph."
….
"Kawaiiiiiiii!"
-Glomp -
"You're so adorable! I'm so happy you're finally here!"
With her head turned away, she had failed to see the red head literally leap out and hug her, the action taking the ten year old off guard.
"Wh-what are you-"
"This is so great! I can't wait till-"
"Get off!"
Pushing Nagisa away, she took a step back.
"What's your issue? What was that all about?!"
"What?" Nagisa asked. "I was just so happy that you were finally here that I had to hug you."
"Well don't! You know I hate them! And you!"
She glared at Shizuma.
"That doesn't count towards the bet because I didn't willingly hug anyone! And Kira! Stop laughing!"
The social worker was almost in tears, the reaction the girl had given priceless.
"What's the matter? " Shizuma asked innocently. "Is something wrong?"
"Yes! You better damn well believe something in wrong!"
"Aww Yuki, you're blushing!" Kira teased. "Did you like it that much?"
"Baka!"
The red faced girl was angry, embarrassed, and flustered all at once.
"Oh Yuki." Kira said, wiping some tears away as her laughter died down. "All right, all right. I see you're good here. I'd stay a little longer but it's already after four, so I'll let you go get settled in."
"You're so going to pay for this." Yuki told her.
"You be good and have fun." Kira said back with a smirk. "And if you need anything, don't hesitate to call."
"I hate you right now."
"And I'll miss you, too." Kira replied.
"Thank you, Kira!" Nagisa called. "Have a safe trip back!"
"Yes, thank you." Shizuma said, suddenly slipping her arms around Yuki's waist from behind, the girl blushing deeply again. "Have no worries, she's in safe hands."
"Oh I have no worries at all." Kira told them, suppressing another laugh. "Have a good time, Yuki!"
"Baka!"
If only she knew what she was in for.
After freaking out at her two new guardians for the second hug, she followed them into their house. Now, she had to admit, the outside was pretty, the house all blue with a little yard out front, but on the inside…
"Wow…" she thought to herself, temporarily forgetting her anger. The inside was even better, a rose like smell surrounding her.
"This is the living room." Shizuma told her, slightly amused at the girls' awe. "Over here is the kitchen. And over there…"
The two women brought her through their household, showing the dining room, where the two closets were, the bathroom, and a room that held the most beautiful all black piano she had ever seen.
"What do you think so far?" Nagisa asked, the three stopping at the bottom of a staircase.
"It's average." Yuki said simply, a "not caring" look on her face. Of course that was a lie because she actually loved how the place looked, especially the room with the piano.
"There's one more room to show you." Shizuma told her. "It's right up the stairs."
Secretly wanting to see more, she began walking up, but half way there, they passed a window, a certain image in the distance catching her eye. Stepping closer, she saw was looked to be the top of a cathedral peeking up above the trees.
"Astrea Hill." She heard Nagisa say, the woman's face now next to Yuki's. The girl blushed a little at the closeness, but didn't move, curiosity taking over.
"What?"
"Astrea Hill." She said again with a smile. "Home of three wonderful schools. Lulim, Spica, and St. Miator's. It's at St. Miator that Shizuma and I actually work."
Yuki turned her head back to face the silver haired woman, Shizuma nodding and smiling in return.
"That's right. Nagisa teaches middle school English and I teach high school French. The two of us actually attended there as well, Nagisa transferring in during my final year."
The two women smiled at each other as they thought back on those days. It was the first time the two had met, and though the year had its ups and downs, everything was worth it in the end, the two as happy as can be.
"However," Shizuma continued. "Nagisa and I took the year off."
"You did?" Yuki asked. "Why?"
"For you of course!"
The girl blushed at this.
"Wait…what?"
"For you." Nagisa replied, a warm smile on her face. "Being teachers there, we are often back and forth between work and home. Not that we mind of course, but in knowing that a child was going to be staying with us, we wanted to be here fully for a while so we could spend time and get to know you."
"But…I'm only here until after Christmas…"
"We know…" Shizuma replied. "But there is always that off chance of you wanting to stay longer, so we took the year."
Yuki's blushed deepened.
"Seriously?"
Two women who were practically strangers decided to take a year off from their work to spend time with her, the kid who had been nothing but rude to them from the start?
"That doesn't make sense either. Why would they…"
Starting to feel slightly uncomfortable due to the sudden growth of warmth in her heart, she turned away from them, crossing her arms over her chest.
"Stay longer? Y-yeah right…There's no way I'd want that!"
The two women giggled lightly at this, Shizuma now walking past her.
