Chapter Four: Bitter Truth
One year later:
Hei and Misaki cuddled in bed early in the morning, as the sun pierced through the blinds. The day they were dreading had come. Riku was starting her first day at Pre-school and they believed the teachers and other staff members would give her a hard time due to Li's occupation.
"We need to tell her, Li," said Misaki.
"I know, but it feels like she's still too young," said Li. "I scared her just only a year ago, and because of it her nightmares have returned. If we tell her now, she'll be scared of me, and that's the last thing I want to do to her."
"We can't keep the truth from her. She'll find out sooner or later."
"I know, my love, but let's see how things go first at her Pre-school before we tell her."
"All right."
Misaki tightened her hold on him in hopes of extinguishing the uneasiness she was feeling. Unfortunately, it wasn't helping.
Xxx
Misaki drove through the city towards Riku's school. Sitting uncomfortable in the passenger seat, Riku held tightly onto her school bag. She wore her navy blue schoolgirl outfit and black dress shoes with her hair tied into double ponytails.
"I don't wanna go," she cried.
"Are you scared?" Misaki asked, disbelieving she would be after being kidnapped last year.
"No. Just don't wanna. I wanna go home."
"Ri-chan, you have to. It's the law, and you know we have to follow the law."
A shiver ran down Misaki's back. How could she criticize her daughter about the law when she and Li weren't following it?
"All right, Mama," pouted Riku. She looked up at her mother. "You staying, right?"
"I'm sorry, but they won't let me."
"But, Mama?"
"You'll be fine."
They arrived moments later with Misaki pulling onto school ground. It was three stories high, the walls white with sliding windows on each floor, and a sliding entrance door.
Parking the car, the Kirihara girls exited the vehicle and entered the school. Orange colored lockers lined the walls between classroom doors, and the floors were made out of marble.
They headed down the hall, up a set of stairs, and walked towards the third classroom. Before entering it, they removed their shoes and put on slippers. Inside the room, other parents gathered around their kids sitting at different oval-shaped tables. A window that had been slid open lay across from them.
"Hello," smiled a woman, as she approached. She had gray hair, a pleasant figure, and wore a white blouse with a red knee-length skirt. "I'm Haya-sensei. May I ask who the little girl is?"
"Kirihara Riku," said Misaki.
Haya-sensei stared at Misaki flabbergasted, as the other parents looked towards them and Riku, and then whispered into their kids' ears.
"Stay away from that girl," Misaki heard a woman say to her daughter, having her frown.
Haya-sensei sheepishly giggled, and said, "Kirihara Riku-san. What a lovely name."
The notion was redundant since Misaki noticed uncertainty on Haya's face. Maybe it would have been best to home school Riku.
"How about we get her signed to a seat," said Haya-sensei.
She guided them over to a table with two other girls sitting at it. As Riku sat in a chair, the girls scooted away from her. Haya-sensei smiled and walked off to help with other parents and their kids.
Misaki kneeled and looked at Riku who was giving her puppy eyes.
"Don't go, Mama," said Riku, shaking her head. "I don't like it."
"You'll be fine," said Misaki, as she brushed Riku's hair with her fingers. "I'm sure Yin will be watching you."
"You think so?"
Misaki nodded, having Riku smile and hug her mother.
Pushing her daughter away, Misaki said, "I'll see you at four, all right."
She stood and exited the classroom.
After the rest of the parents had left, Haya-sensei began class by teaching them the Japanese alphabet. Riku listened closely to her, and started writing the alphabet on a piece of paper.
Haya-sensei walked around the room and kept her distance from the Kirihara girl. Riku didn't understand, but could care less since it eased her worries.
Around noon, the kids ate their lunch, and then were allowed to step outside for recess. Unfortunately, none of the other kids played with Riku. She sat alone under a tree; her arms wrapped around her legs, and watched the other kids.
She didn't understand why.
Later in the day, her mother picked her up, pleasing her she could leave, but was upset she had to return the next day.
Xxx
Riku was given the same treatment for the rest of the week. However, she didn't let it bother her. She would sit under the tree and doodle on blank pieces of paper from class. Her scribbling would be of her mother, her father, Kanami and she at the zoo or somewhere else.
However, on Friday's recess, she didn't know what to draw and watched the other kids play. How she wished to be a part of the fun. Running around while chasing someone to tag him or her, swing and giggle on a swing set, and kick around a soccer ball.
At times she would giggle at someone's clumsiness and watch him or her fall, but he or she would get up and do it again. After seeing such joy, apart of her wanted to cry, but she forced herself from doing such a thing.
The following week during Wednesday's recess, Riku thought of drawing her, her mother and father kneeling while eating dinner together.
