A/N: Hurray, I updated.
I'm one of few words, therefore: Read. Enjoy. Farewell.
Much love to reviewers.
Chapter 4
Unraveled
Kagura panted hard as she ran up the steps to the house she'd hoped she had been searching for. Turning her head over her shoulder, she realized that the old woman wasn't following her and slowed down. Why was she in such a hurry to get to this place anyway?
Stopping to catch her breath, she braced her hands on her thighs and breathed hard. Kagura never liked running to places. Hell, exercise had been the last thing on her mind for years.
Wiping the sweat off of her cheek, she started to trudge up the hill. The house was farther than she had expected. Kagura found it hard to believe it was even part of the original block before the fire twenty years ago.
A white gate.
Kagura's pace quickened to a run. Yes, she could see it. The entrance to the white house was just ahead. Not knowing why, a smile spread across her face as the house came into view. Perhaps it was the sense of triumph, or the excitement that swelled her chest, ready to burst. Panting, she ran to the white gates and gripped the bars, for she swore that if she moved one more inch, she would faint.
Pushing on the gates, Kagura gasped in surprise as they creaked open. It wasn't locked.
The grass was neither cut, nor overgrown, which Kagura noticed immediately. Someone took the time to cut the grass just days ago, therefore, someone had to live here. And then, Kagura noticed something else.
What once had been a garden of blossoms and joy was now a decrepit basin of sadness. The trees looked ancient with its pale bark peeling from its trunk and its branches hanging low, as if drooping out of grief. Vines hugged the walls of the house, but they were all dead and bleached.
Basins that would have been spilling blossoms in the spring seemed colder than a grave for years and years.
A marble fountain was beautifully carved and yet seemed eerie and stained with age, with water leaking down the cheeks of a carved smiling child.
Kagura stepped across the pathway and then stopped at the entrance. A large wooden door painted white stood in front of her. The brass handles were shaped of horse heads.
Slipping her hand into her purse, Kagura pulled out the envelope and re-read the address.
House three…
"Oh god," Kagura gasped. Yes, she had been right, "What a relief."
She'd been expecting failure and yet here she was, standing in front of the large white house she'd spent hours searching for. The fact that she went in search for it in the first place was still a mystery itself, though Kagura could hardly care right at this moment.
Mission accomplished. Kagura felt like she discovered buried treasure.
Hesitating, Kagura stepped forward and rang the doorbell. It sounded like rusting chimes.
She waited for an answer, but nothing happened. So she rang again.
Again, nothing happened.
Kagura raised her hand and then gently knocked the door with the back of her knuckles. Tap tap tap. Kagura folded her hands in front of her… and waited.
Tap tap tap.
Kagura stared at the door. Did she just hear that?
Tap…tap…tap.
Slower this time, but she heard it. Someone on the other side of the door was knocking back. Not knowing what else to do, Kagura knocked again.
And then… tap… tap… tap.
Scowling, she knew whoever was on the other side of the door was the type to play mind games.
Without a second thought, Kagura blurted out, "Are you gonna open this door, or do you want play 'knock knock' until the sun goes down?"
There was no answer.
Instead, the door creaked open slightly, revealing a little boy with lavender-white hair. His violet eyes were blank, but his eyebrows were arched in an arrogant, proud manner. His skin looked as white as his clothing, as if he hadn't spent a day out in the sun.
"I don't believe you are in any position to be asking questions," he said in a surprisingly sophisticated tone of voice.
Kagura blinked. This kid talked as if he owned the place.
"Now, let me ask you a question," the white-skinned boy continued, "Who are you? Why have you trespassed on our property? Or rather, how did you get here in the first place?"
"That's three questions," Kagura blurted.
"Answer them."
Kagura held out the yellow envelope.
"I found this while I was working at the post office," she said, "It's for Haku-san. Do you know him?"
The boy's eyebrows disappeared under his bangs.
"Know him?" he laughed humorlessly, "Perhaps. Come inside."
He opened the door and gestured for Kagura to enter. Not sure of his intentions, Kagura hesitated before slipping off her shoes and entering the house.
It was a very western style home with hardly anything Japanese about it. The white-skinned boy looked out of place with his white Japanese priest robes that hung loosely on his skinny shoulders. Out of place, and alone. Kagura hadn't seen or heard anyone else when she entered.
They entered what appeared to be a study. Stacks of books and files covered the white desk in front of the window; papers haphazardly tossed on the floor… which was also white. Whoever occupied this study had no sense of organization, something Kagura was thankful for.
At least this Haku person is somewhat human.
However, the pale interior of the house contradicted her thoughts. This person was either obsessed with white or had an extremely plain personality.
The white-haired boy walked up to the desk and began to straighten out loose papers into a neat stack, paying no attention to the woman behind him. Kagura stood by the entrance of the study, not sure of what to do. The boy couldn't have been over eight or nine years old in appearance. So why then, by his movement and actions, did he appear to be an ancient ghost?
She was interrupted from her thoughts when the boy spoke sharply, "Come. Have a seat."
The boy was sitting behind the desk now, in a slouching position. He looked strange sitting there. A boy behind a desk, looking like a ghost, and yet much like a businessman.
He pointed to the chair across from him.
"Sit."
Kagura snorted, "I'm not a dog."
She yanked out the chair and haphazardly fell into it. It was well cushioned… and comfortable. Kagura leaned back into it.
The boy smirked, "True, but I can tell that you are just as stubborn."
An awkward silence followed. The boy observed the woman across from him, while Kagura sat there waiting for something to happen. She avoided looking into the boy's dark eyes, not wanting to find those blank orbs staring back. It was kind of scary… and really really weird.
Finally, the boy decided to break the silence.
"Let me see the letter."
Kagura handed it to him, and flinched when her fingers came in contact with his own. It was like ice. He was cold as a corpse. She suddenly felt scared and sick.
"I-I need you to give that to Haku-san," Kagura stuttered. When had it gotten so chilly?
The boy raised an eyebrow.
"Cold?"
Kagura shook her head.
"Hmph," the boy shrugged, then focused his attention back to the letter. He pulled it out of the envelope and sent Kagura with a chilling glare.
"So you got curious and decided to open it," he said coldly.
"Because I opened it, I decided to deliver it as an apology," Kagura protested, "So tell this Haku-san that I apologize for invading his privacy."
The boy ignored her. Instead, his eyes were darting over the lines of the letter. A confused expressed crossed his stoic features as he gazed at the seal.
And then he did something unexpected.
He brought the paper to his face, and licked the blood.
Kagura sat still.
"Wha-What did you just-?"
He silenced her by holding up his hand. His eyes were closed and he looked like he was trying to remember something. Kagura didn't know what to think.
The boy opened his eyes and looked at Kagura.
"I didn't believe you at first," he said slowly, "because none of my letters come from the post office, nor were they ever delivered by some girl who suddenly shows up on my doorstep."
"Your letters? Are you saying that you are this Haku person?"
The boy stood up and smirked, "My full name is Hakudoushi. I am the master of this household."
"Wait. That can't be right, that's impossible," Kagura said, shaking her head, "This letter was written twenty years ago! You're just a kid!"
"A child?" Hakudoushi chuckled, "Believe me Kagura, if I were a mere child, I would hardly consider myself as your godfather.
End Chapter. Oooo... plot twist.Now I'm off to Canada.