AN:
Oh what a start to some excitement! I have been coming down with a cold while being busy. So sadly it has taken me a while to get better. I have another fan fiction I might wright but most of the story will be completely original idea I have thought about writing about. I am debating I will make it on here or I will post it in its own tumblr.
Into the Rain
Chapter 4: Strangers
Each day passed by quickly with once again ghosts of guests her parents only seem to catch a glimpse of. It was strange because they moved like the wind early before 9:30am, which is when most guests decided to get up for breakfast, besides those few that lay around all day.
The next morning was the first day of Hitomi's brighten and early school year each ticking of the clock from the final day being one less minute of freedom. She had resolved while this was the last good day she will have before the snow storm from the west was to settle in on her that she would venture to the ruins of the theme village park. The hike up the hill took a time to get up there and one had to avoid being seen by those who frequented the temple in order to help prepare for the winter festival.
A small broken paved path forked to the right side of the mountain facing the train where the left took you too the Temple where the Tori Gates stood looking over you as you wondered to the right judging you as you passed. It was foreboding in nature the way it towered over you.
The road quickly turned to dust, as it never was completed in the dirt road being grabbed at by the shrubs trying to reclaim it. Years had past and the path still remained from the heavy trucks that came one by one. Trees blocked the view of the valley it faced with this eerie village coming out of nowhere.
A small train ready to fall off its tracks on the worn side of the mountains. The mountain eating away the small merry-go-round being eaten by the vines wrapping around each horse and carriage as it slowly sinks into the ground.
Each painted building having the paint torn from it with the decorations becoming the crunching chips beneath the feet breaking the silence surrounding. The ground littered with the items that were still decaying, broken tvs, radios, plates, and various food products.
There was no entrance built for the place as much as it looked like small shops that were erected from nothing to have ghosts occupy the spaces. As small breezes blew in one could hear it crying….
Hitomi stop with her hair standing on end with goose bumps.
'Was that the wind,' She asked herself in her mind.
She was to scared to speak or utter the words hello.
A simple word would not come from her lips. She just raised her camera and snapped a picture or two of the forgotten but once loved idea. A china doll laid in the rubble of the place with her face cracked open miss part of her.
The game booths empty but painted with such love and care on the stucco. A dance hall that had its door broken off over looking the valley below took her breath away even if the fear still crept in her that she was being watched.
She took a few shots before turning to leave. As she walked out she looked farther down the road with buildings winding around was dark and seemed to hold a hell where things were moving around in the shadows of the trees.
She started to back away feeling this was the place that was watching her. Something ran to her right in a fierce rush. How could that be when there was just a cliff.
She took haste and began to run back towards the main road as the darkness seemed to be creeping in. This was also strange for the afternoon. It had not been that long since she entered the place and looked around.
Glancing down at her watch as she neared the entrance it was only 3pm. She was shocked by how time had slipped her in this place. She looked back to see what looked like a person walking away from her in the shadows. This person was unusually tall, much taller than the buildings and an average person. As she watched shadow creatures began to pile out of the building they were hiding in that she had not noticed.
Her face caught up with fear in the moment as she saw shadows of different shapes and sizes come out of what she guessed was their homes or hiding places.
'What in the world is going on? Are there really ghosts?'
These puzzling thoughts were going a mile a minute as one that looked like a bear turned to her with blazing read eyes. Another shorter figure looked back with green eyes as what looked like a shadow of a fox ran towards the road looking to her with its red eyes.
She turned and ran towards the main road not looking back. Each step seemed to have felt to go on forever as she could see the main road in sight. She made another stomp of her foot from the run as she stepped wrong and twisted her ankle a bit she hit the ground hard and had ripped open her knee.
This was not something she needed at the moment so close the main road in a scare. She held back the tears to open her eyes to see the shadow fox before her with its red eyes looking at her. She was about let out a scream when it turned to a pale blue white color looking like an actual fox but slightly see through. It made a purring noise and rubbed up against her.
