Chapter 4
The Arrival
Fred Naracott looked at the group of 12 people that were assembled on the dock. "These folks are an odd lot." he thought to himself. Oh well, he would still preform the duties that Owen had asked him to. He had already hung the poem and placed the figures on the mantle just like Owen had asked. He had thought while he did this that Owen was an odd person himself. Naracott counted the people on the dock. Twelve. Didn't the letter say that he was to take fourteen of them. All the same, orders were orders. He still wondered about those last two people though. Maybe they hadn't arrived there yet.
"Excuse me," he stated. Twelve pairs of eyes turned to meet his gaze. "I was just wondering what about the last two of you because I was told that I was to take fourteen people to the island."
Thoru was the first to speak up. "Oh, you must mean Kisa and Hiro. They have the flu and won't be joining us. They would like to apologize for not writing to tell you but none of our letters had return addresses."
"Oh, that is a shame." replied Naracott. "If you all will join me in the boat we will start to head to the island so we will be there by noon.
Ayame caught Hatori while they were still on the dock and the others were loading luggage onto the boat. "Tori, could you come here?" pleaded Ayame
Hatori walked over to where Ayame was looking at him with puppy-dog eyes. "Aya, what the heck do you want. I am trying to get into the boat." grumbled an obviously annoyed Hatori.
"Tori," he moaned, "I plan to use this weekend to get closer to Yuki. What do you think. Do you think that he still hates me?"
"You really want to know what I think?" stated an annoyed Hatori, "I think that you need to stop bothering me and ask Shigure because he would actually listen to you where as all I hear is incoherent drivel."
"You can be so hateful, Tori" cried Ayame as he walked up to the boat that awaited them at the end of the peir and boarded.
Hatori just stood there rolling his eyes and thinking of how stupid Ayame could be sometimes.
Everyone except Kyo enjoyed the boat ride to the island.
"Oh, my gosh, when will this awfull rocking motion stop. I feel like I am about to die." moaned the sea-sick teen.
"Well you fool, you knew that islands are surrounded by water and you still decided to come. I really have no pity for you in this situation. By the way, if you are going to throw up throw up to your left into the sea and not into the boat." replied Yuki.
"Why don't you just shut you big mouth and read your book or something." cried Kyo as he threw his head over the side of the boat.
"Im the king of the world!" cried Ayame as he stood on the front of the boat.
"Aya, sit down you are going to fall in."cried Shigure.
The island became visable in the horizon. The people on the boat all turned to see the outline of the island set against the sun.
"Oh, look," cried Thoru, "You can see the outline of the mansion. It is soooo cute."
"I feel differently," muttered Kureno, "It is so mysterious it gives me bad feelings."
"Oh get off it Kureno," Hatsuharu fussed, "I think we are going to have a great weekend." His eyes met Rin's and held her gaze for several minutes untill he moved them to look once again at the house.
Rin was lost in thought. She still had feelings for Haru but she wasn't sure how to act after the incident. What should she do "I just wont think about it." she firmly told herself. "I have to move on. We broke up. It happens all the time. I just can't show him that I still have feelings for him." She decided that she would let nature run it's course over the weekend and if all went right she would end up with him after it was all said and done.
"Rin...RIN...are you coming?"
Rin looked up and broke out of her day-dreaming. Kyo was standing over her holding his suticase.
"We just landed, are you coming." he asked.
"Yes, I'll be right there." Rin grasped the straps of her purse and walked down the ramp to the stone dock that lay before her. "Quite a beautyful island." she remarked out loud. She looked up at the mansion up the path cut into the stone. She totally disagreed with Kureno, it looked warm and inviting. She began the climb and Kyo quietly followed.
All of the other guests were standing in the hall when Rin and Kyo walked in.
"If you would allow me," Naracott said, "I will show the ladies to their rooms and then I will come back and show the men to theirs. I also would like to inform you that Mr. Owen has been detained and won't be down untill later. Now, ladies, I would like to show you to your rooms."
Thoru, Kagura, and Rin stepped forward and flollowed Naracott up the grand staircase that was directly infront of them.
Fred Naracott led the ladies up the stairs to the landing on the top. "May I ask which one of you is Rin?" he asked.
"I am." replied the teen as she stepped forward.
"This is your room." Fred pointed to the room down the hall to the right. "First room that we come to." He walked over to it and opened to door to reveal the room, done in a deep purple.
"Thank you Mister Naracott; but, if you all would excuse me I would like to change and freshen up for dinner." The dark haired girl walked forward into her room and quietly closed the door behind her.
Fred then showed Thoru to her room and Kagura to hers. Each gratefully thanked him and entered to change. He returned to the entrance hall where the gentlemen were waiting and showed each of them to their rooms which were also on the second floor. Fred stood in the enterance hall after showing the men to their rooms. Something was suspicious about these people. Something just wasn't right. He walked down the path to the dock and boarded his boat and set sail. Not to see the island untill the next Tuesday.
