Forgotten Memories

Dear Readers,

"I apologize for not continuing in almost two months or so. Economics and my other classes have been giving me a hard time. But now I think I have a C in that class, and an F in another... sighs Well, enough of this."

trunksgirl85 - "You do realize Hiei glanced over my shoulder when I was reading the reveiw... He merely grombled at it. But I like your reveiws. Thank you."

Moving Shadow - "Thank you for the reveiw, and I will continue to read your fanfiction."

Katiethewolfdemon - "Thank you for anticipating and I apologize for keeping you for so long. But I will put of a couple chapters to make it up."

Chapter 10

Dream

He was near, close to me as I knelt to my knees, my head bent down. Nothing was clear here, many things were a blur. But then again, what was there to see when you can not see light and just the floor? He sat, sat down in His chair. No one sat there. Myself thinking that no one has ever touching it except Him.

"Ryu. What about this one?" His voice was wraspy, like there was something in his thoat. I could not look up, could not identify this man that was sitting. I had no clue if he was talking of me, or the other young ladies in the room. All in a row, bowed down as I was. The one known as Ryu spoke up, his voice sqeaky. "No. She served before and did poorly... This one will be better."

I felt as if he was pointing to someone, but had no clue who. The wraspy voice spoke again, disapprovingly. "No... I need a beauty. One that will make this temple look better."

"How about this one?" Once again the feeling of being pointed at came, making me figit a small bit. I heard the sound of clothing, silk, move. But it was only a small gesture, probably waving a hand of displeasure.

"...This one...?" Ryu's voice becoming unsure of himself. There was a moments pause before the higher status one spoke. "Allow me to see her face..."

I froze, awaiting for the touch. But it never came. Again the voice spoke. "Good, now I need a few more...."

This had gone on, for several minutes now. Only the two voices being heard, as well as a small whimper from one of the girls. They were afraid, just as I. Was it because they knew what was coming, or they were afraid and clueless of what would happen like I was. "What about this one? She is still young, able to learn quickly."

"Her face?" There was silence, only for a moment until it was broken by the movement of clothing. Suddenly I felt a cold hand rest on my chin, bringing my head up from my position. I quickly closed my eyes, knowing from the stories that have been told to me; not to look above the master's feet unless told to.

"....Open your eyes young lady..." obeying the voice, I opened slowly, adjusting to the light. My first glance was the man holding my chin, Ryu. He was skinny by the facial features, his cheek bones sticking out. His skin was pale like it had the lose of blood, and it didn't help that I didn't see any hair except a small squarish hat that it may have been hiding under. But what surprised me more, was that there were two small stubs of horns sticking out of his forehead, holding up the hat. He spoke, his breath very foul. "Her eyes are young as well. Looks as if she has no tales to tell.... Would this one do?"

There was silence in the room, giving me a small time to glance around. The row of girls were still bowed down, but very few of them remained, gaps between them showing where the ones taken use to be. The one of higher status was sitting in the large chair, himself large as well. His clothing beautiful with the shining of the light, but before I could see the detail of it and his face, he spoke. "...I like the curiousity in her. Yes, she will do very well. Send the rest back to Fuka... Tell her 'She has done well with the choices'..."

The feeling of months had passed, only in a blur. The place was large, and the other maidens had helped alot. I was given a name, one I have not given thought as one: Usagi, gentle and quiet like a rabbit. The master had even loved that name, saying it will suit me well in human terms. He had the aura of ginning every time he mentioned it, and I always felt uneasy of it, unsure if he was or not. I had always felt uneasy around Him after the first day staying with Him...

Melissa began to be around Kurama more often than she did with Roseanna. She even started calling him as Kurama instead of Shuuichi, curtisy to Yusuke and the others. She was around Hiei more as well, listening to the silence around them. The silence allowed her to notice things more than before. His eyes were a strange red, an eye color she never seen before. And his nails longer than hers most the time, and sharp. The little things that intiruged her. She was with Toriko as well, talking of different things. He always had a strange sense of humor. Yukimara, one of Steph's friends, was like Toriko with the humor. Yuki's sense of humor always brought her to make fun of Kurama, as well as Yusuke and Kuwabara. She lived with Yusuke, his mother being drunk at the time decided to allow her to stay with them as Yusuke's sister. Earlier in the last school year, everyone thought Yuki was a guy. She always wore the guys uniform instead of the girls, and she had her blonde hair always in a hat. Melissa didn't pay much attention of what was going on at the time. She was more interested in wanting to know very few people at the time. But Kurama has introduced her to so many people not. Melissa began to consider everyone as a family like she did for him. Through all their arguing and play fights, they all cared for one another. A family could not be without some arguing.