This brought up confusion in her as to scream and try to run or wait till it left. It jumped merrily towards her hurt knee leaning near it and down towards her ankle. She closed her eyes as it examined her then noticed her ankle didn't hurt and her knee no longer felt wet.
The fox stared at her as she opened on eye to look at it and down to her knee. She moved to sit up and look at the little thing noticing it look like a ghost but still more solid than any ghost she had ever seen.
She though for a second, 'Wait, when have I ever seen a ghost to know what to compare to.'
She folded her legs as she sat in the dirt and reached out towards the little creature. A sudden gust of wind that made the trees roar furiously in her direction caused the creature to go back to its frightening black appearance with red eyes sorrowfully running back to the village it once came.
Hitomi looked down at her hand and looked back up to see the path and the side of the mountain grew darker reaching towards her. She got up to finish her small run to the main road that held more light and love than the path once held. Something was angry over her visit and now she believed it even more.
She trotted slowly with her camera and examined it bit by bit to make sure nothing had been broken. This was now becoming an interesting situation with events.
She went home rushing a bit after she got into the house towards the stairs as a angry mother peeked out, "What happened to your cloths?! Did I raise a pig?"
Hitomi winced at the remarks but at least she didn't have the nasty gashes or twisted ankle.
"Sorry, mama…," she squeaked as she headed for the stairs.
As she got into her room she went directly over to the desk and sat down. She was exhausted from everything. She quickly fiddled with her camera over the desk.
She tried to turn on the camera but it wouldn't work. Sighing from frustration she had hoped to see if she had gotten anything unusual. She wouldn't be allowed to touch the downstairs computer with the next day being a school day.
She sat back in her chair looking at the ceiling for answers as if it would give her divine knowledge to why things were against her.
The first day of school meant the first day of preparation for the winter festival. They used this time to get the kids lazy minds working for the big event before sulking back into a normal school life of droned work. The parents agreed this was a much better idea on organizing the events in town since some of the people who ran shows weren't as nimble as they used to be.
The smell of snow would be in the air as normal with small flurries that would not keep school from happening. Only time that would occur would be if the storm decided to take out the power.
The last few hours of the day rushed by with every second ticking away by the Grandfather clock. It was almost headache inducing the sound.
As the family sat down for dinner a rather large gust of wind hit the east side of the house facing the field rattling the windows. The room hushed from the normal chatter. Hitomi could have sworn she heard someone yelling with in it. It gave her chills wondering where such a sound was coming from other than it grinding on the house.
She was worried the storm rolling in would cause quite a fuss at school.
Her mother quickly had her tend her dinner and whisked her away for a hot bath and bed.
As she went through the motions of the rest of the night with the wind battling the house hear and there she entered her quiet room placing some music on to sooth her nerves. She eventually slept well as it hummed in her room with ambient sounds.
The morning rush came quickly as she rushed to put on her winter uniform with a heavy coat to keep her warm. Quickly eating breakfast since school was a decent distance to travel especially in the cold. Just as she was about to head out her mother stopped her and hugged her. This was her mother's tradition in the morning to wish her to always be safe before school. Even from when they lived in the big city. She passed Hitomi her lunch and hurried her on.
The day had a bitter cold unlike most and seemed to bite at her nose, which she tried to bury in her scarf. She quickly started to run down the road to get into town to meet Kari. They weren't in the same class this year due to a change in staff and classroom size.
She got down and started to greet her with a hug as Ryosuke walked up with his shaggy black hair with his nose in a book constantly pushing up his glasses periodically through the walk. He was too shy to talk to Kari let alone any girl.
It was the first of the year but it seemed different. Students were sounding off small whispers as they made there way though the cold.
Kari smirked at this knowing well the town gossip, "Did you hear?"
"Hear what?"
"We have a new transfer student! They say the family who lives in the mansion decided to transfer their son into our school!"
Hitomi paused for a second before making a strange statement.
"Now I know you dear, Hitomi, have no clue about this since you really aren't from around here. He went to school with us a long time ago before being set off to a big city some say. Like where you used to live."