"Is that so? I guess we'll have to see. Come along then."
Continuing up, she followed them until they reached the top, the three stopping in the hallway between two doors.
"Over here is our room, and right across from us…"
She opened the door right in front of them.
"Welcome to your new room my dear."
Yuki's eyes widened a bit as she stepped inside.
"We had it redone a little when we found out you'd be staying." Shizuma told her. "Kira said your favorite color is purple, right?"
Yuki just nodded. Purple, which happened to be the color of the sweatshirt she was wearing, was definitely her favorite. It also happened to be the theme of her room. Everything from the curtains to her blankets to the soft rug beneath her bare feet was decorated in the beautiful violet hue.
"You like?" Nagisa asked.
"It's…ok." Yuki answered, her own voice her betraying her slightly due to the fact that she absolutely loved it.
"Well, we're glad that you find it "ok." Shizuma told her with an amused smirk. "Anyways, we'll go ahead and let you get settled. Do you need anything?"
"No…"
Well, if you do, let us know." Shizuma replied, and with that, the two let her be.
The moment the door was shut, Yuki walked over to the bed and sat on it, plopping the bag beside her.
"It's so soft…" she thought, rubbing her hand over the covers gently. Looking up, she took this moment to inspect her room a little more. Along with her own bed, she had a nightstand, a dresser, a desk with a lamp and a computer, and a bookcase piled with different books.
"This is really nice…and they're really nice to me, too."
She let her mind wander back to the hugging incident outside.
"I hate hugging. It's so weird. I don't even like it when people touch me, but then…"
She placed her hand over her heart.
"Why did it feel so warm?"
Yuki was not someone you touched. She was not fond of any form of affection and generally got mad if anyone attempted to do so.
"So then…why did those hugs almost feel…good? I-"
Yuki snapped from her thoughts and quickly looked behind her.
"What the…"
She thought she heard something move, a real quick flash of something accompanying the sound, but when she didn't see anything, she simply shrugged.
"Weird…oh well."
With a sigh, she flopped back on the bed and closed her eyes.
"Ne…I really am going crazy. Seeing things, thinking I may have actually liked their hugs. Snap out of it."
She couldn't be getting all weird on day one.
"Whatever."
Pushing the event out of her mind, she opened her eyes and went to sit up. She had unpacking to do after all. However, as she opened then, she found her own locked onto a pair of deep black ones.
"You're cute when you talk to yourself, you know that?"
A very shocked Yuki opened her mouth to speak, but the sudden presence of a young girl's face inches away from her own caused nothing but squeaks to leave her.
"Yuki-chan's pictures were pretty, but you're even prettier in person."
….
"Kyaaaaa!"
Jetting from her room, she sped downstairs and literally ran into Shizuma from running so fast.
"What's wrong?"
A red faced Yuki pointed upstairs.
"A thing…"
"A thing?" Nagisa asked, slightly confused.
"In my room. There is a thing in my room."
"What kind of thing?" Shizuma questioned.
"Hello Aunt Shizuma! Aunt Nagisa!"
The three looked back to find a young girl about the same height as Yuki walk down the stairs. She had short jet black hair to match her eyes and a very cute blue dress on.
"Haru-chan?" Nagisa called.
"You mean you know her?" Yuki asked.
"Of course, yes." The red head replied. "Yuki, this is Haru. Her parents, Tamao and Miyuki Rokujo are close friends of ours that live down the street."
"Mhm!" Haru piped in. "And I was so excited to hear you were coming that I wanted to meet you right away. So I told my parents I was going to wait here for you, and well, here I am!"
Yuki let out an annoyed sigh.
"So you just thought it was ok to break into this house and hide in my room?"
"No silly! I didn't break in. I have a key! So now, I can come visit any time I want!"
Yuki turned to face the older women with an expression that clearly said, "you've got to be kidding me," Nagisa and Shizuma both trying to hide their teasing smiles.
"So Haru," Nagisa said. "What do you think?"
"I think she's adorable! I really love how she looks just like you Aunt Shizuma!"
"I am not adorable!" Yuki shouted. "Don't say that!"
"I have to agree with you, Haru-chan." Shizuma replied. "She is a cutie."
"Stop encouraging her!"
The other three simply giggled at the girl's reaction, only making Yuki angrier by the second.
"Oh Yuki-chan." Haru said. "It's going to be so much fun having you here. And guess what? I know for a fact that we're in the same class, so not only can we walk to school together, but we can sit with each other and eat lunch together, too!"
