Chapter 3
A Glimpse of the Past
Ranata watched the street lights flash by as Darien drove back into town.
"So, what's your address?" asked Darien.
"You can just drop me off at the library and I can walk home."
"No, if something happened to you on the walk home Bunny would never forgive me. She's grown attached to you. "
"Yes, well, Bunny likes everyone." said Ranata as she shifted in the car seat uncomfortable.
"But she's especially connected to you." continued Darien.
"Um…. We just passed the library." Ranata pointed out.
"Yes, I know. If you don't give me your address, we'll just drive around in circles." said Darien slyly.
"Fine. But you can't tell anyone."
"Why?"
"Just - Please."
Darien nodded.
"Okay here's my address" started Ranata.
Darien drove down a side alley. The brick buildings were close together and the street was piled with trash. Darien could sense people everywhere in the shadows watching the car.
"Here this is my building." said Ranata quietly.
Ranata opened the car door and got out but Darien walked over to her side. "I don't like leaving you in a place like this alone."
"Darien you don't understand." explained Ranata as she walked towards the building.
Darien grabbed Ranata's arm, holding her back, "Ranata! This place is dangerous. Why don't you come live with Michiru-"
"Hey, Rana! Is this guy bothering you?" said a man threateningly.
"It's okay Charlie. He's one of my friend's boyfriends. It's fine, I'm fine." said Ranata quickly.
"Okay. Yell if you need anything."
"I will."
Charlie took one last look at Darien and melted back into the shadows.
Ranata looked back at Darien, "Yes, it's dangerous, for you. Here, let me show you something."
Ranata lead Darien into a building, up two flights of stairs and into an apartment, "I'm home!"
As Ranata hung up her coat a woman wearing an apron leaned through a door jam holding a wooden spoon.
"Welcome home, Rana. Oh, who's your friend?" she asked.
"His name is Darien."
"He?!" called a male voice from another room.
"He's my friend's boyfriend, Donny!" Ranata called back.
"Good if he was yours we'd have to have to have a talk."
Ranata laughed, "What's for dinner Linda?"
"Stew. Is your friend staying?" asked Linda.
"No," replied Ranata, "I just wanted him to meet you. Besides, if he doesn't get back soon his girlfriend will think I kidnapped him."
"Hold on, at least take some stew with you." said Linda handing Darien a container.
A door down the hall opened and a flood of kids came barreling down the hall.
"Rana!" they called as they tackled Ranata with such force that it sent her flying into Darien and ended with them all tumbling out into the hall in a pile on the floor outside the apartment.
"Will you play with us?" begged a little girl with pigtails like Ranata's except black instead of red.
"I'll be right there," Ranata said as she ushered the children back inside. "I just have to talk to Darien for a moment."
Ranata shut the door and leaned against it. "These people took me in last winter when I was lost without any hesitation. They took care of me while I went through the painful process of regaining my memories. They comforted me when I realized my mother abandoned me and remembered my step-mother sacrificed herself to protect me and my step-sister. They are still helping me search for my sister. They don't have much and they still so much. The least I can do is work to help them. It's not just the Azuma's either, everyone who's living here is helping me. We're all family, but if people knew I was here the government would come take me away because the Azuma's don't legally have custody of me. You cannot tell anyone about this."
"I won't." replied Darien.
Ranata smiled, "Now go. Bunny's waiting for you"
Darien gave Ranata a hug and walked down the stairs.