Hitomi smiled at Kari who knew little about the bigger cities that were surrounding her country town. She knew of the medium size ones to the north and south but nothing of the likes and size of Yokohama or Tokyo.
"I wonder if he is handsome? I also wonder what class he will be in. Promise me Hitomi if he gets in your class tell me all about it. Please! Please!"
Ryosuke grunted at Kari gloating over ever thing. Hitomi chuckled a bit. She looked to Ryo asking, "Well book worm Ryo do you have an input?"
He flushed red looking at Kari for a second, "Nnnn…No… NO I do not!"
Hitomi laughed so hard as Kari held a confused face. Hitomi was the only person the get little Ryo to talk to a female. He could hold conversations with Hitomi casually and often helped with her and Kari's homework. The only time he could talk with out tripping over his words.
Hitomi began to wonder if this new student was the one she saw out in the rain that day. Her face fell to a soft smile thinking about it as Kari glanced at her.
"My dearest Hitomi… Do I pray tell you have are thinking about someone?"
She broke out of her trance and gave her friend a 'you got to be kidding me' look.
"Of all the 3 year here what guy has taken an interest in me," She asked with bluntness and frustration.
Ryo looked at the two, "She has a point."
Kari smacked Ryo for his remark as he almost drops his book fumbling for it in the air.
The three friends made it to school where everyone who had looked at their watches would know they had very little time before the bell would ring. Hitomi waved good bye to the other two swearing to meet them in the their class during lunch.
Each and everyone took their seats as the homeroom teacher quieted down. Hitomi was already lost in her window seat over looking part of the town. The teacher spoke but she disappeared from the world. Her ears perked up as she heard transfer student but she figured with the entire buzz from the rest of the class it was more of a big deal for them. She was once one but many people picked her on for being the city girl was an outcast till Kari came into the picture.
The teacher droned on once again as he talked about the new student. The snow began to fall. Unlike the rain and its constant hum it was silent and soft.
"Ms. Kanzaki! Ms. Kanzaki!"
She looked up quickly not realizing how long she had zoned out, "Yes." She made glanced finally to the front as two hazel brown eyes pierced her causing her to loose her breath. Mess raven black hair that seemed put together in its own way. She felt so small under the glare that was given to her.
"Thank you for joining the class, Ms. Kanzaki. You will take your seat in the empty seat next to her."
She glanced at the seat next to her wondering when it ever was so vacant. It was written all over her face she was not exactly happy to be next to such a cold person. At least the rain and snow were more inviting than this guy was.
She felt the necklace start to warm up inside her shirt but refused to pull it out knowing she would get it confiscated or worse someone would try to take it as their own like a "present." She never understood why the kids were so spoiled here more so in the city.
That or because she never had a problem with all the people she ever grew up with. She guessed that is why it was such a pack mentality here. Kari explained that it was because of the old family pecking orders. She always thought this a rather odd notion in the countryside.
She felt bad she didn't catch the new students name. Now asking to share books was going to be awkward with no name to address him by.
"Do you mind," The new student asked as looked at her and down at the book, "You don't seem to be using it."
She glared at him, "Ask nicely and I might share with you."
He scoffed taking her book, which left her jaw of her mouth slightly ajar. Closing it just before he could make another rude remark she pulled out paper and a pencil to take notes that he proceeded to take off her desk for his own purpose.
"What is wrong with you? You think you rule this place?"
Some students looked back at her like she was crazy and began to whisper.
The teacher paused and looked at the class, "What the matter Kanazki? Why is your desk bare?"
Not normally one to make rude remarks, "Your majesty here decided he is entitled to what is on my desk."
The teacher went wide-eyed at the remark and the raven-haired boy chuckled.
'Ok… What kind of joke was this,' She thought looking at all the people in the room.
"Well Kanzaki," the hazel eyes sat glaring at her as her gaze locked with his, "In some respects I do. Do you not know who I am?"
"A spoiled brat with no manners?"