"Please tell me you're joking…"
"Nope! It's going to be great! Anyways, I am gonna run home and tell my mom's about you. See you guys later!"
"Bye Haru-chan." Shizuma replied. "Be careful."
"I will!"
And with that, she jetted out, leaving Yuki alone with the two women once again.
"I knew it. I'm in hell."
Shizuma actually laughed out loud at this, Nagisa smiling along with her.
"Haru's a great kid." Nagisa said brightly. "I think you two will be very good friends!"
"Yeah no. I'm good. I'm going back upstairs."
"Dinner will be soon." Shizuma told her. "Any requests?"
"No. I won't be hungry."
"But it's your first day here." Nagisa told her. "We wanted to have a celebration dinner."
"Have fun with that." Yuki said back.
"But-"
Nope. She wasn't hearing it, so before Nagisa could finish, she ran back upstairs and shut the door.
"I am so done leaving this room." She muttered, and she really was. After she unpacked, she spent the rest of her time flopped on her bed, staying lost in her own thoughts. It wasn't until about 7:30pm did she move, getting up to look out her window. As she did, she noticed the flat roof right in front.
"I wonder…"
Opening the window, she slipped out and sat on the surface.
"Definitely wouldn't want to fall from here…" she thought as she looked down. After, she looked up at the starry sky above her.
"So pretty…" she thought. Looking back down, she took a good look around, getting a better view of the neighborhood. She found that many of the houses were similar to the ones she was staying in, the colors and the sizes all varying.
"I wonder if the people are just as crazy as these two…anyways…"
After letting out a little yawn, she slipped back into her room and shut the window. Due to how peaceful and relaxed she felt out there, she knew that was going to be a favorite spot of hers, but for now, she just wanted to change into her pajamas and lay down. She had just finished slipping on her night shirt when a knock came at her door.
"Yuki? Can we come in?"
The girl simply sighed.
"Do I even have a choice in the matter?"
Seconds after, the door opened, the two women entering with a smile.
"Hey you." Shizuma said. "We just wanted to check in."
"I'm still here."
"You sure you aren't hungry?" Nagisa asked. "There's still some dinner downstairs that I saved for you."
"I'm very sure. I'm going to bed."
"Oh…all right." The red head replied.
"Are you sure you don't need anything?" Shizuma asked.
"Positive."
"Ok, well then…if you're going to bed…"
Before Yuki had a chance to process or react to what was going on, Shizuma had her arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.
"Wh-what are you-"
"I just have to give you a good night hug." The silver haired woman said. And if that wasn't enough, Nagisa snuck in and hugged her from behind as well.
"You're just so cute!" Nagisa said. "We can't help but hug you."
"But I hate hugs!" she retorted, struggling to get away.
"Are you saying our hugs don't feel good?"
At this, Yuki froze, her struggling coming to a stop. She had planned to say no, but found the word stuck. Why? Because even though she denied it, they really did feel good.
"There's that warmth again. Why is it so…"
Her chest was flaring up with a new feeling, her heart cautiously exploring the growing spark.
"It's kind of…comforting. It almost makes me want to…"
Her thoughts stopped there, the warmth getting a little too over whelming. If she was having those thoughts, it meant she was becoming vulnerable, and that was something she would not allow to happen.
"Get off!"
Pushing her way out, she stood there with a grumpy look on her face, a blush gracing her cheeks.
"You two are impossible. Go away."
The two women just smiled, Shizuma herself highly amused.
"Good night to you, too dear. We will see you in the morning." And with a final wave, they left.
"Baka…" she muttered under her breath as she turned away, clicking off the light and then climbing into bed.
"What is their issue?" she wondered, curling up. She was trying to be mad at them, but the more she thought about it, the warmer she would start to feel, killing her anger.
"This doesn't make any sense at all. I have told them that I hated hugs, so why do they hug me anyways?"
In the past, people usually just shrugged away and left her along when they learned that she disliked affection, but these two just kept going.
"And don't forget…"
She nuzzled up closer to her pillow.
"They took a year off of work for me, too. They said they wanted to spend time and get to know me better, but I don't understand why they would want to do that either. Nothing makes sense here."
She then let out a sigh, her brain starting to hurt from thinking about it all.
"Whatever. Give it a few days. They'll probably get over the hugging thing and then things will probably go back to normal…yeah."
Things would definitely be normal. They would eventual y get that she hated them and would give up on her all together. Everyone else did, so they would, too.
Right?
Now wanting to think anymore, she rolled over and closed her eyes, and within seconds, and very tired and confused Yuki finally fell asleep.