Disclaimer: I do not own the characters other than the ones I've created!
Enjoy~
Umi No Hana
Chapter 9: Keep on Floating
Unblinking red eyes stared hard at the ceiling, the pale white seeming to darken slowly over the course of time she had been laying sprawled on her bed. Her dark locks surrounding her like a messy cloud and her clothing looking wrinkled and worn. Rin licked her dry lips, her mind trying to count how late it was since she had been lying on her bed. Glancing to the side she could see her alarm clock; the blaring red numbers stating it was 3:47 in the morning. She continued laying there, her body numb and her face dried and prickly from the tears that had continued to resurface ever so often as she thought of her family… and her father. Tears welled again, blurring the ceiling from her view as she took in deep, shaky breathes. Her fine fingernails dug deep into her hand again, angry red crescents appearing on her already red skin. She tried swallowing a lump that lodged itself in her throat yet she could only cough; it being so dry there was nothing to swallow.
Closing her eyes she took in a swift breath and turned toward her window. Rain slammed against the window, the pattering noise not soothing her as it usually would making Rin sit up slowly as though her body was sore from lying still for the past 5 hours. Her hand snapped to connect with her forehead, her head swimming as she clenched her teeth and eyes shut before letting out a moan of pain. Blinking away the spots she focused looking through the dark of the room, towards her door where she had slammed it earlier, seeing that it had not closed completely. Throwing her legs over the side of her bed, she pulled lazily, her ears picking up on the sounds of her mother.
Creeping slowly to her door and out to the dark hallway. Brown eyes found another set, sadness flickering deeply. "Evening Rin-chan… I'll have dinner ready soon…" Hana's voice seemed cracked and soft. The usual happy teen nodded and made her way to the table. She settled down at her pillow, tired eyes looking across where her father would sit if he were home… were she needed to change that. Past tense. Rin let out a deep sigh, nibbling on her bottom lip as she tried holding back everything. Closing her eyes tight she counted to 100, hoping it would stop the onslaught of what happened to her little family that evening.
[Earlier that night]
Rin was currently smiling and letting out small giggles here and there, her eyes glancing up occasionally at her mother as the woman ran to and fro putting together the dishes and their still cooking dinner. They had heard not too long ago, a week at best from Tsuyoumi; the father sounding gleeful as he told them that they should be there after the storm passed in the area he was currently located. No one thought this last storm would be the deciding factor of how the rest of their lives would be.
Rin got up excitedly, hearing the doorbell go off, her excitement clouding the shred of confusion as to why her father would need to ring it. Ignoring her mother's voice she ripped open the door, her mouth already open "Otou- " Her mouth snapped shut, her eyes blinking up at the two men in impeccable suits. Their grim faces and suitcases made Rin sweat, she stepped back in silence as her mother walked in front of her. A well placed hand and she stepped out of the way as the two men entered. She glanced hard out the open door way, thinking maybe her father would be walking up in a moment. She knew those men, their suits and briefcases. They were the ones… that always came with bad news. "No." She whispered to herself, turning slowly after closing the door she walked to the dining area, where her mother was quietly speaking with the men. Their faces held sorrow, yet a sternness, Rin quickly put it together. She came over forcefully, her feet stomping as her voice sounded high, "Where is he?" She could feel her mother gripping her hand, her soft voice sounding too calm and gentle at the moment. Rin ripped her hand away, her brown eyes staring hard down at the men as one looked down in shame and the other glanced to the mother.
The teen became more silent, unmoving as she voiced her question again, she began to feel cold… "Where is my father? Please…"
Time seemed to slow, she heard as though he were far away. "Gone." It seemed to repeat in her head, echoing off the surface of her brain as her body reacted slowly. Feeling left her legs and she crumbled to the ground, tears slipping down her cheeks and her own cries sounding too silent to herself. She could feel her mother coaxing her into her arms, though she tried fighting back, gasping as she tore herself away from the living room. She could hear herself screaming, repeating the word over and over. "Gone?! Gone!" She slammed her door, not caring and flopped onto her bed, beating the sheets with tightened fist as she howled her sadness into the thick mattress.
Hana looked on; her eyes glassy and her skin paling as she heard her daughter, her flower, break. Looking back to the men who came, she nodded to what they said. She was listening yet at the same time it felt like she was being submerged. Hana's body felt as though there was another controlling it, signing papers and accepting the paper check as they offered their apologies and condolences to her and her daughter.
As they excused themselves and left she could only stare hard at what she held. She felt bile rise in her throat but she kept it down, closing her eyes tightly and remembering Tsuyoumi's smile, his voice and his smell. The lithe woman began to cry, her shoulders shaking and slowly her elbows slipped from under her making her cry onto the table, her face planted and her lips kissing the wet smooth surface.
The day started out with so much promise and the last thing she wanted was to be holding a wrinkly check because of her husbands' and dearest friends' death.
[End flashback]
The clatter of glass being set down in front of her made Rin open her eyes, following the hand that held her plate and then up the arm to a soft cheek she could make out the dried lines of tears. Reaching a small hand out, she gently touched her mother's cheek, her voice soft as she offered a small smile, "Sore wa daijobudarou…okaa-san." Hana gave a small smile as well, pulling away and sitting down, taking care to help herself to the bit of gyudon. Rin grabbed a bowl, her chopsticks grabbing hold of an egg and onion first before she shoveled more into her personal bowl. Manners and talk were dismissed for the night; neither wishing to fill the silence as they internally mourned.
Kagome frowned, it had been a whole day since she had heard from Rin, Sango agreed, it was weird for the youth to not contact either girl for the past weekend. The bright teen glanced at her phone, speaking up with a cautionary tone, "You don't think… Wasn't her father supposed to return home?" Kagome's eyes spread, her mouth dropping quickly as she glanced at Sango, her throat drying on her as she nodded. "The past storm… oh kami…" The teens both looked down, sending prayers to Rin and her mother. As soon as they did Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru came over, the latter choosing to have a distance behind the other as he nonchalantly glanced around, noticing a certain girl wasn't with the usual group.
"Yo! What ya'll up to?" Inuyasha's voice startled the two making them frown slightly at the older teen. Kagome sighed and shook her head, "You know about the recent storm right? We think… We think Rin may have lost her father to it…" The half-demon's eyes widened his mouth dropping as he went straight over to Kagome, his arm wrapping around her waist. The group was quiet, neither looking at each other as they thought of what they could do.
Sesshoumaru assessed the situation, speaking up unlike what he'd normally do. "To put any worries to rest I think it may be best if she had those who cared around her." His even voice brought stares though he ignored the nagging feeling as he tried holding back a sigh and eye roll.
Inuyasha jumped on the idea, his voice trying for a lighter tone, "Yea, I bet she'd love that! Let's grab some flowers for her she likes that stuff right?" His hand gently grabbed hold of Kagome's, tugging her in the direction of where they could get flowers for the younger teen.
Sango and Sesshoumaru trailed along behind them, their group moving towards the inner part of the town and onwards to the street that had stores dotted along the stretch. Sesshoumaru inwardly groaned as he heard Sango and Kagome pitch up, "Oh we should bring her some other gifts ya know?" Today was going to be a long one…