The class erupted with comments as he began to laugh, "I have manners for those who have respect. I am Van Fanel. I am part of the family who sits at that large house on the mountain side."
She looked to the side and with a slight whatever face and back at him, "Ok. So?"
His glances turned dark and less amused as the teacher tried to quiet the class. Sighing over the everything before shaking her head, "Fanel… That is your name right? I'm not a country girl and I don't necessarily pay attention to what most people find important here."
She reached over grabbing her paper and book back letting him keep his newly acquired pencil. She was now finding it hard to breath as the necklace seemed to be placing a pressure on her chest with the heat. Placing her had over her chest a bit.
Placing her things in her bag she turned to her teacher. "If you don't mind I am going to the infirmary," She said as she packed her things and he motioned her to leave to gain some control over his class.
He didn't want to punish Kanzaki since she was on of the better students in class who was a bit brazen in her own way at times.
She looked down as the necklace was glowing bright under her hand where she decided to leave it. Rushing out of the room she headed down the hall trying to reach the nurses office.
This left a rather intrigued and flustered Van. He was not one to take those kinds of remarks from an outsider.
Hitomi laid in the bed closest to the window with the snow going. She felt the pressure go away as she got farther and farther away from class. She was starting to wonder what made it have such a reaction. She placed it outside of her uniform as she rolled over and drifted to sleep a bit. She felt exhausted by the pressure and fighting it off.
A tapping noise came about on the edge of her bed as she glanced down with sleepy eyes at the hazel eyes glaring at her. She groaned as she tried to pull the covers over her head.
Ripping them off her she felt now a little embarrassed this occurred.
"You have something of mine. I don't take kindly to those who steal," He spoke with a cold tone.
"What are you talking about? I just met you. How could I steal from you?"
He darkly chuckled and looked at her, "I think you do know what you took from my very coat that day."
She sat up quickly as the pendent draped around her neck. She was now very confused as to what and who he was.
"How did you know…"
"I have my ways Ms. Kanzaki," He moved and sat on the end of her bed. He glared at her with a fierce look ready to take her out of this world like no other.
'What was is guy's problem?'
"I only wore it to not loose it," She gave him a stern but confused look as she studied him, "I have a tendency to loose things other wise."
She saw the same strong arms tense, as they were that day in the rain yielding the sword around. She took the necklace off and went to hand it to him.
He went to reach for it as she pulled back for a second, "Wait… In return you leave me alone."
"This isn't a bargaining piece you have there."
"If it wasn't for me holding on to it you might have lost it in that muck as your jacket that you magically were able to obtain were wasting away…. Wait how did you get it back?"
He smirked that sent shivers down her spine. She realized that she shouldn't of asked that maybe not wanting to know the answer.
Wincing, she placed it back on and decided to gamble a bit, "I think I will hold on to this till you decide if you want to continue to steal my things."
He frowned, "That would be unwise of you."
"I'll mangage…."
The lights flickered as she looked out to the direction of the Inn. She looked more afraid of what was towards there than of Van. He watched her as she slowly turned back to him. "As… As… I was… um saying."
He pulled back a bit wondering if she had heard the same dreadful noise that was carried in on the wind as darker clouds began to loom.
"Fine hold on to it. I won't bother you until I truly need it back. Don't go into the woods with it. That is my only warning."
"What if I do," She asked hoping he would not guess she already did.
"Once again another unwise choice it would be of yours," He said leaving papers on her bed, "That's our home work."
"Fanel," She called to him as he was leaving, "Thank you."
He was confused why such a statement would come out of her mouth. He didn't bring her the papers because he wanted to.
She climbed out of the bed placing the papers into her bag, as she didn't noticed that it was already lunch time. The bell rang through the halls as she left and people began to pile out.
Whispers had already spread some how in the short period after lunch started with a Kari looking for her franticly.
An:
I wrote a bit more than normal and felt this might be a good place to stop and give you a bit of what is to come. I have been reviewing what I plan to happen. I hope you enjoyed the new chapter! 3
Till next time!
DragonsWillowTea