Halfway through it, three of her classmates walked up to her. The boy in the middle, who was a little plumper than the other two, grabbed her drawing and stared at it while she looked up at them. He had a chubby face, small eyes and black silky hair parted to the right.
"What crap!" he said, throwing and stomping it on the ground. He glared down at her. "I hear your daddy is the Black Reaper!" Riku stared at him baffled, remembering she had heard that name before. "That make you Little Black Reaper."
Unable to make sense of the middle boy's words, she stood and began to walk off. Unfortunately, the three boys followed her.
"Oi, I'm talking to you!" said the middle boy, pushing her.
The Kirihara girl stumbled forward, but regained her balance, and turned to look back confused. He smiled with glee, as he walked up to Riku to push her again. This time, she lost her balance and fell on her bottom.
The boys started laughing, as the middle boy said, "She no Reaper! She a klutz!"
The boys continued laughing. Apparently he had had a problem with her, and now she had one with him.
Riku stood while brushing off her skirt, frowned at the middle boy, and kicked him in the shin. He cried out in pain, hopping around like a one-legged kangaroo, and then socked her across the face. Riku twirled and fell on her hands and knees while she fought from crying. She got to her feet and kicked him between the legs.
The boy screamed out like a little girl, as he dropped like a stone, causing everybody in the yard to look towards Riku and the boy startled.
A teacher ran up to the scene, as the boy squirmed on the ground while howling in pain.
"What happened here?" she asked.
"She kicked him in the balls for no good reason," said the other boy to the right.
He had spiky hair and rounded eyes.
"You lie, Iiaki!" shouted a girl in Riku's class. She had long black hair and dark eyes.
"He not lying," said the other boy, who had flat hair, narrow eyes, and a boney face.
"Yes, they are." The longhaired girl looked at her teacher. "I saw! Iiaki and Raido lying. Bakumaru pushed her and punched her."
"Don't lie," said the sensei to the girl.
The girl looked at her sensei stunned, and then said, "Not lying." She turned to the other kids gathered around. "Everybody, tell her that what happen."
The other kids looked away, shaking their heads and began playing, shocking the black-haired girl.
"You're coming with me too, young lady," ordered the sensei.
With a firm grip on their shoulders, she directed Riku and the black-haired girl back to the classroom. Haya-sensei stood from her chair to round her desk and came up to them looking flabbergasted.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"This girl started a fight outside with a boy," the sensei informed, pushing Riku forward. She then pointed to the other girl. "And she was caught lying about the fight."
"I not lying, Haya-sensei," said the girl. "Bakumaru started it."
"Nina-san, that's enough," ordered Haya-sensei. "Both of you are going to spend timeout in the corner for the rest of the day." She walked over to grab two chairs and set them in the back corner. "Now get over there, and no speaking."
The two girls perked up angrily from the adults not believing them, and walked over to the corner to sit down. The other sensei bowed and left.
Fifteen minutes later, the other kids returned with the boy Riku had kicked in the balls waddling over to his table. He grinned at Nina and Riku for them getting into trouble instead of him.
"All right, class," said Haya-sensei, as she stood. "No need to look over at those two, or try talking to them since they're being punished. "I want you all to start coloring in the picture before you. Make it whatever color you think it should be."
The class started their work.
An hour into class, Riku began to touch the area she had been hit. Nina glanced over and noticed her right eye was bruising. It proved she wasn't lying about what had happened outside.
"Sensei," spoke up Nina.
"No speaking, Nina," said Haya-sensei.
"It Riku. She has a booboo."
"Stop your lying!"
"Not lying! Look! Please!"
Haya-sensei sighed and stood from her desk to look at Riku's bruise. Her eyes widened and walked over Bakumaru.
"Let me see your hands," she said.
"Why, sensei?" he asked.
"Let me see your hands, now!"
The boy did so to show his right fist had bruised as well. She frowned while placing her hands on her hips and said, "You punched Kirihara-san, didn't you?"
"No."
"Yes, you did. Your hand is bruised. You did it because you were defending yourself. Riku hit you first, didn't she?"
"What? Sensei, no. That not true!" shouted Nina, as she stood.
"Yes, that what happen," nodded Bakumaru.
"He's lying! He push Riku. Riku defend herself from him."
"Nina, that's enough! Now sit back down and don't say another word. Bakumaru-san, you can stand over in the corner for a half an hour."
Bakumaru stood and walked over to the other corner. While retaking her seat, Nina snorted under her breath at the injustice. Riku glanced over at her startled.
After seeming like days, the clock on the front wall read four o'clock. Parents began filing in to pick up their kids. Nina's mother arrived and looked on shocked at her daughter next to Riku. Haya-sensei explained the lie to her in which angered Nina's mother, and dragged her out of the room while scolding her.
"But I not lying, I swear!" Nina shouted.
Moments later, Misaki entered the room smiling, but it turned into a frown. She walked over to Riku and noticed the bruise.