"Kurama?" Melissa asked as she layed in the grass of Genkai's yard. The whole group was there; Steph, Yusuke, Yuki, Hiei, Kuwabara, Kayko, Yukina, Genkai and Botan. They decided to have a picnic for the school year almost being over. The term test had been finished that week, and all that was left were the last few chapters to go over in each class. Kurama looked over to her. "Hm?"

"Do servants only bring food and retrieve items? Are they in Makai?" Everyone looked silently at her, Kurama asking the question that was in everyone's minds. "Why do you ask?"

"I think I had a dream of it last night..." Everyone did not change their looks, curious of her story. Finally Yusuke leaned over to her, breaking the silence around them. "What was it about?"

"Um... It was of the same girl.... being beaten..." She said the last word very quietly so everyone could bearly hear it. And with that thought if they did, she quickly spoke. "Only when she did not do something correctly and it wasn't as bad as it seemed! It... it was like she was a slave... Do they have slaves there?"

"Yes... Slaves are everywhere actually, not only in Makai.." Kurama said seldomly. Botan poked her head over to them hearing the whole thing. "Yeah, and unfortunatly it was alway women and children. Children started as mere servants in the trade market... The women were more in one place if they did very well at their job of... um... entertainment..." She gave a nervous chuckle, trying to make it easier to explain.

"What did she have to do for the man?" Kuwabara asked. Melissa looked up at them. "It was the simple tasks for a servant... bringing things to him and forced to...-"

"What did he look like?" Yusuke asked, cutting in from her discription.

"Um... his face was not clear because I was the point of veiw of the servant girl, and she was not to look up at him, alway bowing... he was rather large though." Yusuke leaned over to Kuwabara and whispered in his ear, "Tarukane...." Kuwabara nodded at his remark, "No wonder she was polite in the beginning like Yuki-chan..." Kayko, wanting to change the subject, handed everyone their sandwiches. Hiei just continued to lean against the tree, listening to everything and not accepting the food offered to him. Out of nowhere, he suddenly had a look of anger, trying to keep his cool with small twitches. He looked down to find Yuki poking his shoe with a stick. She did not realize he was looking at her until she finally looked up to grab her sandwich. His death glare beaming down upon her as she gave a quick teasing smile and then took a bite of her sandwich.

"These sandwiches look good. Arigatou Kayko." Melissa did a quick bow of her head and then started to eat.

"Melissa, you don't have to bow for food....." Kurama said. He wasn't paying much attention to the food in his hand until he felt it slip out. He looked behind him to find Steph taking the last bite. With her mouth full of food Steph replied, "And you can't leave it hanging around either, it will disappear just like that!" Kurama sighed, shaking his head with a slight smile, and grabbed the bag of chips.

"I'm surprised Kurama has a girlfriend that doesn't have any manners..." Kuwabara said. "...And Hiei with one that has too much..."

"Hn... baka....." Hiei stated before jumping in the tree. He found a branch that was low enough to grab things, but high enough to not be bothered. Melissa blinked, confused of Kuwabara's statement. 'Does Hiei have one?' she thought, continuing to eat her sandwitch before Steph decided to take hers as well. Yukina came out of the temple, carring disposible cups and a jug of juice. Kuwabara immediately went over to help her, not wanting to strain his beloved. The picnic continued with a fun time with each other.

xxxxx

"Toriko!" Maru-chan's voice was heard through the house as he ran to the door. Melissa perked up from her reading, watching the child run. "Toriko's here!"

He quickly opened the door, Kanto not far behind him. "Hey there, glad to see that I am always welcome at this residence." Toriko's voice was heard at the door, his form coming inside. His usual attire brought the boys to tug at his straps and chains, as well as a smile on Melissa's face, closing her book.

"Nice to see you today." Melissa replied, causing him to look up from the boys.

"And it is a pleasure to see you M'Lady." He smiled, bowing before taking off his shoes at the door and head over to sit where she was. The boys followed him, rambling on of different topics to Toriko.

"Toriko, I caught a frog!"

"Yeah, and Mama said we can keep it in the backyard!"

"Do you like frogs?"

