I know I'd hurt Mama's feelings. I know she wanted me to stay with them, but I had to go back to the orphanage. If Akito knew I was back, well, let's just say it wouldn't be good. What really hurt was the fact that I lied to her. I wasn't at the orphanage. I told Ming that I was staying at the Sohma's. I had stayed a few weekends with them, so it was believable. I knew I had hurt them and if they knew I was lying to them I knew that they would be hurt even more. Still, I had to do this on my own. I had gotten them to promise not to tell anyone else the truth, but there was one person who needed to know. I needed his help. I was taking a risk walking through the Sohma estate. It was easier now that I remembered where everything was. I shivered as I walked. Snow whipped around me. Soon it would melt into spring.
Finally I reached the dojo. I hadn't been here since I was six years old, still I remembered the white building. It hadn't changed much. I walked inside and removed my shoes. I looked around the entrance room and smiled. It was good to be back. I could see me and Papa talking with Grandfather. I saw him smiling as I twirled around the room. Memories slowly returned to me as I saw familiar objects. Yes, it was good to be back here again. One of Shishou's secretaires asked if I needed anything and I asked to see Shishou. He told me to wait there so I sat down in my favourite chair. It smelled like Shishou. I remembered sitting on his lap while he read me a story. I glanced at the table next to me and saw a music box. My music box. Well, at least one of them. I reached over and felt it's slender case. Slowly, I turned the key and set it back down on the table. I started to play a simple tune. My feet yearned to move. I stood up and started to feel the music inside myself. A step here. Now a step there. Turns and small jumps. I closed my eyes and let go. I was four years old again. Dancing and twirling. Spinning and leaping. The music coursed through my body as I remembered the simple dance. The music box slowed down and stopped along with my body. I opened my eyes and searched for another box. I found one and a different tune filled the air. Again I was sent back in time. Papa's hands guided mine as I spined and twirled through the air. The music stopped and my heart skipped a beat as I found the next box. It was the white heart described to me by my father. It was the song that I had never heard.
Shishou
She didn't hear me come in. I watched her as she finished her dance. Her eyes were like candles in the darkness. She search around the room for another box. Her eyes landed on the white heart. I froze as she gently felt it with her small hands. Slowly she raised the lid and the music started. She backed up and listened. The song played through once then started again. This time her feet started to move. The music was quick and light. Her feet were quick to answer. She stumbled with the first steps but slowly fell into the music. Then as quick as lighting her whole body fell into the song. She leaped and twirled. Prancing and stretching her body to great lengths. The kerchief in her hair started to come untied. The she took a great leap into the air and the kerchief fell to the floor. She landed in a spin and her hair flew around her. She stretched into the final pose and her hair slowly fell down on her shoulders. The music stopped. She gasped for air. Her eyes opened once more and stared into the air. My heart was pounding. I only knew of one girl that could dance like that. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, but I knew that shade of orange.
Chiro
My body shook with the thrill of dancing again. I was surprised at how easily my muscles remembered the moves. I picked up my kerchief off the ground. I had worn it so that no one would see my hair. As I was tying it again, I happened to glance at the doorway. He was leaning against the frame smiling at me. "Hello Chiro." He said. "Hello," I replied. Did he really recognise me? Did he really know who I was? "I see you haven't been practicing very much these past years that you've been away. Will you tell me where you've been? We've missed our little dancing kitten." Tears came to my eyes. Yes, he knew me. I walked over to him as he opened his arms. His embrace was a welcome comfort. A single tear rolled down his cheek as he let go of me. He held me at an arms distance and looked at me. "You've grown up." he said simply. I laughed a little. It was like we had never been apart. Shishou took me to his office where we could have a little more privacy. I brought the music box with me. Shishou didn't seem to mind. He had once told me that the music boxes belong to me as much as to him. He said that it was because the music didn't come alive until I danced to it. More memories came back into my mind. Shishou tried to teach me to fight. I could fight fine, but it didn't suit me. I was quick and strong, but not in a fighting way. I had grace. Papa was the first to notice. He took me to see a ballet. The next day I was in my room trying to spin like the dancers. I remember falling down and Papa leaning in the doorway laughing. After that, Shishou started to teach me dance. It wasn't his forte, but most of it came naturally. He just had to concentrate my talents. I smiled. It was nice to know that I was good at something again.
Shishou
She just sat there staring at that music box. I had so many questions to ask her, but I knew she needed a moment. I prepared the tea slowly occasionally glancing over my shoulder. I still couldn't believe that she was here. As I carried the tea tray over to her, she glanced up at me. "I'm sorry," she said with a slight laugh. "I got lost in memories." She laughed a little then continued. "It's funny. I thought I had my memory back, but I'm starting to relies that I don't remember it all yet. Little things can set them off." "Like that music box." I said as she stared down at it. She didn't say anything so I did. "Though, isn't this your first time seeing it?" I questioned her. She didn't look up. "Papa described it to me when..." She sniffled a little. "When you were locked up." I finished for her. She laughed. "You always did know everything, didn't you?" I smiled. "Not everything." I paused for a moment as she nodded. "Chiro, where's your father?" I wasn't sure I would get an answer. When did she become so shy? "I haven't told anyone." I leaned in close. Her voice was small and weak. "I just told them that he was okay. No one asked me any more questions. They just took what I told them." She swallowed. I remained silent as she struggled to hold back her tears. She stood up and walked to the window. Snow whipped around the glass. She touched the window gentle with her hand. Her eyes glazed over as she started to tell of a winter day that seemed years away and yet, yesterday at the same time.
Don't worry, that's not the end! That's just the first of three stories. The next one is Goddess, so chill, take a deep breath, and go find the next part! Yeah:)