"Riku, what happened? Why are you sitting in the corner?" Misaki asked.
"Riku started a fight," Haya-sensei informed Misaki.
Misaki looked back at Haya-sensei flabbergasted, and then back at her daughter to say, "Is this true?"
"No," said Riku. "He push me. He call me Little Black Reaper."
Misaki gasped.
"Riku, please wait outside so I can talk with your sensei," she said.
"What? Why?"
"Just do it."
Pouting, Riku stepped outside the room, allowing Misaki to glare back at Haya-sensei.
"I know my daughter didn't start the fight. She doesn't know her father is the Black Reaper, and if she knows she's in danger, she will defend herself."
"Are you calling this school's staff liars?" Haya-sensei asked.
"What I'm saying is; I noticed from day one my daughter being looked at as a monster, even by you. She isn't one, and I would like this school to give her a chance."
Misaki turned on her heels, exited the classroom and took her daughter's hand to guide her out of the school.
"I no start fight, Mama," pleaded Riku.
"I know, sweetheart," replied Misaki.
Xxx
Around eight o'clock, Misaki sat on her couch watching Riku mess around with her toys when Li entered through the front door with Yin, surprising Misaki that he hadn't used her balcony. He walked over to Riku who stood and ran into his arms. As he embraced her he noticed her shiner.
"Yin was right, you did get into a fight," he commented. "Did you win?"
"Yes!" Riku nodded.
"Li Shenshung, what kind of attitude is that?" yelled Misaki, as if she was reprimanding a ten-year old. "She got into a fight because a boy called her chibi Kuro no Shinigami."
Li looked at Misaki lost for words. He set Riku down and said, "Riku, why don't you keep playing with your toys with Yin. Mommy and I have to talk alone."
"All right," nodded Riku.
She and Yin walked in front of the couch to sit and play. Misaki and Li stepped into the bedroom and closed the door.
"We have to tell her, Li," she insisted.
"Misaki, we discussed this already," said Li.
"I know, but I'm afraid she'll find out the truth from a classmate, a teacher, or a stranger. She has the right to know."
Li opened his mouth to protest, but closed it in agreement to his beloved. The couple exited the bedroom to walk over and kneel next to their daughter with Yin scooting back. The young brown-eyed girl looked at them puzzled, as if she had done something wrong and she was going to be punished.
"Ri-chan, there's something we need to tell you," began Li. "You remember the scary man from last year."
"Yes, Papa, you saved me from him," said Riku.
"Eh well, the truth is, I never scared him away, sweetheart."
"You—you didn't? He not coming for me, is he?"
"Riku, he doesn't intend to hurt you in anyway. He was there to save you that day."
Riku looked at him puzzled with unblinking eyes.
"Riku… I—I am… the scary man," confessed Li.
Riku's heart began to pound heavily in her chest, as she said, "That not true, Papa. You can't be. You my Papa. You too nice to be the scary man."
"Riku, honey. I'm sorry, but I never meant to scare you that night. I just wanted to save you."
He reached into his coat, fished in a pocket, and pulled out a white mask with a purple staggering line shooting through the hollow slanted right eye. Riku's eyes widened and she backed away from him, causing Li's insides to turn inside out.
Putting away the mask, he tried to comfort her, as he said, "I'm so sorry, sweetheart."
"No, stay away," she demanded, as she hid behind Misaki. "You not my Papa. My Papa kind. He hurt nobody."
"Riku, he is your daddy," said Misaki, as she turned to face her. "It's just that he's also known as someone else. It's tough to tell you this, but your daddy use to be a really bad person, but he's changed because of me, and mostly because of you."
"He not my papa, Mama," said Riku. "I know my papa. My papa don't scare me. He scare me."
Riku ran into her room and slammed the door behind her. Misaki looked over at her room heart-stricken, as Li stared down miserably at the floor. Tears began to form in his eyes. Unable and refusing to hold them back, he let them pour down his cheeks.
Xxx
As the days progressed, things were still hard for Riku at school concerning the students. Even worse, the school staff kept a close eye on her, making Riku watch how she sneezed. However, Bakumaru stayed twenty to fifty yards away from her due to having his pride and joy being forced up in uncharted territory.
The following week during recess, Nina walked up to Riku while she sat under the tree drawing a picture. Riku looked up at her baffled, as Nina tilted her head and blinked dumfounded.
"You don't look bad," she said.
"Eh?" Riku questioned, as her eyes slanted peculiarly.
"You no look for trouble. You can't be bad."
"Trouble look for me."
"My name Nina. Nice to meet you." She bowed.
"Eh? Em? My name Riku." She stood and returned the gesture.
"Can I sit with you?"
"No, it fine."
Nina sat next to Riku and drew together. At least she had made a friend.