"Maybe you can see him!" All this coming from the children, not giving time for Toriko to respond to any of them. Finally after a few seconds, the boys finally found a topic they can both ask. "We got a new game, wanna play with us?" They both waited patiently for the teen to respond. He smiled, glancing to Melissa then back to the two pints. "What's the game?"

"BINGO!" Both the boys cheered out in unison, running to get the game. Melissa chuckled at this, setting her book to the side. Toriko turned and smiled at her, his usual goofy smile that he always gave when he was happy. After a few moments, Maru-chan and Kanto came back, but not with the game in hand. Kanto was carrying a large binder, full of pages, while his brother continued to pester him, wanting to carry it. Both Melissa and Toriko blinked at the object, curious why they brought it out.

"It's our old photo album! I found it while getting the game out of the closet!" Maru-chan replied happily. Kanto glared at him, holding the book protectively.

"You did not find it! I was the one who did!"

"Nah uh! You just lifted the towels and sheets!" They both continued to argue until Melissa grabbed the photo album, thanking both to satisfy them. All four looked down at it, huddling close together as they watched Melissa slowly open it. The pages turned, each revealing the old memories. The first few pages reveiled their parent's wedding, and old family members. Continuing on the pictures, showed the first born, the title underneath the picture: Roseanna Marie Kita. Kanto and Maru-chan snickered at the sight of seeing their older sister as an infant. Alot of the pictures showed her crying.

Then there was another baby picture, one that was not Roseanna. This one had no title. The next pictures after it showed younger Roseanna trying to hold the infant. This one rarely any crying pictures. All four of the veiwers looked at one another, the two boys keeping silent. They continued on their findings, seeing these new found photos. Later pictures reveiled Kanto Mara Kita. Maru-chan pointed and laughed at him, causing him to want the pages to turn faster. Shortly after, Maruhito Natsu Kita. Everyone 'Awwed' at him, while he made a dramatic scene of drowning and sophicating. The pictures continued, going through the ages of the years. Melissa did not remember any of these, but then again, she practically remembered nothing. The second born girl looked nothing like herself, finding it strange that she had no name. Maybe her name was forgotten to be put in, as well as the birth certificates like the others. Roseanna and her brothers looked as they do now from the album, but her former self had black hair like them, showing no sighns of her cherry coke color. The glasses never showed up in the photos either, but maybe all of this would be explained in later pages.

Their mother came in, glancing at the four huddled together. Mysteriously, they were all huddled together, as if to hide something, and the whispers did not help. She walked up to them, replying quietly. "Boy's... Did you bring the frog inside again?" The two children froze suddenly, turning to look at their mother. Kanto was the one to speak. "No mama. Me an' Maru-chan found this photo album and we were looking through it. Look! Roseanna is actually smiling in these pictures."

The calm one moved aside, pointing to the album so their mother could see it. Once she looked down at it, she noticed Toriko with them, waiting patiently to continue looking through. She glanced to the book, finding the old pictures back several years before Melissa had joined the famiily. She picked up the book, glancing quickly through the pages before turning away from them, closing it. "Boys, Melissa... Why don't you find something more productive to do this afternoon...."

"Aww... But Mama! We didn't finish looking through!" Maru-chan pouted, balling up his fists.

"Go Maru... Please...?" The child fell silent after the plea, turning to look at the others. They all looked at one another, questioning glances to each other.

"Well, we can go to the park...." Melissa suggested. Both the little boys shook their heads rapidly, trying to think of other places to go. Toriko smiled, sitting back in the chair as he tried to pull something out of his pant's pocket. Finally he pulled out a small bundle of bills, unfolding them to count how much he had. Finally he spoke up, the three others turning to him. "I have enough for the four of us to see a movie... or some other means of entertainment..."

At first the two boys blinked to register that he was offering to take them somewhere, then happily cheered. Melissa smiled, looking at the money that he had. "Is it enough?"

"Sure it is! That's one of the reasons I came over; so we can go out somewhere. And I figured the holiganes wanted to come with as well." Toriko smiled back, getting up from the couch to head out.

"Um.. I will go get some more money from my mom, incase we need it..." Melissa left the room, searching through the whole house for her mother. She found her, talking to Roseanna, and handing her the book of untold memories. After recieving the money from her mother, and telling her that the boys and her were going to spend the day with Toriko, they headed out to enjoy the day ahead of them.

End Chapter

P.S.- "I apologize for it being short. This chapter was just put in to make it seem not so sudden."